Search Results (599)

To remain competitive in the decarbonization process of the economy worldwide, energy companies must preserve their market value to attract new investors and remain resilient throughout the transition to net zero. This article examines the market value of US energy companies during the period 2012–2024 in relation to their power generation mix. Panel regression analyses reveal that Tobin’s q and price-to-book ratios increase significantly for solar and wind power, while they experience moderate increases for natural gas power. In contrast, Tobin’s q and price-to-book ratios decline for nuclear and coal power. Furthermore, accounting-based profitability, measured by the return on assets (ROA), does not show significant variation with any type of power generation. The findings suggest that market investors prefer solar, wind, and natural gas power generation, thereby attributing greater value (that is, demanding lower risk compensation) to green companies compared to traditional ones. These insights provide guidance to executives, investors, and policy makers on how the power generation mix can influence strategic decisions in the energy sector. Full article

In this study, an artificially simulated enhanced UV-B radiation treatment of 96 kJ/m²·d⁻¹ was applied with natural sunlight as the control. By observing changes in biological tissue damage, peroxidase (POD) enzyme activity, and hormone content, combined with transcriptome analysis and quantitative fluorescence PCR validation, this study preliminarily elucidated the physiological mechanisms of plant-specific peroxidase (POD) in responding to enhanced UV-B radiation stress. Enhanced UV-B treatment significantly inhibited biological tissue growth, particularly during the rapid growth stage. At this stage, the treatment exhibited higher malondialdehyde (MDA) content, indicating increased oxidative stress due to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Despite the inhibition in growth, the treatment showed improvements in the accumulation of organic nutrients as well as the contents of abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Additionally, an increase in POD activity and lignin content was observed in the treatment, especially during the middle period of the rapid growth period. Transcriptome analysis revealed that two POD multigene family members, LOC123198833 and LOC123225298, were significantly upregulated under enhanced UV-B radiation, which was further validated through qPCR. In general, enhanced UV-B radiation triggered a defence response in biological tissue by upregulating POD genes, which can effectively help to scavenge excess ROS. Full article

Via a One Health approach, this study concomitantly assessed the susceptibility of humans and dogs to Trypanosoma cruzi infections on three islands and in two mainland seashore areas of southern Brazil. Human serum samples were tested using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect anti-T. cruzi antibodies, while dog serum samples were tested using indirect fluorescent antibodies in an immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Seropositive human and dog individuals were also tested using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in corresponding blood samples. Overall, 2/304 (0.6%) human and 1/292 dog samples tested seropositive for T. cruzi by ELISA and IFA, respectively, and these cases were also molecularly positive for T. cruzi by qPCR. Although a relatively low positivity rate was observed herein, these cases were likely autochthonous, and the individuals may have been infected as a consequence of isolated events of disturbance in the natural peridomicile areas nearby. Such a disturbance could come in the form of a fire or deforestation event, which can cause stress and parasitemia in wild reservoirs and, consequently, lead to positive triatomines. In conclusion, T. cruzi monitoring should always be conducted in suspicious areas to ensure a Chagas disease-free status over time. Further studies should also consider entomological and wildlife surveillance to fully capture the transmission and spread of T. cruzi on islands and in seashore mainland areas of Brazil and other endemic countries. Full article

(1) Background: Polyploid fish are highly important in increasing fish production, improving fish quality, and breeding new varieties. The loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus), as a naturally polyploid fish, serves as an ideal biological model for investigating the mechanisms of chromosome doubling; (2) Methods: In this study, tetraploidization in diploid loach was induced by heat shock treatment, and, for the first time, the role of the key cell cycle gene cdk1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 1) in chromosome doubling was investigated; (3) Results: The experimental results show that when eggs are fertilized for 20 min and then subjected to a 4 min heat shock treatment at 39–40 °C, this represents the optimal induction condition, resulting in a tetraploid rate of 44%. Meanwhile, the results of the cdk1 knockout model (2n cdk1^−/−) constructed using CRISPR/Cas9 showed that the absence of cdk1 significantly increased the chromosome doubling efficiency of the loach. The qPCR analysis revealed that knockout of cdk1 significantly upregulated cyclin genes (ccnb3,ccnc, and ccne1), while inhibiting expression of the separase gene espl1 (p < 0.05); (4) Conclusions: During chromosome doubling in diploid loaches induced by heat shock, knocking out the cdk1 gene can increase the tetraploid induction rate. This effect may occur through downregulation of the espl1 gene. This study offers novel insights into optimizing the induced breeding technology of polyploid fish and deciphering its molecular mechanism, while highlighting the potential application of integrating gene editing with physical induction. Full article

Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) are well known for their roles in herbivore deterrence and attraction of natural enemies, but their direct impact on insect reproduction remains largely unexplored. In this study, we provide novel evidence that two representative HIPVs, 2-heptanol and α-cedrene, exert opposing effects on the reproduction of Chilo suppressalis, a major rice pest. While both volatiles repelled adults, α-cedrene unexpectedly enhanced oviposition, whereas 2-heptanol significantly suppressed egg laying. To examine these effects, we conducted oviposition assays, preoviposition and longevity tests, combined with qPCR and transcriptome analyses to explore underlying molecular responses. Mechanistically, α-cedrene upregulated Kr-h1, a gene linked to juvenile hormone signaling and vitellogenesis, promoting reproductive investment. Transcriptomic profiling revealed divergent molecular responses: α-cedrene activated reproductive pathways, whereas 2-heptanol induced stress- and immune-related genes, suggesting a trade-off between stress defense and reproduction. These findings demonstrate that HIPVs can exert compound-specific reproductive effects beyond repellency. This work fills a key knowledge gap and highlights the potential of HIPVs as precision tools in pest management strategies that exploit behavioral and physiological vulnerabilities beyond repellency. Full article

Slender masonry structures, in the absence of disintegration phenomena, can be idealized as rigid bodies subjected to seismic excitation. In this study, a closed-form expression for the behavior factor (q-factor) associated with overturning collapse under out-of-plane seismic loading is derived. The analysis considers five-step pulse seismic inputs. In the proposed approach, valid for slender masonry structures, sliding failure is neglected, and collapse is assumed to occur when, at the end of the seismic excitation, the rotation of the structure reaches a value equal to its slenderness. Based on this criterion, it is possible to derive a formulation for the q-factor as a function of a dimensionless parameter that combines the geometric characteristics of the slender structure and the period of the applied accelerogram. To validate the proposed formulation, a comparative analysis is conducted against the results obtained from a numerical integration of the motion equation using a set of 20 natural accelerograms recorded in Italy. The characteristic period of each accelerogram is evaluated through different methodologies, with the aim of identifying the most suitable approach for application in simplified seismic assessment procedures. Full article

Several species of Fusarium are reported to infect inflorescences of high-THC-containing cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) plants grown in greenhouses in Canada. These include F. graminearum, F. sporotrichiodes, F. proliferatum, and, to a lesser extent, F. oxysporum and F. solani. The greatest concern surrounding the infection of cannabis by these Fusarium species, which cause symptoms of bud rot, is the potential for the accumulation of mycotoxins that may go undetected. In the present study, both naturally infected and artificially infected inflorescence tissues were tested for the presence of fungal-derived toxins using HPLC-MS/MS analysis. Naturally infected cannabis tissues were confirmed to be infected by both F. avenaceum and F. graminearum using PCR. Pure cultures of these two species and F. sporotrichiodes were inoculated onto detached inflorescences of two cannabis genotypes, and after 7 days, they were dried and assayed for mycotoxin presence. In these assays, all Fusarium species grew prolifically over the tissue surface. Tissues infected by F. graminearum contained 3-acetyl DON, DON, and zearalenone in the ranges of 0.13–0.40, 1.18–1.91, and 31.8 to 56.2 μg/g, respectively, depending on the cannabis genotype. In F. sporotrichiodes-infected samples, HT2 and T2 mycotoxins were present at 13.9 and 10.9 μg/g in one genotype and were lower in the other. In F. avenaceum-inoculated tissues, the mycotoxins enniatin A, enniatin A1, enniatin B, and enniatin B1 were produced at varying concentrations, depending on the isolate and cannabis genotype. Unexpectedly, these tissues also contained detectable levels of 3-acetyl DON, DON, and zearalenone, which was attributed to apre-existing natural infection by F. graminearum that was confirmed by RT-qPCR. Beauvericin was detected in tissues infected by F. avenaceum and F. sporotrichiodes, but not by F. graminearum. Naturally infected, dried inflorescences from which F. avenaceum was recovered contained beauvericin, enniatin A1, enniatin B, and enniatin B1 as expected. Uninoculated cannabis inflorescences were free of mycotoxins except for culmorin at 0.348 μg/g, reflecting pre-existing infection by F. graminearum. The mycotoxin levels were markedly different between the two cannabis genotypes, despite comparable mycelial colonization. Tall fescue plants growing in the vicinity of the greenhouse were shown to harbor F. avenaceum and F. graminearum, suggesting a likely external source of inoculum. Isolates of both species from tall fescue produced mycotoxins when inoculated onto cannabis inflorescences. These findings demonstrate that infection by F. graminearum and F. avenaceum, either from artificial inoculation or natural inoculum originating from tall fescue plants, can lead to mycotoxin accumulation in cannabis inflorescences. However, extensive mycelial colonization following prolonged incubation of infected tissues under high humidity conditions is required. Inoculations with Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus ochraceus under these conditions produced no detectable mycotoxins. The mycotoxins alternariol and tentoxin were detected in several inflorescence samples, likely as a result of natural infection by Alternaria spp. Fusarium avenaceum is reported to infect cannabis inflorescences for the first time and produces mycotoxins in diseased tissues. Full article

Lippia multiflora Moldenke is widely used in Angola, on the African continent, and beyond for the treatment of many health conditions such as hypertension, enteritis, colds, gastrointestinal disturbances, stomachaches, jaundice, coughs, fevers, nausea, bronchial inflammation, conjunctivitis, malaria, and venereal diseases. However, there is limited literature about the active compounds linked with the reported biological activities. This study aims to assess the chemical profiles, antioxidant properties, and the cytotoxicity effects of the roots, stem bark, and leaves of L. multiflora. Chemical characterization of the crude extracts was assessed through quantification of total phenolic and flavonoid contents followed by Q exactive plus orbitrap™ ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (UHPLC-MS) screening. The correlation between the extracts and the correlation between the compounds were studied using the multivariate analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) loading scores and principal component analysis (PCA) biplots and correlation plots were used to connect specific compounds with observed biological activities. The antioxidant activities of the crude extracts were carried out in vitro using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging and reducing power assays, while the in vitro toxicology of the crude extracts was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. A total of twenty constituents were characterized and identified using the UHPLC–Q/Orbitrap/MS. The methanol leaf extract showed the highest antioxidant activity in the DPPH free radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 0.559 ± 0.269 μg/mL); however, the stem bark extract had the highest reducing power (IC_0.5 = 0.029 ± 0.026 μg/mL). High phenolic and flavonoid content was found in the dichloromethane leaf extract (32.100 ± 1.780 mg GAE/g) and stem bark extract (624.153 ± 29.442 mg QE/g), respectively. The results show the stem bark, methanol leaf, and dichloromethane leaf extracts were well-tolerated by the Vero cell line at concentrations up to 50 µg/mL. However, at 100 µg/mL onward, some toxicity was observed in the root, methanol leaf, and dichloromethane leaf extracts. The UHPLC–Q/Orbitrap/MS profiles showed the presence of terpenoids (n = 5), flavonoids (n = 5), phenols (n = 4), alkaloids (n = 3), coumarins (n = 1), fatty acids (n = 1), and organic acids (n = 1). According to several studies, these secondary metabolites have been reported and proven to be the most abundant for antioxidant potential. The identified flavonoids (catechin, quercitrin, and (−)-epigallocatechin) and phenolic compound (6-gingerol) can significantly contribute to the antioxidant properties of different plant parts of L. multiflora. The research findings obtained in this study provide a complete phytochemical profile of various parts of L. multiflora that are responsible for the antioxidant activity using UHPLC–Q/Orbitrap/MS analysis. Furthermore, the results obtained in this study contribute to the scientific information or data on the therapeutic properties of Lippia multiflora and provide a basis for further assessment of its potential as a natural remedy. Full article

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), a major etiological agent of hand-foot-mouth disease, can cause severe neurological complications. However, the mechanisms underlying EV-A71-induced cell damage and potential therapeutic strategies remain inadequately understood. Here, we investigated EV-A71 replication dynamics and associated cytopathic effects in nine distinct cell lines, including epithelial, neuronal, immune, and other cell types. Cell viability, membrane integrity, and energy metabolism were assessed using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assays. The antiviral activity of rosmarinic acid (RA), a natural polyphenol, was evaluated by plaque reduction, qPCR, and Western blot. EV-A71 exhibited cell-type-specific replication and cytotoxicity patterns. RA significantly preserved cell viability, reduced LDH release, maintained ATP levels, and suppressed IL-6 expression. Mechanistically, RA inhibited viral replication by downregulating VP1 expression and viral RNA levels. Molecular docking indicated strong binding of RA to the hydrophobic pocket of VP1, potentially disrupting virus-host interactions. Collectively, these findings highlight RA’s combined antiviral and cytoprotective potential, supporting its candidacy as a therapeutic agent against EV-A71 infection. Full article

The planned construction of a steam–gas unit at the Adamów Power Plant raises questions about the potential hydrological impact on the neighboring Natura 2000 protected areas, particularly the Middle Warta Valley (PLB300002) and the Jeziorsko Reservoir (PLB100002). These ecosystems play a key role in protecting bird habitats and biodiversity, and any changes in water management can affect their condition. This paper presents a detailed hydrological analysis of the Warta River and Jeziorsko Reservoir for 2018–2022, with a focus on low-flow periods. The Peak Over Threshold (POT) method and Q_70% threshold were used to identify the frequency, length, and seasonality of low-flow periods in three water gauge profiles: Uniejów, Koło, and Sławsk. The longest recorded low-flow episode lasted 167 days. The permissible water intake for the investment (up to 0.8 m³∙s^–1) is in accordance with the applicable permits and is used mainly for cooling purposes. Calculations indicate that under maximum intake conditions, the water level reduction in the Jeziorsko Reservoir would be between 1.7 and 2.0 mm∙day^–1, depending on the current level of filling. Such changes do not disrupt the natural functions of the reservoir under typical conditions, although during prolonged droughts, they can pose a threat to protected areas. An analysis of the impact of periodic water overflow into the Kiełbaska Duża River indicates its negligible effect on water levels in the reservoir and flows in the Warta River. The results underscore the need for the integrated management of water and power resources, considering the increasing variability in hydrological conditions. Ensuring a balance between industrial needs and environmental protection is key to minimizing the potential impact of investments and implementing sustainable development principles. Full article

Resonators are passive components that respond to an excitation signal by oscillating at their natural frequency with an exponentially decreasing amplitude. When combined with antennas, resonators enable purely passive chipless sensors that can be read wirelessly. In this contribution, we investigate the properties of dielectric resonators, which combine the following functionalities: They store the readout signal for a sufficiently long time and couple to free space electromagnetic waves to act as antennas. Their mode spectrum, along with their resonant frequencies, quality factor, and coupling to electromagnetic waves, is investigated using a commercial finite element program. The fundamental mode exhibits a too-low overall Q factor. However, some higher modes feature overall Q factors of several thousand, which allows them to act as transponders operating without integrated circuits, batteries, or antennas. To experimentally verify the simulations, isolated dielectric resonators exhibiting modes with similarly high radiation-induced and dissipative quality factors were placed on a low-loss, low permittivity ceramic holder, allowing their far-field radiation properties to be measured. The radiation patterns investigated in the laboratory and outdoors agree well with the simulations. The resulting radiation patterns show a directivity of approximately 7.5 dBi at 2.5 GHz. The sensor was then heated in a ceramic furnace with the readout antenna located outside at room temperature. Wireless temperature measurements up to 700 °C with a resolution of 0.5 °C from a distance of 1 m demonstrated the performance of dielectric resonators for practical applications. Full article

Introduction: Among aortic diseases in children, congenital defects such as coarctation of the aorta (CoA), interrupted aortic arch (IAA), hypoplastic aortic arch (HAA), and hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) predominate. Tissue patches are applied in pediatric cardiovascular surgery for the repair of congenital aortic defects as a filling material to replenish missing tissue or as a substitute material for the complete reconstruction of the vascular wall along the course of the vessel. This retrospective single-center study aimed to present the safety and feasibility of extracellular matrix (ECM) biological scaffolds in pediatric aortic surgery. Patients and methods: There were 26 patients (17 newborns and nine children), who underwent surgical procedures in the Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery (Poznań, Poland) between 2023 and 2024. The patients’ population was divided into two subgroups according to the hemodynamic nature of the primary diagnosis of the congenital heart defect and the performed pediatric cardiovascular surgery. The first group included 18 (72%) patients after aortic arch repair for interrupted aortic arch and/or hypoplastic aortic arch, while the second group included seven (28%) patients after aortopulmonary anastomosis. In the first group, patches were used to reconstruct the aortic arch by forming an artificial arch with three separate patches sewn together, primarily addressing the hypoplastic or interrupted segments. In the second group, patches were applied to augment the anastomosis site between the pulmonary trunk and the aortic arch, specifically at the connection points in procedures, such as the Damus–Kaye–Stansel or Norwood procedures. The analysis was based on data acquired from the national cardiac surgery registry. Results: The overall mortality in the presented group was 15%. All procedures were performed using median sternotomy with a cardiopulmonary bypass. The cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and aortic cross-clamp (AoX) median times were 144 (107–176) and 53 (33–79) min, respectively. There were two (8%) cases performed in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA). The median postoperative stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) was 284 (208–542) h. The median mechanical ventilation time was 226 (103–344) h, including 31% requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation support. Postoperative acute kidney failure requiring hemodiafiltration (HDF) was noticed in 12% of cases. Follow-up data, collected via routine transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and clinical assessments over a median of 418 (242.3–596.3) days, showed no evidence of patch-related complications such as restenosis, aneurysmal dilation, or calcification in surviving patients. One patient required reintervention on the same day due to a significantly narrow ascending aorta, unrelated to patch failure. No histological data from explanted patches were available, as no patches were removed during the study period. The median (Q1–Q3) hospitalization time was 21 (16–43) days. Conclusions: ProxiCor^® biological patches derived from the extracellular matrix can be safely used in pediatric patients with congenital aortic arch disease. Long-term follow-up is necessary to confirm the durability and growth potential of these patches, particularly regarding their resistance to calcification and dilation. Full article

Redox homeostasis in the human body is strictly regulated by reducing molecules, such as glutathione, as well as various antioxidant enzymes. Examination of the antioxidant effects of natural products is necessary in order to prevent and treat various pathological conditions considering the correlation of their occurrence with oxidative stress damage. RJ has been identified as a very potent regulator of many metabolic processes and is considered as a medicinal agent that can cope with the oxidative stress. The present study evaluated the RJ’s ability to scavenge superoxide anion radicals O₂^∙− and modulate the expression of GSTP1 marker in healthy lung fibroblasts (MRC-5 cell line) after 24 h. Assessment was performed with the NBT test and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Our results show that RJ successfully reduced the O₂^∙− concentration for ~12% and upregulated GSTP1 gene expression (1.75 fold-change) whose protein product is responsible for catalyzation of glutathione (GSH) binding to oxidative stress metabolites and their further neutralization in cells. We found that RJ has an important protective effect against oxidative damage of healthy human cells and these properties could be used to explore new resources for pharmacological treatments, as well as to improve application of natural medicine for maintaining human health. Full article

Cooperative Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology can significantly improve data acquisition in Internet of Things (IoT) environments, which are characterized by wide distribution and limited capacity of ground-based devices. However, due to the open nature of wireless communications, such applications face security threats posed by UAV authentication, especially in scalable IoT environments. To address such challenges, we propose a lightweight chain authentication protocol for scalable IoT environments (LCAP-SIoT), which uses Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) and distributed authentication to secure communications, and a secure data collection algorithm, named LS-QMIX, which fuses the LCAP-SIoT and Q-learning Mixer (QMIX) algorithm to optimize the path planning and cooperation efficiency of the multi-UAV system. According to simulation analysis, LCAP-SIoT outperforms existing solutions in terms of computing and communication costs, and LS-QMIX results in superior performance in terms of data collection rate, task completion time, and the success rate of authentication for newly joined UAVs, indicating the feasibility of LS-QMIX in dynamic expansion scenarios. Full article

Uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase (UGT) is a core protein for glycosylation of plant natural products and other small molecules. Although many studies on functional identification of UGTs are now available, analysis of UGTs in Platycodon grandiflorus is still relatively scarce. We identified 107 PgUGTs genome-wide from P. grandiflorus and investigated their phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal localisation, collinearity, cis-regulatory elements, motifs, domains, and gene structures. PgUGT29 and PgUGT72 were two putative glycosyltransferases for platycodins biosynthesis in P. grandiflorus according to our previous study and bioinfornatical analyses. In vitro enzyme activity showed that PgUGT29 can catalyse the glycosylation of the C3 position of Platycodin D (PD) to generate Platycodin D3 (PD3), while candidate enzyme PgUGT72 does not function as a glycosyltransferase. Molecular docking indicated that T145, D392, Q393, and N396 may be the crucial residues for PgUGT29 to catalyse the generation of PD3 from UDP-Glc and PD. In this study, we identified and cloned PgUGT29, elucidated its catalytic function in converting PD to PD3, and predicted key residues critical for its enzymatic activity. These findings provide a theoretical foundation and technical framework for future targeted metabolic engineering and directional regulation of medicinal components in Platycodon grandiflorus. Full article