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With the increasing application of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in multiple fields, the path planning problem has become a key challenge in the optimization domain. This paper proposes an Improved Artificial Lemming Algorithm (IALA), which incorporates three strategies: the optimal information retention strategy based on individual historical memory, the hybrid search strategy based on differential evolution operators, and the local refined search strategy based on directed neighborhood perturbation. These strategies are designed to enhance the algorithm’s global exploration and local exploitation capabilities in tackling complex optimization problems. Subsequently, comparative experiments are conducted on the CEC2017 benchmark suite across three dimensions (30D, 50D, and 100D) against eight state-of-the-art algorithms proposed in recent years, including SBOA and DBO. The results demonstrate that IALA achieves superior performance across multiple metrics, ranking first in both the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and the Friedman ranking test. Analyses of convergence curves and data distributions further verify its excellent optimization performance and robustness. Finally, IALA and the comparative algorithms are applied to eight 3D UAV path planning scenarios and two amphibious UAV path planning models. In the independent repeated experiments across the eight scenarios, IALA attains the optimal performance 13 times in terms of the two metrics, Mean and Std. It also ranks first in the Monte Carlo experiments for the two amphibious UAV path planning models. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Information and Communication Technologies)

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15 pages, 1018 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evolutionary Optimization for Job Shop Scheduling with Blocking: A Genetic Algorithm Approach

by John Valencia and Elkin Rodríguez-Velásquez

Algorithms 2026, 19(2), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/a19020115 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2026

Abstract

The Blocking Job Shop Scheduling Problem (BJSSP) is a variant of the classical Job Shop Scheduling Problem in which a job completed on one machine cannot be transferred to the next machine until the latter becomes available, causing the current machine to remain blocked. Numerous real-world applications have been modeled as the BJSSP, which is classified as a strongly NP-hard problem. Previous studies indicate that several proposed approaches fail to guarantee the generation of feasible solutions during the search process, thereby requiring a solution reconstruction. In this study, we propose a Genetic Algorithm (GA) designed to operate strictly within the feasible solution space of the BJSSP, where the objective function is the minimization of the makespan. Experimental results show that no specific factor levels significantly influenced the solution quality obtained by the GA across all problem sets. On the other hand, incorporating an assignment operator into the solution representation enhanced the diversity of the population. The proposed GA yields solutions that outperform some of the best-known makespan values for the Lawrence benchmark problems. The runtime of the GA ranged from 20 s for instances with 10 jobs and five machines to 600 s for instances with 30 jobs and 10 machines. Full article

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10 pages, 822 KB

Open AccessArticle

Echocardiographic Red Flags in Wild-Type Transthyretin Amyloidosis: Sex-Specific Gaps for Wall Thickness and Left Ventricular Mass

by Emilio Nardi, Carola Maria Gagliardo, Davide Noto, Carlo Maria Barbagallo, Antonina Giammanco, Gianluca Di Rosa, Federica Bellini, Maurizio Averna and Angelo Baldassare Cefalù

Life 2026, 16(2), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16020237 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2026

Abstract

Background: Wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRwt) diagnosis remains challenging. Echocardiographic “red flags” play a significant role in raising diagnostic suspicion. Methods: Retrospective study including 33 patients diagnosed with ATTRwt. All patients underwent comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation focusing on the red flags for ATTRwt. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was defined as interventricular septal wall thickness (IVST) ≥ 12 mm and/or LV mass indexed for body surface area (LVMI) ≥ 115 g/m² in men and ≥ 95 g/m² in women. Results: Relative wall thickness > 0.42 and early diastolic myocardial velocity < 7 cm/s were detected in 100% of patients. Severe diastolic dysfunction (grade ≥ 3) (72.7%), apical sparing (36.4%), granular sparkling pattern (30.3%), and pericardial effusion (39.4%) were also observed. Females were younger than males (median age 68 vs. 74.5 years), and IVST ≥ 12 mm was lower in females than in males (64.4% vs. 100%, respectively, p < 0.05). The combined criterion of IVST ≥ 12 mm in men and LVMI ≥ 95 g/m² in women was encountered in 100% of the global cohort. Conclusions: IVST is a good predictor of LVH in males but shows limited sensitivity for ATTRwt in females; a gender-differenced approach (IVST for men and LVMI for women) might better stratify for ATTRwt suspicion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Medical Research)

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26 pages, 1080 KB

Open AccessReview

Peripartum Depression as a Heart–Brain–Endocrine–Immune Syndrome: Neuroendocrine, Cardiovascular, and Inflammatory Pathways Underlying Maternal Vulnerability

by Giuseppe Marano and Marianna Mazza

Life 2026, 16(2), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16020236 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2026

Abstract

Peripartum depression (PPD) represents one of the most prevalent and disabling psychiatric conditions among women, yet its underlying biology remains poorly integrated across medical disciplines. Emerging evidence highlights PPD as a prototypical disorder of the heart–brain axis, where neuroendocrine changes, immune activation, and cardiovascular dysregulation converge to shape maternal vulnerability. During pregnancy and the postpartum period, abrupt fluctuations in estrogen, progesterone (P4), and placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) interact with a sensitized hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, altering neural circuits involved in mood regulation, stress reactivity, and maternal behavior. Parallel cardiovascular adaptations, including endothelial dysfunction, altered blood pressure variability, and reduced heart rate variability (HRV), suggest a profound perturbation of autonomic balance with potential long-term implications for maternal cardiovascular health. Neuroinflammation, microglial activation, and systemic cytokine release further mediate the bidirectional communication between the heart and the brain, linking emotional dysregulation with vascular and autonomic instability. Evidence also indicates that conditions such as preeclampsia and peripartum cardiomyopathy share biological pathways with PPD, reinforcing the concept of a unified pathophysiological axis. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the neurobiological, cardiovascular, endocrine, and inflammatory mechanisms connecting PPD to maternal heart–brain health, while discussing emerging biomarkers and therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring integrative physiology. Understanding PPD as a multisystem heart–brain disorder offers a transformative perspective for early detection, risk stratification, and personalized intervention during one of the most biologically vulnerable periods of a woman’s life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Reproductive and Developmental Biology)

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17 pages, 427 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

From Dropout to Classroom: The Role of Mexico’s PROGRESA Education Grants in Reenrollment

by Nieves Valdés

Educ. Sci. 2026, 16(2), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16020216 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2026

Abstract

School dropout remains a persistent challenge in developing countries, undermining human capital accumulation and long-term economic development. This paper examines the extent to which Mexico’s PROGRESA conditional cash transfer program influenced school enrollment and reenrollment decisions by analyzing post-program panel data with a Correlated Random Effects probit model. Results indicate that PROGRESA grants significantly increased school enrollment among girls, with the strongest gains observed at the secondary level. Reenrollment effects for girls were positive only when household childcare responsibilities were limited or when secondary schools were located nearby, highlighting the influence of family and community constraints. In contrast, boys exhibited no consistent response in either enrollment or reenrollment outcomes. These findings indicate that although conditional cash transfers can reduce educational inequality, their lasting developmental impact relies on complementary measures—such as childcare provision and improved school access—that mitigate structural barriers to reenrollment and reinforce the connection between education and inclusive growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics of Education and Prospective Developments in Higher Education)

14 pages, 802 KB

Open AccessArticle

Preoperative Soluble AXL in Plasma Predicts Futility of Resecting Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

by Thomas Samson, Maral Aali, Darien McBride, Thomas Arnason, Sharon E. Clarke, Ravi Ramjeesingh, Lisette Gonzalez-Chavez, Yara Azizieh, Mark J. Walsh, Scott M. Livingstone, Stephanie E. Hiebert, Jeanette E. Boudreau and Boris L. Gala-Lopez

Curr. Oncol. 2026, 33(2), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol33020088 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2026

Abstract

Surgical resection combined with chemotherapy offers the best chance of survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), but many will experience recurrence and early mortality. We examined soluble AXL (sAXL), a blood protein, for its ability to predict 6-month mortality after resection and compared it to CA19-9. Fifty-four patients with PDAC who underwent tumour resection were analyzed to assess biomarker performance and identify optimal cut-off levels. The cut-off for sAXL was 40.26 ng/mL (sensitivity 0.729; specificity 0.643), while it 253.3 U/mL for CA19-9 (sensitivity 0.591; specificity 0.621). Patients with sAXL > 40.26 ng/mL had a non-significant trend toward worse survival (log-rank p = 0.088). Univariate Cox regression revealed that high tumour grade (3 + 4) and positive resection margin significantly predicted early mortality. Multivariate Cox regression showed that sAXL > 40.26 ng/mL remained associated with 6-month mortality (hazard ratio 2.42, bootstrap 95% CI 1.15–5.65, p = 0.020), independent of high tumour grade (hazard ratio 4.02, bootstrap 95% CI 1.68–13.2, p = 0.002). These findings suggest that a preoperative blood test (sAXL) has utility for predicting futile surgery beyond the current standard, CA19-9, and can be incorporated into larger models to assist in risk stratification and follow-up planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surgical Advances in the Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers)

23 pages, 5361 KB

Open AccessArticle

Rheology and Stability of Tunicate Cellulose Nanocrystal-Based Pickering Emulsions: Role of pH, Concentration, and Emulsification Method

by Sumana Majumder, Matthew J. Dunlop, Bishnu Acharya and Supratim Ghosh

Foods 2026, 15(3), 509; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15030509 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2026

Abstract

Tunicate (marine invertebrates)-derived cellulose nanocrystals (T-CNC) possess unique structural and physicochemical properties compared to other wood-based CNCs. This study aimed to characterize and utilize T-CNC as a stabilizer in Pickering emulsion (PE), highlighting a sustainable alternative to conventional surfactant-based emulsifiers. Characterization of T-CNC revealed a rod-shaped morphology with dimensions of 1694 ± 925 nm in length and 13 ± 3 nm in width, resulting in an aspect ratio of 122 ± 45, and high crystallinity (87.6%). Its zeta potential ranged from −4.4 to −45.5 mV across pH 2–10 and contact angles <50° indicate strong water wettability. T-CNC at 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4% (w/w) at pH 3 and 5 was used to prepare 20 wt% oil-in-water PE using a high-shear homogenizer followed by ultrasonication. Ultrasonication significantly improved the emulsion stability compared to only high-shear homogenization, decreasing droplet size by 31.4–50.8% and 55.7–89.3% for pH 3 and pH 5, respectively. PEs developed at pH 3 demonstrated smaller droplet sizes, better stability with minimal coalescence after 7 days, and enhanced gel-like rheological behaviour compared to PEs at pH 5, which displayed flocculation and coalescence. The gel strength of the pH 3 PEs increased with T-CNC concentration, as evidenced by progressively denser droplet packing, consistent with stronger interfacial anchoring (higher detachment energy) and reduced coalescence. This study underscores T-CNC’s superior efficiency in stabilizing PEs at low concentrations, offering a green, high-performance solution for food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Pickering Emulsions in Foods: Potential Applications and Recent Advances)

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26 pages, 13963 KB

Open AccessArticle

Deciphering Drought Response Mechanisms in Oat Through Comprehensive Transcriptomic and Physiological Analysis

by Baiji Wang, Hang Yin, Xinyi Zhang, Xiangpeng Kong, Wenjie Zhao, Rui Qiu, Muzhapaer Tuluhong, Guowen Cui and Bing Li

Plants 2026, 15(3), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15030453 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2026

Abstract

Oat, an important cereal and forage crop, is significantly affected by drought stress during production. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying oat’s response to drought stress remain largely unknown. In this study, K-means clustering classified 28 oat varieties into drought-tolerant (Muda, Mengshi No. 1) and drought-sensitive (Heike, Haywire) groups, with grey relational analysis further verifying MS as the most drought-tolerant and HK as the most drought-sensitive variety. Under drought stress, drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive varieties showed notable differences in leaf chlorophyll content, osmoregulation substances, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Transcriptomic analysis showed that 1915 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were shared among all comparisons between treatment groups and the control group. KEGG pathway analysis revealed enrichment in pathways such as plant–pathogen interactions, plant hormone signal transduction, and starch and sucrose metabolism. In the signal transduction of plant hormones, eight PP2C genes associated with ABA signaling were increased, indicating that oats might respond to drought by enhancing metabolic activities via the ABA signaling pathway. WGCNA identified gene modules significantly associated with physiological traits. Notably, Mantel tests revealed that six core genes exhibited a positive correlation with CAT activity in the drought-tolerant variety, while showing an opposite trend in the sensitive variety. This study provides insights into the mechanisms of drought tolerance in oats and aids in the molecular breeding of drought-tolerant varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crop Physiology and Crop Production)

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19 pages, 1690 KB

Open AccessArticle

Energy, Exergy, and Environmental Analysis of Organic Rankine Cycle Systems for Industrial Waste Heat Recovery Applications

by Manal Aatik and Mohamed Amine Ben Taher

Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1462; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031462 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2026

Abstract

In the context of energy transition and the search for sustainable industrial solutions, waste heat recovery is a promising strategy to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This study investigates the integration of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems for waste heat recovery through a comprehensive 3E (energy, exergy, and environmental) analysis. A Python 3.10-based simulation framework was employed to model ORC performance under varying operating conditions and working fluids. Two case studies were considered: (i) a metallurgical application (specifically, an aluminium production plant) and (ii) two large marine engines (Man S60-MC6 and Wärtsilä 46DF), evaluated in electricity-only and combined heat-and-power (CHP) modes. Results show that neopentane is the optimal fluid for the aluminum industry, achieving 3.5 MW of net power output with zero environmental penalties. For marine engines, efficiency gains reached 7–8% for the Man engine and over 10% for the Wärtsilä engine in electricity mode, with thermal efficiencies exceeding 35% under CHP operation. The study demonstrates the relevance of ORC systems for the energy recovery of waste heat and the integration of sustainable technologies into industrial processes. It helps improve energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and support the energy transition by recovering waste heat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Electrical Engineering: Powering a Greener Future)

28 pages, 2587 KB

Open AccessReview

Evaluating the Impact of Elevated Temperatures on Engineering Properties of Sedimentary Rocks: Insights and Current Trends

by Qianhao Tang, Stephen Akosah, Ivan Gratchev and Jeung-Hwan Doh

GeoHazards 2026, 7(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/geohazards7010019 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2026

Abstract

This paper presents a systematic review of research investigating the effects of elevated temperatures on sedimentary rocks. The literature was selected using keyword-based searches of titles, abstracts, and keywords in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. In total, 107 relevant articles published between 2010 and 2024 were critically examined to address research questions on temperature-treated sedimentary rocks. Furthermore, both bibliometric analysis and systematic synthesis of experimental data were performed. The review identifies sandstone as the most-studied rock type, followed by limestone. It reveals that standard experimental methods include unconfined compressive strength (UCS), Brazilian tensile strength (BTS), and P-wave velocity tests. The study’s findings indicate that a temperature threshold of 400–600 °C governs deterioration in engineering properties, driven by the quartz α–β transition in sandstones and calcite decomposition in limestones. Normalized data show that UCS, BTS, and elastic modulus decline significantly beyond this threshold, while porosity increases. The study highlights the influence of fabric anisotropy, mineralogy, and heating conditions on rock behaviour, and identifies research gaps related to confined testing, real-fire scenarios, and anisotropic rocks. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the literature, the principal factors and processes occurring at different temperature ranges were identified and discussed. Full article

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17 pages, 2759 KB

Open AccessArticle

Leaf Traits Mediate Phyllosphere Bacterial Community Assembly and Their Role in Degrading Traffic-Derived Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

by Zheng Yang, Qingyang Liu, Shili Tian, Yanju Liu, Ming Yang, Ying Liang and Xin Chen

Microorganisms 2026, 14(2), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14020334 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2026

Abstract

Transport emissions are a major source of urban polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), posing risks to human health. While plant leaves and their epiphytic microbes contribute to PAH degradation, how plant traits and environmental factors affect this process remains unclear. This study examined 20 tree species in Beijing’s traffic corridors to explore PAH enrichment on leaves and the structure of phyllospheric bacterial communities. Results show that leaf area, morphology, and sampling height significantly influenced bacterial community assembly. Normalized Stochasticity Ratio (NST) analysis indicated that deterministic processes dominate on medium-sized leaves (11.8–40.1 cm²), simple leaves, and those below 2.3 m or above 3 m in height, whereas stochastic factors prevail on nano leaves, compound leaves, and leaves at low-position (<2.3 m). Although low-molecular-weight PAHs (2–4 rings) were predominant in leaves, Mantel tests revealed significant positive correlations between bacterial communities and high molecular weight PAHs (4–6 rings), such as benz(a)anthracene, benzo[e]pyrene, and picene. Spearman analysis identified 10 dominant bacterial taxa with PAH degradation potential, including Kocuria rosea, Serratia symbiotica, Massilia sp. WG5, and seven unclassified species from Hymenobacter, Sphingomonas, Roseomonas, Curtobacterium, and Deinococcus. Functional Annotation of Prokaryotic Taxa(FAPROTAX) prediction further associated 14 species across six genera, including Acinetobacter, Nocardioides, Gordonia, Rhodococcus, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_18, and Geobacter, with PAH degradation function. This work clarifies the composition and function of phyllospheric PAH-degrading bacteria in an urban traffic environment, offering a theoretical basis for enhancing degradation via bacterial consortia, biosurfactants, and optimized plant selection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Microbiology)

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21 pages, 6597 KB

Open AccessArticle

Summertime Air Pollution Measurements from Temporary Events—Fireworks and Festival Cooking

by Daniel L. Mendoza, Erik T. Crosman, Mamta Chaudhari, Corbin Anderson and Shawn A. Gonzales

Environments 2026, 13(2), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13020079 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2026

Abstract

Air pollution during mass-gathering events such as festivals and firework shows is a growing concern globally. Fireworks at festivals on average almost double the observed particulate pollution levels, while food trucks and associated diesel generators are known to result in very local air pollution hotspots that are an emerging important area of research regarding sources of urban volatile organic compounds. This study adds to the scientific body of evidence of the impact of festival fireworks and cooking pollution in the USA by quantifying the impact of fireworks and cooking emissions during short summer festivals in June and July 2023 in Utah’s Salt Lake Valley using paired PM_2.5, ozone, and BC sensors located at two distances nearby to the sources. Both fireworks and cooking increased PM_2.5 and BC during the evening dinner and firework displays, while evening ozone was observed to drop during fireworks. The ozone concentration reductions during fireworks displays are likely associated with NO_x titration due to fireworks and cooking emissions. Regulating fireworks and cooking emissions during annual festivals has resulted in significant reductions in PM_2.5 pollution and corresponding benefits to human health. These findings can support policy decisions to reduce exposure to emissions locally. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ambient Air Pollution, Built Environment, and Public Health)

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38 pages, 1559 KB

Open AccessArticle

ALF-MoE: An Attention-Based Learnable Fusion of Specialized Expert Networks for Accurate Traffic Classification

by Jisi Chandroth, Gabriel Stoian and Daniela Danciulescu

Mathematics 2026, 14(3), 525; https://doi.org/10.3390/math14030525 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2026

Abstract

Traffic classification remains a critical challenge in the Internet of Things (IoT), particularly for enhancing security and ensuring Quality of Service (QoS). Although deep learning methods have shown strong performance in traffic classification, learning diverse and complementary representations across heterogeneous network traffic patterns remains difficult. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel Mixture of Experts (MoE) architecture for multiclass traffic classification in IoT environments. The proposed model integrates five specialized expert networks, each targeting a distinct feature category in network traffic. Specifically, it employs a Dense Neural Network for general features, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for spatial patterns, a Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU)-based model for statistical variations, a Convolutional Autoencoder (CAE) for frequency-domain representations, and a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) for temporal dependencies. A dynamic gating mechanism, coupled with an Attention-based Learnable Fusion (ALF) module, adaptively aggregates the experts’ outputs to produce the final classification decision. The proposed ALF-MoE model was evaluated on three public benchmark datasets, such as ISCX VPN-nonVPN, Unicauca, and UNSW-IoTraffic, achieving accuracies of 98.43%, 98.96%, and 97.93%, respectively. These results confirm its effectiveness and reliability across diverse scenarios. It also outperforms baseline methods in terms of its accuracy and the F1-score. Full article

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25 pages, 3024 KB

Open AccessArticle

Optimisation of Alginate Extraction and Characterisation of Polysaccharides from Brown Seaweed from the Portuguese Coast

by Joana Corrêa Mendes, Joana F. A. Valente, Fani Sousa, Raul Bernardino, Susana Bernardino, Clélia Afonso and Bárbara Chagas

Mar. Drugs 2026, 24(2), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/md24020060 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2026

Abstract

Alginate is a widely used and versatile biopolymer with an ever-expanding range of applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. This highlights the importance of developing sustainable and renewable production sources. Conventional extraction methods, although effective, are often energy-intensive and rely on harsh chemicals. In this context, brown algae are a promising alternative due to their abundance and renewability. This study investigated the potential of Saccorhiza polyschides and Sargassum muticum as sources of sodium alginate (SA), thus optimising an extraction process that combines acid treatment with an alkaline step. The extracted biopolymers were characterised using FTIR, H-NMR, STA, SEM/EDX, viscosity measurements, dynamic light scattering, and spectrophotometric assays of residual polyphenols and proteins. The optimised extraction conditions produced yields above 20% of high-purity alginate. When compared with commercial SA, the extracted materials showed comparable quality while relying on a simplified, solvent-reduced protocol that improves process efficiency and reduces the environmental impact. These results demonstrate that S. polyschides and S. muticum are promising, locally available sources of high-quality sodium alginate, and that industrially relevant yields (>20%) can be achieved through an environmentally conscious two-step extraction process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Polysaccharides-Based Biomaterials)

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22 pages, 15892 KB

Open AccessArticle

NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibition by Xuanfei Baidu Decoction Attenuates Pulmonary Inflammation and Collagen Deposition in Silicosis

by Qianru Zhao, Junhong Wang, Ziwei Yan, Tao Liu, Lin Ma, Jing Qian, Yu Wang and Rui Shao

Pharmaceuticals 2026, 19(2), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19020253 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Silicosis is a chronic disease caused by long-term exposure to high levels of silica dust, which leads to extensive nodular fibrosis in the lungs. The disease is currently a serious occupational health hazard globally. Xuanfei Baidu decoction (XFBD) is a mature Chinese herbal medicine in China that has shown anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in mouse experiments, making it a promising candidate for addressing the persistent inflammation and fibrosis in silicosis. Methods: Silicosis was induced in male C57BL/6J mice using crystalline silica (CS). XFBD’s early anti-inflammatory role was verified in vitro in peritoneal macrophages (PMs) and in vivo in silicosis mice, while its late anti-collagen deposition and anti-fibrotic activities were further investigated. Results: In vitro, XFBD effectively inhibits the activation of the NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain-associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in CS-induced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-primed PMs, decreases the release of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and modulates the phenotypic transition of macrophages from the M2 to the M1 phenotype. In vivo studies further validated that XFBD significantly downregulates the expression of NLRP3 and Cleaved-Caspase-1 proteins in the lung tissues of mice afflicted with silicosis. Additionally, XFBD enhanced pulmonary function, inhibited collagen deposition and pulmonary fibrosis in silicosis mice, and reversed epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) by regulating key EMT-related proteins to slow fibrosis. Conclusions: The beneficial effects of XFBD on CS-induced pulmonary fibrosis can be attributed to the induction of macrophage polarization-mediated anti-inflammatory responses during the early stage of fibrotic development, as well as its anti-collagen deposition and anti-fibrotic activities during the intermediate stage of fibrotic development. This study provides preclinical evidence supporting XFBD as a promising candidate for prevention or adjunctive therapy, and its multi-target, time-phase mechanism offers a novel rationale and theoretical foundation for the development of new strategies against silicosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pharmacology)

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