Search Results (7,574)

Livestock represent a significant source of methane (CH₄) emissions, particularly in pastoral regions. However, in Xinjiang—a pivotal pastoral region of China—the spatiotemporal patterns of livestock CH₄ emissions remain poorly characterized, constraining regional mitigation actions. Here, a detailed CH₄ emissions inventory for livestock in Xinjiang spanning the period 2000–2020 is compiled. Eight livestock categories were covered, gridded livestock maps were developed, and the dynamic emission factors were built by using the IPCC 2019 Tier 2 approaches. Results indicate that the CH₄ emissions increased from ~0.7 Tg in 2000 to ~0.9 Tg in 2020, a 28.5% increase over the past twenty years. Beef cattle contributed the most to the emission increase (59.6% of total increase), followed by dairy cattle (35.7%), sheep (13.9%), and pigs (4.3%). High-emission hotspots were consistently located in the Ili River Valley, Bortala, and the northwestern margins of the Tarim Basin. Temporal trend analysis revealed increasing emission intensities in these regions, reflecting the influence of policy shifts, rangeland dynamics, and evolving livestock production systems. The high-resolution map of CH₄ emissions from livestock and their temporal trends provides key insights into CH₄ mitigation, with enteric fermentation showing greater potential for emission reduction. This study offers the first long-term, high-resolution CH₄ emission inventory for Xinjiang, providing essential spatial insights to inform targeted mitigation strategies and enhance sustainable livestock management in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Full article

Accelerated oxidation experiments on Chinese 0# diesel fuel were performed with a self-designed aging reactor system. Five experimental conditions covering pressures ranging from atmospheric pressure to 0.8 MPa, temperatures ranging from room temperature (25 °C) to 80 °C, and their synergistic effects were adopted to simulate the long-term oxidation of diesel fuel. The extent of deterioration was evaluated based on the measurement of three key indicators, i.e., oxidation stability, wear scar diameter, and viscosity. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) tests were performed, and the measured thermogravimetric (TG) curves and derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) curves were used to evaluate the effects of reactor material, heating rate, bath gas, and reactive gas on the deterioration and vaporization processes of diesel fuel. Based on a comparison of the deterioration indicators of diesel fuel collected from the accelerated oxidation experiments and oil depots serving actual operating emergency diesel generators (EDGs), a rapid assessment method of real-time diesel deterioration was explored. Based on the experimental observations, the affecting mechanisms of the increases in temperature and oxygen partial pressure were discussed. Two test methods of accelerated oxidation, with the respective conditions of 0.8 MPa/80 °C and atmospheric pressure/80 °C, were proposed, which could effectively compress the time needed for long-term storage simulations (e.g., 200 h lab aging equals three years of actual operation). The optional temperature and pressure windows for acceleration oxidation were confirmed (40–80 °C/0.3–0.8 MPa). These results are valuable for the further understanding of the processes of deterioration and vaporization of diesel fuel. Full article

NAC transcription factors are key regulators involved in diverse cellular processes, stress responses, and developmental pathways in plants. However, their roles in female cone development of Torreya grandis, a representative gymnosperm species, remain largely unexplored. In this study, we performed a comprehensive identification and analysis of NAC transcription factors in T. grandis to investigate their potential functions in female cone development. A total of 82 TgNAC members containing conserved NAM domains were identified, distributed unevenly across 11 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis with Arabidopsis NACs classified them into 15 groups, with TgNACs represented in 10 groups and showing a notable enrichment in the TERN clade on chromosome 2. Promoter cis-element analysis revealed correlations between regulatory elements and expression patterns. Tissue-specific expression profiling indicated clear functional specialization, with some TgNACs showing no detectable expression in the examined tissues. During female cone development, several TgNACs were highly expressed in the early stages, whereas TgNAC72, TgNAC76 and TgNAC82 were upregulated during the latter stages. Among these, TgNAC72 exhibited the highest overall expression level. Subcellular localization confirmed TgNAC72 is localized in the nucleus. Dual-luciferase assays further demonstrated that TgNAC72 activates the TgBGLU13 promoter, suggesting its role in starch and sucrose metabolism. Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into the regulatory involvement of TgNACs in reproductive organ development. Full article

Background: Periodontitis is a chronic disease triggered by disturbed oral microbiota. We have previously reported that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) could mitigate early-stage experimental periodontitis but exacerbate the condition in its late stage. Here, we investigated the impact of HGF on the periodontal microbiome during periodontitis progression. Methods: We established ligation-induced periodontitis in wild-type (WT) mice and HGF high-expression transgenic (HGF-Tg) mice. We quantified the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in periodontal tissues, as well as the serum concentrations of CTXI and PINP. Ligatures were collected on days 0, 7, and 28 after ligation for 16S rRNA sequencing and microbial analysis. Results: HGF significantly altered the diversity of ligatures during periodontitis. Interestingly, specific microbial genera, such as Lactobacillus, exhibited opposing trends between the two disease stages of HGF-Tg mice, aligning with the different effects of HGF on periodontitis progression. We also identified some taxa, such as Sphingomonas, associated with IL-6, TNF-α, CTXI, and PINP. The predicted inflammatory pathways (e.g., IL-17 signaling pathways) were enriched in HGF-Tg mice on day 28 but decreased on day 7. Conclusions: HGF exerted different influences on the microbiota of ligatures during early and late stages of periodontitis, which may account for the divergent effects of HGF on periodontitis progression. Full article

Background: Surgical procedures and alterations of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract increase the risk of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which is associated with GI symptoms and complications that compromise postoperative recovery. However, the prevalence and clinical impact of SIBO after various upper GI surgical procedures remain poorly understood. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of SIBO after different types of upper GI surgery and to investigate the associated clinical factors. Methods: We conducted an observational study involving 157 patients with a history of upper GI surgery: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), laparoscopic single-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB), subtotal (STG) or total gastrectomy (TG), subtotal (SP)or total pancreatectomy (TP), cephalic duodenopancreatectomy (WR), and small bowel resection for Crohn’s disease. A glucose–hydrogen breath test was performed, and demographic, clinical, and treatment-related data were collected. Statistical analyses included t-tests, non-parametric tests, ANOVA, and correlation analyses using R software. Results: At a median follow-up of 25.7 ± 18.1 months, 31% (48/157) of patients tested positive for SIBO. The highest prevalence was observed after RYGB and OAGB (43%), followed by TG (30%), STG (29%), TP/WR (28%), and Crohn’s disease bowel resection (19%). No cases of SIBO were observed after SP. SIBO positivity was significantly associated with bloating and flatulence (p = 0.002), lactose intolerance (p = 0.047), systemic sclerosis (p = 0.042), T2D (p = 0.002), and exposure to adjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.001) and radiotherapy (p = 0.027). In addition, the risk of SIBO increased proportionally with the duration of GI resection or exclusion (p = 0.013). Conclusions: In our study, the prevalence of SIBO after upper GI surgery was 31%, with the highest incidence (43%) observed in metabolic surgery patients. Importantly, adjuvant radio/chemotherapy was associated with an increased risk of SIBO, and extensive small bowel resection or exclusion was strongly associated with an increased risk of SIBO. Furthermore, the limitations of current diagnostic methods, which lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity, highlight the importance of early screening and standardization of diagnostic techniques to improve patient management and outcomes. Full article

Low carbon, low cost and sustainability are important development trends of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). In this study, municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWIBA) was used to replace 5%, 10%, 20% and 30% of quartz sand (QS), respectively, and the effect of the MSWIBA substitution rate on the workability, wet packing density, mechanical properties, shrinkage, resistance to chloride ion corrosion, and resistance to sulfate corrosion of UHPC was studied. The mechanism analysis was carried out by combining X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests, and UHPC heavy metal leaching tests, environmental impact assessment, and economic analysis were conducted. Results show that the active silicon and aluminum components in MSWIBA reacted with cement hydration products to optimize the matrix density. MSWIBA has an internal curing effect, which is beneficial for reducing the shrinkage of UHPC. When the MSWIBA replacement rate is 10%, the 28-day compressive strength of MSWIBA-UHPC is 128.7 MPa, which is equivalent to the benchmark group. The fluidity, corrosion resistance and heavy metal leaching all meet the requirements. The energy consumption, carbon emissions and costs are reduced by 0.22%, 2.30% and 6.67%, respectively. The research results can provide a reference for the development of ecological UHPC with economic, low-carbon and environmental benefits, as well as the harmless disposal and resource utilization of hazardous wastes such as MSWIBA. Full article

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex chronic disease, with a prevalence that has reached alarming proportions in recent decades. In this study, we aimed to analyze the association of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with certain insulin resistance (IR) indicators, according to the gender of the participants enrolled in the PREDATORR study. Biomarkers such as the triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index and its derivates, triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-c), and metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), as well as recent indicators, like cholesterol, HDL, the glucose (CHG) index and its derivates, CHG–body mass index (CHG-BMI), and CHG–waist circumference (CHG-WC), as well as its newly proposed derivates, such as CHG–waist-to-height ratio (CHG-WHtR), CHG–neck circumference (CHG-NC), and CHG–neck-to-height ratio (NHtRs were analyzed in 2080 subjects, divided into two groups, according to gender). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the relationships between IR indicators and T2DM. Regardless of gender, all the analyzed indicators presented statistically significantly higher values in T2DM (+) compared to T2DM (−). For both studied groups, CHG–WHtR had the largest AUROC curve: in males, the AUROC curve was 0.809, the cut-off value being 3.22, with a 70.7% sensitivity and 75.3% specificity; in females, the AUROC curve was 0.840, the cut-off value was 3.20, with a 79.3% sensitivity and 75.5% specificity, respectively. Regardless of gender, the age-adjusted model for multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that TyG and CHG were predictive factors for T2DM. Full article

Biomass pellets are widely used for combustion but can also serve as sustainable feedstocks for pyrolysis. This study examined wood (WP), palm-pruning (PP), reed (RD), and daphne (DP) pellets. We present a compact framework linking composition (proximate/ultimate and lignocellulosic fractions) with TG/DTG, FTIR, TGA-derived indices (CPI, D_dev, R_w), T_pmax and R_av to predict product selectivity and temperature ranges. TG/DTG showed the following sequence: hemicellulose (≈200–315 °C) first, cellulose (≈315–400 °C) with a sharp maximum, and lignin ≈200–600 °C. Low-ash WP and DP had sharper, higher peaks, favoring concentrated devolatilization and condensables. Mineral-rich PP and RD began earlier and showed depressed peaks from AAEM catalysis, shifting toward gases and ash-richer chars. Composition shaped these patterns: higher cellulose increased R_av and CPI; links to T_pmax were moderated by ash. Lignin strengthened a high-T shoulder, while hemicellulose promoted early deacetylation (RD’s 1730 cm⁻¹ acetyl C=O) and release of CO₂ and acids. Correlations (|r| ≥ 0.70) supported these links: VM with total (m_∞) and second stage mass loss; cellulose with R_av and CPI (T_pmax moderated by ash); lignin and O/C with T_f and last stage mass loss; ash negatively with T_i, T_pmax, and m_∞. The obtained results guide the sustainable valorization of biomass pellets by selecting temperatures for liquids, H₂/CO-rich gases or low-ash aromatic chars. Full article

This study investigated the effects of asparagus powder supplementation on blood glucose regulation, insulin, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in overweight and obese individuals. Forty-four adults aged 18–59 years participated in a 12-week randomized controlled trial and were randomly assigned to receive either asparagus powder (40 mg/kg/day) or a placebo (maltodextrin, 40 mg/kg/day). Assessments included an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and β-cell function (HOMA-B), lipid profile, and oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], protein carbonyl, and superoxide dismutase [SOD]). In the asparagus group, OGTT at 30 min and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) significantly decreased, while SOD activity significantly increased (all p < 0.05). In contrast, the placebo group showed significant increases in OGTT at 30 min, insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-B, triglycerides (TG), the TG/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, and the total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C ratio (all p < 0.05). Between-group comparisons indicated that FBG, area under the BG curve at 30–120 min, TG, TG/HDL-C, and MDA levels were significantly lower in the asparagus group than in the placebo group (all p < 0.05), whereas OGTT, LDL-C, SOD activity, insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-B, and TC/HDL-C did not differ significantly. Other indices, including TC, HDL-C, and protein carbonyl, showed no significant within- or between-group differences. In conclusion, 12 weeks of asparagus powder supplementation partially improved glycemic control, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in overweight and obese individuals. These findings suggest a potential role of asparagus as a complementary nutritional strategy to reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in this population. Full article

Background/Objectives: The search for new bioactive molecules increasingly extends beyond conventional medicinal plants, highlighting the importance of exploring alternative botanical sources. Parasitic plants represent a promising but underexploited reservoir of pharmacologically relevant compounds. Cuscuta australis (CA), a parasitic species with a history of traditional use, remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to investigate its phytochemical composition and evaluate its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties. Methods: The phytochemical profile of CA extract was characterized by LC-MS. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using DPPH and ABTS assays. In vivo hepatoprotection was evaluated in male rats subjected to CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity and treated orally with CA (30 or 60 mg/kg body weight). Biochemical, lipid, oxidative stress, and histological parameters were determined. Molecular docking was conducted to predict the binding of major identified compounds against selected protein targets. Results: CA significantly and dose-dependently improved biochemical and histological markers. At 60 mg/kg, ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin were reduced by 32%, 33%, 63%, and 51%, respectively. Lipid metabolism was improved by decreased TC, TG, and LDL-C with increased HDL-C. Antioxidant defense was enhanced through elevated CAT, SOD, and GPx activities, accompanied by reduced MDA levels. TNF-α and IL-6 decreased by 48% and 53%, respectively. Histopathology confirmed hepatoprotection and reduced fibrosis. Docking studies revealed strong binding affinities (−7.07 to −19.20 kcal/mol) for several metabolites, notably quercetin glucoside, diosmetin glucoside, caffeic acid glucoside, feruloylquinic acid, and isorhamnetin glucoside, against CYP450, IL-2, TNF-α, and IL-6. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that C. australis is a promising source of bioactive compounds with hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, and anti-inflammatory effects, supporting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent. Full article

MicroRNA (miRNA), as a key post-transcriptional regulatory factor, plays a crucial role in embryonic development. The coordination of endoderm cell convergence and cardiac precursor cell (CPC) migration is critical for cardiac tube fusion. Defects in endoderm can impair the normal migration of CPCs towards the midline, leading to cardia bifida. Although the role of the microRNA-183 family (miR-183, miR-96 and miR-182) in cardiovascular diseases has been reported, the mechanism by which they regulate early heart development remains unclear. In this study, we used zebrafish as a model to elucidate the roles of the microRNA-183 family in early heart development. miRNA mimics were injected into Tg (cmlc2: eGFP) and Tg (sox17: eGFP) transgenic embryos to overexpress the miR-183 family. The results showed that, at 36 hpf, single or co-injection of miR-183/96/182 mimics caused defects in endoderm convergence, with a hole in the endoderm, and a significant down-regulation of the endoderm marker gene sox32. Additionally, embryos with single or co-injection of miR-183/96/182 mimics exhibited cardia bifida and tail blisters, with significantly down-regulated expression levels of genes related to heart development, including cmlc2, vmhc, amhc, nppa, gata4, gata5, nkx2.5, bmp2b, and bmp4. The phenotype caused by overexpression of the miR-183 family is highly consistent with loss of the sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor S1Pr2. Bioinformatics analysis result found that miR-183 can bind to 3′-UTR of the s1pr2 to regulate its expression; overexpression of miR-183 led to a significant decrease in the expression of the s1pr2 gene. Dual luciferase assay results suggest that s1pr2 is a bona fide target of miR-183. In summary, the miR-183 family regulates endoderm convergence and cardiac precursor cell migration via the S1Pr2 signaling pathway. This study reveals that the miR-183 family is a key regulatory factor in endoderm convergence and cardiac precursor cell migration during the early zebrafish development, elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying early cardiac precursor cell and endoderm cell movement. Full article

This study presents an integrated approach to processing the heavy fraction of coal tar (HFCT) using oil shale (OS) from Shubarkol Komir JSC to simultaneously increase the yield of valuable hydrocarbon fractions and extract rare and dispersed trace elements. The lack of data on the effect of shale on the process and the kinetics of multi-component “tar + shale” systems limits the development of effective technologies. TG/DTG analysis was combined with the Friedman, Ozawa–Flynn–Wall, and Šesták–Berggren methods for the first time to evaluate the role of oil shale (OS). It was shown that the addition of 13% OS provides a sustained reduction in activation energy (~85–86 kJ/mol) and optimal conditions for hydrometallization. At 420 °C, an initial H₂ pressure of 4 MPa, and a reaction time of 60 min, the yield of light fractions reaches 62.6%, and the solid residue concentrates Ti, Mo, Ge, and other rare and dispersed elements reach up to 66,000 g/t in total. The possibility of extracting Ge using the Purolite C100 sorbent has also been confirmed. The novelty of the study lies in demonstrating the donor–catalytic effect of shale and the practical prospects of solid residue as a secondary mineral raw materials. Full article

Background: While elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a known risk factor for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), it remains unclear whether autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) modifies this association. Clarifying this interaction is critical for personalized risk assessment and TSH suppression therapy. Methods: This study performed a retrospective analysis including 2425 participants who underwent thyroidectomy for thyroid nodules. Participants were categorized based on histological AT diagnosis and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) levels. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between thyroid parameters and DTC risk, stratified by AT and autoantibody status. Results: The prevalence of histological diagnosed AT, TgAb-positivity, and TPOAb-positivity among DTC patients was 31.58%, 13.68%, and 18.76%, respectively. An increase in one standard deviation in TSH, thyrotrophic thyroxine resistance index (TT4RI), and TSH index (TSHI) was associated with an elevated risk of DTC in euthyroid individuals without AT or positive thyroid autoantibodies. A positive and nonlinear association between TSH and DTC risk in euthyroid patients without AT was identified, with inflection points at TSH levels of 1.32 mIU/L. In subgroups characterized by concurrent AT, TgAb-positivity, or TPOAb-positivity, these thyroid parameters showed no statistically significant correlation with DTC risk. Conclusions: The association between TSH and DTC risk varies according to autoimmune thyroiditis status. These findings highlight the importance of considering thyroid autoimmunity in thyroid cancer risk assessment and warrant prospective evaluation to determine its potential implications for TSH suppressive therapy. Full article

Background: Spexin is a neuropeptide involved in various physiological functions, including energy metabolism, appetite regulation, and weight loss. This study aimed to identify correlations between circulating spexin levels, obesity, and insulin resistance (IR) in Korean children and adolescents. Methods: We included 128 Korean children and adolescents in the study. Among them, 69 individuals (53.9%) were classified as obese, 43 (33.6%) were considered overweight, and 16 (12.5%) had a normal weight. We recorded participants’ anthropometric parameters, fasting biochemical parameters, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and assessed their correlations with plasma spexin levels. Results: Plasma spexin levels were significantly lower in obese subjects than in controls (mean, 163.1 vs. 198.4 pg/mL; p = 0.01). Subjects with IR had lower spexin levels than those without IR (mean, 145.3 vs. 185.1 pg/mL; p < 0.001). Spexin levels were negatively correlated with the BMI SDS (r = −0.30; p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (r = −0.33; p < 0.001), fasting insulin (r = −0.41; p < 0.001), HOMA-IR value (r = −0.41; p < 0.001), triglyceride (TG) level (r = −0.38; p < 0.001), and plasma leptin level (r = −0.26; p = 0.004). In multivariate analysis, HOMA-IR and TG levels were independently associated with plasma spexin levels (p < 0.001 for both). Mediation analyses suggest a potential bidirectional relationship between obesity-related reductions in circulating spexin and insulin resistance. Conclusions: Decreased circulating spexin levels were associated with obesity and IR among Korean children and adolescents. Our findings suggest a link between circulating spexin, obesity, and IR in this population. Full article

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films were modified by direct fluorination using fluorine gas at room temperature and 660 torr for reaction times ranging from 10 min to 5 h. Some of the fluorinated samples were dried at 70 °C for 7 days. FT-IR and XPS analyses confirmed the successful incorporation of fluorine into the PET structure, with the formation of -CHF- and -CF₂- groups. The degree of fluorination increased with the reaction time, but excessive reaction led to the formation and loss of CF₄. Drying further decreased the fluorine content due to the continued CF₄ formation. XRD revealed that fluorination increased the crystallinity of PET owing to increased polarity, whereas drying decreased the crystallinity owing to increased crosslinking. The DSC results showed an increase in the glass transition temperature (T_g) after fluorination and drying, which was attributed to increased polarity and crosslinking, respectively. The surface hydrophilicity of PET increased significantly with fluorination time, and the water contact angle decreased to as low as 3.35°. This was due to the introduction of polar fluorine atoms and the development of a rough and porous surface morphology, as observed by AFM. Interestingly, drying of the fluorinated samples led to an increase in the water contact angle, with a maximum of 85.95°, owing to increased crosslinking and particle formation on the surface. This study demonstrates a simple and effective method for controlling the hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of PET surfaces via direct fluorination and drying. Full article