Search Results (221)

In this study, two new species, Lecidella biformis Y. S. Feng & Y. Y. Zhang and L. versicolor Y. S. Feng & Y. Y. Zhang, are described from Anhui Province, China, based on morphological, chemical, and molecular evidence. Phylogenetic analyses show that these two new species, together with L. albida Hafellner, form a well-supported clade characterized by small apothecia (less than 0.5 mm in diameter), a hyaline, yellowish-brown or nut-brown hypothecium, and the presence of atranorin. Lecidella biformis is distinguished by dimorphic apothecia, ranging from brown with a paler margin to entirely brown, a blackish-brown or nut-brown epithecium, a yellowish-brown or nut-brown hypothecium, and the presence of atranorin and methyl 2′-O-methylmicrophyllinate. Lecidella versicolor is characterized by apothecia that are yellow to reddish-brown when young and nut-brown at maturity, an orange-brown epithecium, a hyaline to yellowish-brown hypothecium, anastomosed paraphyses, and the presence of atranorin only. Detailed descriptions, discussions, and illustrations are provided for the new species, along with a key to all known Lecidella species from China. Full article

Traditional handmade papers from China, Japan, and Korea, including Xuan paper, Washi, and Hanji, are difficult to distinguish visually because they share cellulose-rich compositions and similar appearances. This study applied near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) and machine-learning classifiers to identify selected traditional handmade papers by country and product type. Spectra in the 1250–1700 nm region were analyzed using k-nearest neighbors, support vector machines, and artificial neural networks. The models achieved high classification performance, with F1-scores of up to 1.000, and Y-scrambling confirmed that the results were not attributable to random class assignment. SHAP analysis identified important wavelength regions near 1256, 1360, 1404, 1449, 1537, 1576, 1635, and 1685 nm, which were associated with C–H, O–H, phenolic, hydrogen-bonded polysaccharide, and lignin-related vibrations. These bands varied among paper groups and provided chemically meaningful information for classification, while SAM visualization revealed pixel-level spectral similarity. These results show that NIR-HSI provides a compact, nondestructive, and interpretable approach for classifying selected East Asian handmade papers. Full article

Background/Objectives: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaque deposition, which impairs several cellular processes, including autophagy. Considering the multifactorial nature of AD, the development of therapies acting on alternative molecular targets is necessary. In this study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effect of a molecule from the hydrozoan Eudendrium carneum and investigated its impact on autophagy-related pathways. Methods: The secretion of E. carneum was fractionated by RP-HPLC according to its neuroprotective activity in SH-SY5Y cells exposed to oAβ42, evaluated using LDH and MTT assays. The purified molecule (named EC5), characterized by mass spectrometry, was evaluated regarding in silico toxicity and calcium dynamics. Neuronal lysosomal morphology was assessed using the LysoTracker probe, and cathepsin D activity was determined using a synthetic substrate. The expression of autophagy-related proteins (mTOR, LAMP-1, and LC3B) was evaluated by dot blotting, and amyloid plaque clearance was quantified using Thioflavin-T staining. Results: The steroid glycoside putatively identified as Sarmentoside B (EC5) exhibited neuroprotective effects and showed no toxicity or alterations in neuronal calcium or sodium channel dynamics. EC5 restored lysosomal morphology and cathepsin D activity, reversing the impairment induced by oAβ42. Furthermore, EC5 reduced mTOR expression, and this interaction was supported by molecular docking analysis. Lysosomal restoration promoted the clearance of oAβ42 aggregates, as evidenced by Thioflavin-T staining, resulting in reduced neuronal death. Conclusions: EC5, putatively identified as Sarmentoside B, exerts neuroprotective effects against oAβ42-induced toxicity by promoting autophagy-related amyloid clearance, highlighting its therapeutic potential for AD. Full article

Nanotechnology has attracted increasing attention in agricultural and environmental research, but the biological effects and potential risks of nanoparticles based on non-essential elements remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated the physiological and biochemical responses of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings to yttrium oxide nanoparticles (Y₂O₃ NPs) and zirconium oxide nanoparticles (ZrO₂ NPs) at 5, 25, and 100 mg/L under hydroponic conditions. The results showed that neither Y₂O₃ nor ZrO₂ NPs significantly affected visible growth traits or SPAD-based leaf chlorophyll status, suggesting that seedling morphology and leaf greenness remained relatively stable during exposure. However, both nanoparticles induced distinct biochemical responses. Y₂O₃ NPs caused root-level stress-like responses, including increased malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and suppressed peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities under specific exposure conditions. In contrast, ZrO₂ NPs were more closely associated with the activation of antioxidant defenses, particularly through enhanced POD activity and increased root CAT activity. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis further showed that Y and Zr were mainly retained in roots, with root Y reaching 5014.12–11,255.05 mg kg⁻¹ dry weight (DW) under Y₂O₃ NP exposure and root Zr reaching 189.68 mg kg⁻¹ DW under high-concentration ZrO₂ NP exposure. Bio-transmission electron microscopy (bio-TEM) supported the root-dominant localization of nanoparticle-associated electron-dense aggregates. These findings indicate that Y₂O₃ and ZrO₂ NPs exert material-specific effects on rice seedlings, with root accumulation and antioxidant regulation serving as more sensitive indicators than visible growth traits. However, further research is needed to clarify the long-term environmental fate of Y₂O₃ and ZrO₂ NPs and to assess their potential ecological and food safety risks in agricultural systems. Full article

This study investigated the synergistic potential of mulberry leaf extract and Trolox against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells. Cells were treated with the combination for 24 h prior to exposure to 200 µM H₂O₂. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, while oxidative status was evaluated through measurements of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and apoptosis-related proteins, including p53, cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), were determined by Western blot analysis. The combination treatment markedly upregulated SIRT1 expression, which was associated with increased CREB and Bcl-2 expression alongside reduced p53 and Bax levels. Increased SIRT1 expression was also accompanied by significant reductions in ROS and MDA levels and restoration of antioxidant enzyme activities. Collectively, these effects contributed to attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptosis, resulting in improved cell viability. These findings may support the formulation as a promising functional food-based strategy against oxidative stress-induced neuronal damage. However, these results are based on an in vitro SH-SY5Y cell model and represent preliminary evidence, warranting further in vivo and clinical studies to confirm their translational potential. Full article

Sintering additives play a decisive role in the densification behavior, mechanical properties, and thermal conductivity of silicon nitride ceramics. In this study, Mg₂Si and YH₂ were used as sintering additives for gas pressure sintering of silicon nitride based on the synergistic mechanism of “silicide silicon extraction-hydride dehydrogenation”. The regulation rules of the additives on ceramic densification, mechanical properties, and thermal conductivity were systematically investigated. Two optimization strategies were proposed for the technical route of replacing traditional oxide additives with non-oxide systems. (i) Rare-earth hydride YH₂ was used to replace traditional rare-earth oxides. It reacts with SiO₂ to achieve strong deoxidation and precisely regulate the liquid phase composition. (ii) Metal silicide Mg₂Si was used to replace metal oxides. It promotes the preferred growth of β-Si₃N₄ grains, consumes oxygen in the system, and reduces lattice defects. Mg₂Si introduces Si into the liquid phase, increasing the Si/O ratio, which lowers lattice oxygen content and supports higher thermal conductivity. YH₂ consumes SiO₂ on the Si₃N₄ surface, which reduces liquid phase oxygen content and inhibits lattice oxygen incorporation, promoting a liquid phase with a high N/O ratio. Compared with traditional Y₂O₃, YH₂ increases the Y₂O₃/SiO₂ ratio in the liquid phase. It promotes grain growth, reduces SiO₂ activity, and further improves the thermal conductivity of ceramics. Silicon nitride ceramics prepared by gas pressure sintering at 1750 °C with 3 wt.% Mg₂Si and 4 wt.% YH₂ composite additives exhibit the highest thermal conductivity of 87 W/(m·K), with a Vickers hardness of 14.36 GPa and a flexural strength of 643.15 MPa. This study provides an innovative idea for the preparation of high-performance silicon nitride heat dissipation substrates. Full article

Sugar beet cultivation in Europe is threatened by two vector-borne diseases: syndrome “basses richesses”, caused by the phloem-limited pathogen ‘Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus’, and phytoplasmoses associated with ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’ subgroup 16SrXII-A and the related subgroup 16SrXII-P. Infections lead to reduced sugar yield, biomass and growth abnormalities. In Germany, Pentastiridius leporinus represents the main vector. Despite their importance, genetic diversity remains poorly understood. During a two-year survey, barcoded amplicons were generated from infected sugar beet samples from Germany and neighbouring countries using the phytoplasma markers 16S rRNA-ITS-23S rRNA, tuf, and groEL-stamp-nadE, as well as rplO-secY-rpmJ and groEL for ‘Ca. A. phytopathogenicus’. Amplicon pools underwent single-molecule real-time sequencing and amplicon-sequence-variant inference. Additionally, planthopper samples from sugar beet in Germany were analysed and compared to sugar beet data for ‘Ca. A. phytopathogenicus’. No genetic diversity of ‘Ca. A. phytopathogenicus’ was detected, whereas 16SrXII-A and -P showed variation below the subgroup level. 16SrXII-A exhibited higher diversity than 16SrXII-P. In Germany, 16SrXII-A formed a single cluster, while 16SrXII-P comprised two clusters based on 16S rRNA-ITS-23S rRNA. In neighbouring countries, only 16SrXII-A showed diversity, resolving up to four clusters by groEL-stamp-nadE. These results provide a basis for the identification of dominant strains supporting comparative variety evaluation for tolerance. Full article

In advanced oxide materials, additive selection is increasingly constrained by the simultaneous requirements of functional response, phase stability, morphology control, processing tolerance, scalability, and critical raw material security. This study develops a ZnO-centered framework to compare boron-based strategies (direct B doping, B₄C/ZnO composite formation, and h-BN/ZnO interface engineering) with rare-earth strategies (Ce/CeO₂, La/La₂O₃, and Y/Y₂O₃). Structural, morphological, chemical-state, and vibrational evidence from XRD, FE-SEM/EDX, XPS, Raman, and FT-IR studies is interpreted through an evidence hierarchy that separates lattice incorporation, surface/grain-boundary segregation, and deliberate secondary-phase or heterointerface formation. The synthesis shows that boron-containing routes usually provide broader phase retention, lower agglomeration tendency, more gradual defect modulation, and greater processing robustness, whereas rare-earth routes offer stronger oxygen-vacancy regulation, redox activity, luminescence tuning, and heterojunction-assisted function but require tighter process control and more rigorous verification of incorporation mode. Reanalysis of seven primary experimental pathways indicates that B₄C/ZnO and h-BN/ZnO are mechanistically non-equivalent: B₄C supports rigid composite-interface growth, while h-BN promotes sheet-mediated interface multiplication and Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars polarization. Türkiye is treated as an illustrative boron-rich producer case within a transferable producer/importer decision model. Dopant selection is therefore framed as a multi-criteria decision involving performance thresholds, reproducibility, technology-readiness potential, and supply-security exposure, not peak output alone. Full article

The Neoproterozoic Wadi Mahasin metavolcanics (WMVs) in the Central Eastern Desert, Egypt, were remapped using Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 imagery and verified by field observations, and their petrogenesis was evaluated using petrography, whole-rock geochemistry, and Pb isotopes. The image processing techniques of decorrelation stretch (DS), band ratios (BR), principal component analysis (PCA), and Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) were applied to three remotely sensed datasets from Landsat-8, Sentinel-2B, and Planet to produce an updated geologic map of the study area. Moreover, two robust supervised classification techniques, maximum likelihood (MLC) and the support vector machine (SVM), enhanced geological contacts, structural elements, and produced classified images by 95.68% and 96%, respectively. The WMV suite comprises metadacite and metarhyolite with SiO₂ contents of 61.8–66.5 and 77.8–79.8 wt.%, respectively, and belongs to a subalkaline calc–alkaline series with a transitional medium- to high-K character at the felsic end. Primitive mantle-normalized patterns show enrichment in LILEs (Rb, U, K, and Pb) and depletion in Nb, Ta, Ti, and P, consistent with subduction-related felsic magmatism. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns are characterized by enriched LREEs, flat to weakly fractionated HREEs ((Gd/Yb)_N ≈ 1.5), and negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.30–0.81). The flat HREE segment suggests melting of a garnet-free source, most plausibly a plagioclase–amphibole-bearing crustal assemblage. Eu/Eu* correlates positively with Sr for the suite as a whole, indicating plagioclase control during differentiation. Metarhyolite samples form a tightly clustered evolved group, whereas metadacites show broader scatter that mainly reflects differentiation. Pb isotopes and crust-like trace-element ratios (high Y/Nb, low Ce/Pb, and low Nb/U) indicate strong crustal involvement. Although assimilation–fractional crystallization from a mantle-derived parent magma cannot be excluded completely, the available isotopic data do not define a simple mantle-to-crust differentiation trend, and the uniformly evolved major- and trace-element signatures favor direct partial melting of felsic continental crust, followed by limited fractional crystallization. The WMV suite is, therefore, interpreted as a mature continental-arc felsic assemblage within the Arabian–Nubian Shield. Full article

Methods: This study explored key study design factors that could impact the precision of pediatric pharmacokinetics (PK) estimation. A virtual pediatric population was constructed, incorporating diverse body weight distribution sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts. These generated weights were aggregated based on age ranges (2–5, 6–11, 12–17, and 2–17 y.o.), and different sample sizes were randomly selected to simulate PK concentrations over an approximately 5 half-lives period for a hypothetical monoclonal antibody. Throughout the simulations, the “true” allometric scaling exponents for the apparent volume of distribution and apparent clearance were consistently assumed to be 1.0 and 0.75, respectively, consistent with physiological and pharmacological knowledge for monoclonal antibodies. The impact of various pediatric study design factors on the model estimates of allometric exponents was then investigated by assuming the generated PK data as observed, with unknown PK parameters and allometric scaling exponent values. The data were subsequently fitted with population PK models, and estimated parameters were compared to “true” values to assess precision. Precision in estimated allometric exponents served as a marker for evaluating how effectively data from various study designs can inform the pediatric PK estimation. Results: Generally, estimates of allometric scaling exponents were more accurate with a larger sample size, proper PK sampling scheme, inclusion of densely sampled adult data, and a broader range of age. Conclusions: Considering the limitations in designing most pediatric studies, these findings support recent regulatory recommendations that standard allometric exponents should be considered in pediatric PK analysis for monoclonal antibodies in general. Full article

Submarine volcanic-hosted iron oxide deposits are critical archives for reconstructing the interplay between hydrothermal activities and marine redox conditions, yet the genesis of these deposits remains controversial. Here, we present a comprehensive geochronological and geochemical study on the Shikebutai iron deposit in the Western Tianshan, northwestern China, to constrain the mineralization age, the source of iron, and deposit genesis. The stratiform-to-lenticular orebodies are hosted within the Late Carboniferous marine volcanic–sedimentary sequence of the Yishijilike Formation. The iron ores consist primarily of hematite and quartz, with minor siderite and barite, exhibiting massive to locally banded textures. SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating of the overlying andesite yields an age of 315.8 ± 1.5 Ma, consistent with the Sm–Nd isochron age of the iron ore samples (319 ± 26 Ma), precisely constraining the mineralization age to the Late Carboniferous (ca. 315–320 Ma). The geochemical compositions of the iron ore samples indicate negligible syn-depositional detrital contamination, as evidenced by low Al₂O₃ (<1.00 wt%) and TiO₂ (<0.20 wt%) contents. Low abundances of trace elements, including Sr (0.33–31.18 ppm), Hf (0.05–1.77 ppm) and Rb (1.49–39.02 ppm), further support the minimal detrital influence. Geochemical signatures, such as pronounced positive Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu = 1.62–7.12, mean 4.14), LREE enrichment ((La/Yb) _(PAAS) = 0.58–4.78), and near-chondritic Y/Ho ratios (mean 28.5), suggest a significant high-temperature (>250 °C) hydrothermal contribution. Moreover, the ε_Nd(t) values of iron ore samples (+1.99 to +2.93) are comparable to those of coeval andesites (+2.75 to +3.44) but exceed those of associated metasiltstones (+0.41 to +0.95), suggesting that ore-forming materials were derived from hydrothermal fluids leaching juvenile crust. The Shikebutai iron deposit exhibits geochemical and mineralogical similarities to modern Red Sea and East Pacific Rise metalliferous sediments, establishing the deposit as a product of active vent-proximal hydrothermal systems rather than marine chemical sediments such as banded iron formations. Full article

Objective: This in vitro study aimed to compare the layer-matched color compatibility of three 3Y/4Y/5Y multilayer zirconia grades marketed in shade A2. Materials and Methods: Disc specimens (18 mm × 1.5 mm) were milled from pre-shaded multilayer zirconia blanks (Katana™ Multi-Layered Zirconia; Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc., Tokyo, Japan) in three grades: UTML (5Y), STML (4Y), and HTML (3Y). Twelve discs per grade were polished and measured on a neutral-gray background (Munsell N7) using a dental spectrophotometer (VITA Easyshade Advance 4.0; VITA Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany) at the incisal, middle, and cervical thirds. Color differences were calculated using CIEDE2000 (ΔE₀₀). Yttria content (wt%) was determined using EDS (JSM-7800F; JEOL Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), and phases were assessed using XRD (X’Pert PRO; Malvern Panalytical, Almelo, The Netherlands); microstructure and grain size were examined using FE-SEM after thermal etching. Statistics: A two-way mixed-design ANOVA with Bonferroni adjustment (α = 0.05) was conducted. Results: A significant incisal-to-cervical gradient was observed within each grade (p < 0.001), whereas layer-matched inter-material differences were small (all ΔE00 < 1.0), i.e., below the commonly accepted perceptibility threshold. EDS confirmed the expected stepwise decrease in Y₂O₃ from UTML to HTML, accompanied by corresponding changes in phase constitution and grain size. Conclusions: Despite compositional and microstructural differences, the three multilayer zirconia grades showed no clinically perceptible layer-matched color differences, supporting their combined use in extended rehabilitations while maintaining the natural-like color gradient across the multilayer blank. Full article

A one-pot green combustion route was developed for the synthesis of ashy single-crystalline NiO nanoparticles using date molasses as a biogenic fuel and complexing medium. The obtained DM–NiO showed phase-pure cubic NiO with an average crystallite size of about 18 nm, a mesoporous texture with a BET surface area of 68.9 m² g⁻¹, a pore volume of 0.59 cm³ g⁻¹, an average pore diameter of 17.6 nm, and a mean particle size of 43.6 ± 8.13 nm. Optical characterization revealed defect-mediated light absorption with an energy gap of 3.11 eV, supporting solar-light-driven activity. In the photocatalytic degradation of pyronin Y, the catalyst exhibited strong pH dependence, reaching its best H₂O₂-free performance at pH 11 with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of 0.0072 min⁻¹, nearly six times higher than that at pH 3. The introduction of H₂O₂ markedly intensified the process, and at 9 mM H₂O₂, the rate constant increased to 0.048 min⁻¹, representing more than a sixfold enhancement over photocatalysis alone, while complete disappearance of the main visible absorption band was achieved within 38 min under solar illumination. Radical trapping experiments identified photogenerated holes and hydroxyl radicals as the dominant oxidative species. The catalyst also retained high activity over four successive cycles, with degradation efficiencies decreasing only slightly from 91.8% to 85.7%. These results demonstrate that date-molasses-assisted combustion synthesis provides a sustainable route to defect-active mesoporous NiO with highly enhanced solar photo-Fenton-like performance for dye-contaminated wastewater treatment. Full article

Polysilicon is widely used in the photovoltaic and semiconductor industries. The presence of trace phosphorus impurities in the trichlorosilane feedstock can severely degrade the quality of polysilicon products. To address the urgent need for complete phosphorus removal of trichlorosilane, in this work, on the basis of the reducing ability of PCl₃ and the stronger Lewis base properties of its oxidation product, POCl₃, we developed an efficient material, xMo/Al₂O₃[y], using Al₂O₃ as the support and Mo species as active substances through a simple and straightforward method. Under the optimized preparation conditions of 7.8% Mo loading and a calcination temperature of 450 °C, the adsorbent exhibited optimal performance in an organic system simulating a trichlorosilane system with a P adsorption capacity of 53.52 mg g⁻¹, achieving near-complete elimination of phosphorus impurities. A series of characterization analyses suggested the following primary removal mechanism: initial oxidation of PCl₃ to POCl₃ by Mo⁶⁺ species, followed by its complexation with Mo sites via Lewis acid-base interactions. Furthermore, surface morphology damage during the removal process and the accumulation of reaction products on the spent adsorbent are the main factors contributing to its deactivation. This work presents an effective strategy for the deep dephosphorization of trichlorosilane. Full article

Background/Objectives: Over the last two decades, there has been a substantial change in the understanding of post-traumatic hypopituitarism (PTHP), which is no longer regarded as a marginal phenomenon. Clinical manifestations of pituitary hormone deficiency are frequently nonspecific, with fatigue and cognitive dysfunction predominating. Given that head injuries currently constitute a global burden for healthcare systems, the aim of the present study was to determine whether self-reported post-mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) symptoms that may indicate hypopituitarism reflect true pituitary insufficiency or are attributable to other hormonal aberrations. The study aimed to assess the relationship between self-reported symptoms of PTHP and hormonal test results following mTBI. Setting: Patients were recruited from a tertiary trauma center Emergency Department (ED) in northern Poland from January 2023 to October 2025. Participants: The participants were adult (18 > y.o.) individuals with mTBI who met the inclusion criteria. Design: This was a prospective cohort study. During their post-head injury admission to the ED, patients had a blood sample taken. The procedure was repeated consecutively after 3, 6 and 12 months. After 6 and 12 months, patients were asked to complete a questionnaire. Methods: Pituitary and thyroid hormones were measured using the chemiluminescence immunoassay method and the heterogenous immunochemiluminescence method. The questionnaire used, Questionnaire for the Assessment of Symptoms of Anterior Pituitary Insufficiency in Patients After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) Hospitalized in the Emergency Department, was designed for the purposes of this study. Results: Self-reported symptoms suggestive of anterior pituitary dysfunction following mTBI were not confirmed by laboratory assessment of pituitary hormones. However, after 6 months, a statistically significant correlation was found between the number of reported symptoms and prolactin levels (ρ = 0.730; p = 0.0013), whereas after 12 months a downward trend in free triiodothyronine (fT3) levels was observed compared with the baseline. Conclusions: Persistent symptoms reported by patients following mTBI at 6 and 12 months, particularly fatigue and impaired concentration, showed statistical associations with prolactin levels at 6 months and lower fT3 levels at 12 months. These findings reflect correlations identified in the statistical analysis and do not support inferences regarding causality or the presence of true PTHP. Full article