Search Results (15,260)

Intestinal health is crucial for the growth and stress resistance of shrimp. Butyrate, a beneficial metabolite of intestinal microbiota and the primary energy substrate for enterocytes, exerts regulatory effects on intestinal health. Butyrates exist in various chemical forms, yet their application in shrimp remains limited. Therefore, in this study, Penaeus monodon were fed diets supplemented with 1% four types of butyrate (monobutyrin, MB; tributyrin, TB; sodium butyrate, SB; poly-β-hydroxybutyrate, PHB) for 56 days, followed by 48 h of acute nitrite stress. A systematic investigation into their influences on the shrimp growth, intestinal health and nitrite stress resistance was conducted. The results showed that the four butyrate types significantly increased the weight gain rate of the shrimp by more than 25% and improved the survival rate under nitrite stress by more than 28% when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). They also improved intestinal mucosal integrity, and enhanced intestinal antioxidant and immune capacities through the activation of the Nrf2 pathway and the upregulation of immune gene expression. Specifically, T-AOC and SOD activities, as well as the expression levels of Nrf2, GPx, Trx, ALF, Pen3, and serP genes, were significantly upregulated in all four butyrate groups, while MDA content was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). In addition, LPO content, CAT and ASC activities, and the expression of HO1, SOD, Crus, and proPO genes exhibited differential changes among the four butyrate groups. Furthermore, the intestinal microflora structure was reshaped by all four butyrate variants, with notable reductions in pathogenic Vibrio alongside elevated abundances of advantageous taxa including Rhodobacteraceae. In conclusion, butyrate can facilitate the growth and anti-stress capacity of P. monodon by improving intestinal health, with the overall efficacy ranked as TB, PHB, MB and SB under the present study conditions. Full article

This study evaluated natural halloysite from the Dunino deposit as a sorbent for Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Cr³⁺ ions from aqueous solutions. Batch experiments were conducted to examine the effects of solution pH, initial metal concentration, contact time, and multicomponent conditions. Equilibrium data were evaluated using the Langmuir and Freundlich models, whereas adsorption kinetics were analyzed using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Weber–Morris intraparticle diffusion models. Metal uptake increased markedly between pH 3 and 5, while changes between pH 5 and 7 were smaller. Nonlinear Langmuir fitting yielded maximum adsorption capacities ranging from 47.68 to 63.87 mg g⁻¹, with the highest values obtained for Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺. The pseudo-first-order model provided a closer empirical description of the kinetic data than the pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption profiles approached a plateau after approximately 480–720 min. SEM, FTIR, and nitrogen adsorption measurements revealed changes in surface morphology, the chemical environment of surface functional groups, and nitrogen-accessible surface area after metal loading. These observations are consistent with the involvement of surface sites but do not identify a unique molecular adsorption mechanism. Acidic desorption using 0.1 M HCl released 75.0–92.5% of the retained metals, compared with 25.0–47.5% under alkaline conditions. The results support further evaluation of natural halloysite as a mineral sorbent, including matched competition experiments and repeated adsorption–desorption cycles. Full article

The development of biodegradable polymer composites from renewable resources is important for reducing dependence on petroleum-based plastics and improving the sustainability of short-life-cycle products. However, poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blends are generally immiscible, and the reinforcing effect of alkali-treated hemp stem fiber (HSF) on their mechanical, thermal, rheological, morphological, and biodegradation behavior remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates PBS/PLA biocomposites prepared at fixed blend ratios of 90/10 and 80/20 wt.% and reinforced with 5–20 phr alkali-treated HSF. Hemp stem fibers are treated using 5 wt.% NaOH, dried, sieved, and compounded with PBS/PLA blends in an internal mixer at 190 °C and 50 rpm for 15 min, and fabricated by hot compression molding at 190 °C for 13 min. The incorporation of HSF improves composite stiffness, with the highest Young’s modulus of 306 MPa observed for the 80/20/15 composition, representing a 71% increase over neat PBS. The maximum flexural strength reaches 48 MPa for 90/10/20, while the highest flexural modulus reaches 1377 MPa for 80/20/20, representing improvements of 21% and 77%, respectively. In contrast, tensile stress at break and elongation at break generally decrease with HSF incorporation because localized fiber agglomeration, incomplete matrix wetting, and interfacial gaps limit effective stress transfer, particularly at higher HSF loadings. The MFR exhibits composition-dependent, non-monotonic behavior. The addition of PLA initially increases the MFR relative to neat PBS, whereas higher HSF loadings generally reduce the MFR due to restricted polymer chain mobility and increased resistance to melt flow. FT-IR results indicate no strong chemical interactions among PBS, PLA, and HSF, while DSC shows nearly unchanged melting temperatures but composition-dependent changes in PBS crystallinity and crystallization behavior. FESEM confirms a phase-separated PBS/PLA morphology with embedded HSF. Soil burial tests show increased weight loss with higher HSF content and exposure time, confirming enhanced biodegradation. Full article

Aquatic animals are increasingly exposed to complex mixtures of emerging environmental toxicants, including microplastics, nanoplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). This raises serious concerns for reproductive health, offspring survival rates, and long-term population stability. This narrative review synthesizes the available peer-reviewed evidence on the reproductive and developmental effects of these contaminant groups in aquatic animals. Growing evidence indicates that these contaminants adversely affect reproductive processes, impair offspring development, and reduce survival and fitness across a wide range of aquatic species. Their effects are mediated through interconnected pathways involving oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and epigenetic alterations, ultimately leading to reproductive and developmental abnormalities. These changes may weaken wild fish populations, reduce aquaculture productivity, and compromise aquatic biodiversity. However, interpretation of the available evidence is constrained by substantial heterogeneity in species, contaminant properties and concentrations, exposure durations, and reproductive endpoints, together with the predominance of laboratory-based single-contaminant studies. This review integrates current knowledge on the reproductive and developmental impacts of emerging contaminants by connecting mechanistic toxicity pathways with population-level and ecosystem consequences. Overall, this review emphasizes that protecting aquatic reproductive health requires an integrated framework linking contaminant monitoring, mechanistic biomarkers, reproductive performance, and ecosystem-level risk assessment. Full article

Photochromic materials have attracted widespread interest for an innate ability to change color in response to UV-B light without electronic integration. Major challenges toward the realization of sensors based on these materials are the lack of color change reversibility and chemical stability of the photochromic dyes. Here, we demonstrate the use of slot-die coating to develop flexible plastic and textile integrated films capable of color changes under UV-B light exposure. The films change from near colorless to amber orange with UV-B exposure and revert to near colorless when heated at 100 °C. The films show a stronger response to UV-B light (compared to longer wavelength light) and exhibit in-lab ambient condition stability. This work has potential relevance for materials science and health care applications and contributes to the development of non-electronic UV light-sensing materials. Full article

Bacterioruberin (BR), a C₅₀ carotenoid produced by halophilic archaea, is emerging as a bioactive molecule with potential anticancer relevance, but its activity in solid tumour and multidrug-resistant (MDR) models remains poorly defined. This in vitro study evaluated the cytotoxic, antiproliferative and growth-inhibitory effects of a chemically characterized bacterioruberin-rich carotenoid extract (BRCE) from Haloferax (H.) mediterranei in A549 lung adenocarcinoma, BT-549 triple-negative breast cancer and WM115 melanoma cells, as well as in paired sensitive/multidrug resistant (MDR) lung cancer models. Metabolic activity and proliferation were assessed by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFDA-SE) assays, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) by 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H₂DCFDA) staining, and apoptosis-associated morphology by acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining. Growth inhibition in A549/A549-CDR2 and NCI-H460/NCI-H460/R cells was analysed by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay, while P-glycoprotein (P-gp) function and expression were examined using Rhodamine 123 (Rh123) accumulation and Western blotting. BRCE reduced metabolic activity and proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, increased intracellular ROS levels, and induced apoptosis-associated morphological changes in A549 cells. In MDR models, BRCE retained comparable growth-inhibitory activity in sensitive and resistant cells and partially attenuated P-gp-related drug efflux. These findings support further mechanistic investigation of BR in solid tumour and MDR cancer models. Full article

Anthropogenic pressure on aquatic environments is currently associated not only with the inflow of nutrients, but also with the presence of municipal micropollutants and complex mixtures of sewage origin. This study aimed to evaluate the growth response of Lemna minor (L. minor) and the behavior of the plant–medium system under conditions of a controlled chemical gradient reflecting an increasing degree of anthropogenic transformation of the aquatic environment. The experimental setup included four synthetic media: two variants of river water with varying anthropogenic loads and two variants of synthetic wastewater, one of which was enriched with caffeine as a marker of municipal pressure. The experiment was conducted in two independent 14-day series, analyzing changes in nitrate and orthophosphate concentrations, pH, conductivity, plant morphological condition, and final biomass. The most favorable growth conditions for L. minor were found in the river variants, especially in the medium with higher loading, whereas the wastewater variants caused growth inhibition, deterioration in plant condition, and greater instability of physicochemical parameters. In the wastewater media, nitrate concentrations did not show a consistent net decrease, while orthophosphate concentrations remained high. These observations indicate that the measured nutrient forms were not effectively reduced under the tested conditions. However, the processes responsible for their temporal patterns could not be identified from the monitored parameters. The addition of caffeine modified the system’s response, but its effect was not quantitatively consistent across both series. The results confirm the usefulness of synthetic media for modeling anthropogenic pressure gradients. Full article

Agribusiness is the main economic activity in northeastern Yucatán, México. The production of forage grasses for livestock feed requires weed control, achieved through chemical methods, with the herbicide 2,4-D being the most widely used in the region. This research quantified the presence of 2,4-D in groundwater in Sucilá, Yucatán, during 2023. Twenty ranches with different stocking rates (organisms/hectare) were evaluated. Groundwater samples and soil cores were collected in two climatic seasons (dry and rainy) to relate soil properties and herbicide concentration to the weather. The results showed that the concentration of 2,4-D was higher during the rainy season (September 2023), with values between 1.6 and 3.6 mg 2,4-D/L, but no differences were observed among stocking rates. Soil organic matter was different between seasons, and cation exchange capacity changed among stocking rates. Continuous irrigation, coupled with the application of agrochemicals, is likely impairing the water quality of groundwater in this area of the Yucatan. Full article

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are key precursors of ozone and secondary pollutants, yet transport-related changes in their composition between upwind and downwind regions remain insufficiently characterized. Simultaneous high-time-resolution measurements were conducted at an urban site in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA) and a suburban downwind site in Chuncheon, South Korea, from 3 to 18 June 2024. Thirteen VOC species were measured using proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) and evaluated using backward trajectory clustering, concentration-weighted trajectory analysis, ozone formation potential (OFP), and a toluene-to-benzene ratio-based photochemical aging proxy. The summed concentration of the 13 measured VOC species was higher in SMA (40.24 ± 19.41 ppb) than in Chuncheon (18.28 ± 6.39 ppb), while oxygenated VOCs accounted for approximately 80% at both sites. In Chuncheon, VOC composition and OFP varied descriptively among air-mass clusters, with westerly and southwesterly pathways passing through or near SMA associated with relatively elevated aromatic VOC concentrations and OFP. Equivalent photochemical age overlapped substantially among clusters and was not directly proportional to VOC concentration or OFP. These results indicate that downwind VOC characteristics reflect the combined effects of source composition, transport, dilution, atmospheric mixing, and chemical processing. Full article

The review covers research on dual-target antitumor agents over the past five years. One of the targets is histone deacetylases (HDACs), while the second potential target is a protein group located both on the membrane surface (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL), tyrosine protein kinase (HER2), FMS-like tyrosine kinase (FLT3), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR2)) and in the nucleus (serine/threonine protein kinase Wee1, DNA methyltransferase (DNMT), dual-specificity phosphatase (CDC25A), an enzyme from the cyclin-dependent kinase family (CDK9), dual-specificity tyrosine-serine/threonine kinase (DYRK2), and BET family proteins (BRD4, BD1, and BD2)). This review presents the results of studies on the inhibitory activity of various HDAC isoforms and other enzymes, as well as in vitro cytotoxicity studies on both neoplastic and healthy cells. It also includes selectivity studies, in vivo experiments (changes in tumor volume in mice) and oral bioavailability assessments. The review also describes the chemical structures of several dual-target agents and identifies the molecular fragments responsible for inhibiting different targets. Based on the studies reviewed in this paper, it can be concluded that some dual inhibitors have superior in vitro cytotoxicity and exhibit selectivity towards some tumor cells compared to monofunctional reference compounds. These findings may be useful for molecular design in the field of polypharmacology, with the aim of developing new dual-target molecules that exhibit improved antitumor activity and selectivity towards neoplastic cells. Full article

Hydrogen-rich compounds under high pressure are promising for high-temperature superconductivity, but many high-$T_{\mathrm{c}}$ hydrides rely on rare-earth or alkaline-earth elements and remain difficult to tune chemically. Transition-metal hydrides offer an alternative platform because partially filled d states can modify the electronic density of states, metal–hydrogen hybridization, and electron–phonon coupling. Here, ${\mathrm{VH}}_3$ is used as a parent high-pressure transition-metal hydride framework, and Ti substitution is introduced as a chemically compatible way to tune the d-derived states near the Fermi level. Two ternary hydrides, ${\mathrm{Ti}}_3{\mathrm{VH}}_{12}$ and ${\mathrm{TiV}}_3{\mathrm{H}}_{12}$, are therefore constructed from the ${\mathrm{VH}}_3$ lattice and investigated by first-principles calculations at 200 GPa. Both compounds are thermodynamically and dynamically stable under this pressure condition, as indicated by formation energies, the Ti–V–H convex hull, and phonon spectra. Within the same ultrasoft-pseudopotential computational framework, ${\mathrm{Ti}}_3{\mathrm{VH}}_{12}$ and ${\mathrm{TiV}}_3{\mathrm{H}}_{12}$ yield Allen–Dynes $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ values of 42.1 K and 36.8 K, respectively, higher than the corresponding ${\mathrm{VH}}_3$ value. A norm-conserving cross-check for ${\mathrm{VH}}_3$ gives a different absolute value, indicating that the $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ estimates are method-dependent. Electronic structure analysis indicates that Ti incorporation shifts pronounced van Hove singularities close to the Fermi level, enhances the density of states, and changes the Fermi surface topology. These results suggest that Ti–V–H hydrides are a useful model system for examining how transition-metal substitution can couple structural stability with electronic tuning in compressed hydride superconductors. Full article

Efficient photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes requires coordinated control of nanostructure, surface chemical environment, and interfacial charge transport. In this work, rare-earth-modified copper-oxalate-derived CuO nanostructures (RE = Ce, Sm, Er, Tm, and Yb) were prepared through hydrothermal synthesis of a copper oxalate precursor, followed by calcination and ultrasonic-assisted RE modification. Structural, spectroscopic, optical, and electrochemical analyses show RE-associated apparent lattice perturbation, modified surface oxygen environments, stronger visible-region optical responses, higher apparent majority-carrier-density descriptors, and lower fitted interfacial charge-transfer resistance relative to pristine CuO. Among the samples, Ce-CuO exhibited the best performance, with a band gap of 1.48 eV, an apparent majority-carrier density of (1.94 ± 0.04) × 10²¹ cm⁻³, and a charge-transfer resistance of 216 Ω·cm². It achieved 91.59% methyl orange (MO) decolorization within 9 min under simulated solar irradiation, corresponding to a 23.7-fold higher apparent rate constant than pristine CuO, and retained 75.8% decolorization efficiency after eight cycles. Scavenger experiments suggested that h⁺ was the principal oxidative species under the investigated conditions, while ·OH and ·O₂⁻ also contributed to MO transformation. Overall, the results show that rare-earth modification is associated with changes in the structural, surface-chemical, optical, and interfacial electrochemical characteristics of copper-oxalate-derived CuO photocatalysts. Full article

Background: Functional somatic disorder (FSD) is prevalent, but pathological pathways have not yet been identified. Cross-sectional studies suggest an association between FSD and lipid and glucose metabolism. The aim of the present prospective study was to assess whether metabolic factors represent possible risk factors for development of FSD. Methods: A population-based cohort of 9656 men and women aged 18–76 years was established in 2011–2015, and 5738 participated in a re-examination after a median of 65 months. At both baseline and follow-up, participants answered questionnaires on lifestyle and various delimitations of FSD including bodily distress syndrome (BDS), chronic fatigue (CF), chronic widespread pain (CWP), irritable bowel (IB), and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). Fasting values of cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, HbA1c, insulin, and insulin resistance were assessed at baseline and analyzed in relation to incidence of FSD using logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, lipid- and glucose-lowering medications, obesity, social status, lifestyle, and sleep quality. Results: Several small, although significant, effects were observed. Lower levels of cholesterol were associated with development of BDS (OR: 0.982 (95% CI: 0.971–0.993)), CF (OR: 0.980 (95% CI: 0.964–0.996)), and CWP without co-morbid FSS among men. Higher levels of triglycerides were associated with development of CF (OR: 1.022 (95% CI: 1.003–1.041)). Glucose and HbA1c levels were not associated with development of FSD. Insulin and HOMA-IR levels were associated with development of CF in a non-linear relation, being negative at lower levels and changing to a positive relation at higher levels. Conclusions: More large-scale cohort studies are necessary to explore whether metabolism could play a role in the pathological pathway of FSD as indicated in the present study. Full article

Nanobubble-saturated water (NBSW) has gained prominence in agricultural research due to its ability to affect root-zone oxygenation and soil–plant interactions. This review aimed to analyze the available research on the impacts of NBSW on soil moisture storage, percolation, electrical conductivity (EC), microbial activity, and soil structural dynamics across different gas types and soil textures. Therefore, a systematic literature search was carried out, and the retrieved publications were synthesized with keyword co-occurrence and bibliometric analysis. This review fills the gap in the literature by integrating findings on root-zone oxygenation, nutrient dynamics, and soil structural responses into a single framework. Research showed that NBSW may influence water partitioning by increasing evaporation and lowering percolation, leading to different vertical moisture gradients. However, the effects could be impacted by the soil texture, as finer textures retained more moisture, while coarser soils increased oxygen penetration and microbial stimulation. Furthermore, increased oxygen availability under NBSW further changed microbial community activity, which could impact soil CO₂ emissions and nitrogen and phosphorus cycling. While repeated NBSW application may gradually increase soil compaction, particularly in finer-textured soils, overall, NBSW demonstrated versatile watering modifications that might influence soil physical, chemical, and biological processes. However, further research is needed to determine the appropriate gas types and application strategies for different soils under real field-scale agricultural conditions. Full article

In this work, CrAlN thin films were used to improve the lifespan of cutting tools. The CrAlN thin films were deposited on X50CrMoV8 substrates and silicon using DC reactive magnetron sputtering. The influence of substrate rotation speed (varied between 0.5 and 3 rpm) on the morphology, mechanical properties, and tribological properties of the thin films was investigated. The results showed that this process parameter had no significant influence on chemical composition or morphology. Nevertheless, the mechanical properties were enhanced. Specifically, CrAlN hardness increased significantly with the rise in substrate rotation speed from 0.5 to 1.5 rpm. Additionally, the adhesion strength of CrAlN coatings followed the same trend as hardness. When the substrate rotation speed increased, the residual stress shifted from tensile to compressive. Changing the rotation speed did not affect the friction coefficient value but did impact wear resistance. Thin films deposited at 0.5 and 1 rpm exhibited the lowest wear resistance. Once the rotation speed increased, wear behavior improved significantly. The CrAlN thin film deposited at a substrate rotation speed of 1.5 rpm showed the best wear resistance along with the highest hardness and adhesion strength. Full article