Search Results (233)

Heat damage is a common phenomenon that often occurs when drying and straightening hair. After heat damage, the hydrophobic barrier on the hair’s surface becomes disrupted, thereby altering the hair’s hydrophilicity. Meanwhile, during the process of heat damage, the rupture of the hair’s cuticles causes the hair to become dry and rough, with a decrease in gloss and a decline in mechanical properties. This study utilized epoxy silane and hydrolyzed wool keratin to synthesize a thermally responsive organic silicon-modified keratin (OSK) to prevent hair from heat damage. OSK was synthesized from epoxy silane and hydrolyzed keratin, with yield determined by quantifying free amino groups. Its hair-care performance was evaluated through assessments of hair surface morphology, mechanical properties, and optical gloss, and by combing test and contact angle measurements. Mechanisms underlying surface hydrophobicity and hair scale protection were investigated using FTIR, XPS, and DSC. Specific performance parameters were evaluated using a single-fiber strength tester and a multifunctional hair-testing instrument. FTIR confirmed successful covalent grafting, with synthesis optimized to a 90.67% yield. OSK forms a protective film on hair surfaces, verified by SEM, XPS, and TEM, restoring damaged hair hydrophobicity to a 117° contact angle and enhancing thermal protection to 136° upon heating. Beyond hydrophobic-barrier restoration, OSK improved hair gloss by 30.26% and reduced frizz by 39.33%, while restoring the key performance of virgin hair. It also provides exceptional water-repellency protection and sensory enhancement. Under thermal stress, the protective film mechanically increased tensile strength by 6.58% and yield zone tensile force by 4.65%. This article demonstrates that OSK is an effective heat-sensitive agent. When damaged by heat sources such as hair dryers, it will form a protective film on the surface of the hair, thereby protecting the surface properties of the hair. Full article

The development of innovative cosmetic ingredients has driven growing interest in emulsion systems that combine performance, stability, and sustainability. Pickering emulsions can form physically stable systems by adsorbing solid particles at the oil–water interface. In this study, bacterial cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and nanocrystals (CNCs), obtained via acid hydrolysis, were evaluated as stabilizing agents in Pickering emulsions containing jojoba, castor, and grape seed oils for hair conditioning applications. Structural and physicochemical characterization revealed that CNCs exhibited higher crystallinity, a narrower size distribution, and a higher negative surface charge than CNFs, resulting in enhanced colloidal stability. Emulsion analyses showed that CNCs more effectively reduced interfacial tension and produced smaller, more homogeneous droplets. Stability assessments under pH variation, thermal stress, and storage demonstrated that CNC-stabilized emulsions, particularly with castor oil, maintained stability indices above 95% for up to 60 days, whereas CNF-based systems showed greater sensitivity to environmental conditions. The incorporation of CNCs into a prototype conditioning cream resulted in a creamy texture and improved physical stability without compromising formulation performance. Overall, these results highlight CNCs as robust and efficient stabilizing materials for Pickering emulsions, reinforcing the potential of bacterial nanocellulose in advanced cosmetic formulations. Full article

To investigate how insect hair morphology influences pollination effectiveness, this study examined four common wild pollinators in Camellia oleifera plantations: two bee species (Colletes gigas and Apis cerana) and two hornet species (Vespa velutina and Vespa soror). We systematically measured hair length, hair density, and pollen loads on four body regions (head, thorax, abdomen, and legs). The results indicated that the following: (1) C. gigas possessed significantly longer and denser hairs across all body parts, especially on the legs, compared to the other three species. (2) Both the pollen load per body part and the total pollen load were markedly higher in C. gigas than in the other pollinators. The two hornet species did not differ significantly from A. cerana in pollen load, and even exceeded it in certain traits such as head hair length. (3) Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between total pollen load and both hair length (ρ = 0.545, p < 0.01) and hair density (ρ = 0.391, p < 0.01). Pollen loads on different body regions were also strongly positively correlated, suggesting functional synergy across the insect’s surface. Leg pollen load correlated positively with head and leg hair length, but negatively with head hair density. Notably, leg hair length and density showed a unique positive correlation, highlighting region-specific morphological adaptation. (4) Cluster analysis separated C. gigas from the other three species, which grouped together. In conclusion, hair length and density—particularly on the legs—are key morphological traits underpinning pollen-carrying efficiency in these pollinators. C. gigas demonstrates superior hair morphology and pollen-carrying performance, supporting its role as an effective pollinator of C. oleifera. This study provides a trait-based framework for identifying dominant pollinators and underscores that evaluating species with complex ecological roles, such as hornets, requires integrating morphological traits with broader behavioral and community contexts. Full article

Surfactants are essential in cosmetic and food formulations but are still dominated by petrochemical-derived anionic systems associated with irritation, aquatic toxicity and sustainability concerns. Plant-derived saponins offer renewable, biodegradable alternatives, yet only a small subset of saponin-producing species has been developed into commercial ingredients. The genus Albizia is chemically diverse and widely used in traditional medicine, with several species empirically employed as cleansers. This review examines Albizia amara and related Albizia species as prospective sources of plant-derived surfactants for cosmetic and food applications. We summarise ethnobotanical and phytochemical data with emphasis on saponins, flavonoids and macrocyclic alkaloids, and collate the limited quantitative evidence for surface activity, focusing on foaming behaviour, surface tension reduction and shampoo-type formulations, where A. procera provides the main interfacial benchmark within the genus. Potential roles of A. amara-derived fractions in hair-care products and prospective food systems are discussed alongside current knowledge on toxicity, safety and regulatory constraints. Overall, A. amara emerges as a promising but under-characterised saponin source. Priority areas for future work include robust tensiometric characterisation, surfactant-focused extraction and fractionation, systematic formulation studies, and dedicated safety and sustainability assessments to enable evidence-based evaluation against established plant and synthetic surfactants. Full article

Background: Topical minoxidil remains the only FDA-approved treatment for hair loss, yet its clinical efficacy is compromised by organic-solvent-induced scalp irritation and poor patient adherence. This study aimed to evaluate natural illite as a carrier for minoxidil and to explore its potential hair-growth-promoting mechanisms. Methods: Thermal–acid-modified illite was engineered as a spray-dried, hydroalcohol-free minoxidil carrier for topical application. Hair regrowth efficacy was assessed in C57BL/6 mice via a 14-day depilation model. Mechanisms were elucidated via RNA-seq, Ki67/TUNEL immunofluorescence, and p-STAT3 immunohistochemistry. Results: Modified illite resulted in a 4.2-fold surface area increase and successful minoxidil loading. The minoxidil/illite formulation demonstrated efficacy equivalent to that of free minoxidil while also eliminating solvent toxicity. Mechanistic analysis revealed that illite functions as an active carrier: both the illite-alone and minoxidil/illite-treated groups exhibited increased Ki67⁺ proliferation and reduced TUNEL⁺ apoptosis. Transcriptomic profiling demonstrated dual mechanisms—enrichment of Myc proliferation pathways and suppression of IL-6 inflammatory signaling (p < 0.001)—with reduced p-STAT3 expression confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Conclusions: These findings suggest that an illite-based carrier can enable topical delivery of minoxidil with preserved efficacy and that illite itself exhibits intrinsic hair-growth-promoting activity via anti-inflammatory and pro-proliferative mechanisms, which may help alleviate adherence barriers associated with conventional topical alopecia therapy. Full article

Laser micro-drilling was applied to Fe substrates to enhance the interfacial properties of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer/iron laminates. This architecture is referred to as a resin-interlocked Fe-CFRP hybrid composite. Inspired by human hair follicles’ exceptional adhesion and filling efficiency, novel biomimetic frustum-integrated cylindrical cavities were engineered for Fe surface modification. Experimental results demonstrate that laser-processed surfaces with varied hole geometries (conical, conical frustum, cylindrical, and frustum-integrated cylindrical cavities) exhibit significantly improved interfacial performance compared to untreated Fe controls. Specifically, RI-Fe/CFRP specimens containing frustum-integrated cylindrical cavities achieved the highest shear strength, with a 44.8% increase over non-drilled counterparts. Subsequent molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the critical role of the cavity geometry, demonstrating that the frustum-integrated cylindrical cavity elevates the Fe–Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A interfacial energy and van der Waals interactions by 45.44% and 50.66%, respectively, versus the flat surface. The interfacial energy enhancement mechanism via distinct hole configurations was systematically studied. Furthermore, comprehensive micro-hole topology analysis elucidated the reinforcement mechanism in resin-interlocked Fe-CFRP hybrid composites. Results demonstrate that frustum-integrated cylindrical cavities significantly enhance DGEBA-3,3′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone fluidity during interface simulation, promoting mechanical interlocking and optimized resin-filling efficiency. Laser micro-drilling effectively improves Fe-DGEBA interfacial performance. These findings provide critical insights for designing high-performance composites in aerospace and automotive applications. Full article

Inclusion complexes of argan oil with β-CD were prepared by two different methods—evaporation and coprecipitation—to improve the stability and usability of hydrophobic oils in aqueous hair-treatment formulations. The complexes were characterized using SEM, XRD, DSC, TGA, and DTG to confirm structural changes accompanying encapsulation. The encapsulation efficiencies (EE%) were 68.4% for the evaporation method and 51.2% for the coprecipitation method. A hair treatment formulation containing the β-CD complexes was then prepared and evaluated. The formulation exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and provided uniform coating behavior on hair fibers. Texture profile analysis showed hardness (456.424 g), fracturability (428.26 g), adhesiveness (−4021.403 g·s), springiness (0.974), and cohesiveness (0.868), indicating that the complexes contributed positively to mechanical performance. OM and SEM confirmed smoother surface morphology after treatment, and tensile measurements demonstrated improved structural durability of bleached hair. These results suggest that β-CD-based inclusion complexes of argan oil can serve as effective and stable functional ingredients for cosmetic applications. Full article

Our aim was to compare certain physiological traits and pregnancy rates in dairy heifers classified by coat color during summer and winter months in a Sonoran Desert region. Sixty Holstein heifers were randomly selected (age and weight of 13.1 ± 0.82 months and 382 ± 5.3 kg) and divided by season (i.e., winter and summer) and hair coat color (i.e., black and white). There were 28 summer heifers (13 black/15 white) and 32 in winter (18 black/14 white). Respiratory frequency (RF) was determined visually, and body surface temperatures (BSTs) of several anatomic regions were collected using thermography at 06:00 and 15:00 h every 3rd day. Furthermore, three blood samples were collected from each heifer in each season to determine hematological profiles and serum analytes (i.e., electrolytes, metabolites, hormones). Reproductive variables were pregnancy rate and services per pregnancy. Ambient temperatures ranged from 25 to 49 °C in summer and 3 to 28 °C in winter. In summer and winter, RF and most BST were higher (p < 0.05) in black heifers in the morning, while only head, right flank, and loin were higher (p < 0.05) in the afternoon. Cortisol and progesterone concentrations were higher (p < 0.01) in summer, while thyroid hormones were higher (p < 0.05) in winter. Glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, urea, and sodium were higher (p < 0.05) in winter. Reproductive traits were unaffected by season or coat color. Although there were some differences in physiological variables and some biochemical parameters by season and coat color, these alterations were not enough to modify reproductive responses of Holstein heifers. Full article

This study presents a novel application of SVX, a recombinant spider silk-inspired biopolymer, for advanced haircare formulations, designed to protect bleached and color-treated hair. Two SVX-based treatments—a multifunctional leave-on serum and a post-color booster—were developed to address key challenges: color fading, heat damage, and moisture loss. Under simulated oxidative, thermal, and environmental stress conditions, SVX formulations demonstrated significantly improved performance compared to benchmark products. SVX-treated hair exhibited a substantial reduction in color change (ΔE reduced from 5.2 ± 1.1 to 2.1 ± 0.6), retained mechanical strength after intense heat exposure (>90% tensile strength vs. 64% in controls), and showed a marked increase in hydration (>84% moisture retention vs. 56% in untreated hair). The booster treatment further enhanced cuticle sealing and post-color recovery without altering dye intensity. SVX forms a protective, proteinaceous network on the hair surface, reinforcing the fiber structure and maintaining moisture. Its sustainable, biodegradable, and vegan profile supports its use in next-generation cosmetic innovations. These results position SVX as a powerful, multifunctional ingredient for high-performance and eco-conscious haircare applications. Full article

Twenty Dorper × Katahdin lambs (10 males and 10 females) were distributed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement under a randomized complete block design to evaluate the effects of thiamine diphosphate (TD) supplementation (0 vs. 250 mg/kg feed) and gender (males vs. females) on physiological responses, feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in a hot desert environment. The average temperature and temperature–humidity index recorded during the study were 33.60 °C and 35.89 units, respectively, indicating an extremely severe heat stress environment for lambs. Study variables were not affected (p ≥ 0.12) by the TD × gender interaction, except for dry matter intake (DMI; p = 0.02) and some head temperatures (p ≤ 0.05) and carcass zoometric measurements (p ≤ 0.05). In females, but not in males, TD decreased DMI and increased thorax depth, as well as eye, ear, and forehead temperatures. Overall, TD increased (p ≤ 0.05) surface temperatures of neck, shoulder, loin, rump, forelimb, testicles, vulva, anus, and perineum without affecting (p ≥ 0.58) rectal temperature and respiratory rate. Supplemental TD did not affect (p ≥ 0.16) growth rate, feed efficiency, carcass weight and yield, Longissimus thoracic muscle area, backfat thickness, internal fat deposition, wholesale cut yields, and meat quality traits. In conclusion, in hair ewe lambs but not in male lambs, TD supplementation at a dose of 250 mg/kg of feed in the fattening diet is an HS mitigation strategy that improves dietary energy efficiency for growth and carcass mass deposition. Furthermore, thiamine increases heat losses through the body surface, regardless of gender. Full article

Neuromast cells are specialized mechanosensory receptor cells embedded within the lateral line system of aquatic vertebrates, enabling the detection of water movement and vibration that are essential for navigation, prey capture, and predator avoidance. These cells share common evolutionary and functional homology with mammalian inner ear hair cells, both of which rely on stereocilia-mediated mechano-transduction and ion channel activation to convert mechanical stimuli into neural signals. Unlike their mammalian counterparts, neuromast hair cells possess a regenerative capacity following damage, making the lateral line system a unique model for studying hair cell regeneration and sensory restoration. This study examines the potential of the Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus) as a novel model organism for investigating ototoxicity and regeneration of neurosensory hair cells. Here, we explore the cranial and trunk lateral line neuromasts, including deep canal neuromast cells located in facial bones, such as the mandible and circumorbital bones. In the present study, juvenile surface-dwelling Mexican tetra were exposed to a 500 µM neomycin for 4 h to induce targeted hair cell damage. The samples were collected at 4-, 12-, 24-, and 72 h post-exposure. Furthermore, neuromast cell viability was assessed using [2-(4-(Dimethylamino) styryl)-N-ethylpyridinium iodide] (DASPEI). Gene expression analysis revealed a modest increase in Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 (fgf1) and Axis Inhibition Protein 2 (axin2) expression following treatment; however, these changes were not statistically significant. The SRY-box transcription factor 2 (sox2) remains constant throughout the exposure and recovery period. These findings highlighted the regenerative dynamics of neuromast cells in Mexican tetra. This work lays the foundation for future therapeutic strategies targeting human sensory deficits, particularly those involving inner ear hair cell degeneration. Full article

Cerci function as crucial sensory organs in insects, featuring a diverse array of sensilla on their surface, analogous to those found on antennae. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we characterized the ultrastructure and distribution of cercal sensilla in Hierodula patellifera (H. patellifera) and Statilia maculata (S. maculata). Results show that the cerci of H. patellifera and S. maculata are highly similar, with main differences observed in the number of cercal articles and the length of cerci. The cerci of both species and sexes are composed of multiple cylindrical articles, and there is variation in the number of types of sensilla on their surface articles within sex and individuals. Females possess more cercal articles than males, and their cerci are generally longer than those of males. In both sexes of these praying mantises, four types of cercal sensilla were identified: sensilla filiformia (Sf), sensilla chaetica (Sc), sensilla campaniformia (Sca) and cuticular pore (CP), with sensilla chaetica further classified into two subtypes (ScI, ScII). Sc are widely distributed over the entire cerci, while Sf are distributed in a circular pattern on the cercal articles. While the overall distribution patterns of cercal sensilla were conserved between the sexes, significant sexual dimorphism was observed in the morphological parameters of the sensory hairs, including their quantity, length, and basal diameter. Based on distinct sensilla arrangements on the cerci, we propose a novel zoning of the cerci into four parts (I–IV), which reflects a functional gradient specialized for reproductive roles: the proximal region is enriched with robust mechanoreceptors likely involved in mating and oviposition, the central region serves as a multimodal hub for integrating courtship and mating cues, and the distal region is simplified for close-range substrate assessment. These findings highlight the adaptive evolution of cercal sensilla in relation to reproductive behaviors and provide a morphological basis for future studies on mantis phylogeny and sensory ecology. Full article

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) enables ultra-sensitive molecular detection and has broad analytical and biomedical applications; recent advances focus on high-performance substrates and innovative detection strategies. However, achieving controllable and reproducible substrate fabrication—particularly using natural templates such as hair—remains challenging, limiting SERS application in trace analysis and on-site detection. This study developed a single-hair in situ SERS platform using a natural hair template. Confinement within hair cuticle grooves and capillary-evaporation assembly enables dense arrangement of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-coated Au nanorods and polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated Au nanoparticles, forming uniform plasmonic nanoarrays. Spectroscopy and microscopy analyses confirmed the regular alignment of nanostructures along the hair axis with denser packing at the edges. The platform detected crystal violet at 10⁻⁹ M, yielding clear signals, negligible background, and stable peaks after repeated washing. For p-phenylenediamine, enhancement was observed down to 10⁻⁶ M. On the platform, a concentration-dependent response appeared within 10⁻³–10⁻⁵ M, with spatial Raman imaging along the hair axis. Capillary-evaporation coupling and interfacial wettability facilitated solute enrichment from larger to smaller gap hotspots, improving signal-to-noise ratio and reproducibility. This portable, low-cost, and scalable method supports rapid on-site screening in complex matrixes, offering a general strategy for hotspot engineering and programmable assembly on natural templates. Full article

Despite its increasing use in veterinary rehabilitation, practical constraints—such as skin preparation and single-use electrodes—limit the wider adoption of surface electromyography (sEMG). Having conventional pre-gelled Ag/AgCl electrodes as reference, we made a pioneering comparison of the performance of reusable soft polymeric dry electrodes for recording paraspinal muscle activity in dogs during treadmill walking. Twelve clinically healthy Dachshunds from both genders were evaluated under two conditions, namely: (i) dry electrodes on untrimmed hair; and (ii) pre-gelled electrodes after trichotomy. Signals were acquired from the longissimus dorsi muscle at 1 kHz, processed with standardized filtering and rectification, and analyzed in both time and frequency domains. Dry electrodes yielded higher amplitude and Root Mean Square (RMS) values, but slightly lower power spectral density metrics when compared to pre-gelled electrodes. Nevertheless, frequency-domain results were broadly comparable between configurations. Dry electrodes reduce the preparation time, avoid hair clipping, and allow reusability without major signal degradation. While pre-gelled electrodes may still offer marginally superior stability during movement, our results suggest that soft polymeric dry electrodes present a feasible, less invasive, and more sustainable alternative for canine sEMG. These findings support further validation of dry electrodes in clinical populations, particularly for neuromuscular assessment in intervertebral disk disease. Full article

Dysferlin direct protein–protein interactions (PPI) previously have been elucidated with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and predicted to underlie membrane repair in mechanotransducing myofibrils. In mechanotransducing inner ear hair cells, dysferlin is detected with Z-stack confocal immunofluorescence in the stereocilia and their inserts in the tectorial membrane (TM) co-localizing with FKBP8, consistent with the SPR determination of tight, positively Ca²⁺-dependent interaction. FKBP8, a direct binding partner of mechanotransducing TMC1, when overexpressed, evokes an elevation in anti-apoptotic BCL2, inhibition of ryanodine receptor (RYR) activity, and a consequent reduction in Ca²⁺ release. RYR3 has now been immunolocalized to the tip of the TM in close association with a third-row outer hair cell (OHC) stereociliary BCL2-positive insertion. Dysferlin, annexin A2, and Alzheimer’s proteins BACE1 and amyloid precursor protein (APP) are also accumulated in these stereociliary insertions. RYR2 and RYR1 have been immunolocalized to the TM core, in position to influence TM Ca²⁺. Dysferlin PPI pathways also intersect with AD protein pathways in the spiral ganglion (SG). Dysferlin segregates with FKBP8, BACE1, and RYR3 in the interiors of SG type I cell bodies. RYR1, RYR2, PSEN1, BCL2, and caspase 3 are primarily confined to plasma membrane sites. RYR3 pathways traverse the plasma membrane to the cell body interior. Western analysis of dysferlinopathy proteins links FKBP8 and BCL2 overexpression with RYR inhibition, indicative of dysferlin targets that are ameliorative in AD. Full article