Search Results (6,675)

Biological samples of non-human origin, commonly encountered in wildlife crime investigations, present distinct challenges regarding forensic DNA analysis efforts. Although the types of samples encountered in human identity testing can vary to some degree, analyzing DNA from one species is facilitated by unified processes, common genetic marker systems, and national DNA databases. In contrast, non-human animal species identification is confounded by a diverse range of target species and a variety of sampling materials, such as feathers, processed animal parts in traditional medicine, and taxidermy specimens, which often contain degraded DNA in low quantities, are contaminated with chemical inhibitors, and may be comingled with other species. These complexities require specialized analytical approaches. Compounding these issues is a lack of validated non-human species forensic sampling and typing kits, and the risk of human DNA contamination during evidence collection. Markers residing on the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) are routinely sought because of the large datasets available for comparison and their greater sensitivity of detection. However, the barcoding results can be complicated at times for achieving species-level resolution, the presence of nuclear inserts of mitochondrial DNA (NUMTs), and the limitation of mtDNA analysis alone to detect hybrids. Species-specific genetic markers for identification have been developed for a few high-profile species; however, many CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)-listed organisms lack specific, validated forensic analytical tools, creating a significant gap in investigative enforcement capabilities. This deficiency stems in part from the low commercial nature of wildlife forensics efforts, a government research-driven field, the difficulty of obtaining sufficient reference samples from wild populations, limited training and education infrastructure, and inadequate funding support. Full article

Background/Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies and has a very high mortality rate. Several studies have shown that obesity and hyperlipidemia are among the factors implicated in the onset of this disease. These factors can be modified through lifestyle changes, and diet plays a crucial role in this context. We evaluated the effects of Tuber borchii (T. borchii) fungal extracts based on experimental evidence showing that some truffles produce antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer secondary metabolites. Methods: To this end, we treated human colorectal cancer cells (HCT 116) with various extracts of T. borchii at different time points and concentrations. Results and Conclusions: The results showed that the treatments caused a decrease in cell proliferation due to the induction of apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by FACS analyses. The apoptotic pathway was confirmed by the increase in the cleavage of Caspase 3 and Caspase 9. We then investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying cell death, finding increased nuclear localization of p53 and increased expression of its downstream pro-apoptotic genes, PUMA and NOXA. Among the upstream signaling events, we identify an increase in p-ERK1/2, a MAPK member involved in several antiproliferative/pro-apoptotic insults. Full article

Chloroplast-to-nucleus ROS retrograde signaling is essential for acclimation of the photosynthetic apparatus to environmental stresses. One of the key mechanisms is the regulation of the photosystem II antenna size depending on light conditions and other environmental factors. However, the molecular components linking chloroplast redox status to nuclear gene regulation remain poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate that H₂O₂, generated in chloroplasts, in particular with involvement of the plastoquinone pool components, enhances the protease activity in the chloroplast envelope. As it is known, protease activity leads to the processing of the chloroplast envelope-bound transcription factor PTM, enabling its relocation to the nucleus, where it induces ABI4 expression. ABI4, in turn, represses transcription of lhcb genes, resulting in downsizing of the PS II antenna. Gene expression analysis confirms the coordinated upregulation of ABI4, and PTM, as well as metallo-ASP and serine SPPA1 envelope proteases in high light. We further show that H₂O₂ at physiologically relevant concentrations specifically stimulates the serine protease activity, since this activation is inhibited by PMSF. Our findings indicate a link between redox changes in the plastoquinone pool and the H₂O₂ level in chloroplasts with protease-mediated signaling cascades. Therefore, the obtained data reveal the connection between chloroplast and nuclear control of photosynthetic light harvesting, highlighting a signaling strategy for the photosystem II antenna size regulation in higher plants. Full article

Friedelin, a pentacyclic triterpene, has been reported to inhibit potential reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging activity. Accordingly, we modified the structure of this compound with the aim of obtaining derivatives. A new derivative (compound 4), with an α,β-unsaturated ketone moiety, was synthesized via an aldol condensation. Structural characterization of this compound was performed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Full article

The blast-wave model with Boltzmann–Gibbs statistics is used to examine the transverse momentum spectra of ${K\ast }^0$ mesons generated at the Relativistic High-Energy Collider (RHIC) Beam Energies with mid-rapidity ($\left|y\right|<1$) in symmetric $Au-Au$ collisions. There is a clear correlation between the extracted kinetic freeze-out temperature ($T_0$) and transverse flow velocity (${\beta }_T$) in various collision centralities and center-of-mass energies ($\sqrt{s_{NN}}$). Since a larger initial energy density delays freeze-out and a shorter system lifetime limits cooling, $T_0$ is directly proportional to both $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ and peripheral collisions. On the other hand, ${\beta }_T$ drops in peripheral symmetric collisions due to weaker collective expansion, while it rises with $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ because of larger pressure gradients. The concurrence between the thermal and collective energy components in the expanding fireball is reflected in the obvious anti-correlation between $T_0$ and ${\beta }_T$. These findings support hydrodynamic predictions and offer important new information about QGP’s freeze-out behavior. Full article

Mechanobiology explores how physical forces and cellular mechanics influence biological processes. This field has experienced rapid growth, driven by advances in high-resolution imaging, micromechanical testing, and computational modeling. At the same time, the increasing complexity and volume of mechanobiological imaging and measurement data have made traditional analysis methods difficult to scale. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a practical tool to address these challenges by providing new methods for interpreting and predicting biological behavior. Recent studies have demonstrated potential in several areas, including image-based analysis of cell and nuclear morphology, traction force microscopy (TFM), cell segmentation, motility analysis, and the detection of cancer biomarkers. Within this context, we review AI applications that either incorporate mechanical inputs/outputs directly or infer mechanobiologically relevant information from cellular and nuclear structure. This study summarizes progress in four key domains: AI/ML-based cell morphology studies, cancer biomarker identification, cell segmentation, and prediction of traction forces and motility. We also discuss the advantages and limitations of integrating AI/ML into mechanobiological research. Finally, we highlight future directions, including physics-informed and hybrid AI approaches, multimodal data integration, generative strategies, and opportunities for computational biophysics-aligned applications. Full article

Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP2) is a growth factor that maintains bone homeostasis through the BMP receptor type Ia (BMPRIa) and type II (BMPRII). BMP2 promotes osteogenesis by inducing the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into osteoblasts; however, it can also trigger BMSC differentiation into adipocytes. BMP2’s osteo-inductive ability has made it a potential treatment for osteoporosis, yet its dual role in BMSC differentiation complicates its efficacy. High BMP2 levels cause BMPRIa cleavage, but the downstream effects and the mechanisms governing BMP2-induced osteogenesis or adipogenesis are unresolved. Here, we identify Caspase-1 as a key mediator of BMPRIa cleavage and its downstream effects on adipogenesis. We used primary BMSCs from C57BL/6 mice, stimulated with varying BMP2 concentrations, to explore BMP2-induced BMPRIa cleavage and its impact on PPARγ—a key regulator of adipogenesis. Western blotting and immunostaining using antibodies against BMPRIa and PPARγ uncovered BMPRIa cleavage and revealed the nuclear translocation of the cleaved segment, colocalizing with PPARγ. Caspase-1 inhibition significantly reduced BMPRIa cleavage and PPARγ expression, highlighting its pivotal role in adipogenic differentiation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of BMP2-induced adipogenesis and Caspase-1 inhibition could improve BMP2 therapeutic efficacy for osteoporosis by promoting osteogenesis over adipogenesis. Full article

To address the challenges of strong heterogeneity and poor crude oil mobility in tight conglomerate reservoirs of the Mahu Oilfield, this study systematically evaluated the effects of different surfactants on wettability alteration, spontaneous imbibition, and relative permeability through high-temperature/high-pressure spontaneous imbibition experiments, online Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) monitoring, and relative permeability measurements. Core samples from the Jinlong and Madong areas (porosity: 5.98–17.55%; permeability: 0.005–0.148 mD) were characterized alongside X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) data (clay mineral content: 22–35.7%) to compare the performance of anionic, cationic, nonionic, and biosurfactants. The results indicated that the nonionic surfactant AEO-2 (Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether) (0.2% concentration) at 80 °C exhibited optimal performance, achieving the following results: 1. a reduction in wettability contact angles by 80–90° (transitioning from oil-wet to water-wet); 2. a decrease in interfacial tension to 0.64 mN/m; 3. an imbibition recovery rate of 40.14%—5 to 10 percentage points higher than conventional fracturing fluids. NMR data revealed that nanopores (<50 nm) contributed 75.36% of the total recovery, serving as the primary channels for oil mobilization. Relative permeability tests confirmed that AEO-2 reduced residual oil saturation by 6.21–6.38%, significantly improving fluid flow in highly heterogeneous reservoirs. Mechanistic analysis highlighted that the synergy between wettability reversal and interfacial tension reduction was the key driver of recovery enhancement. This study provides a theoretical foundation and practical solutions for the efficient development of tight conglomerate reservoirs. Full article

To achieve a substantial enhancement in thermodynamic efficiency, Generation IV nuclear reactors are designed to operate at significantly elevated temperatures compared to conventional reactors. Moreover, they typically employ a fast neutron spectrum, characterized by higher neutron energy and flux. This combination results in a considerably more intense radiation environment within the core relative to traditional thermal neutron reactors. Therefore, the measurement of neutron flux in the core of Generation IV nuclear reactors faces the challenge of a high-temperature and high-radiation environment. Conventional neutron flux monitoring equipment—including fission chambers, gas ionization chambers, scintillator detectors, and silicon or germanium semiconductor detectors—faces considerable challenges in Generation IV reactor conditions. Under high temperatures and intense radiation, these sensors often experience severe performance degradation, significant signal distortion, or complete obliteration of the output signal by noise. This inherent limitation renders them unsuitable for the aforementioned applications. Consequently, significant global research efforts are focused on developing neutron detectors capable of withstanding high-temperature and high-irradiation environments. The objective is to enable accurate neutron flux measurements both inside and outside the reactor core, which are essential for obtaining key operational parameters. In summary, the four different types of neutron detectors have different performance characteristics and are suitable for different operating environments. This review focuses on 4H-SiC, diamond detectors, high-temperature fission chambers, and self-powered neutron detectors. It surveys recent research progress in high-temperature neutron flux monitoring, analyzing key technological aspects such as their high-temperature and radiation resistance, compact size, and high sensitivity. The article also examines their application areas, current development status, and offers perspectives on future research directions. Full article

This study focuses on polysaccharides from Cistanche deserticola and Cistanche tubulosa, medicinal plants renowned for their health benefits. The “water extraction and alcohol precipitation” method was used to obtain the crude polysaccharides of the wine-making residues of C. deserticola (CDP) and C. tubulosa (CTP), respectively. Then, ultrafiltration membrane (UFM), DEAE-52, and Sephadex-G75 or Smartdex-G100 gel chromatography were used to separate and purify the crude polysaccharides, yielding the homogeneous fractions CDP1-5-1, CDP2-2-2, CDP2-3-2, CTP1-5-1, and CTP1-5-3. Structural analysis was conducted by using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), high-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with multi-angle laser light scattering and refractive index detection (HPAEC-MALLS-RID), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), congo red, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). CDP1-5-1 was found to be an arabinan, while CDP2-2-2 and CDP2-3-2 were agavin-like fructans with different molecular weights. CTP1-5-1 and CTP1-5-3 were identified as a heteropolysaccharide and a galacturonan, respectively. Immunological evaluation using RAW264.7 macrophages showed that they all significantly enhanced nitric oxide (NO) production, with CDP1-5-1 exhibiting the most potent activity. The structural–activity relationship is summarized as follows: the arabinose was a key active unit with NO stimulatory effects. This research provides foundational data on the structure and immune-enhancing potential of Cistanche polysaccharides, supporting their further development and application. Full article

The cost of “carbon net zero by year 2050” for the UK will be high, and this target date can only be achieved if the project is undertaken in a progressive and timely manner; otherwise, costs will escalate. The base power source behind the UK approach to “net zero” is nuclear fission electricity power stations, and the ones currently on order are running significantly late. Renewables will provide some supply together with interconnectors, but only approx. twenty percent of the planned wind turbines are in place. The electricity distribution grid must change to satisfy the UK’s planned “electricity-based” future. Energy use for transport is also a significant fraction of total UK energy consumption and we include predictions for their associated emissions. These must be reduced in a progressive and timely fashion. Intermittent support for unreliable renewables is necessary and methods employing both liquid as well as gaseous fuels are suggested. Means to use and upgrade the existing infrastructure are considered, and a few of the basic building blocks of the future are examined regarding their installation without significant interruption to the basic UK economy. ANR/AMR and SMR are included as potential renewables support as well as base load generators, and the approx. quantity of CO₂e emissions avoided is estimated. Even though methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, the main support for renewables will be UK natural gas (methane content ~95%), with Avtur/diesel as a recommended reserve. It is suggested that methane has a significant short- to medium-term future as a transition fuel. Full article

Soybeans are widely used in agro-industrial sectors, and global demand for this crop continues to rise. After harvest, however, soybean seeds often lack the appropriate moisture content for storage, making drying a common practice under changing climate conditions. Because temperature is a critical factor during drying, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of air-drying temperature on physiological responses and cytogenetic conformation of soybean seeds. The experiment was conducted under a completely randomized design with four replications for each temperature. Seeds with 23 percent moisture content were dried in a convective dryer equipped with airflow and temperature control at 40 °C, 50 °C, 60 °C, and 70 °C until reaching 13 percent. Samples for physiological and cytological analyses were collected before and after drying. The results indicated that drying temperature influenced seed performance and vigor. Moreover, nuclear alterations were identified as an important component of the genotoxicity caused by high drying temperatures. Overall, air temperatures above 50 °C induced physiological and cytogenotoxic effects, underscoring the need for careful monitoring during seed drying. Full article

Zirconium and its alloys are widely used in nuclear power engineering due to their favorable physical and mechanical properties and their low thermal-neutron absorption cross-section. Their high corrosion resistance in aqueous and steam environments at elevated temperatures is essential for the reliable operation of fuel assemblies and is associated with the formation of a stable, compact ZrO₂ oxide layer. However, under reactor conditions, the presence of hydrogen, iodine and other fission products can reduce corrosion resistance, making detailed corrosion assessment necessary. Manufacturing technology, alongside alloy composition, also plays a decisive role in determining corrosion behavior. This study presents corrosion test results for a Zr-1%Nb alloy processed under thermomechanical conditions corresponding to rolling in a special type of three-roll skew rolling–Radial-Shear Rolling (RSR). The applied rolling technology ensured the formation of a pronounced ultrafine-grained (UFG) structure in the near-surface layers, with an average grain size below 0.6 µm. EBSD and TEM observations revealed a largely equiaxed microstructure with refined grains and increased grain boundary density. The corrosion testing was performed in high-temperature steam vessels at 400 °C and 10.3 MPa for 72, 336, 720 and 1440 h. The results demonstrate that RSR processing is an efficient alternative to conventional multi-pass normal bar rolling with vacuum heat treatments, allowing a significant reduction in processing steps and eliminating the need for expensive tooling and intermediate thermal or chemical treatments. Bars manufactured using this method meet the ASTM B351 requirements. The specific weight gain did not exceed 22 mg/dm² after 72 h and 34.5 mg/dm² after 336 h. After 1440 h, the samples exhibited a continuous, uniform dark-grey oxide layer with an average thickness below 5.3 µm. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nanoparticles have emerged as indispensable tools in modern biomedicine, enabling precise diagnostics, targeted therapy, and controlled drug delivery. Despite their rapid progress, the translation of nanoparticle-based systems critically depends on the ability to detect, quantify, and track them across complex biological environments. Over the past two decades, a wide spectrum of detection modalities has been developed, encompassing optical, magnetic, acoustic, nuclear, cytometric, and mass spectrometric principles. Yet, no comprehensive framework has been established to compare these methods in terms of sensitivity, spatial resolution, and clinical applicability. Methods: Here we show a systematic analysis of all broadly applicable nanoparticle detection strategies, outlining their mechanisms, advantages, and drawbacks, and providing illustrative examples of practical applications. Results: This comparison reveals that each modality occupies a distinct niche: optical methods offer high sensitivity but limited penetration depth; magnetic and acoustic modalities enable repeated non-invasive tracking; nuclear imaging ensures quantitative, whole-body visualization; and invasive biochemical or histological assays achieve ultimate detection limits at the cost of tissue integrity. These findings redefine how each technique contributes to nanoparticle biodistribution and mechanistic studies, clarifying which are best suited for translational and clinical use. Conclusions: Placed in a broader context, this review bridges fundamental nanotechnology with biomedical applications, outlining a unified methodological framework that will guide the rational design, validation, and clinical implementation of nanoparticle-based therapeutics and diagnostics. By synthesizing the field into a single comparative framework, it also provides an accessible entry point for newcomers in nanotechnology and related biomedical sciences. Full article

The safe and efficient operation of nuclear power systems largely relies on sensor networks that continuously collect and transmit monitoring data. However, due to the high sensitivity of the nuclear power field and strict privacy restrictions, data among different nuclear entities are typically not directly shareable, which poses challenges to constructing a global digital twin with strong generalization capability. Moreover, most existing digital twin approaches tend to treat sensor data as static, overlooking critical temporal patterns that could enhance fault prediction performance. To address these issues, this paper proposes an Edge Temporal Digital Twin Network (ETDTN) for cloud–edge collaborative, sensor-driven fault detection in nuclear power systems. ETDTN introduces a continuous variable temporal representation to fully exploit temporal information from sensors, incorporates a global representation module to alleviate the non-IID characteristics among different subsystems, and integrates a temporal attention mechanism based on graph neural networks in the latent space to strengthen temporal feature learning. Extensive experiments on real nuclear power datasets from 17 independent units demonstrate that ETDTN achieves significantly better fault detection performance than existing methods under non-sharing data scenarios, obtaining the best results in both accuracy and F1 score. The findings indicate that ETDTN not only effectively preserves data privacy through federated parameter aggregation but also captures latent temporal patterns, providing a powerful tool for sensor-driven fault detection and predictive maintenance in nuclear power systems. Full article