Search Results (1,068)

Controlling the interfacial behavior is essential for understanding the efficiency of surfactant–nanoparticle systems in practice. In this study, we investigate how silica (SiO₂) nanoparticles alter the surface and interfacial properties of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solutions at water–air and water–hexane interfaces, as well as their impact on the formation and stabilization of foams. While the negatively charged SiO₂ nanoparticles alone exhibit negligible surface activity, their combination with SDS leads to the formation of composite interfacial layers with enhanced surface pressure and dilational viscoelasticity. The increase in interfacial pressure reflects a high surface concentration and denser packing of SDS–SiO₂ associates. Interfacial rheology measurements show that SDS–SiO₂ nanofluids form more elastic interfacial films compared to pure SDS, with a maximum dilational elasticity at intermediate surfactant concentrations. This indicates the formation of mechanically stronger interfacial layers capable of resisting deformation. Foam experiments demonstrate that silica nanoparticles significantly improve foam formation and foam stability. These improvements correlate with increased surface pressure and interfacial elasticity, demonstrating that foam stability is primarily determined by the formation of robust interfacial layers and not solely by a reduction in surface tension. Overall, this study demonstrates how the presence of silica nanoparticles can affect the adsorption of SDS via hydrophobic interaction, leading to the formation of stronger interfacial films, improved foam stability, and expanded potential for applications in industrial processes, such as foam flooding based on nanoparticle/surfactant solutions to enhance oil–gas recovery. Full article

Peanut allergy is a major food allergy associated with severe IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions and strong T-cell responses to peanut-derived epitopes. In this study, complementary computational approaches were developed to identify digestion-stable peanut peptides binding to HLA-DRB5*01:01, an HLA class II molecule associated with peanut allergy. A dataset of experimentally validated binders and non-binders was used to construct one sequence logo model and three machine learning (ML) models based on Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Gradient Boosting (GB) algorithms. Peptide sequences were encoded using Wold’s z-scale descriptors representing hydrophobic, steric, and electronic amino acid properties. All ML models showed excellent predictive performance, with ROC AUC values between 0.978 and 0.980, while the SVM model achieved the best overall accuracy (95.8%). Permutation-importance analysis identified the dominant peptide properties for HLA-DRB5 binding. The developed models were applied to major peanut allergens Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 3, and Ara h 6 following simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Multiple consensus HLA-DRB5-binding peptides were identified, including several experimentally reported allergenic epitopes. The identified peptides should be regarded as candidate HLA-DRB5*01:01-restricted CD4+ T-cell epitopes that warrant further experimental validation using peptide–HLA binding assays and T-cell functional studies. Full article

Aronia melanocarpa puree is rich in anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, but its pronounced tannin-derived astringency limits product acceptance. This study developed a non-removal astringency-modulation strategy using food-grade L-proline and evaluated its molecular basis, processing window, and quality effects. Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic analyses suggested that L-proline altered the local microenvironment of procyanidin B2 (PC-B2) through hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic association, and molecular packing rearrangement, without evident disruption of the PC-B2 aromatic skeleton. In a PC-B2–bovine serum albumin model, an appropriate L-proline level reduced the protein precipitation rate from 45.3% to 31.2% and increased soluble phenolic retention, suggesting weakened polyphenol–protein precipitation. The strategy was then optimized in puree using machine learning-assisted multi-response analysis and Box–Behnken validation. The recommended condition was 150 mg/100 mL L-proline at 40 °C for 60 min, yielding a deastringency rate of 36.13%, with anthocyanin and vitamin C retention rates of 88.80% and 55.56%, respectively. The optimized treatment maintained red color, colloidal dispersion, and shear-thinning behavior; increased the anthocyanin digestion retention index from 50.0% to 87.4%; and improved overall sensory acceptance from 4.17 to 8.17. These findings support L-proline-mediated microenvironmental modulation as a mild processing approach for high-tannin cloudy berry products. Full article

Aluminum corrosion in acidic media leads to accelerated material degradation and significant economic losses. This study evaluated the aqueous extract of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) as a green inhibitor for aluminum corrosion in 0.5 M HCl at temperatures (298–323 K) and extract concentrations (1%, 2.5%, and 5% v/v). The extract was characterized by FTIR, and its inhibitory performance was assessed using weight loss measurements, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and contact angle analysis. Gravimetric results showed a decrease in corrosion rate with increasing extract concentration, reaching a maximum inhibition efficiency of 94% at 308 K and 5% v/v. The increase in activation energy in the presence of the inhibitor suggested the formation of an energy barrier associated with adsorption on the aluminum surface. Polarization studies indicated that the extract behaves as a mixed-type inhibitor, while EIS revealed an increase in charge transfer resistance and the formation of a protective adsorbed film. SEM images confirmed reduced corrosion damage, and contact angle measurements indicated increased surface hydrophobicity. The inhibition mechanism followed Langmuir adsorption behavior, suggesting adsorption of organic species at the aluminum–solution interface. These findings demonstrate that yerba mate extract is an effective corrosion inhibitor. Full article

Lost circulation of wellbore fluids within fissured zones constitutes a primary factor contributing to increased non-productive time (NPT) and restricted rate of penetration (ROP). Conventional gel-based lost circulation materials (LCMs) inherently suffer from a tradeoff between pumpability and in situ fracture retention, and they lack a design methodology quantitatively correlated with drilling engineering parameters. In this study, a shear-responsive gel with a dual physically crosslinked network—combining hydrophobic association and Fe³⁺-mediated ionic coordination—was prepared through a single-step water-based radical polymerization process, utilizing commercially available monomers. By systematically tuning the hydrophobic monomer and Fe³⁺ contents, the gel’s fracture-sealing efficacy, autogenous healing ability, and shear rheological characteristics were evaluated, establishing a quantitative correlation between the critical shear rate and drilling parameters. The empirical data demonstrate that with an increase in the hydrophobic monomer dosage from 0.4 wt% to 1.2 wt%, the critical shear rate decreases from 22.5 s⁻¹ to 8.6 s⁻¹, exhibiting an exponential decay relationship. The optimized formulation, G0.8F0.5, demonstrates a low initial viscosity of 245 mPa·s under high shear conditions, which surges to 6180 mPa·s at a shear rate of 14.2 s⁻¹, achieving a thickening factor of 29.4. Upon incubation at 80 °C for a duration of 12 h, the formulated gel restores 94.9% of its mechanical tensile strength and 96.3% of its fracture strain, whereas the Fe³⁺-free control sample fails to heal. In dynamic plugging tests using a 3 mm fracture plate, G0.8F0.5 achieves a breakthrough pressure of 12.8 MPa with a minimal fluid loss of 98 mL. The LCM forms a monolithic gel block positioned at the middle-to-rear section of the fracture, outperforming conventional gel counterparts. Drilling hydraulics simulations reveal that deploying this gel reduces the annular equivalent circulating density (ECD) by 0.06 g/cm³. Furthermore, under idealized conditions, this approach is calculated to enhance the ROP by approximately 26%. The proposed molecular design of a shear-responsive, dual physically crosslinked network provides a viable technical pathway for quantitatively tailoring the shear-responsive properties of while-drilling LCMs. Full article

Polymer flooding is an important enhanced oil recovery technology for high-water-cut heterogeneous reservoirs, where long-term waterflooding commonly leads to preferential flow channels and insufficient mobilization of remaining oil in less-swept intervals. In this study, a hydrophobically modified partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide-type polymer containing hydrophobic associative groups was evaluated for mobility control and enhanced oil recovery in heterogeneous porous media with the assistance of well-log-interpreted reservoir parameters. Reservoir heterogeneity was first characterized using interpreted effective thickness, porosity, permeability, oil saturation, and water saturation, and the polymer performance was then examined through rheological measurements, core-flooding experiments, and field production response analysis. The results show that the representative reservoir layers exhibit a wide permeability range of 7.9–186.5 mD, with higher water saturation in high-permeability layers and higher oil saturation in medium- and low-permeability layers. The polymer solution shows concentration-dependent thickening, shear-thinning behavior, salinity tolerance, and thermal-aging stability, retaining a viscosity of 139.5 mPa·s at 180,000 mg/L salinity and 74.9% viscosity retention after aging for 504 h. Core-flooding results indicate that the medium-permeability core achieves the highest polymer incremental recovery of 14.5 ± 0.8%, reflecting a favorable balance between injectivity and residual flow resistance. Field production data further show that daily oil production increases from 11.6 to 20.4 t/d, water cut decreases from 93.1% to 81.6%, and cumulative oil increment reaches 2055 t after polymer injection. The proposed mechanism involves associative thickening, pore-throat-adaptive transport, residual flow resistance, flow-path redistribution, and remaining-oil mobilization. This study establishes a heterogeneity-constrained mobility-control framework linking well-log-interpreted reservoir parameters, permeability-dependent polymer transport, residual flow resistance, and field production response, showing that effective polymer flooding depends on balancing injectivity, flow resistance, and remaining-oil availability rather than maximizing bulk viscosity alone. Full article

The rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance has intensified the search for alternative antimicrobial scaffolds that target both planktonic bacteria and biofilm-associated infections. In this study, a series of hydroxylated phosphonium ionic liquids derived from triphenylphosphonium (TPP⁺) and trihexylphosphonium (THP⁺) cations bearing C3, C6, C7, and C10 ω-hydroxyalkyl chains were synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities. Antibacterial activity was determined using broth microdilution assays against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, while anti-biofilm activity was assessed by disrupting preformed biofilms using a 96-pin microtiter plate system and crystal violet staining. The results showed that antibacterial activity was strongly influenced by the amphiphilic balance of the compounds, particularly the alkyl chain length and the nature of the phosphonium core. Derivatives bearing C6OH–C10OH chains exhibited the highest antibacterial activity, whereas short-chain analogs displayed markedly reduced potency. THP derivatives were notably more active against E. coli bacteria, consistent with their higher hydrophobicity and activity consistent with membrane interaction. In addition, THP derivatives demonstrated greater biofilm disruption, achieving up to ~90% biomass removal in E. coli biofilms, with C6OH–C7OH derivatives showing the most favorable activity profile. Hemolysis assays indicated low erythrocyte toxicity at concentrations close to antibacterial MIC values, indicating a favorable selectivity window. Overall, these findings highlight phosphonium ionic liquids as promising antimicrobial agents with activity consistent with membrane interaction and provide structure–activity insights for the rational design of new antibacterial and anti-biofilm compounds. Full article

The non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are able to bind various hydrophobic compounds and facilitate the transport of fatty acids between intracellular membranes, and nsLTPs are found in rice endosperm and embryo during seed development. However, whether nsLTPs function as lipid carriers and thereby affect lipid metabolism in rice grains remains unclear. To elucidate whether nsLTPs influence fatty acid distribution in rice, we generated OsLTP10-OE (OsLTP10 overexpression) and OsLTP10-CR (OsLTP10 CRISPR/Cas9) lines. Phenotypic and metabolic analyses indicated that OsLTP10 expression is closely associated with fatty acid (FA) profiles and grain appearance. In general, total fatty acid content in the brown rice of OsLTP10-OE was higher than that in wildtype, but OsLTP10-CR was lower than wildtype. While FA accumulation was altered in both tissues, the endosperm (milled grain) was more severely affected than the bran, with individual FAs in the milled grains of OsLTP10-OE expanding by 31.87–52.00%. Additionally, key grain quality traits were substantially altered; OsLTP10-CR lines displayed a significantly enlarged white-belly chalkiness area alongside a 19.50% reduction in amylose content, whereas OsLTP10-OE lines showed decreased chalkiness and a 7.80% increase in amylose. Overall, the fatty acid content and composition, chalkiness, brown rice size, and amylose were influenced by OsLTP10. Full article

The collectorless flotation of chalcopyrite has the potential to facilitate the efficient separation of Cu–Mo and Cu–Ni ores while reducing reagent consumption. This process relies on the natural hydrophobicity of the chalcopyrite surface, which can be adversely affected by surface oxidation. Quartz, a ubiquitous gangue mineral in chalcopyrite flotation systems, is widely present throughout flotation circuits. In this study, the effects of quartz particles of varying sizes on the surface properties and flotation behavior of chalcopyrite under different oxidation conditions were systematically investigated through micro-flotation experiments, contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and particle size analysis. The results indicate that hydrophilic iron (oxy)hydroxide species readily form on oxidized chalcopyrite surfaces, leading to reduced floatability. The presence of quartz particles was associated with a reduction in the abundance of surface iron (oxy)hydroxide species and an improvement in collectorless flotation performance. These findings suggest that interactions between quartz and chalcopyrite may mitigate the adverse effects of surface oxidation. They also highlight the potential of collectorless pre-flotation strategies for copper ore processing. Full article

Glioblastoma remains the most aggressive primary brain malignancy, with poor survival despite maximal safe resection, radiotherapy, and temozolomide-based chemotherapy. A major obstacle to effective treatment is the spatially heterogeneous blood–brain barrier/blood–tumor barrier, which restricts drug penetration into infiltrative tumor regions and limits uniform intratumoral exposure. Albumin-based delivery is attractive in glioblastoma because it addresses several formulation-level barriers at once: poor aqueous solubility of hydrophobic payloads, short systemic exposure, and the need for a biocompatible carrier that can interact with albumin-handling pathways such as gp60/albondin, SPARC, FcRn, and caveolin-associated transport. This review examines albumin-based strategies explored for glioblastoma, with an emphasis on albumin-bound paclitaxel nanoparticles, engineered albumin nanoparticles, dual-payload systems, albumin-binding photosensitizers, macrophage-assisted delivery, and albumin-bound pathway-directed agents. Preclinical evidence suggests that these platforms can improve brain-tumor drug exposure, support rational combinations, and synergize with BBB/BTB-opening technologies. Early clinical studies combining low-intensity pulsed ultrasound with microbubbles and albumin-bound paclitaxel provide human proof of concept for regional pharmacokinetic enhancement in recurrent glioblastoma, although survival benefit remains unproven. The available evidence supports albumin-based delivery as a rational formulation strategy. Its clinical value in GBM will depend on three testable requirements: spatial pharmacokinetic confirmation, biomarker-guided patient selection, and reproducible BBB/BTB modulation. Full article

Juvenile hormone (JH) analog insecticides are widely used in pest management because of their ability to disrupt insect growth and metamorphosis; however, the molecular mechanisms linking endocrine disruption to metabolic dysregulation remain incompletely understood. In addition to their established roles in diapause and developmental regulation, JH signaling pathways have also been implicated in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the effects of two JH analogs, pyriproxyfen and hydroprene, on the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, with particular emphasis on lipid metabolic regulation and the function of midgut-enriched fatty acid-binding protein gene (Mg-FABP). Bioassays were performed to evaluate insecticidal activity, and transcriptomic analyses were conducted to identify differentially expressed genes associated with endocrine signaling and lipid metabolism. Functional characterization of Mg-FABP was further performed using RNA interference (RNAi) and Oil Red O staining assays. In addition, the tertiary structure of LmMg-FABP was predicted using AlphaFold 3, and molecular docking analyses were carried out to investigate its interactions with fatty acid ligands. Both pyriproxyfen and hydroprene caused approximately 70% mortality in locust nymphs and induced significant transcriptional changes in pathways related to hormone signaling and lipid metabolism. Transcriptomic analysis revealed pronounced downregulation of Mg-FABP following JH analog exposure. RNAi-mediated silencing of Mg-FABP significantly reduced lipid droplet accumulation in the fat body, indicating that Mg-FABP plays an essential role in lipid transport and metabolic homeostasis in L. migratoria. Structural analyses further demonstrated that LmMg-FABP possesses a conserved tertiary structure highly similar to FABP homologs from other insect species. Molecular docking identified key amino acid residues involved in fatty acid binding and suggested that hydrophobic interactions are critical for ligand stabilization within the binding cavity. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that pyriproxyfen and hydroprene disrupt insect development not only through endocrine imbalance but also through perturbation of Mg-FABP-associated lipid metabolic pathways. This study provides new mechanistic insight into the coordinated interaction between hormonal signaling and lipid metabolism during JH analog exposure and identifies FABP-mediated lipid transport as a potential molecular target for the development of more selective insect growth regulators. Full article

Background: Antiretroviral resistance-associated mutations, within the broader context of HIV-1 genetic variability, represent a growing challenge for HIV-1 control, highlighting the need for continuous molecular surveillance and mechanistic understanding of drug resistance. This study aimed to characterize mutations in the pol gene associated with resistance to protease inhibitors and to explore their structural implications. Methods: Viral RNA was extracted from plasma samples of HIV-positive patients, and a 266 bp fragment of the HIV-1 pol gene was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced using the Sanger method. Sequences showing ≥98% homology were aligned and analyzed using MEGA v11 and the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database to identify resistance-associated mutations, while viral subtypes were determined using COMET, jpHMM-HIV, and STAR tools. Amino acid sequences were used for structural modeling with AlphaFold, followed by molecular docking with Nelfinavir using the CB-Dock2 server. Results: Four samples exhibited resistance-associated profiles, including high-level, intermediate, and low-level resistance, with one isolate showing high-level resistance to multiple protease inhibitors. Structural analyses revealed that Nelfinavir preferentially binds to alternative hydrophobic cavities rather than the canonical catalytic site, lacking direct interactions with the Asp25/Asp25′ dyad. Conclusions: These findings suggest a structural mechanism of resistance based on non-canonical ligand binding that may impair effective protease inhibition. Full article

This research paper focused on the synthesis of 1-[2-hydroxy-3-(phenylcarbamoyloxy)propyl]-4-(R¹, R²-substituted phenyl)piperazin-1-ium chlorides (I)–(III), containing R¹, R² = H, Cl and/or OCH₃, and the evaluation of some of their physicochemical parameters. The in vitro biological investigation of these N-arylpiperazine (NAP) derivatives consisted in assessing their impact on purinergic P2X7-associated signaling, that is, the evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory characteristics. The ultraviolet type C (UVC) irradiation (λ = 254 nm, 0.954 kJ/m²) induced a pronounced stress response in human leukocytes without marked cytotoxicity while maintaining high cell viability (≥90%), as evidenced by increased interleukin (IL)-1β production (94%), elevated IL-1β mRNA expression, enhanced lipid peroxidation (66%), and increased intracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP; 97%), respectively. Under basal conditions, these lipophilic NAPs, defined with logarithmic values of retention (capacity) factors corresponding to 100% water in isocratic elution RP-HPLC, i.e., k_w descriptors (varying from 2.3829 to 4.3689), and isocratic chromatographic hydrophobicity index (φ₀) parameters (ranging from 0.7578 to 0.8842), reduced IL-1β production (by 26–63%) and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (up to 64%) without inducing oxidative damage. Under UVC-induced stress, all evaluated compounds decreased lipid peroxidation (up to 45%) and significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activities, including SOD (up to 223%) as well as catalase (up to 145%). The observed effects were associated with changes in intracellular ATP levels and redox-related parameters. In the experiments described in this paper, intracellular ATP was measured so that no direct conclusions could be drawn regarding the extracellular ATP-dependent activation of purinergic receptors, including P2X7. Overall, the results demonstrated that variations within the structure of these NAPs significantly affected compounds’ biological activity, highlighting their potential for further optimization as cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory agents. Full article

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent environmental contaminants whose mobility in soil and groundwater is strongly controlled by adsorption and desorption processes. In saturated clay-rich soils, these processes are complex because PFASs interact with hydrated mineral surfaces, organic matter, metal oxides, exchangeable cations, and pore-water constituents. This review synthesizes the current literature on PFAS adsorption and desorption in saturated soils, with an emphasis on clay mineralogy, mineral–water interfaces, pore-water chemistry, and electrochemical double layer (EDL) effects. PFAS retention is influenced by molecular properties such as chain length, functional head group, and charge state, as well as soil properties such as organic carbon content, clay mineral type, surface charge, cation exchange capacity, and Fe/Al oxide content. Longer-chain PFASs and sulfonate-based compounds generally show stronger retention, while shorter-chain PFASs tend to remain more mobile. This review focuses particularly on how an EDL affects PFAS behavior in saturated clay systems. Unlike dry clay surfaces, saturated clay surfaces are covered by structured water, exchangeable ions, and diffuse counterion layers. These hydrated interfacial conditions influence how closely anionic PFASs can approach negatively charged clay surfaces, how dissolved cations reduce electrostatic repulsion or promote cation-mediated binding, and how effectively short-range interactions such as hydrophobic association, van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and surface association contribute to adsorption. Desorption is also emphasized because adsorption does not necessarily represent permanent immobilization. Changes in pH, ionic strength, cation composition, dissolved organic matter, or competing solutes can weaken retention and promote PFAS release. Overall, PFAS mobility in saturated clay-rich soils should be interpreted as a coupled interfacial process rather than simple partitioning to soil solids. Future work should better connect molecular-scale mechanisms, EDL behavior, adsorption–desorption experiments, and saturated transport studies to improve predictions of PFAS retention and long-term groundwater release. Full article

Retrofitting existing buildings has become a critical strategy for reducing energy consumption, improving thermal comfort, and achieving carbon reduction targets in the built environment. Among retrofit measures, wall insulation plays a pivotal role in minimizing heat loss and enhancing building energy efficiency. Conventional insulation materials, although effective, are often associated with high embodied energy, limited recyclability, and environmental concerns. Consequently, bio-based composite materials derived from natural fibers, agricultural residues, and renewable binders have emerged as promising sustainable alternatives. However, the moisture sensitivity of lignocellulosic materials remains a major challenge that can compromise thermal performance, durability, and long-term service life. This review provides a comprehensive and critical assessment of bio-based hydrophobic composite panels for wall insulation in retrofit applications. Unlike previous reviews that have primarily examined bio-based insulation materials, natural-fiber composites, or hydrophobic modifications separately, this study integrates these interconnected research domains within a unified framework. The review systematically examines raw material selection, composite panel manufacturing processes, hydrophobic surface-engineering strategies, thermal and moisture-related performance, durability characteristics, retrofit implementation approaches, and sustainability considerations. The analysis demonstrates that hydrophobic modification significantly reduces moisture uptake, enhances dimensional stability, and preserves thermal-insulation performance under varying environmental conditions. Natural-fiber-based composites, including hemp, flax, jute, bamboo, coconut fiber, and agricultural residues, exhibit competitive thermal conductivity (λ) values while offering reduced environmental impacts compared with conventional insulation materials. Furthermore, the integration of advanced hydrophobic treatments improves resistance to water penetration, biological degradation, and freeze–thaw damage, thereby increasing the long-term reliability of retrofit insulation systems. Full article