Search Results (17,407)

Rapid urbanization has significantly affected urban ecological environments, necessitating accurate and scientific quality assessments. In this study, we develop an enhanced remote sensing ecological index (WRSEI) for water network cities using Linyi City, China, as a case study. Key innovations include (1) introducing a water–vegetation index to better represent aquatic ecosystems; (2) incorporating nighttime light data to quantify the intensity of human activity; and (3) employing hierarchical PCA to rationally weight ecological endowment and stress indicators. The model’s effectiveness was rigorously validated using independent land use data. The results show that (1) the WRSEI accurately captures Linyi’s “water–city symbiosis” pattern, increasing the assessed ecological quality of water bodies by 15.78% compared to the conventional RSEI; (2) hierarchical PCA provides more ecologically reasonable indicator weights; and (3) from 2000 to 2020, ecological quality exhibited a pattern of “central degradation and peripheral improvement”, driven by urban expansion. This study establishes a validated technical framework for ecological assessment in water-rich cities, offering a scientific basis for sustainable urban management. Full article

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive therapeutic modality that relies on the activation of photosensitizers (PS) by specific wavelengths of light to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in localized cytotoxicity with relative sparing of healthy tissues. Depending on the PS properties, light dose, and intrinsic cellular features, PDT can elicit multiple cell death pathways, including apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. Increasing evidence indicates that PDT is also a potent inducer of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by excessive lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione (GSH) depletion, and inactivation of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). PDT-derived ROS promote ferroptosis both indirectly by exhausting antioxidant defenses and directly by peroxidizing PUFAs within membrane phospholipids. At the same time, intense oxidative stress generated by PDT can activate adaptive responses such as mitophagy, a selective autophagic process that removes damaged mitochondria to limit ROS production and preserve redox homeostasis. Ferroptosis and mitophagy are therefore tightly interconnected, functioning as opposing yet complementary regulators of cell fate. PDT emerges as a key upstream modulator of the ferroptosis–mitophagy balance, as spatially and temporally confined oxidative stress can shift cellular responses from adaptive mitochondrial quality control to irreversible ferroptotic injury. Despite growing interest in both PDT and ferroptosis, their mechanistic interplay, particularly in relation to mitophagy, remains underexplored. This narrative review provides an integrated overview of current knowledge on how PDT influences ferroptosis and mitophagy, highlighting the molecular mechanisms that connect these pathways and discussing their implications for improving therapeutic efficacy and overcoming resistance. Full article

Adventitious shoot regeneration in woody species is regulated by interactions between plant growth regulators, endogenous hormone metabolism, and environmental cues such as light quality. Here, we investigated the effects of thidiazuron (TDZ) and the cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX) inhibitors INCYDE and phenyladenine (PA), in combination with different light spectra, on morphogenesis in Melia volkensii leaf explants. TDZ induced the highest frequencies of callus formation and adventitious shoot regeneration, particularly under white light. INCYDE promoted localized regeneration responses, including activation of dormant meristematic regions in secondary leaf axils, whereas PA showed limited regeneration efficiency. Light quality significantly influenced morphogenesis, with white and blue light favoring organized shoot development, while red and far-red light suppressed shoot regeneration and promoted callus formation. Cytokinin profiling revealed treatment-dependent shifts in endogenous cytokinin composition, most notably in isopentenyladenine (iP)-type cytokinins, which is consistent with altered cytokinin degradation dynamics. Cis-zeatin-type cytokinins were abundant across treatments, likely reflecting regulation associated with in vitro culture conditions. These findings indicate that cytokinin metabolism and light quality jointly influence organogenic competence in Melia volkensii Gürke, providing a physiological basis for optimizing regeneration strategies in woody plants. This study provides the first integrated analysis of cytokinin-modulating compounds and light spectra on adventitious shoot regeneration in Melia volkensii. The findings establish a physiological basis for improving regeneration protocols in recalcitrant woody species and support future biotechnological applications, including genetic improvement and advanced propagation strategies. Full article

There is a growing demand for plant-derived antioxidants to replace synthetic ones in skincare applications. Phytochemicals are characterized by certain limitations, including poor bioavailability and chemical instability, which affect their industrial exploitation. Tomato peel extract has been used as a source of lycopene, which is renowned for its antioxidant properties. To improve the bioavailability of extracted lycopene, polymeric (poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid) nano-carriers were synthesized by comparing two non-ionic surfactants, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Tween 20. The impact of surfactants has been studied by evaluating: (i) colloidal stability determined by dynamic light scattering; (ii) lycopene retention and bioactivity over time, as measured by spectrophotometric assays; (iii) biological interactions on 2D and 3D keratinocyte and melanocyte cell cultures. It was found that both surfactants enable the formation of stable lycopene-loaded nanoparticles suspensions; however, greater colloidal stability was exhibited by nanoparticles prepared with Tween 20. PVA, on the other hand, provided greater nanoparticle stability in terms of loaded lycopene retention and antioxidant activity. Tween 20 surfactant improves the internalization of lycopene-loaded nanoparticles in human skin spheroids. It was demonstrated that both surfactants provided excellent intracellular antioxidant activity of lycopene. This was observed in keratinocytes, melanocytes, adherent cells, and spheroids, suggesting potential skincare applications. Full article

Practical theology is the application of theological reflection to concrete human experience—how faith is interpreted and embodied within shifting social realities. In the article, I examine how Islamic practical theology was interpreted amid the extensive crisis in light of the Gaza war in post-October 7 America, connecting it to the Islamic concept of da’wa (call to Islam). As a case study, I explore the doctrine of Sheikh Yasir Qadhi, one of the most prominent clerics in the US, who emerged as part of a new generation of young American imams who burst into the Western public sphere during the post-9/11 era. The rise of social media gained him prestige and solidified his global influence, amplifying his impact on shaping contemporary Islamic discourse to millions in America and the West. Similar to Qadhi’s post-9/11 use of daʿwa as a practical theology that transformed Islamophobia into a means of strengthening faith and American Muslim identity, his post-October 7 da’wa discourse is a clear case of Islamic practical theology in response to crisis. Following the October 7 events, Qadhi framed the chaotic situation in Gaza as both a spiritual and activist catalyst. His emphasis on daʿwa promoted personal piety, repentance, and communal solidarity, while also urging political activism, interfaith dialogue, and advocacy for global Muslim causes. This dual strategy—spiritual renewal intertwined with socio-political mobilization—illustrates how daʿwa functions as a flexible instrument of Islamic practical theology addressing individual, communal, and national concerns. By comparing Qadhi’s post-9/11 and post-October 7 discourses, the article highlights a shift from defensive apologetics shaped by Islamophobia to a more assertive public theology intertwined with political engagement. This evolution illustrates how American Muslim leadership employs a living, crisis-responsive theology to redefine faith, identity, and responsibility in moments of profound upheaval. Full article

Artificial cyanobacterial crusts (ACCs) are a potentially effective biological strategy for combating desertification. However, while functional microorganisms influence ACCs formation efficiency, research on their role is limited, and their underlying promotion mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of three functional synthetic microbial communities (SynComs), each dominated by microorganisms specialized in exopolysaccharide (EPS) production (3 strains), siderophore production (3 strains), or nitrogen fixation (4 strains), on ACCs formation following inoculation with Microcoleus vaginatus. This study was carried out in a controlled laboratory setting with a 12 h light/dark cycle and a light intensity of 2400–2700 lux. Following a 24-day cultivation period, EPS-producing or nitrogen-fixing SynComs significantly increased the chlorophyll-a content by 16.0–16.3%. Except for the nitrogen-fixing bacteria treatment, other SynComs enhanced the soil organic matter content of ACCs by 9.1% to 27.3%. The content of EPS was significantly improved by all three SynComs by 14.1~19.2%. Urease activity rose by 6.7% when siderophore-producing bacteria were added. The impacts of SynComs on ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) showed different temporal dynamics: nitrogen-fixing SynComs significantly increased NH₄⁺-N early (≤10 days), while EPS-producing and siderophore-producing SynComs enhanced accumulation later (17–24 days). SynComs inoculation markedly accelerated cyanobacterial and general microbial colonization and growth. In comparison to day 0, the 16S rRNA gene copy number of ACCs increased by 24.1% and 43.0%, respectively, in the EPS-producing and nitrogen-fixing SynComs. Additionally, correlation analysis showed that SynComs transformed the weak correlations in the control into a strong positive correlation between NH₄⁺-N and both Chl-a and microbial biomass. Our findings demonstrate SynComs, particularly the EPS-producing or nitrogen-fixing SynComs, enhance ACCs formation through elucidated mechanisms, providing a theoretical basis for optimizing ACCs-based desertification control strategies. Full article

This study investigates peak daylight exposure in zenithally lit museum rooms at 51° latitude through an experimental campaign using a 1:20 physical mock-up of a 12 × 12 × 6 m exhibition gallery space. Nine configurations of shading and light-transmitting elements (CSaLTE) were tested under real clear-sky conditions between June and October. To ensure a valid comparative analysis, indoor vertical illuminance (E_v) was measured at 15 min intervals and subsequently interpolated and normalised to a unified equinox-day solar geometry (06:00–18:00). This hybrid empirical-computational methodology allows for a direct performance comparison across different geometric arrangements regardless of their specific measurement dates. The results demonstrate that while traditional annual metrics are the standard, short-term illuminance peaks pose a severe and underexplored threat to conservation safety. Even the most light-attenuating diffusing-roof configurations produced short-term illuminance peaks and cumulative clear-sky exposures that are comparable in magnitude to commonly cited annual limits for highly light-sensitive materials, with several configurations recording extreme spikes surpassing the sensor’s 20,000 lx saturation limit. Stable, low-illuminance distributions were observed only in selected diffusing-roof arrangements (M05–M07), whereas direct-glazing systems (M01–M04) produced unsafe exposure patterns with high temporal variability and poor visual adaptation conditions. The study concludes that passive roof geometries alone are insufficient to ensure conservation-level safety without additional active filtering or adaptive control strategies, providing an experimentally grounded framework for designing zenithal daylighting systems in museum environments. The results are intended for relative peak-risk comparison under controlled clear-sky conditions rather than direct generalisation to whole-room annual conservation safety. Full article

Developing efficient heterojunction photocatalysts is essential to address the challenge of degrading persistent organic pollutants. In this study, a multi-scale characterization strategy was employed to investigate the implications of interfacial connectivity between synthesized graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) /bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl)e removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) and Methyl Orange (MO). Morpho-structural characterizations, including Scanning/Transmission Electron Microscopy (SEM/TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and N₂ physisorption (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET)) analyses, confirmed the successful construction of an intimate interfacial contact between g-C₃N₄ and BiOCl. The optimized composite (15% g-C₃N₄/BiOCl), prepared via a one-step hydrothermal method, exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance following pseudo-first-order kinetics described by the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model, with apparent rate constants of 0.166 min⁻¹ for MO and 0.519 min⁻¹ for RhB. Under visible-light irradiation, degradation efficiencies of 98% for MO (120 min) and 99% for RhB (35 min) were achieved, outperforming the pristine components. Complementary optical and electrochemical analyses indicate improved light absorption and charge-separation efficiency in the heterojunction system. In addition, the photocatalyst demonstrated good operational stability over four consecutive cycles, maintaining 91.70% activity for MO and 99.76% for RhB. Overall, this work highlights the synergistic photocatalytic g-C₃N₄/BiOCl heterojunction and provides a valuable insight to guide the design of advanced materials for pollutant remediation. Full article

This study focuses on classifying electromyographic (EMG) signals to identify seven specific hand movements, including complete hand closure, individual finger closures, and a pincer grip. Accurately distinguishing these movements is challenging due to overlapping muscle activation patterns. To address this, a methodology structured in five stages was developed: placement of electrodes on specific forearm muscles to capture electrical activity during movements; acquisition of EMG signals from twelve participants performing the seven types of movements; preprocessing of the signals through filtering and rectification to enhance quality, followed by the extraction of features from three distinct types of preprocessed signals—filtered, rectified, and envelope signals—to facilitate analysis in the temporal, frequency, and time–frequency domains; extraction of relevant features such as amplitude, shape, symmetry, and frequency variance; and classification of the signals using eight machine learning algorithms: support vector machine (SVM), multiclass logistic regression, k-nearest neighbors (k-NN), Bayesian classifier, artificial neural network (ANN), random forest, XGBoost, and LightGBM. The performance of each algorithm was evaluated using different sets of features derived from the preprocessed signals to identify the most effective approach for classifying hand movements. Additionally, the impact of various signal representations on classification accuracy was examined. Experimental results indicated that some algorithms, especially when an expanded set of features was utilized, achieved improved accuracy in classifying hand movements. These findings contribute to the development of more efficient control systems for myoelectric prostheses and offer insights for future research in EMG signal processing and pattern recognition. Full article

Numerous research works have tried to evaluate the correlation between inflammation and the onset of prostate cancer. Given the in vitro antioxidant power and the anti-proliferative effects on human prostate cancer cells shown by a Juglans regia L. fresh fruit extract, the aim of this work was the evaluation of its potential in the acute and chronic inflammatory states in vivo, revealing a strong anti-inflammatory activity. In the zymosan-induced edema formation assay, a light and non-significant edema reduction was shown. On the contrary, in the zymosan-induced thermal hyperalgesia assay, the reversion of hyperalgesia after the extract administration was determined. Moreover, in the formalin test, the extract caused a significant decrease in the licking time caused by the aldehyde, especially in the late phase. In silico, quercetin showed the best fit into the enzymatic pocket of AChE (docking score: −11.306 Kcal/mol). Neochlorogenic acid and ellagic acid gave the best docking scores on BChE (−10.292 Kcal/mol and −10.054 Kcal/mol, respectively). Abscisic acid showed a high binding affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor. Finally, quercetin and abscisic acid were quantified to complete the data by HPLC-DAD, giving 0.246 ± 0.003 mg/g of dried extract and 0.036 ± 0.004 mg/g of dried extract, respectively. Full article

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents over 80% of all lung cancer cases and still has a huge mortality worldwide. Targeting epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR) alterations with overall response rates of more than 80% has provided a paradigm shift in the treatment of NSCLC; however, NSCLC patients harbouring uncommon mutations and exon 20 insertions still have a dismal prognosis underscoring the urgent need to develop novel EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with proven activity against these EGFR alterations. Zipalertinib is a newly developed oral, irreversible compound which is characterized by its unique pyrrolopyrimidine structure which discriminates this novel TKI from others. It is active against the classical mutations (i.e., del19, L858R) and some of the uncommon mutations (e.g., T790M, G719X, S768I, L861Q, but not C797S) and is predominantly active in NSCLC cells harbouring exon20ins. Zipalertinib is currently being extensively evaluated in several clinical NSCLC trials (REZILIENT 1–4) and has shown significant clinical activity in NSCLC patients with uncommon mutations, exon20ins, and in brain metastases (REZILIENT 3 trial). Moreover, zipalertinib in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy followed by zipalertinib monotherapy as first-line therapy is currently being evaluated in the pivotal, ongoing REZILIENT 3 randomized trial. In addition, the efficacy of zipalertinib is also studied in the adjuvant setting (REZILIENT 4 trial, stage IB-IIIA NSCLCs with exon20ins and uncommon mutations). The role and the integration of therapies targeting exon20ins or uncommon mutations into the first- and second-line treatment armamentarium for NSCLC patients is not yet fully established, and the therapeutic impact of monotherapies (e.g., sunvozertinib, firmonertinib) versus combinations with standard platinum-based chemotherapy (e.g., zipalertinib, amivantamab) currently still lacks robust evidence to further change the therapeutic landscape for these patients. Therefore, results from the ongoing trials are eagerly awaited and are expected to shed some light on these open questions. Full article

Chalcones have garnered significant research interest due to their various medical bioactivities. Several chalcone compounds have been approved for marketing and clinical use in the treatment of various diseases. A critical aspect of the action of chalcones is their effect on microtubules. They are considered an excellent target for chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer. Consequently, scientists are constantly developing novel chalcone drug agents and also innovative drug delivery strategies. In this manuscript, we report the first synthesis of 12 new visible-light-activated, photoswitchable chalcone-based microtubule inhibitors (17a–17l). Among the obtained compounds, one photoswitch demonstrated light-dependent cytotoxicity in the PC-3 cancer cell line. The IC₅₀ value of the Z conformer was determined to be 4.75 ± 1.00 μM after 48 h of treatment. The E conformer exhibited slightly lower activity compared to the Z conformer, with an IC₅₀ value of 5.80 ± 0.80 µM following 48 h of incubation. In this study, NMR and UV spectroscopy, along with computational methods, were employed. Full article

Inositol is a natural carbocyclic sugar that plays an essential role in regulating the vital cellular functions of plants and animals. Existing research has explored methyl derivatives of inositol, reporting on their various biological activities, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-osteoporosis activities. Our previous study demonstrated that L-quebrachitol, a methyl derivative of inositol, enhances osteoblastogenesis and bone formation; however, its effect on osteoclastogenesis remains unclear. Consequently, we aimed to investigate the effect of L-quebrachitol on receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand-induced osteoclastogenesis in pre-osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells, and bone resorption in an ovariectomized rat model. The results revealed that L-quebrachitol suppressed RANK-mediated signaling, including nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and Fos proto-oncogene (cFOS) pathways, at both the gene and protein levels. Moreover, the critical transcription factor for osteoclastogenesis, nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1), was downregulated. Inhibition of osteoclast-associated marker genes encoding proteolytic enzymes, such as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), and cathepsin K, led to reduced formation of TRAP-positive multinucleated cells and resorption pits. In addition, proteasome subunit alpha type-5 (PSMA5), which is involved in the degradation of the NF-κB inhibitor, was also suppressed. In particular, the animal study clearly supported the bone homeostasis property of the agent by increasing the BV/TV (bone volume/total volume) and Tb.Th (trabecular thickness) in ovariectomized rats. These findings demonstrate the dose-dependent inhibitory effect of L-quebrachitol on osteoclastogenesis through the modulation of RANK-mediated signaling pathways and prevention of bone loss in an animal model. However, further exploration of the potential of L-quebrachitol as an effective approach for osteoporosis is required. Full article

Background/Objectives: Essential amino acids’ (EAAs) biological effects depend on both gastrointestinal stability and intestinal bioavailability. A commercially available EAA blend has previously shown to be highly bioaccessible and able to inhibit the DPP-IV enzyme both directly and at a cellular level following simulated digestion in vitro. In light with this consideration, the present study aimed to evaluate the intestinal in vitro bioavailability of GAF subjected to INFOGEST digestion (iGAF) and to investigate the metabolic effects of its bioavailable fraction on muscle cells using an integrated Caco-2/C2C12 co-culture model. Methods: Differentiated Caco-2 cell lines were treated with iGAF, and amino acid transport was quantified by ion-exchange chromatography. The basolateral fraction containing bioavailable EAAs was used to treat differentiated C2C12 myotubes for 24 h. Western blot analyses were performed to assess the activation of anabolic and metabolic pathways, including mTOR, Akt, GSK3, AMPK and GLUT-4. Results: More than 50% of each EAA present in iGAF crossed the Caco-2 monolayer, with BCAAs and phenylalanine particularly enriched in the basolateral fraction. Exposure of C2C12 myotubes to the bioavailable iGAF stimulated mTORC1 activation and increased the phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3, indicating an enhanced anabolic response. At a cellular level, iGAF also elevated the p-AMPK/AMPK ratio, suggesting activation of energy-sensing pathways. Moreover, GLUT4 protein levels and glucose uptake were significantly increased. Conclusions: The study focuses exclusively on a cellular model, and results suggested that iGAF is highly bioavailable in vitro and that its absorbed fraction activates key anabolic and metabolic pathways of skeletal muscle cells, enhancing both protein synthesis signaling and glucose utilization in vitro. Full article

In this study, we have investigated heterostructural TiO₂/BiVO₄ anodes to determine the effect of the amount and form of BiVO₄ nanoparticles on TiO₂ on the response of photoanodes under UV and visible illumination. BiVO₄ nanopowders were prepared and annealed at temperatures ranging from 200 to 500 °C. Structural and optical characterization indicates that as the annealing temperature is increased, a phase transition from a weakly ordered to a dominant monoclinic BiVO₄ phase is observed, which is accompanied by an increase in visible light absorption. Subsequently, the most crystalline powder was utilized to deposit BiVO₄ on nanostructured TiO₂ either as a compact overlayer (drop-casting) or as a progressively grown nanoparticle (TiO₂@S series) in the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction process (SILAR). Photoelectrochemical measurements were performed, revealing a morphology-dependent photocurrent response under UV and visible illumination. A further increase in the number of cycles systematically increases the photocurrent in the visible light range while limiting the response to UV radiation. The TiO₂@d photoanode demonstrates the highest relative activity within the visible range; however, it also generates the lowest absolute photocurrent, indicating the presence of significant transport and recombination losses within the thick BiVO₄ layer. The results demonstrate that the presence of BiVO₄ nanoparticles on TiO₂ exerts a substantial influence on the separation of charge between semiconductors and the synergistic utilization of photons from the UV and visible ranges. This research yielded a proposed scheme of mutual band arrangement and charge carrier transfer mechanism in TiO₂@BiVO₄ heterostructures. Full article