Search Results (20,295)

Background/Objectives: Metabolic dormancy in biofilms leads to reduced drug efficacy in these communities. Different pharmacokinetics and adverse side effects complicate the simultaneous delivery of multiple drugs at appropriate concentrations to the infection site. This study aimed to develop chitosan-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with curcumin and amphotericin B (CS@MSNs-Cur-AmB) and to evaluate their antibiofilm activity combined with antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT) against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans dual-species biofilms. Methods: CS@MSNs-Cur-AmB were developed. The structure and morphology of the nanoparticles were evaluated using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta potential, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Cytotoxicity toward human gingival fibroblasts was assessed. Colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) were determined. The metabolic activity of biofilm-forming cells was measured using the tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Results: Physicochemical analyses confirmed the synthesis of CS@MSNs-Cur-AmB, revealing a particle size of 228 nm and thermal stability up to 600 °C. Cytotoxicity assays showed that CS@MSNs-Cur-AmB exhibited good biocompatibility (> 90%). CS@MSNs-Cur-AmB improved antimicrobial activity, which was further enhanced by blue light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation. CS@MSNs-Cur-AmB under LED irradiation showed the strongest effect, reducing metabolic activity to 27.74 ± 4.08% (1 W/cm², 1 min), p < 0.001). Conclusions: Formulating two drugs in nanocarrier systems may improve therapeutic efficacy by increasing local concentration and reducing systemic exposure. This offers an effective strategy for combating oral biofilms. Full article

Acaryochloris marina is a distinctive cyanobacterium that uses chlorophyll d as its primary photosynthetic pigment and possesses two major light-harvesting systems: membrane-integral chlorophyll-binding Pcb/CBP complexes and water-soluble phycobiliproteins. How these antenna systems respond at the transcriptome level to contrasting light environments remains incompletely characterized. Here, we re-analyzed a publicly available RNA-seq dataset for A. marina MBIC11017 (NCBI BioProject PRJNA1130970), comparing cells grown under low-irradiance far-red light (LL-FR; 1.5–2 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹, 710-nm peak) and high-irradiance white light (HL-WL; 30–35 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹). Because light quality and irradiance both differ in this experimental design, the two effects cannot be separated; all transcriptional changes are therefore interpreted as responses to the combined LL-FR versus HL-WL contrast rather than to far-red wavelength alone. Of 8439 expressed genes, 1810 (21.4%) were significantly differentially expressed (adjusted p < 0.05). Using GFF-verified locus tags which corrected mis-annotations propagated in earlier analyses, the PS-I core gene set showed a mean log₂ fold-change of +1.96 (3.9-fold; 11/11 loci significant), whereas the PS-II core gene set showed a mean log₂ fold-change of +1.10 (2.1-fold; 12/20 loci significant). Light-harvesting genes showed the strongest response: 17/18 phycobiliprotein-pathway genes in KEGG amr00196 were upregulated, together with multiple putative Pcb/CBP loci (mean antenna log₂FC = +3.51; 11.4-fold). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis placed the antenna-associate genes examined here within a module positively correlated with the LL-FR condition (r = 0.802, p = 0.017), and STRING analysis supported an enriched network of predicted or known protein associations (1115 nodes, 4763 edges; PPI enrichment p < 1.0 × 10⁻¹⁶). Recent matched-irradiance experiments indicate that, at equal photon flux, far-red wavelengths reduce phycobilisome content relative to white light. The transcriptional pattern reported here is therefore most parsimoniously interpreted as predominantly a low-irradiance response, with possible wavelength-associated CA5 contributions that cannot be isolated in the present design. Overall, the analysis reveals coordinated transcript-level changes across plasmid-encoded reacquired phycobiliprotein genes, chromosomal Pcb/CBP loci, chlorophyll biosynthesis genes, and photosystem core genes, consistent with coordinated regulation of light-harvesting components in A. marina. Full article

This study examines how night sky brightness (NSB) in Hong Kong has evolved over the past decade. It combines recent datasets covering 2019–2023 with the earlier dataset analyzed in a previous study (2010–2013) . This study emphasizes the importance of long-term monitoring in the context of light pollution variations resulting from urban development and increasing public awareness. Photometric data were collected nightly and continuously from multiple locations equipped with a Sky Quality Meter, covering both urban and suburban settings. The in situ observation frequency was at sub-minute intervals, characterizing nighttime profiles with a temporal resolution that other monitoring systems (e.g., satellites) cannot provide. Analysis reveals that Hong Kong’s night skies are substantially brighter than the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) dark sky standard, with urban areas exceeding 100× the standard brightness on average. By comparing early- and late-night observations, we establish a robust indicator for assessing the direct impact of light pollution, concluding that early evening skies are brighter than late-night skies due to the variation in artificial lighting. Urban regions demonstrated more pronounced post-midnight darkening, a trend consistent with increased light pollution awareness and enhanced compliance with late-night lighting protocols. Additionally, this study introduces remotely sensed infrared (IR) sky temperature as a novel cloud amount indicator, demonstrating a strong positive correlation between cloud amount and NSB, particularly in urban areas. Our findings highlight the urgent need for effective light pollution mitigation strategies in rapidly developing cities like Hong Kong, offering valuable insights for similar initiatives worldwide. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of age Opuntia-derivated digestate (OpDcm) as a nutrient source for photosynthetic microbial consortia (PMC), aiming to reduce dependence on mineral media and promote the valorization of locally available biomass in arid and semi-arid regions. Batch cultures were performed in bubble column photobioreactors (BCPBR) and open raceway (ORPBR) photobioreactors using different proportions of OpDcm and BG11₀ to assess biomass production, chlorophyll a dynamics, and physicochemical responses of a PMC dominated by Nostoc sp. Chemical characterization showed that OpDcm contained higher levels of K, Ca, Mg, and Mn than BG11₀, providing a robust ionic matrix for initial growth; however, potential limitations in P, Mg, and Fe were identified. In both BCPBR and ORPBR systems, OpDcm demonstrated nutrient compositions that stimulated biomass production in the PMC at levels comparable to those achieved with BG11₀ medium. Statistical analyses showed that specific treatments, particularly T1 (10% OpDcm in BCPBR) and T3 (10% OpDcm + 2.5% BG11₀ in ORPBR), produced biomass yields similar to or higher than those obtained with the conventional BG11₀ medium. However, chlorophyll a concentration was lower in OpDcm treatments due to limited light transmission and micronutrient constraints. The N–NH₄⁺ dynamics in BCPBR and ORPBR exhibited pronounced variability among the evaluated culture media, spanning from negligible changes (<1 mg L⁻¹) over the entire cultivation period to sustained ammonium production rates of 2–3 mg L⁻¹ day⁻¹. Morphological analysis confirmed a consortium dominated by Nostoc sp., supported by pH values within the optimal range (8–9). Overall, the use of age-Opuntia-derived digestates demonstrated it can serve as a partial or total substitute for a low-cost nutrient source for cyanobacterial cultivation, underscoring their relevance to circular bioeconomy strategies for producing photosynthetic biomass. Full article

The Jimusar shale reservoir is characterized by saline lacustrine mixed sedimentation and strong reservoir heterogeneity, making continuous identification of formation elemental composition challenging. Although elemental capture spectroscopy (ECS) logging provides direct elemental measurements, its high cost and limited deployment restrict its large-scale application. This study investigates the feasibility of predicting ECS-derived elemental compositions from conventional logging data to support continuous reservoir characterization. A dataset comprising 115,668 depth-matched samples from three wells in the Jimusar Sag, Junggar Basin, was used. Conventional logging curves served as input features, while ECS-derived elemental concentrations were used as prediction targets. After data preprocessing and feature enhancement, correlation analysis identified seven relevant logging curves as key input variables. Four regression models—Random Forest, XGBoost, CatBoost, and LightGBM—were evaluated and compared with a stacked ensemble learning model. Model performance was assessed using five-fold cross-validation and multiple metrics, including R², RMSE, MAE, and relative error. The results show that all four individual models achieved satisfactory predictive performance, with R² values generally around 0.8, whereas the stacked ensemble model provided the highest prediction accuracy and stability. Compared with the individual models, the ensemble model improved R² by 2–10%, reduced RMSE by 5–15%, and decreased relative error by 8–15% across different elemental predictions. Among the predicted elements, Fe achieved the highest accuracy, with an R² value of 0.87. As an exploratory engineering application, the predicted elemental compositions were further compared with hydraulic-fracturing response parameters, achieving a conformity rate of 74.8% with fracturing-operation status. These results suggest that predicted elemental data may provide useful auxiliary constraints for fracture-response interpretation and abnormal-risk identification. Nevertheless, further validation using independent well data is required, and the generalizability of the proposed workflow to other wells and lacustrine shale oil systems remains to be further assessed. Full article

Background/Objectives: The frontal sinus exhibits individual morphological variability that may support human identification. Its development progresses through childhood and adolescence and stabilizes in early adulthood, with age-related changes potentially affecting radiological comparisons. This study presents a forensic case report and discusses it in light of the literature on frontal sinus development and forensic identification. Methods: A comparative radiological analysis was conducted using images obtained at two distinct stages of biological maturation (14 and 21 years of age). Manual delineation combined with semi-automated computational analysis was applied to assess morphological features of the frontal sinus, including contour configuration, lobulation, and dimensional parameters. Results: The intra vitam record was obtained at 14 years of age, during an active developmental phase, and the post mortem examination was obtained at 21 years, corresponding to early adulthood. Comparative analysis revealed significant morphological differences, including increased lobulation, contour complexity, and sinus expansion. These changes limited the reliability of frontal sinus morphology for identification in this case. Friction ridge examination independently established positive identification. Conclusions: This study highlights the limitations of frontal sinus analysis when applied across periods of active development and underscores the risk of misinterpretation if age-related changes are not adequately considered. Full article

Understanding diurnal canopy orientation in crops is important for interpreting plant responses to light and environmental conditions, yet field-based quantification remains limited. In this study, we present Heliocot, a field RGB imaging approach that converts time-resolved images into reference-area standardized projected leaf area (PLA) time series to quantify within-day canopy orientation dynamics in early-season cotton. Leaf instance segmentation was performed using YOLOv8m-seg and refined through a 144-combination post-processing optimization. On the held-out early-stage validation/tuning set, the selected workflow showed strong agreement with manual ground truth (R² = 0.948; NRMSE = 0.082) and destructive leaf area measurements (R² = 0.836). Derived diurnal metrics, including Daily Orientation Amplitude (DOA) and Peak Orientation Index (POI), consistently revealed a midday maximum (13:15) in canopy projection. Exploratory genotype-level analysis suggested negative associations between orientation indices and selected plant traits, including specific leaf area (SLA) versus DOA (r = −0.71, p = 0.021, R² = 0.508), destructive leaf area (LA) versus DOA (r = −0.69, p = 0.028, R² = 0.471), and stem dry weight (SDW) versus POI (r = −0.74, p = 0.014, R² = 0.554), while plant height was not significantly associated with POI and DOA (p > 0.05). Although currently limited to early-season conditions and two field-imaging dates, this approach provides a practical workflow for field-based monitoring of canopy projection dynamics in cotton, while broader temporal and environmental validation remains necessary. Full article

Airfield Ground Lighting Power Systems (AGLPS) are critical for ensuring safe aircraft operations, particularly under low-visibility conditions. Conventional systems are based on series circuits supplied by constant current regulators, which impose limitations in terms of flexibility, scalability, and maintenance. This work investigates an alternative AGLPS architecture based on a low-voltage parallel distribution network enabled by LED luminaires, distributed power electronics, and Power Line Communication (PLC) for control and monitoring. A theoretical and conceptual approach is adopted, including electrical modelling of the power distribution system, verification of conductor sizing under high admissible voltage drops, and evaluation of communication performance using PLC and Modbus protocols. The results demonstrate that the proposed architecture can operate with significantly higher voltage drops without affecting luminous output, allowing for the use of standard low-voltage cabling. In addition, communication analysis shows that control and monitoring operations can be executed within a few milliseconds, meeting operational requirements. An economic assessment indicates a reduction in system complexity and overall costs compared to conventional series systems. The findings confirm that parallel AGLPS architectures constitute a technically feasible and advantageous alternative to traditional systems, enabling enhanced flexibility, improved maintainability, and the integration of advanced digital functionalities. Full article

Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles is an effective approach to create biocompatible nanomaterials. In this study, gold nanoparticles (BC-AuNPs) were prepared by reducing chloroauric acid with black corncob (BC) extract at relatively low temperatures. The optimal preparation conditions were obtained through a single-factor experiment, which included 5 mL of black corncob extract and 0.12 mL of 3% HAuCl₄ solution at a pH of 5.0, and the reaction was carried out at 50 °C in a water bath for 3 h. The prepared BC-AuNPs were characterized by ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Zeta-potential measurement, which showed that they were dispersed spherical particles with an average size of approximately 23.0 nm and their surfaces were covered with various black corncob active components. The photothermal performance test indicated a good photothermal effect with a conversion efficiency of 41.3%. Antibacterial experiments revealed that BC-AuNPs had excellent antibacterial activity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for E. coli and Salmonella were 25.00 and 50.00 µg/mL, respectively. Overall, this study proved a potential application for gold nanoparticles in photothermal antibacterial fields. Full article

Background: University students often face significant psychological challenges and lifestyle disruptions that may compromise their mental resources and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Although associations between physical activity (PA) and mental health have been widely reported, few studies have integrated different PA intensities, sedentary behavior, and psychological resources jointly related in one analytical model. Objective: This study investigated the relationships among vigorous (VPA), moderate (MPA), and light (LPA) physical activity, sedentary behavior (SB), resilience (RES), self-esteem (SE), and HRQoL in a sample of Chinese university students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey included 1560 university students from six universities in China, with a mean age of 19.43 ± 1.15 years; the sample comprised 434 males (27.8%) and 1126 females (72.2%). Relationships among the variables were tested using path analysis within a structural equation modeling framework. Results: Greater PA engagement was related to higher RES, SE, and HRQoL, whereas SB was not significantly associated with RES. All three PA intensities were positively associated with RES, although the magnitude of these associations varied. In addition, RES was also related to higher SE and HRQoL, and SE was related to higher HRQoL. Conclusions: These findings suggest that PA is associated with psychological resources and HRQoL among university students. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to determine the directionality and mechanisms underlying these relationships. Full article

Background: Oral delivery of chemotherapeutic agents remains challenging due to gastrointestinal degradation, poor intestinal permeability, and extensive first-pass metabolism, which collectively limit bioavailability. Lipid-based drug delivery systems offer a promising strategy to overcome these barriers. This study aimed to develop a freeze-dried, solid-dispersible self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) using a water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) double emulsion approach for the co-encapsulation of hydrophilic (doxorubicin) and lipophilic (ellipticine) agents to enhance oral delivery. Methods: Double-emulsion SEDDS were prepared via a two-stage emulsification process to enable compartmentalized drug loading within aqueous and oil phases. The formulations were freeze-dried to improve stability and storage. Physicochemical properties were characterized using dynamic light scattering for droplet size and polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential analysis for colloidal stability, and differential scanning calorimetry for thermal behavior. Drug encapsulation efficiency was determined, and cellular uptake was evaluated in breast cancer cells using fluorescence microscopy. Results: Optimized SEDDS exhibited droplet sizes of 90–347 nm with low PDI values (0.005–0.336), indicating uniform and stable dispersions. Zeta potential values (−10.64 to 2.38 mV) supported colloidal stability, while freeze-dried formulations retained dispersion characteristics upon reconstitution over extended storage. Both drugs demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency (>97%), and thermal analysis confirmed the formation of stable amorphous systems. Fluorescence imaging revealed enhanced intracellular uptake of both agents. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that freeze-dried double-emulsion SEDDS enable efficient co-delivery of hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, improving stability and cellular uptake. This platform shows strong potential for overcoming key barriers in oral chemotherapy and provides a promising strategy for combination drug delivery. Full article

Geological engineering differences generally lead to strong heterogeneity in coalbed methane (CBM) production. More than 800 CBM wells are in production in the MB area in the southern Qinshui Basin, North China, and differences in gas production between wells reach 10 times. However, mechanisms of productivity variations remain unclear. Based on drilling, logging, and production data, this study employed machine learning methods to identify key factors controlling gas production. The results showed that the peak gas production of vertical wells with No. 3 and No. 15 coal co-production was generally below 5000 m³/d, and that of most horizontal wells exceeded 10,000 m³/d, especially higher in wells for No. 15 coal. High-production wells were concentrated in the south-eastern regions, predominantly accompanied by high gas content and a critical desorption pressure ratio. Based on the LightGBM+SHAP model analysis, three distinct production control models were established: the critical desorption pressure ratio-dominated and fracturing scale synergy model (horizontal wells for No. 3 coal), the permeability-dominated with reservoir pressure and critical desorption pressure ratio support model (horizontal wells for No. 15 coal), and the average critical desorption pressure ratio-dominated and total sand injection volume-supported model (vertical wells with No. 3 and No. 15 coal co-production). These findings provide an approach for identifying key parameters affecting gas production, and offer insights for formulating efficient CBM development strategies. Full article

Given the accelerated growth of built-up land, optimizing land-use patterns is a practical strategy for reducing urban carbon emissions. While previous studies have concentrated on landscape patterns, the association between the morphological spatial pattern (MSPA) of built-up land and carbon emissions remains unknown. The MSPA not only captures the fine-scale characteristics of land use but also provides direct guidance for urban planning. To fill this gap, we took China, the world’s largest carbon-emitting country, as a case study. First, the MSPA of built-up land was identified from multitemporal land-use data for 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2018. Next, a covariance analysis was conducted to identify the control variables that are significantly associated with carbon emissions. Finally, we innovatively integrated the MSPA with machine learning techniques to explore the association between the MSPA of built-up land and carbon emissions, thereby overcoming the limitations of traditional landscape indices. The results demonstrate an increasingly evident decoupling effect between carbon emissions and socioeconomic growth in China, while the MSPA factors played increasingly significant roles. In particular, a “network” configuration of built-up land is more conducive to low-carbon city planning than compact development. Additionally, the merging of “islets” into “cores” should be avoided. Our findings highlight the growing importance of the MSPA in carbon reduction and can shed light on the spatial design of built-up land. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aquaculture industry represents a fundamental food sector. One of the main limiting factors for this sector is related to bacterial diseases, for which antibiotics have been widely used worldwide for decades. In recent years, a more conscious approach to the use of antimicrobials within the framework of the One Health approach has increased the need for alternatives capable of helping with disease management while avoiding the onset of antimicrobial resistance phenomena. Antimicrobial peptides, which have a broad spectrum of action against pathogens, are a promising solution. Methods: In this work, we investigated the capability of three peptides (Trematocine, Chionodracine, and Cnd-m3) isolated from Antarctic fish to target bacterial and viral pathogens affecting aquaculture. Successively, we investigated their cytotoxicity versus a continuous embryonic cell line (DLEC) derived from European sea bass and their haemolytic activity against fish erythrocytes. Moreover, we evaluated their immunomodulatory effect. Results: Regarding antibacterial properties, Cnd-m3 was identified as the best peptide, demonstrating good bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity against various bacterial strains, including Lactococcus garvieae. Concerning this bacterium, ANS permeability assays showed that the Cnd-m3 peptide has a great ability to interact with its outer membrane, while TEM analysis revealed that the peptide, after destabilization of the cell membrane, interacts with nucleic structures. Considering the antiviral activity, Trematocine was effective against two tested pathogenic enveloped viruses. Moreover, the toxicity of Trematocine and Cnd-m3 was evaluated by investigating their cytotoxicity against a cell line derived from Dicentrarchus labrax and haemolysis against sea bass erythrocytes. Both revealed good selectivity towards pathogens at the lowest concentration. Finally, Cnd-m3 manifested light in vitro immunomodulatory properties. Conclusions: Overall, these data provide a solid basis for future studies assessing the potential applications of two of the tested peptides in aquaculture. Full article

Depression and clinical anxiety (also known as ‘internalising disorders’) are commonly experienced by autistic children. Parents play an important role in reducing their child’s risk of developing internalising disorders, and existing technology-assisted parenting programs have shown promise in empowering parents in this role. Yet, existing interventions do not currently meet the unique needs of parents of autistic children. This study aimed to co-design adaptations to an existing technology-assisted parenting program (Partners in Parenting Kids) to enhance its relevance and acceptability for parents of school-aged autistic children. An iterative two-phase co-design study was conducted with parents of autistic children (n = 5) and service providers (n = 5). In Phase 1, semi-structured interviews explored participant experiences and needs in the context of parenting support, as well as perspectives on parenting programs. In Phase 2, eight co-design workshops were conducted with parents and service providers to build on the findings from Phase 1 and to collaboratively adapt the program content, delivery, and design features. Workshops involved participatory design activities to foster collaborative sharing of ideas and decision-making. Transcripts from both phases were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Themes identified in Phase 1 included: (1) Day-to-day challenges of parenting an autistic child; (2) Unique parent knowledge base and skill set; and (3) Desired qualities of parenting programs. Themes from Phase 2 of the study included: (1) Meaningful connections with others in the community; (2) Acceptance of autism; and (3) Diversity within the community. These themes are described in terms of their design implications for the resultant parenting program (Partners in Parenting Kids-Autism). The findings provide critical insights into desired qualities of parenting programs for parents of autistic children. Importantly, they also shed light on key design recommendations for future work focused on empowering parents to support their child’s mental health through interventions. Full article