Search Results (37,827)

Salt stress is a major abiotic constraint that limits plant growth by inducing oxidative stress, disrupting photosynthetic processes, and damaging cellular membranes. Although Rosa rugosa is considered relatively tolerant to adverse environments, differences in antioxidant defense and physiological responses among its cultivars under sustained salt stress remain insufficiently understood. Comparative evaluation of these responses is important for identifying salt-tolerant germplasm and understanding stress-adaptation mechanisms. In this study, two R. rugosa cultivars, Siji and Fenghua, were subjected to irrigation treatments with solutions containing 0, 50, 100, or 150 mM NaCl for 28 days under controlled conditions. Morphological traits, salt injury, photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes, ROS accumulation, antioxidant enzyme activities, and lipid peroxidation were measured to assess cultivar-specific differences in salt-stress responses. Salt stress caused concentration-dependent growth inhibition, increased salt injury, and reduced chlorophyll content, while oxidative-stress responses differed between the two cultivars, with stronger adverse effects observed in Fenghua. Siji maintained better growth performance, higher fresh and dry mass of sampled leaves, greater chlorophyll retention, better maintenance of several osmolytes, and stronger antioxidant enzyme activities under the higher NaCl treatments. In contrast, Fenghua showed greater ROS accumulation and higher MDA under the higher NaCl treatments, which are consistent with greater oxidative stress and membrane lipid peroxidation. Exploratory correlation and principal component analyses further showed that antioxidant defense, osmotic adjustment, chlorophyll retention, and reduced oxidative damage were closely associated with salt tolerance in Siji. These results indicate that greater antioxidant capacity, osmotic adjustment, and membrane protection were associated with the superior salt-stress performance of ‘Siji’ compared with ‘Fenghua’. The study identifies Siji as a promising R. rugosa candidate for further salt-tolerance evaluation and provides useful physiological and biochemical indicators for salt-tolerance screening in ornamental rose breeding. Full article

Antifouling coatings are an important source of trace metal contamination in coastal marine environments because they continuously release biocidal compounds from submerged structures. Among the metallic contaminants released from many antifouling coatings, copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are of particular environmental concern because of their persistence and bioavailability and may accumulate in filter-feeding organisms inhabiting aquaculture areas. The present study evaluated the effects of the leachable fraction of a commercial antifouling paint on survival and Cu and Zn accumulation in the Pacific cupped oyster Magallana gigas. Oysters were exposed for 21 days to three nominal concentrations of an aqueous antifouling paint extract (0, 0.05, and 0.25 mg/L). Copper and zinc concentrations in the exposure media were analytically verified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, while tissue metal concentrations were determined at the end of the experiment. Survival was analysed using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests. Mortality showed an increasing trend with exposure concentration, and overall survival differed significantly among treatments, with mortality concentrated in oysters exposed to the highest concentration tested. Both Cu and Zn accumulated in oyster tissues, although their accumulation patterns differed, reflecting distinct physiological regulation mechanisms. These findings demonstrate that the leachable fraction of antifouling paint represents a bioavailable source of Cu and Zn for marine bivalves under controlled exposure conditions. The study provides new experimental evidence supporting environmental risk assessment of antifouling-derived contamination and contributes to the sustainable management of shellfish farming areas. Full article

Emptying pressurised pipelines with undulating profiles can generate subatmospheric pressure conditions that compromise structural integrity, particularly when no air admission valve is considered. One-dimensional models for this transient event have so far relied on the Rigid Water Column (RWC) assumption, which neglects the elasticity of the liquid phase and the deformability of the pipe walls. This study applies an Elastic Water Column Model (EWCM) to the emptying of pipelines with an undulating profile, in which the Method of Characteristics is applied on two independent moving grids coupled through a single entrapped air pocket governed by a polytropic law. The model is validated against nine configurations, each recorded twice, in a laboratory facility whose two branches rise at 30° to a common high point, forming an inverted V. The configurations cover symmetric air pockets under 6% and full valve opening, and asymmetric air pocket distributions under full opening. The EWCM predicts the minimum pressure with a mean absolute error of 0.21%, against 0.27% for the rigid formulation, and both remain below the scatter between experimental repetitions. The governing parameter depends on the valve opening level: under full opening, the shape of the valve manoeuvre dominates, whereas under a restrictive 6% opening, it leaves the minimum pressure unchanged and the polytropic exponent becomes the largest effect. The wave speed is negligible throughout. The ratio between the acoustic and mass-oscillation time scales, obtainable in closed form, remains between 0.014 and 0.028 across the configurations tested, with the divergence between the two formulations increasing with it. Full article

This paper presents a method for the dynamic characterisation of load cells and force transducers designed to be straightforward to implement and based on instrumentation commonly used in structural dynamics testing. Impact hammers simultaneously provide an impulsive force to the sensor under test and measure the actual input to estimate the frequency response function. The bandwidth of the sensor is evaluated using an analytical single- or multi-degree-of-freedom frequency-domain model that is fitted to the experimental frequency response function using a Non-Linear Least-Squares approach. This paper provides guidelines for selecting the model complexity and the fitting frequency range and demonstrates the procedure on an experimental strain-gauge load cell. For the investigated transducer, the identified first natural frequency was 481.4 Hz, resulting in bandwidths of 47.9 Hz, 105.1 Hz, and 154.2 Hz for allowable deviations from the static sensitivity of 1%, 5%, and 10%, respectively. Moreover, for the single-degree-of-freedom case, the effect of masses added under operating conditions is modelled, with a worst-case relative error below 1% in the prediction of the natural frequency for the validation measurements, thus enabling the actual bandwidth to be estimated. Full article

Interwell interference has become a routine engineering concern in closely spaced, vertically stacked shale gas development, yet pressure responses observed in offset wells do not necessarily represent direct hydraulic or fluid communication. This study investigates the DH21 deep shale gas pad in the Daan area, western Chongqing, by integrating fracturing records, continuous offset-well pressure monitoring, three-dimensional well geometry, geomechanical information, natural-fracture interpretations, and gas/water tracers. Clear pressure responses are identified in 316 of 334 reviewed, evaluable events (94.61%), indicating frequent pressure communication within the documented event dataset. Response occurrence generally decreases with increasing three-dimensional separation, but spacing alone does not explain the marked variability among well pairs. Same-layer responses generally become established earlier than cross-layer responses, and this contrast remains in receiver-adjusted sensitivity analysis, highlighting the importance of vertical geological and mechanical heterogeneity. Most responses are initiated during the early stage of treatment, whereas observed pressure maxima commonly occur after pumping, demonstrating that interference diagnosis should cover both early treatment and post-pumping pressure evolution. Treatment intensity does not translate directly into stronger offset-well responses; instead, source loading is selectively transmitted through spatial, stratigraphic, and fracture-controlled pathways. Accordingly, pressure monitoring is most effective for real-time disturbance identification, natural-fracture interpretation for screening potential preferential pathways, and tracers for verifying actual mass transport. These findings support a source–path–receiver framework for monitoring prioritization, interference warning, and post-treatment connectivity assessment in vertically stacked shale gas development. The quantitative relationships are derived from a single pad and, therefore, require local validation before application to other shale gas developments. Full article

Background and Objectives: Liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy (PHx) is essential for restoring hepatic function. Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), an adenosine A_2A receptor (A_2AR) agonist, has demonstrated regenerative and proangiogenic properties in various tissues. However, its therapeutic potential for promoting liver regeneration after PHx has not been fully elucidated. The primary objective was to evaluate the effect of PDRN on liver regeneration after PHx, and the secondary objective was to examine associated changes in proliferation-related proteins and A_2AR/cAMP, HGF/c-Met, and VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling. Materials and Methods: A rat model of 70% PHx was established, and PDRN (8 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally once daily for 5 consecutive days with or without the A_2AR antagonist 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (DMPX; 8 mg/kg). Liver regeneration was evaluated using biochemical, histological, and molecular analyses. Results: PDRN enhanced liver regeneration following PHx, as demonstrated by reduced serum liver enzyme levels, enhanced recovery of liver mass, and improved histological architecture. PDRN also increased the expression of the proliferation-associated proteins proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclin D1. These effects were accompanied by increased A_2AR expression and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels, elevated hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, and enhanced phosphorylation of c-Met and VEGFR2. Co-administration of DMPX attenuated the regenerative and molecular effects of PDRN, suggesting a potential involvement of A_2AR-related signaling. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings suggest that PDRN may facilitate liver regeneration following PHx in association with increased expression of proliferation-associated proteins and changes in HGF/c-Met and VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling, supporting its potential as a therapeutic strategy following hepatic resection. Full article

The development of biodegradable active packaging systems incorporating natural antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds represents a promising strategy for improving the quality and shelf life of fresh meat. This study aimed to develop chitosan (CH)-based active films containing thyme essential oil (TEO) at 0%, 2.5%, and 3%, and to evaluate their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and effectiveness in preserving chicken breast fillets during refrigerated storage. The chemical composition of TEO was characterised by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, identifying 29 compounds, with p-cymene (30.56%) and thymol (24.59%) as the predominant constituents. Undiluted TEO showed strong antimicrobial activity against E. coli and L. innocua. The incorporation of 2.5% and 3% TEO into CH films increased the inhibition percentage and microbial susceptibility and also enhanced their antioxidant activity. The performance of the films was subsequently assessed using chicken breast fillets stored at 5 °C for 1, 3, and 5 days. All CH-based systems reduced microbial growth compared with uncoated controls, which exceeded 6–7 log CFU g⁻¹ for several microbial groups after 5 days. CH-based packaging also reduced protein oxidation and maintained low lipid oxidation. However, 3% TEO caused significant colour deterioration by day 5. These results demonstrate the potential of CH-based active films enriched with TEO as a natural and biodegradable packaging alternative to enhance the shelf life and safety of refrigerated chicken meat. Full article

Based on blasting principles, laboratory tests with different blasting parameters were conducted on rectangular prism granite specimens containing a single borehole. The effects of stemming condition, charge structure, charge mass, and decoupling coefficient were investigated. The results showed that slit charges and borehole-end stemming both improved blasting performance, and their combined use produced a better effect. The decoupling coefficient strongly affected the initiation, propagation, and distribution of blast-induced cracks. Rather better directional fracture-blasting performance was obtained at a decoupling coefficient of 1.67. Increasing the charge mass alone did not necessarily improve the blasting effect. CT scanning was further used to observe and characterize damage in the blasted specimens. Transverse damage decreased gradually with the increase in borehole depth. The box-counting fractal dimension also decreased along the borehole depth, indicating a reduction in fracture complexity. It should be noted that CT scanning characterizes transverse damage in the scanning direction only and cannot directly describe damage along the borehole axis. More fundamentally, blast-induced rock damage results from the coupling between the dynamic response under explosive loading and the structural effects associated with the physical and geometrical characteristics of the rock. Full article

Marine macroalgae constitutes an important source of structurally diverse secondary metabolites with significant pharmaceutical potential. In the present study, an untargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomic approach was integrated with biological screening to investigate the relationship between metabolite composition and antiproliferative activity in eight Mediterranean macroalgal species. Crude organic extracts were evaluated against the human colorectal cancer cell lines HT-29 and HCT-116, while the most active extracts were further investigated by flow cytometry to explore their cellular effects. Comparative metabolomic analysis revealed marked interspecific differences, with the brown algae Dictyota dichotoma and Rugulopteryx okamurae exhibiting metabolomes enriched in lipophilic diterpenoids and showing the highest cytotoxic activity. Although the bioactive compounds were not isolated, the antiproliferative effects were associated with diterpene-rich metabolite profiles containing tentatively annotated compounds such as dictyodial- and dilkamural-related diterpenoids tentatively. D. dichotoma displayed potent activity against both HT-29 and HCT-116 cells (GI₅₀ ≈ 4.5–5 μg mL⁻¹), whereas R. okamurae was markedly more active against HT-29 than HCT-116 cells, demonstrating that tumour genetic background substantially influences cellular susceptibility to macroalgal extracts and highlighting the importance of evaluating multiple cancer cell models during preliminary screening. Flow cytometry demonstrated increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduced metabolic viability, and decreased cell concentration following treatment with the most active extracts, whereas Annexin V/propidium iodide staining showed no detectable increase in apoptotic cell populations. These findings suggest that oxidative stress-associated metabolic impairment, rather than classical apoptosis, contributes to the observed antiproliferative activity. Overall, this study demonstrates the value of integrating untargeted metabolomics with comparative biological screening to identify promising marine macroalgae and metabolite classes for future bioassay-guided isolation and development of marine-derived anticancer agents. Full article

Background: Problematic social media use has been associated with effects on mental health, such as greater appearance-related anxiety, which may lead to reduced engagement in physical activity. However, the directions, magnitudes, and mechanisms of the relationships that link social media disorder (SMD), appearance-related anxiety, depressive symptoms, and physical activity remain unclear. This study explored these associations in relation to physical activity and body weight in healthy adults, considering the potential mediating roles of SMD and appearance-related anxiety. Methods: Healthy adults completed self-report measures assessing their phone screen time, SMD, appearance-related anxiety (AAI), depressive symptoms, commitment to physical activity (CPAS), physical activity (PA), and body mass index (BMI). We tested the associations among these variables using regression-based models. Results: Higher levels of SMD mediated the association between greater phone use and higher levels of appearance-related anxiety, as well as depressive symptoms. A higher BMI and higher levels of camouflaging anxiety were both associated with lower CPAS, which was associated with lower levels of moderate PA. Structural equation modelling revealed that these associations remained significant when adjusting for each variable. Conclusions: Overall, the findings of this study support the existence of a network of interconnected relationships between maladaptive social media use, mental health, physical activity, and weight-related outcomes. Full article

Ruscus aculeatus L. (butcher’s broom) is traditionally used in the management of chronic venous disorders; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its vascular activity remain insufficiently characterized. This study investigated the effects of an 80% ethanolic rhizome extract on human cerebral microvascular endothelial hCMEC/D3 cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The extract was phytochemically characterized using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection–high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC–DAD–HRMS), while its biological effects were evaluated by assessing cell viability and the secretion of selected cytokines, including transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) isoforms, using Bio-Plex multiplex assays. Phytochemical analysis confirmed steroidal saponins as the predominant constituents and also revealed minor phenolic compounds, including hydroxycinnamic acid amides. The extract (10 and 50 μg/mL) was well tolerated by hCMEC/D3 cells and did not significantly reduce cell viability under either normoxic or hypoxic conditions. Its effects on cytokine secretion depended on oxygen availability and the mediator examined. Under hypoxia, the extract partially shifted interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion toward normoxic levels and attenuated interferon alpha (IFN-α)-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production, whereas a significant increase in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) relative to the untreated control was observed only with the combination of 50 μg/mL extract and IFN-α. Hypoxia also differentially affected TGF-β isoforms, increasing TGF-β1 and decreasing TGF-β2, while treatment with the extract shifted both responses toward the profile observed under normoxia; TGF-β3 remained largely unchanged. Overall, these findings indicate that R. aculeatus rhizome extract does not exert a uniform anti-inflammatory effect but rather modulates endothelial secretory responses in an oxygen- and mediator-dependent manner. These observations provide new insights into the endothelial effects of R. aculeatus that may contribute to its vascular activity. Full article

As next-generation risk assessment accelerates the shift towards non-animal models, it also necessitates the development of tools that quantify the chemical in vitro distribution to derive an effective concentration. Although several predictive models have already been developed, none have thus far specifically focused on microphysiological systems. Unlike static well plates, microphysiological systems use (micro-) fluidic flow, consist of largely hydrophobic plastic surfaces, and often rely on protein-rich hydrogel matrices for cell scaffolding. However, these properties can alter the nominal concentration in microfluidic systems, thereby affecting the freely available chemical fraction that can reach the cells. Our objective was to measure the mass distribution in the Organoplate 2-lane^® in the absence of cells to develop an in silico mass balance model using five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons under three conditions: bare (no serum), 2% serum media, and bare medium with Matrigel. Our mass distribution analysis showed significant chemical losses in all conditions over 16 h of exposure due to evaporation and plastic sorption, likely accelerated by media movement and the device characteristics. Next, we modelled the in vitro mass balance kinetics of the five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using both raw and loss-corrected measurement data to derive and compare the rate constants and free/bound fractions. As expected, already 2% serum was the main contributor to chemical binding, leaving no free fraction, while the presence of Matrigel delayed the overall distribution kinetics. Based on these results, we emphasise the need to study in vitro distribution, particularly in microphysiological systems, as the nominal concentration of chemicals may not align with the free fraction that reaches the cells. Full article

Objective: SUMOylation is a crucial protein modification that regulates various physiological and pathological processes. Ubc9 serves as a key ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme in the process of SUMOylation. However, the role of Ubc9 has yet to be elucidated during spermatogenesis in mammals. Methods: We analyzed the expression profile of Ubc9 in spermatogenesis via quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and meiotic chromosome spread assays. Stra8-EGFPCre mice were used to construct a germ cell-specific conditional Ubc9 knockout mouse model to explore the effects of Ubc9 on male fertility and testicular development. Histological and immunofluorescence staining were performed to observe the development of germ cells and the synaptonemal complex. Moreover, proteomics analysis of the testes was used to detect changes in the control and Ubc9-deficient mice at postnatal day 8. Results: Our results revealed that Ubc9 was highly expressed in the early stage of meiosis. Ubc9 was extensively distributed in the nucleus during meiosis I. Conditional Ubc9 knockout mice with Stra8-EGFPCre resulted in atrophy and reduced volume and mass of testes and complete loss of male fertility. Histological and immunofluorescence staining of testes revealed that the number of germ cells was significantly reduced in the seminiferous tubules in conditional Ubc9 knockout mice at postnatal day 9. Meiotic chromosome spread assays revealed that the synaptonemal complex was abnormally developed and arrested in meiosis I. Moreover, immunofluorescence staining with SUMO1 and SUMO2/3 revealed that Ubc9 regulated the development of the synaptonemal complex mainly via SUMO2/3 rather than SUMO1. The results of the proteomics analysis revealed that the levels of proteins related to the synaptonemal complex, including SYCE1, SYCE2, TEX12, SYCP1, DMC1, and Hormad1, were markedly decreased with Ubc9 deficiency. Conclusions: Taken together, our study demonstrated that Ubc9 influenced the development of the synaptonemal complex during meiosis I and is essential for male fertility in mammals. Full article

Steam explosion-assisted vacuum extraction (SVE), an integrated extraction strategy, was developed to improve the yields of bioactive constituents from Perilla frutescens and to explore the potential mechanisms responsible for the observed performance enhancement. Compared with conventional Reflux extraction (RE), extracts obtained using the integrated SVE process contained higher abundances of major bioactive compounds. The contents of ferulic acid, scutellarin, and rosmarinic acid extracted from P. frutescens leaves rose from 3.126 to 4.025 mg per g of dried leaves (increased 1.29-fold), 0.236 to 0.536 mg/g (increased 2.27-fold), and 0.614 to 2.386 mg/g (increased 3.89-fold), respectively, while the total content of the four quantified bioactive compounds rose from 4.574 to 7.521 mg/g (increased 1.64-fold). Scanning electron microscopy revealed that SVE-treated samples exhibited microstructural alterations characterized by greater surface roughness and visible pore formation, which may enhance solvent accessibility and facilitate mass transfer. Metabolomic profiling further indicated higher levels of hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoid glycosides, fatty acids, and triterpenoids in SVE-processed samples, reflecting compositional changes in P. frutescens extracts. These favorable changes may be partly attributed to the combined effects of structural modification induced during SVE pretreatment and low-temperature vacuum extraction; such combined effects may facilitate mass transfer and mitigate thermal degradation of heat-sensitive constituents. Overall, this study provides preliminary insights into the possible mechanisms underlying this integrated extraction strategy and may support the development of efficient extraction approaches for P. frutescens. Full article

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are promising peptide carriers whose size and anisotropic morphology may influence their interactions with antigen-presenting cells. However, current knowledge of the morphology-dependent effects of AuNPs and the role of peptide design in human macrophage responses remains incomplete. Furthermore, most studies have been performed in THP-1-derived macrophages as the main in vitro macrophage-like model, despite human primary macrophages (HPMs) providing a more physiologically representative system. Anisotropic AuNPs with two morphologies, nanorods (AuNRs) and nanostars (AuNSs), each synthesized in two sizes, were characterized and conjugated to three influenza M2 T-cell-epitope constructs containing CD4+ (P1) and CD8+ T-cell epitopes (P2), individually, and both combined in a single multiepitope construct (P3), optimized for intracellular processing using a novel bioinformatics tool coupled to Predivac 3.0. THP-1-derived macrophages and HPMs were exposed to these nanoconjugates at a fixed particle number concentration of 10 pM for 24 h and assessed for mitochondrial activity, cell death, reactive oxygen species, endolysosomal acidification, proteasome activity, and cathepsin B activity. The identity of the nanoparticle carrier, defined by its geometry together with its specific surface chemistry, rather than the type of conjugated peptide, dominated the cellular response. AuNRs, particularly long rods, reduced mitochondrial activity, increased cell death, and enhanced bulk 20S proteasome activity in both models, even though at equal particle number they delivered 21- to 53-fold less gold mass and 6- to 12-fold less geometric surface area than AuNSs. The stimulatory effect induced by AuNRs-P1 and AuNRs-P2 on the proteasomal system may be associated with their specific peptide design features. By contrast, AuNSs preserved viability, maintained low oxidative stress, and produced strong acidification signals consistent with efficient trafficking to endolysosomal compartments; P2 and P3 conjugation further improved cytocompatibility and increased cathepsin B activity. HPMs were consistently more tolerant than THP-1 macrophages. The morphology-surface chemistry identity of the AuNP carrier is a key determinant of macrophage compatibility and of the relative engagement of the two degradative compartments assayed here. Functionalized AuNSs, especially P2- and P3-nanoconjugates, showed the best balance among biocompatibility, endolysosomal trafficking, and cathepsin B engagement. The proposed correspondence with MHC class I versus class II antigen-processing routes is a mechanistically informed hypothesis that remains to be further validated experimentally. Full article