Search Results (333,591)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease, with advanced stages potentially progressing to hepatocellular carcinoma. It is a multifactorial condition associated with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and hormonal imbalance, leading to metabolic alterations that are intensified by inflammation. An important additional factor that amplifies these effects is oxidative stress, which interacts with inflammatory pathways and contributes to disease progression. This review evaluates evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies on widely investigated natural compounds, including cinnamic acid, stilbene and quinone derivatives, coumarinoids, tannins, and miscellaneous phenol-containing compounds and alkaloids, focusing on their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and multi-functional properties. These compounds have demonstrated beneficial effects such as reduction of lipid accumulation, improvement of insulin resistance, modulation of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6), and attenuation of oxidative stress markers, with several studies reporting improvements in liver enzymes and histological features of steatosis. The aim is to assess their potential to improve NAFLD beyond their established biological activities and to explore their repositioning potential as multi-targeted agents for complementary or second-line therapeutic strategies. Their plant-derived origin and broad therapeutic profiles suggest a favorable safety margin. However, further well-designed clinical studies are required to better define their efficacy, optimal dosing, pharmacokinetics and safety, as well as to clarify their mechanisms of action and their potential role in NAFLD management. Full article

Soil salinization severely restricts rice growth and global grain production, posing a serious threat to food security. Dongxiang wild rice serves as an important genetic resource for improving salt tolerance in rice. In this study, a backcross inbred line (BIL) population derived from Dongxiang wild rice DY80 and an indica restorer line R974 were used to detect QTLs for salt tolerance at the germination and seedling stages. Four QTLs related to germination-stage salt tolerance and three QTLs for seedling-stage salt tolerance were identified, among which qSTS5 on chromosome 5 showed the largest effect with a LOD score of 8.0 and a phenotypic contribution rate of 14.8%. An F_2:3 population was further constructed to validate qSTS5, which increased its LOD value to 10.4 and phenotypic variation explanation rate to 18.5%, and the locus was finally delimited to a 2.3 Mb interval. Transcriptome analysis identified eight differentially expressed genes (DEGs) within the qSTS5 region under salt stress. Sequence comparison between the parents revealed that three DEGs had no coding-region variations, while the other five showed nucleotide polymorphisms leading to amino acid changes. Among them, Os05g0349800 encodes a LEA protein, a typical stress-responsive gene, and harbors a frameshift mutation in DY80. Combined with its induced expression pattern under salt stress, this gene was considered the most promising candidate for qSTS5. This study not only provides a stable major QTL for rice breeding for salt tolerance but also lays a foundation for dissecting the molecular mechanism of salt tolerance in Dongxiang wild rice. Full article

Background/Objectives: Acute health impacts and longer-term sequelae of sport-related concussion (SRC) are recognized concerns in football (soccer), warranting investigation of interventions to reduce the incidence. The purpose of this study was to identify, synthesize and evaluate interventions used in preventing sport-related concussion (SRC) in adult soccer players. Methods: Five databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO) were searched on 6 September 2024 and updated on 17 December 2025 for concussion prevention intervention studies involving adult footballers. Study quality was assessed with the Modified Downs and Black Checklist. A narrative synthesis of all included studies followed Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) guidelines. Results: From 3463 records, five studies met inclusion criteria: three reported rule changes and two reported head-neck training interventions. The low volume of studies discovered were non-randomized and rated fair or poor on quality assessment. Whilst these interventions were grounded in sound and well-reasoned mechanisms to mitigate SRC risks, none reported statistically significant directional effects. This, combined with high heterogeneity, prevented data pooling and no firm conclusions could be drawn about the effectiveness of any intervention. Conclusions: Sparce, preliminary, heterogeneous evidence represents research to reduce SRC in adult soccer players, and this is limited to investigating rule changes and head-neck training and interventions. A larger volume of primary research is needed to determine meaningful practice recommendations of these and other conceivable interventions. Full article

To address the pronounced degradation of skid resistance in steel bridge deck pavements exposed to hot, humid, and rainy environments, this study investigates an EA-10 epoxy–asphalt mixture and proposes a gradation design method with skid resistance as the primary performance objective. An orthogonal experimental design was employed to systematically analyze different combinations of sieve passing rates, and after determining an optimum asphalt–aggregate ratio of 6.25%, the skid resistance of the mixtures under various service conditions was evaluated using macrotexture depth, dry friction coefficient, and water-film friction coefficient. The results demonstrate that the formation of skid resistance follows a mechanism in which the macroscopic framework and microscopic pores interact synergistically. The passing rate of the 4.75 mm sieve is the dominant factor governing macrotexture depth, while the 0.3 mm sieve plays a critical regulating role in texture development; meanwhile, the passing rates of the 2.36 mm and 0.6 mm sieves exert a decisive influence on both dry and water-film friction coefficients. When the passing rates of the 4.75 mm, 0.3 mm, 2.36 mm, and 0.6 mm sieves are approximately 70%, 26.5%, 58–61%, and 34%, respectively, the mixture exhibits superior overall skid-resistance performance. Based on the evaluation results of the International Friction Index (IFI), the optimized gradation shows a more stable level of skid resistance under wet and slippery conditions. These findings provide quantitative evidence and engineering guidance for the skid-resistance-oriented gradation design of epoxy–asphalt mixtures used in steel bridge deck pavements in hot and humid regions. Full article

Shell-and-tube heat exchangers are critical components in oil refining, where their thermal and operational performance is strongly affected by fouling, corrosion-related deterioration, and deposit accumulation in tube-bundle cavities. This study investigates the technical condition of selected TK-type heat exchangers used in refinery services and proposes an integrated maintenance-oriented approach for the assessment and removal of severe deposits formed between tubes. The work first classifies heat-exchanger damage into structural and technological categories, emphasizing fouling as a key source of thermal performance degradation and operational inefficiency. A physical interpretation of compacted deposits is then combined with dynamic modeling to evaluate the response of the pollutant medium to pneumoshock excitation. Based on the analytical and simulation results, the main practical outcome of the study is the development of a pneumoshock cleaning device (PCD) for the mechanical removal of deposits from narrow inter-tube spaces. The proposed approach supports a more effective diagnosis of exchanger condition, helps identify suitable cleaning actions for heavily fouled bundles, and contributes to improved maintenance decision-making in refinery thermal systems, although quantitative before-and-after thermal performance validation is beyond the scope of the present study. As an applied developmental study, the work highlights the relevance of fouling-aware inspection and targeted cleaning technologies for extending equipment serviceability and supporting more reliable thermal management in industrial heat-exchange applications. Full article

Background: Vascular dysfunction and neurovascular inflammation are increasingly recognized as contributors to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathophysiology, particularly through interactions with tau-related neurodegeneration. Endothelial adhesion molecules, including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), play key roles in blood–brain barrier regulation and immune-vascular crosstalk, yet their relevance to long-term disease progression and established AD biomarkers remains incompletely understood. Methods: Using data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), we examined associations between baseline cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 and clinical progression, CSF biomarkers, neuroimaging measures, and cognitive outcomes over up to 10 years of follow-up. This study included 294 participants (87 cognitively normal, 129 with mild cognitive impairment, and 78 with AD). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations with diagnostic progression, and linear regression models examined relationships with baseline and longitudinal measures of tau, amyloid-β, hippocampal volume, Fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) metabolism, and cognition. Models were adjusted for age, sex, apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 (APOE ε4) status, baseline diagnosis, and baseline CSF amyloid-β, with false discovery rate correction applied for multiple comparisons. Results: Baseline CSF VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 levels did not differ across diagnostic groups. However, higher baseline levels of both markers were nominally associated with increased odds of disease progression. Notably, ICAM-1 showed a strong and robust association with baseline CSF phosphorylated tau, which remained significant after multiple-comparison correction. VCAM-1 was also associated with tau pathology, though this did not survive correction. Neither marker was associated with baseline or longitudinal changes in hippocampal volume, FDG-PET metabolism, or cognitive performance. Conclusion: CSF VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 appear to reflect neurovascular inflammatory processes linked to tau pathology rather than markers of clinical stage or longitudinal neurodegeneration. These findings support a role for endothelial activation in AD pathophysiology and highlight vascular–immune mechanisms as potential contributors to tau-related disease vulnerability. Full article

The widespread application of detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs) is limited by surface-coated non-diamond sp² carbon impurities. In this work, an efficient salt-assisted catalytic purification strategy is developed to achieve selective oxidation removal of sp² carbon. DND black powder was mixed with various chloride, carbonate, and bicarbonate salts and thermally treated in air to systematically investigate the effects of anions and cations on purification efficiency. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that all tested salts significantly reduce the oxidation onset temperature of sp² carbon and exhibit distinct catalytic trends: for anions, bicarbonates > carbonates > chlorides; for cations, Cs⁺ ≈ K⁺ > Na⁺. Among them, KHCO₃ introduced via a wet-wrapping method shows the optimal performance, lowering the oxidation temperature by approximately 160 °C. Moreover, the wet-wrapping process effectively suppresses particle sintering and agglomeration during purification, resulting in purified DNDs with reduced average particle size and markedly improved dispersibility. Mechanistic investigations demonstrate that free alkali metal cations act as active sites, preferentially catalyzing sp² carbon oxidation through a synergistic oxygen spillover–electron transfer mechanism. This study provides an effective and highly selective approach for DND purification. The proposed salt-assisted strategy, integrating catalytic oxidation and dispersion control, also offers valuable insights for the preparation of high-performance nanomaterials. Full article

Tocosh, an ancestral fermented potato product, relies on spontaneous processes near freshwater springs under extreme high-altitude conditions and represents an underexplored reservoir of microbial diversity with significant potential for the discovery of probiotics. This study provides, for the first time, a comprehensive probiogenomic characterization of 19 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from tocosh, in the Peruvian Andes, at three distinct altitudes—2992, 3882, and 4451 m above sea level (m.a.s.l.)—using whole genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatic profiling. A total of six species were identified: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Levilactobacillus brevis at all three study sites, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and Lentilactobacillus buchneri at the lowest altitude (2992 m.a.s.l.), and Latilactobacillus curvatus and Latilactobacillus sakei at the highest altitudes (3882 and 4451 m.a.s.l.). Our results reveal that the extreme Andean environment is associated with stability in L. plantarum (genome sizes from 3.36 to 3.38 Mb) across all altitudinal levels. Functional analysis using CAZymes determined that L. brevis and L. buchneri act as primary degraders (high percentage of glycosyl hydrolases/carbohydrate binding) while L. curvatus and L. sakei function as primary builders through exopolysaccharide biosynthesis, likely a cryoprotective adaptation preventing cell damage during cold temperatures at high altitudes. Additionally, L. sakei and L. plantarum exhibited unique auxiliary activity (AA) enzymes, suggesting an oxidative mechanism to breach recalcitrant starch surfaces. All isolates were confirmed as genomically safe, lacking transferable antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors. Pathogenic risk potential scores (PPRS) were consistently ≤ 2.0, fulfilling qualified presumption of safety (QPS) criteria. These findings provide the first genomic characterization of tocosh-associated LAB, establishing a basis for tocosh standardization, enabling the rational design of starter cultures that preserve ancestral traits and ensure microbiological safety in modern food applications. Full article

In this study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis is used to reveal the real microstructure of C75S steel and to compare grain morphology and deformation features with numerical predictions. A micro-scale finite element model of C75S steel is developed to investigate its tensile response in order to understand how steel actually deforms and fails at the microstructure level. Subsequently, the validated microstructural model is employed to simulate the cutting process using the finite element method, focusing on stress concentration and damage initiation at the grain and interface zones. The results demonstrate that microstructural modelling provides improved insight into deformation and fracture mechanisms compared to homogenised approaches, highlighting the critical role of cementite distribution and interfacial behaviour during tensile loading and micro-scale cutting. The cementite particle sizes in C75S steel range from approximately 0.5 to 2.0 µm, with circularity values between 0.7 and 0.95 and a volume fraction of about 10–12%. The proposed framework offers a robust basis for predicting the cutting performance of high-carbon steels. Full article

In this study, we developed new food gel materials, prepared agarose (AG) gels containing chitosan (CHI)-oleic acid (OA) complex particles, and evaluated their structure, mechanical properties, and in vitro digestion characteristics. CHI-OA complex particles, with an average diameter of approximately 0.9 mm, were successfully incorporated into 1–3 wt% AG gels by mixing with an aqueous AG solution and cooling it while maintaining a uniform dispersion state of the complex particles after gelation. The incorporation of CHI-OA complex particles affected the gelation behavior of AG during cooling and altered the mechanical properties of the resulting gel. The digestion properties of the CHI-OA-AG gel were evaluated through in vitro gastric digestion experiments using a flask shaker and a human gastric digestion simulator. After 120 min of flask shaking, the CHI-OA-AG gel maintained its shape, whereas significant disintegration and fragmentation were observed after 120 min in the human gastric digestion simulator. Notably, most CHI-OA complex particles were retained within the gel fragments even after disintegration, with <5% of the total particles released into the simulated gastric juice. In addition, we prepared a CHI-OA-AG gel encapsulating water-insoluble curcumin (CUR) using the hydrophobic domains of the CHI-OA complex particles. CUR was successfully incorporated into the gel at concentrations up to 72 μmol/L, suggesting that CUR contained in the CHI-OA-AG dispersion before gelation was completely encapsulated. These results demonstrate the potential applicability of the CHI-OA-AG composite gel as a next-generation food material with enhanced nutritional value and controlled digestibility. Full article

Neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by progressive neuronal loss and functional decline, impose a substantial global health burden. Autophagy, the principal intracellular degradative pathway for clearing misfolded proteins and damaged organelles, is vital for neuronal homeostasis, whereas maladaptive neuroinflammation is increasingly being recognized as a central driver of disease progression. A growing body of evidence indicates a bidirectional, tightly coupled relationship between autophagy and neuroinflammation: impaired autophagic flux promotes accumulation of damage-associated molecules that activate innate immune responses, while sustained inflammatory signaling further disrupts autophagy, together forming a self-reinforcing cycle that accelerates neurodegeneration. This interplay is regulated by diverse genetic, molecular, cellular, and environmental factors and manifests in cell-type-specific ways across microglia, astrocytes. Therapeutic strategies emerging from these insights include modulation of autophagic pathways (e.g., mTOR, AMPK, TFEB), targeted inhibition of inflammasome and pro-inflammatory mediators (notably NLRP3-related signaling), and delivery platforms for small molecules or nucleic acids, with increasing interest in multi-target and stage-specific interventions. This review integrates mechanistic evidence and translational advances, highlights gaps in cell-type and stage-specific understanding, and outlines priorities for developing safe, effective therapies that target the autophagy–neuroinflammation axis in neurodegenerative disorders. Full article

Background: Implant-related mechanical failure remains a clinically relevant concern following posterior decompression and fusion in elderly patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). The relative contribution of host-related versus construct-related factors to failure risk requires further clarification. Methods: This retrospective single-center cohort study included 118 patients aged ≥65 years who underwent single-level hemilaminectomy with posterolateral fusion (PLF) for isolated L4–5 central LSS, with a minimum follow-up of 48 months (mean 51.0 ± 2.0 months). All procedures were performed using a standardized posterior technique with uniform 6.5-mm titanium rods and 6.5-mm pedicle screws. Mechanical failure was defined as revision surgery due to radiographically and clinically confirmed hardware-related complications in the absence of infection. Exploratory univariable analyses were conducted to evaluate associations between baseline variables and mechanical failure. Clinical outcomes were assessed using validated patient-reported outcome measures. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain were recorded. Results: Overall revision rate was 13.6% (16/118), including 14 cases (11.9%) of implant-related mechanical failure and 2 cases (1.7%) of infection-related revision. Higher age (p = 0.005), higher body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.005), lower bone mineral density (BMD) (p < 0.001), active smoking (p < 0.001), and diabetes mellitus (DM) (p = 0.023) were significantly associated with mechanical failure. Functional outcomes (ODI, RMDQ, VAS) improved significantly at final follow-up (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: Mechanical failure following hemilaminectomy with PLF appears to be predominantly influenced by host-related factors rather than construct characteristics when a standardized surgical technique is applied. Bone quality and modifiable systemic risk factors may play a critical role in long-term construct durability. Full article

Lithology identification in complex heterogeneous formations faces the challenges of overlapping well-log responses and long-tailed data distributions, causing traditional flat models to misclassify fine-grained lithologies. To address this, we propose a hierarchical routing method integrating geological priors and rock mechanics. A joint resampling strategy combining stratified undersampling and SMOTE first rectifies data bias. Next, conventional well logs are inverted into mechanical parameters, such as uniaxial compressive strength and abrasiveness, constructing a high-dimensional physical discriminative space. Finally, a two-stage network is deployed: an XGBoost gating model performs macroscopic rock classification to block cross-facies noise, followed by a dynamic routing mechanism distributing samples to deep neural network (DNN) sub-experts for fine-grained decoupling. Tested on actual multi-block logging data, the XGBoost-DNN architecture achieved a global accuracy of 0.85 and improved the macro F1-score from 0.55 under the baseline model to 0.84. Integrating physical mechanisms with a hierarchical topology effectively overcomes bottlenecks in fine-grained lithology identification, offering robust geological interpretability and engineering value. Full article

Graphitic carbon nitride (CN) is a promising photocatalytic material, but its practical application is limited by small specific surface area, narrow light absorption range, and high photogenerated carrier recombination rate. To address these issues, this study synthesized boron-doped carbon nitride (BCN) and sulfuric acid-exfoliated boron-doped carbon nitride (BCND). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results confirmed that boron was successfully doped into the CN skeleton via B-N bonds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N₂ adsorption–desorption (BET) characterizations showed that acid exfoliation significantly increased the specific surface area of BCND to 68.80 m²·g⁻¹, much higher than that of CN (9.54 m²·g⁻¹) and BCN (15.98 m²·g⁻¹). UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS) analysis revealed that BCND had the narrowest bandgap (2.59 eV) among the three materials, which enhanced its visible-light absorption efficiency. Photoelectrochemical tests demonstrated that BCND exhibited the smallest charge transfer resistance and the highest transient photocurrent density (eight times that of CN), indicating efficient separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Photocatalytic water splitting experiments showed that BCND achieved the highest Hydrogen production rate of 792.34 μmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹, which was about 4 times that of CN (158.41 μmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹) and 1.36 times that of 2.5% BCN (584.30 μmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹). Free-radical trapping experiments indicated that hydroxyl radicals (·OH) played a crucial promotional role in Hydrogen production, while superoxide anions (·O₂⁻) exerted an inhibitory effect. The enhanced performance of BCND was attributed to the synergistic effects of boron doping (narrowing bandgap) and acid exfoliation (increasing specific surface area). A possible photocatalytic Hydrogen production mechanism was proposed based on the experimental results. This study provides a feasible strategy for the structural modification and performance optimization of g-C₃N₄-based photocatalysts for water splitting. Full article

Depression is a highly heterogeneous psychiatric disorder with its pathogenesis increasingly linked to dysregulated neuroinflammation. Microglia, as the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), play a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of the neuroinflammation and the pathophysiology of depression. These cells exhibit a dual role in pro- and anti-inflammatory processes, dynamically regulating immune responses through immunometabolic reprogramming in response to environmental cues. This review elaborates how metabolic remodeling in microglia, particularly within glucose, lipid, and amino acid pathways, drives their polarization toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype. This shift promotes depression pathogenesis via the release of inflammatory factors, disruption of synaptic plasticity, and mediation of neurotoxicity. We further discuss the impact of existing antidepressants on cellular metabolism and highlight the promise and challenges of targeting specific microglial metabolic pathways as a novel therapeutic strategy. This synthesis provides new insights into the immunometabolic mechanisms of depression and outlines directions for developing targeted treatments. Full article