Search Results (76,282)

To evaluate the behavior of industrial equipment from a corrosion point of view, it is mandatory to consider both the material that equipment is made from and the working conditions such as temperature, pH, and the existing microorganisms in the working environment. Our studies regarding ecotoxicological monitoring of biological suspensions Diatomee, Saccharomyces, and Spirulina (DSS) are focused on three directions: (1) the evolution of chemical and biological parameters of the reaction environment (pH, conductivity, TDS, DO, OD), the kinetics of DSS microorganisms’ growing curve; (2) the analysis of biofilm forming on the exposed metallic surface and (3) the analysis of corrosion degree (phenomena) of tested metals in five media, by using the corrosion indices: volumetric index, gravimetric index, and penetration index. The viability of microorganisms in the presence of aluminum, zinc, and iron shows the following sequence: Al _Diat > Fe _Diat > Zn _Diat > Al _Spir > Zn _Spir> Al _Sach > Zn _Sach > Fe _Spir > Fe _Sach. The development of biofilms on the surface of metal plates followed the sequence outlined below: Al _Diat > Fe _Diat > Zn _Diat > Fe _Spir > Zn _Sach > Fe _Sach > Al _Sach > Zn _Spir > Al _Spir. Iron exhibits the most favorable performance, displaying a very low Ip value across all tested environments, including salt water. Aluminum demonstrates sensitivity to specific biological environments, with the highest degree of corrosion observed in Spirulina, indicating that not all biological environments confer protection to aluminum. Diatoms and Saccharomyces suspensions exert an inhibitory effect on corrosion. Zinc is the most susceptible metal, experiencing the greatest corrosion in Spirulina, followed by salt water, while biological environments only partially mitigate the corrosion rate. Full article

Tumor metastasis is closely associated with coagulation and inflammation, particularly via thrombin–PAR1 signaling. However, the potential of natural polysaccharides such as rhamnan sulfate (RS) to modulate these pathways and suppress metastasis remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the effects of orally administered RS derived from Monostroma nitidum on melanoma metastasis and its underlying mechanisms. Male C57BL/6J mice were orally administered water or RS daily. On day 8, saline or B16 melanoma cells were injected intravenously. Mice were treated for 21 days and divided into four groups (control, RS-only, M + W, and M + RS; n = 5/group). Metastasis and related molecular factors were analyzed in plasma, lung, and aortic tissues. Significant lung and aortic metastases were observed in the M + W group but were markedly suppressed in the M + RS group. RS reduced the expression of inflammatory factors (e.g., IL-6, PAR1), proteases, leukocyte activation markers, complement factors, angiogenic factors, and EMT-related factors. Conversely, thrombin, thrombomodulin, plasmin, TAFIa, and tight junction proteins were increased in RS-treated mice. RS suppresses melanoma metastasis by modulating thrombin–PAR1-mediated inflammation and associated pathways. These findings suggest RS as a potential therapeutic agent, although further mechanistic and clinical studies are required. Full article

Polymer–drug conjugates (PDCs) represent an advanced drug delivery strategy designed to address critical limitations of conventional therapeutics, including poor water solubility, rapid systemic clearance, and off-target toxicity. By covalently linking therapeutic agents to polymeric carriers through rationally designed linkers, PDCs enable improved pharmacokinetic profiles, enhanced stability, and controlled drug release. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the key design principles governing PDC systems, with a particular focus on the role of biofunctional polymers. Essential parameters for polymer selection, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, molecular weight, and functional group availability, are discussed in relation to their influence on drug loading, release kinetics, and biological performance. In addition, both natural and synthetic polymers are evaluated for their ability to improve solubility, modulate biodistribution, and reduce systemic toxicity. An overview of stimuli-responsive PDCs is provided, including pH-, redox-, and temperature-sensitive systems, which enable site-specific and spatiotemporally controlled drug release in response to pathological microenvironments. We emphasize the special role of bioactive polymers such as poly-lysine, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, and gelatin for their intrinsic biological activity, including receptor-mediated targeting, antimicrobial activity, and synergistic therapeutic effects. These properties support the development of dual-active conjugates with enhanced specificity and efficacy. Overall, this review underscores the transition of polymers from passive carriers to active therapeutic components and outlines current challenges and future perspectives for the clinical translation of next-generation PDCs. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max) is relatively recalcitrant to genetic manipulations; hence, it is often interrogated with transient means such as virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). We earlier modified cowpea severe mosaic virus (CPSMV) to develop a soybean-friendly VIGS system referred to as QUIN-FZ. Here we report additional calibrations of this system. We enhanced the intra-bacterial stability of plasmid QUIN, which contained a CPSMV RNA1 cDNA embedded with four introns, by adding a fifth intron, resulting in PENTIN. We separately upgraded the plasmid FZ, which contained a modified CPSMV RNA2 cDNA with a cloning site in the middle of the viral polyprotein, by creating another cloning site within the 3′ untranslated region, leading to ZY. We next used the new PENTIN-ZY system to investigate a putative soybean protein kinase designated QL18. Virus-mediated overexpression of two allelic, 147-amino-acid (aa) protein fragments, derived from two different QL18 orthologs, elicited drastically different responses in soybeans. While the fragment derived from soybean accession OX20-8 prevented the cognate virus from infecting top young leaves in at least 50% of inoculated seedlings, its allelic counterpart derived from soybean accession PI427105B elicited apical necrosis in 100% of soybean seedlings. By examining progeny viruses as well as viruses encoding chimeras of the two fragments, we identified more than a dozen mutations that abrogated these unique phenotypes. Our findings establish the PENTIN-ZY system as a versatile tool for overexpressing small proteins and protein fragments, accelerating their functional characterization. Full article

The synergistic effects of glucose (Glu) concentration and clay mineral type (kaolinite [Kao], montmorillonite [Mon]) on abiotic humification via the polyphenol-Maillard reaction remain poorly understood. To address these scientific challenges, a series of controlled, sterile batch experiments was conducted. Specifically, a glucose concentration gradient (0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.12, and 0.24 mol/L) was established; Kao and Mon were separately introduced as mineral catalysts; and the Maillard reaction was facilitated in the presence of catechol and glycine under strictly abiotic conditions to preclude any potential biological interference. Comprehensive analyses were performed on the reaction products—namely, the supernatant and the dark-brown residue generated during the reaction process. These analyses included: the E₄/E₆ ratio and total organic carbon (TOC) content of the supernatant; the carbon-based ratio of humic-like acid to fulvic-like acid (C_HLA/C_FLA); and the structural characteristics of humic-like acid (HLA) isolated from the dark-brown residue. Results showed dynamic E₄/E₆ ratio and TOC changes in the supernatant were accurately described by the Logistic function. Kao favored soluble organic C accumulation and enhanced retention of early-stage, low-molecular-weight intermediates in the dark-brown residue, while Mon promoted humic-like substances (HLS) polymerization and aromatic condensation. FTIR spectroscopy analysis identified optimal Glu thresholds for maximal HLS formation—0.03 mol/L for Kao and 0.06 mol/L for Mon—indicating non-linear, rather than monotonic, dependence on Glu dosage. Comparative pre- and post-reaction Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy further demonstrated that Mon, owing to Mg–OH octahedral sites arising from isomorphic substitution, formed more stable Cat chelates than Kao. These chelates effectively stabilized surface-bound hydroxyl-associated water molecules and modulated the electron cloud distribution around Si–O bonds. Collectively, this study clarified the dual regulatory role of Glu concentration and clay mineral identity in abiotic humification pathways, advanced mechanistic understanding of clay mineral-mediated polyphenol-Maillard reactions, and established a scientific foundation for optimizing humification efficiency in both engineered and natural systems. Full article

Botrytis cinerea, the causative agent of gray mold, is a major fungal pathogen affecting a wide range of economically important crops. To identify sustainable alternatives to chemical fungicides, this study characterized the biocontrol potential of two bacterial strains, Serratia quinivorans NFX21 and Pseudomonas thivervalensis NFX104, through genomic analysis and functional assays targeting key stages of fungal growth and plant infection. The NFX21 and NFX104 strains significantly inhibited B. cinerea mycelial growth (~35%) and strongly suppressed conidial germination with performances comparable to the reference biocontrol strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens QST 713. In tomato detached-leaf and whole-plant pot assays, application of NFX21 and NFX104 significantly reduced gray mold incidence and lesion severity relative to nontreated infected plants (53–64%, detached leaves; 12–13%, whole-plant assays), achieving disease control levels similar to those obtained with the commercial biofungicide Serenade ASO^®. Whole-genome sequencing allowed the taxonomic assignment of the NFX strains and revealed a rich repertoire of biosynthetic gene clusters and antifungal determinants. The NFX21 genome contained genes associated with N-acyl-homoserine lactone-mediated quorum-sensing and production of lipopeptides, siderophores, and extracellular lytic enzymes. The NFX104 genome harbored clusters involved in the biosynthesis of multiple siderophores, 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol and hydrogen cyanide. Moreover, both the NFX21 and NFX104 genomes contained additional low-homology clusters that potentially encode for novel unexplored metabolites. Collectively, these results support the translational potential of NFX21 and NFX104 as biocontrol candidates for sustainable, integrated management of gray mold caused by B. cinerea. Full article

Leishmaniasis is caused by parasitic protozoans of the Leishmania genus and has been classified as a Neglected Tropical Disease. Control of this parasite relies mainly on chemotherapy; however, conventional available drugs are unsatisfactory. Phytomedicine, particularly essential oils, is a promising alternative. In this study, the chemical composition and antileishmanial properties of essential oil from leaves of Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (EO-St) were determined. Chemical components were identified by GC-MS. Antileishmanial activity on promastigotes of L. amazonensis was assayed, followed by the evaluation of the essential oil’s effects on the mitochondrial membrane potential and redox state of the parasite. Finally, the activity was confirmed on intracellular amastigotes and compared with cytotoxicity on peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice. In the essential oil, 78 compounds were identified. The major component was δ-3-carene with 14.8%. The IC₅₀ values of 18.2 ± 1.4 µg/mL and 15.0 ± 1.6 µg/mL against promastigote and amastigote forms, respectively, were obtained. The cytotoxicity for the host cells was approximately four-fold higher than those for the parasite. The essential oil was able to cause a disruption in the mitochondrial membrane potential. The quantified redox parameters showed statistical differences (p < 0.05) between EO-St-treated cultures and control groups (untreated and treated with DMSO). In summary, EO-St was active in vitro against both forms of L. amazonensis, possible mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction and redox imbalance. Full article

Live-streaming commerce has become a routine channel for merchants, and streamers’ nonverbal cues are closely associated with consumer responses and conversion. Drawing on real live-streaming settings, this study examined the relationship between streamers’ nonverbal cues and consumer purchase behavior, and further tested whether immersion, as reflected by average watch time, helped explain this relationship. Building on Social Cognitive Theory, we constructed a multimodal dataset of 4600 product-presentation segments from 546 live sessions. Using an automated computer-vision-based framework, we measured segment-level nonverbal behaviors, including nodding frequency, gesture intensity, postural movement intensity, forward lean, and camera proximity. We then examined how these nonverbal cues were associated with consumer purchase behavior and through what mechanisms in live-streaming settings. The results showed that each nonverbal cue was positively and significantly associated with consumer purchase behavior. Mediation tests further indicated that immersion significantly helped explain the relationships between nonverbal cues and consumer purchase behavior. From a process perspective, this study extends the range of constructs examined in live-streaming commerce and clarifies how nonverbal communication is associated with outcomes, offering practical implications for streamer training, camera setup, and content design. Full article

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a clinically significant condition shaped by emotional regulation processes and close relational contexts. Anxiety is often theorized as a mediating mechanism linking relational vulnerabilities to depressive symptoms, yet empirical findings remain mixed. Objectives: This study examined whether state anxiety mediates the association between insecure attachment styles and PPD symptoms or whether its effects depend on relational context, specifically perceived partner support. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 249 women assessed within 12 months postpartum completed self-report measures of attachment styles in the intimate relationship, state and trait anxiety, perceived partner support, and PPD symptoms. Hypotheses were tested using multiple regression analyses with heteroskedasticity-consistent standard errors, including mediation and moderation models. Results: Both anxious–ambivalent and avoidant attachment styles were associated with greater PPD symptom severity. State anxiety was neither an independent predictor nor a mediator of the attachment–PPD relationship. Instead, its association with PPD symptoms was conditional: anxiety was positively related to depressive symptoms only when perceived partner support was insufficient. Conclusions: Anxiety may function as a context-sensitive amplifier rather than a universal mechanism of postpartum depressive risk. These findings highlight the potential importance of relational context in understanding emotional vulnerability and depressive symptoms during the postpartum period. Full article

Silver nanoparticles synthesized using natural polysaccharides have received attention for their biocompatibility and potential selective anticancer activity. In this study, the physicochemical properties and biological activity of silver nanoparticles prepared using gums from Acacia senegal (ASS) and Acacia seyal (ASY) were compared. The gums were analyzed to determine their physicochemical characteristics and used as natural reducing and stabilizing agents in nanoparticle synthesis. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, FTIR, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential analysis. Their cytotoxicity was evaluated in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and HEK-293 normal cells using MTT assay, flow cytometry, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement. Both gums showed properties consistent with Gum Arabic, with a higher protein content in ASS. ASS-derived nanoparticles were smaller and had greater colloidal stability. Both formulations reduced MCF-7 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with lower IC₅₀ values observed for the ASS-based nanoparticles. Apoptosis induction was associated with increased ROS generation. Limited cytotoxicity toward HEK-293 cells resulted in favorable selectivity indices. Acacia gum–mediated silver nanoparticles demonstrate selective anticancer activity, and gum composition significantly influences nanoparticle stability and bioactivity, supporting their potential application in breast cancer nanotherapy. Full article

Strawberry is an economically important horticultural crop cultivated worldwide. However, its growth, yield, and fruit quality are severely constrained by abiotic stresses, such as salinity, drought, and low temperature, as well as biotic stresses including pathogen attack and pest infestation. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) have been extensively characterized in model plants such as Arabidopsis and rice, and increasing evidence highlights their functional diversification and regulatory importance in horticultural crops, including tomato and grapevine. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding the roles of WRKY TFs in strawberry responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses, based on studies in both the diploid woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) and the octoploid cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne). We discuss their involvement in hormone crosstalk, redox regulation, and transcriptional control within complex stress-response networks, while distinguishing expression-based associations from experimentally validated regulatory functions. To provide a clear framework for evaluating the current evidence, we categorize the findings according to a hierarchy of experimental validation, ranging from direct functional characterization in strawberry, to transient assays, heterologous systems (e.g., Arabidopsis or tobacco), transcriptomic inferences, and predictions based on sequence homology. Finally, we outline potential future directions for exploiting strawberry WRKY TFs as candidate regulators in molecular breeding, thereby providing a theoretical basis for future functional studies and breeding applications. Full article

Understanding the role of trust in shaping pro-ecological behaviour is essential for advancing effective environmental communication, particularly in societies characterized by low institutional credibility. This study examines how different forms of trust—scientific, institutional, mediatic, and interpersonal—predict pro-ecological behaviour in Bulgaria, a context marked by historically low levels of social and institutional trust. Drawing on a nationally representative survey of 1008 adults, participants rated their trust in six sources of environmental information (experts, public servants, politicians, media, social networks, and friends or relatives) and reported their engagement in various ecological practices. Multiple regression analysis revealed that trust in experts was the strongest positive predictor of pro-ecological behaviour, followed by trust in friends and relatives. Trust in political institutions, media, and online social networks showed no significant associations. These findings suggest that in low-trust societies, interpersonal trust and trust in experts serve as primary drivers of ecological engagement, while institutional trust alone is insufficient to mobilize collective environmental action. The study underscores the importance of fostering both scientific credibility and community-based communication to enhance public participation in sustainability initiatives. Full article

Ovarian reserve and reproductive life are closely linked concepts in female reproductive biology. The ovarian reserve consists of primordial follicles and refers to the number and quality of oocytes (eggs) remaining in the ovaries at any given time. Follicular dynamics shape a woman’s reproductive lifespan, ultimately leading to menopause. Elucidating the underlying genetic and molecular pathways of follicle maturation and depletion is thus crucial for understanding menopausal onset and progression, both in normal and pathophysiological contexts, such as primary ovarian insufficiency, defined as menopause before the age of 40. A key factor in ovarian differentiation and fertility maintenance is FOXL2, a forkhead family transcription factor that plays a crucial role in follicle formation and development, ovarian maintenance, and sex determination. By employing a ChIP-Seq approach in mice, we identified a previously unreported binding of FOXL2 to a Tsc1 regulatory region. Our data, along with a thorough literature review, support the hypothesis that FOXL2-mediated activation of Tsc1 in granulosa cells can help maintain primordial follicles in a dormant state by suppressing mTORC1 signalling. Understanding the mechanisms behind ovarian reserve may lay the foundation for developing novel fertility preservation strategies, improving fertility treatment protocols and promoting in vitro activation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue to support folliculogenesis. Full article

Gut ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury releases damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), such as extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP). Milk fat globule–epidermal growth factor VIII-derived oligopeptide 3 (MOP3) is a novel peptide enabling macrophage uptake of eCIRP via αvβ3-integrin. MOP3 reduces inflammation in gut I/R, but its mechanisms are not completely understood. We hypothesized MOP3 promotes macrophage polarization toward an anti-inflammatory, M2-like phenotype in gut I/R. We induced gut I/R in mice through 60 min of superior mesenteric artery occlusion followed by 4 h of reperfusion. Intestines were evaluated for macrophage polarization by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence histology. Peritoneal cavity macrophages were isolated from mice and treated with eCIRP, MOP3, α_vβ₃-antibody, and/or naïve IgG for 4 or 24 h. Polarity was assessed by flow cytometry, qPCR, and ELISA. Compared to the sham, the M2 proportion after gut I/R decreased by 22.7%, and the M1 proportion increased by 241%. MOP3 treatment increased the M2 proportion by 64.3%, and the M1 proportion decreased by 22.7%. In eCIRP-stimulated macrophages, MOP3 treatment increased M2-like and reduced M1-like cell-surface markers, gene expression, and cytokine levels. α_vβ₃ antibody dramatically reduced MOP3′s effects. MOP3 promotes M2 polarization through α_vβ₃ integrin-mediated clearance of eCIRP, a novel mechanism whereby MOP3 reduces gut I/R injury. Full article

This article investigates how women’s relative absence from medieval textual archives can be reconsidered through the study of visual and material culture. Focusing on Mongol and Yuan China and read in relation to The Travels of Marco Polo, it argues that women’s artistic production functioned as a form of embedded counter-archive that preserves traces of participation obscured in narrative sources. Drawing on Black feminist epistemology as a heuristic framework and employing critical fabulation and poetic inquiry as analytical methods, the study interprets silence as a meaningful historical trace rather than a void, and considers silence not as absence but as a structured condition of archival production. Four case studies—Guan Daosheng’s literati bamboo painting, the handscroll tradition associated with Lady Su Hui, imperial phoenix embroidery, and Silk Road textile fragments—demonstrate distinct modes through which women’s presence becomes materially legible: mediated visibility, formal containment, infrastructural anonymity, and circulatory displacement. These “quiet arts” reveal how women’s labour and creativity persisted within and alongside patriarchal inscriptional systems even when textual attribution receded. In dialogue with the shadow silhouettes of contemporary artist Kara Walker, the article further situates these premodern archives within a broader visual language of absence and recovery. Rather than reconstructing lost biographies, it proposes a transdisciplinary method—integrating art history, feminist theory, theology, and poetic inquiry—for reading material culture as a site where historical silence becomes structurally legible. It proposes a transdisciplinary approach that expands art historical methods for interpreting gender, authorship, and archival silence in medieval visual culture. Full article