Search Results (11,553)

(−)-Epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) is a potent natural antioxidant, but its strong bitterness and poor palatability limit its application in animal production. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of chemically synthesized EGCG derivatives against oxidative stress using a diquat-induced mouse model. A total of 36 male ICR mice were randomly assigned into six groups (n = 6): Control (T0), Diquat (T1), EGCG + Diquat (T2), Epigallocatechin octanoate (EGCO) + Diquat (T3), Epigallocatechin p-chloromethylbenzoate (EGCP) + Diquat (T4), and Epigallocatechin ibuprofen ester (EGCI) + Diquat (T5). Oxidative stress was induced by intraperitoneal injection of diquat at day 27 of the experiment, while EGCG or its derivatives were administered via dietary supplementation. At day 28, the mice were weighed, killed, and the tissues were sampled. Diquat challenge significantly impaired growth, increased serum injury markers (ALT, AST, DAO, and D-LA) (p < 0.05), suppressed hepatic and jejunal antioxidant enzymes (GPx, SOD, and TAOC) while elevating MDA (p < 0.05), damaged jejunal morphology (villus atrophy) (p < 0.05), and downregulated tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and Occludin) (p < 0.05). Chemically synthesized EGCG derivatives, especially EGCI, effectively alleviated diquat-induced growth impairment and hepatic and intestinal oxidative damage by improving intestinal barrier function and enhancing systemic antioxidant capacity, possibly in part through activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) signaling pathway. Compared with EGCG, EGCI exhibited reduced bitterness and improved palatability, which favored normal feed intake. These findings provide strong theoretical support for the future application of EGCG derivatives, especially EGCI, as functional antioxidant additives in broiler production. Full article

This study evaluated the potential protective effect of a synthesized self-antibacterial nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HA) toothpaste against erosive changes in the enamel surface induced by a cola-based soft drink, based on a qualitative scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study, in comparison with conventional fluoride toothpaste. Thirty extracted human premolars were sectioned to obtain enamel specimens and randomly assigned into a control group and experimental groups in which fluoride or synthesized nano-HA toothpaste was applied either before or after cola exposure (n = 5 per group). Enamel surface morphology was qualitatively assessed using SEM, and surface roughness (Ra) was estimated using a semi-quantitative approach based on SEM image analysis using ImageJ software. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar diffusion method to explore the potential additional benefits of the synthesized self-antibacterial nano-HA formulation. SEM observations showed that, after cola exposure, specimens treated with nano-HA exhibited less surface erosion than fluoride-treated groups. Post-treatment with nano-HA results in a denser and more uniform surface layer with fewer structural defects. Similarly, enamel treated with nano-HA after cola exposure showed a statistically significant reduction in surface roughness compared with the fluoride group (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that nano-HA provides greater protective effects against acid-induced enamel surface erosion. Furthermore, nano-HA indicated potential antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. Overall, nano-HA toothpaste provided enhanced protection against acid-induced enamel erosion with additional antibacterial effects. Full article

Cast iron, whose structure simultaneously contains graphite precipitates in various forms, with controlled proportions of individual forms, has been named “Vari-Morph” (VM) cast iron by the authors. The authors have been researching the properties of such cast iron for many years, and the results are being published successively. This new type of cast iron, not included in national (Polish) or European standards, is intended as a material for special-purpose castings. These castings have unique requirements for a set of properties: physical, mechanical, and functional. VM cast iron is characterized by a set of properties that cannot be achieved when the graphite is uniform in shape. The desired properties of VM cast iron are achieved by controlling the morphology of graphite precipitates and the proportion of individual forms in the structure, rather than by changing the matrix. To quantitatively describe graphite precipitates, a proprietary method for determining the graphite shape indicator (f_K) was developed. Graphite precipitate analysis is performed by scanning a microscopic image of the metallographic specimen, and then using Tescan Imaging Software (Tescan ESSENCE™) Unified Control for Imaging and Analysis, each precipitate is described using surface metrology parameters. The final value of the graphite shape indicator (f_K) is calculated as a weighted average of all precipitates present in the analysis field. Empirical relationships between the f_K indicator and a selected group of physical, mechanical, and functional properties of VM cast iron were determined. Studies have demonstrated a very well-correlated relationship between the f_K indicator in VM cast iron and ultrasonic wave velocity (C_L). The relationship C_L = f(f_k) is characterized by a very high correlation coefficient of R > 0.90. In previous publications, the authors presented the relationships between the f_K indicator and physical properties such as thermal conductivity (λ), specific density (ρ), strength (R_m), elongation (A5), index quality (IQ), and functional properties such as low-cycle mechanical fatigue resistance (Z_c), thermal fatigue resistance (N), and cast iron tightness (H) as functions of the f_K index. The study concerned VM cast iron with a ferritic matrix. This work contains new empirical relationships that extend previous studies. The newly developed relationships replace the f_k shape indicator with the velocity of the ultrasonic wave determined in cast iron with a specific f_K indicator value. This resulted in a number of practical dependencies, including: λ = f(C_L); ρ = f(C_L); E_D = f(C_L); R_m = f(C_L); A5 = f(C_L); IQ = f(C_L); N = f(C_L); Z_c = f(C_L); H = f(C_L). These relationships allow us to measure the wave velocity in a Vari Morph iron casting (with various forms of graphite) and determine a number of characteristics and properties of the material/iron from which the casting was made. It is possible to assess the suitability of a casting with a specific structure for operation under selected conditions. Full article

Propolis is a chemically complex natural product with recognized antioxidant potential, but its compositional heterogeneity and poor aqueous solubility complicate formulation and interpretation of in vitro release behavior. In this study, a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) based on Gelucire^® 44/14 was developed as a physicochemical platform to modulate the accessibility of a selected Chilean ethanolic propolis extract. Propolis extracts from different origins were first screened using complementary antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS, ORAC, FRAP), leading to the selection of the Peñaflor extract, which exhibited the highest phenolic content (~41 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant capacity. The selected extract was incorporated into NLCs with encapsulation efficiencies above 90%, a narrow size distribution (~200 nm), and high stability over 90 days. Under simple aqueous conditions, propolis release remained limited (<15% over 6 h), consistent with diffusion- and partition-controlled transport. In simulated gastrointestinal media containing bile components, pronounced pH- and composition-dependent effects were observed. While fed-state intestinal conditions induced extensive morphological remodeling without increasing the analytically accessible fraction (<3% at 4 h), fasted-state intestinal media promoted a higher accessible fraction (~14% within 1 h) without complete carrier disruption, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Preliminary cytocompatibility studies in HepG2 cells showed acceptable viability at 10–40 µg/mL and concentration-dependent effects at higher doses. Overall, this work demonstrates that bile components modulate propolis accessibility through dynamic partitioning and colloidal reorganization rather than simple carrier breakdown, providing a physicochemical framework for future digestion and absorption studies. Full article

Background: Polyploid and chromosomal copy number gains (CNGs) cells may serve as key mediators of tumor plasticity, therapeutic resistance, and clonal evolution. Despite growing interest, their biological and clinical relevance in colorectal cancer, particularly in the metastatic setting, remains poorly defined. Methods: We performed an integrated morphological, cytogenetic, and genomic analysis of metastatic colon cancer. A tissue microarray comprising 100 tumors was evaluated, of which 47 cases were fully assessable for morphology and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Polyploid nuclei and chromosomal CNGs were assessed morphologically and cytogenetically. High-resolution targeted sequencing (TruSight Oncology 500) was conducted to characterize genomic alterations. Bioinformatic analyses included Gene Ontology enrichment and Phenolyzer network modeling. Associations with clinicopathological variables and survival outcomes were explored. Results: Polyploid nuclei and/or chromosomal CNGs were identified in approximately 25% of evaluable cases. These alterations were enriched in right-sided CRCs and in older patients, suggesting a link with age-related genomic instability. Polyploid/CNG tumors did not show significant enrichment for canonical CRC driver mutations (RAS, TP53, SMAD4), although trends toward co-occurrence with BRAF mutation and mutual exclusivity with HER2 amplification were observed. Integrative bioinformatic analyses highlighted dysregulation of pathways involved in mitotic control, centrosome organization, and DNA replication stress. Conclusions: In metastatic colon cancer, the presence of genome-wide copy number gain may delineate a tumor subset with distinctive clinicopathological and molecular characteristics. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the biological significance of these features and to explore their potential implications for tumor evolution, treatment response, and clinical stratification. Full article

Background: Zearalenone (ZEA) is a potent estrogenic mycotoxin that adversely affects the female reproductive system, causing hormonal imbalance, uterine enlargement, structural changes in the reproductive tract, and reduced fertility. This study evaluated the protective effects of melittin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (MEL-NPs) against ZEA-induced ovarian toxicity in female rats. Methods: Forty-eight adult female Wistar rats (180–200 g) were divided into four groups: Control, ZEA, ZEA + MEL, and ZEA + MEL-NPs. ZEA (2.7 mg/kg b.w.) was administered orally twice weekly for two weeks. MEL and MEL-NPs (40 μg/kg b.w.) were given orally three times weekly for one month. Serum biochemical parameters were measured, and ovarian tissues were examined grossly and histopathologically. qRT-PCR was performed to assess mRNA expression of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), apoptotic marker (Caspase-3), and steroidogenic enzyme (CYP19A1). Results: ZEA exposure induced significant ovarian toxicity, evidenced by increased TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, LH, FSH, CA-125, and Caspase-3, along with decreased progesterone, antioxidant capacity, and CYP19A1 expression. Histopathology revealed ovarian atrophy, follicular degeneration, and fibrosis. Treatment with MEL-NPs markedly reversed these alterations, normalizing cytokine and hormonal profiles, restoring CYP19A1 expression, and improving ovarian morphology. MEL-NPs demonstrated superior protective effects compared to free MEL. Conclusions: MEL-NPs effectively ameliorate ZEA-induced ovarian toxicity by restoring hormonal balance, enhancing antioxidant defense, and reducing inflammation and apoptosis. These findings suggest that MEL-NPs could be a promising therapeutic strategy for preventing mycotoxin-induced ovarian dysfunction. Full article

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) critically influence thrombosis by promoting platelet aggregation, fibrin formation, and thrombus stabilisation. However, primary human neutrophils present experimental limitations, including short lifespan ex vivo and ethical concerns. In this article, we discuss the available data on PLB-985 cells, a neutrophil-like model with potential to replace human neutrophils in research. Additionally, we present novel structural comparisons showing that both PLB-985- and human neutrophil-derived NETs significantly increased fibrin fibre thickness compared to thrombin-only controls, with similar fibre morphology across conditions. Notably, we also see spherical particles resembling microvesicles within PLB-985-derived NETs, suggesting potential additional procoagulant effects via microvesicle-associated tissue factor level in these cells. New and existing data presented in this article suggest that differentiated PLB-985 cells are able to effectively replicate key structural and functional aspects of human neutrophil NETs. These observations support the use of PLB-985 cells as an ethical, reproducible, and practical alternative for in vitro studies of NETs. Further characterisation is required to determine differences between human neutrophils and neutrophil-like models in macrovesicle formation and implication in NET-related thrombosis research. Full article

Hypocrellin A (HA) represents a pharmaceutically important perylenequinone photosensitizer produced by Shiraia bambusicola. However, submerged fermentation remains constrained by filamentous morphological characteristics and inherent mass transfer limitations. Although microparticle-enhanced cultivation (MPEC) has demonstrated efficacy in filamentous fungal systems, the molecular mechanisms by which physical cues, such as microparticle-induced shear stress, reprogram fungal metabolism remain largely unexplored. This work systematically optimizes SiO₂-based MPEC parameters for S. bambusicola GDMCC 60438, including particle dimensions, temporal addition protocols, and solid loading. Mechanistic investigations integrated pellet morphology analysis, membrane lipid composition, intracellular redox status, energy/precursor markers, and RNA-seq transcriptomic profiling with qRT-PCR validation. Under optimized conditions (10% w/v SiO₂, 30 mesh, added at 6 h), HA yield reached 41.76 ± 5.02 mg/L, representing a 3.65-fold increase over controls. MPEC shifted morphology toward smaller, more porous pellets with denser internal structure, accompanied by increased membrane fluidity (unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio from 1.54 to 2.63), elevated ROS levels with antioxidant enzyme activation, and enhanced acetyl-CoA and ATP accumulation. Transcriptomic analysis identified 206 differentially expressed genes enriched in oxidative phosphorylation, carbon metabolism, and stress responses, with upregulation of PKS-related biosynthetic genes and major facilitator superfamily transporters. This work establishes an integrated mechanistic framework linking particle-induced morphological changes to metabolic reprogramming through oxidative stress and subsequent transcriptional activation of the HA biosynthetic pathway, providing rational design principles for MPEC strategies in filamentous fungi. Full article

Salinity and drought are major constraints to wheat productivity, affecting growth, photosynthesis, and cellular homeostasis. While many studies have examined responses to these stresses individually, comparative evaluation of genotypes under both stresses using an integrated physiological, biochemical, and multivariate framework remains limited. Here, six wheat genotypes were evaluated at the seedling stage under controlled salinity and drought treatments to identify key morphological and physio-biochemical markers associated with stress resilience. Both stresses reduced shoot and root growth, biomass, gas exchange, and photosynthetic pigments, with drought causing stronger inhibition. Among genotypes, Akbar-2019 exhibited the greatest tolerance, maintaining higher growth, pigment stability, photosynthetic performance, and membrane integrity, whereas Subhani-2021 was the most sensitive. Stress-induced osmotic adjustment was evident from increased proline, soluble sugars, and free amino acids, particularly in Akbar-2019. Antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, APX) were elevated under both stresses; Akbar-2019 combined stronger antioxidant activity with lower malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels, indicating effective mitigation of oxidative damage. Multivariate analyses (PCA, heatmap clustering, and MGIDI) consistently ranked Akbar-2019 as the most resilient genotype. These findings provide a novel, integrative framework for screening wheat under multiple abiotic stresses, identify promising genotypes for breeding and cultivation in stress-prone environments, and highlight combined morpho-physiological stability, osmolyte accumulation, and antioxidant capacity as informative markers for stress tolerance. Full article

Hollow graphitic nanoshells (HGSs) are widely investigated as battery materials because their conductive shells and internal voids can simultaneously influence ion transport, electron percolation, and mechanical stress accommodation. Yet, the field remains largely morphology-driven, with performance often attributed generically to “hollowness” rather than to structural parameters. This review examines HGSs from a parameter-oriented perspective. It highlights key structural features, including graphitization degree, shell thickness, cavity size, pore architecture, and defect or dopant chemistry. These features collectively shape electrochemical behavior. We discuss how these features influence transport kinetics, interphase stability, volumetric efficiency, and mechanical resilience across insertion, metal anode, multivalent, solid-state, and halogen chemistries. Major synthesis approaches, including hard-templated, soft-templated, self-templated, and biomass-derived routes, are evaluated based on the structural control they provide and the influence of synthesis conditions on shell architecture, graphitic ordering, and pore structure. Special attention is given to how these structural features develop during processing and how they affect ion accessibility, conductivity, and stability. Finally, we outline a shift toward quantitative, parameter-driven engineering supported by operando diagnostics, electrode-level modeling, and standardized reporting. HGSs will only achieve practical relevance when structural optimization extends beyond particle morphology to transport uniformity, interfacial stability, network connectivity, and life-cycle responsibility. Full article

Background/Objectives: Achieving effective hemostasis is a vital step in wound healing, particularly in cases of severe bleeding caused by surgical procedures or trauma. This study focuses on the development of chitosan-based dressings enriched with Heparin (hep)-loaded poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu) nanoparticles to combine hemostatic and anticoagulant properties. Methods: Chitosan, a biocompatible and biodegradable carbohydrate with inherent antibacterial and hemostatic properties, was chemically modified with 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) to enhance its swelling ability and hemostatic activity. PBSu nanoparticles were synthesized using an oil-in-water emulsification method and loaded with Hep to achieve controlled anticoagulant release. The dressings of the modified chitosan derivatives with the nanoparticles which were systematically characterized for morphology, chemical structure, swelling ability, loading capacity, and Hep release kinetics. Results: This dual-function system is designed to decouple local surface hemostasis from thrombotic processes: the chitosan matrix provides rapid topical hemostasis, while controlled heparin release from the nanoparticles aims to modulate excessive fibrin deposition, support microvascular perfusion, and exploit the pro-healing benefits of low-dose heparin reported in advanced wound dressings, particularly in high-risk or thrombotic-prone patients. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated their potential for promoting rapid hemostasis. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the integration of modified chitosan and Hep-loaded nanoparticles is a promising strategy for advancing wound care and hemostatic technologies. Full article

Lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) is a multifactorial disease process that encompasses diverse symptoms ranging from issues with storage and sensation to impaired emptying of the bladder. Furthermore, symptoms tend to worsen with age and other comorbidities and in men can also be influenced by changes to the prostate, making diagnosis and treatment difficult to manage. Environmental factors are thought to contribute to disease risk. In mice, previous work has found that developmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is capable of altering voiding function in offspring. However, the effects of PCB exposure in adulthood instead of development are not well known. Whether changes in voiding are a consequence of early or later life exposures remains an important area of study, as environmental chemicals and exposures can occur across the lifespan and can be mitigated. Here, we test whether PCB exposure in adulthood alters voiding or prostate morphology in male mice. C57Bl/6J adult male mice were exposed to the human-relevant MARBLES PCB mixture (0, 0.1, 1, and 6 mg/kg/d) orally daily for two months. Lower urinary tract function was then assessed through urodynamic testing including void spot assay, uroflowmetry, and anesthetized cystometry. Prostate lobes were collected for histology. The only change to voiding function was a reduction in void duration in the 6 versus 1 mg/kg/d PCB group but not to the vehicle control. Prostate, seminal vesicle, and testes wet weights were unchanged. However, PCB exposure reduced the number of Ki67-positive proliferating cells in the anterior and ventral prostate lobes only at the 1 mg/kg/d dose, with no change to caspase 3-positive cells or smooth muscle thickness. Together, these data indicate that 2-month exposure to PCBs in adult mice has little impact on voiding but is a sufficient exposure to produce changes in cell proliferation in the prostate. The mechanistic impacts of these changes remains to be investigated but could help better understand individual risk for LUTD. Full article

Improving absolute accuracy in industrial manipulators remains difficult because rigid-body kinematic calibration cannot fully represent configuration-dependent non-geometric effects. Drawing inspiration from biological brain–body co-adaptation, this study presents an Evolutionary Neuro-Physical Hybrid (Evo-NPH) framework in which rigid geometric parameters and neural compensator weights are treated as a single co-evolving decision vector. In the offline phase, a Dual-Strategy Adaptive Differential Evolution (DS-ADE) optimizer performs global joint identification using complementary exploration–exploitation behaviors and success-history inheritance, analogous to morphology-control co-evolution in biological systems. In the online phase, a Neuro-Physical Hybrid Jacobian (NPHJ) solver augments the analytical Jacobian with gradients from a Graph Kolmogorov–Arnold Network (GKAN), enabling sensorimotor-like real-time compensation on the learned physical manifold. Experiments on an ABB IRB 120 manipulator with 600 configurations (500 training, 100 testing) report a testing distance-residual RMSE of 0.62 mm, STD of 0.59 mm, and MAX of 0.83 mm. Relative to the uncalibrated baseline, RMSE is reduced by 86.75%; compared with the strongest published baseline, RMSE improves by 23.46%. Ablation results show that joint DS-ADE optimization outperforms a sequential pipeline by 32.6%, and the graph-structured KAN outperforms a parameter-matched MLP by 26.2%. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests ($p<0.001$) confirm statistical significance. Full article

In₂O₃ has high electron mobility, strong affinity for oxidizing gases, and abundant tunable surface oxygen species. These features enable efficient charge transfer during ozone adsorption, making In₂O₃ a promising ozone-sensing material. However, conventional In₂O₃-based gas sensors still suffer from insufficient sensitivity at low ozone concentrations and slow response/recovery rates, limiting their performance for high-precision gas detection. In this study, morphology-controlled In₂O₃ nanorods were synthesized via a glucose-assisted hydrothermal method, enabling coordinated regulation of the material structure and surface properties. Compared with conventional In₂O₃ nanocubes, the glucose-modulated In₂O₃ nanorods exhibited an approximately sevenfold increase in response toward 1 ppm O₃, indicating markedly improved capability for detecting low-concentration ozone. In addition, the sensor demonstrated a relatively low detection limit of about 80 ppb and fast response/recovery behavior (108 s/238 s). This strategy improves gas sensing performance through morphology optimization, increased surface active sites, and enhanced electron transport, offering a feasible materials design route for high-performance ozone gas sensors and showing potential for real-time environmental ozone monitoring and related applications. Full article

Endoperoxide-containing molecules based on the antimalarial drug artemisinin have demonstrated various biological properties, including modulation of calcium homeostasis. This study evaluated the toxicity and osteogenic activity of five newly developed tetraoxanes (YB1, YB9, YB11, YB17 and T2), alongside three of their non-peroxidic analogues (IC22, IC26 and IC33), in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. For each compound, LC₅₀ values were first determined. Behavioural responses and morphological alterations were studied as indicators of toxicological impact. The osteogenic activity was assessed through the operculum assay, followed by the analysis of gene expression markers related to calcium homeostasis (atp2a1), oxidative stress (sod1, cat), and osteogenesis (sp7, oc2). All the compounds evaluated induced an inhibition of osteogenic activity. T2, YB11, IC33 and IC26 affected the locomotor function by decreasing swimming activity. IC26 and IC33 induced morphological toxicity, characterized by a curved trunk and alterations in larval body curvature. From all the compounds studied, YB1, YB9, YB17 and IC22 showed selective anti-osteogenic activity, without displaying significant behavioural or morphological toxicity. In conclusion, the presence of a peroxide bond in the molecular structure of the compounds increases the anti-osteogenic activity at lower concentrations. All evaluated compounds exhibited anti-osteogenic activity and can be regarded as anti-osteogenic agents. However, YB17 did not induce transcription alterations in the genes analyzed and may thus represent the most promising compound in conditions where a controlled inhibition of bone formation is desirable. Full article