Search Results (4,575)

Medicinal plants grown outside their native forest habitat may produce phytochemical profiles that differ from wild-harvested material, yet the ecological mechanisms underlying these differences remain poorly synthesized across disciplines. This review proposes that the forest understory functions as a multi-signal elicitation system in which canopy light filtering, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and above-ground biotic interactions collectively shape secondary metabolite profiles. AMF-mediated induced systemic resistance and above-ground biotic interactions operate through confirmed jasmonate-mediated pathways. Sunfleck-driven reactive oxygen species signaling is hypothesized but untested, and the red-to-far-red ratio modulated phytochrome B pathway characterized in Arabidopsis remains unconfirmed in shade-tolerant species. Using three saponin-rich medicinal plants (Panax vietnamensis, Panex quinquefolius, and Paris polyphylla) as case studies, we formalize this as a testable chemical terroir hypothesis with three falsifiable predictions. We also translate it into an ecological co-cultivation design principle with three production levels and a two-step operational framework, and identify priority experiments, analytical methods, and implementation challenges needed for validation. These contributions bridge forest ecology and medicinal plant science while identifying critical evidence gaps requiring resolution before field implementation. Full article

Mastitis limits yak dairy production and is associated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammation in yak mammary epithelial cells (YMECs). This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of caffeic acid (CA) against LPS-induced cellular injury and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, with a particular focus on autophagy regulation via the NF-κB signaling pathway. LPS exposure strikingly reduced cellular viability and increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, accompanied by activation of the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, it increased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-1β). In addition, LPS enhanced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and Ca²⁺ dysregulation, increased LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, and reduced synthesis of α-casein and β-casein. Pretreatment with CA resulted in the effective alleviation of these alterations by restoring cellular viability, suppressing inflammatory responses, and normalizing autophagy-related markers. Additionally, inhibition of Nrf2 reversed the partial reversal of the protective effects of CA, resulting in increased ROS accumulation and autophagy activation, but did not impact NF-κB suppression. These findings indicate that CA attenuates LPS-induced inflammatory injury in YMECs involved in both Nrf2-dependent and independent pathways. These findings provide a mechanistic analysis of yak mastitis pathogenesis and CA potential as a natural therapeutic for improving mammary health and milk quality in yak dairy systems. Full article

This study investigated the efficiency of macrophyte-based phytoremediation systems using Phragmites karka and Typha latifolia for the treatment of poultry–aquaculture wastewater and its suitability for irrigation reuse. Physicochemical parameters, heavy metals, and water quality indices were analysed using correlation analysis and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Strong positive correlations were observed among turbidity, nutrients, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), and chemical oxygen demand (COD), while dissolved oxygen (DO) showed significant negative relationships, indicating organic pollution-driven oxygen depletion. Heavy metals exhibited strong intercorrelations, suggesting common anthropogenic sources and similar removal pathways. PCA results revealed that the first three principal components (PCs) explained over 95% of the total variance, with positive values recorded from the first PC highlighting organic load, nutrient enrichment, and metal interactions as dominant factors controlling wastewater quality. The negative values of factor loadings obtained in the second and third PCs confirmed the roles of sedimentation, adsorption, microbial activity, and plant uptake in pollutant removal. Water Quality Index (WQI) values decreased drastically from highly polluted levels (>3000) in raw wastewater to <1.0 after 21 days of treatment, indicating excellent water quality. Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR) also declined significantly, confirming a low sodicity risk. Both macrophytes demonstrated high treatment efficiency, with Typha latifolia showing slightly improved sodium reduction. Overall, the study highlights macrophyte-based systems as sustainable, cost-effective solutions for wastewater treatment and safe agricultural reuse. Full article

Paleosol carbonate nodules may preserve environmental information despite later burial alteration, yet disentangling original signals from diagenetic overprints remains a central challenge. Here we apply paired clumped and triple oxygen isotope analyses (Δ₄₇–Δ’¹⁷O) to microsampled Eocene paleosol carbonates from the Gonjo Basin, southeastern Tibet. Intra-nodule TΔ₄₇ values of 9–58 °C define a spectrum of microscale thermal heterogeneity, spanning lower-temperature to more strongly burial-modified domains. In contrast, carbonate Δ’¹⁷O does not vary systematically with TΔ₄₇ (R² < 0.6), whereas reconstructed diagenetic-water compositions (δ¹⁸O_w and Δ’¹⁷O_w) covary with TΔ₄₇, suggesting progressive fluid–rock exchange during burial. Together with petrographic and geochemical observations, these data are most consistent with fluid-limited, rock-buffered recrystallization at low-water–rock ratios, with modeled solutions for most micritic domains falling at W/R < 0.05. Reconstructed Δ’¹⁷O_w values of diagenetic fluids range from −77 to −27 per meg, consistent with interaction with isotopically evolved meteoric waters and plausibly reflecting prior evaporative modification, although alternative fluid histories cannot be fully excluded. Rather than fully erasing environmental information, burial recrystallization in these carbonates appears to preserve a quantifiable record of fluid–rock interaction and hydroclimatic conditions. Our results show that paired Δ₄₇–Δ’¹⁷O approach can help distinguish lower-temperature domains from more strongly burial-modified domains and trace diagenetic fluid evolution in ancient terrestrial carbonates. Full article

Background and Objectives: Patients with obesity undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery face elevated perioperative pulmonary risk due to impaired respiratory mechanics, reduced functional residual capacity, and pneumoperitoneum-induced atelectasis. Intraoperative changes in intra-abdominal pressure and surgical positioning substantially alter respiratory mechanics, yet studies evaluating repeated PEEP titration at multiple intraoperative time points remain limited. This study aimed to determine whether dynamic compliance-guided individualized PEEP titration, applied at three distinct intraoperative stages, reduces postoperative pulmonary aeration loss compared to fixed 8 cmH₂O PEEP. Methods: In this single-center randomized controlled trial with blinded outcome assessment, 70 patients with obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²) undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery were randomized 1:1 to the CDYN group (dynamic compliance-guided PEEP titration at T1: post-induction, T2: during pneumoperitoneum, T3: post-deflation; n = 35) or the PEEP8 group (fixed PEEP 8 cmH₂O; n = 35). The primary outcome was the modified lung ultrasound score (mLUSS), assessed 30 min after PACU arrival by a blinded investigator (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06994780). Results: Total mLUSS was significantly lower in the CDYN group (2.20 ± 1.16 vs. 5.80 ± 2.14; p < 0.001), with significant differences in both hemithoraces. The PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio at PACU was significantly higher in the CDYN group (425.11 ± 127.13 vs. 311.65 ± 92.59 mmHg; p < 0.001), and the supplemental oxygen requirement was significantly lower (p = 0.001). Dynamic compliance was consistently higher throughout surgery (all p < 0.001) without differences in airway pressures or hemodynamics. Conclusions: Dynamic compliance-guided individualized PEEP titration, applied at three intraoperative stages, significantly reduces early postoperative pulmonary aeration loss and improves oxygenation in patients with obesity undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery, without increasing barotrauma risk or hemodynamic instability. Full article

Insufficient oxidative capacity can limit humification during municipal sludge composting. This study comparatively evaluated two Fenton-like amendment systems, a homogeneous copper-based treatment (CH) and a heterogeneous nano-iron-based treatment (NFH), for their effects on composting performance, humification-related indices, spectroscopic characteristics, and bacterial community succession. Both amended treatments improved composting performance relative to the control, reaching higher peak temperatures (68.5 °C for CH and 70.3 °C for NFH) and prolonging the thermophilic phase. NFH also showed stronger moisture removal, with the final moisture content decreasing to 58.1%, compared with 65.1% in CH and 64.1% in the control. CH showed the highest apparent humic acid accumulation (1173 mg kg⁻¹), whereas NFH exhibited spectroscopic features commonly associated with lower E₄/E₆ ratios and more pronounced humic-like fluorescence characteristics. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and excitation–emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (EEM) analyses collectively indicated progressive transformation toward more aromatic and humified organic matter in the amended treatments. Bacterial community succession also differed across treatments, and several enriched taxa, including Rhodanobacter and Thermobifida, showed positive associations with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related variables and humification indices. These results describe treatment-linked dynamics in humification and suggest corresponding changes in microbial succession during sludge composting, with potential implications for process outcomes. Full article

To achieve carbon emission reduction in the long ironmaking process with blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF), the Hebei Iron & Steel Group and Northeastern University have jointly developed the Reduction Smelting Furnace with Carbon-Cycling, Hydrogen-Rich, and Pure-Oxygen (CHORSF) ironmaking process. This new process employs advanced technology to overcome the hydrogen enrichment limitation of traditional BFs and the problems of “hot at the lower part and cold at the upper part” in all-oxygen BFs. This paper establishes an operating line for the CHORSF ironmaking process, systematically analyzes the influence mechanisms of key smelting parameters on CHORSF, and provides guidance for optimizing the process. The results show that the slopes of the operating lines in the indirect reduction zone can characterize the reducing gas consumption under actual conditions; under the smelting conditions of this study, the reducing gas consumption falls within a specific range. The slope of the operating line in the softening–melting–dripping zone can be used to quantify the coke ratio. Furthermore, increasing the metallization ratio at the bottom of the indirect reduction zone leads to a slight increase in reducing gas consumption, while a 1% increase in the same metallization ratio results in a notable decrease in the coke ratio. Full article

To boost the net power output of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems under variable operating conditions, this study proposes an adaptive neural network (NN) control strategy that integrates parameter optimization. The air supply subsystem is the primary focus, as its performance is crucial to the overall net power. First, a comprehensive model of the air supply subsystem is developed, along with a detailed analysis of cathode pressure, oxygen excess ratio (OER), and net power output. Then, a two-dimensional particle swarm optimization (TDPSO) algorithm is used to optimize the reference signals for cathode pressure and OER, thereby maximizing net power. By applying input–output linearization techniques, the originally coupled nonlinear multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system is decoupled and transformed into a canonical form. Based on this transformation, an adaptive NN controller is designed to regulate the pressure valve and compressor. A series of hardware-in-loop (HIL) tests confirm that the proposed control strategy effectively optimizes net power across diverse operating scenarios. Quantitative results show that the proposed method achieves a net power output of 28.6 kW to 42.1 kW over the tested current range of 100–300 A. Meanwhile, the comparisons show that the proposed controller achieves OER tracking with root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.1221 and cathode pressure with RMSE of 0.0033. In comparison, the fuzzy logic controller (FLC) achieves OER with RMSE of 0.1453 and pressure with RMSE of 0.0044, while proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller achieves OER with RMSE of 0.2133 and pressure with RMSE of 0.0109. Full article

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prevalent global health concern. Although pharmacotherapies such as Resmetirom and semaglutide have recently gained approval by FDA/EMEA, therapeutic options remain limited, necessitating the exploration of novel natural compounds. Our previous research indicated that lycopene exerts protective effects against MASLD; however, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The present study aimed to investigate whether lycopene alleviates MASLD by modulating mitophagy, with a focus on the PINK1/Parkin pathway. C57BL/6J mice were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks to induce MASLD and daily gavage of lycopene (10/40 mg/kg). In vitro, AML12 cells were treated with lycopene and Mdivi-1 to assess the role of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy against lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. The results found that lycopene supplementation significantly ameliorated HFD-induced weight gain, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, pathological liver injury, and elevated serum liver enzymes. It reduced hepatic reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and suppressed the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, as evidenced by decreased cytochrome c release and caspase cascade activation. Concurrently, lycopene restored ATP levels and mitochondrial membrane potential, improved ultrastructural integrity, and balanced mitochondrial dynamics by downregulating DRP1 and upregulating MFN2 and OPA1. Crucially, lycopene activated PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, leading to an increased LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and Beclin1 expression, alongside decreased levels of mitochondrial proteins TOM20 and COX IV. In vitro, the lycopene partially reversed the exacerbating effects of Mdivi-1 on lipid accumulation, ROS generation, apoptosis, and the suppression of the PINK1/Parkin pathway. Collectively, lycopene ameliorates MASLD by activating PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy and improving mitochondrial homeostasis, thereby reducing hepatic lipid accumulation and attenuating hepatocyte apoptosis. Full article

This study evaluated the combined effects of resveratrol (RES) and paclitaxel (PAC) on cell viability, apoptotic responses, and associated cellular processes in HeLa cervical cancer cells. Antiproliferative activity was assessed using XTT assay and combination index (CI) analysis, while apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were examined by flow cytometry-based approaches. The RES + PAC combination produced a synergistic reduction in cell viability compared to single treatments. This effect was accompanied by increased apoptotic cell populations and a marked accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase. Combined treatment was also associated with a pronounced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and elevated ROS levels. Gene expression analysis indicated an increased Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA ratio together with upregulation of apoptosis-related markers and downregulation of cell cycle regulators. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of ROS using N-acetylcysteine (NAC) partially attenuated both ROS accumulation and the reduction in cell viability, suggesting that oxidative stress contributes, but is not solely responsible, for the observed cytotoxic effects. Overall, these findings indicate that the combination of RES and PAC enhances apoptotic responses in HeLa cells through mechanisms associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and cell cycle perturbation. Further studies are required to clarify the underlying pathways and to evaluate the translational relevance of these findings. Full article

Females with iron overload suffer from follicular dysplasia, and effective therapeutic strategies for preserving fertility remain lacking. As a natural aliphatic polyamine, spermidine exerts antioxidant activity and plays an anti-ferroptosis role in the pathogenesis of various diseases. However, the role and underlying mechanism of spermidine in iron overload-induced ovarian ferroptosis remain largely elusive. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of spermidine against iron overload-induced ferroptosis in ovarian granulosa cells and elucidate its molecular mechanism. As a result, iron overload models were established in female mice (in vivo, ferrous sulfate) and porcine ovarian granulosa cells (in vitro, ferric ammonium citrate), with spermidine administered at 3 mM (in vivo) or 150 μM (in vitro). Ferritin heavy chain (FHC) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) silencing were performed via siRNA transfection, and relevant controls were set. In vivo studies showed that spermidine elevated serum estradiol and progesterone levels, enhanced ovarian catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, improved granulosa cell mitochondrial morphology, and increased estrous cycle regularity from 35.6% (high-iron group) to 63.1%. In vitro, spermidine improved ferric ammonium citrate (FAC)-impaired cell viability; attenuated reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation; upregulated FHC, Nrf2/p-Nrf2/GPX4, SLC7A11 and anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) expression; and inhibited excessive autophagy (decreased LC3BII/I ratio). Mechanistically, spermidine activated AKT-mediated autophagy, modulated iron homeostasis and glutathione (GSH) synthesis via FHC, alleviated ferroptosis-related Nrf2/p-Nrf2/HO-1 pathway overactivation, reduced lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, and restored mitochondrial function. SLC7A11 silencing disrupted glutathione metabolism, induced mitochondrial ROS accumulation, and inhibited autophagy. Proteomic analysis identified microsomal glutathione S-transferase 3 (MGST3) as a potential key downstream target of spermidine in suppressing SLC7A11-mediated ferroptosis. This study reveals a novel therapeutic strategy wherein spermidine protects against ovarian ferroptosis and preserves ovarian function by regulating iron homeostasis through the FHC/SLC7A11 axis. Full article

The effects of RF plasma treatments using different gases (Ar, O₂, and N₂) and processing parameters on the surface wettability of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films were systematically investigated. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X–ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to characterize the evolution of surface topography and chemical composition. While all treatments enhanced hydrophilicity, the magnitude of improvement and the governing mechanisms were gas-dependent. Among them, O₂ plasma treatment exhibited the most pronounced effect: under optimal conditions (20 W, 80 s), the water contact angle (WCA) was reduced to 3.7°, indicating a superhydrophilic surface. This enhancement was primarily attributed to a substantial increase in surface oxygen content (O/C ratio) and the incorporation of strongly polar oxygen-containing functional groups, such as C=O and COOH. N₂ plasma offered moderate improvement via nitrogen-containing groups, while non-reactive Ar plasma relied primarily on physical etching, yielding the smallest enhancement. Analysis revealed that wettability evolution was dominated by increased polar surface energy from chemical functionalization, with surface roughness playing a synergistic role. These results demonstrate that optimizing plasma gas and parameters effectively controls PET wettability through the coupled regulation of surface chemistry and topography. Full article

The challenge of attaining energy–efficient nitrogen removal at low carbon–to–nitrogen (C/N) ratios is a fundamental issue in the sustainable management of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study investigates a pilot–scale Anaerobic–Swing–Anoxic–Oxic (ASAO) system coupled with an AvN (Ammonia versus NOx⁻–N)–based aeration control strategy. A systematic evaluation of the system’s performance, nitrogen removal mechanisms, and microbial communities under a 350–day long–term pilot–scale operation using real municipal sewage is presented. The results reveal that the AvN control strategy can optimize aeration intensity and enhance nitrogen removal efficiency. Even under low influent C/N conditions, the ASAO system maintained stable operation with low dissolved oxygen levels (0.5–1.5 mg L⁻¹), and the AvN control strategy effectively optimized aeration intensity and stabilized nitrogen conversion, achieving a total nitrogen (TN) removal rate of 83% and an average effluent TN concentration of 4.9 ± 2.6 mg L⁻¹. Mechanistic analysis indicated that AvN regulation could alleviate over–nitrification and enhance intracellular carbon storage, thereby creating conditions that support the coordinated operation of multiple nitrogen removal routes, such as simultaneous nitrification–denitrification (SND), endogenous denitrification (EnD), and potentially anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox). These findings suggest that the AvN–controlled ASAO process offers a robust and scalable strategy for achieving high–efficiency nitrogen removal with reduced aeration demand, providing a promising technological pathway toward energy–neutral and sustainable municipal wastewater treatment. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pneumonia remains a leading cause of emergency department visits worldwide, requiring rapid and objective risk stratification. While traditional scoring systems like CURB-65 and the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) are well-established, there is a constant need for dynamic biomarkers reflecting the underlying pathophysiology. This study aims to investigate the prognostic value of the hemoglobin-to-lactate ratio (HLR) in predicting mortality among pneumonia patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 183 adult patients diagnosed with pneumonia at a tertiary training and research hospital between October 2024 and November 2025. Demographic data, clinical findings, laboratory parameters, and prognostic scores (CURB-65, PSI) were recorded. The impact of HLR on mortality was evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression, while its predictive performance was assessed via Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis and compared with clinical scores using DeLong’s method. Results: The overall mortality rate was 32.8%. HLR values were significantly lower in the exitus group compared to survivors (4.68 vs. 6.92, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that an HLR ≤ 5.65 was an independent predictor of mortality, associated with a 10-fold increase in risk (OR: 10.0; 95% CI: 4.15–24.19; p < 0.001). HLR demonstrated high predictive power (AUC = 0.802), comparable to CURB-65 (AUC = 0.807) and PSI (AUC = 0.829). Notably, the combined HLR + CURB-65 model provided the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.857, p = 0.037). Conclusions: HLR is a low-cost and easily accessible biomarker for predicting mortality in pneumonia. It effectively reflects the physiological balance between tissue oxygenation and metabolic failure. Integrating HLR into clinical practice, particularly when combined with traditional scores, can enhance risk (decision of discharge, admission unit [ward, ICU], evaluation of prognosis) in the emergency department. Full article

In this study, three-dimensional (3D) and one-dimensional (1D) models of port fuel injection (PFI) hydrogen-oxygen internal combustion engine (H₂-O₂ ICE) were established. Firstly, the experiment of PFI-H₂ ICE was conducted to validate the accuracy of the simulation models. Then the effects of the oxygen equivalence ratio (${\Phi }_{O_2}$) and engine speed in the combustion process were analyzed. Results show that two threshold values in the H₂-O₂ ICE combustion can be deduced. When ${\Phi }_{O_2}$ = 0.20, the combustion process is violent with extremely high temperatures and pressure, called excessively intense combustion. When ${\Phi }_{O_2}$ = 0.10, the flame propagation is slow, suggesting it is difficult to ignite at a smaller oxygen equivalence ratio. Moreover, the influence of engine speed on performance parameters is analyzed in a 1D simulation. Results show that the fluctuation of brake thermal efficiency with engine speed becomes more obvious with the decrease in the oxygen equivalence ratio. Full article