Search Results (7,893)

Young barley, derived from the early vegetative stage of Hordeum vulgare L., constitutes a plant-based functional ingredient whose phytochemical profile differs markedly from that of mature grain. Two principal commercial forms exist—dried grass powder and juice-derived products—differing in matrix composition and bioactive compound concentration. This narrative review critically evaluates the current knowledge on the phytochemical composition, biological activity, and translational relevance of young barley preparations considered as a functional plant food. The phytochemical spectrum is dominated by C-glycosyl flavones, particularly saponarin and lutonarin, alongside phenolic acids, chlorophylls, enzymatic antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Experimental evidence implicates the modulation of redox homeostasis, inflammatory signaling, and metabolic regulators as the primary biological mechanisms. In vitro studies additionally demonstrate antiproliferative activity in human cancer cell lines and immunomodulatory properties mediated by polysaccharide-rich fractions, extending the biological profile of young barley beyond classical antioxidant activity. Although preclinical models consistently demonstrate antioxidant and metabolic effects, high experimental doses and limited preparation standardization restrict the direct extrapolation to human supplementation contexts. Available clinical trials suggest modest improvements in selected lipid, glycemic, and oxidative stress markers; yet, most are small in scale and brief in duration. Agronomic variables including fertilization strategy and soil composition represent additional, underappreciated sources of phytochemical variability and safety concern. Overall, the current evidence supports the biological plausibility of young barley as a functional plant food; yet, the clinical data remain preliminary. Future research should prioritize preparation standardization, dose–response characterization, and agronomic transparency to strengthen translational reliability. In conclusion, young barley preparations represent a biologically plausible functional plant food ingredient with preliminary clinical support, pending confirmation from adequately powered, standardised randomised controlled trials. Full article

Superparamagnetic materials have attracted increasing attention for high-frequency microwave absorption because superparamagnetic relaxation can partially overcome the high-frequency limitations of conventional magnetic absorbers. Herein, Fe₃O₄/rGO composite powders were prepared by electrostatic self-assembly and subsequently incorporated into an epoxy matrix, and magnetic-field-induced alignment was introduced during curing. Owing to the synergistic effects of interfacial polarization, magnetic dissipation, and improved impedance matching, the optimized composites exhibited markedly enhanced microwave absorption performance. In particular, when the rGO content was 10 wt% and an external magnetic field was applied, the composite achieved effective absorption across the entire X-band (8–12 GHz) within a thickness range of 1–3 mm, together with a minimum reflection loss of −40.3 dB. The enhanced performance is attributed to the combined contributions of abundant heterogeneous interfaces, superparamagnetic relaxation, and field-induced orientation of Fe₃O₄-decorated rGO sheets. This work provides a simple physical strategy for the microstructural regulation of magnetic–dielectric composites toward high-performance microwave absorption. Full article

Porous ceramics have garnered widespread attention in high-temperature insulation, aerospace, and other fields due to their excellent thermal stability, low density, and superior thermal insulation performance. However, traditional preparation technologies suffer from limitations such as poor pore structure controllability, unstable mechanical properties, and long production cycles. In recent years, 3D printing (additive manufacturing) technology has emerged as a disruptive approach to address these challenges, enabling precise fabrication of porous ceramics with complex structures and tailored properties. This review comprehensively summarizes the research progress on 3D-printed porous ceramics, focusing on preparation technologies, structure optimization, and performance regulation. First, the principles and drawbacks of traditional preparation methods are analyzed. Then, four mainstream 3D printing technologies (Binder Jetting, Material Extrusion, Vat Photopolymerization, and Material Jetting) for porous ceramics are elaborated on in terms of forming mechanisms, process characteristics, typical cases, and performance advantages/disadvantages. Additionally, the structure–property optimization strategies, including the design of Triply Periodic Minimal Surface structures and the application of computational modeling and simulation, are discussed to achieve the balance between thermal insulation and mechanical properties. Finally, current challenges and future development trends of 3D-printed porous ceramics are prospected. This review provides a systematic reference for the rational selection of preparation technologies, structural design, and performance optimization of porous ceramics, promoting their engineering applications in high-value fields. Full article

Background: Meralgia paresthetica (MP) of the lateral femoral cutaneous is a rare, nerve-entrapment condition, often related to an inflammatory and fibrotic pathological component. Although most cases resolve with conservative management, refractory presentations may require interventional or surgical treatment. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has demonstrated emerging potential in peripheral neuropathies through anti-inflammatory, neurotrophic, and antifibrotic mechanisms. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 64-year-old professional scuba diving instructor with occupational MP related to repetitive compression from a tight lead weight belt. Symptoms persisted for six months despite conservative therapies. Clinical examination supported lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) entrapment. The patient underwent three serial perineural PRP injections prepared from autologous blood and administered along the inguinal course of the nerve. Progressive symptom reduction was observed after each session, reaching approximately 90% improvement at two months. At six months, the patient was pain-free and had returned to full professional activity without limitations. Discussion: Occupational microcompression may induce intraneural edema, ischemia, and perineural fibrosis, creating a biological substrate amenable to regenerative intervention. PRP delivers concentrated growth factors capable of promoting axonal regeneration, angiogenesis, and modulation of the neuroinflammatory microenvironment. Preclinical and clinical evidence in other compressive neuropathies supports this translational rationale. Conclusions: Perineural PRP infiltration may represent a safe and promising regenerative strategy for refractory occupational MP. Controlled clinical studies are needed to define optimal protocols, patient selection criteria, and long-term efficacy in peripheral compressive neuropathies. Full article

With the aim of achieving outstanding thermal control and corrosion resistance properties, a white MAO thermal control coating sealed by a silicon–zirconium hybrid sol–gel layer was prepared in this work. The corrosion behavior of the coating was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. Microstructural and compositional characterizations were conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Results indicated that the sol–gel/MAO composite coating significantly outperformed the single-layer MAO coating in corrosion resistance, primarily due to effective sealing of micro-pores and cracks by the sol–gel layer, which prevented the penetration of corrosive agents. The post-immersion morphological observations were in good agreement with the EIS results. After immersion, the corrosion current density of the composite coating only increased from 10^−6.4 to 10^−5.1 A/cm², while the corrosion potential decreased from −1.25 V to −1.35 V. The post-immersion morphological observations were consistent with EIS results. Meanwhile, the composite coating can effectively mitigate the thermal control performance degradation caused by corrosion. Compared with the MAO coating, the absolute increase in solar absorptance of the sol–gel/MAO coating is reduced by 60%. After 168 h of accelerated corrosion tests in a simulated marine environment, the solar absorptance (α_S) of the sol–gel/MAO coating increased by only 0.05. This study demonstrates that the combination of MAO and sol–gel treatment provides a promising strategy for the development of lightweight, corrosion-resistant magnesium alloys for aerospace applications. Full article

The present study evaluated the effects of the prepartum administration of immunotropic preparations on the growth performance, physiological status, and metabolic profile of calves. Sixty pregnant Holstein cows were divided into three groups (n = 20 each): the first experimental group received a single intramuscular injection of sodium nucleinate (5 mL), the second experimental group received a single intramuscular injection of Ribotan (5 mL), and the control group received saline solution. All treatments were administered 3–9 days before calving. The obtained calves were monitored until 60 days of age. Clinical, growth, hematological, and biochemical parameters were assessed at days 1, 10, 30, and 60. Calves from the treated cows showed improved neonatal adaptation, including faster development of standing posture and the suckling reflex. Body weight was significantly higher in experimental groups at 30 and 60 days (p ≤ 0.05), with consistently greater average daily gains. Blood analysis revealed increased total protein, albumin, and γ-globulin levels, indicating enhanced protein metabolism and immune status. In contrast, cortisol concentrations were lower in treated groups, reflecting reduced physiological stress. Multivariate (PCA) and correlation analyses confirmed strong associations between growth performance, metabolic activity, and immune indicators, and demonstrated clear separation between control and treated groups. Ribotan exhibited the most pronounced biological effect, while sodium nucleinate showed moderate but consistent improvements. In conclusion, prepartum immunotropic treatment of cows enhances early-life adaptation, metabolic efficiency, and growth performance of calves and may represent a practical strategy for improving calf rearing outcomes in dairy farming systems. Full article

Proteins are the most common targets for antibody discovery and vaccine development, but their sequence variability can limit the breadth of resulting antigens. Lipids represent an alternative class of antigens due to their structural conservation and roles in host–pathogen interactions. Here, we describe the development and optimization of an in vitro antibody selection workflow using lipid-containing nanodiscs as antigen presentation platforms to enable phage and yeast display selections under conditions adapted for these non-protein targets. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) nanodiscs were first used as a model system to evaluate selection strategies, including competitive and subtractive approaches to reduce non-specific binders, yielding peptide and single-chain variable fragment (scFv) binders that were affinity matured to improve binding signals. The same approach was subsequently used to select scFv antibodies that recognize lipid nanodiscs prepared from Yersinia pestis membrane lipid extracts. These antibodies show binding to lipid nanodiscs derived from Y. pestis, with evidence of selectivity relative to control nanodiscs. Overall, this work establishes a workflow for antibody selection against lipid-containing nanodisc antigens and highlights practical considerations associated with these targets. The approach may be useful for generating affinity reagents to membrane-associated lipids, although further characterization is required to define antigen specificity and functional activity. Full article

Rapid rewarming is the most conventional and primary treatment for frostbite, yet effective adjunctive strategies remain absent. Conventional wound dressings, such as therapeutic hydrogels, tend to freeze and lack the necessary rewarming ability, rendering them unsuitable for direct application. Herein, we engineered an environmentally tolerant photothermal hydrogel, named 5A-Gel, featuring anti-swelling, anti-pressure, antioxidant, anti-freezing, and anti-drying capacities, for the treatment of frostbite. 5A-Gel was formed via dynamic crosslinking between gelatin and tea polyphenols in a glycerol/water solvent system. The incorporation of glycerol endowed the hydrogel with superior anti-swelling, anti-freezing, and anti-drying performance (remaining flexible at −20 °C and 37 °C for at least 60 days), along with concentration-dependent antioxidant activity due to tea polyphenols. Furthermore, 5A-Gel exhibited excellent photothermal effects, maintaining stable temperature and softness under 808 nm laser irradiation with robust cyclic durability. In addition, 5A-Gel showed slow degradability, excellent hemocompatibility, and favorable in vivo biosafety. Functionally, in a mouse frostbite wound model, photothermal rewarming therapy using 5A-Gel markedly expedited frostbite healing, promoting re-epithelialization, enhancing collagen deposition, alleviating inflammatory response, and stimulating neovascularization. Therefore, the as-prepared 5A-Gel serves as a competent therapeutic platform for in situ frostbite treatment and offers innovative principles for the rational engineering of high-performance hydrogel systems targeting frostbite tissue injuries. Full article

Modern prosthetic dentistry has been significantly reshaped by adhesive dentistry, CAD/CAM technologies, and advanced ceramic materials, leading to the development of minimally invasive all-ceramic restorative approaches. However, the longevity of the adhesive interface is fundamental to the long-term effectiveness of these restorations. With a focus on bond durability and clinical performance, this narrative review aims to evaluate modern adhesive strategies, tooth preparation requirements, and cementation techniques in all-ceramic minimally invasive restorations. Methods: A narrative review of the literature was performed using Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed/MEDLINE databases. Publications from 2000 to 2026 were analysed. In vitro research, narrative reviews, and systematic reviews related to adhesive systems, resin cements, CAD/CAM materials, and minimally invasive prosthodontic principles were the core subjects of the research. Results: The findings indicate that material selection, surface conditioning techniques, and cementation methods have a significant impact on the clinical effectiveness of all-ceramic restorations. Retention and marginal sealing are greatly enhanced by resin-based adhesive systems. Nevertheless, hydrolytic degradation, procedure sensitivity, and substrate-related factors remain a challenge to the adhesive interface. Advances in CAD/CAM and ultra-conservative designs, like occlusal veneers and partial-coverage restorations, have increased treatment alternatives while ensuring acceptable functional and aesthetic results. Conclusions: Minimally invasive all-ceramic restorations represent a conservative and clinically effective treatment approach in modern prosthodontics. Their long-term performance is primarily dependent on adhesive interface stability and adherence to evidence-based clinical protocols. Continued developments in adhesive materials and ceramic systems are expected to improve bond durability and broaden clinical indications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Curcumin has been proposed as a nutritional strategy to support exercise recovery through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. However, trials differ in sport context, training status, supplementation timing, dose, formulation, and methodological control. This systematic review evaluated its effects on recovery outcomes in active individuals and athletes, with particular attention to the applicability of the evidence to real-world sport settings. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane Library/CENTRAL were searched from 2012 to June 2026. Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials were eligible when they evaluated oral curcumin, curcuminoids, Curcuma-derived preparations with a specified curcumin dose, or curcumin combined only with bioavailability enhancers. Studies using artificial muscle-damage protocols, clinical populations, non-randomized designs, or combined bioactive interventions were excluded. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale, supplemented by a Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) assessment and a Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) certainty-of-evidence evaluation. Owing to heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively by outcome domain, supplementation timing, formulation type, exercise context, and training status. Results: Fifteen trials were included. Favorable effects were reported in 6/7 studies assessing oxidative stress, 4/6 assessing muscle damage, 3/8 assessing inflammation, 3/7 assessing subjective recovery, soreness, or fatigue, and 4/8 assessing physical or athletic performance. However, effects varied substantially according to population, exercise context, biomarker selection, timing of assessment, and formulation type. The certainty of evidence was low for oxidative stress and very low for muscle damage, inflammation, subjective recovery/soreness/fatigue, and performance. Conclusions: Curcumin supplementation may support selected aspects of exercise recovery, particularly oxidative stress responses. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because the evidence derives mostly from small trials with heterogeneous populations, exercise protocols, supplementation regimens, formulations, biomarkers, and assessment time points. Evidence for muscle damage, inflammation, subjective recovery, fatigue, and performance remains inconsistent, and further well-controlled trials in trained and high-performance athletes are needed before practical recommendations can be established. Full article

Radiomics has the potential to improve risk stratification in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but clinical adoption is limited by inconsistent performance across institutions. A key source of variability is how radiomic features are generated, preprocessed, and selected prior to model development. This multicenter study evaluated how radiomics parameterization and feature selection strategies affect external model performance, feature stability, and time-to-event risk stratification. We studied pre-treatment CT scans from 752 patients with primary HNSCC from three hospitals. For each scan, 1648 radiomic features were computed using 20 different preparation methods that varied in scaling, outlier removal, and gray-level bin width. We compared five feature selection methods: Graph-FS with connected components, Boruta, Lasso, RFE-RF, and mRMR. The classification models used were Random Forest, XGBoost, CatBoost, and Logistic Regression. We measured performance using external ROC-AUC, bootstrap confidence intervals, Brier score, and RobustScore. Stability of feature selection was assessed using the Kuncheva and Jaccard indices. Cox proportional hazards models confirmed time-to-event results, and consensus SHAP analysis helped explain the models. Radiomics parameterization influenced model performance, and no single configuration was optimal across all analyses. Radiomics-only models outperformed clinical-only models, while clinical–radiomics models achieved the highest overall performance. mRMR and Lasso produced the highest average external AUCs, while Graph-FS showed the greatest stability. The best classification model achieved an external AUC of 0.817. In Cox validation, the best clinical–radiomics configuration achieved an external C-index of 0.662 and separated high- and low-risk patients in the external cohort. Full article

Polysaccharide-based hydrogels represent promising platforms for the development of bioactive wound dressings due to their biocompatibility, bioadhesive properties, and ability to maintain a moist environment at the wound interface. In this study, polymeric films were developed from natural polysaccharides incorporating olive mill wastewater (OMW) as a natural antibacterial agent. Chitosan (medium molecular weight), sodium alginate, sodium hyaluronate, and xanthan gum were selected to prepare hydrogel formulations either as single polymers or binary mixtures. Hydrogels were prepared by aqueous dispersion under magnetic stirring and subsequently converted into films using a solvent casting method. The resulting films were characterized in terms of rheological behavior, pH, morphology, thickness and water content. The obtained hydrogel films showed good casting ability, producing smooth and homogeneous matrices with adequate deformability and skin adhesion. Furthermore, they demonstrated a suitable capacity to absorb and retain water, mimicking the management of wound exudate. OMW was incorporated into the hydrogel formulations as a source of phenolic compounds with well-known antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The presence of these bioactive compounds provides the films with potential antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against clinically relevant multidrug-resistant staphylococcal strains. These findings suggest that OMW-loaded polysaccharide hydrogels represent a promising and sustainable strategy for the development of antibacterial films for wound healing applications. Full article

A time-saving approach to gelatin-based hydrogels with versatile properties is highly desirable. Herein, we report the rapid fabrication of new gelatin-containing hydrogels with favorable mechanical properties, biocompatibility and antibacterial capability. Frontal polymerization (FP) of acrylic acid (AA), acrylamide (AM), hydroxypropyl acrylate (HPA) with gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) enables the rapid formation of multifunctional hydrogels within 7 min, providing a highly efficient route for gelatin-based hydrogel fabrication. The effect of GelMA content on FP features and hydrogel properties was systematically investigated. The resultant hydrogels show attractive collective properties with tensile strength up to 101.3 kPa, elongation at break up to 227.7%, cell viability of 96% after 24 h, and antibacterial activity against S. aureus (92.2%). In addition, the FP of the hydrogels with use of forsythia-derived carbon dots (F-CDs) as bioactive nanofillers is explored, conferring the hydrogels with enhanced mechanical performance and biocompatibility, demonstrating the applicability of this FP strategy upon incorporating functional additives. This work provides a simple and effective approach for the rapid preparation of gelatin-containing hydrogels with versatile functions promising for biomedical applications such as wound healing and tissue engineering. Full article

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that poses a serious threat to ecosystems and human health. Biochar has shown great potential for mercury removal due to its porous structure and abundant surface functional groups. However, redox-active moieties on biochar can reduce adsorbed Hg²⁺ to volatile Hg⁰, leading to secondary mercury dispersion. To suppress this reduction, this study proposes a strategy of co-pyrolyzing coal gangue with rice husk to prepare composite biochars (RHB/CG), leveraging the abundant metal oxides in coal gangue to tailor the surface chemistry of biochar. The materials were characterized by FTIR, Raman, and XRD; static adsorption, mercury speciation analysis, and kinetic experiments were conducted. The results show that coal gangue incorporation significantly enhances the Hg²⁺ adsorption capacity of biochar, with the equilibrium adsorption capacity calculated by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, increasing from 20.6 mg/g for pristine RHB to 38.7 mg/g for RHB/CG-1:1. More importantly, RHB/CG composites effectively suppress the reduction of Hg²⁺ to Hg⁰, and the amount of Hg⁰ accumulated in the system is 57.1% lower than that of pristine RHB. Mechanistic studies reveal that coal-gangue-derived basic functional groups (e.g., C–O–C, Si–O–M) inhibit reduction via sequestering Hg²⁺ through coordination and disruption of electron transfer pathways. PHREEQC simulations (pe = 6.0) confirm the decreased tendency of Hg²⁺ reduction to Hg⁰ with increasing pH, in good agreement with the experimental results showing reduced Hg²⁺ reduction. The corresponding results provide a green and sustainable solution for mercury-contaminated water and soil remediation. Full article

Waterlogged archaeological wood represents a unique cultural heritage but is highly susceptible to physical and chemical degradation, which complicates conservation and restoration. This study aimed to prepare artificial archaeological Cunninghamia lanceolata wood using NaOH vacuum impregnation and systematically evaluate the effects of NaOH concentration and treatment cycles as two treatment variables on wood degradation. Untreated heartwood specimens were treated with 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30% NaOH solutions for 2, 4, and 6 cycles. The NaOH treatment first induced chemical and structural deterioration, including selective degradation of hemicelluloses, changes in cellulose crystallinity, and progressive damage to the wood cell-wall structure. XRD analysis revealed a significant reduction in cellulose crystallinity from 35.96% to 10.11%, while FTIR confirmed the degradation of hemicelluloses and the relative enrichment of lignin-related structures. SEM observations further showed severe cell-wall erosion, lumen deformation, and local collapse, indicating that alkali treatment effectively reproduced typical microstructural features of degraded waterlogged wood. These chemical and microstructural changes subsequently led to marked changes in physical and mechanical properties. Mass loss increased with NaOH concentration and cycle number, while basic density decreased and maximum water content increased, indicating enhanced deterioration and water-holding capacity. Treated specimens also exhibited increased swelling and shrinkage rates and a substantial reduction in longitudinal compressive strength, with the most pronounced deterioration occurring under higher NaOH concentrations and repeated cycles. The study demonstrates that NaOH treatment can reproducibly simulate the physical, chemical, and microstructural characteristics of waterlogged archaeological wood, providing a reliable experimental model for studying wood degradation mechanisms and supporting conservation strategies. Full article