Search Results (31,558)

Background: Effective management of bone defects remains a major clinical challenge, driving continuous efforts to develop bioactive, localized delivery systems that support bone regeneration. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have gained attention in regenerative medicine for their capacity to modulate cellular activity. Yet, their application in functional delivery systems for bone repair is still limited. Chitosan (CS), a naturally derived biopolymer, exhibits notable osteoinductive properties, particularly when used to modify nanoparticulate carriers. Objectives: In this study, AuNPs and chitosan-coated gold nanoparticles (CS-AuNPs) were formulated, characterized, and incorporated into gel preparations to evaluate their physicochemical properties and therapeutic potential in a rat tibial bone defect model. Methods: AuNPs were synthesized and either left uncoated or coated with CS to enhance biological activity. Both formulations were examined for particle size, zeta potential, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The resulting nanoparticles were integrated into gel bases, which were assessed for gel strength, swelling index, viscosity, and pH. The in vivo study involved surgically induced bone defects in the tibias of albino rats treated with either formulation. Healing outcomes were assessed via histological analysis, quantification of newly formed bone, immunohistochemical staining, radiographic imaging, and measurement of bone-related markers using RT-qPCR. Results: The CS-AuNP gel formulation demonstrated significantly improved bone regeneration compared to the uncoated counterpart, as evidenced by histological findings, increased bone volume in radiographs, stronger immunohistochemical expression of the VEGF angiogenic protein marker, and increased genetic expression of osteogenic markers. Conclusions: Incorporating CS-AuNPs into gel formulations offers a promising approach for enhancing bone healing. The superior performance of the CS-coated system highlights its potential as a promising localized therapy for managing bone defects. Full article

4-aminoquinazoline derivatives exhibit unique physiological activities, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial biological activities. Afatinib (BIBW-2992), the representative tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been developed for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Following our expanded medical chemistry research program, we report a novel 4-aminoquinazoline derivative named JSLN-P (1), (5S)-5-[(2-(5-bromo-2-methoxyphenyl) quinazolin-4-ylamino)methyl]-3-(3-fluoro-4-morpholino phenyl) oxazolidin-2-one, aimed for developing new drugs with antiglioma properties. The title compound JSLN-P (1) was successfully synthesized by amination approaches following benzylamination and oxazolone cyclization, further condensation with 4-(4-bromo-2-fluorophenyl) morpholine, reduction in debenzylation and halogenated amination of quinazolin. The structure of JSLN-P (1) was confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Full article

Royal jelly (RJ) is a highly valued bee-derived functional food and natural health product, in which 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) represents the most characteristic lipid component. As a unique fatty acid found exclusively in RJ, 10-HDA serves not only as a key marker for product authenticity, freshness, and quality evaluation but also as a major contributor to the biological activities of RJ, including immunomodulatory, metabolic regulatory, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and dermatological effects. Given its nutritional and quality-related importance, and because most previous reviews have focused primarily on the biological activities or compositional characteristics of 10-HDA, current knowledge regarding its biosynthesis, secretion, and regulatory mechanisms in worker mandibular glands has not yet been systematically organized and summarized. Understanding these processes is essential for explaining the biological origin of 10-HDA accumulation in RJ and for developing strategies to improve 10-HDA yield, royal jelly quality, and production standardization. This review summarizes current knowledge on the physicochemical properties and health-related functions of 10-HDA and further integrates recent advances in its endogenous biosynthesis and regulatory mechanisms. Particular emphasis is placed on the proposed three-step biosynthetic pathway, beginning with stearic acid and proceeding through cytochrome P450-mediated ω-hydroxylation, successive β-oxidation, and terminal dehydrogenation. We also discuss how 10-HDA production is shaped by worker developmental stage, glandular maturation, genetic background, dietary nutrients, botanical origin, endocrine signals, and apicultural management practices. By linking the biological origin of 10-HDA with its functional properties and quality-determining role in RJ, this review provides an integrated framework for understanding the formation of 10-HDA-rich royal jelly. By linking the biological origin, functional properties, and quality-determining role of 10-HDA in RJ, this review provides an integrated framework for understanding 10-HDA-rich royal jelly. It also identifies key gaps in biosynthetic validation, secretion mechanisms, and regulatory networks, offering guidance for RJ quality standardization, production optimization, and functional food development. Full article

Long-term maize storage causes oxidative deterioration, but its effects on intestinal redox status, systemic inflammation, and liver-related responses in ruminants remain unclear. Laminaria japonica polysaccharide (LJP) has antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and microbiota-regulating properties, but its efficacy during aged-maize feeding is unknown. This study evaluated whether LJP mitigates oxidative and inflammatory responses in Hu sheep fed aged maize and characterized cecal microbiome and metabolome alterations. Twenty-one Hu sheep (39.05 ± 3.55 kg) were assigned to three diets (n = 7) and fed for 10 weeks (a 14-day adaptation period followed by 8 weeks of treatment): normal maize (CK), aged maize (AM), or aged maize with 0.5% LJP (AML). Compared with CK, AM increased plasma lipopolysaccharide (0.428 vs. 0.379 EU/mL), TNF-α, and IL-1β, and raised ileal reactive oxygen species (248.79 vs. 166.23 fluorescence intensity/mg; p < 0.001) and malondialdehyde (1.87 vs. 1.63 nmol/L; p = 0.006), consistent with systemic inflammation and intestinal oxidative stress. AML lowered these inflammatory and oxidative indices and increased hepatic T-AOC (p = 0.009) and catalase activity (p = 0.013). Integrated 16S rRNA and untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed treatment-associated cecal microbe–metabolite associations. These findings indicate that aged-maize feeding was associated with intestinal and systemic redox–inflammatory changes in Hu sheep, whereas dietary LJP was associated with partial mitigation, potentially involving microbial and metabolic remodeling. Full article

Background/Objectives: Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. (meadowsweet) is a medicinal plant traditionally used for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. There is also some data indicating its anticancer potential; however, its impact on colorectal cancer cells remains poorly understood. Here we investigated the cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of an aqueous F. ulmaria extract on human LoVo colorectal cancer cells and analyzed some of the mechanisms underlying it. Methods: LoVo colorectal cancer cells were treated with the aqueous extract and analyzed for intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA damage, lysosomal alterations, apoptosis-related mechanisms, and antioxidant activity. Phytochemical profiling was performed by HPLC-TOF/MS. Results: The extract elevated intracellular ROS levels, disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential, and induced DNA damage in LoVo cells. Activation of crucial caspases, along with increased p53 levels, confirmed engagement of both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Changes in lysosomal fluorescence were also observed, indicating alterations in lysosomal properties. In chemical assays (FRAP, TAC, DPPH, ABTS, and superoxide scavenging), the extract demonstrated robust antioxidant capacity comparable to or exceeding that of ascorbic acid. Phytochemical profiling by HPLC-TOF/MS revealed a rich presence of bioactive flavonoids, phenolic acids, and coumarins. Altogether, our findings indicate that the extract’s cytotoxicity against colon cancer cells arises from a multifaceted mechanism involving oxidative stress, organelle dysfunction, and apoptosis induction. Conclusions: These results highlight F. ulmaria aqueous extract as a promising candidate for colorectal cancer phytotherapy as a form of supportive treatment and warrant further preclinical validation. Full article

Safety-critical cyber-physical systems require strict verification methodologies explicitly taken to reference safety properties in their tests. Conventional methods of mutation testing simply lump all mutants together, regardless of their effects on product safety, resulting in ineffective resource allocation and insufficient understanding of the behaviors of crucial safety interest. The novel mutation-guided safety assurance framework presented by this paper is called MuGu and it combines mutation testing and formal safety property enforcement. It uses a hierarchical safety constraint analyzer that classifies mutants (temporally) according to their ability to break temporal safety specifications modeled in Signal Temporal Logic (STL). A graph attention network encodes program semantics and control-flow dependencies to forecast the probability of safety violations, enabling effective prioritization of safety-critical mutants. The proposed safety-conscious mutation delineators use vital areas of the code, such as sensor interfaces, actuator commands, and decision-making code in autonomous systems. Extensive testing on two publicly accessible benchmark sets, namely the Software-artifact Infrastructure Repository (SIR) and Defects4J, shows that MuGu achieves 96.3% safe property coverage and requires 71.8% fewer new tests than traditional methods. The scheme determines 2.4 times as many safety-violating methods as state-of-the-art methods and decreases wasted effort on equivalent mutants by 64.2%. The statistical analysis demonstrates overwhelming improvements across all primary metrics in 12 baseline comparisons $p<0.001$. MuGu provides a rational basis for applying safety-oriented next-generation mutation testing in autonomous systems. Full article

Integrating high-resolution hyperspectral remote sensing with deep generative artificial intelligence (AI) offers a promising method for accurate soil mapping under limited sampling conditions. While the EnMAP satellite provides hyperspectral data for mapping soil properties, its coarse spatial resolution (30 m) restricts its applications in digital soil mapping (DSM). This study investigates the potential of an integrated framework that combines hyperspectral–multispectral satellite data fusion and deep generative AI for high-resolution DSM. A total of 110 surface soil samples (0–30 cm) were collected from an agricultural farm in Ismailia (Egypt) and were analysed for soil organic matter (OM), electrical conductivity (EC), and available phosphorus (P). EnMAP hyperspectral and SuperDove multispectral images were pre-processed and fused using a 1D U-Net-based convolutional neural network (CNN) to generate a hyperspectral high-resolution (3 m) image. A conditional Wasserstein generative adversarial network (GAN) with gradient penalty (cWGAN-GP) was used to generate soil spectra at different levels of augmentation. The generated spectra were combined with 70% of real spectra to create different calibration datasets that were filtered to preserve spectral diversity and avoid spectral duplication. Two predictive models, random forest (RF) and CNN, were developed based on the optimal combined calibration datasets. The prediction results based on the independent prediction dataset (30%) showed that GAN–CNN outperformed GAN–RF at the highest augmentation level (5×), with increases in coefficient of determination (R²) by 31.3, 25.8, and 9.0%, and reductions in root mean square error (RMSE) by 33.2, 22.1 and 8.2% for EC, OM, and P, respectively. The optimal GAN–CNN model was used to produce soil maps at 3 m resolution based on the fused high-resolution hyperspectral image. The results indicate the potential of fusing hyperspectral and multispectral data combined with deep generative AI to overcome limited soil sampling and advance DSM for precision agriculture applications. Full article

Soil nitrogen (N) mineralization plays a pivotal role in regulating N availability in forest ecosystems, which could not only be closely related to soil nutrient supply capacity but also profoundly affect the forest carbon sequestration. Broad-leaved forests play a key role in terrestrial carbon storage; however, soil net N mineralization rates (Rmin) vary considerably among different forest types and their underlying driving mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, three typical broad-leaved forests in Northeast China, namely Populus davidiana Dode forest (PF), Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr forest (FF), and Betula platyphylla Suk. forest (BF), were selected. The soil Rmin, environmental parameters, physicochemical properties, and microbial community characteristics were determined among the three broad-leaved forests to explore forest type differences in soil Rmin and their associated factors. The results showed that soil inorganic N contents differed significantly among the three forest types, with significantly higher values in FF than in PF and BF (p < 0.05). Soil Rmin also differed significantly among forest types, which was highest in FF, followed by PF and BF (2.17, 1.31, and 0.95 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹, respectively) (p < 0.05). Soil Rmin was significantly positively correlated with soil water content (SWC), soil temperature (ST), and pH, but there was a negative correlation to soil bulk density (BD) (p < 0.05). In addition, microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were significantly higher in FF than in PF and BF (p < 0.05). Variation in soil Rmin among three broad-leaved forests was significantly associated with the abundances of Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mucoromycota, but not with bacterial community, suggesting a closer association between fungi and soil Rmin. Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that forest type was associated with soil microbial community structure and biomass through associations with soil environmental and physicochemical properties, in relation to soil Rmin. In conclusion, this study highlights the links between vegetation type and soil Rmin in broad-leaved forests, which deepens the theoretical understanding of forest soil N-limitation in Northeast China. Full article

In this study, the effects of the type and content of phosphorus-based flame retardants, namely melamine polyphosphate (MPP) and aluminum diethylphosphinate (AlDPi), as well as their hybrid systems (MPP:AlDPi ratios of 1:1, 1:3, and 3:1), on the fire performance of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) composites were investigated. The obtained results indicate that the synergistic action of MPP and AlDPi, including simultaneous inhibition of combustion in the gas phase and action in the condensed phase, leads to a significant improvement in the fire-retardant properties of ABS composites. For unmodified ABS, the peak Heat Release Rate (pHRR) and Total Heat Released (THR) values were 808.7 kW/m² and 86.5 MJ/m², respectively, while for the ABS/MPP_15/AlDPi_5, these values decreased to 292.9 kW/m² and 32.3 MJ/m². Simultaneously, the Effective Heat of Combustion (EHC) decreased from 22.3 to 15.5 MJ/kg, indicating inhibition of combustion processes in the gas phase. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of post-combustion residues (peaks 1280 and 1168 cm⁻¹) confirmed the contribution of additives to the formation of phosphorous derivatives in the condensed phase. The hybrid system ABS/MPP_15/AlDPi_5 exhibited the most favorable fire performance in cone calorimeter tests, characterized by reduced heat release and fire growth parameters. This was confirmed by the calculated fire performance indicators, including Fire Growth Rate Index (FIGRA), Maximum Average Rate of Heat Emission (MARHE), Fire Potential Index (FPI), and Flame Retardancy Index (FRI). Full article

Agricultural waste-derived biochars have recently attracted increasing attention as sustainable adsorbents for wastewater treatment. In this study, biochars (BHBs) produced from buckwheat husks at 500, 600, and 700 °C were investigated as novel adsorbents for the removal of the cationic dyes Crystal Violet (CV) and Rhodamine B (RhB) from aqueous solutions. The obtained materials were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis and surface functional group analysis to evaluate the influence of pyrolysis temperature on their physicochemical properties. The effects of initial adsorbent dose, solution pH, and ionic strength were assessed, while adsorption kinetics and equilibrium isotherms were analyzed to elucidate the adsorption mechanisms. It was found that the adsorption of both dyes depended on pH. CV adsorption was lowest in an acidic environment and increased with increasing pH from 3 to 9. RhB was most effectively adsorbed in an acidic environment. Its adsorption decreased as the pH increased from 3 to around 5, after which it stabilized. The adsorption of CV decreased with increasing ionic strength of the solution, whereas the adsorption efficiency of RhB remained unaffected. The adsorption kinetics of CV and RhB on BHBs were found to follow a pseudo-second-order mechanism controlled by film diffusion. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models all provided good fits to the equilibrium experiments. The adsorption capacities of BHBs for CV and RhB decreased with increasing pyrolysis temperature and surface alkalinity of the biochars (BHB700 < BHB600 < BHB500). The adsorption capacities of biochars ranged from 41.00 mg/g (BHB700) to 56.10 mg/g (BHB500) for CV and from 9.74 mg/g (BHB700) to 13.24 mg/g (BHB500) for RhB. The study highlights the potential of buckwheat husk-derived biochars as sustainable adsorbents for the treatment of dye-contaminated wastewater and provides insight into the relationship between pyrolysis conditions and adsorption performance. Full article

Background: The axillary microbiome is a major contributor to body malodor generation through bacterial metabolism of apocrine and eccrine secretions. Dysbiosis of this microbial community, particularly through overgrowth of odorigenic species such as Staphylococcus aureus, is associated with increased volatile compound production and local skin inflammation. Heat-treated postbiotics represent a promising class of cosmetic ingredients combining microbiological safety with retained bioactive properties. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the in vitro safety, molecular mechanisms, antipathogen and anti-inflammatory properties of heat-treated Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Skinbac™ SB06, and to assess the antiperspirant and deodorant efficacy of a deodorant spray formulation containing 1% SB06 in a controlled clinical study. Methods: In vitro studies assessed cytotoxicity (MTT/LDH assays), Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, antipathogen activity against Staphylococcus aureus (AlamarBlue assay), cytokine modulation (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-23) in Normal Human Epidermal Keratinocytes (NHEK) and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs), and axillary microbiome compatibility against Corynebacterium striatum, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus hominis by viable plate count (CFU/mL). Clinically, a randomized split-body study (n = 20) evaluated antiperspirant effectiveness by gravimetric sweat collection and deodorant efficacy by expert olfactory panel (Likert 1–5) at 24 and 48 h. Results: In vitro testing confirmed the safety of SB06 (MTT and LDH, both non-significant vs. control). SB06 significantly increased AQP3 expression (+20%, p < 0.001) and significantly reduced ROS production (−48%, p < 0.05). Antipathogen testing showed significant reduction in S. aureus planktonic viability (−7%, p < 0.05). Microbiome compatibility testing on selected axillary-associated strains showed a differential compatibility profile, with the strongest inhibitory effect observed for C. striatum (13% residual viability at T24h, corresponding to 87% inhibition), near-complete preservation of S. epidermidis (92% residual viability at T48h), and a mild reduction in S. hominis (−15% at T48h). Cytokine modulation showed significant IL-8 and IL-23 reduction in NHEK (both p ≤ 0.05) and immunostimulatory activity in PBMCs. Clinically, SB06 reduced sweat production vs. placebo by −21.8% at T24 (p = 0.0009) and −10.0% at T48 (p = 0.0495), with significantly lower odor intensity at both timepoints (median score 3 vs. 4, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Heat-treated L. rhamnosus SB06 showed a multimodal in vitro profile including antipathogen, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and AQP3-upregulating activities, and was associated with statistically significant antiperspirant and deodorant effects in a randomized controlled split-body study. These findings are consistent with SB06 being a functional postbiotic ingredient with potential for deodorant and antiperspirant applications, pending confirmation in larger controlled studies. Full article

Background: Unilateral posterior crossbite (UPXB) is a common malocclusion in growing patients, often associated with functional mandibular deviation and asymmetric masticatory function. However, its relationship with muscle activity remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate masticatory muscle activity and viscoelastic properties in growing patients with UPXB compared to subjects with normal occlusion. Methods: This case–control study included 140 growing patients (60 controls and 80 with UPXB: 36 right-side and 44 left-side). Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to assess the activity of the superficial masseter and anterior temporalis muscles during standardized static and dynamic tasks. Muscle viscoelastic properties were evaluated using myotonometry. To minimize potential bias related to craniofacial morphology, only mesofacial subjects (Ricketts’ VERT −0.5 to +0.5) were included. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: No differences were found in sex distribution, whereas the control group was slightly older than the UPXB group. Myotonometric analysis showed limited between-group differences, with isolated findings including higher stiffness of the non-crossbite anterior temporalis in left UPXB patients (p = 0.014), and minor differences in stiffness and relaxation of the left masseter between groups (p = 0.049; p = 0.045). Electromyographic results showed no significant differences during maximum voluntary contraction in intercuspation. In controls, higher activity was found in the left anterior temporalis during contraction on cotton rolls (p = 0.039) and in the right masseter at rest (p = 0.033). In left UPXB patients, the non-crossbite temporalis showed higher activity (p = 0.023). Increased activity of the crossbite-side left masseter was found in patients with UPXB during contraction and mastication (p = 0.012; p = 0.002). During mastication, both groups exhibited higher activity on the chewing side. Conclusions: UPXB is associated with specific, condition-dependent alterations in masticatory muscle activity and viscoelastic properties rather than generalized neuromuscular asymmetry. These findings suggest the presence of functional adaptations in growing patients, particularly under certain loading conditions, and highlight the importance of early diagnosis to better understand its potential impact on craniofacial development. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of ecological zones and honey bee morphometric characteristics on the physicochemical properties of honey produced in different regions of Kazakhstan. A total of 103 honey samples were collected and analyzed for key quality parameters, including moisture content, sugars, acidity, pH, and diastase activity. Multivariate statistical approaches, including principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), were applied to assess variability and underlying patterns. Geometric morphometric analysis of wing shape (MorphoJ) revealed a high degree of morphological homogeneity across all samples, with no distinct clustering in PCA space. This was further supported by canonical variate analysis (CVA) using IdentiFly, which assigned the majority of samples to the C lineage (Apis mellifera carnica) with high classification probability, indicating a uniform population structure. MANOVA results demonstrated that neither ecological zone nor morphometric traits exerted a significant global effect on honey physicochemical properties (p > 0.05). However, significant interaction effects were identified between ecological zone and specific morphometric variables, particularly sternite length and cubital index (p < 0.05), suggesting a context-dependent influence. Full article

This paper proposes an original method for selecting cylindrical Li-Ion cells in the popular 18650 format, sourced from the disassembly of laptop batteries, for reuse and to give them a second life. The Introduction analyzes the key properties of Li-Ion cells in comparison with other solutions, with a particular focus on the latest battery technologies based on Na-Ion cells, which are built using less expensive sodium. The work involved disassembling damaged batteries, followed by an initial selection of cells based on voltage and internal resistance measurements. A key part of the work was developing a simulation based on a random arrangement of cells in a 4s6p pack and identifying the optimal configuration based on three established criteria. Finally, a prototype battery was constructed, and its discharge curves were analyzed at three constant power levels ranging from 50 W to 150 W. In conclusion, it was found that the developed method is of significant importance from an environmental protection perspective and can be applied to the construction of other battery packs using various Li-Ion cells; the optimal load level for the tested prototype in the case study was a constant load of 50 W. Full article

Camellia japonica L. (Theaceae) seed oil is an essential component for skin protection, attributed to its antioxidant properties and anti-aging effects. In this study, Camellia japonica seed oil underwent fermentation with Sporidiobolus pararoseus (Fell & Tallman, CGMCC No. 39106, commercial name: Longevity yeast of 1021-year-Camellia japonica). The post-fermented oil, designated Longevity Yeast Oil (LYO), was used in the present research. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated that methyl esterification of LYO afforded twelve fatty acid methyl esters. We used an aging model in human epidermal keratinocytes and human skin fibroblasts exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) to explore the anti-skin aging effects and mechanisms of LYO. The results of the CCK-8 assay demonstrated that LYO exhibited no cytotoxicity but instead displayed potential proliferative activity, indicating its excellent safety profile. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses confirmed that LYO downregulated the expression of autophagy marker p62 and upregulated LC3B, thereby activating the autophagic pathway. Further investigation revealed that LYO protected against UVB-induced apoptosis, promoted the synthesis of collagen and elastin, and upregulated the expression of loricrin, filaggrin, and ceramides, effectively reversing UVB-induced skin cellular aging. Notably, we further revealed that LYO alleviated UVB-induced cutaneous photoaging via activating cellular autophagy pathway. In conclusion, LYO demonstrated biocompatibility and conferred protection to skin cells against photoaging, thereby establishing a theoretical basis for the development of innovative autophagy-targeted anti-aging therapies. Full article