Search Results (2,590)

Historical vegetation resurveys provide valuable insights into long-term forest dynamics and the legacy effects of past land use. We resurveyed 45 quasi-permanent vegetation plots originally recorded in 1942 in acidophilous Pinus sylvestris forests of central Slovenia to assess vegetation change after nearly nine decades of secondary succession. We analysed changes in species composition, vegetation structure, tree regeneration, taxonomic diversity across spatial scales, functional and phylogenetic diversity, ecological indicator values, and diagnostic species. The formerly relatively homogeneous pine-dominated vegetation underwent a pronounced compositional shift and differentiated into three distinct successional pathways, characterised by increasing dominance of Fagus sylvatica, Castanea sativa, or Picea abies. Although total tree-layer cover remained largely stable, P. sylvestris declined in dominance and was almost absent from the regeneration layers in 2025, indicating limited capacity for persistence under current stand conditions. Vegetation change was accompanied by a shift towards shadier, more mesic, and nutrient-richer conditions, and the replacement of stress-tolerant pine-forest specialists by more competitive forest species. Diversity responses were strongly scale-dependent: plot-level species richness and phylogenetic diversity declined, whereas regional species richness and compositional differentiation increased. These results show that secondary acidophilous P. sylvestris forests should not be interpreted as stable vegetation types, but as dynamic land-use legacy systems whose future development depends on local site conditions, stand development, and historical management legacies. Full article

Neurodegeneration and oxidative stress are central drivers of immune-mediated neuropathies. Capsaicin, the active ingredient in chili pepper and a direct agonist of the transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV1) channel, is used clinically to treat neuropathic pain. We previously demonstrated immunomodulatory and antioxidative effects of capsaicin in experimental autoimmune neuritis in vivo and Schwann cells (SC) in vitro. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the maintenance of axonal integrity in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and SC homeostasis remain unclear. In this study, we described the effects of capsaicin on DRG and SC in vitro under both naïve and S-Nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP)-induced oxidative stress conditions. Capsaicin induced an upregulation of the antioxidative cascade involving Nrf2, Ho-1, and Nqo1 in naïve DRG neurons and restored axonal growth under preventive and therapeutic settings. Preventive treatment enhanced catalase expression, whereas treatment increased regeneration-associated Gap43 and Atf3. Inhibition of TRPV1 with capsazepine partly attenuated the protective effect of axonal outgrowth, indicating TRPV1-mediated neuroprotection. In SC, capsaicin increased mitochondrial ATP production and spare respiratory capacity, inducing a transient Nrf2-dependent antioxidant response. Capsaicin suppressed expression of myelination markers under basal conditions but promoted expression of myelination- and repair-associated markers under oxidative stress. The findings support capsaicin as a regulator of neuronal and Schwann cell oxidative stress adaptation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Peri-implant diseases, encompassing peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis, affect 43% and 18.8–23% of implant-bearing patients, respectively, representing significant clinical challenges in implant dentistry. While mechanical debridement remains foundational, biologically active materials offer promising adjunctive regenerative strategies. This narrative review synthesises current evidence regarding five biologically active materials: enamel matrix derivative (EMD), platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB (rhPDGF-BB/GEM 21S^®), and polynucleotide–hyaluronic acid combinations (Regenfast^®). Methods: The relevant literature was identified using electronic databases, including MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. This review focused on clinical studies and randomised controlled trials with a minimum follow-up of six months investigating biologically active materials in peri-implant disease management. Material mechanisms, clinical efficacy, therapeutic limitations, and evidence quality were systematically evaluated. Attention was directed toward identifying genuine biological distinctions between peri-implant and periodontal disease contexts. Results: EMD demonstrates efficacy exclusively within multimodal surgical protocols, with isolated application yielding limited benefits. rhPDGF-BB shows superior periodontal regenerative capacity; however, dedicated peri-implantitis trials remain absent. FGF-2 exhibits paradoxical osteogenic suppression despite bone fill achievement, limiting peri-implant applicability. PRF and Regenfast^® demonstrate a mechanistically sound rationale yet lack substantive peri-implant disease validation. The critical findings revealed that peri-implant regeneration fundamentally differs from periodontal regeneration: implants lack periodontal ligament anatomy, rendering ligamentogenic differentiation-promoting agents biologically inappropriate. Conclusions: Contemporary biologically active materials demonstrate compelling periodontal efficacy yet remain inadequately validated for peri-implantitis management. This disparity reflects authentic biological distinctions rather than insufficient investigation. Until multicentre randomised controlled trials stratify efficacy across distinct peri-implant disease presentations, practitioners must prioritise evidence-based surgical fundamentals—meticulous decontamination, strategic grafting, and optimised wound healing—integrating biologically active materials judiciously within comprehensive, anatomy-respecting treatment protocols. Full article

In medicine, nanoparticles are used for various purposes, including theranostics, imaging, diagnostics, drug delivery, tissue regeneration and targeted cancer treatments, and to minimize the harmful side effects associated with conventional therapies. Target-specific biomolecules, such as silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) labeled with metallic radionuclides, are becoming increasingly popular. The choice of radionuclide is based on its nuclear properties. Silica has several advantages for nanoparticle synthesis, including high biocompatibility, the capacity for drug encapsulation due to its porous structure, and the potential for extensive surface functionalization, including radiolabeling for imaging and therapeutic applications. A radionuclide can be attached to a silica nanoparticle either directly or through the use of chelators or polymers. Additionally, the capability to encapsulate therapeutic agents within such systems offers significant potential for the development of targeted therapies. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the radiolabeling of silica-based nanoparticles, with a focus on their application in nuclear medicine, particularly in diagnostic imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy. Theranostics employs a range of imaging modalities to guide and monitor therapeutic interventions. Principal techniques include positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and Optical Imaging (such as fluorescence and bioluminescence). These imaging methods enable precise visualization of pathological sites, facilitate tracking of therapeutic agent distribution, and permit real-time assessment of treatment efficacy. Full article

In the context of urban regeneration, identifying the nonlinear and interactive effects of the built environment on commercial vitality is essential for targeted spatial improvement. Using Xi’an’s central urban area as a case study, this study integrated multi-source data, including POI, AOI, street-view imagery, and mobile phone signaling data, to delineate commercial spaces via kernel density analysis. With actual service population density as the vitality indicator, a built-environment framework was constructed using 14 indicators across four dimensions: transport accessibility, functional diversity, street quality, and environmental capacity. Random forest regression and SHAP-based interpretable machine learning were employed to examine factor importance, nonlinear thresholds, and interactions. Results show that environmental capacity and transport accessibility are the dominant dimensions, with building density, road network density, and employment density contributing most. Built-environment variables generally exhibit nonlinear threshold effects; key thresholds include road network density > 8 km/km², building density > 40%, functional mix > 4.5, and sky view factor around 40%. Interactions involving building density are most pronounced, and its positive effect is significantly amplified under higher accessibility or employment density. These findings suggest prioritizing road network optimization and building coverage, while balancing functional mix and spatial scale in commercial space regeneration. Full article

Sponge spicules have emerged as promising biomaterial scaffolds due to their biocompatibility and unique structural properties; however, achieving stable and bioactive functionalization remains a key challenge. The tripeptide GHK is known to promote collagen synthesis and wound repair, yet its therapeutic efficacy is often limited by rapid diffusion and instability. Here, we report ALTUM, a thiol-functionalized sponge spicule composite in which GHK is covalently conjugated via disulfide linkage to enable controlled and redox-responsive peptide delivery. ALTUM exhibited sustained GHK retention under physiological and storage conditions, while exposure to reduced glutathione (GSH) selectively accelerated peptide release through disulfide bond cleavage. This dual release behavior—long-term stability combined with reduction-triggered activation—distinguishes ALTUM from conventional delivery systems. The composite also demonstrated structural stability under thermal, cyclic, and photostability conditions. In an artificial human skin model, ALTUM enhanced dermal penetration of GHK and significantly increased collagen deposition in the dermal layer, demonstrating its capacity to promote collagen production within deeper skin tissue, compared to simple spicule–peptide mixtures. ALTUM was fabricated at an optimized spicule-to-peptide ratio of 3% (w/w), preserving the needle-shaped spicule morphology after surface modification. In vitro, ALTUM exhibited a sustained release profile, with GHK release markedly accelerated in the presence of 10 mM glutathione (GSH) compared with non-reductive conditions, reaching approximately 60% cumulative release over 35 days. In the bioprinted artificial human skin model, ALTUM delivered 9.72 ng/cm² of GHK, more than five-fold higher than the physical mixture of spicules and free GHK (1.9 ng/cm²), and significantly increased type I collagen expression in human dermal fibroblasts. Mechanistically, ALTUM-mediated delivery was associated with increased TGF-β expression and engagement of the SMAD signaling pathway, as indicated by increased phosphorylation of SMAD2/3, consistent with involvement of the TGF-β–SMAD axis in the observed collagen induction. Collectively, these findings establish ALTUM as a structurally stable, redox-responsive dermal delivery platform that enhances collagen synthesis and skin regeneration. Full article

Background/Objectives: The transcription factor carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP) is a key glucose-sensing regulator that governs glucose and lipid metabolic homeostasis. However, its specific functions in skeletal muscle remain insufficiently clarified. The present study aimed to investigate the roles of ChREBP in skeletal muscle exercise capacity, energy metabolism, and adaptive remodeling, as well as muscle regeneration. Methods: We generated a skeletal muscle-specific ChREBP knockout mouse model, and assessed their exercise performance, energy metabolism, skeletal muscle fiber composition, and injury repair capacity. Additionally, hypoxia and high-fructose diet models were established to analyze the function of ChREBP in skeletal muscle adaptive remodeling. C2C12 myoblasts and primary muscle satellite cells were used to explore its effects on myogenic differentiation. Results: Genetic deletion of ChREBP induced no detectable alterations in myofiber composition, overall metabolic status, or muscle adaptive remodeling triggered by hypoxia and high-fructose diet. In vitro assays demonstrated that ChREBP overexpression facilitates C2C12 myogenic differentiation. Adeno-associated virus-mediated ChREBP overexpression enhanced histological markers of regeneration, including desmin-positive regenerative area and the cross-sectional area of newly formed myofibers after cardiotoxin-induced injury. Conclusions: Collectively, our experimental data indicate that ChREBP is largely dispensable for maintaining basal skeletal muscle homeostasis and stress-induced adaptive remodeling. Meanwhile, this study identifies a previously unrecognized regulatory role of ChREBP in the processes of skeletal muscle damage repair and post-injury regeneration. Full article

Cities are currently facing increasing challenges related to climate change, demographic pressure, and urban expansion. In this context, urban resilience has emerged as a strategic approach to anticipate, withstand, and adapt to environmental and social disturbances. The city of Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has implemented several green infrastructure strategies and climate adaptation initiatives, including the Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Strategy (EDUSI Tormes+), the Special Plan for the Protection of Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity (PEPIVB), and the programs SAVIA Red Verde Salamanca and LIFE Vía de la Plata. This study assesses the contribution of these initiatives to urban governance focused on response capacity by examining their level of implementation and the coherence among different municipal planning instruments. The analysis reveals that the municipal green infrastructure framework is explicitly planned and strategically designed with the objective to mitigate the urban heat island effect, regenerate the urban fabric, and establish structural pathways targeted to foster local biodiversity pathways. Overall, the results provide evidence that nature-based territorial management instruments can strengthen the adaptive capacity of heritage cities to climate change, offering a replicable model for other territories with similar characteristics. Full article

The increasing concentration of atmospheric CO₂ has intensified the urgent need for efficient and sustainable carbon capture technologies. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as a highly promising class of porous crystalline materials for CO₂ adsorption and separation owing to their structural tunability, high surface area, and precisely designable pore environments. This review summarizes recent advances in COF-based CO₂ capture systems, covering pristine COFs, functionalized frameworks, composite materials, and membrane-based architectures. In pristine COFs, CO₂ adsorption is mainly governed by micropore confinement and physisorption within well-defined channels, where surface area and pore size distribution play key roles. Functionalized COFs introduce additional active sites, including amine groups, heteroatoms, ionic functionalities, and alkali metal centers, which significantly enhance CO₂ affinity through stronger electrostatic and acid–base interactions, often leading to mixed physisorption–chemisorption behavior. Composite COFs and mixed-matrix membranes further improve performance through synergistic effects, interfacial engineering, and enhanced mass transport. Despite these advantages, challenges remain in achieving an optimal balance between capacity, selectivity, and regenerability under realistic conditions such as humidity, low CO₂ partial pressure, and multicomponent gas streams. Issues related to scalable synthesis, structural stability, and processability also limit practical applications. Overall, this review highlights key structure–property relationships and outlines future directions, including humid-stable COFs, direct air capture, computational design strategies, and advanced membrane technologies, for next-generation CO₂ capture materials. Full article

Hyaluronic acid (HA), a major component of the glycome and a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan, plays a crucial role in regulating stem cell behavior and function, thereby supporting skeletal muscle repair under inflammatory conditions. In this study, we investigated the effects of a mixture of HA fractions with different molecular weights (M-HA; 2–1000 kDa) on the repair capacity and myogenic potential of C2C12 murine myoblasts exposed to inflammatory stimuli. C2C12 cells were cultured, induced to differentiate, and treated with M-HA (1 mg/mL) under either physiological or inflammatory conditions (LPS, 10 µg/mL; IL-1β, 20 ng/mL). M-HA exhibited no cytotoxic effects, even at the highest concentration tested (1.0 mg/mL), and significantly enhanced scratch wound closure. Moreover, M-HA improved the myogenic index at day 5 of differentiation, promoted the expression of myogenic markers, preserved myosin heavy chain (MHC) levels under inflammatory stress, and reduced the expression of autophagy-related genes. Ultrastructural analyses revealed that untreated myotubes displayed swollen mitochondria, disrupted cristae architecture, and numerous autophagic vacuoles, whereas M-HA-treated cells exhibited well-preserved mitochondrial morphology, intact cristae organization, reduced cytoplasmic damage, and maintained myofibrillar structure. Taken together, the functional, molecular, and ultrastructural findings demonstrate that M-HA protects myoblasts from inflammation-induced cellular damage and supports their regenerative capacity. These results underscore the potential of glycomics-based strategies to enhance myogenic differentiation and promote skeletal muscle regeneration in inflammatory microenvironments. Full article

This study reports the preparation of a nanocomposite using a black cumin surface as a carbon framework on which zinc oxide-doped manganese ferrite nanoparticles were deposited and grown. A simple precipitation method was used to prepare the nanocomposite. The resulting composite was characterized using various characterization analyses such as FTIR, XRD, EDX, SEM, TEM, and TGA. The composite surface was highly conformed with functional groups, and the nanocomposite was formed due to electrostatic and non-electrostatic interactions between the carbon framework and the nanoparticles. X-ray analysis revealed a crystalline structure with crystal sizes up to 45 nm. Microscopic images revealed the surface morphology, confirming the irregular distribution of particles within the composite. The resulting composite material was used for adsorption application. The composite material was tested for the removal of Congo red dye from water. It was found that under optimal conditions, a dose of 2 g per liter of absorbent removed nearly 100% of dye from a 10 mL volume of 10 mg per liter Congo red solution within 90 min and 7 pH. A monolayer adsorption was confirmed by the isotherm analysis. The monolayer adsorption capacity for the present study was ~13.0 mg per gram. The adsorption kinetics suggested the fitting of pseudo-second order. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the chemical mechanism was responsible for the present adsorption process. The regeneration study demonstrates the stability of current adsorbent up to two cycles only. This nanocomposite is the first of its kind which promotes the creation of nanocomposites in the future by using natural materials and reduces the dependency on activated carbon. Full article

Mineral scaling on carbon electrodes remains a critical limitation to the long-term performance of capacitive deionization (CDI) systems treating hard and alkaline waters. In this study, alternating polarization (AP) is investigated as an in situ electrochemical regeneration strategy to reverse cathodic scaling in flow-through CDI treating a feed containing 5 mM NaCl, 5 mM NaHCO₃, and 2.5 mM CaCl₂ under three modes: conventional cycling (control), delayed AP introduced after fouling developed, and immediate AP implemented from the first cycle. Under conventional operation, cathodic scaling reduced the salt adsorption capacity (SAC) to 5.9 ± 0.2 mg/g, increased cathode mass from 0.208 ± 0.004 g (pristine) to 0.353 ± 0.054 g, and decreased specific capacitance to 28 ± 2 F/g, accompanied by extensive pore blockage and carbonate deposition observed by SEM and BET measurements. Application of delayed AP restored electrode functionality, increasing SAC to 8.9 ± 0.6 mg/g and specific capacitance to 56 ± 2 F/g while reducing the cathode mass to 0.212 ± 0.007 g and removing surface precipitates. The immediate AP operation reduced the extent of scale formation from cycle 1, maintaining SAC at 8.4 ± 0.2 mg/g throughout operation, with stable physical and electrochemical properties. These improvements are attributed to periodic polarity reversal, which induces alternating alkaline and acidic microenvironments at the electrode surface and promotes the electrochemical dissolution of carbonate phases during anodic polarization. Overall, this work establishes AP as a simple, chemical-free operational strategy for both preventing and reversing cathodic mineral scaling, thereby enabling sustained CDI performance and mitigating capacity loss over the tested operational periods in complex water matrices. Full article

Lipids are commonly viewed as membrane components, energy sources, or precursors of signaling molecules, yet accumulating evidence indicates a broader role in determining the functional state of cells. In this review, we present an integrative cross-domain synthesis in which lipids are discussed as important modulators of cellular functional state across inflammation, tissue regeneration, and chronic disease. We discuss how membrane lipid composition shapes receptor and ion-channel signaling, how bioactive lipid mediators govern the balance between inflammatory initiation and resolution, and how lipid metabolism regulates stem-cell quiescence, activation, and regenerative capacity. We integrate these mechanisms to show how disruption of lipid-regulated processes may bias tissues toward persistent inflammation, impaired repair, and disease progression in conditions such as rheumatic disorders, fibrosis, and neurodegeneration. Depending on context, such lipid alterations may function as causal contributors, permissive conditions, or downstream signatures of pathological state transitions. Finally, we consider how pharmacological and nutritional modulation of lipid pathways may influence cellular states, while emphasizing that the main contribution of this review is a conceptual state-transition framework that links membrane architecture, mediator balance, and lipid metabolic flux across inflammation, regeneration, and chronic disease. Full article

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuro-inflammatory disease characterized by demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). Although a substantial endogenous capacity for remyelination has been demonstrated, this process is frequently incomplete and exhibits marked intra- and inter-individual heterogeneity. Several factors influence the extent of spontaneous myelin regeneration, including age, sex, disease course, and lesion localization. Oligodendrocytes (OL), derived from oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), are the principal myelinating cells of the CNS. The regenerative cascade involves several key stages, including OPC activation, recruitment, differentiation into oligodendrocytes (OL), and myelin deposition. This process is orchestrated in a spatiotemporal manner by a complex interplay of intracellular signaling pathways, genetic determinants, and dynamic microenvironmental cues, which together balance inhibitory and pro-remyelinating influences. Several lines of evidence indicate that chronically demyelinated axons are vulnerable to degeneration, whereas successful remyelination may confer neuroprotection. These observations underscore remyelination as a promising neuroprotective therapeutic target for preventing or slowing disability progression in MS, a condition in which gradual neuroaxonal degeneration is believed to underlie irreversible disability progression. In this review, we aim to bridge the gap between fundamental biological mechanisms of remyelination and their clinical relevance. We examine recent advances in in vivo techniques for assessing remyelination and discuss how these measures correlate with clinical and disability outcomes. In addition, we review recent clinical trials of remyelination-promoting therapies and analyze the challenges that have limited their advancement beyond phase II. Overall, we seek to provide a comprehensive overview of the remyelination process from bench to bedside, highlighting both the obstacles and the therapeutic potential of remyelination strategies in MS. Full article

Thermoacoustic oscillations are excited sound waves in systems with large temperature gradients. Thermoacoustic engines and refrigerators can be constructed using porous materials to enhance the acoustic power produced and facilitate heat pumping for refrigeration. Porous materials can also be utilized as catalytic beds to convert between the two spin-isomers of hydrogen: orthohydrogen and parahydrogen. The conversion between ortho- and parahydrogen is either endothermic or exothermic, and the composition of the isomers manipulates the heat capacity of the fluid. This study experimentally investigates ortho-parahydrogen conversion in a thermoacoustic standing-wave engine with different oxidized catalytic materials. Recorded experimental measurements include the onset temperature ratio, acoustic pressure amplitude, and frequency of the thermoacoustic engine. The results depict a relationship between the oxidized materials and the acoustic amplitude. All oxidized materials promoted an increase in acoustic amplitude versus the pure metallic components. Steady-flow conversion was measured for brass oxide and iron oxide pellets; however, no conversion was detected for aluminum oxide or copper oxide pellets. The initial datapoints provide evidence that future cryogenic hydrogen thermoacoustic devices will need to account for the spin isomer conversion inside the stack. New flow-through regenerating liquefiers can also be constructed, which convert orthohydrogen to parahydrogen during liquefaction. Full article