Search Results (4,154)

This study presents the radiological characterization of 15 solid radioactive waste samples originating from the BN-350 sodium-cooled fast reactor (Kazakhstan) during its decommissioning phase. The studied materials include components of ventilation and wastewater treatment systems, pipeline elements and various operational tools. The objective of the study was to determine the activity levels of the samples and to assess appropriate pathways for their subsequent management and processing. The results indicate that all studied materials fall within the category of low-level radioactive waste. Gamma spectrometric analysis shows that Cs-137 is the dominant and only identified gamma-emitting radionuclide contributing to the activity of the studied samples. Full article

Background: Oral colon-targeted delivery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) faces significant challenges, including limited gastrointestinal stability, premature drug release, and insufficient mucosal retention. Methods: To address these limitations, a mucoadhesive polysaccharide-based composite hydrogel incorporating prednisolone-loaded polymeric micelles was developed to enhance colonic delivery and promote mucosal repair. Amphiphilic oxidized dextran–oleylamine (ODEX-OA) copolymers were synthesized to self-assemble into prednisolone-loaded micelles. These micelles were subsequently embedded within a thiolated chitosan (CSSH) hydrogel through a Schiff base reaction, yielding the ODEX-OA-Pred-CSSH composite. The resulting system was comprehensively characterized for particle size, mucoadhesion, degradation, and pH/ROS dual-responsive drug release. Its colon-targeting capability and therapeutic efficacy were subsequently assessed in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. Results: In vitro, the composite hydrogel demonstrated nanoscale micellar size, enhanced drug release kinetics under simulated inflammatory colonic conditions, and prolonged colonic retention for up to 24 h following oral administration. In vivo, studies confirmed that ODEX-OA-Pred-CSSH significantly alleviated colitis, evidenced by a reduced disease activity index, diminished pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, restored colon length, decreased spleen index, and improved histological mucosal repair. Conclusions: These findings collectively suggest that this mucoadhesive micelle–hydrogel composite represents a promising and effective oral colon-targeted platform for the treatment of IBD. Full article

Lyophilized black goji berry powder (LBGBP) cultivated in Serbia was evaluated and optimized as a fortification agent in cookie formulation. Nutritional, chemical, technical and biological characteristics, in vitro release and storage stability were analyzed. LBGBP is characterized by a phenolic-rich profile dominated by acylated anthocyanins, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-O-CA), and spermidine-based phenylamides (S1, S2), which are partially retained in LBGBP-enriched cookies and enhance their functional properties. The substitution of different white flour shares with LBGBP in cookies statistically significantly improved their overall nutritional profile by increasing protein, dietary fiber, minerals and bioactive compounds, concurrently reducing fat, sugar and sodium levels. With the increase in the LBGBP in cookies, total phenolics and total anthocyanin content increased to the levels of 58.09 mg GAE/100 g and 10.12 mg CGE/100 g of cookies, respectively. The overall effect of LBGBP cookie fortification led to softer, more crumbly cookies with significant improvement in antioxidant and antidiabetic activity. The Z-score analysis was chosen to perform multi-criteria cookie formulation optimization with the goal of maximal functional enrichment, with minimal decrease in technological quality. The 10% LBGBP substitution was calculated to produce optimal overall quality, obtaining 65.96% of maximal score in comparison to the control sample of only 32.91%. Full article

Phosphate (Pi) and calcium (Ca²⁺) are essential mineral ions that play coordinated roles in maintaining normal cellular functions. While various steps of calcium signaling are well characterized, emerging evidence suggests the critical role of both intracellular and extra cellular phosphate in regulating intracellular Ca²⁺. In the cytoplasm, phosphate influences ATP production and organelle calcium buffering and influences the activity of calcium pumps, such as sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA) and the plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase (PMCA). Extracellular phosphate, taken up via sodium-dependent phosphate transporters, triggers signaling cascades that affect the processes of calcium influx, storage, and release. Additionally, high extracellular phosphate levels can disrupt calcium homeostasis through the systemic interactions of hormones such as fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH), especially under pathological conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). This article briefly summarizes the current understanding of the bidirectional influence of intra- and extracellular phosphate on calcium dynamics at the cellular level, with a focus on the underlying mechanisms. Full article

Environmental contamination with potentially toxic elements is a growing concern for ecosystem quality and food safety. This study evaluated the relationships between environmental conditions, anthropogenic activities, and the elemental composition of Prunus spinosa fruits collected from western and central Romania along a pollution gradient. Eighty samples from ten sites representing non-polluted, agricultural, traffic-exposed, and mining-affected areas were analyzed by ICP-MS after microwave digestion. Fruits from impacted areas showed compositional differences, including lower concentrations of some essential macroelements and higher levels of several trace elements potentially associated with anthropogenic pressure. Increased sodium, aluminum, and silicon contents were consistent with environmental stress and enhanced environmental exposure and possible soil-derived particulate influence, while boron and molybdenum declined with pollution intensity. Elemental patterns were mainly associated with local environmental conditions and appeared consistent with site-specific environmental influences. Food safety assessment indicated generally low to moderate risk depending on sampling origin. Overall, Prunus spinosa fruits showed potential as a bioindicator of environmental quality and a useful tool for monitoring anthropogenic contamination. Full article

The Fengcheng Formation in the Mahu Sag of the Junggar Basin represents one of the oldest and most significant alkaline lacustrine systems, hosting abundant dolomite that serves as a key unconventional reservoir. However, the formation mechanism of dolomite remains unclear. This study integrates detailed petrography, geochemistry and cyclostratigraphy to elucidate the origin and distribution of dolomite. Petrographic characteristics indicate a penecontemporaneous origin for the dolomite, with no apparent hydrothermal influence. Mineralogical features exhibit a multi-zonation structure of dolomite, aligning with in situ Fe content, jointly indicating that a multi-stage formation process of dolomite from core to rim. Microbial methanogenesis likely played an important role in the dolomite formation. Spatially, dolomite is enriched in the transition zone but scarce in the depocenter zone, where sodium carbonate prevails. This distribution is primarily controlled by pH differentiation between the transition zone and the depocenter zone of the Mahu Sag. In the transition zone, orbitally driven wet–dry cycles regulated the lake-level change, which, in turn, controlled pH fluctuation, as revealed by the silica precipitation during humid phases and dissolution during arid intervals. In the depocenter zone, lake water remained at a high-pH state, which was unfavorable for dolomite formation. These findings highlight that pH dynamics, linked to orbital climate cycles, played a critical role in governing dolomite formation and distribution in this ancient alkaline lake, providing new insights for the formation of dolomite in alkaline lacustrine environments. Full article

Milk adulteration is a common form of food fraud, particularly in high-value dairy products from small ruminants. A frequent practice involves dilution with water, often combined with the addition of sugars to mask physicochemical changes and avoid detection during routine quality control. This study aimed to develop an analytical approach for detecting combined adulteration in goat and sheep milk involving both water dilution and sucrose addition. Controlled experiments were conducted by diluting milk samples with water (1–15%) followed by the addition of sucrose solutions. Changes in physicochemical parameters, including fat, protein, total solids, lactose, density, freezing point depression, mineral content, and pH, were evaluated using an automated milk analyzer. In parallel, a suspected adulterant powder was characterized using conventional chemical analysis, ICP-AES, and HPLC-RI, revealing a composition predominantly of sucrose (91.4% w/w) with elevated sodium levels. Sucrose in milk samples was subsequently quantified using an enzymatic spectrophotometric method. Water dilution reduced protein, total solids, and density, while sucrose addition partially restored these parameters, masking adulteration effects. However, sucrose was reliably detected at concentrations above 0.1%. The proposed workflow may provide a practical and cost-effective complementary tool for routine dairy authenticity surveillance and fraud prevention. Full article

Objective: This study evaluated the in vitro physicochemical compatibility of meropenem and Tanreqing Injection under simulated parallel infusion conditions, providing experimental evidence to address existing gaps in compatibility data under clinically relevant co-infusion conditions. Methods: To simulate clinical dosages, meropenem and Tanreqing Injection were prepared individually and in combination in 100 mL and 250 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride injection (NS). Changes in appearance, pH, osmolality, insoluble particles, drug content, and related impurities were investigated over a 0–24 h period to assess the compatibility of each preparation by using a fully validated liquid chromatography method. Result: Meropenem alone exhibited a slow degradation trend over 24 h at room temperature. For Tanreqing Injection alone, the chlorogenic acid content decreased to 80.0% in 100 mL of NS and 85.2% in 250 mL of NS within 24 h, indicating improved stability at higher dilution volumes. When meropenem was combined with Tanreqing Injection, the chlorogenic acid content exhibited an immediate and significant decrease upon mixing. By 24 h, the reduction reached 71.9% in the 100 mL NS combination group and 44.0% in the 250 mL NS combination group. Concurrently, levels of meropenem Impurity A increased significantly in both combination groups, with more pronounced changes observed in the 100 mL NS group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The parallel co-infusion of meropenem and Tanreqing Injection results in immediate chemical incompatibility and significant active constituent degradation. To ensure therapeutic efficacy and patient safety, simultaneous admixture of these two agents is strictly contraindicated in clinical practice. When sequential administration is necessary, a larger diluent volume (e.g., 250 mL NS) is preferred for Tanreqing Injection, and infusion lines must be thoroughly flushed between administrations to prevent residual interactions. Full article

Host–microbiota interactions during the neonatal window of opportunity have gained significant interest as factors influencing long-term health. Factors such as nutrient availability may shape the microbial community, and iron is no exception to this rule. Although the use of iron supplementation is widespread during infancy, this micronutrient is known to have profound effects on gut microbiota. This study aimed to determine how early-life iron supplementation shapes gut microbiota composition and whether it influences recovery from gut dysbiosis later in life. Three-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were fed an iron-excess diet for five weeks during the critical period of microbiota establishment. After a two-week washout period to normalize luminal iron content, dysbiosis was induced using either dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis or antibiotic treatment. Mice were then allowed an 8-week recovery period. Gut microbiota composition was longitudinally analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing of fecal samples. Early-life iron supplementation induced durable alterations in gut microbiota composition, with differences persisting even after luminal iron normalization (β-diversity, PERMANOVA p < 0.01). At the endpoint, mice exposed to an iron-sufficient diet remained significantly more distant from their baseline compared to the excess iron group in both the dextran sulfate sodium (33% greater distance) and antibiotic (41% greater distance) models (both p < 0.05). Notably, this pattern was not observed when supplementation occurred in adulthood. In the dextran sulfate sodium model, mice that received an iron-sufficient diet during early life showed an expansion of the probiotic Ligilactobacillus murinus, which positively correlated with fecal succinate levels. Conversely, in the antibiotic-induced model, early-life exposure to an iron-sufficient diet was associated with a more pronounced dysbiosis characterized by a nearly two-fold-greater loss in α-diversity compared to 500 ppm mice (∆Shannon: 1.98 ± 0.22 vs. 1.02 ± 0.25, p < 0.01). These findings suggest that early-life iron supplementation influences long-term host–microbiota interactions and recovery from gut dysbiosis. Full article

Maintaining the concentration of magnesium in potable water above the minimum levels has been suggested to have public health benefits. A twelve-month trial was conducted, attempting this goal via the partial replacement of limestone with dolomite in eight out of twenty-six post-treatment contactors at the Ras al Khair seawater desalination plant, the largest such plant in Saudi Arabia, with a daily production of over 1,000,000 m³ of desalinated water. Over the course of the trial, increases in Mg concentration in the range of 1 to 2 mg/L were achieved without necessitating increases in carbon dioxide utilization or any reduction in production volume. Alkalinity, calcium, and total dissolved solids remained within acceptable parameters. Calculated supersaturation values strongly suggest that it will not be possible to significantly increase concentrations further under the pH and temperature conditions of the study. Thus, while the use of dolomite to this extent is a very low-cost strategy for magnesium supplementation, its scope of application without additional carbon dioxide consumption and capital investment is limited. The ratio of magnesium to chloride in SWRO product water was estimated in the course of the study and was found to be approximately half of the ratio in standard seawater, suggesting that under operational conditions, the rejection of magnesium was significantly greater than the rejection of sodium. Full article

Dry eye disease (DED) is a complex ocular surface disorder characterized by tear film instability, chronic inflammation, and epithelial damage, for which current treatments remain limited. Marine-derived bioactive oligosaccharides have attracted increasing interest due to their diverse pharmacological activities and favorable safety profiles. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of neoagarotetraose (NA4), a marine oligosaccharide derived from red algal agar, in a murine model of DED. DED was induced in eight-week-old female C57BL/6 mice by topical instillation of 0.2% benzalkonium chloride for seven consecutive days. NA4 was administered topically at concentrations of 125, 250, and 500 mg/L. Therapeutic outcomes were evaluated by tear secretion, corneal fluorescein staining, histopathological analysis, immunofluorescence staining for Ki67, F4/80, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, TUNEL assay for apoptosis, and ELISA for cytokine levels. NA4 treatment significantly improved tear secretion and reduced corneal fluorescein staining scores. Histological analysis revealed that NA4 preserved corneal epithelial thickness and restored conjunctival goblet cell density. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that NA4 reversed inflammation-associated epithelial hyperproliferation and attenuated macrophage infiltration. Moreover, NA4 markedly suppressed the expression and tissue levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and attenuated corneal epithelial apoptosis, with the 500 mg/L NA4 group showing no significant difference in efficacy compared to the positive control 0.1% sodium hyaluronate. These findings demonstrate that NA4, a marine-derived oligosaccharide, exerts multi-targeted protective effects against DED by improving tear film stability, preserving ocular surface integrity, suppressing inflammation, and reducing apoptosis. Our study highlights the potential of marine oligosaccharides such as NA4 as promising candidates for ocular surface disease management and supports the further exploration of marine resources for ophthalmic therapeutic applications. Full article

Background: Recreational exercise has become increasingly common among Chinese adults. However, population-specific data on sweat rate and electrolyte composition during typical daily physical activities remain limited. Therefore, this study aimed to comprehensively characterize the hydration status, sweat rate, and sweat electrolyte composition among Chinese adults engaging in common daily exercises under controlled environmental conditions, and to examine sex-related differences. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 285 healthy adults (143 men, 142 women) were assigned to one of three separate activity groups: brisk walking (n = 100), running (n = 90), or cycling (n = 95). Activity protocols were standardized using fixed activity-specific speeds corresponding to 5.2, 8.2, and 4.4 METs for brisk walking, running, and cycling, respectively, based on the Chinese Compilation of Physical Activities. Each participant completed one 60-min exercise session under controlled environmental conditions. Sweat samples were collected from the chest using sweat patches and analyzed for Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe, Zn²⁺, and Cu²⁺ using ICP-MS/OES. Whole-body sweat sodium and potassium concentrations were estimated using validated regression equations. Body mass loss (BML) and sweat rate were calculated from pre- and post-exercise nude body mass. Results: Across all participants and activity types, the overall mean sweat rate was 0.71 ± 0.28 L/h, and the mean percentage of body mass loss (BML%) was 0.78 ± 0.45%. Among the three physical activities, running elicited higher sweat rates (0.92 ± 0.29 L/h) and BML% (1.16 ± 0.36%) than brisk walking or cycling (p < 0.05). The estimated whole-body Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations across all participants were 34.10 ± 10.31 mmol/L and 3.35 (3.02–3.93) mmol/L, respectively, with 59.3% of participants classified as having moderate Na⁺ levels (30–60 mmol/L). Men exhibited higher sweat rates and Na⁺ concentrations, whereas women showed higher K⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cu²⁺ levels (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Chinese adults engaging in common daily physical activities under temperate environmental conditions demonstrated low-to-moderate sweat rates and sodium concentrations. These findings provide baseline reference data for population-specific hydration education and may inform future validation and application of wearable sweat-sensing technologies in public health monitoring. Full article

To promote the practical application of metakaolin-slag geopolymer materials in engineering repair, it is essential to clarify the influence of mix proportion parameters on macroscopic properties, given their inherent deficiencies of inferior toughness and volume stability. In this study, a five-factor and four-level orthogonal experimental design was adopted to systematically investigate the effects of slag content, water glass modulus, alkali equivalent, water–binder ratio, and sand–binder ratio on the fluidity, compressive strength, flexural strength, compressive-to-flexural strength ratio (toughness indicator), and drying shrinkage rate (volume stability indicator) of geopolymer mortar. Range analysis and variance analysis were conducted to clarify the primary and secondary order of influencing factors for each performance index, and the optimal mix proportion balancing multiple performance demands was determined. The results indicate that alkali equivalent is the core factor governing compressive and flexural strength, whereas slag content dominates the compressive-to-flexural ratio, fluidity and drying shrinkage. The geopolymer mortar achieves relatively optimal comprehensive performance when the slag content is 20%, the sodium silicate modulus is 1.6, the alkali equivalent is 12%, the water-to-binder ratio is 0.49, and the sand-to-binder ratio is 2:1, and all indicators meet the specification requirements for rigid repair mortar. Combined with SEM-EDS and XRD microstructural analysis, the main products of the metakaolin-slag system are amorphous N-A-S-H gel and C-(A)-S-H gel. Appropriate alkali equivalent and slag content can promote the dissolution of aluminosilicate raw materials and facilitate the formation of both gel products, providing microstructural support for the improvement of macroscopic performance. Full article

Due to the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance and the emergence of new pathogenic strains, the development of effective combined therapeutic agents represents a crucial direction in the fight against infections. Within this study, several compounds were synthesized in which iodine is present in a coordination complex with antibiotics—sodium sulfadimidine and gentamicin sulfate. The physicochemical parameters of these compounds were investigated using capillary electrophoresis and UV spectroscopy, along with their cytotoxicity, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities. As a result of this work, two stable compounds, KC-246 and KC-248, were synthesized, demonstrating virus-inhibitory activity against herpes simplex virus and influenza A under extremely low cytotoxicity levels of 0.018–0.106 mg/mL. Additionally, they exhibited antimicrobial activity against representatives of the families Staphylococcaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcaceae, and yeast-like fungi. The minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) ranged from 0.794 µg/mL to 0.198 µg/mL (KC-246) and from 2.093 µg/mL to 0.523 µg/mL (KC-248). Full article

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic intestinal disorder with recurrent inflammation for which effective therapeutic options remain limited. Probiotics from the Bifidobacterium genus have potential beneficial effects on the prevention of IBD by improving intestinal barrier integrity and modulating immune responses. However, whether these effects are mediated by the regulation of gut metabolism remains largely unclear. This study was designed to explore the protective effect of an infant-derived Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis 832 (B. lactis 832) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and its underlying mechanism. B. lactis 832 treatment significantly alleviated colitis severity (p < 0.05), as evidenced by reduced weight loss, disease activity index (DAI), and colonic injury, accompanied by significantly decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and increased Il10 expression (p < 0.05). It also improved intestinal barrier integrity and modulated gut microbiota composition by reducing potentially pathogenic bacteria while enriching beneficial taxa. Surprisingly, metabolomic analysis revealed that B. lactis 832 intervention enhanced intestinal phospholipid metabolism, particularly increasing phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) levels. Notably, PE or PC supplementation recapitulated the protective effects against DSS-induced colitis (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that B. lactis 832 alleviates colitis through microbiota-associated metabolic regulation, highlighting a key role for phospholipid metabolism in mediating probiotic effects. Full article