Search Results (1,850)

Radiation-induced salivary gland injury (RISGI) is an inevitable and serious complication for patients with head and neck cancer. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during radiotherapy are the primary cause. Hyposalivation is the most obvious symptom of RISGI. Currently, clinical interventions have not achieved the desired efficacy. Inspired by the radioprotective properties of Mn₃O₄ and PDA nanozymes and the robust bioadhesive properties of PDA hydrogels, we designed a Mn₃O₄–polydopamine hybrid hydrogel (termed MP hydrogel) capable of alleviating radiation-induced hyposalivation. MP hydrogel effectively scavenges ROS and increases the viability of salivary gland cells under ionizing radiation (IR). As a proof of concept, we applied MP hydrogel to the submandibular glands (SMGs) of male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats, one of the three major salivary glands of rats. We demonstrated that MP hydrogel effectively mitigated radiation-triggered hyposalivation after in situ gelation in rats. Full article

Simulation of a human neurological disease on an animal model has the advantage of allowing control and manipulation of most of the regulating factors and producing real biological replicas while, beyond several common traits, every human is dynamic and unique. Moreover, one can explore novel therapeutic strategies on animals before asking permission to apply them to humans. Nevertheless, experimental outcomes depend on species, strain, sex, age, hormonal status, diet, exposure to hypoxia, toxins, radiation, external stimuli, stress, and housing conditions. Further complications stem from tissue hetero-cellularity, technological constraints, computational complexity and difficulties integrating the experimental results into a coherent biological picture. Moreover, most diseases are multi-factorial and associated with altered structure and/or expression of several genes. A major problem with genetically engineered animals is that together with the targeted gene(s), numerous other genes are mutated and/or regulated, owing to their interlinkage in functional pathways. This experience-based methodological commentary presents the challenges, relevance and limitations of the mouse, rat and rabbit models we used to decipher the transcriptomic alterations associated with several neurological disorders. Links to publicly accessible databases presenting experimental protocols and expression profiles are provided for readers interested in reanalyzing our data and comparing them with others’ results. Full article

Over the past decades, green alder (Alnus alnobetula) has spread rapidly across the Alps, expanding from moist, north-facing slopes into areas with limited water availability. Despite its growing ecological relevance in alpine environments, the species’ physiological limits under drought are largely unknown. To evaluate the species’ drought tolerance, we conducted a greenhouse experiment in which juvenile plants were subjected to drought periods of different durations, while monitoring stomatal conductance (gs) and quantum yields of photosystem II. Once the soil water potential fell below the wilting point (Θ_WP), gs declined to less than 25% of the control level. After re-irrigation, gs remained reduced for several weeks, indicating a post-drought legacy effect. Under prolonged drought, the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) declined to 20% of control values. The correlation between effective quantum yield and radiation proved a useful indicator for moderate drought stress. During recurrent drought, plants showed an acclimation to dry conditions, and both gs and Fv/Fm declined significantly (p < 0.01) at moderate drought, indicating a short-term, drought-induced adjustment in stomatal regulation. Although green alder showed signs of acclimation under repeated drought, recurrent severe drought led to high mortality in juvenile plants, indicating vulnerability at drought-prone sites. Full article

Photorespiration and drought-induced stomatal closure are two important physiological constraints that reduce carbon assimilation and productivity in C₃ forest trees under Mediterranean climatic conditions. Türkiye’s two dominant commercial pine species, Pinus brutia Ten. (Calabrian pine) and Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold subsp. pallasiana (Anatolian black pine), together cover approximately 8.15 million hectares. This study integrated published gas-exchange measurements, radiation-use efficiency estimates from MODIS, official forest inventory data, and dendrochronological growth records into a counterfactual accounting framework and propagated parameter uncertainty by Monte Carlo simulation (N = 40,000 draws). The two constraints jointly reduced weighted-mean net primary productivity (NPP) from a radiation-limited potential of 5.61 to an actual 3.46 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, a reduction of 37.9% (95% CI 32.2–43.4%). Decomposition shows that 47.7% of this loss is the obligate metabolic cost of C₃ carboxylation, which no silvicultural intervention can address, while 52.3%—20.1 of the 37.9 percentage points—is drought-attributable. Nationally, the deficit corresponds to 64.3 Mt CO₂ yr⁻¹ of forgone sequestration (47.8–81.2) and 34.4 Mm³ yr⁻¹ of forgone stemwood-volume equivalent (24.9–44.5), of which approximately 20.6 Mm³ would be merchantable, giving an annual economic deficit of USD 3.37 billion (2.40–6.48). Filtering the drought-attributable component for eligible area, recovery efficiency, additionality, leakage, and permanence yields approximately 1.0 Mt CO₂ yr⁻¹ of potentially issuable credits, fewer than two per cent of the headline figure. Eco-physiological suppression of this magnitude is currently invisible in national forest carbon accounting, and its recognition bears directly on dynamic baseline design and on the credibility of offsets generated from Mediterranean conifer forests. Full article

Skin photoaging, primarily driven by UVA radiation, is characterized by the accumulation of senescent fibroblasts and the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). While the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are well-documented, the regulatory impact of post-translational glycosylation in this process remains poorly understood. We established a UVA-induced photoaging model in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and employed bulk mRNA-seq and high-throughput lectin microarrays to profile glycomic alterations. The functional role of the sialyltransferase ST6GAL1 was investigated through pharmacological inhibition of cellular sialylation (3Fax-Neu5Ac), siRNA-mediated knockdown, and gain-of-function overexpression. Mechanistic insights were gained via RAS-ERK pathway analysis and validated in a 3D reconstructed human full-thickness skin model (T-Skin™). Glycomic profiling revealed that UVA irradiation triggers a broad increase in α2,6-sialylation in HDFs. We identified ST6GAL1 as the primary enzymatic driver of this remodeling, with its expression upregulated in both photoaged HDFs and 3D skin models. Functional assays demonstrated that ST6GAL1 overexpression induces hallmark features of photoaging, including p16, MMP and γ-H2AX upregulation, G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and increased SA-β-gal activity. Conversely, pharmacological or genetic inhibition of ST6GAL1 effectively mitigated the photoaged phenotype. Mechanistically, ST6GAL1 regulates the expression of p16 via the activation of the RAS-ERK signaling cascade. Our study identifies ST6GAL1-mediated α2,6-sialylation as a novel functional hallmark of skin photoaging, highlighting the association of ST6GAL1 with the RAS-ERK-p16 axis as a potential regulator for targeting UVA-induced skin photoaging and dermal senescence. Full article

Esophageal cancer is a common malignancy of the upper gastrointestinal tract that is associated with high incidence and mortality rates. Radiotherapy constitutes a cornerstone therapeutic modality for esophageal cancer. In radiotherapy, ionizing radiation is used to eliminate tumor cells through direct DNA damage and indirect reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated effects. However, clinical outcomes are frequently limited by interpatient heterogeneity and intrinsic tumor radioresistance. This review systematically describes the determinants of radiosensitivity in esophageal cancer within the established radiobiological framework of the “6Rs”: DNA damage repair (Repair), which is mediated by γ-H2AX phosphorylation, PARP family enzymes, and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR) pathways; cell cycle redistribution (Redistribution), which is regulated by G1/S and G2/M checkpoint dynamics; tumor repopulation (Repopulation), which is driven by cancer stem cell activity during fractionated treatment; reoxygenation (Reoxygenation), which is modulated through HIF-1α signaling and ROS homeostasis; intrinsic radiosensitivity (Radiosensitivity), which reflects interindividual and histopathological variability; and reactivation of antitumor immune responses (Reactivation), which enhances efficacy by remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment. Furthermore, regulated cell death mechanisms, including ferroptosis, autophagy, and apoptosis, significantly modulate radiotherapeutic responses. Elucidating these interconnected mechanisms provides a robust theoretical foundation for developing targeted interventions, identifying predictive biomarkers, and advancing precision radiotherapy strategies to optimize clinical outcomes for patients with esophageal cancer. Full article

Thermal forcing is one of the most important drivers of leaf phenology and can be used to determine species’ phenological requirements. Counting on this, the aim of the study was to quantify the thermal regime and determine how it explains variation in spring phenology and senescence in European beech. To achieve this goal, we analyzed the 44 provenances tested in a common garden experiment established in the Carpathian region of Romania during the 4th series of international beech provenance trials. Using growing degree days and senescence degree days, cumulative precipitation over the previous 14 days, and photosynthetically active radiation as climatic factors, we modeled the spring leaf phenology and senescence, the thermal thresholds of provenances, and the length of the growing season. We found that thermal forcing is the primary driver of provenance phenology, but the other climatic parameters also significantly influence these processes. Significant variation among provenances was observed, but the effect of provenance was weaker than that of year or replication, suggesting that environmental conditions exert a stronger influence on leaf phenology dynamics. The identification of contrasting warming and cooling requirements suggests that, in provenance selection or assisted migration practices, thermal requirements are particularly important alongside growth performance. Full article

Relativistic interaction of ultra-intense laser pulses with cluster targets is of particular interest for high-energy-density physics, compact X-ray source development, and laboratory astrophysics. Understanding the dynamics of such plasmas requires precise control of their parameters, in particular temperature, on subpicosecond timescales. In this study, X-ray spectral methods were used to diagnose the laser plasma of krypton cluster targets, created at laser pulse intensities of the order of 10²⁰–10²¹ W/cm². The use of a time-dependent detailed radiation-collisional kinetic model made it possible to describe the results of the observed X-ray spectra in the femtosecond laser plasma of a cluster target. We present a method for diagnosing the non-stationary plasma of high-atomic-number (krypton) clusters using resonance spectral lines 1s²2s²2p⁵3s ¹P₁–1s²2s²2p^{6 1}S₀ and 1s²2s²2p⁵3s ³P₁–1s²2s²2p^{6 1}S₀ of the Ne-like Kr XXVII ion, allowing one to determine the plasma temperature at the moment of “plasma channel” formation. In the experiment, this temperature was shown to be 55 ± 5 eV. The same spectroscopic approach can be extended to other cluster species (for example, Ar, Xe) for non-stationary plasma diagnostics in the relativistic regime. Full article

Bryophytes possess a gene family repertoire substantially larger than vascular plants, yet the functional evolution of their transcription factors remains poorly understood. We conducted a nested analysis across 144 bryophyte genomes, cataloging 58 transcription factor families and deeply characterizing the C2H2 zinc-finger protein family. We identified 8246 C2H2 zinc-finger genes classified into four structural types based on zinc-finger architecture. Domain-level scanning of 11,565 zinc fingers revised Z-type frequency from ~20% to 4.2%. The plant-specific Q-type was most prevalent in mosses and least prevalent in liverworts, with the major Q-type radiation occurring in seed plants. C2H2 zinc-finger gene expansion in mosses was driven by whole-genome duplication, and gene count correlated with genome size. Through re-analysis of publicly available RNA-seq datasets, cross-species expression profiling showed that mosses mobilized 23–28% of their C2H2 zinc-finger repertoires under dehydration, whereas the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha showed no significant response to osmotic stress and only a weak, transient response to salt. Notably, the aluminum-tolerance regulator STOP1 was downregulated under dehydration. Together, these results suggest a marked divergence in stress-responsive C2H2-ZFP deployment between mosses and liverworts, although the underlying mechanisms remain to be validated functionally. Full article

To clarify the effects of biomass char injection position on combustion characteristics and NO formation, a three-dimensional CFD model of a 300 MW tangentially fired pulverized coal boiler was developed using ANSYS Fluent. The Realizable k-ε model, discrete phase model, species transport model, and P-1 radiation model were employed to describe the flow, combustion, heat transfer, and NO formation processes. The model was validated against field measurements under pure pulverized coal combustion conditions. Based on the validated model, five co-firing cases were designed by injecting biomass char through primary air nozzles located at five different elevations in the burner zone. The results show that biomass char injection position significantly affects furnace flow organization, heat release distribution, carbon conversion, and NO formation, while maintaining the overall tangential swirling structure. Case C achieved the highest outlet velocity of 10.42 m/s, which was 9.1% higher than that of Case E, and exhibited the lowest CO concentration, indicating improved carbon conversion performance. However, the intensified oxidation environment in Case C promoted fuel-N conversion and resulted in the highest NO concentration of 313 ppm. Case B achieved the highest outlet temperature of 1429 K, which was 6.8% higher than that of Case E. In comparison, Case D maintained a similar CO₂ mole fraction of 0.1546 to Case C, which was 0.1545, while reducing the NO concentration from 313 ppm in Case C to 145 ppm, corresponding to a reduction of 53.7%. Therefore, Case D achieved the most favorable balance between carbon conversion and NO emission control under the investigated conditions. This study demonstrates that biomass char injection position is an important operational parameter for optimizing biomass utilization and reducing NO emissions in tangentially fired pulverized coal boilers. Full article

Mantidae exhibits the most extensive adaptive radiation within the order Mantodea; however, studies elucidating their internal phylogenetic relationships and spatio-temporal diversification patterns remain scarce. This study aims to resolve the long-standing taxonomic uncertainties within Mantidae by testing the hypothesis that the polyphyletic nature of several subfamilies—specifically Tenoderinae and Hierodulinae—is linked to an incomplete understanding of their mitochondrial genomic evolution. To address this, we assembled 16 complete Mantodea mitochondrial genomes, including seven representatives of the tribe Archimantini (Mantidae: Hierodulinae). Of these, 10 mitogenomes conform to the ancestral insect mitochondrial gene order proposed by Cameron and colleagues, but six mitochondrial gene orders do not conform to the ancestral insect mitochondrial gene order. We identified typical mantodean mitochondrial rearrangement patterns in three species, characterized by gene duplications within the trnA-trnR-trnN-trnS-trnE-trnF and CR-trnI-trnQ-trnM-trnM-ND2 gene cluster. Phylogenetic analyses corroborate the monophyly of Orthoderinae, Mantinae, Choeradodinae, Vatinae, and Archimantini within Mantidae; conversely, Tenoderinae and Hierodulinae are resolved as polyphyletic assemblages. Divergence time estimation indicates that the split between extant Mantodea and Blattodea occurred during the Middle Permian (275.4 Ma, 95% HPD: 207.07–329.09 Ma). Mantidae originated during the Late Cretaceous (87.83 Ma, 95% HPD: 58.89–118.23 Ma), with the diversification of most subfamilies of Mantidae occurring during the Late Cretaceous (80.48 Ma; 95% HPD: 54.86–106.41 Ma). Historical biogeographic analysis and the estimated divergence times suggests that the common ancestor of Mantidae originated within Gondwana during the Late Cretaceous. Ancestral range reconstructions identify Australasia realms and Neotropical realms as the most probable center of origination for Mantidae and achieved a global distribution by expanding along the trans-Antarctic route and leveraging the ‘Indian Ark’ effect. Full article

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major environmental factor contributing to photoaging, oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and photocarcinogenesis. Conventional UV filters, although widely used in sunscreen formulations, are associated with limitations including photoinstability, photocatalytic ROS generation, potential toxicity, and environmental concerns. In recent years, plant-mediated nanomaterials have emerged as promising multifunctional photoprotective systems, combining UV attenuation with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and biologically adaptive properties. Plant extracts are increasingly used as reducing and stabilising agents in the green synthesis of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. Among these, ZnO and TiO₂ serve as established inorganic UV filters, whereas Ag and Au nanoparticles have primarily been investigated for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and ROS-modulating properties, which may indirectly enhance photoprotection. In parallel, plant-derived organic nanoparticles and herbal nanocomposites have demonstrated enhanced biocompatibility and multifunctional performance. This review critically examines the current landscape of plant-mediated photoprotective nanomaterials, focusing on the mechanistic interplay among optical UV attenuation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulation, and cellular signalling regulation. Particular emphasis is placed on structure–function relationships governing nanoparticle size, surface chemistry, bandgap properties, antioxidant behaviour, and biological interactions. The review further discusses translational challenges, including reproducibility, standardisation, scalability, long-term safety, regulatory classification, and limitations in benchmarking. Importantly, current evidence suggests that no single material system simultaneously optimises UV-blocking efficiency, ROS control, biocompatibility, and industrial scalability, highlighting the need for multifunctional hybrid design strategies. Finally, future perspectives involving predictive nanoengineering, computational modelling, machine learning-guided optimisation, and adaptive photoprotective systems are discussed as emerging directions for next-generation sustainable photoprotective technologies. Full article

The β-casein gene (CSN2) encodes one of the major milk proteins involved in calcium and phosphorus transport and combines a highly conserved genomic organization with extensive genetic diversity, making it an informative model for investigating mammalian genome evolution. Although numerous studies have described CSN2 polymorphisms, particularly in domestic species, the broader evolutionary history of the locus remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the evolutionary architecture of CSN2 across Bovidae and related Cetartiodactyla by integrating coding variation, non-coding polymorphisms, retroposon insertions and recombination analyses. Comparative genomic analyses identified previously undescribed caprine haplotypes, expanded the known spectrum of β-casein variation in domestic and wild Caprinae, and revealed multiple structural configurations of the locus, including distinct retroposon architectures and intronic insertion/deletion polymorphisms. Retroposon mapping and comparative analyses supported a hierarchical accumulation of structural variants, while also indicating ancestral polymorphism and lineage-specific retention in rapidly radiating caprine lineages. A locus-level phylogenetic analysis revealed two deeply divergent allelic lineages and provided evidence of ancient interallelic recombination predating the divergence of Capra and Ovis. Comparative analyses further showed that a two-amino-acid deletion previously associated mainly with Caprinae is more widely distributed across Bovidae than previously recognized. Overall, the CSN2 locus emerges as a multilayered evolutionary system shaped by structural variation, ancestral polymorphism, incomplete lineage sorting and ancient recombination, illustrating how the integration of coding, structural and retroposon variation can improve locus-level evolutionary reconstruction in Bovidae. Full article

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a promising tool used in medicine due to its broad spectrum of biological activity and the possibility of safe application on living tissues without the risk of thermal damage. CAP is a partially ionised gas containing electrons, ions and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS); it also emits ultraviolet radiation and an electromagnetic field. The aim of this study is to discuss the mechanisms of action of cold atmospheric plasma and to assess its significance in supporting the skin healing process. Analysis of the available data indicates that CAP acts in multiple ways: it stimulates the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, modulates the inflammatory response, exhibits antimicrobial properties, and improves microcirculation and enhances angiogenesis. The results of studies to date suggest that cold atmospheric plasma may provide valuable support for therapies, particularly in the context of skin regeneration, wound healing and the treatment of inflammatory lesions. However, further research is needed on the standardisation of treatment parameters, long-term safety, and the precise definition of indications and contraindications depending on the type of device used. Full article

Phengaris alcon is one of Europe’s emblematic invertebrate species and is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. In Portugal, this endangered species occurs mainly in Alvão Natural Park (ANP). This study investigated the effects of microclimatic conditions on the adult P. alcon capture records in the Libânia meadow of the ANP. Adult butterflies were monitored (Mark–release–recapture method) from 2006 to 2014 (except 2012). Microclimatic conditions were modelled (NicheMapR), generating values of precipitation (Prec), maximum (Tmax), minimum (Tmin) and mean temperature (Tmean), solar radiation (SR), relative humidity (RH), soil surface wetness (PCTWET), and wind speed (WS). Growing degree days (GDD), cumulative precipitation (Prec-cum), and seven-day means (d7) for all variables were calculated. Seven microclimatic variables showed strong associations with adult abundance. Higher values of Prec-cum, Tmin-d7 and Prec-d7 were negatively associated with abundance, whereas higher values of SR, RH-d7, Tmean-d7 and PCTWET-d7 were significantly associated with butterfly abundance. More than 50% of individuals were recorded within the following favourable climatic ranges: Prec-cum = 157.9–251.4 mm; SR = 6730.1–8220.4 W/m²; Tmin-d7 = 8.0–12.2 °C; RH-d7 = 71.2–86.7%; Prec-d7 = 0.0–0.8 mm; Tmean-d7 = 13.2–18.0 °C; and PCTWET-d7 = 60.8–92.0%. These findings provide quantitative microclimatic ranges that could guide habitat management and support the long-term persistence of P. alcon under future climate change. Full article