Search Results (131,679)

Maternal nutrition during late gestation is critical for fetal development, neonatal resilience, and postnatal adaptation in beef cattle. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of nutritional restriction and supplementation of hydroxytyrosol (HT) in late pregnancy on behavioural, circadian, stress-related, and inflammatory responses in cows and their restricted nursed offspring. Pregnant cows were allocated to a 2 × 2 factorial experimental design (feeding level: T100% vs. T60% of nutrient requirements; HT: 0 vs. 180 mg/kg of diet). Cow behaviours were recorded during meals (from week −12 prepartum to term), and calf activities, body temperature, and mother–offspring interactions were assessed at 5 weeks postpartum. Nutritional restriction accelerated feed intake in cows and increased stress-related behaviours, while HT partially mitigated these effects. Molecular analyses in blood samples revealed dynamic prepartum upregulation of glucocorticoid-receptor NR3C1 in week −6, and downregulation of circadian (BMAL1, PER1, CRY1) gene expression in week 5 after parturition, both in T60%-HT cows. In calves, maternal HT supplementation promoted active exploratory behaviour, and counteracted behavioural and circadian (CRY1 and PER1) and inflammatory markers (IL8) gene expression resulting from prenatal nutrient restriction, leading to behavioural profiles and blood gene expression comparable to those observed in calves born to adequately fed dams. Full article

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although women generally exhibit a more favorable cardiovascular risk profile than men in the general population, this protection is substantially reduced in the presence of diabetes, resulting in a disproportionately greater relative increase in CVD risk among women. Objective: This review aims to integrate the roles of metabolic phenotypes, dietary exposures, and genetic susceptibility in shaping cardiovascular risk in women with T2DM, with a focus on diet–gene and diet–epigenetic interactions across critical stages of the female life course. Methods: A narrative review of epidemiological, clinical, and mechanistic evidence from recent literature was conducted to synthesize current knowledge on sex-specific cardiometabolic pathways and nutritional determinants of vascular risk in T2DM. Results: Current evidence indicates that several interconnected mechanisms contribute to enhanced cardiovascular vulnerability in diabetic women, including (i) adipose tissue dysfunction and ectopic fat accumulation; (ii) insulin resistance with metabolic inflexibility and lipotoxicity; and (iii) endothelial and microvascular dysfunction driven by impaired nitric oxide signaling. Dietary patterns modulate these pathways through effects on inflammation, oxidative stress, postprandial lipid metabolism, and vascular function. Emerging evidence highlights that genetic variants (e.g., APOE; CETP; TCF7L2) significantly modify metabolic responses to dietary exposures in patients with T2DM; supporting a role for nutrigenetic interactions in shaping cardiovascular risk. In parallel, diet-related epigenetic mechanisms—including metabolic memory and early-life programming—may contribute to long-term and potentially intergenerational cardiometabolic risk. Conclusions: Integrating dietary patterns with genetic susceptibility and epigenetic regulation provides a mechanistic framework for understanding the disproportionate cardiovascular risk in diabetic women and supports the development of sex-specific, life-course-oriented precision nutrition strategies for cardiovascular risk reduction Full article

Understanding the mechanism of fracture evolution in underground stacked coal–rock composite structures is crucial for the accurate prediction and prevention of mine disasters. In this study, the fracture evolution characteristics of a coal–rock–coal (CRC) composite structure under uniaxial compression were monitored and studied using three-dimensional digital image correlation and an RA-AF method based on acoustic emission (AE) parameters. The fracture mechanisms of the CRC composites were revealed based on experimental results and theoretical analyses. The results indicate that the compressive strength and elastic modulus of CRC composites increase with the thickness of the rock layer and the strength of the coal and rock. Owing to the differences in the thickness and strength characteristics of coal and rock in CRC composites, three fracture modes were identified. The fracture of the CRC composite structure is determined by the stress redistribution and energy release, which are dominated by the mechanical and size effects of coal and rock. Full article

Muskmelon (Cucumis melo) is a widely cultivated and economically important fruit crop that is severely affected by Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (race 1.2) (Fom). Conventional management practices have shown limited effectiveness and pose environmental and health risks; therefore, sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives are required to manage this disease. In the present study, 23 endophytic fungal isolates belonging to eight genera were isolated from Ecballium elaterium and screened to determine antifungal potential against Fom using an in vitro antagonistic assay. Two endophytic isolates (Fusarium sp. EeR4 and Fusarium clavum EeR24) exhibited an inhibitory effect against Fom on quarter-strength PDA plates. In growth chamber experiments, F. clavum EeR24-colonized melon seedlings and significantly protected plants from wilting compared to non-colonized pathogen-challenged seedlings. Under greenhouse conditions, F. clavum EeR24 significantly improved morphological and physiological traits, including plant height, weight, number of leaves, membrane stability, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and transpiration, in Cucumis melo. Endophytic colonization improved catalase (56%), guaiacol peroxide (47%), and superoxide dismutase activity (25%), and increased flavonoid and phenolic content by 11–59% compared to non-colonized Fom-challenged plants. Lipid peroxidation significantly decreased by 37% and proline accumulation increased by 70% in colonized plants compared to non-colonized plants. Histochemical analysis also indicated that endophytic colonization considerably reduced the levels of H₂O₂, O₂⁻, malondialdehyde, and cell mortality in Fom-challenged plants. In addition, the culture filtrate and organic residues of F. clavum EeR24 inhibited the mycelial growth of Fom by 52–58%, respectively. Furthermore, a study on spatial colonization of the endophyte and the pathogen using GFP and RFP tagging indicated that both the endophyte and the pathogen simultaneously colonized the root tissues of C. melo; however, the endophyte significantly reduced the pathogenicity of Fom. These results suggest that endophytic F. clavum EeR24 may be developed as an effective biocontrol agent for the management of Fusarium wilt in melon plants under field conditions. Full article

Five groups of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) mixtures with mass replacement ratios of emery (0, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%) were prepared. The cubic compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and flexural fatigue properties under stress levels of 0.6, 0.7, and 0.9 were tested. The fatigue reliability of RAC was analyzed based on the Miner model. Test results indicate that emery incorporation significantly improves the mechanical properties, flexural fatigue properties, and fatigue reliability of RAC. Compared with the reference group (0% emery), the 28-day cubic compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength of RAC with 20% emery increase by 18.62%, 27.35%, and 20.28%, respectively. The flexural fatigue life increases by up to 135.8% under high stress level (0.9). Flexural fatigue performance and fatigue reliability decrease with increasing stress level. The S-N curve was obtained based on the Wöhler mathematical model with high fitting reliability (R² > 0.95). Full article

Background: Tibial pilon fractures are complex injuries frequently associated with persistent functional impairment, even after successful surgical fixation. While previous studies have reported deficits in muscle strength and balance, little is known about the side-to-side variations in intrinsic biomechanical and viscoelastic muscle properties following surgery. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of ankle periarticular muscles between the affected and non-affected limbs in patients with surgically treated unilateral tibial pilon fractures. A secondary objective was to evaluate the relationship between intrinsic muscle properties and isometric muscle force. Methods: A total of 39 subjects with unilateral surgically treated tibial pilon fractures were evaluated after fracture healing. Myotonometric assessment was performed to evaluate muscle mechanical parameters, including tone (frequency), stiffness, and elasticity (decrement), as well as viscoelastic properties, including relaxation time and creep, in the tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles. Isometric muscle force of ankle dorsiflexors and plantar flexors was measured using a handheld dynamometer. Side-to-side comparisons and Pearson correlation analyses were performed. Results: The affected limb showed significantly reduced ankle range of motion in all planes and significantly lower isometric muscle force in both the dorsiflexors (p = 0.0002) and the plantar flexors (p = 0.0066). Stiffness was significantly higher in the medial (p = 0.038) and lateral gastrocnemius (p = 0.045) muscles on the affected side. Decrement was significantly increased (indicating reduced elasticity) in the peroneus longus (p = 0.021). No significant differences were observed for tone, relaxation time, or creep. Conclusions: Myotonometry revealed increased stiffness in the gastrocnemius muscles and reduced elasticity in the peroneus longus on the operated side compared with the non-affected limb. Tone and viscoelastic properties did not differ significantly between sides. However, tone, stiffness, and elasticity were significantly correlated with muscle force, indicating a relationship between intrinsic muscle mechanical properties and force production after tibial pilon fracture surgery. Full article

Neuroinflammation is determinant in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. One of the main mechanisms underlying this process involves the persistent activation of glial cells. Persistent activation of glial cells induces proinflammatory transcription factors and the release of cytokines, chemokines, and reactive oxygen species that exacerbate cellular dysfunction. This neurotoxic environment promotes neuronal death, while the products of cellular damage feed back into glial activation, establishing a self-sustaining pathogenic cycle that drives neurodegeneration. Alkaloids present in Amaryllidaceae plants support the use of this resource in folk medicine, displaying potent effects as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and allosteric modulators of nicotinic receptors (nAChR). In this study, a murine microglial cell (IMG) model of LPS-induced inflammation was used to evaluate the involvement of α7 and α4β2 nAChRs in glioprotection and neuroprotection of SH-SY5Y cells against 6-hydroxydopamine (OHDA). GC-MS analysis revealed differences in the alkaloid profile between in vitro cultures with fructose and wild-type Rhodophiala pratensis. Homolycorine-type, norbelladine-type and crinine-type alkaloids produced in vitro reduced LPS-induced inflammation (5 µg/mL), possibly via α7 and α4β2 nAChRs, and showed a protective effect against OHDA-induced oxidative stress (1–3 µg/mL) and inhibited AChE and BuChE (24–78 µg/mL). Full article

Although LRRK2 mutations modulate systemic glucose homeostasis and metabolic dysfunction precedes Parkinson’s disease (PD) motor symptoms; the way in which pathogenic variants of LRRK2 disrupt astrocytic glucose metabolism and organellar homeostasis remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that LRRK2-I1371V mutation causes profound metabolic and organellar dysfunction in LRRK2-I1371V PD-iPSC-derived astrocytes and U87 cells overexpressing I1371V variant. LRRK2-I1371V astrocytes exhibit significantly reduced GLUT1 expression and cell surface localization, resulting in impaired glucose uptake and decreased lactate production. This metabolic insufficiency correlates with cascading mitochondrial dysfunction, characterized by membrane depolarization, elevated reactive oxygen species, enhanced ubiquitination and reduced proteasomal activity. Reduced LAMP1/LAMP2 expression, impaired lysosomal acidification, and selective cathepsin D deficiency were observed. Accumulation of undegraded cargo was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy upon α-synuclein exposure. ER stress was evident by upregulation of GADD34/CHOP, increased phospho-PERK, and reduced nascent protein synthesis. Increased ER–mitochondrial contact via MAMs and enhanced STIM1-ORAI3 clustering reflect compensatory but ultimately insufficient responses to energy stress. Our results reveal that LRRK2-I1371V induces glucose uptake deficits, leading to energy depletion and integrated ER–mitochondria–lysosome dysfunction, thus indicating restoration of astrocytic metabolic capacity as a potential therapeutic strategy for LRRK2-associated PD. Full article

To investigate the fatigue performance of a novel green low-carbon steel–AAUHPC (Alkali Activated Ultra-high Performance Concrete, AAUHPC) composite bridge deck and achieve its structural optimization, this paper proposes a steel–AAUHPC composite bridge deck structure featuring double-sided welding of U-shaped ribs. Firstly, the numerical model of a symmetrical composite bridge deck is established by ABAQUS finite element software. The stress response of key fatigue structural details is analyzed, and the fatigue life is evaluated based on the S-N curve method. At the same time, the calculation results are compared with the orthotropic steel bridge deck and the steel–UHPC composite bridge deck. Secondly, the CCD method and RSM method are used to construct a mathematical regression model with the structural weight W per unit area and the fatigue stress amplitude of key details as the target. Finally, NSGA-III is used to optimize structural parameters such as AAUHPC thickness, top plate thickness, diaphragm thickness and spacing to obtain the Pareto-optimal solution set. The results show that the AAUHPC material has both environmental protection and excellent mechanical properties, and its compressive and splitting tensile strength is significantly higher than that of ordinary concrete, which is close to the UHPC level. The steel–AAUHPC composite bridge deck can significantly improve the fatigue performance of the orthotropic steel bridge deck. After laying the AAUHPC layer, the stress amplitude of each fatigue detail decreases, and the C1 detail decreases by up to 69.4%. Except for the C6 detail, the rest of the structural details meet the infinite-life design criteria, and the overall improvement effect is comparable to that of the steel–UHPC composite bridge deck. The constructed response surface model has good prediction accuracy. The optimization results show that the fatigue stress amplitude and the structural weight W are mutually restricted. Among the 15 sets of Pareto-optimal solutions obtained, solution U8 achieves weight minimization under the premise of satisfying the infinite-fatigue-life criterion. The optimal parameter combination is: AAUHPC thickness of 40 mm, top plate thickness of 10 mm, diaphragm thickness of 16 mm, and diaphragm spacing of 2400 mm. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for the fatigue design and engineering application of a new green steel–AAUHPC composite bridge deck. Full article

In the continuous development of additive technologies and light-sensitive resins, the biological performance of 3D-printed resins is strongly dependent on photopolymerization efficiency and post-processing conditions. This study evaluated the effect of post-curing duration on the cellular response to two denture base resins using direct contact and indirect eluate-based pathways. Human gingival fibroblasts were assessed through viability, membrane integrity, nitric oxide production, fluorescence live/dead staining, and caspase-3/7 activity. As a result of contact between the cells and the surface interface of the specimen disks, reduced metabolic activity was noticed compared with the control under direct exposure, indicating cellular stress. Extended polymerization has been demonstrated to improve metabolic activity and reduce apoptotic signals for the V-Print dentbase resin, whereas FotoDent Denture presented a less uniform response under the same parameters. Therefore, for evaluating the cytotoxicity of light-sensitive resins, it is not sufficient to assess only the saliva-soluble substances released from the resin, such as residual monomers, but also the 3D printing parameters. Full article

The urea cycle (UC) is usually described as the hepatic metabolic pathway responsible for ammonia detoxification, but its role extends far beyond nitrogen (N) elimination to include cellular biosynthesis and metabolic signalling. In cancer cells, the UC is reconfigured/reorchestrated to support high anabolic demand, often involving the dysregulation of key enzymes such as ASS1, ASL, OTC and CPS1. While these changes support biomass production and stress resistance, they also generate measurable biochemical signatures through kinetic and thermodynamic isotope effects (¹⁴N/¹⁵N). In this review, we summarise UC biochemistry and recall key enzymatic mechanisms. Together, these elements provide a mechanistic framework to interpret changes in ¹⁵N abundance observed in tumour tissues and cells. We discuss how the redirection of N flux toward nucleotide and polyamine synthesis, coupled with partial excretion of ¹⁵N-depleted urea, may shape the isotopic composition of cancer cells. By integrating molecular oncology with stable isotope analysis, this review highlights the potential of natural isotope abundance as a functional readout of tumour metabolism and supports further investigation of its translational relevance in cancer phenotyping and monitoring. Full article

Wood finger joints are widely used in both structural timber and high-quality furniture due to their ability to create long, continuous members from shorter pieces. The mechanical performance of these joints depends not only on the wood species but also on the geometry of the interlocking teeth and the quality of the adhesive bond. This study explores how the geometry of finger joints affects the tensile behavior and fracture characteristics of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and oak (Quercus robur L.). Specimens with varying tooth dimensions were tested using a 50 kN universal testing machine from Shimadzu. Key metrics such as ultimate tensile load, effective cross-sectional area, cohesive stress, energy required to cause failure, and fracture energy (Gc) at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mm displacements were systematically measured. The results revealed that beech specimens achieved ultimate tensile loads up to 21,320 N and cohesive stress of 204 MPa, while oak reached 21,631 N with a cohesive stress of 239 MPa. Fracture energy (G_c) values ranged from 0.036 N/mm for beech to 0.051 N/mm for oak, depending on joint geometry. Results show that both the type of wood and the tooth design, including width and length, play a decisive role in joint performance. In general, longer teeth and larger bonded areas improved tensile capacity and increased resistance to fracture. These findings offer deeper insights into the fracture mechanics of hardwood finger joints and provide practical guidance for optimizing glued connections in furniture and structural timber. The collected data can also support accurate modeling, quality assurance, and numerical simulations in future studies. Full article

This article compares the analytical results from two models, based on the theory of hereditary creep strain, with experimental results on the rheological properties of lightweight sintered aggregate concrete under cyclically varying loads. In a previous article, the authors analyzed the adequacy of standard models for the same test results. Because the use of standard models is very complex and does not improve the approximation of test results without additional calibration, the authors suggest reconsidering the use of hereditary models for LWAC. The application of four such long-term models was analyzed. Among these models, the Arutiunian theory of hereditary creep with aging and the modified hereditary theory with Bažant aging function yielded quantitatively and qualitatively correct results. The application of hereditary creep theory allowed for the formulation of the total strain as a superposition of strain increments, obtained by an integral equation. This equation was applied to a series of constant stress increments and decrements, as in the case of cyclic loading, and it was mathematically described in segmented form. Knowledge of the properties of LWAC and useful long-term models is essential for the design of prestressed structures made of lightweight aggregate concrete subjected to time-varying loads. Full article

Drought stress severely limits maize growth and productivity worldwide. In this study, we examined the effects of foliar-applied carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) on morphological and physiological traits in maize plants exposed to drought stress for 25 days. Two maize hybrids, one drought-tolerant (LG 36745 PRO4) and one drought-sensitive (AG 8088 PRO2), were fertilized with 0 or 1.0 mL L⁻¹ of a CNP-based nanofertilizer at the V₂ growth stage and exposed to three drought levels: 0 MPa (control), −0.4 MPa (moderate stress), and −0.8 MPa (severe stress). The experiment followed a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial design (hybrid × CNP treatment × drought level) with four replicates. Results indicated that drought stress adversely affected most morphological and physiological traits, particularly in the drought-sensitive hybrid. However, foliar CNP application significantly alleviated the adverse effects of drought in maize plants under moderate and severe stress, primarily by preserving plant water status, enhancing water use efficiency, carboxylation efficiency, photosynthetic rate, and initial growth in challenging environments. These findings will provide the basis for future research on management practices adopted to control drought and ensure the development of modern and sustainable agriculture. Full article