Search Results (20)

China Low-Activation Ferrite (CLF-1) steel, renowned for its excellent thermomechanical properties and irradiation resistance, plays a key role in the development of the R&D of the Chinese Helium-Cooled Ceramic Breeding Test Blanket Module. Cold-worked CLF-1 steels were irradiated with sequential dual ion beams of (Fe²⁺ and H⁺), followed by single He⁺ irradiation at 723 K, with a dose rate of 1.09 dpa/h, to explore the complex relationship between cold work, defect evolution, and irradiation hardening. Samples with cold-working deformations of 0%, 10%, and 50% (denoted as CW 0%, CW 10%, and CW 50%, respectively) were examined. The results based on nanoindentation, TEM, and EBSD reveal that moderate cold work (10%) introduces dense dislocations, acting as effective sinks to suppress irradiation-induced defect accumulation and hardening, while excessive cold work (50%) triggers partial recrystallization under relatively long-time multi-beam irradiation, reducing dislocation density, which leads to the comparable hardening with CW 10%. In contrast, non-deformed samples (0% cold work) exhibit severe irradiation hardening (38.46%). He bubbles and dislocation loops follow non-monotonic trends in number density (CW 50% < CW 0% < CW 10%) and size (CW 50% > CW 0% > CW 10%), governed by the interplay of sink efficiency, thermal diffusion, and recrystallization. These findings highlight that a moderate level of cold-working deformation contributes to enhancing the sink strength, thereby offering a viable approach for designing radiation-tolerant RAFM steels. Full article

Retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) plays a vital role in multiple biological and pathological processes and represents a promising therapeutic target for anti-tumor drug design. Inspired by the marine-derived RXRα antagonist meroterpenthiazole A, 21 undescribed benzothiazole derivatives were designed and synthesized. The inhibitory effects of 21 derivatives on RXRα transactivation and their anti-tumor activities against MDA-MB-231 cells were evaluated. Compounds 4a–4h, 6a–6b, 7c–7f, and 7h–7i inhibited 9-cis-retinoic acid-induced RXRα transactivation, while compounds 3b, 4f–4h, 7a, 7c, 7f, and 7h–7i exhibited inhibitory effects on the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells. Meanwhile, the structure–activity relationships governing both the RXRα antagonist effects and the anti-proliferative activities against MDA-MB-231 cells were discussed. Compound 7i exhibited the most potent inhibitory effects on the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 16.5 μM. Further mechanism studies revealed that compound 7i induced G2/M phase arrest in MDA-MB-231 cells, accompanied by dose-dependent downregulation of Cyclin B1 and CDK1 protein expression. However, these effects were abolished in RXRα-knockout MDA-MB-231 cells, indicating that the anti-proliferative and cell cycle arrest activities of 7i were RXRα-dependent. Cellular Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA) and molecular docking studies further confirmed that 7i directly bound to RXRα, thereby mediating its anti-cancer efficacy. Full article

Food-derived carbon dots (F-CDs) are a novel class of carbon-based nanomaterials unintentionally generated during common thermal food processing techniques, such as baking, roasting, frying, and caramelization. These nanostructures exhibit unique optical and chemical properties, including photoluminescence, high aqueous solubility, and tunable surface functionality, making them increasingly relevant to both food science and biomedical research. Recent studies have highlighted their ability to interact with biological systems, particularly the gut microbiota, a critical determinant of host metabolism, immunity, and overall health. This review critically summarizes the current understanding of F-CDs, including their mechanisms of formation, analytical detection methods, and physicochemical properties. It explores their biological fate in the gastrointestinal tract, encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, with a focus on their stability and cellular uptake. Special attention is given to the interaction between F-CDs and the gut microbiota, where evidence suggests both beneficial (e.g., anti-inflammatory, antioxidant) and detrimental (e.g., dysbiosis, inflammatory signaling) effects, depending on the CD type, dose, and exposure context. Additionally, this review addresses toxicological concerns, highlighting gaps in long-term safety data, standardized detection methods, and regulatory oversight. The dual role of F-CDs—as potential modulators of the microbiota and as emerging dietary nanomaterials with uncharted risks—underscores the need for further interdisciplinary research. Future efforts should aim to refine detection protocols, assess chronic exposure outcomes, and clarify structure–function relationships to enable the safe and responsible application of these nanomaterials in food and health contexts. Full article

In this study, some polyethylene/graphene nanoplatelet (PE-GE) composites are successfully prepared via a melt-blending process used for thermally conductive pipes. A comparison study on the effect of different fillers (i.e., graphene nanoplatelet and aluminum oxide) on thermal conductivity is conducted. The conductivity was over 2.5 W/m·K when 30 fractions of GE were involved. Furthermore, an electron beam irradiation technology is utilized to obtain the cross-linked composite materials with excellent comprehensive performance. The relationships between thermal conductivity and filler content, and irradiation dose and gel content have been carefully investigated. Finally, a polyethylene/graphene composite with 0.72 W/m·K is used to extrude a pipe, which exhibits some attractive properties for floor heating pipes. Full article

Gastrodin (gas) has been shown to promote neuroprotection and reverse Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. However, its high effective dose limits its potential in treating AD. In this study, a bioassay system using PC12 cells and the nerve growth factor (NGF)-mimic effect was employed to investigate the structure–activity relationship of gas derivatives. Among the synthesized compounds, GAD037 demonstrated the highest NGF-mimic activity, surpassing gas. Additionally, GAD037 exhibited significant neuroprotective effects, reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, thereby improving the survival of PC12 cells under oxidative stress. It also protected cells from Aβ-induced toxicity. Target protein identification and mechanistic studies revealed that insulin receptor (INSR) and alpha-actinin-4 (ACTN4) are potential targets of GAD037, confirmed through specific inhibitors, small interfering RNA (siRNA) analysis, a cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS). Moreover, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) and rat sarcoma (Ras)/protooncogene serine–threonine protein kinase (Raf)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathways were found to be involved in the NGF-mimic activity of GAD037. In conclusion, GAD037 exhibits superior NGF-mimic and neuroprotective activities compared to gas, suggesting its potential as a lead compound for anti-AD applications. Full article

The effects of gamma radiation on the performance of two corrosion-resistant coatings applied to stainless-steel 304L (SS304L) surfaces are presented. Specifically, the ability of the coatings to mitigate corrosion of SS304L surfaces as a function of the dose received (0–1300 Mrad) and dose rate (176 compared to 1054 rad/s) is evaluated using electrochemical methods, spectroscopy, and microscopy. Coating A, an organic/inorganic hybrid coating consisting of a two-part silica ceramic component and a polymer linker was evaluated in comparison to Coating B, which utilized Coating A as a topcoat for a commercial, off-the-shelf, Zn-rich primer. Post irradiation, Coating A demonstrated some corrosion protection following exposure to low levels of gamma radiation, but coating degradation occurred with an increased exposure dose and resulted in isolated regions of corrosion initiation. For Coating B, greater corrosion resistance was observed compared to Coating A due to the sacrificial nature of the Zn at elevated doses of gamma radiation. No effect of the dose rate (for the single dose examined) was observed for either coating. It is proposed for Coating B that as the polymer coating thermally degrades above 250 °C (bond scission of the polymer occurs), the remaining Zinc layer adhered to the SS304L post-irradiation enables enhanced corrosion resistance as compared to Coating A, which displays solely polymer degradation. The results presented herein establish an understanding of coating behavior with radiation exposure, specifically the relationship between corrosion coating performance and radiation dose, and can inform ageing and lifetime management for various applications. Full article

Background: XueBiJing injection (XBJ) is renowned for its multi-target pharmacological effects, including immunomodulatory, antithrombotic, and antioxidant activities, offering potential therapeutic benefits for patients with severe infections such as sepsis and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Despite its clinical effectiveness, the molecular targets and mechanisms of XBJ remain unclear, warranting further investigation. Purpose: This study aimed to identify the key bioactive compounds in XBJ and elucidate their molecular targets and mechanisms. Methods: The zebrafish model was first used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of XBJ, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by RNA sequencing and network analysis. Network pharmacology was used to analyze the relationship between bioactive compounds and molecular targets, and molecular docking and kinetic simulation were used to explore the target binding ability of key compounds. Cellular Thermal Shift Assay-Western Blot (CETSA-WB) and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) further verified the interaction between compounds and targets; finally, the key pathways were confirmed by gene silencing experiments. Results: The zebrafish model results reveal that XBJ significantly reduced neutrophil and macrophage counts in a dose-dependent manner, emphasizing its potent anti-inflammatory effects. A transcriptomic analysis highlighted the differential expression of key genes in the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway, including HMOX1, SLC7A11, NQO1, and TXNRD1. A network analysis further pinpointed KEAP1 as a central molecular target, with tanshinone IIA, baicalein, and luteolin identified as key active compounds modulating this pathway. Among these, tanshinone IIA and baicalein exhibited strong binding interactions with KEAP1, which were confirmed through molecular docking and kinetic simulations. Further validation showed that baicalein directly targets KEAP1, as demonstrated by CETSA-WB and SPR analysis. Additionally, the gene silencing experiments of KEAP1 and NRF2 reinforced their crucial roles in activating the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway. Conclusion: These findings collectively establish baicalein as a critical bioactive compound in XBJ, driving its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects via KEAP1/NRF2 pathway activation through direct binding to KEAP1, providing new insights into the mechanism of action of XBJ. Full article

In this study, some novel benzo[c]quinoline derivatives were synthesized, their structural characteristics were described, and their in vitro anticancer efficacy was investigated. The synthesis involves an initial quaternization of the nitrogen atom from benzo[c]quinoline and then a [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition reaction of the in situ formed ylide. The effectiveness of synthesis using traditional thermal heating (TH) compared to microwave (MW) and ultrasound (US) irradiation was investigated in detail. The setup of a reaction under MW or US irradiation offers a number of additional benefits: higher yields, a reduction in the amount of solvent used compared to TH, a reduction in the reaction time from hours to minutes, and a reduction in the amount of energy consumed. The structure of all the obtained compounds was proved by several spectral techniques (FTIR, HRMS, and NMR). All benzo[c]quinoline derivatives (quaternary salts and cycloadducts) along with ten other benzo[f]quinoline derivatives (quaternary salts and cycloadducts), previously obtained, were tested in an in vitro single-dose anticancer experiment. The results demonstrated that the cycloadducts 5a–c and 6a–c exhibit stronger anticancer activity than quaternary salts 3a–c. The most active compound is compound 5a, with anticancer activity on most of the cell lines studied, while the second most active compound is 6c, showing significant lethality for the SR leukemia cell line (17%). Structure-activity relationship (SAR) correlations are also included in the study. Full article

While hyperthermia has been shown to induce a variety of cytotoxic and sensitizing effects on cancer tissues, the thermal dose–effect relationship is still not well quantified, and it is still unclear how it can be optimally combined with other treatment modalities. Additionally, it is speculated that different methods of applying hyperthermia, such as water bath heating or electromagnetic energy, may have an effect on the resulting biological mechanisms involved in cell death or in sensitizing tumor cells to other oncological treatments. In order to further quantify and characterize hyperthermia treatments on a cellular level, in vitro experiments shifted towards the use of 3D cell spheroids. These are in fact considered a more representative model of the cell environment when compared to 2D cell cultures. In order to perform radiofrequency (RF)-induced heating in vitro, we have recently developed a dedicated electromagnetic field applicator. In this study, using this applicator, we designed and validated an experimental setup which can heat 3D cell spheroids in a conical polypropylene vial, thus providing a reliable instrument for investigating hyperthermia effects at the cellular scale. Full article

A novel composite binder (humic acid modified bentonite, HAMB) and two other binders (bentonite and Modified humic acid, MHA) were used to explore the effects of binders on the properties of magnetite green pellets in this study. The results of green pellet properties and drying tests show that the low doses of a humic substance-based binder can achieve the same effect as high doses of bentonite binder. A humic substance-based binder could be a promising organic binder to replace bentonite. Meanwhile, the influence mechanism of adding different binders on the strength of green pellet was discussed, and the relationship between moisture content in the pellet and the compression strength of three binders was determined. A TG-DSC analysis found that the novel composite binder (HAMB) was not a simple mix of humic acid and bentonite, in which a humic substance could change the structure of bentonite and reduce the thermal stability of bentonite, causing the HAMB composite binder to have a high decomposition temperature. Full article

The challenge to explain the diffuse and unconclusive message reported by hyperthermia studies investigating the thermal dose parameter is still to be unravelled. In the present review, we investigated a wide range of technical and clinical parameters characterising hyperthermia treatment to better understand and improve the probability of detecting a thermal dose effect relationship in clinical studies. We performed a systematic literature review to obtain hyperthermia clinical studies investigating the associations of temperature and thermal dose parameters with treatment outcome or acute toxicity. Different hyperthermia characteristics were retrieved, and their influence on temperature and thermal dose parameters was assessed. In the literature, we found forty-eight articles investigating thermal dose effect relationships. These comprised a total of 4107 patients with different tumour pathologies. The association between thermal dose and treatment outcome was the investigated endpoint in 90% of the articles, while the correlation between thermal dose and toxicity was investigated in 50% of the articles. Significant associations between temperature-related parameters and treatment outcome were reported in 63% of the studies, while those between temperature-related parameters and toxicity were reported in 15% of the studies. One clear difficulty for advancement is that studies often omitted fundamental information regarding the clinical treatment, and among the different characteristics investigated, thermometry details were seldom and divergently reported. To overcome this, we propose a clear definition of the terms and characteristics that should be reported in clinical hyperthermia treatments. A consistent report of data will allow their use to further continue the quest for thermal dose effect relationships. Full article

Experimental data have revealed that melatonin at high doses reduced obesity and improved metabolic outcomes in experimental models of obesity, mainly by enhancing brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis. A potential dose-response relationship has yet to be performed to translate these promising findings into potential clinical therapy. This study aimed to assess the effects of different doses of melatonin on interscapular BAT (iBAT) thermogenic capacity in Zücker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. At 6 wk of age, male ZDF rats were divided into four groups (n = 4 per group): control and those treated with different doses of melatonin (0.1, 1, and 10 mg/kg of body weight) in their drinking water for 6 wk. Body weight (BW) was significantly decreased at doses of 1 and 10 mg/kg of melatonin, but not at 0.1 mg/kg compared with the control, with a similar rate of BW decrease being reached at the dose of 1 mg/kg (by ~11%) and 10 mg/kg (by ~12%). This effect was associated with a dose-dependent increase in the thermal response to the baseline condition or acute cold challenge in the interscapular area measurable by infrared thermography, with the highest thermal response being recorded at the 10 mg/kg dose. Upon histology, melatonin treatment markedly restored the typical brownish appearance of the tissue and promoted a shift in size distribution toward smaller adipocytes in a dose-dependent fashion, with the most pronounced brownish phenotype being observed at 10 mg/kg of melatonin. As a hallmark of thermogenesis, the protein level of uncoupled protein 1 (UCP1) from immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis increased significantly and dose-dependently at all three doses of melatonin, reaching the highest level at the dose of 10 mg/kg. Likewise, all three doses of melatonin modulated iBAT mitochondrial dynamics by increasing protein expression of the optic atrophy protein type 1 (OPA1) fusion marker and decreasing that of the dynamin-related protein1 (DRP1) fission marker, again dose-dependently, with the highest and lowest expression levels, respectively, being reached at the 10 mg/kg dose. These findings highlight for the first time the relevance of the dose-dependency of melatonin toward BW control and BAT thermogenic activation, which may have potential therapeutic implications for the treatment of obesity. To clinically apply the potential therapeutic of melatonin for obesity, we consider that the effective animal doses that should be extrapolated to obese individuals may be within the dose range of 1 to 10 mg/kg. Full article

To study the effect of nominal maximum particle size (NMS) of stone mastic asphalt (SMA) gradation and a mixed modified asphalt binder on the low temperature crack resistance of SMA, SMA asphalt mixtures with three different NMS, two styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and crumb rubber modifier (CRM) hybrid-modified asphalt binders were designed.Thermal strength restrained specimen test (TSRST) and bending beam test (BBT) were performed on the mixtures. The freezing-fracture temperature and strength from TSRST, bending tensile strain and stiffness from BBT at low temperature were evaluated. Finally, an intrinsic relationship was established between these properties obtained from the two tests. The results showed that the following: (1) the SMA-5, the best of all the three NMS, has a freezing-fracture temperature of −31.5 °C, which is 18.9% and 48.6% lower than those of SMA-10 and SMA-13, respectively, while its freezing fracture strength is 6.15 MPa, which is 95.2% and 243.6% higher than those of SMA-10 and SMA-13, respectively; (2) the bending failure strain of SMA-5 is 4649 με, which is higher than those of SMA-10 and SMA-13 by 11.3% and 21.9%, respectively; (3) increased CRM dose in the SBS-modified SMA improves the crack resistance at low temperature; (4) the bending failure strain of the SMA has the best correlation with the freezing-fracture temperature, with a correlation coefficient of about 0.8. Full article

A cyclophosphazene derivative containing multiple cyano groups, denoted as hexa(4-cyanophenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene (CN-CP), was synthesized by a one-step nucleophilic substitution reaction for a phosphorus-nitrogen flame retardant. To meet the strict requirement of safe and environment-protective insulation materials, a series of composites based on low-density polyethylene-poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) containing CN-CP/Mg(OH)₂/Al(OH)₃ organic-inorganic synergistic flame retardants was fabricated. High-energy electron beam irradiation was subsequently applied to obtain a halogen-free flame-retardant crosslinked system. The relationship between crosslinking degree and irradiation dose was studied, and crosslinking degrees ranging within 63–85% were obtained under 100–190 kGy. Furthermore, the effects of CN-CP filler and irradiation dose on the properties of the composites were carefully investigated. The maximum tensile stress and limiting oxygen index values of most composites irradiated by EB were more than 15 MPa and 28%. Results revealed that the obtained materials had excellent thermal and mechanical, flame-retardant, and insulation properties, thereby suggesting their promising prospects for wire and cable applications. Full article

The thermal environment in educational buildings is crucial to improve students’ health and productivity, as they spend a considerable amount of time in classrooms. Due to the complexity of educational buildings, research performed has been heterogeneous and standards for thermal comfort are based on office studies with adults. Moreover, they rely on single dose-response models that do not account for interactions with other environmental factors, or students’ individual preferences and needs. A literature study was performed on thermal comfort in educational buildings comprising of 143 field studies, to identify all possible confounding parameters involved in thermal perception. Educational stage, climate zone, model adopted to investigate comfort, and operation mode were then selected as confounding parameters and discussed to delineate the priorities for future research. Results showed that children often present with different thermal sensations than adults, which should be considered in the design of energy-efficient and comfortable educational environments. Furthermore, the use of different models to analyse comfort can influence field studies’ outcomes and should be carefully investigated. It is concluded that future studies should focus on a more rational evaluation of thermal comfort, also considering the effect that local discomfort can have on the perception of an environment. Moreover, it is important to carefully assess possible relationships between HVAC systems, building envelope, and thermal comfort, including their effect on energy consumption. Since several studies showed that the perception of the environment does not concern thermal comfort only, but it involves the aspects of indoor air, acoustic, and visual quality, their effect on the health and performance of the students should be assessed. This paper provides a way forward for researchers, which should aim to have an integrated approach through considering the positive effects of indoor exposure while considering possible individual differences. Full article