Search Results (345)

Phytochemicals with antifungal activity against Fusarium graminearum (F. graminearum) are considered potential in-feed anti-mycotoxigenic agents that may complement conventional post-harvest control strategies. Therefore, we screened fourteen phytochemicals, including seven quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs), for anti-F. graminearum activity, evaluated their individual and combined efficacy in inhibiting mycelial growth, spore germination, and deoxynivalenol (DON) production, and explored the underlying mechanisms via transcriptomic analysis. Matrine (MT), sophoridine (SR), and sophocarpine (SC) exhibited antifungal activity against F. graminearum, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 5, 4, and 4 mg/mL, respectively. The three QAs at their MICs completely inhibited mycelial growth and DON production in liquid cultures, but were less effective on potato dextrose agar plates and in pig feed. Particularly pronounced antifungal activity and inhibitory effects on DON production were observed when the three QAs were applied in combination with berberine hydrochloride (BBR). The observed inhibition appears to be attributed to dysregulated expression of the TRI cluster genes and ERG biosynthesis genes, coupled with significant modulation of steroid biosynthesis (ko00100) and central carbon/lipid metabolism pathways. These findings provide preliminary experimental evidence supporting the further exploration of QA–BBR combinations to control fungal proliferation and DON accumulation in pig feed. Full article

Articular cartilage possesses a limited intrinsic repair capacity, and current treatment strategies frequently result in fibrocartilaginous repair tissue with inferior structural and mechanical properties compared with native hyaline cartilage. Increasing evidence indicates that successful restoration of joint function requires regeneration of the entire osteochondral unit and adequate integration between cartilage and subchondral bone. Cartilage tissue engineering has emerged as an effective approach for repairing damaged cartilage. The present study evaluated the long-term performance of electrospun PLA/PCL (70/30) scaffolds coated with iodine-doped polypyrrole (PPy-I), with and without aggrecan incorporation, in a rabbit osteochondral defect model after 12 months of implantation. Two scaffold formulations were evaluated: M1 (PLA-PCL-PPy-I) and M2 (PLA-PCL-PPy-I-AG), each implanted either without cells or after in vitro pre-culture with autologous chondrocytes prior to implantation. Histological analyses were performed to assess tissue organization and osteochondral integration, while indentation testing was used to characterize the mechanical behavior of the regenerated tissues. Experimental force–displacement data were further analyzed using a generalized nonlinear Maxwell viscoelastic model. Histological evaluation revealed that scaffold composition and cellularization influenced the characteristics of the regenerated tissue. The M2 scaffold pre-cultured with autologous chondrocytes exhibited the structural organization most closely resembling native hyaline cartilage, including a tri-zonal architecture and a continuous tidemark indicative of improved osteochondral integration. Mechanical testing demonstrated nonlinear viscoelastic behavior and hysteresis in both regenerated and native tissues. The proposed generalized nonlinear Maxwell viscoelastic model provides a practical framework for the mechanical characterization of regenerated osteochondral tissues using only two effective parameters representing the elastic and viscous response, and may support future studies aimed at estimating their intrinsic mechanical properties. Full article

Brands increasingly rely on digital peer communication to promote environmentally friendly products. Whether electronic word-of-mouth (EWOM) actually shifts green purchase intention (GPI), though, is far from settled. Some studies have found no reliable word-of-mouth effect; others have examined green trust and anticipated guilt separately, leaving the joint operation of these parallel mediators poorly specified. This is especially true in Bali, Indonesia, where environmental pressures, heavy social media use, and Tri Hita Karana values coexist. Working under the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) framework, this study tests a dual-mediation model that routes EWOM to GPI through anticipated guilt and green trust among eco-conscious social media users. Survey responses from 393 participants were analysed with partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). EWOM related positively to GPI, directly and through both mediators. Anticipated guilt and green trust each partially mediated the effect, so the mediation was partial rather than full. The EWOM-to-guilt path was the stronger of the two. The EWOM-to-trust path was weaker, yet both mediators connected to GPI at similar strength. This study contributes a dual-pathway SOR specification by incorporating anticipated guilt into digital peer communication within a tourism-heavy cultural setting. Interpreted with caution, the pattern indicates that credible EWOM aimed at greener, more responsible consumption may operate through two mechanisms simultaneously, validating trust and prompting moral anticipation among digitally exposed, eco-conscious consumers. However, this interpretation still needs experimental and longitudinal testing before these relationships can be treated as causal. Full article

Biodiversity loss in aquatic ecosystems is accelerating, yet whether the effects of different biodiversity facets on biogeochemical processes are consistent or environmentally contingent remains poorly understood. Benthic invertebrate bioturbators drive nutrient exchange at the sediment–water interface of shallow aquatic ecosystems, but how sediment trophic status modulates the effects of their richness, identity, and composition on benthic–pelagic nutrient cycling is unclear. We conducted a factorial microcosm experiment using three functionally and phylogenetically distinct species—Campsurus melanocephalus (Ephemeroptera), Heteromastus similis (Polychaeta), and Heleobia australis (Gastropoda)—assembled as monocultures, bicultures, and tricultures across a gradient of sediment organic matter concentration ([OM]) representative of natural variability in a neotropical coastal lagoon. Species richness produced a consistent, saturating enhancement of NH₃ fluxes that was independent of sediment trophic status, while species identity strongly differentiated monoculture effects in a pattern that was likewise stable across the [OM] gradient. In contrast, although biculture compositions did not differ from one another across the [OM] gradient, the overall magnitude of biculture-mediated NH₃ fluxes increased with sediment trophic status, suggesting that multispecies assemblage effects are more responsive to environmental context than those of single species. These findings reveal that biodiversity facets diverge not only in how strongly they affect ecosystem functioning, but also in how sensitive their effects are to environmental variation. We therefore conclude that predicting benthic–pelagic nutrient exchange in shallow coastal ecosystems requires considering both the biological structure of bioturbator assemblages and the organic matter context of the sediment. Full article

Bacterial–fungal interactions are prevalent in microbial communities, and fungi often facilitate bacterial dispersal along networks created by fungal hyphae. Using a microfluidic device, we examined how diverse bacterial species disperse in monoculture versus travel in coculture with Aspergillus flavus. Most of the bacteria traveled further when in coculture, although this was not absolute. Two bacteria showing significant dispersal rates only in coculture were the human pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. Mechanistically, L. monocytogenes dispersal required flagella, with dispersal impaired in flagellar mutants but enhanced in ∆mogR strains that upregulate flagellar expression. In contrast, the non-flagellar bacterium S. aureus exhibited a unique, wave-like dispersal pattern along the hyphae, a phenomenon that was abolished in agr quorum-sensing mutants deficient in phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs). In a triculture of L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, and A. flavus, L. monocytogenes limited S. aureus dispersal along the fungal hyphae; however, this inhibition was dependent on an intact L. monocytogenes quorum system. Our findings reveal that bacterial motility on fungal networks arises from diverse, species-specific mechanisms, including flagella, transcriptional regulation, potential quorum-sensing-mediated interactions, as well as other notable dispersal phenomena that warrant further investigation. Full article

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) hold promise for treating different equine conditions but enter senescence during culture. Using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to derive MSC-like cells (iMSCs) can increase cell availability and diminish the need for invasive and repeated tissue harvesting. While human iMSCs are intensively studied, research on equine iMSCs (eqiMSCs) is very limited and has focused on strategies for spontaneous differentiation to obtain these cells. The aim of this study was to obtain MSC-like cells from equine iPSCs (eqiPSCs) by directing their differentiation via the neural crest pathway. The resulting eqiMSCs downregulated pluripotent gene expression compared to originating eqiPSCs, and the majority of lines met most of the standard criteria for tissue-derived MSCs (immunophenotype and tri-lineage differentiation potential). Nevertheless, eqiMSCs showed some differences from primary equine MSCs, possibly due to their different developmental origin, and displayed certain inter-line variability, which might be related to the different kinetics of independent eqiPSC lines. This study demonstrates for the first time that equine MSC-like cells (eqiMSCs) can be derived from eqiPSCs by directing their differentiation through the neural crest pathway. This constitutes an important advancement towards more sustainable sources of therapeutic cells in veterinary medicine and warrants further exploration of the functional characteristics of these novel cells. Full article

Generating culturally coherent multimodal folktales presents unique challenges, particularly for underrepresented cultures facing data scarcity and cultural bias. Existing approaches predominantly rely on Western-centric corpora, limit outputs to text–image modalities, and reduce culture to a superficial stylistic layer rather than a core narrative structure. In this paper, we propose MELT (Multimodal Engine for Localized Tales) a unified framework for culturally adaptive story generation across text, illustration, and audio. To achieve this, MELT embeds cultural context as a foundational generative constraint and integrates three modules: (1) a localized folktale generation module leveraging structured prompting and contextual reasoning to preserve the narrative flow and cultural identity of traditional folktales; (2) an illustration generation module that ensures cultural style and character consistency using a Tri-Stage LoRA (Low-Rank Adaptation) pipeline; (3) a storytelling audio component tailored to cultural prosody and oral storytelling conventions. Case studies on Korean and Bengali folktales demonstrate MELT’s ability to generate culturally coherent outputs using lightweight, data-efficient adaptation techniques. Human evaluation results demonstrated that MELT consistently outperformed the baseline across both case studies, showing a substantial improvement in cultural adaptation, nearly doubling the score in the Korean folktale evaluation. By positioning culture as a core generative principle, MELT provides a pathway for culturally coherent AI storytelling, particularly for underrepresented traditions. Full article

Objective: Developing foundational biomaterial platforms for cultured meat research requires 3D co-culture systems capable of supporting multiple relevant cell types in a spatially organized manner. This study aimed to establish a compartmentalized tri-culture hydrogel disc incorporating a lipid-containing barrier phase as a proof-of-concept in vitro model. Methods: Beeswax/alginate (Bw/Algi) hydrogels were fabricated and evaluated for morphology and cytocompatibility as a lipid-containing scaffold component. Fucoidan/alginate (Fu/Algi) hydrogels were prepared at varying fucoidan concentrations and screened to identify conditions compatible with C2C12 viability and early-stage differentiation. A composite beeswax/fucoidan/alginate disc (Bw/Fu/Algi) was then assembled by casting cell-laden Fu/Algi regions (myoblasts, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells), separated by Bw/Algi barrier layers and ionically crosslinked with CaCl₂. Scaffold performance was assessed using standard assays for morphology, cytocompatibility, myogenic marker expression, protein production, and thermal stability. Results: Bw/Algi supported cytocompatible C2C12 attachment and growth, while Fu/Algi exhibited concentration-dependent effects on myogenic marker expression, enabling selection of an optimized fucoidan concentration for 3D assembly. The final Bw/Fu/Algi disc maintained viable compartmentalized tri-culture and supported indirect co-culture through spatial separation by the Bw barrier. Myogenic regions exhibited myogenic marker expression with measurable protein production, and differential scanning calorimetry confirmed structural stability under heating. Conclusion: This work establishes a Bw/Fu/Algi tri-culture disc integrating a lipid-containing barrier component with hydrogel-based myogenic compartments, providing a preliminary platform for multicellular in vitro modeling and scaffold design relevant to cultured meat research. Full article

Articular cartilage, a highly specialised and avascular tissue, exhibits limited regenerative potential following trauma or degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis (OA). Conventional surgical interventions, including microfracture and autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), have shown limited long-term efficacy due to donor site morbidity and restricted cell proliferation. In this context, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising alternative owing to their multipotency, self-renewal capacity, and low immunogenicity. While bone marrow (BM) remains the traditional source of MSCs, recent studies have reported that peripheral blood-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (PB-MSCs) may possess chondrogenic, osteogenic, and adipogenic potential comparable to that of BM-derived MSCs. PB-MSCs can be harvested through minimally invasive methods, thereby avoiding the complications associated with BM aspiration. Experimental evidence indicates that PB-MSCs exhibit strong cell viability, proliferative potential, and the ability to synthesise cartilage-specific extracellular matrix proteins, such as type II collagen and sulphated glycosaminoglycans, within three-dimensional scaffolds. Immunophenotypically, PB-MSCs express mesenchymal markers including CD29, CD44, CD90, and CD105 while lacking hematopoietic markers CD34 and CD45. Flow cytometry analyses reveal that CD105⁺ populations increase following cryopreservation, highlighting their clinical utility. In contrast to these experimentally defined PB-MSCs, the term peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) is used in clinical studies to describe heterogeneous, non-cultured peripheral blood-derived cell preparations, typically enriched in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells following granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilisation, without full mesenchymal characterisation. In vitro studies confirm successful tri-lineage differentiation, whereas in vivo investigations have demonstrated effective cartilage regeneration using PB-based clinical approaches, including postoperative intra-articular administration of hyaluronic acid (HA) combined with PBSCs, as well as implantation of PBSCs covered with a collagen membrane. Furthermore, advancements in biomaterial engineering, such as poly(ethylene glycol)–cysteine–arginine–glycine–aspartic acid (PEG-CRGD) hydrogels, have enhanced PB-MSC adhesion, proliferation, and chondrogenic differentiation while promoting immunomodulation through M2 macrophage polarisation. Despite these promising outcomes, the available evidence remains limited and heterogeneous, with substantial variability in cell definitions, experimental models, and clinical study designs, which currently constrains definitive conclusions regarding clinical efficacy. Future research should focus on optimising isolation protocols, understanding molecular pathways governing PB-MSC chondrogenesis, and standardising clinical applications. Overall, PB-MSCs represent a viable, less invasive, and translationally relevant cell source for cartilage regeneration and regenerative orthopaedic therapies Full article

This study rethinks innovation diffusion in craft-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by examining how cultural logics and collective governance shape selective digitalization. Drawing on a qualitative case of Ata handicraft SMEs in Bali, Indonesia, the study analyzes in-depth interviews with artisans through the lens of Innovation Diffusion Theory. The findings reveal that digital technologies are not rejected but adopted selectively, mediated by Balinese Hindu philosophies such as Tri Hita Karana, Tat Twam Asi, and Segilik Seguluk Selunglung Sebayantaka, which emphasize balance, relational ethics, and communal solidarity. Rather than pursuing efficiency-driven digital adoption, artisans prioritize collective control, cultural continuity, and equitable value distribution. Digital tools function primarily as complementary mechanisms—supporting coordination, documentation, and market interaction—rather than as transformative drivers of organizational change. This study contributes theoretically by extending Innovation Diffusion Theory beyond linear adoption models, demonstrating how culturally grounded governance structures recalibrate the meaning and trajectory of digital innovation. More broadly, it offers insights for inclusive innovation discourse by showing how collective institutions enable SMEs to engage with digitalization while safeguarding cultural integrity and social sustainability. Full article

Mountainous military heritage represents a distinct form of cultural landscape facing compounding threats from environmental degradation and anthropogenic pressures. Conventional conservation models often adopt fragmented approaches, leading to limited long-term sustainability. This study proposes and empirically validates a novel Tri-Dimensional Symbiosis (TDS) framework integrating historical authenticity, ecological resilience, and community vitality to support more holistic heritage conservation. Employing a mixed-methods design—including GIS-based spatial analysis, multi-criteria assessment, Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), and field surveys across twelve Southern Song Dynasty defense sites in Chongqing, China—the study generates three key findings: (1) Approximately 73% of sites face significant pressure from incompatible development (p < 0.01). (2) At the Duogongcheng pilot site, micro-interventions reduced structural deformation by 41% (from 8.3 mm to 4.9 mm, p < 0.001). (3) Community-cooperative tourism increased local household income by 28.5% (p < 0.01) within one year. The study introduces the Symbiotic Interface Index (SII), a robust quantitative tool (CR = 0.07 < 0.1), to assess and optimize synergies between preservation, ecology, and social participation. This framework bridges disciplinary divides, offering a scalable model to transform military heritage from passive relics into active catalysts for sustainable regional development. These findings contribute actionable, policy-relevant strategies for reconciling heritage conservation with socio-ecological resilience in rapidly urbanizing mountainous regions globally. Full article

Micro- and nanoplastics represent ubiquitous environmental contaminants with emerging concerns regarding their impact on human health. The gastrointestinal tract is the primary site of contact, where micro- and nanoplastics may interact with the intestinal epithelium, potentially disrupting barrier integrity, altering microbiota composition, and triggering inflammatory or oxidative stress responses. Moreover, variability in particle size, shape, chemical composition, and surface modifications adds complexity to assessing their health impact. Findings remain inconsistent, and the mechanisms of toxicity are not yet fully elucidated. This study developed a tri-culture in vitro intestinal barrier model incorporating Caco-2 enterocytes, HT29-MTX mucus-secreting cells, and Raji B-induced M-like cells to mimic the structural and functional features of the human gut epithelium. Polystyrene beads of different sizes (40 nm and 200 nm) and surface functionalization (carboxylated and aminated) were characterized and exposed to the model to examine their effects on barrier integrity, cellular uptake, and cytotoxicity. The results showed that size and surface chemistry play key roles in particle interaction dynamics with the intestinal barrier, affecting cellular internalization and toxicological outcomes. This validated in vitro model provides a valuable tool for investigating micro- and nanoplastic behavior upon oral exposure, contributing to more accurate health risk assessments associated with plastic pollution. Full article

Fusarium sporotrichioides strain M-1-1, originally deposited as Fusarium solani IFO 9955 in 1974 and later moved to NBRC, is known for producing T-2 toxin. In addition to NRRL 3299, which was used in the United States to study T-2 toxin biosynthesis, NBRC 9955 has been extensively used for trichothecene research in Japan. To facilitate and accurately document studies on trichothecene biosynthesis using NBRC 9955, its phylogenetic classification and trichothecene metabolite profiles were determined. As anticipated, NBRC 9955 was classified as F. sporotrichioides, which exhibited a more distant phylogenetic relationship to other strains within the same species. Time-course TLC analyses demonstrated the accumulation of various deacetylated trichothecenes in yeast extract-rich liquid media during the late growth stages. Conversely, an increase in 3-O-acetylation of T-2 toxin was observed at late stages when cultivated in micronutrient-poor synthetic liquid medium. Northern blot analysis revealed that Tri8 expression halted in cultures with the synthetic medium, which accounts for the growth stage-dependent 3-O-acetylation observed. On a brown rice flour solid medium, the fungal strain produced mixtures of T-2 toxin, neosolaniol, HT-2 toxin, and their 3-O-acetyl derivatives. These results highlight the risk of underestimating the levels of toxic trichothecene metabolites when using the standard contamination monitoring protocols. Full article

Sustainable management of cultural heritage in mountainous regions requires effective strategies to mitigate natural hazards such as landslides. Landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM) provides a critical tool to support these conservation efforts. This study presents a hybrid framework that integrates probabilistic slope stability modeling with ensemble learning for LSM in the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama, Japan. The framework uses probabilities of failure from Bishop’s simplified method combined with Monte Carlo simulations to guide non-landslide sample selection. An enhanced tri-parametric optimization was applied to refine the slope unit segmentation process. SHAP analysis revealed that the hybrid framework emphasizes physically meaningful features such as rainfall. The proposed method results in AUC gains of 0.072 for XGBoost, 0.066 CatBoost for, and 0.063 for LightGBM compared to their buffer-based counterparts. Future landslide susceptibility was mapped based on the 2035 precipitation projections from ARIMA time-series modeling. By enhancing accuracy, interpretability, and geotechnical consistency, the proposed approach delivers a robust tool for sustainable risk management. The study further evaluates the exposure of Gasshō-style houses and other historic buildings to varying levels of landslide susceptibility, offering actionable insights for local planning and heritage conservation. Full article

In the rapid development of rural tourism, multiple disturbances, such as capital reorganization, uneven resource distribution, and the marginalization of farmers as the main body, have emerged. This has led to the dual challenges of increased vulnerability and insufficient resilience of farmers’ livelihood systems in the face of risk shocks. Based on survey data of the “Agri-Tourism–Commerce–Culture Integration” demonstration zone in China, this study integrates the Pressure–State–Response model into the analysis of livelihood resilience and constructs a “vulnerability–adaptability–recuperability” tri-dimensional framework. Through methods such as the entropy weight method, the synthetical index method, grey relational degree analysis, and the obstacle degree model, this study measures the levels of different livelihood types of farmers in each dimension of livelihood resilience and their influencing factors. The research findings indicate that the overall livelihood resilience of farmers in the study area was at a medium level, with vulnerability making the most significant contribution, reflecting that the current livelihood system is dominated by risk resistance. Different types of farmers exhibit heterogeneity in resilience, with tourism-oriented farmers showing the highest resilience and agriculture-oriented farmers the lowest. However, tourism-oriented farmers also display the most prominent vulnerability, revealing the tension between short-term efficiency enhancement and long-term risk diversification in single livelihood strategies. Key factor analysis reveals that vulnerability correlates most strongly with livelihood resilience. The most correlated indicators are the price increase rate, proportion of migrant workers, and neighborhood trust in the vulnerability, adaptability, and recuperability dimensions. Diagnosis of obstacle factors reveal that loan accessibility, land resource dependency, and agricultural risk perception rank as the top three common obstacles, with tourism-driven farmers exhibiting higher obstacle degrees than other farmer categories. These findings not only validate the empowering effect of rural tourism on farmers’ livelihoods but also reveal the different livelihood strategies chosen by various farmers. Based on the results, this study proposes policy recommendations of “common optimization + individual adaptation” to enhance farmers’ livelihood resilience. This is conducive to transforming external support into farmers’ endogenous resilience capabilities and provides a useful reference for achieving the deep integration of rural tourism and farmers’ livelihood systems. Full article