As a member of smart materials, electrorheological elastomers (EREs) formed by pre-treating active electrorheological particles are attracting more and more attention. In this work, four Mg-doped strontium titanate particles with spherical, dendritic, flake-like and pinecone-like morphorlogies were obtained by hydrothermal and low-temperature co-precipitation. XRD, SEM, Raman and FT-IR were used to characterize the obtained products. The results showed that the sizes of Mg-doped strontium titanates are about 1.5‒2.0 μm, and the phase structure are dominated by cubic crystal. These Mg-doped strontium titanates were dispersed in a hydrogel composite elastic medium. Then, Mg-doped strontium titanate/glycerol/gelatin electrorheological composite hydrophilic elastomers were obtained with or without electric field. The electric field response properties of Mg-doped strontium titanate composite elastomers were investigated. It concluded that dendritic Mg-doped strontium titanate composite elastomers is high-performance EREs. And the maximum value of energy storage modulus of Mg-doped strontium titanate composite elastomers has achieved 8.70 MPa. This high electrorheological performance of the products is helpful for their applications in vibration control, force transducers, smart structures, dampers, and other fields.

As critical biocontrol agents, Trichoderma and Metarhizium have demonstrated vast potential in disease prevention and pest control respectively. Current applications, however, are predominantly confined to singular use or simplistic combinations of the two fungi. This study innovatively utilizes Metarhizium and Trichoderma as experimental subjects, employing non-targeted metabolomics to compare the differences in metabolites between co-culture and separate fermentation. The metabolite distinctions in co-culture are meticulously analyzed using sample correlation, least squares discriminant analysis, cluster analysis, and KEGG enrichment analysis. Metabolome sequencing analysis is then applied to compare the co-culture fermentation filtrate with Trichoderma atroviride and Metarhizium anisopliae. Differential metabolite analysis found that co-culture had significantly up-regulated or down-regulated metabolites compared to singular cultures.However,significant metabolite discrepancies are discovered in singular cultures, notably the up-regulated metabolites such as osthole and spirocyclic amine, which have documented antibacterial functions that may prove effective against Fusarium graminearum. Ultimately, the findings from this research contribute to the exploration of synergistic applications of biocontrol fungi and serve as a valuable reference for future development of bio-pesticides for disease and pest control.

Background/Objectives: Phenylketonuria is a hereditary metabolic disorder characterized by a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase. Main treatment for PKU is a phenylalanine-restricted diet. Exclusion of protein rich natural foods and inclusion of low-Phe substitutes may give rise to an imbalanced diet increasing the risk of overweight and obesity in PKU is a cause of concern. We aimed to evaluate the body composition and nutritional biochemical biomarkers in adult PKU patients who are on Phe-restricted and essential amino acids supplemented nutrition therapy and to investigate the relationships, between these parameters and patient gender, adherence to dietary therapy and disease type defined as mild or classic PKU. Methods: The study group comprised 37 PKU patients and 26 healthy siblings as controls. The participants were assessed based on an analysis of anthropometric parameters, body composition and biochemical test results. Results: PKU patients do not have a higher incidence of overweight and obesity than healthy controls, and the proportion of energy derived from carbohydrates in their diets was below the recommended level, and the total energy intake was below the recommended daily allowance. It was remarkable that patients with a treatment adherence ratio of <50% displayed a higher prevalence of overweight and abdominal obesity in comparison to those with a more favorable treatment adherence ratio. Conclusions: In view of the growing prevalence of overweight in the general population, PKU patients should be kept under close long-term follow-up. Particularly in the group with low treatment compliance, more caution should be paid in terms of adverse outcomes.

Inflammation is implicated in the etiology of obesity-related diseases. Thromboxane-prostanoid receptor (TPR) is known to play a role in mediating an inflammatory response in a variety of cells. Gut-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a TLR4 agonist, is elevated in obesity. Moreover, free fatty acids (FFAs) are important mediators of obesity-related inflammation. However, the role and mechanisms by which TPR regulates the inflammatory response in human immune cells remain unclear. We sought to determine the link between TPR and obesity and the role/mechanisms by which TPR alters LPS or stearic acid (SA)-induced inflammatory response in PBMCs. Cells were pre-treated with agents blocking TPR signaling, followed by treatment with LPS or stearic acid (SA). Our findings showed that TPR mRNA levels are higher in PBMCs from individuals with obesity. Blockade of TPR as well as ROCK which acts downstream of TPR, attenuated LPS and/or SA-induced pro-inflammatory response. On the other hand, TPR activation using its agonist enhanced the pro-inflammatory effects of LPS and/or SA. Of note, TPR agonist by itself elicits an inflammatory response which was attenuated by blocking TPR or ROCK. Our data suggest that TPR plays a key role in promoting an inflammatory response in human PBMCs and this effect is mediated via TLR4 and/or ROCK signaling.

The article offers a comprehensive overview of recent breakthroughs in eco-friendly polymers and polymer composites, underscoring their pivotal role in addressing sustainability challenges across diverse industrial sectors. Despite encountering obstacles related to performance and processability, biopolymers sourced from renewable materials emerge as promising alternatives for the plastics that are currently used by human beings. Natural fillers are highlighted as a strategic avenue for crafting sustainable composites, with residual natural fillers being particularly explored. Heightened environmental concerns propel discussions on the criticality of integrating biodegradable materials with natural fillers, underlining the urgency for clear frameworks and financial incentives to support adoption of these materials. Additionally, the article examines the potential of biodegradable polymers and polymer composites, with a specific emphasis on the utilization of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) in composite materials and its market prospects. Moreover, it emphasizes the indispensable need for ongoing research and development endeavors to address environmental challenges within the polymer sector, reflecting a mounting interest in sustainable materials across industries.

Livestock farming plays a crucial role in agriculture and is important in meeting people's needs for a better life in the new era. However, due to China's "double carbon" target, the development of animal husbandry has been affected by the level of carbon emissions. To study the spatial dis-tribution and dynamic evolution of livestock carbon emissions in Shandong Province, we used panel data from 16 prefecture-level cities in Shandong Province from 2001 to 2022 to determine the spatial differentiation of livestock carbon emissions in Shandong Province and their dynamic evolution by combining spatial and non-parametric estimation methods based on livestock carbon emissions and livestock emission intensity measured by city. The results of the study show that the distribution of carbon emissions from animal husbandry in Shandong Province is in a "dis-persed-aggregated" pattern, and the intensity of carbon emissions shows a gradual downward trend, with a ladder-like distribution characterized by high in the west and low in the east. Through the analysis of the dynamic evolution of nuclear density, we observe that the regional differences of animal husbandry carbon emissions in Shandong Province are expanding, showing the characteristics of polarization. The difference of carbon emissions in the peninsula is gradually narrowing, and the phenomenon of polarization is weakening. The carbon emissions of animal husbandry in the central and western regions of Shandong are polarized.

Cancer treatment is a significant focus in medicine owing to the increasing global incidence. Patients with advanced cancers that do not respond to conventional therapies have limited options and an unfavorable prognosis. Consequently, researchers are investigating complementary approaches to conventional treatments. One such approach is alkalization therapy, which aims to neutralize the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) by increasing its pH level. The acidic TME promotes inflammation, tumor progression, and drug resistance. Alkalization therapy has been demonstrated to be effective for various cancers. In addition, natural products, such as triterpenoids, parthenolides, fulvic acid, Taxus yunnanensis, and apple pectin have the potential to alleviate symptoms, maintain physical fitness, and improve treatment outcomes of cancer patients through their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. In this review, we focus on the effects of alkalization therapy and natural products on cancer. Furthermore, we present a case series of advanced cancer patients who received alkalization therapy and natural products alongside standard treatments, resulting in long-term survival. We posit that alkalization therapy together with the supplementation of natural products may confer benefits to cancer patients by mitigating the side effects of chemotherapy and complementing standard treatments. However, further research is warranted to validate these clinical findings.

Lake sediment records are of great importance for understanding the evolution of watershed environments. Various studies have been carried out to constrain the depositional ages of lake sediments and examine their physical, chemical, and biological characteristics, aiming to construct historical vegetation, environment and climate patterns in Chinese lake watersheds. In this study, we obtained relevant literature on lake sediment records by searching the key word 'age-depth' from the databases – Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI, the largest Chinese academic database). We analyzed the literature based on its type (published in a Chinese/English journal or as a Master’s/PhD thesis), period of publication, journal (if published in a journal), key authors, study area, dating scale, and main aims. The results suggest that the lakes in the plateau regions are the most popular research topic typically covering 100–200 years (short-term) and 500–30,000 years (long-term). The literature focuses on a wide range of topics, from past environmental evolution in the watershed to lake ecology, and provides a solid foundation for better understanding regional climate change and the preservation of lake environments and ecosystems. In the future, resulting data from environmental reconstruction with lake sediments will be needed to integrate with emerging information processing technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence and meta-analysis), to disentangle the complex interplay between Earth surface processes and global climate change; furthermore, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration will deepen our comprehension of man-land relationship and promote the sustainable management of lake ecosystems in the context of global climate change.

Asymmetric lithium salts, such as Lithium (difluoromethanesulfonyl)(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiDFTFSI), have been demonstrated to surpass traditional symmetric lithium salts with improved Li+ conductivity and the capacity to generate stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) while maintaining compatibility with aluminum (Al0) current collector. However, the intrinsic reductive mechanism through which LiDFTFSI influences battery performance remains unclear and under debate. Herein, the detailed SEI reactions of LiDFTFSI-based electrolytes were investigated by combining density functional theory and molecular dynamics, aiming to clarify the formation process and atomic structure of SEI. Our results show that asymmetric DFTFSI– weakens the interaction between carbonate solvents and Li+, and substantially alter the solvation structure, exhibiting a well-balanced coordination capacity to bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI–). Nanoseconds hybrid molecular dynamics simulation further reveals that the preferential decomposition of LiDFTFSI produces sufficient LiF and Li2O to facilitate a robust SEI. Moreover, the abundant F– generated from LiDFTFSI decomposition accumulates on the Al surface and subsequently combines with Al3+ from the current collector to form AlF3, potentially inhibiting corrosion of the current collector. Overall, these findings elucidate how LiDFTFSI regulates the solvation sheath and SEI structure, advancing the development of high-performance electrolytes compatible with current collector.

This investigation explores the potential of enhancing aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) through the introduction of a novel cathode material, NH4V4O10 (NVO), combined with reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Utilizing Density Functional Theory (DFT), it was hypothesized that the incorpora-tion of rGO would increase the interlayer spacing of NVO and diminish the charge transfer in-teractions, thus promoting enhanced diffusion of Zn2+ ions. These theoretical predictions were substantiated by experimental data acquired from hydrothermal synthesis, which indicated a marked increase in interlayer spacing. Significantly, the NVO-rGO composite exhibits remarkable cyclic durability, maintaining 95% of its initial specific capacity of 507 mAh g−1 after 600 cycles at a current density of 5 A g−1. The electrochemical performance of NVO-rGO not only surpasses that of pristine NVO but also outperforms the majority of existing vanadium oxide cathode materials reported in the literature. This study underscores the effective integration of theoretical insights and experimental validation, contributing to the advancement of high-performance energy storage technologies.

This study explores the enhancement of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) using ammonium-enhanced vanadium oxide cathodes. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations reveal that NH₄⁺ incorporation into V₆O₁₆ lattices significantly facilitates Zn²⁺ ion diffusion by reducing electrostatic interactions, acting as a structural lubricant. Subsequent experimental validation using (NH₄)₂V₆O₁₆ cathodes synthesized via a hydrothermal method corroborates the DFT findings, demonstrating remarkable electrochemical stability with a capacity retention of 90% after 2000 cycles at 5 A g⁻¹. These results underscore the potential of NH₄⁺ in improving the performance and longevity of AZIBs, providing a pathway for sustainable energy storage solutions.

Correlations among estrus cycle, pyometra, and canine diabetes mellitus (CDM) have been described since the late 1950s, and substantial progress in understanding mechanisms beyond was achieved nowadays. Progesterone-related diabetes mellitus (PRDM) in dogs is known for its particular potential for diabetes remission. Thus, a deep understanding of the physiopathological aspects involved is crucial to postulate treatment guidelines to improve the PRDM remission rate, as well as to inform preventive measures. This narrative review aims to provide relevant detailed information on 1) canine estrus cycle and its impact on CDM etiology and management, 2) the role of pyometra as a further cause of insulin resistance, and 3) useful individual therapeutic and preventive strategies. Pharmacological annulment of progesterone effects, as well as inflammatory and progesterone-related conditions resolution in association with adequate exogenous insulin therapy, and residual beta cell function, are key aspects to achieve remission, or at least to improve diabetic clinical control. In this way, spaying should be considered mandatory in most PRDM cases. Preventive measures against CDM can include spaying recommendations; however, individual-based recommendations should be considered since castration may be associated with some long-term health issues.

Introduction/Aim: Central sensitivity to thyroid hormones refers to the sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis to changes in circulating free thyroxine (fT4). The relationship between fT4 levels and iodine intake is complex. The aim of the present study was to assess central sensitivity to thyroid hormones in pregnancy against iodine intake. Materials & Methods: One thousand one hundred two blood and urine samples were collected from pregnant women (with a mean age+SD of 30.4+4.6 years) during singleton pregnancies; women with known/diagnosed thyroid disease were excluded. Specifically, TSH & fT4 and 24-hour urinary iodine excretion (UI) were measured in each trimester and at two months postpartum. The Thyroid Feedback Quantile-based Index (TFQI) was calculated to assess central sensitivity to thyroid hormones. For the statistical analysis of TFQI by time period, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used, while Pearson's correlation was used to assess TFQI versus UI. Results: The mean TFQI index ranged from -0.06 (first trimester) to -0.07 (two months postpartum), while the corresponding UI was 141 and 172 μg/L, respectively. The TFQI-UI correlation was negative (Pearson r: -0.325, p: 0.04 and r: -0.399, p: 0.023), for UI values over 250 μg/L, in the first and the third trimester of pregnancy, respectively. Discussion: TFQI is a new index reflecting central sensitivity to thyroid hormones. Lower TFQI indicates higher sensitivity to thyroid hormones. In our sample TFQI was inversely related to iodine intake, in the first trimester of pregnancy (the critical period of organogenesis) and the third trimester (the critical period of fetal growth). Thus, the observed changes in TFQI may reflect different ways of central action of thyroid hormones, according to the phase of pregnancy. The negative association between maternal TFQI (indicative of central sensitivity to thyroid hormone) and urine iodine levels during the third trimester of pregnancy may reflect the combined influence of maternal and fetal thyroid function. Our results are intriguing and have the potential to enhance our comprehension of the changes in the HPT axis’ function via variations in central sensitivity to thyroid hormones and its interplay with nutritional iodine status during pregnancy.

The aim of this work is research dedicated to the search for new bactericidal systems for use in cosmetic formulations, dermocosmetics, or the production of wound dressings. Over the last two decades chitosan due to its special biological activity, has become a highly indispensable biopolymer with very wide application possibilities. Literature reports on the antibacterial effects of chitosan are very diverse, but our research has shown that they can be successfully improved through chemical modification. Therefore, in this study, results on the synthesis of new Schiff bases chitosan – dCsSB-SFD and dCsSB-PCA obtained using two aldehydes: sodium 4-formylbenzene-1,3-disulfonate (SFD) and 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde (PCA) respectively. Chitosan derivatives synthesized in this way demonstrate stronger antimicrobial activity. Carrying out the procedure of grafting chitosan with a caproyl chain allowed obtaining compatible blends of chitosan derivatives with κ-carrageenan, which are stable hydrogels with a high swelling coefficient. Furthermore, covalently bounded PCL improved the solubility of obtained polymers in organic solvents. With this respect, the Schiff base-containing polymers obtained in this study, with special hydrogel and antimicrobial properties are very promising materials for the potential use as a controlled-release formulation of both, hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs in cosmetic products for skin health.

This study presents the synthesis and electrochemical evaluation of nitrogen-doped vanadium oxide (N-V2O3/C) as a cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs), using a hydrothermal method. Compared to undoped V2O3/C, N-V2O3/C exhibits enhanced electrical conductivity, capacity, and electrochemical kinetics, attributed to the incorporation of pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogen. Initial charge-discharge cycles indicate phase transitions to amorphous vanadium oxides, enhancing conductivity. N-V2O3/C shows a high specific capacity of 168.4 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1 and remarkable reversibility, highlighted by the transient existence of intermediate species during cycling. Optimal electrochemical performance is achieved with a vanadium to nitrogen molar ratio of 2:3, indicating the significant impact of nitrogen doping concentration on the material’s efficiency. This work underscores the potential of N-V2O3/C as a superior cathode material for AZIBs.

Using density functional theory (DFT), the density of states of NH4V3O8 (NVO) was analyzed pre and post-oxygen defects (Od) formation. The findings revealed a reduced bandgap in NVO after Od introduction, emphasizing the role of Od in enhancing conductivity of the material, thus improving its electrochemical attributes. Through the water bath method, both NVO and its oxygen-deficient counterpart, (NH4)2V10O25⸱8H2O (NVOd), were synthesized as potential cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). Experimental outcomes resonated with DFT predictions, highlighting the beneficial role of oxygen defects in boosting electrical conductivity. Notably, the refined material displayed a remarkable capacity of 479.3 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1, underscoring its promise for advanced energy storage solutions.

Background/Objectives: The global burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing at an alarming rate. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in MASLD patients, therefore, the therapeutic interventions for MASLD should improve coronary risk factors such as obesity, diabetes and dyslipidemia, in addition to improving liver function. The evidence on effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) which have beneficial pharmacological properties for MASLD, especially the long-term effects, on the progression of MASLD in Asian population is very limited. Methods: The retrospective longitudinal study was performed by using the medical records at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Kohnodai Hospital, Japan. We picked up patients with type 2 diabetes who had taken SGLT2is for at least 3 years or longer between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2018. We collected the data on metabolic parameters, including blood tests and anthropometric parameters, and compared the data before and after the initiation of SGLT2is treatment. Results: During the observation period, 324 patients had taken SGLT2is for 3 years. The 3-year-SGLT2is treatment significantly reduced body weight, hemoglobin A1c, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglyceride and non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and significantly increased HDL-C. Furthermore, this treatment significantly improved liver function and the markers for hepatic steatosis and hepatic fibrosis. Conclusions: Considering that the development of CVD determines the prognosis of MASLD patients, the long-term SGLT2is treatment may be an ideal therapy for MASLD patients.

Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) is a nuclear receptor that regulates steroidogenesis and reproductive development. NR5A1/SF-1 variants are associated with a broad spectrum of phenotypes across individuals with disorders of sex development (DSD). Oligogenic inheritance has been suggested as an explanation. However, testing the impact of specific gene variants involved in a network remains difficult. To confirm the hypothesis that NR5A1/SF-1-related DSD follow an oligogenic mode of inheritance, we investigated a constellation of gene variants identified in a 46,XY severely undervirilized individual. Candidate genes were revealed by whole exome sequencing, and pathogenicity was predicted by different in silico tools. We found variants in NR1H2 and INHA associated with steroidogenesis, sex development, and reproduction. Functional testing was conducted in cell models. Novel SF-1 and NR1H2 binding sites in the AR and INHA gene promoters were found. Transactivation studies showed that wild-type NR5A1/SF-1 regulates INHA and AR gene expression, while the NR5A1/SF-1 variant had decreased transcriptional ac-tivity. NR1H2 was found to regulate AR gene transcription; however, the NR1H2 variant showed normal activity. This study expands the NR5A1/SF-1 network of interacting partners while strengthening the hypothesis that the broad phenotype observed in 46,XY DSD individuals may be caused by oligogenic pathogenicity.

The chronic high fat dysbiosis diet (HFD) instigates cardiac remodeling, dysfunction and chronic heart failure (CHF). The therapeutic approaches focusing oxidative stress, inflammation and hyperlipidemia have not yielded significant positive clinical outcomes. Recent studies report that although mitochondrial ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) supports cardiac function, however, decreases more in human HFpEF than HFrEF. Interestingly, the ACLY synthesizes lipids and creates hyperlipidemia. Epigenetically, ACLY acetylates histone. The mechanism(s) are unknown. One hypothesis is that the HFD induces epigenetic folate 1-carbon metabolism (FOCM), heperhomocysteinemia (HHcy, a cause of abrogation of sleep-time dipping in blood pressure and hypertension) and heart failure. Interestingly, the probiotics utilizes the fat/lipids post-biotically, and increases the mitochondrial bioenergetics and attenuates the HFD induced heart failure. We suggest a novel and paradigm-shift epigenetic mitochondrial sulfur transsulfuration pathways that selectively target HFD-induced CHF. The HFD via transport and metabolomic pathways instigates cardiac remodeling and dyfunction. Previous studies from our laboratory, using a single cell analysis, revealed increase in transporter (SLC25A) of s-adenosine-methionine (SAM) during elevated levels of homocysteine (Hcy, i.e., hyperhomocysteinemia, HHcy), a consequence of impaired epigenetic recycling of Hcy back to methionine by increase in FOCM methylation of H3K4, K9, H4K20 and gene writer (DNMT) and decrease in eraser (TET/FTO). The Hcy transported to mitochondria by SLC7A for clearance via sulfur metabolomic transsulfuration by 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfur transferase (3MST). Interestingly, the HHcy decreases ATP, OCR, H₂S, PGC1α, TFAM, and increase in fission/fusion ratio, causing mitochondria dysfunction. We suggest that gut dysbiosis by HFD disrupts rhythmic epigenetic memory via FOCM and increase in DNMT1 and creates HHcy, leading to decrease mitochondrial transsulfuration and bioenergetics. The treatment with a probiotic, lactobacillus will eat the fat/lipids post-biotically and bi-directionally will produce folic acid and lactone-ketone body that will mitigate the HFD-induced mitochondrial remodeling and heart failure.

The mosquito microbiota reduces the vector competence of Anopheles to Plasmodium and affects host fitness, it is therefore considered as a potential target to reduce malaria transmission. While immune induction, secretion of antimicrobials and metabolic competition are three typical mechanisms of microbiota-mediated protection against invasive pathogens in mammals, the involvement of metabolic competition or mutualism in mosquito-microbiota and microbiota-Plasmodium interactions has not been investigated. Here, we describe a metabolome analysis of the midgut of An. coluzzii provided with a sugar-meal or a blood-meal, under conventional or antibiotic-treated conditions. We observed that the antibiotic treatment affects the tricarboxylic acid cycle and nitrogen metabolism, notably resulting in decreased abundance of free amino acids. Linking our results with published data, we identified candidate pathways which may participate in microbiota/Plasmodium interactions via metabolic interactions or immune modulation.

Various symptoms have been reported to persist beyond acute phase of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, which is referred as long coronavirus disease 19 (long COVID-19). Over 65 million individuals suffer from long COVID-19. However, the causes of long COVID-19 have been largely unknown. Since long COVID-19 symptoms are observed throughout the body, vascular endothelial dysfunction may be a strong candidate to induce long COVID-19. The angioten-sin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the entry receptor of SARS-CoV-2, is ubiquitously expressed in endothelial cells. We previously found that the risk factors for athero-sclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and the history of ASCVD can be the risk for severe COVID-19, suggesting a contribution of pre-existing endothelial dysfunction to severe COVID-19. Here, we show a significant association of endothelial dysfunction with development of long COVID-19 and show that biomarkers for endothelial dysfunction in patients with long COVID-19 are also crucial players in development of ASCVD. We consider the influence of long COVID-19 on development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ASCVD. Furthermore, we suggest the therapeutic interventions for long COVID-19 by considering endothelial dysfunction as the treatment tar-gets for long COVID-19. Such interventions may prevent pandemic of CKD and ASCVD in post COVID-19 era.

Achieving the thermal conductivity required for efficient heat management in semiconductors and other devices requires the integration of thermally conductive ceramic fillers at concentrations of 60 vol% or higher. However, the increased filler content often negatively affects the mechanical properties of the composite matrix, limiting its practical applicability. To address this issue, in this paper, we present a new strategy to reduce the required ceramic filler content: the use of a thermally conductive ceramic composite filler with carbon nanotubes (CNT) grown on aluminum nitride (AlN). We have combined catalyst coating technology with vacuum filtration to ensure that the catalyst is uniformly applied to micrometer-sized AlN particles, followed by efficient and uniform synthesis of CNTs using a water-assisted process in a vertical furnace. By carefully controlling the number of vacuum filtration cycles and the growth time of the CNTs, we demonstrate precise control over the number and length of the CNT layers, thereby adjusting the properties of the composite to the intended specifications. When AlN/CNT hybrid fillers are incorporated into silicone rubber, while maintaining the mechanical properties of rubber, the thermal diffusivity achieved at reduced filler levels exceeds that of composites using AlN-only or simultaneous AlN and CNTs formulations. This demonstrates the critical role of CNTs on AlN surfaces. Our study represents a significant advancement in the design of thermally conductive materials with potential implications for a wide range of applications.

Childhood obesity is a public health problem and most of the interventions are focused on healthy habits as reducing energy intake, avoiding a sedentary lifestyle and increasing physical activity. However, usually they are based in individual programs, with few structured interventions in health systems without satisfactory results. PinPo aims to carry out an integral intervention in children with obesity, as well as in their parents and caregivers, to get motivation to change towards healthy lifestyle habits. The program contains 9 educational grupal sessions directed by a multidisciplinary expert team. 10 boys and girls, and another group with 10 family members and/or caregivers participate in sessions during 90 min biweekly. Moreover, there is an individual adaptation depending on the severity and comorbidities. At the beginning and at the end of the program, an integral evaluation for health status is developed including anthropometric, nutritional, physical activity, and psychologist and analytical measurements. Finally, a satisfaction survey is carried out on the participants.In conclusion, the implementation of PinPo could offer to paediatric patients with obesity and their families, an integral intervention to treat obesity and its complications. So, there are expectations of achieving favorable results that also allow to optimize its effectiveness.

The stromal vascular cell fraction (SVF) of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT and SAT) has increasingly come into focus in stem cell research, since these compartments represent a rich source of multipotent adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). ASCs exhibit a self- renewal potential and differentiation capacity. Our aim was to study the different expression of embryonic stem cell markers NANOG, SOX2 and OCT3/4 and to evaluate if there exists a hierarchal role in this network in ASCs derived from both SAT and VAT. ASCs were isolated from SAT and VAT biopsies of 72 consenting patients (23 men, 47 women; age 45 ± 10; BMI between 25 and 30 range) undergoing elective open-abdominal surgery. Sphere-forming capability was evaluated by plating cells in low adhesion plastic. Stem cell markers CD90 and CD105 were analyzed by flow cytometry and stem cell transcription factors NANOG, SOX2 and OCT3/4 were detected by immunoblotting and Real-Time PCR. NANOG, SOX2 and OCT3/4 interplay was explored by gene silencing. ASCs from VAT and SAT confirmed their mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) phenotype expressing the specific MSC markers CD90, CD105, NANOG, SOX2 and OCT3/4. NANOG silencing induced a significant OCT 3/4 (70% ± 0.05) and SOX2 (75% ± 0.03) down-regulation whereas SOX2 silencing did not affect NANOG gene expression. Adipose tissue is an important source of MSC, and siRNA experiments endorse a hierarchical role of NANOG in the complex transcription network that regulates pluripotency and plasticity.

A Berry geometrical phase is identified in a strongly metastable system containing dynamically responsive clathrate hydrate structures within a crystal-fluid material. High energy degeneracy in the associated chemistry produces local stability and false vacuum conditions that lead to non-extensive and non-additive contributions in the fundamental thermodynamic relation. Application of Ginzburg-Landau theory and the scaling laws reveals a coherence length and a penetration depth for a macro-scale dual superconductor. The coherence length determines non-extensive volume changes whilst its inverse gives the Higgs mass. The penetration depth determines the extent of QCD vacuum suppression whilst its inverse gives the vector boson mass together with indirect manifestation as non-additive hyperbolic curvature. Simultaneous emergence of the Ginzburg-Landau superconducting phase transition is consistent with gauge-invariant coupling of the scalar field to the Yang-Mills action in QCD. The discovery of an energy gap in the gradient energy term of the system Lagrangian is associated with a critical correlation length revealed in the transition from a gapped to a gapless superconducting state. Together with the emergence and absorption of the Higgs-like scalar field, a mechanism for describing a renormalized QCD mass gap arises.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses a significant economic and clinical burden. Clinical inertia is defined as the failure of healthcare providers to modify therapy in the presence of clear indications. This study aimed to identify patient opinions on insulin to understand the barriers preventing type 2 diabetes patients from initiating insulin treatment when recommended by their physician. This cross-sectional observational study included 671 individuals with poorly controlled T2DM and HbA1c levels exceeding 10%. These patients required either the initiation or escalation of their existing insulin therapy. The participants were referred to Thi-Qar Specialized Diabetes Endocrine and Metabolism Center (TDEMC) for consultation between January 2022 and July 2022.Results: During discussions between the researcher (clinician) and the inadequately controlled T2DM patients, the primary reasons for refusing insulin therapy were identified. These reasons included fear of injections, the belief that insulin induces dependence and is a last resort, concerns about hypoglycemia and complications, cost, difficulty in computing doses, social stigma, inconvenience and disruption to life and work, storage challenges, fear of weight gain, dependence on others, and lack of confidence.The study concludes that the clinical barriers faced by individuals who refuse the initiation of insulin therapy are diverse. The most common belief among the patients was that insulin leads to dependence (38%), while the smallest percentage cited a lack of confidence in insulin as an effective treatment for lowering hyperglycemia.

Background/Objectives: Meconopsis has long been used in traditional Tibetan medicine to treat various diseases. However, blue-flowered Meconopsis (M. betonicifolia) is becoming increasingly scarce due to overharvesting. As a potential alternative, yellow-flowered Meconopsis (M. integrifolia) shows promise but requires comprehensive characterization. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the anti-inflammatory potential of yellow- and blue-flowered Meconopsis species. Methods: LC-MS was used to analyze the chemical profiles of yellow- and blue-flowered Meconopsis. Putative targets of shared constituents were subjected to GO and disease enrichment analysis. The LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophage model was employed to assess anti-inflammatory effects. Metabolomics was applied to gain mechanistic insights. Results: LC-MS revealed over 70% chemical similarity between species. Enrichment analysis associated targets with inflammation-related pathways. In macrophage assays, both species demonstrated dose-dependent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, with yellow Meconopsis exhibiting superior efficacy. Metabolomics showed modulation of key inflammatory metabolic pathways. Conclusions: This integrative study validated yellow-flowered Meconopsis as a credible alternative to its blue-flowered counterpart for anti-inflammatory applications. Metabolic profiling provided initial clues regarding their multi-targeted modes of action, highlighting clinical relevance and potential for sustainable utilization and biodiversity conservation.

Background/Objectives: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) is a non-invasive marker of atherosclerosis. Low omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake and vitamin D deficiency are potential cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with CKD. The aim of this study was to evaluate dietary intake and status of omega-3 PUFA and vitamin D in pre-dialysis and hemodialysis patients and to examine the link of dietary α-linolenic acid (ALA) and fish consumption with blood pressure and C-IMT in CKD patients. Methods: All 77 selected patients (36 pre-dialysis, 41 on hemodialysis) underwent standardized clinical, nutritional, and laboratory assessments. Repeated 24-hour recalls were performed to assess dietary intake. The fatty acid profile was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Results: Inadequate vitamin D intake and vitamin D status were found in 95% of patients. PUFAs profiles did not differ between hemodialysis and pre-dialysis participants. Dietary intake of ALA was negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p=0.007), C-IMT (p=0.002), serum CRP (p=0.044), iPTH (p=0.01) and 25(OH)D3 (p=0.006). ALA intake of more than 0.23 g/daily was associated with lower SBP (p=0.001), serum 25(OH)D3 (p=0.004), and C-IMT (p=0.002). Conclusions: This study contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between dietary ALA intake and C-IMT in CKD. The results of this study could emphasize the significant role of the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and inadequate omega-3 PUFA intake and status considering CVD health in CKD patients.

Dengue virus is a global health problem most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. However, after the approval of two vaccines, Dengvaxia, TV003/TV005 of Takeda, for its prevention, problems were reported, like enhanced risks of infection or less efficiency of protection. Since then, more struggles have been in demand for the development of better vaccines. Here, we conducted a new design through an in-silico strategy. Initially, epitopes were chosen based on their antigenicity, immunogenicity, and binding affinity with MHC molecule, while excluded with allergenicity, toxicity and potential risk of antibody dependent enhancement. Subsequently, a core antigen was constructed with selected epitopes and linked with distinct adjuvant proteins to achieve three candidate vaccines, PSDV-1~3. PSDV-2 was chosen for further validation based on their advantage in physicochemical and structural properties. With a panel of simulations, this artificial protein showed tight binding with pattern recognition receptors, good stability, robust immune induction, and ultimately was confirmed as a high quality vaccine candidate. The plasmid for its recombinant expression was then designed accordingly. With our new design, one more choice was obtained for the effective protection from Dengue virus. Further experimental validations are still require to confirm it protection capacity and safety.

Senna rugosa is a species found in the Cerrado and used in folk medicine as a vermifuge and in the treatment of poisonous snakebites accidents. In this work, we identified the main secondary metabolites present in ethanolic extracts of the leaves (ELSR) and roots (ERSR) of S. rugosa and evaluated the potential cytoprotective effect against cellular macromolecular damage, as well as the cytotoxic properties of the extracts on the K562 and Jurkat leukemic cell lines. The identification of metabolites was done by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activities were investigated by direct ABTS•+ and DPPH• radical scavenging methods, protection against oxidative damage in proteins and DNA. The cytotoxic properties were investigated against healthy cells, isolated from human peripheral blood (PBMC) and leukemic cell lines. The leaf extract contains catechin, rutin, epigallocatechin derivatives, kaempferol glycosides, luteolin, and dimeric and trimeric procyanidins, while the root extract profile shows obtusichromoneside derivatives, 2-methoxystypandrone, stilbene derivatives, naphthopyranones, and flavanone derivatives. The extracts showed antioxidant activity, with IC50 of 4.86 ± 0.51 µg/mL and 8.33 ± 0.90 µg/mL in the ABTS assay for ELSR and ERSR, respectively. And in the DPPH• assay, the IC50 was 19.98 ± 1.96 µg/mL for ELSR and 13.37 ± 1.05 µg/mL for ERSR. The extracts protected macromolecules against oxidative damage at concentrations of 5 µg/mL. The cytotoxicity test against leukemic strains was observed after 24 and 48 hours of treatment. After 48 h, results against the K562 cell line demonstrate IC50 of 242.54 ± 2.38 µg/mL and 223.00 ± 2.34 µg/mL for ELSR and ERSR , respectively. While against the Jurkat cell line, these extracts showed IC50 of 171.45 ± 2.25 µg/mL and 189.30 ± 2.27 µg/mL, respectively Results on PBMC viability, demonstrate that the extracts showed selectivity for the leukemic cell lines. Together, our results reveal that the leaves and roots of S. rugosa have completely distinct and complex chemical compositions. This study expands the repertoire of identified chemical compounds and underscores their significant pharmacological potential in conditions related to oxidative stress and leukemia.

Background and Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the SII index and the micro-macro complications and death that develop in the first year and the following 3 years, following the calculation of the index in type 2 diabetic retinopathy patients. Materials and Methods: This study was performed retrospectively with 523 type 2 diabetic retinopathy patients admitted to the endocrinology outpatient clinic of our hospital between January 2019 and December 2019. The demographic, and clinical characteristics of the patients were evaluated using descriptive statistics. Shapiro-Wilk test was used for the normal distribution of quantitative data; Mann-Whitney U, Mc Nemar Chi-square, and Cochran's Q tests were used to analyze SII values between groups and complication rates by years; sensitivity and specificity were determined by ROC analysis and considered statistically significant with a significance level of P

The stepwise hydrogenation of the C=C bond and C=O group of acrolein on Au₃ and Au₅ model systems is investigated using the density functional theory(DFT) PW91 functional. Our results show that the C=C hydrogenation is more favorable than that of C=O bond on Au₃ with the barriers of the rate-determining step being 0.35 and 0.62 eV respectively. On the other hand, the C=O reduction is preferred over the hydrogenation of the C=C bond on Au₅. The corresponding barriers of the rate-determining steps are 0.45 and 0.54 eV, respectively. This demonstrated that the second hydrogenation step controls the reaction on both Au₃ and Au₅ for C=O and C=C hydrogenation and the C=O hydrogenation on Au₅ is preferred over the hydrogenation of the C=C bond, which is helpful to address the reactivity of small size-selected supported gold clusters.

Energy metabolism regulates the proliferation of stem cells by regulating energy production and the production of substrates through biosynthetic pathways. It is an important target for cell regulation and stem cell applications, and is crucial for determining the pluripotency and cell fate of stem cells. In this context, this article focuses on reviewing the latest research progress on the association between glucose metabolism, amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and mitophagy with stem cell function, elucidating how key energy metabolism pathways affect stem cell function by regulating signal transduction and epigenetic modifications. In this review, we discuss the key factors affecting energy metabolism and their association with stem cell function. The integration of energy metabolism and stem cell fate regulation will open up a new path for future regenerative medicine practices.

Background: Many risk-modifying factors affect cancer incidence and mortality rates. Solar UVB reduces cancer risk by producing vitamin D, which has many mechanisms to reduce risk of cancer incidence, progression, and metastasis. Obesity increases cancer risk through several mechanisms, including increased inflammation. Method and Materials. We present an ecological study (a type of observational study) of incidence and/or mortality rates for cancers during 2007–2016 of 17 anatomical sites with respect to solar ultraviolet-B (UVB) doses and obesity prevalence. Data were averaged for 12 geographical regions. Results: Solar UVB doses were significantly inversely correlated with incidence rates for three types of cancer for males. They were inversely correlated with mortality rates for five cancers for males and four for females. Obesity prevalence was directly correlated with mortality rates for three cancers for males and seven for females. Discussion: The ecological approach has certain limitations, such as its sensitivity only to regional variations in relation to specific risk-modifying factors. In this study, these limitations include numerous factors influencing cancer risk and the fact that the data are averaged across entire regional populations, which may not reflect individual risks. Despite this, the study reveals important correlations. Specifically, it found that solar UVB exposure is linked to a lower risk of certain cancers, while obesity is associated with an increased risk of some cancers in France. These findings are consistent with results from a similar study in the United States on cancer rates between 2016 and 2020. The association between obesity and cancer risk aligns with other observational studies. However, it is uncertain to what extent higher solar UVB exposure or elevated serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels might mitigate the impact of obesity on cancer risk. Reducing cancer mortality in France may be achievable through vitamin D supplementation and efforts to lower obesity prevalence.

Excessive nitrogen application has become a hidden danger threatening the sustainable development of agriculture. Exploring the potential genes will help to improve the nitrogen availability of wheat through molecular breeding. We therefore conducted wheat transcriptomics and proteomics researches under complete culture medium without nitrogen (N0) and complete culture medium with nitrogen (N1). The results showed that, the nitrogen deficit decreased the fresh weight, N content and net photosynthetic rate of winter wheat. 3949 and 2675 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the shoot and root, respectively, while 164 and 129 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in the shoot and root respectively. 9 genes in shoot and 26 genes in root showed the same trends in RNA and protein levels. 5 genes in shoot and 4 genes in root showed the opposite trends in RNA and protein levels. Pathway enrichment of wheat transcriptome and proteome under nitrogen deficit proposed 3 candidate genes related to photosynthesis in shoot, 4 candidate genes related to carbon metabolism in shoot, and 12 candidate genes related to carbon metabolism in root. Meanwhile, the chromosomal and subcellular localization of these genes were listed, which will provide reference for improving nitrogen availability through molecular breeding.

Aspergillus montevidensis is an important domesticated fungus that has been applied to produce many traditional fermented foods under high osmotic conditions. However, the detailed mechanisms of tolerance to osmotic stress remain largely unknown. Here, we construct a target-deleted strain (ΔLeuRS) of A. montevidensis and found that the ΔLeuRS mutants grew slowly and suppressed the development of the cleistothecium compared to the wide-type strains (WT) under salt-stressed conditions. Furthermore, differentially expressed genes (P<0.0001) governed by LeuRS were involved in salt tolerance, ABC transporter, amino acid metabolism, sugar metabolism, and reproduction process. The ΔLeuRS strains compared to WT strains under short- and long-term salinity stress especially altered accumulation levels of metabolites, such as amino acids and derivatives, carbohydrates, organic acids, and fatty acids. The study provides new insights into the underlying mechanisms of salinity tolerance and lays a foundation for favor improvement of foods fermented with A. montevidensis.

Curcumin, a polyphenol with a rich history spanning two centuries, has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent targeting multiple signaling pathways and exhibiting cellular-level activities that contribute to its diverse health benefits. Extensive preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated its ability to enhance the therapeutic potential of various bioactive compounds. While its reported therapeutic advantages are manifold, predominantly attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, its efficacy is hindered by poor bioavailability stemming from inadequate absorption, rapid metabolism, and elimination. To address this challenge, nano-delivery systems have emerged as a promising approach, offering enhanced solubility, biocompatibility, and therapeutic effects for curcumin. We have analyzed the knowledge on curcumin nano-encapsulation and its synergistic effects with other compounds, extracted from electronic databases. We discuss the pharmacokinetic profile of curcumin, current advancements in nano-encapsulation techniques, and the combined effects of curcumin with other agents across various disorders. By unifying existing knowledge, this analysis intends to provide insights into the potential of nano-encapsulation technologies to overcome constraints associated with curcumin treatments, emphasizing the importance of combinatorial approaches in improving therapeutic efficacy. Finally, this compilation of study data aims to inform and inspire future research into encapsulating drugs with poor pharmacokinetic characteristics and investigating innovative drug combinations to improve bioavailability and therapeutic outcomes.

The rapid urbanization in China has significantly contributed to the vast expansion of urban built-up areas. Precisely extracting and monitoring these areas is crucial for understanding and optimizing the developmental process and spatial attributes of smart, compact cities. However, most existing studies tend to focus narrowly on a single city or global scale with a single dimension, often ignoring mesoscale analysis across multiple urban agglomerations. In contrast, our study employs GIS and image processing techniques to integrate multi-source data for the identification of built-up areas. We specifically compare and analyze two representative urban agglomerations in China: the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in the east and the Chengdu-Chongqing (CC) region in the west. We use different methods to extract built-up areas from socio-economic factors, natural surfaces, and traffic network dimensions. Additionally, we utilize a high-precision built-up area dataset of China as a reference for verification and comparison. Our findings reveal several significant insights: (1) The multi-source data fusion approach effectively enhances the extraction of built-up areas within urban agglomerations, achieving higher accuracy than previously employed methods. (2) Our research methodology performs particularly well in the CC urban agglomeration. The average precision rate in CC is 96.03%, while the average precision rate in YRD is lower at 80.33%. This study provides an objective and accurate assessment of distribution characteristics and internal spatial structure of built-up areas within urban agglomerations. This method offers a new perspective for identifying and monitoring built-up areas in Chinese urban agglomerations.

Soot combustion experiments with 5%O2/He were conducted using model soot, and four distinct compositions of CexPr1-xO2-δ oxides were prepared, varying nominal cerium com-positions (x=0, 0.2, 0.3, and 1). The catalyst samples were comprehensively characterized using techniques such as XRD, Raman spectroscopy, HR-TEM, N2 adsorption at −196 °C, XPS, O2-TPD, H2-TPR, and work function measurements. The Pr-rich compositions, rang-ing from Ce0.3Pr0.7O2-δ to PrO2-δ, resulted in a significant increase in the total evolved O2 amounts and enhanced catalyst reducibility. However, a decrease in textural properties of the catalysts was noted, being particularly important for the pure praseodymia under the synthesis route conducted. The catalytic activity was investigated under two contact modes of mixing between soot and catalyst: loose and tight. The results revealed that the catalytic performance is associated with the surface contact in tight contact mode and with the combination of surface/subsurface/bulk oxygen mobility and the BET surface ar-ea in loose contact mode. Notably, the T10 and T50 parameters were achieved at much lower temperatures than the uncatalyzed soot combustion, even under loose contact conditions. Specifically, the 50% conversion was achieved at 511℃ and 538℃ for Ce0.3Pr0.7O2 and Ce0.2Pr0.8O2, respectively. While no direct correlation between catalytic activity and work function was observed a significant relationship emerges between work function values and the formation of oxy-gen vacancies, whatever the conditions used for these measurements. On the other hand, the ability to generate a high population of oxygen vacancies at low temperatures, rather than the direct activation of gas-phase O2, influences the catalytic performance of Pr-doped ceria catalysts, highlighting the importance of surface/subsurface oxygen vacancy generation, which was the parameter which showed better correlation with the catalytic activity, whatever the soot conversion value or the mode of contact considered.

Background: The control of energy metabolism is fundamental for cell growth and function, and anomalies are implicated in complex diseases and ageing. It is important for cells to carefully tune metabolic pathways to optimize their function in response to different nutrient or physiological conditions. Metabolism in yeast cells can be easily manipulated by supplying different carbon sources: on glucose yeast rapidly proliferates by fermentation, analogous to tumour cells growing by aerobic glycolysis, whereas on non-fermentable carbon sources metabolism shifts towards respiration. Results: We screened deletion libraries of fission yeast to identify over 200 genes required for respiratory growth. The growth medium and auxotrophic mutants strongly influenced respiratory metabolism. Most genes uncovered in the mutant screens have not been implicated in respiration in budding yeast. We applied gene expression profiling approaches to compare steady-state fermentative and respiratory growth and to analyse the dynamic adaptation to respiratory growth. The transcript levels of most genes functioning in key energy metabolism pathways were coherently tuned, reflecting anticipated differences in metabolic flows between fermenting and respiring cells. We show that the acetyl-CoA synthase, rather than the citrate lyase, is essential for acetyl-CoA synthesis in fission yeast. We also investigated the transcriptional response to mitochondrial damage by genetic or chemical perturbations, defining a retrograde response that involves the concerted regulation of distinct groups of nuclear genes that may avert harm from mitochondrial malfunction. Conclusions: These systematic and targeted analyses provide a rich framework of the genetic and regulatory basis of fundamental metabolic states to guide future studies on energy metabolism in fission yeast and beyond. Our study pinpoints weaknesses of commonly used auxotroph mutants for investigating energy metabolism. As a model for cellular energy regulation, fission yeast provides an attractive and complementary system to budding yeast.

Iron is an essential nutrient for humans and microbes, such as bacteria. Iron deficiency occurs commonly in critically ill patients, but iron replacement therapy is not considered during the acute phase of critical illness, since it increases iron availability for invading microbes and oxidative stress. However, persistent iron deficiency in the recovery phase is harmful with potential adverse outcomes such as cognitive dysfunction, fatigue and cardiopulmonary dysfunction. Therefore, it is important to treat iron deficiency timely and efficiently. This article reviews current knowledge about iron-related biomarkers in critically ill patients and provides possible criteria to guide decision-making for iron supplementation in the recovery phase of critical illness.

Abstract: Transcription factors are crucial pre-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that can modulate the expression of downstream genes by binding to their promoter regions. DOF (DNA binding with One Finger) proteins are a unique class of transcription factors with extensive roles in plant growth and development. Our previous research indicated a decrease in iron content in chlorotic bamboo leaves. However, to our knowledge, genes related to iron metabolism pathways in bamboo species have not yet been studied. Therefore, in the current study, we identified iron metabolism-related (IMR) genes in bamboo and determined the transcription factors that significantly influence them. Among these, DOFs were found to have widespread effects and potentially significant impacts on their expression. We identified specific DOF members in Dendrocalamus latiflorus with binding abilities through homology with Arabidopsis DOF proteins, and established connections between some of these members and IMR genes using RNA-seq data. Additionally, molecular docking confirmed the binding interactions between these DlDOFs and the DOF binding sites in the promoter regions of IMR genes. The co-expression relationship between the two gene sets was further validated using q-PCR experiments. This study paves the way for research into iron metabolism pathways in bamboo and lays the foundation for understanding the role of DOF transcription factors in D. latiflorus.

Our previous studies demonstrated a tight connection between simvastatin (SIM) inhibition of B16.F10 murine melanoma cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro and strong suppression of the subunit α of hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) (HIF-1 α) production in these cancer cells. Since the translation of HIF-1α is modulated by signaling pathways coordinated by Akt, SIM effects on the link between these two regulatory factors and cancer cell metabolism under normoxia was investigated, which to our knowledge have never been described before. To achieve the proposed aim, SIM effects on cell metabolism were analysed at mRNA (via RNA-seq and RT-qPCR) as well as protein level (via western blot and catalytic activity of the key enzymes) Our data suggested that SIM might orientate glucose transport and metabolism to ensure replenishment of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity. Moreover, it seems that SIM enhanced biosynthetic role of TCA over its energy role to further support synthesis of lipid-derived signaling molecules. Thus, under normoxia SIM treatment orientated lipid metabolism to stimulate isoprenoid and prostaglandin synthesis which might favor melanoma cell survival and aggressiveness.

The amino acid proline accumulates in plants during abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity and is considered a reliable marker of environmental stress. While its accumulation is well established, its precise role in stress tolerance and its underlying molecular mechanism remain less clear. To address these issues, we performed a meta-analysis - a robust statistical technique that synthesizes results from multiple independent studies while accounting for experimental differences. We focused on 16 physiological and morphological parameters affected by drought and salt stress in transgenic plants expressing proline metabolic genes. For each parameter, we calculated the effect size as the response ratio (RR), which represents the logarithm of the mean value in the transgenic group over the mean value of the control group (lnRR). Under stress, most parameters exhibited significantly higher response ratios in the transgenic group, confirming the beneficial effects of proline during drought and salt stress. Surprisingly, under non-stressed conditions, most stress markers showed no significant differences between transgenic and non-transgenic plants, despite elevated proline levels in the former. These results suggest that the benefits of proline may be related to proline catabolism or may only become apparent during stress, possibly due to interactions with reactive oxygen species (ROS), which accumulate predominantly under stress conditions.

The color of carcass fat is an important factor in meat quality. To investigate the characteristics and changes in lipid metabolism of SAT in Mongolian cattle at 34 M of age compared with the control group, we evaluated the color, relative expression of genes associated with browning, and profiles of lipid metabolites by using qPCR and non-targeted lipidomics techniques. Overall, the yellowness value and relative expression of mitochondrial biogenesis–specific markers, thermogenic, UCP2, and beige adipocyte marker genes in the SAT of 34 M cattle were higher than those control (p &lt; 0.05). Using multivariate analysis, 172 significantly different lipids (SDLs) were identified. Triacylglycerols (TGs) and phosphatidylcholines (PCs) had high relative contents with abundant unsaturated fatty acids. The upregulation of TGs observed in the SAT of 34 M cattle mainly consisted of medium- and long-chain fatty acids. Pathway analysis demonstrated that 172 SDLs were primarily involved in glycerophospholipid, glycerolipid, ether lipid, and sphingolipid metabolism. In summary, yellow fat of naturally grazed cattle was impacted by many factors such as lipid metabolism, browning genes expression and age. These findings provide new insight into the characteristics and metabolic pathways of adipose tissue in natural grazing Mongolian cattle.

Salmonella infections can lead to intestinal inflammation and metabolic disorders in birds. However, whether ARA metabolism is involved in Salmonella-induced intestinal inflammation remains unclear. This experiment investigated the changes in cecal flora and arachidonic acid (ARA) metabolism in Hainan Wenchang chickens infected with S. Typhimurium using 16s rDNA sequencing and targeted metabolomics. The results showed that the levels of ARA metabolites were increased in the cecum tissue of Wenchang chickens after infection with S. Typhimurium, including prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2α, lipoxin A4, ±8(9)-EET, ±11(12)-EET, and ±8,9-DiHETrE. The content of key enzymes for ARA production and metabolism (PLA2 and COX-2) in chicken cecum tissues was increased after S. Typhimurium infection. The relative mRNA levels of inflammatory factors were also increased after infection, including IFN-γ, TGF-β1, IL-4, and IL-6. In HD11 cells, the use of a cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor reduced the increased levels of COX-2 and PGF2α induced by S. Typhimurium infection and effectively reduced the inflammatory response. In addition, the number of beneficial genera (e.g., Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Odorobacterium) in the cecum of Wenchang chickens was significantly reduced after infection with S. Typhimurium. In this study, we revealed the structure of the cecal flora of Wenchang chickens infected with S. Typhimurium and demonstrated that S. Typhimurium can mediate the onset and development of intestinal inflammation through the activation of the metabolic pathway of ARA cyclooxygenase in Wenchang chickens. The results can provide data support and theoretical support for the prevention and control of avian salmonellosis.

Lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) is a cornerstone of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease prevention. Although LLT might lead to different reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in women and men, LLT diminishes cardiovascular risk equally effectively in both sexes. Despite similar LLT efficacy, the use of high-intensity statin, ezetimibe, and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors is lower in women compared to men. Women achieve the guideline-recommended LDL-C levels less often than men. Greater cholesterol burden is particularly prominent in women with familial hypercholesterolemia. In clinical practice, women and men with dyslipidemia present with different cardiovascular risk profiles and disease manifestations. The concentrations of LDL-C, lipoprotein(a) and other blood lipids differ between women and men over a lifetime. Dissimilar levels of LLT’s target molecules partially result from sex-specific hormonal and genetic determinants of lipoprotein metabolism. Hence, to evaluate a potential need for sex-specific LLT, this comprehensive review (i) describes the impact of sex on lipoprotein metabolism and lipid profile, (ii) highlights sex differences in cardiovascular risk among patients with dyslipidemia, (iii) presents recent, up-to-date clinical trial and real-world data on LLT efficacy and safety in women, and (iv) discusses diverse medical needs of women and men with dyslipidemia and increased cardiovascular risk.

This paper, from the perspective of Mode 3 of knowledge production, takes the important carrier of knowledge, scientific research papers, as the research object. The mainstream databases (SCIE and SSCI) are chosen as the data sources. Firstly, bibliometric methods are applied to analyze the cooperation status among the main bodies of paper production, including authors and their affiliated institutions, countries, and disciplines; secondly, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to construct a comprehensive evaluation model for the state of research cooperation in carbon neutrality. Based on the evaluation model, the cooperation characteristics of different disciplinary fields and the relationship between paper cooperation status and high-impact research papers are comparatively analyzed. At the same time, an analysis is conducted on the support from the government, the sponsorship from enterprises, and the participation of the public in the process of paper production. Finally, some suggestions are put forward on how to build an innovative ecosystem for carbon neutrality research from the perspective of Mode 3 of knowledge production.

DNA-binding transcription factors are broadly characterized as proteins that bind to specific sequences within genomic DNA and modulate the expression of downstream genes. This study focused on KojR—a transcription factor involved in the metabolism of kojic acid, which is an organic acid synthesized in Aspergillus oryzae and is known for its tyrosinase-inhibitory properties. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying KojR-mediated kojic acid synthesis in remains unclear. Hence, we aimed to obtain a comprehensive identification of KojR-associated genes using genomic Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment (gSELEX-Seq) and RNA-Seq. During the genome-wide exploration of KojR-binding sites via gSELEX-Seq and identification of KojR-dependent differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using RNA-Seq, we confirmed that KojR directly regulates kojT, as was previously reported. We also observed that kojA expression, which may be controlled by KojR, was significantly reduced in a ΔkojR strain. Notably, no binding of KojR to the kojA promoter region was detected. Furthermore, certain KojR-dependent DEGs identified in the present study were associated with enzymes implicated in the carbon metabolic pathway of A. oryzae. This strongly indicates that KojR plays a central role in carbon metabolism in A. oryzae.

Carbohydrates and lipids integrate into a complex metabolic network that is essential to maintain homeostasis. In insects, as in most metazoans, dietary carbohydrates are taken up as monosaccharides whose excess is toxic, even at relatively low concentrations. To cope with this toxicity, monosaccharides are stored either as glycogen or neutral lipids, the latter constituting a quasi-unlimited energy store. Breakdown of these stores in response to energy demand depends on insect species and on several physiological parameters. In this chapter, we review the multiple metabolic pathways and strategies linking carbohydrates and lipids that insects utilize to respond to nutrient availability, food scarcity or physiological activities.

Differences in metabolic regulation among obesity phenotypes, specifically metabolically healthy obese (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) women, may lead to varied responses to interventions, which could be elucidated through metabolomics. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the differences in metabolite profiles between MHO and MUO women and the changes following a lifestyle intervention. Serum from 36 MHO and 34 MUO women, who participated in a lifestyle intervention for weight loss were analyzed using an untargeted proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) at baseline and 6 months post-intervention. Anthropometric, clinical and dietary intake parameters were assessed at both time points. Both groups showed differential metabolites profile at baseline and sixth month. Seven metabolites including trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), arginine, ribose, aspartate, carnitine, choline and tyrosine significantly changed between group post-intervention, in which all showed a decreasing pattern in MHO. Significant reduction in body weight and BMI in the MUO correlated with changes in carnitine and tyrosine levels. In conclusion, metabolite profiles differed significantly between MHO and MUO women before and after a lifestyle intervention. Changes in carnitine and tyrosine levels in MUO correlated with weight loss, suggesting potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Tryptophan, an essential amino acid in mammals obtained from the diet, is influenced by maternal diet, which impacts early life and development of offspring. This is studied under the Developmental Origins of Diseases and Health (DOHaD) concept, so factors from conception to early childhood affect health and disease susceptibility. Tryptophan is metabolized mainly through two pathways: serotonin (5-HT) and kynurenine. The kynurenine pathway, active in the brain, gut, liver, and placenta, breaks down over 95% of tryptophan and plays roles in inflammation, neurotransmission, immune responses, and immune modulation during pregnancy. The serotonin pathway uses up to 5% of Tryptophan, mainly in the gut, adipose tissues, pancreatic cells, and central nervous system, and regulates responses to environmental changes, including sleep, cognition, and feeding behavior. Key enzymes in these pathways include Trp-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO), indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) type1 (IDO1), and type 2 (IDO2) (kynurenine pathway), and tryptophan hydroxylase type 1 (TPH1) and type 2 (TPH2), serotonin pathway. The fetus-placental unit manages tryptophan metabolism. Serotonin and kynurenine are crucial for placental health and fetal development. Serotonin adjusts placental blood volume and aids neurodevelopment. Kynurenine metabolites protect the fetus from maternal immunity and offer initial neuroprotection. At birth, infants switch from placental nutrients to breast milk, rich in tryptophan and protective bioactive molecules. Tryptophan, solely from breast milk, is crucial for infants. Its levels are high in newborns (first three weeks, 2-4 times higher than in adults), gradually declining to adult levels by the fourth week. The highlights the importance of tryptophan for the serotonin and kynurenine pathways in fetuses, newborns and babies applied to the DOHaD concept.

(1) Background: a study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of chronic diseases and health conditions that affect oral health and oral health self-care among independent living older adults in rural areas of Victoria, Australia; (2) Methods: The study analysed data from the Crossroads-II project, with a total of 1407 participants aged 55 years and older. Participants self-completed questionnaires about health conditions, service use, and demographics. 572 attended a 2-hour health screening that included an assessment of prescribed medications; (3) Results: Most participants were female (55.3%), with a mean age of 69.1 (SD=9.2) years. Participants had a high prevalence of medical conditions, the most common were high blood pressure, arthritis, high lipids, hearing loss, and chronic pain. Almost all participants reported taking medications, with an average of 4.3 medications per person. Among those who attended the health screening, 78.1% were taking medications that could cause xerostomia (dry mouth); (4) Conclusions: This study provides initial information on the prevalence of medical conditions, medication usage, with potential impact on oral health of older adults living in rural Victoria. This information would be valuable for healthcare and dental workforce planning, policy development, and improving the overall well-being of this population.

Iron metabolism plays a crucial role in the management of hemoglobinopathies, particularly in conditions such as β-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia (SCA). This paper describes the mechanisms of iron overload in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT), non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT), and SCA, highlighting the distinct paths leading to iron accumulation in each condition. The primary focus of this review article is on the role of genetic modifiers influencing iron metabolism and the variability in iron overload presentation among patients. Genetic mutations in genes such as HFE, HAMP, TFR2, SLC40A1, and others significantly impact iron regulation. These modifiers can exacerbate or ameliorate iron overload, and understanding these genetic factors is important for explaining the diverse disease severity and differences in the mechanism and clinical presentation of iron overload in these patients. The ongoing INHERENT study aims to further elucidate the influence of these genetic modifiers through a comprehensive genome-wide association study, potentially leading to novel therapeutic interventions for managing iron homeostasis in hemoglobinopathy patients.

Introduction: A plethora of biological molecules regulate chondrogenesis in the epiphyseal growth plate. Disruptions of quantity and function of these molecules can manifest clinically as stature abnormalities of various etiologies. Traditionally, the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) axis represents the etiological center of final stature attainment. Of note, little is known about the molecular events that dominate the growth of the craniofacial complex and its correlation with somatic stature. Aim: Given the paucity of the relevant data, this review discusses available information regarding potential applications of lateral cephalometric radiography as a potential clinical indicator of genetic short stature in children. Materials and Methods: A literature search was conducted in the PubMed electronic database using the key words: cephalometric analysis and short stature; cephalometric analysis and achondroplasia; cephalometric analysis and hypochondroplasia; cephalometric analysis and skeletal abnormalities; cephalometr* and SHOX; cephalometr* and CNP; cephalometr* and ACAN; cephalometr* and CNVs; cephalometr* and IHH; cephalometr* and FGFR3; cephalometr* and Noonan syndrome; cephalometr* and “Turner syndrome”; cephalometr* and achondroplasia. Results: In individuals with genetic syndromes causing short stature, linear growth of the craniofacial complex is confined, following the pattern of somatic short stature regardless of its etiology. The angular cephalometric measurements differ from the average height normal individuals and are suggestive of a posterior placement of the jaws and a vertical growth pattern of the face. Conclusion: The greater part of the existing literature regarding cephalometric measurements in short statured children with genetic syndromes provides qualitative data. Furthermore, cephalometric data for individuals affected with specific rare genetic conditions causing short stature, should be the focus of future studies. These quantitative data are required to potentially establish cut-off values to refer for genetic testing based on craniofacial phenotypes.

The primary therapeutic method for correcting hyperglycemia today is diet therapy. Lipids are not only a source of nutrients but can also act as initiators of adipocyte differentiation in the fetus, which explains the development of fetal macrosomia and future metabolic disorders in children born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Changes in the profile of circulating lipids in the maternal bloodstream, depending on adherence to a rational diet among mothers with GDM and the development of fetal macrosomia, is a complex and not fully understood process. The aim of the study was to examine the characteristics of the lipid profile in the blood plasma of pregnant women with GDM in all trimesters of pregnancy based on adherence to diet therapy. The design of the clinical part of the work was carried out within the framework of a 'case-control' study.The study included 110 women, 80 of whom were in the control group, 20 in the group with GDM adhering to the diet, and 10 in the group with GDM not adhering to the diet. The laboratory part was conducted as part of a longitudinal dynamic study with venous blood samples taken at three points: 11-13, 24-26, and 30-32 weeks of pregnancy.A significant impact of diet therapy on the blood lipid composition throughout pregnancy was demonstrated, starting as early as the first trimester. ROC analysis showed high effectiveness of the developed models with an AUC of 0.98 for the "30-32 weeks" model, with sensitivity and specificity of 1 and 0.9, respectively. An association was found between diet, maternal blood lipid composition at 32 weeks of pregnancy, and newborn weight. The direction of changes in the lipid spectrum during the development of macrosomia and diet therapy is diametrically opposed. This confirms at the molecular level that diet therapy can normalize not only carbohydrate but also lipid metabolism in the mother and fetus. Based on the obtained data, it can be suggested that after validation, the developed models could be used to refine the prognosis of macrosomia development based on the lipid profile of blood plasma at different stages of pregnancy.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)miscible fracturing huff and puff technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing the recovery rate of crude oil, particularly in reservoirs with challenging physical properties, strong water sensitivity, high injection pressure, and complex water injection dynamics. In this study, the oil-increasing mechanism and huff and puff effect of CO2 miscible fracturing fluid are investigated through a comprehensive experimental approach. Specifically, experiments on PVT gas injection expansion, minimum miscible pressure, and CO2 miscible fracturing huff and puff are conducted on the G fault block reservoir in J Oilfield. The findings demonstrate that injecting CO2 into reservoirs leads to oil volume expansion, viscosity reduction, and saturation pressure increase. Additionally, the inclusion of solubilizers and viscosity reducers further enhances the efficiency of crude oil extraction. Solubilizers not only improve oil recovery but also reduce the minimum miscible pressure required for effective CO2 dispersion. Furthermore, the shut-in time, permeability, and huff and puff method all have considerable impacts on huff and puff recovery rate. This study offers valuable technical insights, supporting the application of CO2 miscible fracturing huff and puff technology to enhance oil recovery in low-permeability reservoirs.

Non-coding RNAs have been described as crucial regulators of gene expression and guards for cellular homeostasis. Some recent papers are focused on vault RNAs, one of the classes of non-coding RNA, and their role in cell proliferation, tumorigenesis, apoptosis, cancer response to therapy, and autophagy, which made them potential therapy targets in oncology. In the human genome, four vault RNA paralogues can be distinguished. They are associated with vault complexes, considered the largest ribonucleoprotein complex. The protein part of these complexes consists of a major vault protein (MVP) and two minor vault proteins (vPARP and TEP1). The name of the complex, as well as vault RNA, comes from the hollow barrel-shaped structure that reminds a vault. Their sequence and structure are highly evolutionary conserved and show many similarities in comparison with different species, but vault RNAs show various roles. Vaults were discovered in 1986, and their functions remained unclear for many years. Although not much is known about their contribution to cell metabolism, it has become clear that vault RNAs are involved in various processes and pathways associated with cancer progression and modulating cell functioning in normal and pathological stages. In this review, we discuss known functions of the human vault RNAs in the context of cellular metabolism, emphasizing processes related to cancer and cancer therapy efficacy.

In this study, the mechanical and piezoresistive properties of mortars reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon micro fibers (CMFs) are determined. Silica fume as well as a polymer with polyalkylene glycol graft chains were used as dispersant agents for the CNTs and CMFs incorporation into the cement paste. The mechanical properties of the mortar composites were investigated in respect to their flexural and compressive strength. A four-probe method was used for the estimation of their piezoresistive response. The test outcomes revealed that the combination of the dispersant agents along with a low content of CNTs and CMF by weight of cement (bwoc) result in the production of a stronger mortar with enhanced mechanical performance and durability. More specifically, there was an increase in flexural and compressive strength up to 38% and 88%, respectively. Moreover, the piezoresistive response of the reinforced cementitious materials was attributed to the variation of electrical resistivity due to tunneling transport of electrons stemming from two different mechanisms due to the incorporation of the conductive admixtures (CNTs and CMF). This work aims to contribute to the progress acceleration in the field of developing structural materials with self-sensing and electrical actuation related properties.

The aim of our study was a comprehensive comparative assessment of the effect of consumption of 1 and 2% cholesterol as part of a standard diet with and without regular moderate physical activity on the main biomarkers of lipid and cholesterol metabolism, as well as the intestinal microbiota of male Wistar rats. The animals were randomly divided into 5 groups according to body weight and Open Field test results: Control (n=10), 1% Chol (n=10), 2% Chol (n=10), 1% Chol + RUN (n=10) and 2% Chol + RUN. The cholesterol was additionally added in the amount of 1g or 2g/100g, respectively, to the diet of animals. The rats of experimental groups 1% Chol + RUN and 2% Chol + RUN were subjected to regular (2 days a week) physical activity on a Treadmill. In rats of four experimental groups, when compared to the Control, a response of 39 indicators was revealed. The largest number of changes in biomarkers - 29 (statistically significant, p

Central nervous system (CNS) myelin has a crucial role in accelerating the propagation of action potentials and providing trophic support to the axons. Defective myelination and lack of myelin regeneration following demyelination can both lead to axonal pathology and neurodegeneration. Energy deficit has been evoked as an important contributor to various CNS disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS). This suggests that dysregulation of energy homeostasis in oligodendroglia may be an important contributor to myelin dysfunction and lack of repair observed in the disease. This article will focus on energy metabolism pathways in oligodendroglial cells and highlight differences dependent on the maturation stage of the cell. In addition, it will emphasize that the use of alternative energy sources by oligodendroglia may be required to save glucose for functions that cannot be fulfilled by other metabolites, thus ensuring sufficient energy input for both myelin synthesis and trophic support to the axons. Finally, it will point out that neuropathological findings in a subtype of MS lesions likely reflect defective oligodendroglial energy homeostasis in the disease.

Photocatalytic ammonia decomposition to produce N2 and H2 was achieved using single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) nanohybrids. Physical modification of ferrocene-dye-encapsulated CNTs by amphiphilic C60-dendron yielded nanohybrids with a dye/CNT/C60 coaxial heterojunction. Upon visible light irradiation, an aqueous solution of NH3 and dye@CNT/C60-dendron nanohybrids produced both N2 and H2 in a stoichiometric ratio of 1:3. Action spectra of this reaction clearly demonstrated that the encapsulated dye acted as the photosensitizer, with an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 0.22% at 510 nm (the λmax of the dye). This study presents the first example of dye-sensitized ammonia decomposition and offers a new avenue for developing efficient and sustainable photocatalytic hydrogen production systems.

The aim was to identify if surface electromyography (sEMG) parameters are indicative of post-activation potentiation (PAP)/post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE), in terms of twitch potentiation and voluntary performance. Three databases were used in March 2024, with the following inclusion criteria: (a) original research, assessed in healthy human adults, (b) sEMG parameters were measured. The exclusion criteria were: (a) studies with no PAP/PAPE-protocol, (b) non-randomized control trials. The following data were extracted: study characteristics/demographics, PAP/PAPE-protocols, sEMG parameters, twitch/performance outcomes, and study findings. A modified physiotherapy evidence database (PEDro) scale was used for quality assessment. Fifteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with a total of 199 subjects were included. The M-wave amplitude (combined with a twitch torque outcome) was shown to generally be indicative of PAP. The sEMG amplitude (in some muscles) were found to be indicative of PAPE during ballistic movements, while a small decrease in the MdF (in certain muscles) were shown to reflect PAPE. Changes in the Hmax/Mmax ratio were found to contribute (temporally) to PAP, while the H-reflex amplitude was shown to be neither indicative of PAP nor PAPE. This review provides preliminarily findings suggesting that certain sEMG parameters could be indicative of PAP/PAPE. However, future research is warranted.

The imperative to achieve carbon neutrality has driven significant advancements in the construction sector, particularly in the production and utilization of building materials. This paper explores innovative strategies and practices designed to reduce the carbon footprint of construction materials, with a focus on both the production processes and the application of sustainable materials. Key innovations include the development of low-carbon and carbon-negative materials, the integration of renewable energy sources in production, and the implementation of advanced recycling technologies. Case studies of successful projects demonstrate how these strategies can be applied in real-world scenarios, highlighting both the benefits and challenges encountered. The analysis also delves into the technical and economic aspects of these innovations, addressing the barriers to their widespread adoption and proposing solutions to overcome these challenges. Through a comprehensive examination of current practices and future trends, this paper aims to provide a roadmap for the construction industry to achieve carbon neutrality, contributing to broader climate change mitigation efforts and fostering a more sustainable built environment.

Conventional fertilization practices can lead to many ecological problems, such as nutrient imbalance, soil acidity, and reduced soil fertility in natural rubber plantations. To address these challenges, a field investigation was strategically carried out to substitute inorganic fertilizer with organic fertilizers consisted of six treatments, i.e., no fertilization (CK), inorganic fertilizer (NPK), 25 % replacement of inorganic through organic (25%M), 50 % replacement of inorganic through organic (50%M), 75 % replacement of inorganic through organic (75%M), and 100% organic fertilizer (100%M). The soil physicochemical properties (SOC, TN, AN, C:N, pH, NH4+-N, and NO3--N) and carbon and nitrogen converting enzymes (BG, NAG, and LAP) were all determined. The partial substitution of inorganic fertilizers with organic fertilizers (i.e., 75%M at surface soil layer) showed higher SOC (14.52 g.kg-1), TN (1.06 g.kg-1), AN (20.07 mg.kg-1), C:N (14.63), NH4+-N (10.63 mgkg-1), and NO3--N(11.06 mg.kg-1) than NPK and CK. Such increase in physicochemical properties in partial replacement of inorganic with organic fertilizers plots resulted from higher carbon and nitrogen enzymes activities (BG (143.17 nmol.g-1.h-1), NAG (153.96 nmol.g-1.h-1), and LAP (153.48 nmol.g-1.h-1)) compared to NPK and CK, and further the person correlation and RDA analysis confirmed a significant positive correlation between SOC, AN, and soil enzymes. This study presents a new strategy for assessing the impact of partially replacing inorganic fertilizers with organic fertilizers in rubber plantations, mainly by modifying the soil nutrient composition in tropical regions.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) triggers alterations in the maternal gut microbiome. Alongside metabolic shifts, microbial products may impact clinical factors and influence pregnancy outcomes. Here, we performed two separate analyses to integrate the maternal microbiome-metabolomic differences from a subset of the “Choosing Healthy Options in Carbohydrate Energy” (CHOICE) study. Women diagnosed with GDM were randomized to a diet higher in complex carbohydrates (CHOICE, n=18, 60% complex carbohydrate/25% fat/15% protein) or a conventional GDM diet (CONV, n=16, 40% carbohydrate/45% fat/15% protein). All meals were provided, diets were eucaloric, and fiber content was similar. CHOICE diet was associated with increases in TMAO, lysophosphotidylcholines, indoxyl sulfate, and several triglyceride (TG) species, while CONV diet was associated with higher plasma hippuric acid, aspartic acid, betaine, glutamic acid, indole propionic acid, and indoleacetic acid, suggesting that differences in lipid metabolism and tryptophan utilization pathways are linked to specific maternal diets. We also identified two latent metabolic groups not associated with either diet treatment: one metabolome associated with higher fasting glucose, and the other associated with higher fasting TGs after 7 weeks on either diet. Our study underscores the importance of utilizing dietary approaches to optimize maternal-fetal health outcomes in GDM treatment.

Deuterium is a heavy nonradioactive isotope of hydrogen, having a neutron as well as a proton, making it twice as heavy. It is a natural element, present at 156 parts per million in seawater. The ATPase pumps in the mitochondria utilize proton motive force to drive ATP synthesis, and deuterons damage the pumps, producing a stutter that can cause reactive oxygen release and inefficiencies in ATP synthesis. Cellular metabolism incorporates several novel mechanisms to assure low deuterium content in the mitochondria and other organelles. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a major carrier of deuterium depleted (deupleted) protons to supply the mitochondria. Many enzymes, especially flavoproteins, are able to use proton tunneling to fractionate out deuterium. In this paper, we argue that the amino acid proline is able to trap and sequester deuterium, and that peptidyl prolyl isomerases (PPIases) play a central role in facilitating deuterium trapping in proline-rich proteins, most notably collagen. The endothelial glycocalyx also sequesters deuterium in gelled water lining the blood vessels, creating a battery and promoting low deuterium in the circulation. Excess deuterium promotes cancer growth, and cancer cells release large quantities of lactate via aerobic glycolysis to help reverse deuterium overload, systemically.

The severe climate changes due to global warming pushed the world to strive to reduce carbon emissions. This study aims to minimize the carbon emissions for a proposed smart energy hub. This paper prioritizes the minimization of carbon emissions, taking into consideration the minimization of operation running costs, and the maximization of profit. In this paper two optimization scenarios were studied, to compare the results. In the first scenario, the minimization of carbon emissions was achieved, in the second scenario, the minimization of running costs and maximization of profit from the hub assets were studied. The proposed model was designed in MATLAB. Then the results were verified by CPLEX and validated by RTDS. The multi-objective model was presented to obtain the optimal operation. The mitigation of data uncertainty was achieved by applying the Kalman filter. In this work, a novel method was proposed for the estimation of the quarter-hour resolution data from the hourly one via the Kalman filter rather than applying the classic polynomial interpolation methods.

Intermittent religious fasting increases a risk of hypo- and hyperglycemia in individuals with diabetes, but its impact in those without diabetes is poorly investigated. The study aim was to examine the effects of religious Bahá'í fasting (BF) on glycemic control and variability and compare these effects with time-restricted eating (TRE). In a three-arm randomized controlled trial, 16 subjects without diabetes were assigned to a BF, 16:8 TRE or control group. Continuous glucose monitoring and food intake documentation was conducted before and during the 19 days of intervention, and 24-hour mean glucose, glycemic variability indices, and glucotypes were assessed. BF and TRE groups, but not the control group, markedly reduced the daily eating window while maintaining macronutrient composition. Only the BF group decreased caloric intake (-677.8 ± 357.6 kcal, p=0.013), body weight (-1.92 ± 0.95 kg, p=0.011) and BMI (-0.65 ± 0.28 kg, p=0.006). Higher maximum glucose values were observed during BF in the within-group (+1.41 ± 1.04, p=0.039) and between-group comparison (BF vs. Control: p= 0.010 and TRE vs. BF: p= 0.022). However, there were no alterations of 24-hour mean glucose, intra- and inter-day glycemic variability indices, or glucotypes in any group. Proportions of time above and below range (70-180mg/dl) and HbA1c values remained unchanged. BF and TRE do not exhibit negative effects on glycemic control and variability in subjects without diabetes.

Understanding the dynamics of Organic Carbon mineralization is fundamental in forecasting biosphere to atmosphere Net Carbon Ecosystem Exchange (NEE). With this perspective, we developed 3D-CMCC-PSM, a new version of the hybrid Process Based Model 3D‐CMCC FEM where also heterotrophic respiration (R_h) is explicitly simulated. The aim was to quantify NEE as a forward problem, by subtracting Ecosystem Respiration (R_eco) to Gross Primary Productivity (GPP). To do so, we developed a simplification of the Soil Carbon dynamics routine proposed in DNDC [1]. The method calculates decomposition as a function of soil moisture, temperature, state of the organic compartments, and relative abundance of microbial pools. Given the pulse dynamics of soil respiration, we introduced modifications in some of the principal constitutive relations involved in phenology and littering sub-routines. We quantified the model structure related uncertainty in NEE, by running our training simulations over 1000 random parameter-sets extracted from parameters distributions expected from literature. 3D-CMCC-PSM predictability was tested on independent time series for 6 Fluxnet sites. The model resulted in daily and monthly estimations highly consistent with the observed time series. It showed lower predictability in Mediterranean ecosystems, suggesting that it may need further improvements in addressing evapotranspiration and water dynamics.

Aquatic animals have unique physiological mechanisms to absorb and retain minerals from their diets and water. Research and development in the area of mineral nutrition of farmed fish and crustaceans have been relatively slow and major gaps exist in the knowledge of trace element requirements, physiological functions and bioavailability from feed ingredients. Quantitative dietary requirements have been reported for three macroelements (calcium, phosphorus and magnesium) and six trace minerals (zinc, iron, copper, manganese, iodine and selenium) for selected fish species. Mineral deficiency signs in fish include reduced bone mineralization, anorexia, lens cataracts (zinc), skeletal deformities (phosphorus, magnesium, zinc), fin erosion (copper, zinc), nephrocalcinosis (magnesium deficiency, selenium toxicity), thyroid hyperplasia (iodine), muscular dystrophy (selenium) and hypochromic microcytic anaemia (iron). An excessive intake of minerals from either diet or gill uptake causes toxicity and therefore a fine balance between mineral deficiency and toxicity is vital for aquatic organisms to maintain their homeostasis either through increased absorption or excretion. Release of minerals from uneaten or undigested feed and from urinary excretion can cause eutrophication of natural waters, which requires additional consideration in feed formulation. The current knowledge in mineral nutrition of fish is briefly reviewed.

In intermediary metabolism, enzymes are mainly for the specific provision of one small molecule from another, B from A, for its further use. But there are also decades of work relating to another evolved purpose, which is to prevent untoward effects of odd compounds of various origins, and of ordinary intermediates, whose improper concentrations may be avoided by hydrolases and other activities of metabolic correction.

Rhodiola rosea, a perennial herb from the Crassulaceae family, contains the bioactive compound salidroside, recognized as an adaptogen with significant therapeutic potential for bone metabolism. Salidroside promotes osteoblast proliferation and differentiation by activating critical signaling pathways, including bone morphogenetic protein-2 and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, essential for bone formation and growth. It enhances osteogenic activity by increasing alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization markers, while upregulating key transcription factors such as runt-related transcription factor 2 and osterix. Additionally, salidroside facilitates angiogenesis via the hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor pathway, crucial for coupling bone formation with vascular support. Its antioxidant properties offer protection against bone loss by reducing oxidative stress and promoting osteogenic differentiation through the nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 pathway. Salidroside's ability to counteract the negative effects of glucocorticoids on bone cells and prevent steroid-induced osteonecrosis, along with its anti-inflammatory properties, enhances its potential in treating conditions like osteoarthritis. These attributes underscore its multifaceted role in bone metabolism. This article reviews the literature, including in vitro and in vivo studies primarily on rodent models, demonstrating salidroside's efficacy in mitigating bone loss, preserving bone microarchitecture, and accelerating fracture healing. Future research directions to explore salidroside’s applications in bone-related diseases are also highlighted.

The objectives of the study were to determine the spatial rate of CO₂ flux (Net Ecosystem Exchange) and soil moisture in a wetland ecosystem applying Sentinel-1 IW (Interferometric Wide) data of VH (Vertical Transmit/Horizontal Receive—cross polarization) and VV (Vertical Transmit/Vertical Receive—like polarization) polarization. In-situ measurements of carbon flux, soil moisture, and LAI (Leaf Area Index) were carried out over the Biebrza Wetland in north-eastern Poland. The impact of soil moisture and LAI on backscattering coefficient (σ°) calculated from Sentinel-1 data showed that LAI dominates the influence on σ° when soil moisture is low. The models for soil moisture have been derived for wetland vegetation habitat types applying VH polarization (R² = 0.70 to 0.76). The vegetation habitats: reeds, sedge-moss, sedges, grass-herbs, and grass were classified using combined one Landsat 8 OLI (Operational Land Imager) and three TerraSAR-X (TSX) ScanSAR VV data. The model for the assessment of Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) has been developed based on the assumption that soil moisture and biomass represented by LAI have an influence on it. The σ° VH and σ° VV describe soil moisture and LAI, and have been the input to the NEE model. The model, created for classified habitats, is as follows: NEE = f (σ° Sentinel-1 VH, σ° Sentinel-1 VV). Reasonably good predictions of NEE have been achieved for classified habitats (R² = 0.51 to 0.58). The developed model has been used for mapping spatial and temporal distribution of NEE over Biebrza wetland habitat types. Eventually, emissions of CO₂ to the atmosphere (NEE positive) has been noted when soil moisture (SM) and biomass were low. This study demonstrates the importance of the capability of Sentinel-1 microwave data to calculate soil moisture and estimate NEE with all-weather acquisition conditions, offering an important advantage for frequent wetlands monitoring.

Background: beta blockers of three generations are first-line drugs in the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF). However, to date there is no clear understanding of the effect of beta blockers on myocardial energy metabolism disorders in CHF. The aim of the study: to conduct a study of beta-blockers of different generations on myocardial energy metabolism in the experimental CHF. Methods: CHF was modeled in white outbred rats by administering doxorubicin. The study drugs were administered intragastrically – new drug Hypertril (1-(β-phenylethyl)-4-amino-1,2,4-triazolium bromide)-3.5 mg/kg, metoprolol - 15 mg/kg, Nebivolol -10 mg/kg, Carvedilol 50 mg/kg, Bisoprolol, 10 mg/kg. In the myocardium, the main indices of energy metabolism were determined - ATP, ADP, AMP, malate, lactate, pyruvate, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase (NAD-MDH) activity. Results: traditional second-generation beta-blockers (Metoprolol and Bisoprolol) did not affect the studied indices of energy metabolism, and third-generation beta-blockers with additional properties - Carvedilol and, especially, Nebivalol and Hypertril improved myocardial energy metabolism. Conclusions: obtained results will help to expand our understanding of the effect of beta-blockers of various generations used to treat cardiovascular diseases on energy metabolism, and are also an experimental justification for the practical choice of these drugs in the complex therapy of CHF.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be considered as semi-rigid all-carbon polymers. However, unlike conventional polymers that can form 3D networks such as hydrogels or elastomers through crosslinking with each other in solution, the cylindrical carbon lattice of CNTs was not believed to be directly crosslinkable in solution until our recent discovery of UV-defluorination driven direct CNT crosslinking. In this study, we further reveal that the UV-defluorination-driven crosslinked CNTs are metastable and can decompose more readily than fluorinated or pristine CNTs upon exposure to Raman laser irradiation. Specifically, we investigate the stability of UV-defluorinated single-walled and multi-walled fluoro-nanotubes using Raman spectroscopy under controlled varying laser power. The results indicate that both the defluorinated single-walled and multi-walled CNTs are thermally less stable than pristine CNTs or untreated fluorinated CNTs, which can be attributed to the strains on the crosslinking bonds created from the curved carbon lattice of linked CNTs. This instability, particularly evident under high-power laser irradiation, leads to combustion processes ignited at relatively lower temperatures that cause an extended burned area centered on the laser spot, offering potential future applications as mechanically robust, lightweight materials with feasible post-use degradation options.

The water-soluble vitamin - vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, plays a crucial role in cellular metabolism, particularly in DNA synthesis, methylation, and mitochondrial functionality. Its de-ficiency can lead to hematological and neurological disorders, however the manifestation of these clinical outcomes is relatively late. It leads to difficulties in its early diagnosis, often resulting in the development of hidden subclinical cobalamin deficiency. Prolonged lack of vitamin B12 con-dition may have severe consequences including increased morbidity to neurological and cardio-vascular diseases. Beyond inadequate dietary intake, vitamin B12 deficiency might be caused by insufficient bioavailability, blood transport disruptions, or impaired cellular uptake and metabo-lism. Despite nearly 70 years of knowledge since its isolation and characterization, there are still gaps in understanding its metabolic pathways. Thus, this review aims to gather current knowledge about the crucial proteins necessary to efficiently process vitamin B12 in humans, presenting it as a multi-protein mediated network. Based on these findings, we also highlight new potential methods for supporting the evaluation of the risk of epidemiological consequences of vitamin B12 deficiency or clinical warnings of increased risk of vitamin B12 deficiency based on already testing targeting specific moonlighting proteins engaged in vitamin B12 metabolic path-ways.

Lifestyle interventions can prevent type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, some in-dividuals do not experience anticipated improvements despite weight loss. Bi-omarkers to identify such individuals at early stages are lacking. IGF-1 and IGFBP-1 were shown to predict T2DM onset in prediabetes. We assessed if these markers also predict the success of lifestyle interventions, thereby possibly guid-ing personalized strategies. We analyzed fasting serum levels of IGF-1, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 in relation to changes in metabolic and anthropometric parameters, including intrahepatic li-pids (IHL) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume measured by MRI, in 345 high-risk prediabetic participants (54% female; aged 36-80 years). Participants were enrolled in three randomized dietary intervention trials and assessed both at baseline and one year post-intervention. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 28), significance set at p

Probiotic feed additives have attracted considerable research interest in recent years because the effectiveness of probiotics can differ across microbial strains and the supplemented macroorganisms. The present study was conducted on 16 lambs divided into two groups (C - control and E - experimental). The examined lambs were aged 11 days at the beginning of the experiment and 40 days at the end of the experiment. The diet of group E lambs was supplemented with a multi-strain probiotic formulation (Lactobacillus plantarum AMT14, Lactobacillus plantarum AMT4, Lactobacillus rhamnosus AMT15, and Bifidobacterium animalis AMT30), whereas group C lambs did not receive the probiotic additive. At the beginning of the experiment (day 0) and on experimental days 15 and 30, blood was sampled from the jugular vein to determine and compare: phagocytic activity (PHAGOTEST) and oxidative metabolism (PHAGOBURST) of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes by flow cytometry. An analysis of the phagocytic activity of granulocytes and monocytes revealed significantly higher levels of phagocytic activity (expressed as the percentage of phagocytic cells and mean fluorescence intensity) in lambs administered the multi-strain probiotic formulation than in the control group. The probiotic feed additive also exerted a positive effect on the oxidative metabolism of both granulocytes and monocytes (expressed as the percentage of oxidative metabolism and mean fluorescence intensity) after stimulation with Escherichia coli bacteria and with PMA (4-phorbol-12-β-myristate-13-acetate).

In the global carbon cycle, atmospheric carbon emissions, both ‘natural’ and anthropogenic, are balanced by carbon uptake (i.e. sequestration) that mostly occurs via photosynthesis, plus a much smaller proportion via geological processes. Since the formation of the Earth about 4.54 billion years ago the ratio between emitted and sequestered carbon has varied considerably with atmospheric CO₂ levels ranging from 100,000 ppm to a mere 100 ppm. Over this time, a huge amount of carbon has been sequestered due to photosynthesis and essentially removed from the cycle, being buried as fossil deposits of coal, oil and gas. Relatively low atmospheric CO₂ levels were the norm for the past 10 million years, and during the past million years they averaged about 220 ppm. More recently, the Holocene epoch, starting ~11,700 years ago, has been a period of unusual climatic stability with relatively warm, moist conditions and low atmospheric CO₂ levels of between 260 and 280 ppm. During the Holocene, stable conditions facilitated a social revolution with domestication of crops and livestock leading to urbanisation and development of complex technologies. As part of the latter process, immense quantities of sequestered fossil carbon have recently been used as energy sources, resulting in a particularly rapid increase in CO₂ emissions after 1950 CE to the current value of 424 ppm, with further rises to >800 ppm predicted by 2100. This is already perturbing the previously stable Holocene climate and threatening future food production and social stability. Today, the global carbon cycle has been shifted such that carbon sequestration is no longer keeping up with recent anthropogenic emissions. In order to address this imbalance it is important to understand the roles of high-capacity carbon sequestration systems, such as natural forests and tropical croplands, and to devise strategies to facilitate net CO₂ uptake.

Purpose. This paper aims to present a unique perspective that emphasizes the intricate interplay between energy, dietary proteins, and amino acid composition, underscoring their mutual dependence for health-related considerations. Energy and protein synthesis are fundamental to biological processes, crucial for the sustenance of life and growth of organisms. Methods and Results. We explore the intricate relationship between energy metabolism, protein synthesis, regulatory mechanisms, protein sources, amino acid availability, and autophagy, in order to elucidate how these elements collectively maintain cellular homeostasis. We underscore the vital role this dynamic interplay has in preserving cell life. Conclusion. A deeper understanding of the link between energy and protein synthesis is essential to comprehend fundamental cellular processes. This insight could have wide-ranging impact in several medical fields, such as nutrition, metabolism, and disease management.

Strawberry root rot caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora is one of the main diseases of strawberry and significantly impacts the yield and quality of strawberry fruit. There are now no effective control techniques available except for fungicide sprays, which may directly impact consumers. Biological control is becoming an alternative method for the control of plant diseases to replace or decrease the application of traditional synthetic chemical fungicides. Trichoderma is widely used as a biological agent for controlling strawberry root rot. In order to provide resources for screening the highly effective biocontrol fungus for controlling strawberry root rot caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora, the biocontrol mechanism,the control effects of Trichoderma asperellum CMT10 against strawberry root rot and growth-promoting effects on strawberry seedlings were investigated by plate culture, microscopy observation and root drenching methods.The results showed that CMT10 had obvious competitive, antibiotic and hyperparasitism effects on Neopestalotiopsis clavispora CMGF3. The CMT10 could quickly occupy nutritional space, and the inhibition rates of CMT10 against CMGF3 in confrontation culture on 7 d was 65.49%. The inhibition rates of volatile metabolite and fermentation metabolite produced by CMT10 against CMGF3 were 79.67% and 69.84%, respectively. The mycelium of strain CMT10 can act as hyperparasites by making contacting, winding and penetrating hyphae of CMGF3. Pot experiment showed that the biocontrol efficacy of CMT10 on strawberry root rot caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora was 63.00%. CMT10 had obvious promotion effect on strawberry growth, the plant height, root length, total fresh weight, root fresh weight, stem fresh weight and root dry weight, with the promotion rates were 20.09%, 22.39%, 87.11%, 101.58%, 79.82% and 72.33%, respectively. Overall, this study showed the ability of Trichoderma asperellum CMT10 to control strawberry root rot and their potential to develop as novel biocontrol agents to replace chemical fungicides for eco-friendly, sustainable agriculture.

Telecoupling, interactions between social-ecological systems across large, often global, distances, drives negative impacts from the forest-based carbon market. Yet, these negative impacts have been underreported; and therefore, likely vastly underestimated. We identify how these unintended negative impacts may occur and provide recommendations for the forest-based carbon market to better account for externalities by prioritising positive social impact, expanding comprehensive ecological outcomes and improving transparency of investments. We call for a carbon market that is designed to account for its global interconnectedness.

Animals use dietary lipids to sustain their growth and survival. Insects can synthesize fatty acids (FAs) and are autotroph for a number of lipids, but auxotroph for specific lipids classes (e.g. sterols, polyunsaturated FAs). Once ingested, lipids are hydrolyzed in the intestinal lumen and taken up into intestinal cells within specific regions of the insect digestive tract. These lipids can be either stored in the intestinal cells or exported through the haemolymph circulation to specific organs. In this chapter, we describe the various lipids provided by insect diets, their extracellular hydrolysis in the gut lumen and their intake and metabolic fate in the intestinal cells. This review emphasizes the critical role of the digestive tract and its regionalization in processing dietary lipids prior to their transfer to the requiring tissues.

The members within the genus Thermoanerobacter have been much less investigated for protein and amino acid metabolism as compared with carbohydrates. The present study investigates the biotechnological potential of Thermoanaerobacter mathranii (DSM 11426) concerning its ability to produce high energy alcohols from amino and fatty acids. End-product formation was analyzed from glucose in the presence and absence of butyric acid as well as from selected proteins, and all amino acids. T. mathranii did not degrade any of the proteins tested to a large extent but de-grade several amino acids, namely serine and the branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleu-cine, valine) when cultivated in the presence of thiosulfate. The main end products from the branched-chain amino acids were a mixture of their corresponding branched-chain fatty acids and alcohols. 13C2-labeled leucine revealed that the strains degraded the amino acid in the pres-ence of thiosulfate, producing 3-methyl-1-butyrate, which was then used as an electron acceptor which led to the accumulation of 3-methyl-1-butanol. The strain is highly ethanologenic, pro-ducing more than 1.2 mol ethanol per mol of glucose degraded. The strain was able to reduce volatile fatty acids during glucose fermentation to their corresponding alcohol, further suggest-ing this strain may be of greater biotechnological value beyond bioethanol production.

Our recent work has focused on the application of infinite group theory and related algebraic geometric tools in the context of transcription factors and microRNAs. We were able to differentiate between “healthy" nucleotide sequences and disrupted sequences that may be associated with various diseases. In this paper, we extend our efforts to the study of messenger RNA metabolism, showcasing the power of our approach. We investigate (i) mRNA translation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, (ii) polyadenylation in eukaryotes, which is crucial for nuclear export, translation, stability, and splicing of mRNA, (iii) miRNAs involved in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, and (iv) the identification of disrupted sequences that could lead to potential illnesses. To achieve this, we employ (a) infinite (finitely generated) groups fp, with generators representing the r+1 distinct nucleotides and a relation between them [e.g., the consensus sequence in the mRNA translation (i), the poly(A) tail in item (ii), and the miRNA seed in item (iii)], (b) aperiodicity theory, which connects “healthy groups" fp to free groups Fr of rank r and their profinite completion F^r, and (c) the representation theory of groups fp over the space-time-spin group SL2(C), highlighting the role of surfaces with isolated singularities in the character variety. Our approach could potentially contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying various diseases and help develop new diagnostic or therapeutic strategies.

In this study, an attempt was made to investigate the Kenya case of multivariate causality of carbon dioxide emissions by employing a time series data spanning from 1961-2011 using the ARDL method of cointegration analysis. The long-run elasticities show that, a 1% increase in financial development increases carbon dioxide emissions by 0.28%, a 1% increase in GDP per capita increases carbon dioxide emissions by 1.32% and a 1% increase in urbanization decreases carbon dioxide emissions by 1.14%. There was a unidirectional causality running from financial development, food production index, GDP per capita, industrialization and urbanization to carbon dioxide emissions. The innovation accounting shows that 20% of future shocks in carbon dioxide emissions are due to fluctuations in financial development, 9% of future shocks in financial development are due to fluctuations urbanization and 22% of future shocks in food production index are due to fluctuations in carbon dioxide emissions.

Glutamine is the most abundant and versatile amino acid in the body. In health and disease, the rate of glutamine consumption by immune cells is similar or greater than glucose. For instance, in vitro and in vivo studies have determined that glutamine is an essential nutrient for lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production, macrophage phagocytic plus secretory activities and neutrophil bacterial killing. Glutamine release to the circulation and availability is mainly controlled by key metabolic organs, such as the gut, liver and skeletal muscles. During catabolic/hypercatabolic situations glutamine can become essential for metabolic function, but its availability may be compromised due to impairment of homeostasis in the inter-tissue metabolism of amino acids. For this reason, glutamine is currently part of clinical nutrition supplementation protocols and/or recommended for immune suppressed individuals. However, in a wide range of catabolic/hypercatabolic situations (e.g. ill/critically ill, post-trauma, sepsis, exhausted athletes) it is currently difficult to determine whether glutamine parenteral or enteral supplementation should be recommended based on the amino acid plasma concentration (glutaminemia). Although the beneficial immune based effects of glutamine supplementation is already established, many questions and evidence for positive in vivo outcomes still remain to be presented. Therefore, this paper provides an integrated review on how glutamine metabolism in key organs is important to cells of the immune system. We also discuss glutamine metabolism, action and important issues related to the effects of glutamine supplementation in catabolic situations.

The increasing prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyles has led to an increased incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) worldwide. In Taiwan, middle-aged women are at a greater risk of MetS, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease than men are because they have more subcutaneous fat and larger waist circumferences compared to men with equal visceral fat levels. This study investigated the effects of calorie restriction supplemented with fish oil (CRF) in middle-aged women with MetS. For 12 weeks, 75 eligible participants were randomly assigned either calorie restriction (CR) or CRF. Both dietary intervention groups were further divided into two age groups: ≤45 and >45 years. The changes in MetS severity, inflammatory status, iron status, and red blood cell fatty acid profile were evaluated. Seventy-one participants completed the trial. Both dietary interventions significantly ameliorated MetS and improved the participants’ inflammatory status. CR significantly increased total iron binding capacity, whereas CRF increased hepcidin levels. Furthermore, CRF significantly increased the n-6/n-3 and arachidonic acid/docosahexaenoic acid ratios. In conclusion, CR and CRF improved the anthropometric and MetS characteristics of early-middle aged women, including body weight, blood glucose levels, triglyceride levels, as well as the scores for the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and quantitative insulin sensitivity cheque index. Dietary intervention was more effective in >45-year-old women than ≤45-year-old women.

A comprehensive modeling framework for the thermoforming of polymer matrix woven laminate composite was developed. Two numerical indicators, the slip path length and traction magnitude, have been identified to be positively correlated to matrix smearing and wrinkling defects. The material model has been calibrated with picture-frame experimental results, and the prediction accuracy for intra-ply shear and thickness distribution were examined with measurements on the physically formed parts. Finally, a parametric study was conducted to determine the relationship between various process parameters and the quality of the formed part. For the trapezoidal part, orienting the laminate at 45-degrees to the mold axis reduces the likelihood of matrix smear and wrinkling defects. Although this laminate orientation yielded a greater spatial variation of part thickness, the thickness deviation is lower than that for the 0-degree orientation case. Higher forming rates were found to result in more defects due to increased slip path lengths and traction magnitudes. Optimal forming speeds should balance rapid shaping within the operating temperature window while avoiding tear. It was discovered that shallower molds benefit from faster ramp rates, while deeper molds require slower rates to manage extensive shearing, stretching, and bending. Faster forming rates lead to smaller thickness increases at high intra-ply shear regions, indicating a shift from intra-ply shear to out-of-plane bending due to the visco-plastic effect of the molten laminate, and can negatively impact part quality. Lastly, it was shown that a well-conceived strategy using darts could improve the part quality by reducing the magnitude of the defect indicators.

Raru’s plants bark has long been used as traditional medicine in Batak’s tribe. Raru’s bark is derived from several trees that are usually used in a mixture in Batak traditional beverages. This bark is generally used as antidiabetic remedies. This study aims to combine the rarus’s bark extract and mocaf activated-carbon (MAC) in order to study antidiabetics in rats. The combination of raru’s bark extract and MAC were tested on male rats as of Sprague Dawley strain for testing antidiabetic bioactivity. The result showed that antidiabetic activity of raru’s extract and MAC exposed the antidiabetic level declines in rat’s blood. The various treatments of different concentration ratios of raru’s extract and MAC useful in the experiments showed that the levels of blood level reduction were slightly different (14-21%). The raru’s extract pure was observed more effective in decreasing the blood glucose level in rat’s blood, in comparison the positive control. The mixture of raru’s extract and MAC with 75:25 ratio is better than 50:50 ratio. The involvement of MAC in the alleged antidiabetic agent did little in improving the blood glucose level decrease in rat’s blood. Raru’s extract and MAC indicate its potential utilization as an antidiabetic agent.

The epidemic of obesity has increased worldwide and is associated with comorbidities as diabetes as cardiovascular disease. Strategies that modulate body weight and improves glycemic metabolism has increased, and the bariatric surgeries as Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG) has been highlighted in obesity treatment. However, the mechanism by which SG reduces body weight and improves glycemic control are unknow. C57BL mice were submitted to a 10 weeks high fat-diet protocol and submitted to SG. Food intake, fed/fasted glycemia and hypothalamic anorexigenic and orexigenic gene expression were evaluated. SG reduces body weight, fasting glycemia, insulinemia and leptinemia in obese mice. Moreover, SG reduces food and total calorie intake with no alterations in the expression of anorexigenic and orexigenic gene expression. These data indicates that SG improves obesity associated alterations, at least in part, by reduction on food intake. This effect is not associated with the classic food intake pathway in hypothalamus, indicating the involvement of supplementary pathways in this process.

Forests have multifunctional roles. They not only increase forest carbon sinks through afforestation and management, but also indirectly realize multiple benefits of "economy + ecology + society". Therefore, we construct a multiple output-benefit system of forest carbon sinks based on the development of forest carbon sinks in provinces of China. This system is also able to distinguish the importance of forest carbon sinks from other outputs. For the efficiency evaluation of multi-level output systems, this paper constructs a cross-evaluation model based on evidential reasoning method, the original efficiency information by conducting efficiency evaluation before information fusion. Further, the spillover effects and influencing factors of forest carbon sink efficiency are analyzed through a spatial regression model to explore the spatial characteristics of forest carbon sink efficiency in China. The results show that: (1) there is a large gap between the cross-efficiency levels of forest carbon sinks in various regions of China, with significant spatial correlation. For the perspective of direct output benefits, the cross-efficiency of the eastern region is higher, while the cross-efficiency of the northwestern region is lower; for the perspective of indirect output benefits, the cross-efficiency of the southeastern region is higher. (2) China's forest carbon sink has a significant positive spillover effect, and the indirect output cross-efficiency has a significant negative impact on the forest carbon sink in its own region. Further analyzing the impact of indirect output cross-efficiency, it is found that the cross-efficiency of the ecological dimension and the cross-efficiency of the social dimension have a significant negative impact on the forest carbon sink in its own region, and the economic dimension has a significant positive impact on the forest carbon sink in its own region. In conclusion, corresponding policy recommendations are proposed for the development of forest carbon sinks to promote the realization of the dual-carbon goal.

SOC stock (SOCS) changes caused by land use changes are still unclear, and understanding this response is essential for many environmental policies and land management practices. In this study, we investigated the temporal-spatial and vertical distribution characteristics of SOCS on the Western Sichuan Plateau (WSP) using the sparrow search algorithm-random forest regression (SSA-RFR) models with excellent model applicability and accuracy. The temporal-spatial varia-tions in the SOCS were modeled using 1080 soil samples and a set of nine environmental covariates. We analyzed the effect of land use changes on the SOCS on the WSP. The total SOCS increased by 18.03 Tg C from 1990 to 2020. The results of this study confirmed that the SOCS in the study area has increased significantly since 2010, with an increase of 27.88 Tg C compared to the total SOCS in 2010. We found that the spatial distribution of the SOCS increased from southeast to northwest, and the vertical distribution of the SOCS in the study area decreased with increasing soil depth. Forest and grassland are the main sources of SOCS, the total SOCS in the forest and grassland accounted for 37.53 and 59.39% of the total SOC pool in 2020, respectively. Expansion of the wetlands, forest, and grassland areas could increase SOCS in the study area.

The impact of the agriculture net carbon effect is crucial for climate change mitigation, yet research on this topic in China is currently insufficient. In this study, the carbon balance ratio (CBR) is used to characterise the net carbon effect of agriculture, and the spatial Durbin model and threshold regression model were used to empirically analyse the CBR with a sample of 30 provincial-level regions in China from 2004 to 2019. The aim was to investigate the mechanism of the influence of the land management scale (SCALE) of farming on the CBR. The results of the study indicate that national farming generally has a net sink effect, with large changes in interannual fluctuations; the expansion of SCALE has an obvious role in increasing sinks and reducing emissions, and has a positive spatial spillover effect on CBR, with significant spatial heterogeneity. Furthermore, as the SCALE expands, the direction of the influence of rural residents’ income and education level on CBR changes in the opposite direction, showing a significant non-linear relationship characteristic. However, in most areas, the SCALE threshold has not yet been reached, suggesting that the improvement in education levels can still offset the negative impact of economic income growth in the short term. The study recommends paying attention to the role of farmers’ human capital, changing production methods, and implementing carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals to enhance the net sink effect of the farming industry, which would be achieved by increasing land management scale.

Telomeres – special DNA-protein structures at the ends of linear eukaryotic chromosomes define the proliferation potential of cells. Extremely short telomeres promote DNA damage response and cell death to eliminate cells potentially accumulated mutations after multiple divisions. However, telomere elongation is associated with increased proliferative potential of special types of cells, such as stem and germ cells, permanently, and is activated temporally in processes of activation of immune response, regeneration processes. Activation of mechanisms of telomere lengthening coupled with increased proliferation and with requirements of cells in energy and building resourses. To obtain necessary nutrients cells stimulate metabolism by switching of oxidative phosphorylation program to glycolysis. In this review we focused on the interconnection of metabolism program and telomere lengthening mechanisms known for the situation of the programmed activation of proliferation such as germ cells maturation, early embryonic development program and immune response activation. Here, we propose that it is possible to reprogram metabolism in order to regulate the telomere length, proliferative activity of cells that may be important for the development of approaches to regeneration, immune response modulation and cancer therapy and further investigations in this area are necessary to improve the understanding and manipulating of molecular mechanisms used for regulation of proliferation.

Nanocomposites of TiO₂ Degussa P25 nanoparticles/activated carbon (TiO₂/AC ) were prepared at various mass ratios of (4:1), (3:2), (2:3), and (1:4) by a facile process. The effects of TiO₂/AC mass ratios on the structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties were systematically studied in comparison with bare TiO₂ and bare AC. TiO₂ nanoparticles exhibited dominant anatase and minor rutile phases, and a crystallite size of approximately 21 nm; while AC had XRD peaks of graphite and carbon, and a crystallite size of 49 nm. The composites exhibited tight decoration of TiO₂ nanoparticles on micron-/submicron AC particles, and uniform TiO₂/AC composites were obtained as evidenced by the uniform distribution of Ti, O, and C in an EDS mapping. Moreover, Raman spectra show the typical vibration modes of anatase TiO₂ (e.g., E_1g⁽¹⁾, B_1g⁽¹⁾, E_g⁽³⁾) and carbon materials with D and G bands. The TiO₂/AC with (4:1), (3:2), and (2:3) possessed higher reaction rate constants (k) in photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) than that of either TiO₂ or AC. Among the investigated materials, TiO₂/AC = 4:1 achieved the highest photocatalytic activity with a high k of 55.2×10^-3 min^-1 and an MB removal efficiency of 96.6% after 30 min treatment under UV-Vis irradiation (120 mW/cm²). The enhanced photocatalytic activity for TiO₂/AC is due to the synergistic effect of the high adsorption capability of AC and the high photocatalytic activity of TiO₂. Furthermore, TiO₂/AC promotes the separation of photoexcited electron/hole (e^-/h⁺) pairs to reduce their recombination rate and thus enhance photocatalytic activity. The optimal TiO₂/AC composite in this study can be used for treating industrial or household wastewater with organic pollutants.

A model for enabling the production of lower carbon cement paste is proposed in this research. The model is based on predicting the strength of cement pastes with partial replacement of wheat straw ash (WSA) and silica fume (SF), two major wastes of agricultural and industrial production. The model is set up based on response surface methodology and Box-Behnken design, and included a suite of mechanical tests with distinct replacements following a micro an meso characterization. The model shows capability for predicting strength of any cement paste, including partial substitution of WSA and/or SF at any combination level with excellent accuracy, which is verified with three validation mixtures demonstrating maximum errors of less than 6% at the three ages. The analysis of the response surface evidences that any cement replacement in the range of 0-20% WSA and above 5% SF allows the reduction of the carbon footprint by maximizing the incorporation of both wastes. The proposed model can be used by setting the required strength of cement paste and calculating the maximum possible replacement, which should contribute to making the construction industry more sustainable by utilizing local waste.

The one-dimensional MoS₂/carbon nanofibers (1D MoS₂/CNFs) are synthesized by electrospinning using exfoliated MoS₂ nanosheets and polyacrylonitrile as raw materials. The exfoliated MoS₂ nanosheets with size of about 150 nm are encapsulated in carbon nanofibers, and the free-standing MoS₂/CNFs can be easily cut into flexible tablet and directly used as binder-free anode for lithium storage. The resultant 1D MoS₂/CNFs exhibit a very high reversible capacity of 700 mAh g^-1 at 100 mA g^-1 after 50 cycles, high rate capacity (450 mAh g^-1 at 1000 mA g^-1 after 200 cycles) and good cycle stability.

This study explored the effects of cryogenic treatment on the microstructure, hardness, and wear-resistance of diamond-like carbon (DLC) by cryogenically treating NAK 80 mold steel coated with DLC. Raman spectroscopy analyzed the structure of the DLC film. Nanoindenter analyzed the hardness and Young’s modulus of the film, and their relationship determined the wear resistance. Wear test assessed the wear rate and friction coefficient of the DLC film. The results showed that cryogenic treatment increased the rate of carbide precipitation and refined the grain structure. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the Raman intensity rate (I_D/I_G) of treated DLC films was smaller than those without cryogenic treatment. When the sp3 bond increased, the hardness and wear-resistance of the DLC film also increased.