Search Results (6,744)

Rainbow trout fingerlings were fed, in triplicate, diets supplemented with 0 (CTL), 50 (50 TM), 100 (100 TM), 200 (200 TM), 400 (400 TM) and 800 (800 TM) mg/kg of thymol, followed by 48 h of thermal stress. Growth performance and humoral immunological parameters showed no significant responses to dietary thymol concentrations. Fish fed 50–400 mg/kg thymol diets had significantly higher survival after heat stress. Plasma cortisol, glucose, hepatic glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and erythrocyte catalase significantly increased after thermal stress, whereas total plasma antioxidant capacity, ascorbate, and hepatic/erythrocyte reduced-glutathione significantly decreased. There were significant elevations in plasma ascorbate and hepatic glutathione reductase in the 50 TM, 100 TM and 200 TM groups; plasma total antioxidant capacity in the 100 TM and 200 TM groups; hepatic glutathione peroxidase in the 200 TM group; and hepatic-reduced glutathione in the 100 TM, 200 TM and 400 TM groups, compared to CTL. The highest hepatic superoxide dismutase and lowest hepatic malondialdehyde were observed in the 100 TM group before heat stress. These parameters significantly increased after thermal stress in the treatment groups, except in the 100 TM and 200 TM groups. Hepatic catalase showed no significant difference among the treatment groups before thermal stress. Hepatic catalase significantly increased after heat stress in all treatment groups, except in the 100 TM group. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase significantly increased in the 100 TM group before heat stress, whereas erythrocyte malondialdehyde significantly decreased in the 100 TM and 200 TM groups after thermal stress. Based on the results, 100 mg/kg of thymol can promote antioxidant power and thermal stress resistance in rainbow trout. Full article

This study explores the effects of trees on the acoustic and thermal environment in addition to people’s responses to trees in different contexts. Through field measurements conducted during the summer of 2023 at the campus of the Southwest University of Science and Technology in Mianyang, residents’ neutral points were locally found to be 52.2 dBA (acoustic) and 23.8 °C (thermal). Further, at their maximum, the trees were able to reduce heat stress by 4 °C (indicated by the physiologically equivalent temperature—PET) and the noise level by 10 dBA (indicated by the A-weighted sound pressure—LAeq); this was achieved by trees with a crown diameter of 20 m. Subjective acoustic and thermal responses varied depending on the context. Acoustically, their neutral LAeq values toward the sounds of traffic, teaching, sports, and daily life were 46.9, 52.5, 51.0, and 52.7 dBA, respectively. Thermally, pedestrians’ neutral PET values were 24.2, 26.1, 22.3, and 25.1 °C, respectively, under the same conditions. These phenomena might be a consequence of the effects of sound frequencies. Future urban forestry research should focus on planting for environmental quality improvement. Full article

This study investigates the impact of multi-step austenitization heat treatment on the in-service life of modified AISI A8 cold work tool steel knives used in wood cutting. The knives were subjected to two treatment methods: single quenching and double tempering (SQDT) and double quenching and double tempering (DQDT). Both treatments were followed by physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating to enhance surface properties. The DQDT treatment resulted in a finer microstructure and more uniform carbide distribution. Field tests on 24 knives over 124 h demonstrated up to 130% improvement in wear resistance for DQDT knives, along with superior edge stability and better PVD coating preservation. DQDT knives exhibited ductile fractures characterized by dimples, contrasting with the brittle fracture and cleavage facets in SQDT knives. Residual stress measurements showed higher compressive stresses in DQDT knives (−280 MPa) compared to SQDT knives (−30 MPa), which increased further after field testing. The enhanced performance of DQDT knives is attributed to their refined microstructure, improved carbide distribution, and higher compressive residual stresses, offering significant potential for improving wood cutting tool efficiency and durability. Full article

Thermomechanical modeling of additively manufactured parts made by laser powder bed fusion aims to control stresses and distortions built during processing. This is, by nature, a multiscale metallurgical and mechanical problem, notably due to the strong texture of the grain structure that results from the process and may locally dictate the thermomechanical behavior law. Similarly, stresses and distortions are directly influenced by the heat transfer process at the system scale, including the consequences of the link between the part and the substrate and the weaker interactions with the powder bed and the gas environment. To achieve relevant modeling, we first demonstrate capabilities to assess at part scale, both i- the prediction of the grain structure and ii- the thermomechanical analyses. A discussion follows that summarizes the foreseen directions to achieve coupling and/or chaining between grain structure simulations and mechanical analyses at part scale. Full article

The Domain of Unknown Function 506 (DUF506) belongs to the PD-(D/E) XK nuclease superfamily and has been reported to play critical roles in growth and development as well as responses to abiotic stresses. However, the function of DUF506 genes in Brassica rapa (B. rapa) remains unclear. In this study, a total of 18 BrDUF506 genes were identified and randomly distributed across eight chromosomes, categorized into four subfamilies. Analyzing their promoter sequences has uncovered various stress-responsive elements, such as those for drought, methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and abscisic acid (ABA). Bra000098 and Bra017099 exhibit significantly enhanced expression in response to heat and drought stress. Protein interaction predictions indicate that Bra000098 homolog, At2g38820, is interacting with ERF012 and PUB48 and is involved in abiotic stress regulation. Furthermore, gene expression profiling has identified Bra026262 with a high expression level in flowers and significantly decreased in female sterile mutants. Protein interaction prediction further revealed that its homolog, At4g32480, interacts with MYB and AGL proteins, suggesting the potential roles in female gametophyte development. The current study enhances our understanding of the functional roles of BrDUF506s, providing significant insights that are valuable in investigating sexual reproduction and abiotic stress responses in B. rapa. Full article

Zinc deficiency is common under heat stress, and further research is needed to determine how to enhance the fruit quality of mango trees through the use of three forms of zinc, namely Zn-NPs, zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄), and chelated zinc (Zn-chelated), as a foliar spray. This research was carried out using ten treatments to investigate the effect of zinc forms on the fruit quality of Timor mango trees. With a few notable exceptions, every fruit quality measurement (physical characteristics, chemical properties, mineral contents, and antioxidant compounds) responded to every treatment looked into; however, the extent of the reaction differed depending on the fruiting measurement. Furthermore, the Zn-NPs created a larger difference in the fruiting measurements than the ZnSO₄ and Zn-chelated forms. ZnO NPs at 100 ppm ranked first, followed by ZnO NPs in the first spray and zinc EDTA in the second spray, followed by ZnO NPs in the first spray and ZnSO₄ in the second, for all mineral content and antioxidant compound measurements and most of the fruit physico-chemical characteristics. In contrast, the lowest levels of minerals and antioxidant compounds and most of the fruit physico-chemical characteristics were found in the controls. The outcomes of the other treatments after the three treatments lay somewhere between these two extremes, and this pattern was detected throughout two seasons. Spraying Timor mango trees with nano, chelated, and sulfate zinc can be considered a safe and environmentally friendly natural method for improving fruit quality in abiotic stress regions. Full article

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is appreciated for its suitability for cultivation and obtaining good yields in relatively extreme farming conditions. It is resistant to high temperatures and drought. Moreover, food products prepared from Vigna are rich in many nutrients such as proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, minerals, fiber, vitamins, and other bioactive compounds. However, in East and Southeast Asia, where the products of this crop are in demand, the climate is characterized by excessive humidity. Under these conditions, the vast majority of cowpea varieties tend to have indeterminate growth (elongated shoot length) and are unsuitable for mechanized harvesting. The molecular mechanisms for tolerance to high relative humidity remain the least studied in comparison with those for other abiotic stress factors (drought, heat, cold, flooding, etc.). The purpose of the work was to reveal and investigate differentially expressed genes in cowpea accessions having contrasting growth habits (determinate and indeterminate) under humid and drought conditions. We performed RNA-seq analysis using selected cowpea accessions from the VIR collection. Among the genotypes used, some have significant changes in their plant architecture in response to high relative humidity, while others were tolerant to these conditions. In total, we detected 1697 upregulated and 1933 downregulated genes. The results showed that phytohormone-related genes are involved in cowpea response to high relative humidity. DEGs associated with jasmonic acid signaling are proposed to be key contributors in the maintenance of compact architecture under humid conditions. Full article

This study focuses on determining the thermal comfort conditions of seasonal agricultural workers during the hot periods of the year when agricultural production is intense in the Aksu/Türkiye region, which is characterized by the Csa climate type according to the Köppen–Geiger climate classification. In this study, the thermal comfort conditions of seasonal agricultural workers working on open farmlands were evaluated in ten-day, monthly, and seasonal periods for 6 months between 5:00 and 21:00 h using the modified Physiological Equivalent Temperature (mPET) index in the Rayman Pro software according to their activity energy during work. The results of the study reveal that increased activity energy leads to a decrease in thermal comfort conditions of agricultural workers, mPET values of agricultural workers engaged in soil cultivation (Group II) are 2.1 to 2.9 °C higher than the mPET values of workers engaged in plant care and harvesting (Group I), and the agricultural workers in Group II are exposed to more heat stress. The thermal comfort conditions of agricultural workers in Group I deteriorate between 09:00 and 16:00 h with mPET values between 34.1 and 35.3 °C and those of agricultural workers in Group II deteriorate between 08:00 and 17:00 h with mPET values between 34.3 and 37.7 °C. In this context, the daily comfortable working time in the morning and afternoon was found to be 9 h for Group I and 7 h for Group II. Overall, determining the comfortable working hours of agricultural workers in regions with different climate types in future studies will be an important resource for decision-makers in developing strategies to protect the health and increase the productivity of agricultural workers. Full article

Ammopiptanthus mongolicus is an ancient remnant species from the Mediterranean displaying characteristics such as high-temperature tolerance, drought resistance, cold resistance, and adaptability to impoverished soil. In the case of high-temperature tolerance, heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) are integral transcriptional regulatory proteins exerting a critical role in cellular processes. Despite extensive research on the HSF family across various species, there has been no analysis specifically focused on A. mongolicus. In this study, we identified 24 members of the AmHSF gene family based on the genome database of A. mongolicus, which were unevenly distributed over 9 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these 24 members can be categorized into 5 primary classes consisting of a total of 13 subgroups. Analysis of the physical and chemical properties revealed significant diversity among these proteins. With the exception of the AmHSFB3 protein, which is localized in the cytoplasm, all other AmHSF proteins were found to be situated in the nucleus. Comparison of amino acid sequences revealed that all AmHSF proteins contain a conserved DNA-binding domains structure, and the DNA-binding domains and oligomerization domains of the AmHSF gene exhibit conservation with counterparts across diverse species; we investigated the collinearity of AmHSF genes in relation to those of three other representative species. Through GO enrichment analysis, evidence emerged that AmHSF genes are involved in heat stress responses and may be involved in multiple transcriptional regulatory pathways that coordinate plant growth and stress responses. Finally, through a comprehensive analysis using transcriptome data, we examined the expression levels of 24 AmHSFs under 45 °C. The results revealed significant differences in the expression profiles of AmHSFs at different time intervals during exposure to high temperatures, highlighting their crucial role in responding to heat stress. In summary, these results provide a better understanding of the role and regulatory mechanisms of HSF in the heat stress response of A. mongolicus, meanwhile also establishing a foundation for further exploration of the biological functions of AmHSF in the adversity response of A. mongolicus. Full article

The colonies of honey bees are mostly sessile organisms. Consequently, the type of nest boxes that beekeepers provide to their bees should impact a colony’s ability to maintain homeostasis, which is a key determinant of performance and fitness. Here, we used European honey bees (Apis mellifera) and provided them with two hive setups widely used and known as Langstroth and Warré. We compared colony performance in a Mediterranean climate for five months from late spring to early autumn, which covered the most active time of bees and included periods of heat and drought. We found that irrespective of hive type or season, honey bees kept hive temperature and humidity within a remarkably narrow range. Nevertheless, the hive type impacted the daily fluctuations in temperature and humidity. In Warré hives, where bees have more autonomy to build and maintain their combs, we found that bees were able to reduce daily fluctuations in temperature and humidity and kept both measures closer to the overall average. This increase in colony homeostasis found in Warré hives negatively correlated with other hive performance indicators, such as immunocompetence. We conclude that different hive types affect key areas, such as the central part of the colony with frames of developing brood or the queen, which are the most susceptible individuals. This implies that climatic changes resulting in extreme weather events are expected to impact colony performance and fitness, especially in non-managed honey bees that are limited by available nesting sites. For managed bees, adaptations to existing hive setups could be provided to help bees minimize the effects of abiotic stress. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary orange peel fragments (OPFs) enriched with vitamins C (C) and E (E), as well as zinc (Zn) on the growth performance, hematological profile, immunological parameters, antioxidant capacity, and fillet lipid peroxidation of Nile tilapia subjected to heat/dissolved oxygen-induced stress (HDOIS), transport-induced stress (TIS), and Aeromonas hydrophila infection (BC). A group of 500 male Nile tilapia (2.7 ± 0.03 g) was randomly distributed in twenty-five 250 L aquaria (20 fish/aquarium) and fed diets containing OPFs (6 g kg⁻¹), OPFs/C (6 g kg⁻¹/1.8 g kg⁻¹), OPFs/E (6 g kg⁻¹/0.4 g kg⁻¹), OPFs/Zn (6 g kg⁻¹/0.21 g kg⁻¹), or OPFs/C/E/Zn (6 g kg⁻¹/1.8 g kg⁻¹/0.4 g kg⁻¹/0.21 g kg⁻¹) for 100 days. The diets were formulated to contain 30% crude protein and 17 MJ kg⁻¹ gross energy. After the feeding period, three groups of fish were independently subjected to a different type of stress: HDOIS (34 °C) for two days; TIS for four hours, or BC for 15 days. The hematological profile, antioxidant capacity, and fillet lipid peroxidation were determined before and after all the stress treatments, along with immunological parameters, which were investigated only for the fish subjected to bacterial infection. In summary, the results showed that growth was not affected by the OPFs, nor by the OPFs enriched with C, E, and Zn; bacterial infection determined anemia for the fish fed any of the experimental diets; the OPFs did not prevent lipid peroxidation under TIS and BC; on the other hand, when enriched with C/E/Zn, lipid peroxidation decreased under HDOIS and TIS. In conclusion, the OPFs enriched with C/E/Zn showed a synergistic effect that promoted an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity, a decrease in lipid peroxidation, and the maintenance of the hematological profile under HDOIS and TIS, but they were not able to maintain the health status under BC. Full article

Materials for the conservation of cultural heritage must meet specific demands, such as high durability, service life, and compatibility with other materials used in the original building structures. Due to their low permeability to water and water vapor and their high rigidity, the use of Portland cement (PC) mortars, despite their high mechanical resistance and durability, does not represent an appropriate solution for the repair of historic masonry and structures. Their incompatibility with the original materials used in the past, often on a lime basis, is therefore a serious deficiency for their application. On the other hand, lime-based mortars, compared to PC-based materials, are more susceptible to mechanical stress, but they possess high porosity, a high water vapor transmission rate, and moderate liquid water transport. This study aims at the development of two types of lime-based mortars, calcium lime (CL) and hydraulic lime (HL). The modification of mortars was conducted with a carbon-based nanoadditive and graphene nanoplatelets (GNs) in three dosages: 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5% of the binder weight. The enhancement of CL mortars by GNs greatly increased mechanical strength and affected heat transport characteristics, while other characteristics such as porosity, water absorption, and drying rate remained almost similar. The application of GNs to HL not only enhanced the strength of mortars but also decreased their porosity, influenced pore size distribution, and other dependent characteristics. It can be concluded that the use of graphene nanoplatelets as an additive of lime-based composites can be considered a promising method to reinforce and functionalize these composite materials. The improved mechanical resistance while maintaining other properties may be favorable in view of the increasing requirements of building materials and may prolong the life span of building constructions. Full article

In the context of a circular economy, this study explores the valorization of blueberry pomace (BP) as a source of bioactive compounds using sustainable extraction methods. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and microwave-assisted subcritical water extraction (MASWE) were employed to obtain two distinct fractions: MAE 1° and MASWE 2°. The first extract, MAE 1°, obtained at 80 °C, had a high total anthocyanin content (21.96 mg_Cya-3-glu/g_extract), making it suitable as a natural pigment. Additionally, MAE 1° exhibited significant enzyme inhibition, particularly against α-amylase and β-glucosidase, suggesting potential anti-diabetic and anti-viral applications. The second extract, MASWE 2°, obtained at 150 °C, contained a higher total phenolic content (211.73 mg_GAE/g_extract) and demonstrated stronger antioxidant activity. MASWE 2° showed greater inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase, indicating its potential for use in Alzheimer’s treatment, skincare, or as a food preservative. MASWE 2° exhibited cytotoxicity against HeLa cells and effectively mitigated H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in HaCat cells, with MAE 1° showing similar but less pronounced effects. A tested formulation combining MAE 1° and MASWE 2° extracts in a 3:2 ratio effectively enhanced anthocyanin stability, demonstrating its potential as a heat-stable pigment. The extract characteristics were compared with a conventional method (MeOH-HCl in reflux condition), and the protocol’s sustainability was assessed using several green metric tools, which provided insights into its environmental impact and efficiency. Full article

Wood surface treatment aims to improve or reduce the surface activity of wood by physical treatment, chemical treatment, biological activation treatment or other methods to achieve the purpose of surface modification. After wood surface modification, the paint film adhesion performance, gluing performance, surface wettability, surface free energy and surface visual properties would be affected. This article aims to explore the effects of different modification methods on the adhesion of wood coating films. Modification of the wood surface significantly improves the adhesion properties of the paint film, thereby extending the service life of the coating. Research showed that physical external force modification improved the hydrophilicity and wettability of wood by changing its surface structure and texture, thus enhancing the adhesion of the coating. Additionally, high-temperature heat treatment modification reduced the risk of coating cracking and peeling by eliminating stress and moisture within the wood. Chemical impregnation modification utilized the different properties of organic and inorganic substances to improve the stability and durability of wood. Organic impregnation effectively filled the wood cell wall and increased its density, while inorganic impregnation enhanced the adhesion of the coating by forming stable chemical bonds. Composite modification methods combined the advantages of the above technologies and significantly improved the comprehensive properties of wood through multiple modification treatments, showing superior adhesion and durability. Comprehensive analysis indicated that selecting the appropriate modification method was key for different wood types and application environments. Full article

Lead (Pb) is a well-known neurotoxin with established adverse effects on the neurological functions of children and younger adults, including motor, learning, and memory abilities. However, its potential impact on older adults has received less attention. Using the zebrafish model, our study aims to characterize the dose–response relationship between environmentally relevant Pb exposure levels and their effects on changes in behavior and transcriptomics during the geriatric periods. We exposed two-year-old zebrafish to waterborne lead acetate (1, 10, 100, 1000, or 10,000 µg/L) or a vehicle (DMSO) for 5 days. While lower concentrations (1–100 µg/L) reflect environmentally relevant Pb levels, higher concentrations (1000–10,000 µg/L) were included to assess acute toxicity under extreme exposure scenarios. We conducted adult behavior assessment to evaluate the locomotor activity following exposure. The same individual fish were subsequently sacrificed for brain dissection after a day of recovery in the aquatic system. RNA extraction and sequencing were then performed to evaluate the Pb-induced transcriptomic changes. Higher (1000–10,000 ug/L) Pb levels induced hyperactive locomotor patterns in aged zebrafish, while lower (10–100 ug/L) Pb levels resulted in the lowest locomotor activity compared to the control group. Exposure to 100 µg/L led to the highest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), while 10,000 µg/L induced larger fold changes in both directions. The neurological pathways impacted by Pb exposure include functions related to neurotransmission, such as cytoskeletal regulation and synaptogenesis, and oxidative stress response, such as mitochondrial dysfunction and downregulation of heat shock protein genes. These findings emphasize a U-shape dose–response relationship with Pb concentrations in locomotor activity and transcriptomic changes in the aging brain. Full article