Search Results (15,796)

Porcine bocavirus (PBoV), classified within the genus Bocaparvovirus, has been reported worldwide. PBoV has been divided into group 1, group 2, and group 3. PBoV group 3 (G3) viruses are the most prevalent in China. Currently, effective serological methods for the detection of antibodies against PBoV G3 are limited. In this study, we developed an indirect ELISA using a synthetic VP1 peptide designed on the basis of the conserved region of the PBoV VP1 protein as a coating antigen. Through matrix titration, the optimal coating concentration of the VP1 peptide (0.5 μg/mL), serum dilution (1:200), and working concentration of the secondary antibody (1:50,000) were determined. The cutoff value of this developed ELISA was set as 0.4239. Further investigations revealed that this developed ELISA had no cross-reactivity with positive serum antibodies against FMDV-O, FMDV-A, PRV, ASFV, SF, PCV2, PEDV, and TGEV. The detection limit of the method was a 1:1600 dilution of standard positive serum against PBoV G3. The coefficients of variation for both the intra- and interassay data were lower than 10%. A total of 1373 serum samples collected from 12 provinces in China between 2022 and 2023 were subjected to indirect ELISA. The results showed that 47.56% of the samples were PBoV G3 positive. These results reveal that peptide-based ELISA is a reliable and cost-effective method for detecting PBoV G3 antibodies. It also facilitates the investigation of the prevalence and distribution of PBoV G3. Full article

Leaf spot disease has become a significant limitation in oat production. 24-epibrassinolide (EBR), a highly active brassinosteroid, plays a significant role in enhancing plant immunity against various diseases by modulating physiological and molecular responses. However, the exact mechanisms by which exogenous EBR regulates plant defense to leaf spot disease are still largely unknown. In this study, we applied various concentrations of EBR (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 mg·L⁻¹) to the leaves of oat plants that were inoculated with the Drechslera avenae pathogen. The application of 1 mg·L⁻¹ EBR significantly decreased disease index and increased chlorophyll content under pathogen inoculation while also enhancing antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT, and APX) activity and reducing pathogen-induced O₂^•− production rate and MDA content. Moreover, the enzymes associated with phenylpropanoid metabolism, such as PAL, C4H, and 4CL, were significantly activated by exogenous EBR. Our transcriptomic analyses further revealed that the combination of exogenous EBR and pathogen inoculation upregulated genes involved in signal transduction (BR, ABA, and MAPK), antioxidant enzyme defense systems, and phenylpropanoid and lignin-specific pathways, such as BAS1, APX, GPX, PAL, C4H, 4CL, CCR1, and CAD. Together, these findings reveal that exogenous BR application can improve resistance to Drechslera avenae-induced leaf spot disease in oats by regulating antioxidant defense systems and phenylpropanoid metabolism, which may have the potential to control leaf spot disease in oat production. Full article

This study investigates the effects of varying indium tin oxide (ITO) layer thicknesses and the patterning of the ITO layer on the growth of metallic gold (Au) nano- and microstructures on titanium dioxide (TiO₂) templates. The ITO-TiO₂ heterojunction serves to collect photogenerated electrons in the ITO sublayer, facilitating their transport to the pattern edges and concentrating photocatalytic activity at these edges. Six template types were fabricated on glass substrates, with systematic variations in ITO thickness (0, 3, 6, 10, and 30 nm) and different ITO patterning methods (either continuous or patterned with the TiO₂ layer). Photocatalytic gold growth was carried out on each of the substrates, and morphological analysis was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that a 6 nm ITO layer beneath a 70 nm TiO₂ layer yielded the most uniform gold lines, characterized by 3D flower-shaped structures and enhanced edge growth. Conductance measurements indicated a value of 23 mS, suggesting potential applications in bio-inspired electronics. These findings provide insights into optimizing gold structure growth for advanced neuromorphic devices. Full article

Previous studies have shown that there are significant sexual differences in the physiological responses of Torreya grandis to environmental stress. However, little is known about its sex-specific differences in response to salt stress against the background of nitrogen (N) deposition. In this experiment, two-year-old male and female T. grandis seedlings were used as experimental materials and exposed to moderate salt conditions and different N levels to study the effects of nitrogen addition and salt stress on the chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, antioxidant system, and leaf stoichiometry of T. grandis seedlings. With the increase in nitrogen content, the contents of proline, malondialdehyde, superoxide anion, and H₂O₂ in the leaves of T. grandis seedlings under salt conditions gradually increased. The contents of these four metabolites in the leaves of male T. grandis seedlings were almost all higher than those of the female ones. Compared with the control group, the contents of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants increased under N addition treatments, especially for the low and moderate N addition groups. The results showed that moderate concentrations of N addition can mitigate the damage caused by salt, while high concentrations of nitrogen do not. Under conditions of salt and nitrogen addition, female T. grandis seedlings outperformed male ones, as evidenced by their higher photosynthetic pigment content, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, reduced accumulation of intracellular cytotoxic metabolites, and higher carbon and nitrogen content in their leaves compared to those of male seedlings. The findings of this research will contribute to our understanding and offer a theoretical foundation for the cultivation of T. grandis seedlings in environments with nitrogen deposition and salinization. Full article

In this study, tin oxide (SnO₂)/polyaniline (PANI) composite nanowires (NWs) with varying amounts of PANI were synthesized for carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas sensing at room temperature (RT, 25 °C). SnO₂ NWs were fabricated via the vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) method, followed by coating with PANI. CO₂ sensing investigations revealed that the sensor with 186 μL PANI exhibited the highest response to CO₂ at RT. Additionally, the optimized sensor demonstrated excellent selectivity for CO₂, long-term stability, and reliable performance across different humidity levels. The enhanced sensing performance of the optimized sensor was attributed to the formation of SnO₂-PANI heterojunctions and the optimal PANI concentration. This study underscores the potential of SnO₂-PANI composites for CO₂ detection at RT. Full article

A novel material was created from natural ilmenite sand, and methylene blue (MB) was used to test the material’s capacity to remove colors from wastewater. The material was synthesized by neutralizing the acid leachate obtained by Ilmenite sand digestion, followed by drying at 180 °C. It was characterized by XRD, Raman, TEM, SEM, XPS, XRF, and BET techniques. The crystal nature of the composite is Fe₃O₄/Fe₂TiO₅/TiO₂. The surface area, average pore size and total pore volume of the composite are 292.18 m²/g, 1.53 nm, and 0.202 cc/g, respectively. At pH 10, 10 mg/L MB, and 10 mg of the material resulted in a maximum adsorption capacity of 24.573 mg/g. Using 5 mg/L increments, the dye concentration was adjusted between 10 and 25 mg/L, yielding equilibrium adsorption capacities of 24.573, 31.012, 41.443, and 52.259 mg/g with 10, 15, 20, and 25 mg/L, respectively. The greatest adsorbent capacity of 24.573 mg/g was achieved with 10 mg of the adsorbent and 10 mg/L MB. The adsorbent dosage ranged from 10, 25, 45, 65, and 100 mg. MB was adsorbed via pseudo-second-order kinetics with an adsorption capacity of 24.863 mg/g. The intraparticle diffusion model showed that MB adsorption occurs in three stages, with intra-particle diffusion constants of 1.50, 2.71, 3.38, and 4.41 g/mg min^1/2. Adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm model. The obtained thermodynamic parameters ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS were −27.5521 kJ/mol at 298 K, 2.571 kJ/mol, and 0.101 kJ/mol, respectively. Regeneration studies of the adsorbent were carried out for five cycles, indicating some activity loss after each cycle. Full article

To synthesize high-quality TS-1 zeolites with enhanced catalytic performance for 1-hexene epoxidation is highly attractive for meeting the increased need for sustainable chemistry. Herein, we report that a series of framework Ti-enriched TS-1 zeolites with high crystallinity can be effectively synthesized by the hydrothermal crystallization of a composite precursor composed of diol-based polymer (containing titanium and silicon) and tetrapropylammonium bromide (TPABr). The pre-addition of a certain amount of TPABr into the polymer-based precursor plays a very positive role in maintaining the high crystallinity and framework Ti incorporation rate of TS-1 zeolites under the premise that a relatively low concentration of tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) template is adopted in the following hydrothermal crystallization process. The condition-optimized TS-1 zeolite with a smaller particle size (300–500 nm) shows excellent catalytic activity, selectivity, and recyclability for the epoxidation of 1-hexene with H₂O₂ as an oxidant, which can achieve a 75.4% conversion of 1-hexene and a 99% selectivity of epoxide at a reaction temperature of 60 °C, which is much better than the TS-1 zeolites reported in the previous literature. The relatively small particle size of the resultant TS-1 crystals may enhance the accessibility of the catalytically active framework Ti species to reagents, and the absence of non-framework Ti species, like anatase TiO₂, and low polymerized six-coordinated Ti species could effectively inhibit the ineffective decomposition of H₂O₂ and the occurrence of side reactions, leading to an improvement in the catalytic efficiency for the epoxidation of 1-hexente with H₂O₂. Full article

Frequent changes in altitude and oxygen levels limit the practical application of traditionally derived exercise thresholds or training zones based on heart rate (HR) or blood lactate concentration (bLa). We investigated the transferability of a muscle oxygenation (SmO₂)-based intensity prescription between different hypoxic conditions to assess the suitability of real-time SmO₂ measurements for ski-mountaineering (SKIMO) athletes during submaximal endurance exercise. A group of 15 well-trained male SKIMO athletes performed a graded-intensity run test in normoxia (87 m ASL, FiO₂ = 20.8%) to determine the anaerobic threshold (AnT) with the mod-Dmax method, and maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) assessments in acute normobaric hypoxia (3000 m ASL, FiO₂ = 14.4%) with the intensity aligned to 90–105% of SmO₂ at the normoxia-determined AnT. SmO₂, HR, and bLa were monitored during both tests. The number of MLSS assessments without a bLa increase over 1 mmol·L⁻¹ was reported. Paired t-tests with Cohen’s d effect sizes and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were computed to compare the bLa and HR at the AnT in normoxia and MLSS averages in hypoxia, as both corresponded to equivalent SmO₂. Out of the 15 MLSS assessments, 11 (73.3%) were performed without a bLa increase over 1 mmol·L⁻¹. Significant differences at equivalent SmO₂ in normoxia and hypoxia were found for HR (175 ± 11.7 vs. 160 ± 14.2 bpm, p = 0.005, d = 1.02), but not for bLa (4.9 ± 1.2 vs. 5.1 ± 2.4 mmol·L⁻¹, p = 0.845, d = −0.05). ICC(2,k) for HR and bLa were 0.56 (95% CI: −0.24, 0.85) and 0.40 (95% CI: −0.75, 0.80), respectively. The results indicate a fair transferability of a SmO₂-based intensity prescription between different hypoxic conditions in well-trained SKIMO athletes during submaximal endurance exercise. The practical significance of the observations depends on the required accuracy of the exercise intensity determination. Full article

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a polyhydroxy phenolic acid, has been extensively studied for its antimicrobial properties. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) threatens food safety by forming biofilms. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of CGA against S. aureus and its biofilm. The anti-bacterial activity of CGA was assessed using crystal violet staining, TEM, SEM, a CLSM, and using metabolomics and molecular docking to elucidate the mechanism. The results indicated that the minimum inhibitory concentration of CGA against S. aureus was 2.5 mg/mL. CGA disrupts the integrity of bacterial cell membranes, leading to increased hydrophobicity, morphological changes, scattering, and reduced spreading. This disruption decreases biofilm adhesion and bacterial count. Metabolomics and molecular docking analyses revealed that CGA down-regulates key amino acids. It forms hydrogen bonds with penicillin-binding protein 4 (PBP4), Amidase, glutamate synthetase B, and glutamate synthetase A. By inhibiting amino acid metabolism, CGA prevents biofilm formation. CGA interacts with amino acids such as aspartic acid, glutamine, and glutamate through hydroxyl (-OH) and carbonyl (-C=O) groups. This interaction reduces cell viability and biofilm cohesion. The novel findings of this study, particularly the extension of the shelf life of pasteurized milk by inhibiting S. aureus growth, highlight the potential of CGA as a promising anti-biofilm strategy and preservative in the dairy industry. Full article

The selective depolymerization of β-O-4 lignin models into high-value aromatic monomers using photocatalysis presents both significant opportunities and challenges. Photocatalysts often face issues such as high photogenerated carrier recombination rates and limited operational lifetimes. This study introduces S doping to modulate the surface interface of Bi₃O₄Cl (BOC) nanosheets, enhancing C-O bond cleavage efficiency in β-O-4 lignin models under visible light at ambient temperatures. Comprehensive characterization, including atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron spin resonance (ESR), and density functional theory (DFT) analysis, revealed that S doping reduces BOC nanosheet thickness to 1.51 nm and promotes charge carrier separation, thereby generating greater concentrations of reactive species, specifically •O₂⁻ and •OH. Photocatalytic depolymerization experiments demonstrated that S-doped BOC achieved a C-O bond cleavage selectivity of 93% and an aromatic monomer yield of 629.03 μmol/g/h (i.e., 1.5 times higher than that of undoped BOC). This work provides a strategic approach to designing photocatalysts with enhanced selectivity and efficiency for lignin depolymerization. Full article

In the present study, ultra-small, magnetic, oleyl amine-coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized and stabilized with a cationic ligand, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and an anticancer drug, methotrexate, was incorporated into a micelle-like nanoparticle structure for glioblastoma treatment. Nanoparticles were further characterized for their physicochemical properties using spectroscopic methods. Drug incorporation efficiency, drug loading, and drug release profile of the nanoparticles were investigated. According to the results, max incorporation efficiency% of 89.5 was found for 25 µg/mL of methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles. The cumulative amount of methotrexate released reached 40% at physiological pH and 85% at a pH of 5.0 up to 12 h. The toxicity and anticancer efficacy of the nanoparticles were also studied on U87 cancer and L929 cells. IC₅₀ concentration of nanoparticles reduced cell viability to 49% in U87 and 72% in L929 cells. The cellular uptake of nanoparticles was found to be 1.92-fold higher in U87 than in L929 cells. The total apoptosis% in U87 cells was estimated to be ~10-fold higher than what was observed in the L929 cells. Nanoparticles also inhibited the cell motility and prevented the metastasis of U87 cell lines. Overall, designed nanoparticles are a promising controlled delivery system for methotrexate to the cancer cells to achieve better therapeutic outcomes. Full article

Ethanolic extracts from the roots and aerial parts of the hitherto chemically uninvestigated lettuce species Lactuca racemosa Willd. (Cichorieae, Asteraceae) were chromatographically separated to obtain eight sesquiterpenoids, two apocarotenoids (loliolide and (6S,9S) roseoside), and three phenolic glucosides (apigenin 7-O-glucoside, eugenyl-4-O-β-glucopyranoside, and 5-methoxyeugenyl-4-O-β-glucopyranoside). Four of the isolated sesquiterpene lactones (8-α-angeloyloxyleucodin, matricarin, 15-deoxylactucin, and deacetylmatricarin 8-β-glucopyranoside) have not previously been found either in Lactuca spp. or in Cicerbita spp. In addition, HPLC-PAD chromatographic methods were used to estimate the deacetylmatricarin derivatives, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, and caffeic acid derivatives contents in the analyzed plant material. The aerial parts contained c. 3.0% dry weight of chicoric acid and equal amounts (0.4%) of caftaric acid and luteolin 7-O-glucoside. The roots contained fewer phenolic metabolites but were rich in deacetylmatricarin glucoside (c. 1.3%). The aglycone of the most abundant sesquiterpene lactone was evaluated with respect to its neuroprotective effect in H₂O₂- and 6-OHDA-treated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. This compound, at concentrations of 10 and 50 μM, provided partial protection of undifferentiated cells, and at a concentration of 50 μM, it provided partial protection of retinoic acid-differentiated cells from H₂O₂-induced damage. In a model of 6-OHDA-evoked cytotoxicity, the sesquiterpenoid was less effective. Our findings may support the inclusion of this plant into the human diet. Full article

When vegetable waste (VW) is used as a sole substrate for anaerobic digestion (AD), the rapid accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) can impede interspecies electron transfer (IET), resulting in a relatively low biogas production rate. In this study, Chinese cabbage and cabbage were selected as the VW substrates, and four continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) were employed. Different concentrations of biochar-loaded nano-Fe₃O₄(Fe₃O₄@BC) (100 mg/L, 200 mg/L, 300 mg/L) were added, and the organic loading rate (OLR) was gradually increased during the AD process. The changes in biogas production rate, VFAs, and microbial community structure in the fermentation tanks were analyzed to identify the optimal dosage of Fe₃O₄@BC and the maximum OLR. The results indicated that at the maximum OLR of 3.715 g (VS)/L·d, the addition of 200 mg/L of Fe₃O₄@BC most effectively promoted an increase in the biogas production rate and reduced the accumulation of VFAs compared to the other treatments. Under these conditions, the biogas production rate reached 0.658 L/g (VS). Furthermore, the addition of Fe₃O₄@BC enhanced both the diversity and abundance of bacteria and archaea. At the genus level, the abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Sphaerochaeta, and the archaeal genus Thermovirga was notably increased. Full article

This research examined the viability of Japanese quince juice concentrate (JQJC) as an innovative alternative to lemon juice concentrate (LJC). Given the rising consumer demand for natural food ingredients, this study focused on a thorough analysis of the nutritional and functional characteristics of JQJC in comparison to LJC. The chemical analysis indicated that JQJC possesses a total soluble solids (TSS) content of 50.6 °Brix, with fructose and glucose, to a greater extent, being the primary contributors to its solids content. In contrast, LJC had a TSS of 39.8 °Brix and also contained glucose and fructose. Additionally, malic acid is a principal component of JQJC’s acidity, determined at 20.98 g 100 g⁻¹ of fresh weight (FW), while LJC mostly contained citric acid at a concentration of 30.86 g 100 g⁻¹ FW. Moreover, the ascorbic acid content quantified in JQJC was eight times greater than that observed in LJC. The assessment of antioxidant activity, utilizing the DPPH^• and FRAP assays, indicated that JQJC exhibits scavenging activity nearly eleven times higher than that of LJC, suggesting its superior antioxidant capacity. The total phenolic content for JQJC was quantified at 2189.59 mg 100 g⁻¹ FW, significantly (p < 0.05) exceeding the 262.80 mg 100 g⁻¹ FW found in LJC. The analysis identified 16 individual phenolic compounds in JQJC, highlighting the dominance of epicatechin, chlorogenic, and protocatechuic acids with concentrations ranging from 0.16 to 50.63 mg 100 g⁻¹ FW, contributing to a total individual phenolic content of 114.07 mg 100 g⁻¹ FW. Conversely, LJC is characterized by substantial contributions from hesperidin, eriocitrin, and, to a lesser extent, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, yielding a phenolic content of 109.65 mg 100 g⁻¹ FW. This study presents strong evidence supporting the utilization of JQJC as a functional substitute for LJC across a variety of product categories, including beverages, jams, and other food items. The findings indicate that JQJC has the potential to enhance product development targeted at health-conscious consumers while optimizing the utilization of a relatively underexplored fruit crop. Full article

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are one of the most widely used nanoparticulate materials due to their antimicrobial properties. However, the current use of ZnO NPs is hindered by their potential cytotoxicity concerns, which are likely attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the dissolution of particles to ionic zinc. To reduce the cytotoxicity of ZnO NPs, transitional metals are introduced into ZnO lattices to modulate the ROS production and NP dissolution. However, the influence of the doping element, doping concentration, and particle size on the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties remains unexplored. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of a library of doped ZnO NPs to elucidate the relationship between their physicochemical properties, antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli), and cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. The library comprises 30 variants, incorporating three different dopant metals—iron, manganese, and cobalt—at concentrations of 0.25%, 1%, and 2%, and calcined at three temperatures (350 °C, 500 °C, and 600 °C), resulting in varied particle sizes. These ZnO NPs were prepared by low temperature co-precipitation followed by high-temperature calcination. Our results reveal that the choice of dopant elements significantly influences both antimicrobial efficacy and cytotoxicity, while dopant concentration and particle size have comparatively minor effects. High-throughput UV–visible spectroscopic analysis identified Mn- and Co-doped ZnO NPs as highly effective against E. coli under standard conditions. Compared with undoped ZnO particles, Mn- and Co-doping significantly increased the oxidative stress, and the Zn ion release from NPs was increased by Mn doping and reduced by Fe doping. The combined effects of these factors increased the cytotoxicity of Mn-doped ZnO particles. As a result, Co-doped ZnO particles, especially those with 2 wt.% doping, exhibited the most favourable balance between enhanced antibacterial activity and minimized cytotoxicity, making them promising candidates for antimicrobial applications. Full article