Exploring the functional properties of the diamond-like quaternary compound LiZnGeS for potential energy applications: a theoretical approach.

It is anticipated that wide-bandgap semiconductors (WBGSs) would be useful materials for energy production and storage. A well-synthesized, yet scarcely explored, diamond-like quaternary semiconductor LiZnGeS has been considered for this work. Herein, we have employed two well-known functionals GGA and mGGA within a framework of density functional theory (DFT).

Kefir Grains in Self-Assembled Nanofibrils: Structural Role and Nutritional Applications.

Kefir grains offer numerous health benefits, including boosting the immune system, alleviating digestive issues, and enhancing antimicrobial activity. They are rich in beneficial probiotic bacteria that promote gut health and support a balanced intestinal microbiota. "Beta-lactoglobulin (β-lg), a well-known milk protein," is used to create nanofibril structures that can serve as scaffolds.

Bromuconazole impairs implantation process through cellular stress response in human trophoblast and endometrial cells.

Bromuconazole, a widely used triazole-based pesticide, effectively controls fungal diseases in agriculture. Bromuconazole cause a potential toxic effect to non-target organisms and can have a negative impact on reproductive health in women, due to its long half-life and bioaccumulation ability. This study identifies the cytotoxicity and adverse effects of bromuconazole on trophoblastic cells (HTR-8/SVneo) and human endometrial cells (T HESCs), which are involved in implantation processes.

Foliar application of selenium nanoparticles enhance quality and mitigate negative plant-soil feedback in Panax notoginseng by modulating plant-microbiota interactions.

Developing a practical strategy to enhance the quality of medicinal herb while alleviating negative plant-soil feedback (NPSF) is critical for agriculture. In this study, we investigated the effects of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) on Panax notoginseng through a two-year field experiment. Four treatments were established: a control (SeNPs_0) and three SeNPs concentrations (3, 5, and 10 mg/L), which were foliar-sprayed every 15 days for a total of six applications.

An integrated framework for evolution of ciliated protists (Protista, Ciliophora) from the perspective of comparative genomics.

Early-branching eukaryotes are associated with the early branching events during eukaryogenesis. Understanding their genomic diversity and evolution can provide insights into the origin and speciation of eukaryotes. Ciliated protists (ciliates) are a group of early-branching unicellular eukaryotes with a high biodiversity, making them excellent models for evolutionary studies.

Sublethal exposure of emamectin benzoate and thiamethoxam alters the biological parameters and genes expression in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

Excessive use of agrochemicals results in contamination of water due to runoff or leaching. Insecticide induced-hormesis, a phenomenon characterized by low dose stimulation following exposure to insecticide, is crucial to insect pest resurgence. In this study, the effects of low or sublethal concentrations of emamectin benzoate and thiamethoxam on biological traits and genes expression were investigated for yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti following 48 h exposures.

Dual-sensitive gelatin-coated chitosan microparticles for targeted semaglutide pulmonary delivery: a novel approach to enhancing anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects.

This study introduces a novel dual-sensitive drug delivery system, gelatin-coated chitosan microparticles (GL-ChMPs), designed to enhance the lung targeting and therapeutic efficacy of semaglutide (SEM). GL-ChMPs were designed to respond to the acidic environment and metalloproteinases, conditions that are typical in pulmonary fibrosis. SEM-GL-ChMPs exhibited superior lung targeting and prolonged retention while minimizing systemic distribution.

Multi-scale design of the structure and mechanical performance of the deep-sea hydrothermal mussel (Bathymodiolus aduloides) shell.

Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are renowned for being among the most extreme environments on Earth. However, the mussel shells found in these vent sites demonstrate remarkable productivity, despite being subjected to high pressure as well as unusual levels of heavy metals, pH, temperature, CO, and sulphides. To comprehend how these mussels endure such extreme conditions, a systematic comparative study was conducted, focusing on the unique chemical composition, structural designs, and mechanical properties of hydrothermal vent mussels (Bathymodiolus aduloides) in comparison to shallow-water mussels (Mytilus edulis).

Viral load differences associated with infection outcomes and resistance to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection in mud crab, Scylla serrata.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV), the causative agent of white spot disease, remains a serious threat to crustacean aquaculture. Infecting a wide range of crustaceans, host species exhibit varying susceptibility and mortality rates. Mud crabs, Scylla serrata, a high-value aquaculture commodity across the Indo-Pacific region, are known to be relatively resistant to WSSV.

Exploring biocontrol strategies for Phytopathogens using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria-derived enzymes: A review of current advances and future directions.

The growing demand for sustainable agriculture imposes innovative biocontrol strategies to mitigate phytopathogen threats while reducing dependence on chemical pesticides. This review explores the current knowledge on enzyme-based biocontrol, focusing on hydrolytic enzymes (e.g.

Neuroprotective potential of fortunellin against titanium dioxide nanoparticles induced neurotoxicity via regulating NLRP3, HMGB1/RAGE, and NF-κB pathway: A biochemical, histological and in-silico experimentation.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO-NPs) are used in the production of various industrial and commercial products and reported to cause neurotoxicity in Sprague Dawley rats. Fortunellin (FRN) is a potent flavonoid with diverse biological properties. This research experiment was performed to explore the protective role FRN against TiO-NPs induced brain damage.

Metallothionein 2A-Silencing Antimonene-Based Nanoagonist for Amplifying the Photothermal Immunotherapy of Gynecologic Malignancy.

Gynecologic malignancies are prone to metastasis and recurrence due to the low efficacy and sensitivity of current clinical treatments. Here, we construct ultrasmall Sb@Au nanodots (Sb@Au NDs) as a metallothionein 2A (MT 2A)-silencing nanoagonist for effective photothermal immunotherapy of gynecologic malignancies. Sb@Au NDs show high photothermal conversion efficiency of 56.

The microbiome-cancer axis as a hidden contributor to early-onset tumorigenesis.

The global incidence of early-onset cancer has surged by nearly 80% over the past three decades, yet the underlying causes remain poorly understood. While genetics and lifestyle are among the traditional risk factors, emerging evidence implicates the human microbiome as a potent and overlooked contributor to early tumorigenesis. Increases in the studies that are exploring the tissue-specific microbiome signatures such as the enrichment of Actinomyces and Bacteroidia in early-onset colorectal cancer, or Enterobacter and Neisseria in pancreatic tumors offer compelling evidence for age-stratified microbial contributions.

Nanostructured Benzoic Acid-Chitosan Nanogel Encapsulating a Synergistic Blend of Seven Essential Oils for Precision Pharmacological Delivery.

To develop and characterize a chemically modified chitosan-benzoic acid (CS-BA) nanogel for enhanced encapsulation, stability, and controlled release of essential oils with improved antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, the CS-BA nanogel was synthesized via carbodiimide-mediated coupling (EDC) of chitosan with benzoic acid. The nanogel was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphology and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for chemical bonding analysis. The encapsulation efficiency of essential oils-Pinus roxburghii (PREO), Pinus wallichiana (PWEO), Cedrus deodara (CDEO), Thuja orientalis (TOEO), Cymbopogon citratus (CCEO), Cymbopogon khasianus (CKEO), and Mentha arvensis (MAEO) was evaluated, and in vitro release studies were conducted over 36 h.

Mitigating salinity and cadmium stress in rice ( L.) using PGPR and salicylic acid: rhizosphere, health risk, and physiological insights.

Soil contamination with salinity and heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) is becoming a serious global problem due to the rapid development of the social economy. Although plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria PGPR and organic agents such as salicylic acid (SA) are considered major protectants to alleviate abiotic stresses, the study of these bacteria and organic acids to ameliorate the toxic effects of salinity and Cd remains limited. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the individual and combined effects of PGPR and SA on enhancing the phytoremediation of salinity (100 mM NaCl) and Cd (50 µM CdCl₂) using rice ( L.

Leveraging topological reactivity of cellulose nanocrystals with allomorph II (CNC-II) to create temperature-sensitive systems for ibuprofen delivery.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have garnered attention for their renewable and reactive nature, yet CNC allomorph II (CNC-II) remains underexplored compared to the extensively studied CNC-I. This study bridges this gap by introducing a two-step carboxylamine condensation strategy to conjugate poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) onto CNC-II via ethylenediamine, leveraging the high topochemical reactivity of CNC-II. Utilizing bicarboxylate-capped PEG as a probe, quartz crystal microbalance with energy dissipation (QCM-D) assays revealed a significant reactivity increase of 16.

Antrocinol-Mediated Downregulation of ATG5 Induces Autophagy-Dependent Cell Death and Activates the Unfolded Protein Response Through PERK/CHOP Signaling in Lenvatinib-Resistant Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.

Background: This study seeks to provide preclinical evidence demonstrating the potential of Antrocinol, a derivative of antrocin derived from the active compound of Antrodia cinnamomea, as a promising small-molecule drug candidate for overcoming drug-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We developed Lenvatinib-resistant Huh-7 and HepG cell lines (Huh-7/LR, HepG2/LR) to evaluate their viability and apoptotic response to Antrocinol. Autophagy-dependent cell death was assessed in Huh-7/LR cells using Z-VAD-FMK and shATG5 transfection.

The Triadic Relationship Between Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Type 2 Diabetes, and cardiovascular disease: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Management.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represent interconnected metabolic disorders with multifaceted etiology, demonstrating bidirectional relationships and pronounced associations with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Despite extensive research, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding the temporal progression of these comorbidities, optimal screening strategies for high-risk populations, and personalized therapeutic approaches targeting the hepatic-cardiac-metabolic axis simultaneously. Current literature lacks a comprehensive analysis of phenotypic heterogeneity within NAFLD-T2DM-CVD clusters and fails to address sex-specific and ethnic variations in disease progression patterns adequately.

A smart textile fabric-based optical nano-biosensor for hydrogen peroxide and glucose monitoring.

The incorporation of nanomaterials into smart flexible interfaces is a developing requirement for real-time diagnostics applications. In this work, we report a novel optical fabric-based sensor for the analysis of glucose and hydrogen peroxide (HO), addressing critical needs of healthcare, industrial safety, and environmental analysis. In contrast to traditional rigid substrates, we utilized cotton fabric as a porous and flexible sensing platform, immobilizing cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂-NPs) using hydrogel.

Characterization of a real-world population with pediatric epilepsy point-of-care standardized data collection as a tool for healthcare quality improvement and disparities research in Canada.

Objective: Electronic health records offer the opportunity for quality-improvement (QI) initiatives addressing health disparities in epilepsy care. The Pediatric Epilepsy Outcome-Informatics Project (PEOIP) at Alberta Children's Hospital implemented point-of-care data entry into a standardized pediatric epilepsy electronic note as part of routine clinical care to support QI initiatives. Our study validated collected data by assessing the prevalence of patient characteristics, ethno-racial background, and 4 of the most common severe epilepsy syndromes: infantile epileptic spasms, Dravet, Lennox-Gastaut, and developmental epileptic encephalopathy with spike-wave action in sleep.

Optimizing noise control in flexible shells with bridging membrane discs variations.

This study explores the acoustic behavior of flexible cylindrical shells incorporating membrane discs at structural interfaces, focusing on their influence on wave propagation characteristics. The dynamics of the embedded membrane discs are modeled at the junctions between different shell segments, and the resulting boundary value problem is addressed using a combination of the Mode-Matching (MM) and Galerkin methods. The governing equations comprise the Helmholtz equation in the fluid domain and the Donnell-Mushtari shell equations in the elastic guiding regions.

Evolutionary dynamics in plastomes and mitogenomes of diatoms.

Diatoms are pivotal in global oxygen, carbon dioxide, and silica cycling, contributing significantly to photosynthesis and serving as fundamental components in aquatic ecosystems. Recent advancements in genomic sequencing have shed light on their evolutionary dynamics, revealing evolutionary complex genomes influenced by symbiotic relationships and horizontal gene transfer events. By analyzing publicly available sequences for 120 plastomes and 70 mitogenomes, this paper aims to elucidate the evolutionary dynamics of diatoms across diverse lineages.

AI-driven bone mineral density prediction from chest x-rays and its association with obstructive sleep apnea.

With an increasing aging population, the prevalence of chronic comorbidities is on the rise. The potential relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and osteoporosis has garnered significant attention. Most studies examining the association between these two conditions have relied on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD).

Exploring the Topoisomerase II Inhibitory Potential of Steroidal Drugs as a Recommended Mechanism of Action for Their Anticancer Activity: In Silico and In Vitro Assessments.

Herein, and based on the pharmacophoric features of doxorubicin (Dox); 133 steroids were screened to assess their ability to act as TOP II inhibitors for the discovery of those with promising anticancer activity. The cytotoxic inhibitory concentration 50 (IC) of the investigated steroids was determined against H1299, CaCo2, MDA-MB-468, and FaDu cancer cell lines and compared to Dox. Fluticasone propionate and fusidic acid exhibited the most potent antiproliferative effect against the MDA-MB-468 with IC values of 10.

Genome-wide characterization and expression analysis of the chitinase gene family in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) for fungal stress resistance.

Chitinases, enzymes responsible for hydrolyzing chitin, a significant component of fungal cell walls, play a crucial role in plant defense mechanisms, growth, symbiotic relationships, and stress resistance. In this study, we identified 27 chitinase genes in chickpeas (CaChi) and classified them into five classes based on phylogenetic analysis. Overall, chitinase genes are clustered on eight chromosomes.