Search Results (104)

Background/Objectives: We examined the association between bean consumption and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: We analyzed data from 1397 U.S. pregnant women from Infant Feeding Practices Study II. By using a Diet History Questionnaire, pregnant women were asked about the frequency of consumption and portion size of dried beans, chili, and bean soup over the previous month. They also reported the status of GDM. We used multivariable logistic regression models to examine associations between maternal bean consumption and the risk of GDM, adjusting for socio-demographic and pregnancy-related confounders. Results: Mean bean consumption was low among pregnant women: 0.31 cups/week of dried beans, 0.16 cups/week of chili, and 0.10 cups/week of bean soup. Dried bean consumption was relatively high in Hispanic mothers (mean, 0.65 cups/week) and mothers from the East South Central region (0.44). Chili consumption was relatively high in mothers who were Black (0.33), who did not attend college (0.18), who had a household size of 4+ (0.19), whose household income was <USD 25,000/year (0.20), who were WIC recipients (0.18), or who lived in the East South Central region (0.26). Pregnant women who consumed chili one time per month had a lower risk of GDM, compared with never consumers (3.5% vs. 7.4%; confounder-adjusted odds ratio or OR, 0.37 [95% confidence interval or CI, 0.17–0.79]; p = 0.011). However, there was no significant association between dried bean (6.6% for one time per week or more vs. 7.0% for never; confounder-adjusted OR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.41–1.62]; p-value = 0.569) or bean soup (4.9% for two–three times per month or more vs. 6.6% for never; confounder-adjusted OR, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.05–3.08]; p-value = 0.382) consumption and GDM. Conclusions: Bean consumption during pregnancy is low and varies by socio-demographics in the U.S. A moderate frequency of chili consumption may offer some protection against GDM. Replication is needed in larger cohorts with more diverse populations, detailed measures of bean consumption, gold standards of GDM diagnosis, and experimental design. Research in this field can potentially inform dietary approaches to addressing GDM and related morbidities. Full article

This paper gives a brief description of all structural–formational zones in the Southern Urals. Riphean and Paleozoic black shale sediments with strong positive anomalies of gold and a number of other elements are widely developed within this region. This paper reports that carbonaceous shales are a very favorable geochemical environment for the primary accumulation of many industrially important elements. Under certain conditions (in the areas of magmatism, zonal metamorphism, and tectonic activity), they can serve as a source of metals and concentrate deposits, and occurrences of gold, silver, and platinoids. Among these deposits, a new type of vein-embedded gold–sulfide mineralization with dispersed gold and platinum metals, localized in rocks rich in organic carbon, has been detected. In this study, we made an attempt to summarize and systematize research materials on this issue. The presented data indicate a high potential of carbonaceous sediments in the Southern Urals, providing a good basis for further prospecting works and analytical studies. Full article

Clays have been exploited in the manufacture of diverse products from ceramics to paints, pharmaceuticals, plastics, cosmetics, and more. Thus, they can be used in many industrial applications, showing good adsorbent ability thanks to their lamellar structure, high cation exchange capacity, pore size distribution, and large surface area. For this reason, considerable attention has been paid to their in-depth characterization, for further integration in sectors such as biomedicine, construction, remediation, aerospace, and nanotechnology. For this aim, two samples of natural clays, ALO1 and PRE4, from the southeast part of Albania, were subject to a multi-methodological characterization, with the aim of addressing the use of such geomaterials in possible sensing applications. X-ray fluorescence analysis, morphological characterization of the samples, and energy-dispersive system spectroscopy pointed to an extreme mineralogical variety, with kaolinite in AL01 and montmorillonite in PRE4 as the most abundant phases. This fact was further confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction, showing a quartz content of 20%, a kaolinite content of 64%, and a muscovite content of 16% for ALO1; meanwhile, for PRE4, we found a content of quartz of 45%, a content of montmorillonite of 34.9%, and a content of clinochlore of 20%. Infrared spectroscopy and thermal analyses confirmed the presence of hydroxyl groups in both samples, suggesting a higher content in ALO1. Measurement of N₂ adsorption isotherms on the clay samples yields specific surface areas of 87 m²/g for PRE4 and 32 m²/g for ALO1, pore volumes of 0.721 cm³/g for PRE4 and 0.637 cm³/g for ALO1, and similar pore sizes in the range of 6–12 nm. Electrochemical analysis highlighted a good conductivity of ALO1 and PRE4 when used for the modification of commercial carbon-based screen-printed electrodes. In detail, higher currents were registered by differential pulse voltammetry for the electrodes modified with the clays with respect to bare electrodes, as well as good repeatability of the measurements. In addition, a comparative study with nanomaterials, known for their good conductivity, was achieved, using carbon black and gold nanoparticles as a reference, showing that the conductivity of the clays was lower than but not so different from those of the reference materials. Full article

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant functioning, photosynthesis, and metabolic activities. In terrestrial settings, nitrogen is not always sufficiently available because its basic form (N₂) must be fixed into other forms, such as nitrate and ammonium, to be usable by plants. Adding nitrogenous fertilizer to soils may provide a means of increasing forest productivity. Ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH₃), an effluent produced during gold extraction, requires mining companies to manage its long-distance and costly transportation offsite for disposal. Applying this nitrogenous effluent, in its treated form of ammonium sulfate (ammoniacal nitrogen from mine water was converted into ammonium sulfate locally), to regional forest stands could provide a cost-effective and more environmentally sound means of managing this waste product and enhance forest productivity. Here, we conducted greenhouse- and field-based experiments to evaluate ammonium sulfate fertilization on black spruce (Picea mariana) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) seedling growth. We assigned five treatments, varying in terms of the fertilizer concentration and presence/absence of biochar, to seedlings in greenhouse trials. We also applied various concentrations of ammonium sulfate to an 8-year-old black spruce plantation in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Québec. We found that black spruce and jack pine seedlings experienced greater growth than the controls in terms of the stem diameter (32–44%), seedling height (21–49%), and biomass (86–154%). In the field experiment, we observed 37% greater volumetric growth in plots receiving medium-level fertilization than the control. Although nitrogen fertilization lowered the soil pH, essential nutrients increased to favor greater seedling growth. Thus, ammonium sulfate, derived from local mining effluent, appears to offer a suitable alternative for enriching nitrogen-limited boreal soils and increasing tree growth. This application could benefit both regional mining industries and forest management bodies. Full article

This study was conducted to characterize different colored lines of cherry tomatoes and derive information regarding their metabolite accumulation. Different colored cherry tomato cultivars, namely ‘Jocheong’, ‘BN Satnolang’, ‘Gold Chance’, ‘Black Q’, and ‘Snacktom’, were assessed for their firmness, taste characteristics, and nutritional metabolites at the commercial ripening stage. The cultivars demonstrated firmness to withstand impacts during harvesting and postharvest operations. The significant variations in the Brix to acid ratio (BAR) and the contents of phenylalanine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid highlight the distinct taste characteristics among the cultivars, and the nutritional metabolites are associated with the color of the cultivars. The cultivar choices would be the black-colored ‘Black Q’ for chlorophylls, β-carotene, total flavonoids, and anthocyanins; the red-colored ‘Snacktom’ for lycopene; the orange-colored ‘Gold Chance’ for total phenolics; and the green-colored ‘Jocheong’ for chlorophylls, vitamin C, GABA, glutamic acid, essential amino acids, and total free amino acids. The antioxidant capacity varied among the cultivars, with ‘Gold Chance’ consistently exhibiting the highest activity across the four assays, followed by ‘Snacktom’. This study emphasizes the importance of screening cultivars to support breeding programs for improving the nutritional content and encourages the inclusion of a diverse mix of different colored cherry tomatoes in packaging to obtain the cumulative or synergistic effects of secondary metabolites. Full article

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) Middle East–Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), causes significant losses to vegetable crops directly by sap-feeding, inducing plant physiological disorders, and elevating the build-up of sooty mold, and indirectly by transmitting plant viruses. In this study, we evaluated the susceptibility of 20 yellow squash and zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) cultivars to MEAM1, across three growing seasons in the southeastern United States. Weekly sampling of the numbers of MEAM1 adults, nymphs, and eggs were conducted from the fourth week after seed sowing and across 6 weeks during the summer and fall of 2021 and five weeks during the fall of 2022. In general, adult whitefly populations were high during the first week of sampling but decreased as the seasons progressed. The zucchini cultivar ‘Black Beauty’ harbored the most adults, while ‘Green Eclipse Zucchini’ was the least attractive zucchini cultivar to the adults in fall 2022. For yellow squash, ‘Early Summer’ (summer 2021) and ‘Amberpic 8455’ (summer 2021 and fall 2022) were the cultivars with the highest adult populations, while ‘Lioness’ (summer 2021) and ‘Gourmet Gold Hybrid’ (fall 2022) harbored the lowest adult counts. The whitefly egg counts across both vegetables trailed those of adults and peaked in the second week of sampling. The counts of nymphs increased as the seasons progressed, but there was a decline after the second week during fall 2021. For the yellow squash cultivars, ‘Gourmet Gold Hybrid’, (summer 2021 and fall 2022), ‘Lioness’, and ‘Fortune’ (summer 2021) recorded the highest yields. For zucchini, ‘Golden Glory’ (summer 2021) was the top performer. These results provide valuable information for whitefly management in yellow squash and zucchini based on host plant susceptibility and yield. Full article

As a representative genetic and economic trait, pigmentation has a strong impact on speciation and adaptation. However, information and reports on microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with pigmentation remain limited. The Midas cichlid fish, with three typical distinct stages of body color pattern, “black-gray-gold”, is an ideal model system for investigating pigmentation traits. In this study, miRNA libraries from scale tissues with the attached epidermis of Midas cichlids at three distinct stages of color transformation, black (B), transition (T), and gold (G), were sequenced using Illumina sequencing technology. In total, 53 (B vs. G), 88 (B vs. T), and 57 (T vs. G) miRNAs were differentially expressed between the respective groups. Target genes of the identified miRNAs were predicted, and the results showed that multiple target genes were related to pigmentation and pigment–cell differentiation. The miRNA–mRNA regulatory network suggests that miR-183-x and miR-133-x were predicted to be involved in regulating morphological color changes in Midas cichlids. The results advance our understanding of potential functions of miRNAs in skin pigment differentiation and early skin color fading of fishes. Full article

This article explores the phenomenon of a specific type of personal adornment worn by members of the Scythian elite in the North Black Sea region in the second half of the 5th century and throughout the 4th century BCE. The discussion juxtaposes the records from 19th-century and early 20th-century excavations with contextual analyses of very recent discoveries from Ukraine, which shed significant new light on the appearance, production, and meaning of Scythian jewelry. The reconstruction of the shape of the jewelry type in question is greatly complicated by two factors: the lack of relevant depictions in the contemporary corpus of Scythian and Greco-Scythian figure scenes and misleading scholarly references to supposed analogies in a Roman-era mosaic, which became the chief reason for the misinterpretations of the ornament’s appearance. Composed of numerous gold or gilded silver tubes; beads; pendants; and, sometimes, “buttons,” this jewelry type is reconstructed in two gender-specific variants in this article: one mesh-like and the other with a cross-chest form. For over a hundred years, scholars have considered only the mesh variant to be the correct reconstruction. As a result, many costume reconstructions of this jewelry form in specialist research and museum displays alike are still proposed without a sufficient evidentiary base. Full article

During the Ming Dynasty, the Five-Dragon Palace functioned as a royal Taoist temple set atop one of China’s holiest Taoist mountains, Wudang Mountain. Two tower polychrome sculptures with exquisite craftsmanship have remained over the centuries. In this study, the painting materials and the techniques used to construct these sculptures were analyzed through multiple characterization methods, including optical microscope (OM) observations, micro-Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM−EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (μ−FTIR), and pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py−GC/MS). The results revealed that the pigments used in these sculptures included red pigments, which were composed of mercury (II) sulfide (cinnabar or vermillion), minium (Pb₃O₄), and hematite (Fe₂O₃); green pigments, which included atacamite and botallackite (Cu₂Cl(OH)₃), and blue pigments, which comprised smalt (CoO·nSiO₂) and azurite (Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂). The white base layer was composed of quartz and mica minerals combined with gypsum or plant fiber, and the gold foil was adhered to the surface using heated tung oil. In addition, a special multi−layer technique was applied, with red under the golden gilding, white under the blue layer, and gray and black under the green layer. Drying oil was used as a binder for lead-containing pigments. This study offers substantial proof of reliable techniques to use in the continuing conservation of these sculptures, and it also serves as a foundation to determine if they can be dated to the late Ming or early Qing Dynasty (17th century). Full article

Two-dimensional black phosphorus (2D BP) has attracted significant research interest in the field of biomedical applications due to its unique characteristics, including high biocompatibility, impressive drug-loading efficiency, phototherapeutic ability, and minimal side effects. However, its puckered honeycomb lattice structure with lone-pair electrons of BP leads to higher sensitivity and chemical reactivity towards H₂O and O₂ molecules, resulting in the degradation of the structure with physical and chemical changes. In our study, we synthesize polyethylene glycol (PEG) and glutathione-stabilized doxorubicin drug-assembled Au nanoparticle (Au-GSH-DOX)-functionalized BP nanosheets (BP-PEG@Au-GSH-DOX) with improved degradation stability, biocompatibility, and tumor-targeting ability. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy indicate the nanoscale degradation behavior of synthesized nanoconjugates in three different environmental exposure conditions, and the results demonstrate the remarkable nanoscale stability of BP-PEG@Au-GSH-DOX against the degradation of BP, which provides significant interest in employing 2D BP-based nanotherapeutic agents for tumor-targeted cancer phototherapy. Full article

Biochar (BC), also referred to as “black gold”, is a carbon heterogeneous material rich in aromatic systems and minerals, preparable by the thermal decomposition of vegetable and animal biomasses in controlled conditions and with clean technology. Due to its adsorption ability and presence of persistent free radicals (PFRs), BC has demonstrated, among other uses, great potential in the removal of environmental organic and inorganic xenobiotics. Bamboo is an evergreen perennial flowering plant characterized by a short five-year growth period, fast harvesting, and large production in many tropical and subtropical countries worldwide, thus representing an attractive, low-cost, eco-friendly, and renewable bioresource for producing BC. Due to their large surface area and increased porosity, the pyrolyzed derivatives of bamboo, including bamboo biochar (BBC) or activated BBC (ABBC), are considered great bio-adsorbent materials for removing heavy metals, as well as organic and inorganic contaminants from wastewater and soil, thus improving plant growth and production yield. Nowadays, the increasing technological applications of BBC and ABBC also include their employment as energy sources, to catalyze chemical reactions, to develop thermoelectrical devices, as 3D solar vapor-generation devices for water desalination, and as efficient photothermal-conversion devices. Anyway, although it has great potential as an alternative biomass to wood to produce BC, thus paving the way for new bio- and circular economy solutions, the study of bamboo-derived biomasses is still in its infancy. In this context, the main scope of this review was to support an increasing production of BBC and ABBC and to stimulate further studies about their possible applications, thus enlarging the current knowledge about these materials and allowing their more rational, safer, and optimized application. To this end, after having provided background concerning BC, its production methods, and its main applications, we have reviewed and discussed the main studies on BBC and ABBC and their applications reported in recent years. Full article

The “ceremonial” forms of swords and daggers—that is, bladed weapons decorated with precious metals—occupy a special place in the culture of the early nomads. For the Scythian period, we know at least 76 ceremonial objects from 61 sites, corresponding to 3.5% of the total sample. More than half of the finds come from the northern Black Sea region (mainly Ukraine). Ceremonial forms are represented in all morphological categories (from daggers to extra-long swords), but their distribution is slightly different. Most akinakai belong to the average and long swords. Most Scythian akinakai in Eurasia belong to the dagger and short sword groups. Although most Scythian swords and daggers fall into the Middle Scythian period, most ceremonial forms belong to the last phase of Classical Scythian culture. This period is a veritable “golden autumn” of Scythia with its huge royal burial mounds and abundance of gold, perfectly illustrating our argument that conspicuous consumption coincides with periods of political and social instability. After the peak of the proliferation of ceremonial akinakai in the third quarter of the 4th century BC, we observe a generation later the complete disappearance of Classical Scythian culture, along with its characteristic weapons, horse harnesses, and animal style. Full article

The needless use of tetracyclines (TCs) in foodstuffs is a huge health concern in low- and middle-income and Arab countries. Herein, a sensitive and faster monitoring system for H₂O₂ and TCs is proposed, utilizing the large surface-to-volume ratio of a non-spherical gold nanoparticle/black phosphorus nanocomposite (BP-nsAu NPs) for the first time. BP-nsAu NPs were synthesized through a single-step method that presented nanozymatic activity through 3,3′,5,5′-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) oxidation while H₂O₂ was present and obeyed the Michaelis–Menten equation. The nanozymatic activity of the BP-nsAu NPs was enhanced 12-fold and their detection time was decreased 83-fold compared to conventional nanozymatic reactions. The proposed method enabled us to quantify H₂O₂ with a limit of detection (LOD) value of 60 nM. Moreover, target-specific aptamer-conjugated BP-nsAu NPs helped us detect TCs with an LOD value of 90 nM. The present strategy provides a proficient route for low-level TC monitoring in real samples. Full article

The gilded bronze eagles that stand upon the summit of the Tabernacle by Michelozzo in the Abbey of San Miniato al Monte, Florence (Italy) are an exquisite example of Italian Renaissance sculpture. Commissioned by Piero di Cosimo de Medici, the two eagles, representing the ancient Arte di Calimala, were cast and decorated by Maso di Bartolomeo in the 1448–1449 period. A multi-analytical approach was set up to characterize the state of conservation, materials used, and artistic technique of the eagles. Non-invasive methods were used and integrated with micro-invasive analyses, such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry on powders (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy coupled with EDS (SEM-EDS), and metallographic investigation. The results depict shiny-looking eagles, suggesting the use of oil gilding on almost all surfaces and revealing the presence of polychromies, which is almost unusual in XV-century bronze statuary and is initially hidden by deposits and corrosion products. Indeed, the paws were originally painted with azurite, while the use of cinnabar imparted a vivid red color to the tongue. A black paint containing mercury was found on the eyes and talons. The bales of cloth were decorated with silver, which is now almost completely lost and whose remains are not visible due to being tarnished, while fine details in gold were detected on the lanyard. Full article

This pioneering work studied the medieval color palette of four manuscripts produced in the scriptorium of Alfonso X, king of the Crown of Castile (r. 1252-84), including the Songs of Holy Mary (Cantigas de Santa Maria, in Rich Codex and Musicians’ Codex), Lapidary (Lapidario), and Book of Games (Libro de los juegos). Scientific analysis based on fiber-optics reflectance spectroscopy in the visible and Raman spectroscopy showed a color palette based on lapis lazuli, indigo, azurite, vermilion, red lead, orpiment, yellow ochre, two different greens (bottle green and vergaut), lead white, carbon-based black, and most importantly, brazilwood pinks, reds, and purples. So, it is now the first reported use of this lake pigment in European medieval manuscript illumination. The painting technique is also discussed. The diversity of colors and techniques, with the presence of lapis lazuli, brazilwood lake pigments, purple, and gold, demonstrates Alfonso X’s desire to produce sumptuous manuscripts. Full article