Search Results (15,741)

In this work, a flexible and sustainable radar-absorbing material (RAM) based on porous carbon derived from raw Kraft black liquor was developed. The porous carbon filler was synthesized through a simple, eco-friendly one-pot polymerization route, thereby avoiding lignin extraction, purification, and chemical activation steps. Macroporosity was introduced by using poly(methyl methacrylate) microspheres as a hard template, yielding a lightweight carbon material with a foam-like morphology, low density, and high porosity. The carbon filler was incorporated into a silicone rubber matrix at different loadings (5–25 wt.%) to produce flexible composites. The structural, morphological, and textural properties of porous carbon were investigated by SEM, EDX, Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption, and mercury porosimetry. The electromagnetic properties of composites were measured in the X-band (8.2–12.4 GHz) using a vector network analyzer. The mechanical behavior was evaluated through Young’s modulus. The results show that increasing filler content enhances dielectric losses and attenuation capability. Among all composites, the sample containing 20 wt.% of porous carbon exhibited the best electromagnetic performance, achieving a reflection loss of −42.3 dB at 10.97 GHz with a thickness of 2.43 mm, corresponding to an absorption efficiency of 99.99%. This performance is attributed to a favorable combination of impedance matching and quarter-wavelength cancellation effects. The developed sustainable, lightweight, and flexible composites demonstrate potential as low-cost RAM for aerospace and electromagnetic interference mitigation applications. Full article

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a Fusarium-derived mycotoxin widely found in grain-based feed, has become a major global environmental contaminant. Reproductive toxicity is one of its most important toxic effects, yet systematic investigations covering both male and female reproductive injury remain limited. This study aimed to establish a combined strategy of network toxicology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and single-cell RNA sequencing to evaluate the reproductive toxicity of DON. AKT1, EGFR, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, and SRC were identified as key targets involved in DON-induced reproductive injury. For testicular injury, the prolactin, Ras, HIF-1, and AGE-RAGE signaling pathways were closely associated with DON toxicity. For ovarian injury, the PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, prolactin, insulin, and AGE-RAGE signaling pathways were strongly implicated. Molecular docking demonstrated favorable binding affinities between DON and the hub targets, while molecular dynamics simulation further confirmed the stability of the DON–PIK3CA complex. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed that these five hub genes were highly expressed in both testicular (SRA667709:SRS3065430) and ovarian (SRA638923:SRS2797100) tissues. These findings deepen current understanding of DON-induced reproductive toxicity, provide new insights into the effects of environmental toxins on reproductive health, and offer a theoretical basis for future studies integrating DON exposure with in vivo validation of core targets and signaling pathways. Full article

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Shenqu Xiaoshi Oral Liquid in the treatment of functional constipation in children. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted from inception to 20 October 2025, across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Chinese VIP Information Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wan Fang Med Database. For quantitative analysis, the mean difference (MD) was used for continuous outcomes and the risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Statistical analyses were performed using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 13 software. Results: Eight studies involving 692 pediatric patients were included (Shenqu Xiaoshi Oral Liquid group: 345; control group: 347). Compared to the control group, Shenqu Xiaoshi Oral Liquid demonstrated superior clinical effectiveness [RR = 1.36, 95% CI: (1.25, 1.47); z = 7.11, p < 0.00001] and a lower recurrence rate [RR = 0.49, 95% CI: (0.26, 0.93); z = 2.18, p = 0.03]. Both the post-treatment [WMD = −0.91, 95% CI: (−0.97, −0.86); z = 31.94, p < 0.00001] and post-recurrence [WMD = −1.49, 95% CI: (−1.56, −1.41); z = 40.12, p < 0.00001] defecation intervals were shorter in the Shenqu Xiaoshi Oral Liquid group. No significant difference was observed in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups [RR = 0.67, 95% CI: (0.35, 1.29); z = 1.20, p = 0.23]. Furthermore, serum levels of motilin [WMD = 41.66, 95% CI: (34.17, 49.16); z = 10.90, p < 0.00001] and gastrin [WMD = 23.74, 95% CI: (7.30, 40.19); z = 2.83, p = 0.005] were significantly higher in the Shenqu Xiaoshi Oral Liquid group. Conclusions: Shenqu Xiaoshi Oral Liquid shows favorable clinical efficacy and an acceptable safety profile for treating functional constipation in children. However, these outcome measures are influenced by the limited sample size and potential heterogeneity of the included studies, warranting cautious interpretation of the results. Full article

Growing interest in sustainable, high-performance energy storage has driven extensive studies on advanced electrode materials for supercapacitor applications. In this study, a FeNiCo metal–organic framework/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MOF–MWCNT) composite was synthesized and employed as a modifying layer on a carbon felt electrode (CFE) via a drop-casting method. The electrochemical performance of the composite electrode was systematically evaluated in 1 M H₂SO₄ electrolyte. Structural and electrochemical studies demonstrate that the combined effect of the conductive CFE substrate, the electric double-layer capacitance of MWCNTs, and the pseudocapacitive properties of the trimetallic FeNiCo MOF markedly enhances the charge storage performance. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements demonstrate a maximum specific capacitance of approximately 180 F g⁻¹. The electrode delivers an energy density of 73.20 Wh kg⁻¹ at a power density of 3796.17 W kg⁻¹, demonstrating a favorable balance between energy and power performance. In addition, high coulombic efficiency confirms excellent charge–discharge reversibility. Notably, 71% of the initial capacitance is retained after 900 cycles in 1 M H₂SO₄, indicating stable electrochemical behavior even under strongly acidic conditions. These findings emphasize the promise of the FeNiCo MOF–MWCNT/CFE composite as a durable electrode design for next-generation supercapacitor devices. Full article

Epiphytic lichens are highly sensitive components of forest ecosystems, increasingly threatened by habitat disturbance and climate change. While habitat protection remains central to lichen conservation, translocation has emerged as a promising tool to address population decline, although its global effectiveness remains poorly evaluated. This scoping review, conducted under PRISMA-ScR guidelines, analyzes 30 taxa across 12 countries to evaluate current methodologies and outcomes. The reviewed literature is largely characterized by small-scale, method-oriented interventions, with a strong predominance of thallus fragment translocation over diaspore-based approaches. Success is most often evaluated through short-term survival and persistence of transplanted material, whereas indicators of long-term population self-maintenance and reproductive viability are rarely considered. Major limitations emerge from technical constraints, including early sample loss due to inadequate fixation, as well as from mismatches between donor requirements and recipient-site microhabitat conditions. Although high initial survival is frequently reported, evidence for long-term population stability, secondary colonization, and genetic resilience remains scarce. Overall, translocation may support short-term establishment under favorable environmental conditions, mainly at local scales, but its reliability as a long-term conservation strategy requires further validation. This review identifies a critical gap in long-term monitoring and highlights the need for research priorities that enhance the effectiveness, conceptual clarity, and technical precision of future translocation efforts to ensure the persistence of epiphytic lichen populations within changing forest landscapes. Full article

Object detection in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery remains a crucial yet challenging task due to complex backgrounds, large scale variations, and the prevalence of small objects. Visible-spectrum images lack robustness under all-weather and all-illumination conditions; by contrast, multispectral sensing provides complementary cues (e.g., thermal signatures) that improve detection robustness. However, existing multispectral solutions often incur high computational costs and are therefore difficult to deploy on resource-constrained UAV platforms. To address these issues, SG-YOLO is proposed, a lightweight and efficient multispectral object detection framework that aims to balance accuracy and efficiency. First, a Spectral Gated Downsampling Stem (SGDS) is designed, in which grouped convolutions and a gating mechanism are employed at the early stage of the network to extract band-specific features, thereby maximizing spectral complementarity while minimizing redundancy. Second, a Spectral–Spatial Iterative Attention Fusion (SSIAF) module is introduced, in which spectral-wise (channel) attention and spatial-wise attention are iteratively coupled and cascaded in a multi-scale manner to jointly model cross-band dependencies and spatial saliency, thereby aggregating high-level semantic information while suppressing redundant spectral responses. Finally, a Spatial–Channel Synergistic Fusion (SCSF) module is designed to enhance multi-scale and cross-channel feature integration in the neck. Experiments on the MODA dataset show that SG-YOLOs achieves 72.4% mAP₅₀, outperforming the baseline by 3.2%. Moreover, compared with a range of mainstream one-stage detectors and multispectral detection methods, SG-YOLO delivers the best overall performance, providing an effective solution for UAV object detection while maintaining a favorable trade-off between model size and detection accuracy. Full article

Autophagy-mitophagy pathways are essential for regulating immune homeostasis. However, their contribution to population-level chronic low-grade systemic inflammation (SI) remains unclear. The objective was to investigate the association between variation in the genes related to the autophagy-mitophagy pathways and SI, and to examine whether lifestyle factors modify this relationship. We conducted genome-wide association studies and gene-set enrichment analyses using data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES, n = 28,102) and UK Biobank (UKBB, n = 343,892). SI was defined as an elevated white blood cell count or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Using Core Longevity State Vectors (CLSVs)—gene sets representing immune-longevity pathways derived from comparative transcriptomic analysis—we tested six pathways and constructed a weighted genetic risk score (GRS) from significant variants. Gene–lifestyle interactions were examined with respect to major dietary and lifestyle factors. Among six CLSVs, only CLSV-2 (mitophagy and autophagy) showed a significant association with SI (β = 0.425, p = 0.008). Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in autophagy-mitophagy genes (INPP5D, ATG16L1, ATG7, AP3S1, OPTN, and VPS33A) were associated with SI in KoGES (p < 5 × 10⁻⁵), and ten SNPs (genes selected in KoGES plus RAB7A, ATG12, VPS33A, BECN1) reached genome-wide significance in UKBB (p < 5 × 10⁻⁸). A higher GRS was associated with increased SI in both cohorts and was strongly associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS, OR = 1.91 in KoGES; OR = 1.62 in UKBB). SI was characterized by neutrophilia with relative lymphopenia. In UKBB, significant gene–lifestyle interactions were observed for diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol (p < 0.01). Favorable lifestyle factors reduced SI most effectively in individuals with protective genotypes. Among individuals with a high vegetable/fruit intake, SI prevalence was 35%, 36%, and 38% in the negative-, zero-, and positive-GRS groups, respectively, compared with 36%, 45%, and 48% in the low-intake groups. In conclusion, genetic variations in autophagy-mitophagy pathways specifically influence SI. Genetic predisposition substantially modifies the benefits of lifestyle, underscoring the importance of integrating genetic and lifestyle factors in understanding SI susceptibility. Full article

Background/Objectives: Breastfeeding represents a critical developmental window during which maternal biology, environmental exposures, and nutrition converge to influence infant gastrointestinal health and long-term developmental trajectories. From a One Health perspective, breastfeeding can be conceptualized not as a static nutritional act, but as a dynamic and modifiable biological system in which maternal factors shape early-life microbiota assembly and immune programming. This narrative review explores how microbiota-oriented strategies during breastfeeding may foster a favorable trajectory of infant health, potentially extending to transgenerational outcomes. Methods: This narrative review is structured around a ten-point decalogue addressing interconnected domains relevant to the maternal–milk–infant microbiota axis, including maternal diet, microbial diversity, environmental exposures, psychological stress and probiotic use. Current mechanistic and clinical evidence was examined to evaluate how these domains may modulate microbiota composition and function during breastfeeding. Attention was given to probiotic supplementation, including strain specificity, timing of administration, and clinical context, as well as to the broader implications of a One Health framework. Results: Available evidence suggests that maternal nutritional patterns, environmental and psychosocial exposures, and targeted microbiota-modulation strategies may influence the composition and functional properties of human milk and the developing infant microbiota. Probiotic use during breastfeeding appears to have strain-specific and context-dependent effects, with potential benefits in selected clinical scenarios. However, findings remain heterogeneous, and uncertainties persist regarding optimal strains, timing, and long-term outcomes. Conclusions: Breastfeeding can be understood as a dynamic biological interface shaped by maternal and environmental factors. Integrating microbiota-oriented strategies within a One Health framework may support infant gastrointestinal health and possibly contribute to longer-term developmental trajectories. Nevertheless, careful interpretation of the current evidence is warranted to avoid reductionist, supplement-centered approaches and to prevent maternal overmedicalization or blame. Full article

Background/Objectives: Urinary continence recovery after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) follows a progressive trajectory that is often simplified into binary outcomes. Modeling continence recovery as an ordered process may better reflect post-operative functional patterns and identify clinically relevant predictors. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 180 patients undergoing extraperitoneal single-port RARP. At 6 months, continence recovery was classified into three ordered categories: early continence, late continence, and persistent incontinence. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of continence recovery. The primary model included nerve-sparing (NS) status, postoperative complications, age, and prostate volume. Sensitivity analyses were performed by sequentially replacing prostate volume with body mass index, surgical case number, or preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA). An interaction between NS and age group was also tested. Results: NS surgery was the factor most strongly associated with favorable continence recovery (p < 0.001), followed by absence of post-operative complications (p = 0.003). Younger age and larger prostate volume were also independently associated with improved continence recovery. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the primary model, as replacement of prostate volume with body mass index, surgical case number, or PSA did not improve model performance and did not alter the effect of NS surgery. No significant interaction between NS and age group was observed. Conclusions: Continence recovery after extraperitoneal RARP is primarily associated with NS surgery and an uncomplicated post-operative course, with age and prostate volume providing additional refinement. Modeling continence as an ordinal outcome offers a clinically meaningful framework for evaluating functional recovery after prostatectomy. Full article

Arsenic (As) is a ubiquitous and highly toxic metalloid with well-established carcinogenicity. Its accumulation and secondary release from lake sediments pose potential risks to lake ecosystem integrity and human health. Meanwhile, the ongoing intensification of lake eutrophication at the global scale has altered the sources, composition, and environmental behavior of internally derived dissolved organic matter (DOM). These changes have profoundly influenced As mobilization and transformation at the sediment-water interface (SWI). To advance understanding of the regulatory roles and underlying mechanisms of algal dissolved organic matter (ADOM) and submerged macrophyte dissolved organic matter (SMDOM) in As biogeochemical cycling under lake ecosystem regime shifts, extensive findings from the international literature were synthesized. The characteristic properties and environmental behaviors of ADOM and SMDOM were systematically compared, and their distinct regulatory pathways in lacustrine systems were further summarized. Results indicate that ADOM is typically characterized by low molecular weight, weak aromaticity, and high bioavailability. It can enhance As dissolution and mobilization from sediments through direct complexation, competition for adsorption sites, and stimulation of microbial metabolism and Fe(III) reduction. In contrast, SMDOM exhibits higher molecular weight, greater aromaticity, and a higher degree of humification. It tends to form stable complexes with mineral phases. Under the influence of radial oxygen loss (ROL) from submerged macrophyte roots during the growth phase, its capacity to promote mineral reduction is relatively limited. This process favors stable As retention in sediments. The regulatory effects of ADOM and SMDOM on As behavior are strongly modulated by environmental factors such as pH, redox potential (Eh), temperature, and light conditions, as well as by microbial communities. ADOM is more sensitive to reducing environments and photochemical processes. SMDOM, in contrast, exerts more persistent control under oxidizing conditions and at mineral-water interfaces. In addition, ADOM more readily drives microbial community shifts toward assemblages with enhanced capacities for Fe(III) reduction and As reduction or methylation. SMDOM is less likely to trigger strongly reducing processes. Based on these mechanisms, the outbreak and decay phases in algal-dominated lakes often correspond to critical periods of enhanced As mobilization and elevated ecological risk. In submerged macrophyte-dominated lakes, the decay phase may represent an important window for sedimentary As release. Finally, a conceptual framework describing the differential regulation of As biogeochemical cycling by ADOM and SMDOM is proposed. This framework provides a theoretical basis for As risk identification, the determination of critical risk periods, and the development of management strategies across lakes with different trophic states. Full article

Spatiotemporal fusion aims to generate remote sensing images with both high spatial and high temporal resolution by integrating multi-source observations. However, significant spectral inconsistencies often arise when fusing images acquired at different spatial scales, which severely degrade the radiometric fidelity and temporal reliability of the fused results. Most existing methods focus on enhancing spatial details or temporal consistency, while the cross-scale spectral discrepancy between coarse- and fine-resolution images has not been sufficiently addressed. To tackle this issue, we propose a cross-scale spectral calibration framework for spatiotemporal fusion (XSC-Net), which explicitly models and corrects spectral responses across different spatial scales. The proposed method introduces a spatial feature refinement block to enhance spatially discriminative structures and a hierarchical spectral refinement block to adaptively calibrate channel-wise spectral representations. By jointly exploiting spatial and spectral correlations, the proposed framework effectively suppresses spectral distortion while preserving fine spatial details. Extensive experiments on the public CIA and LGC datasets indicate that XSC-Net compares favorably with state-of-the-art methods, demonstrating superior performance over established baselines. Furthermore, ablation studies verify the efficacy and contribution of the proposed architectural components. Full article

Water-soluble fullerene derivatives such as fullerenol C₆₀(OH)₂₄ are promising candidates for nanomedicine applications, yet their effects on innate immune cells remain poorly characterized. We investigated the interaction of fullerenol with human neutrophils isolated from healthy donors, exposed to concentrations of 0.25–200 μg/mL over 24–72 h. Using multi-parameter flow cytometry, we assessed viability, apoptosis, phagocytic activity, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, complemented by cell-free DPPH radical scavenging assays. Fullerenol was taken up by neutrophils in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. No significant cytotoxicity was observed up to 100 μg/mL, while viability declined at 200 μg/mL. Phagocytosis of opsonized E. coli was preserved at lower concentrations, though a statistically significant negative correlation with fullerenol concentration was detected at higher doses. In cell-free assays, fullerenol scavenged DPPH radicals with an EC₅₀ of 48.90 ± 10.02 μg/mL, exhibiting slower kinetics than Trolox or ascorbic acid. Critically, fullerenol suppressed intracellular ROS production by >33% at 50 μg/mL following PMA stimulation of neutrophils. These findings demonstrate that fullerenol C₆₀(OH)₂₄ combines potent intracellular antioxidant activity with a favorable neutrophil safety profile, supporting its potential application in oxidative stress-related conditions. Full article

To change the saturated fatty acid composition of traditional cookies and enhance their functionality, corn oil-based emulsion gels were innovatively used as a substitute for butter. The study also investigated the impact of adding powder on the overall quality of cookies. Under optimal conditions comprising a 6:4 oil-to-water ratio, 3% gelatin concentration, and 0.1% grape seed polyphenol concentration, the prepared emulsion gel achieved an oil retention rate of 84.5%. Following the incorporation of the emulsion gel, the sensory score of the composite sample WZ significantly increased. The texture became softer, and a greenish-brown color, more acceptable to consumers, was developed. In vitro digestion analysis further revealed that the combined incorporation of Nannochloropsis gaditana powder and the emulsion gel reduced the RDS content from 59.6% to 54.0%,while increasing RS content to 25.8%, thereby effectively retarding the rate of in vitro starch digestion. This study utilized a corn oil-GSP/gelatin emulsion gel as a butter substitute in combination with microalgae incorporation, thereby achieving concurrent health enhancement and quality improvement of cookie products. The approach provides a feasible technical strategy and theoretical foundation for developing novel baked foods that exhibit favorable sensory properties and controlled starch digestion characteristics. Full article

This study investigates the effects of organic salts, including sodium citrate (SC), calcium citrate (CC), and calcium lactate (CL), on the structure–property–function relationships of thermoplastic starch/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (TPS/PBAT) films for active packaging applications. TPS incorporated with organic salts was prepared via twin-screw extrusion, blended with PBAT, and further processed into blown films. The films were systematically characterized using ¹H NMR, FTIR, and SEM, together with optical, mechanical, water vapor permeability, and antimicrobial evaluations against Staphylococcus aureus. The results revealed that SC primarily modulated hydrogen-bonding interactions within the starch matrix, resulting in improved structural homogeneity, balanced mechanical properties, and the highest antimicrobial activity among all formulations. In contrast, CL and CC promoted ionic crosslinking through Ca²⁺–starch interactions, leading to increased stiffness and Young’s modulus but reduced polymer chain mobility and limited release of active species, particularly in CC-containing systems. These differences in molecular interactions were consistent with variations in film microstructure, where SC-containing films exhibited more uniform morphologies, while calcium-based systems showed denser but less permeable structures. Furthermore, films containing SC and CL at appropriate concentrations achieved a favorable balance between transparency, water vapor barrier properties, and antimicrobial performance. Overall, this study provides new mechanistic insights into how monovalent and divalent organic salts govern intermolecular interactions, microstructure, and functional performance in TPS/PBAT systems. The findings highlight the critical role of additive type and concentration in designing biodegradable active packaging materials with tunable mechanical, barrier, and antimicrobial properties. Full article

Background: Tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, demonstrates substantial glycemic and weight benefits versus GLP-1 receptor agonists in indirect comparisons, but direct comparative safety evidence versus dulaglutide remains limited. We evaluated comparative safety (primary outcome: overall adverse events) and efficacy. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 (prospectively registered: PROSPERO CRD420251276594), we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and CENTRAL (inception–31 December 2025) for randomized controlled trials (≥26 weeks) comparing once-weekly tirzepatide with dulaglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes. Three trials (N = 13,590 participants) were included. Dichotomous outcomes were pooled using random-effects models (risk ratios [RRs], 95% confidence intervals [CIs]). GRADE assessed certainty of evidence. Results: Overall adverse event incidence did not differ significantly (RR 1.04 [0.98–1.10]; I² = 36%; moderate-certainty evidence). Discontinuation due to adverse events was consistently higher with tirzepatide (RR 1.32 [1.20–1.45]; I² = 0%; high-certainty evidence), representing a 32% increased risk across all populations. Categorical HbA1c target achievement was analyzed in two trials; the third trial reported HbA1c as a continuous outcome only. At the primary threshold (HbA1c < 7.0%), tirzepatide was consistently superior with no heterogeneity (RR 1.48 [1.33–1.64]; I² = 0%; p < 0.00001). Across all thresholds combined, heterogeneity was extreme (I² = 92%), limiting confidence in any pooled summary estimate; the greatest instability occurred at the strictest threshold (HbA1c < 5.7%; I² = 98%; p = 0.40). Tirzepatide showed greater HbA1c target attainment in treatment-naive patients receiving dulaglutide 0.75 mg, whereas the glycemic advantage was smaller in patients with established cardiovascular disease receiving dulaglutide 1.5 mg. Categorical weight-loss outcomes were analyzed in two trials; tirzepatide was associated with greater weight-loss threshold achievement (RR 8.80 [4.04–19.17]; very low-certainty evidence), although interpretation is limited by substantial heterogeneity and restricted generalizability. Serious adverse events were not significantly different (RR 0.82 [0.47–1.43]; I² = 42%). Conclusions: Overall adverse events were similar between treatments, but tirzepatide consistently increased discontinuation risk, indicating a clinically important tolerability-persistence trade-off. Glycemic efficacy was highly population-dependent: benefits were consistent at the primary HbA1c target (<7.0%; I² = 0%) in early-stage disease, whereas the advantage was smaller in long-standing disease with established cardiovascular disease. Tirzepatide may be favored when glycemic or weight efficacy is prioritized in earlier-stage disease, provided tolerability is proactively managed. Dulaglutide remains appropriate when persistence is threatened by tolerability concerns or cardiovascular risk reduction is the primary goal. Full article