Search Results (53,211)

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a contagious animal disease caused by the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV). LSD can be transmitted through direct, indirect and insect vectors, severely impacting global cattle production. To evaluate difference in immune response and gut microbiota of 30 healthy 16–18 months old Angus cattle, treated with live attenuated or inactivated goatpox vaccine virus strains. The cattle were randomly divided into three groups (10 animals per group): Group A—goatpox live attenuated vaccine; Group B—goatpox inactivated vaccine; Group C—control (saline). Blood samples were collected on days 14, 28, 42, and 56 post-vaccination to assess hematological parameters, serum biochemical indices, and antibody levels; rectal feces were collected on day 28 for 16S rRNA analysis of gut microbiota. Results showed that, on day 28, both Group A and Group B reached their peak antibody levels (the log₁₀ value of Group A was 2.6, and that of Group B was 2.7), with about 90% of the cattle in each vaccinated group testing antibody-positive. On day 42, Group B retained 90% seropositivity, whereas Group A declined to 80%. Significantly altered in vaccinated Groups (A and B) compared to controls on days 14 and 28 (p < 0.05). Hematological parameters (PLT, NEUT, and LYM) and serum biochemical indices (AST, TP, and GGT) were elevated early after vaccination but returned to baseline by days 42 and 56.Which returned to control levels by days 42 and 56. On day 28 post-vaccination, Vaccinated cattle showed significantly higher gut microbiome richness and diversity than unvaccinated controls (p < 0.05). At the phylum level, the dominance was observed in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes: the relative abundances were 62.90% and 29.65% in Group A, 60.84% and 30.13% in Group B, and 49.99% and 39.73% in Group C, respectively. These findings indicate that the inactivated goatpox vaccine elicits a more durable and stable antibody response, maintaining higher specific antibody titers, and induces more pronounced shifts in the gut microbiota community structure at the phylum level compared with the live attenuated vaccine. Full article

This study examines how managerial leadership styles influence the perceived effectiveness of compensation systems and employee performance. While prior research on organizational control has focused on optimizing compensation structures, it often neglects the role of managers within these systems. Drawing on survey data from a large international bank in Serbia, the study finds that transformational leadership enhances employees’ perceptions of compensation system effectiveness. Furthermore, managers who rely more extensively on relational contracts foster greater intrinsic motivation and perceptions of fairness, thereby increasing system effectiveness. The study also reveals that managerial performance evaluations significantly affect employee productivity—but only when the compensation system is perceived as effective. This research contributes to the literature on leadership by highlighting the substantial impact of leadership styles on the use and outcomes of relational contracts within organizations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent urological disorder in aging men, characterized by the enlargement of prostate epithelial and stromal cells, which leads to lower urinary tract symptoms. Paeonol, a bioactive compound derived from Moutan Cortex (Paeonia suffruticosa), exhibits multiple pharmacological properties; however, its therapeutic potential in BPH remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of paeonol in BPH treatment using network pharmacology and in vivo experiments. Methods: Network pharmacology and molecular docking were conducted to identify potential targets of paeonol against BPH. For the in vivo study, testosterone-induced BPH rat models were employed, and efficacy was evaluated through prostate weight assessment, histological examination, and the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis of prostate tissues. Results: In silico analysis revealed key signaling pathways involved in apoptosis, proliferation, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)–protein kinase B (Akt), and inflammation. Paeonol administration significantly reduced prostate weight, volume, and histological hyperplasia in BPH rats. qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that paeonol may suppress dihydrotestosterone production by inhibiting 5α-reductase 2 (5AR2) and the androgen receptor (AR), while also downregulating local growth factors, alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (Akt1), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and glutathione reductase (GR) expression. Conclusions: These findings provide novel insights into the multitargeted therapeutic potential of paeonol in BPH by inhibiting 5AR and AR and suppressing proliferation via NF-κB and Akt pathway modulation. Full article

Agricultural and food by-products offer valuable opportunities for circular and bio-based innovation across sectors. In the textile industry, replacing fossil-based coatings with sustainable alternatives is increasingly urgent. This study evaluates the performance of a textile coating based on coffee silverskin (CS)—an abundant by-product of coffee roasting—applied to four natural fibre substrates: cotton, lyocell, wool, and silk. A formulation combining 60% CS sludge (8% solids), treated by wet ball milling, with an aliphatic polyester-polyurethane dispersion was applied via knife coating. Standardised tests assessed mechanical resistance, air permeability, colour fastness, moisture management, and water repellency, including contact angle and drop absorption analyses. Results revealed that all substrates were compatible with the CS-based coating, which reduced air permeability and increased hydrophobicity. Notably, silk showed the most significant functional enhancement, transitioning from hydrophilic to waterproof with increased durability—indicating strong potential for technical applications such as outerwear and performance textiles. Given the renewable origin of both the substrate and coating, this study highlights the feasibility of valorising agri-food waste in high-performance, bio-based textile systems. These findings demonstrate the potential of CS as a bio-based coating for technical textiles, supporting the development of high-performance and sustainable materials within the textile industry. Full article

Salt stress severely constrains agricultural productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. This study evaluated exogenous proline as an osmoprotector in Physalis ixocarpa Brot. (Mexican husk tomato) under salinity. Germination screening identified 75 mM NaCl as a threshold stress level, reducing germination by 38.9% while maintaining seedling viability. Proline pretreatment (30-min imbibition) at 8 mM restored germination to 78% and fresh weight to control levels under salt stress. In vitro experiments revealed that 8 mM proline enhanced chlorophyll content above salt-stressed controls while reducing root length from 9.72 to 5.08 cm, indicating resource reallocation toward photosynthetic protection. Infrared spectroscopy showed characteristic polysaccharide shifts and bands potentially associated with proline incorporation. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry metabolomics of stem–leaf extracts revealed salt-induced synthesis of nitrogenous osmolytes (such as long-chain amines) and carbohydrate reorganization from α-D-glucopyranoside to β-D-riboside. Proline treatment restored the original carbohydrate profile while generating pyrrolidine derivatives (2.83%), evidence of active proline metabolism. Phenolic antioxidants (e.g., catechol) present in controls were absent under both salt stress and proline treatment, suggesting that proline’s protective mechanism may operate through metabolic regulation of osmolyte pathways and membrane stabilization rather than inducing phenolic antioxidant synthesis. These findings demonstrate proline’s multifaceted protective mechanisms and support its potential application for enhancing salt tolerance in this crop. Full article

Endolysins, phage-derived enzymes capable of lysing bacterial cell walls, hold significant promise as novel antimicrobials against resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. In this study, we undertook an integrative approach combining extensive in silico analyses and experimental validation to characterize the novel endolysin LysPALS22. Initially, sixteen endolysin sequences were selected based on documented lytic activity and enzymatic diversity, and subjected to multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis, which revealed highly conserved catalytic and binding domains, particularly localized to the N-terminal region, underscoring their functional importance. Building upon these sequence insights, we generated three-dimensional structural models using Swiss-Model, EBI-EMBL, and AlphaFold Colab, where comparative evaluation via Ramachandran plots and ERRAT scores identified the Swiss-Model prediction as the highest quality structure, featuring over 90% residues in favored conformations and superior atomic interaction profiles. Leveraging this validated model, molecular docking studies were conducted in PyRx with AutoDock Vina, performing blind docking of key peptidoglycan-derived ligands such as N-Acetylmuramic Acid-L-Alanine, which exhibited the strongest binding affinity (−7.3 kcal/mol), with stable hydrogen bonding to catalytic residues ASP46 and TYR61, indicating precise substrate recognition. Visualization of docking poses using Discovery Studio further confirmed critical hydrophobic and polar interactions stabilizing ligand binding. Subsequent molecular dynamics simulations validated the stability of the LysPALS22–NAM-LA complex, showing minimal structural fluctuations, persistent hydrogen bonding, and favorable interaction energies throughout the 100 ns trajectory. Parallel to computational analyses, LysPALS22 was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris), where SDS-PAGE and bicinchoninic acid assays validated successful protein production; notably, the P. pastoris-expressed enzyme displayed an increased molecular weight (~45 kDa) consistent with glycosylation, and achieved higher volumetric yields (1.56 ± 0.31 mg/mL) compared to E. coli (1.31 ± 0.16 mg/mL), reflecting advantages of yeast expression for large-scale production. Collectively, these findings provide a robust structural and functional foundation for LysPALS22, highlighting its conserved enzymatic features, specific ligand interactions, and successful recombinant expression, thereby setting the stage for future in vivo antimicrobial efficacy studies and rational engineering efforts aimed at combating multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections. Full article

Grapefruit (Citrus × paradisi Macfad.) is susceptible to Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, which prominently affects tree health and leads to a substantial loss of productivity. HLB-affected trees exhibit a nutritional imbalance expressed in either deficiencies or toxicities of the essential minerals required for plant growth, as well as changes in the production of plant metabolites. Hence, understanding foliar nutritional and metabolite fluctuations as HLB-elicited symptoms progress can assist growers in improving tree health management strategies. This study evaluated changes in foliar nutrient and phloem sap amino acid concentrations of HLB-affected grapefruit trees showing a mixed canopy of HLB-induced blotchy mottle and asymptomatic mature leaves. The trees used in our experiment were fruit-bearing seven-year-old grapefruit trees (cv ‘Rio Red’ on sour orange rootstock) grown in South Texas. Two types of foliage from HLB-affected trees were studied, (a) HLB-symptomatic and confirmed Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas)-positive (IS) and (b) CLas-negative and HLB-asymptomatic (IA) mature leaves, which were compared to asymptomatic and CLas-free mature foliage from healthy trees (HY) in terms of their leaf nutrient and phloem sap amino acid contents. Hierarchical clustering based on leaf nutrient contents showed that 70% of IA samples clustered with HY samples, thus indicating that the levels of some nutrients were statistically similar in these two types of samples. The concentrations of the macronutrients N, Ca, Mg, and S and the micronutrients Mn and B were significantly reduced in HLB-symptomatic (IS) leaves, as compared to their IA and HY counterparts, which did not show statistically significant differences. Conversely, leaf Na concentration was approximately two-fold higher in leaves from HLB-affected trees (IA and IS) independent of symptom expression as compared to leaves from healthy trees. Significantly higher concentrations of glutamine and the S-containing amino acids taurine and cystathionine were observed in the IS leaves relative to the phloem sap of IA leaves from HLB-affected trees. In contrast, the phloem sap of IA (14%) and IS (41%) leaves from HLB-affected trees exhibited lower levels of γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) as compared to HY leaves. The results of this study highlight the changes in leaf nutrient and phloem sap amino acid profiles following CLas infection and HLB symptom development in grapefruit, and we discuss these results considering the strategies that growers can implement to correct the nutritional deficiencies and/or toxicities induced by this disease. Full article

Salt stress is a major constraint on cowpea cultivation in semi-arid regions, primarily due to excess salts in irrigation water and soils. We aimed to investigate the effects of foliar magnesium (Mg) application on the production, phenology, and seed vigor of the cowpea landraces “Pingo de Ouro” and “Costela de Vaca” under salt stress conditions. Two experiments were conducted. The first was carried out in a greenhouse using a randomized block design with five replicates, in a 2 × 3 × 4 factorial scheme: two cowpea landraces (“Pingo de Ouro” and “Costela de Vaca”), three irrigation water salinity levels (0.54, 3.50, and 5.00 dS m⁻¹), and four foliar doses of a product (0.0, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mL L⁻¹) containing 8% magnesium. Morphological traits and seed production were evaluated. The second experiment was conducted in a laboratory using a completely randomized design, also in a 2 × 3 × 4 factorial, with four replicates of 25 seeds each. In the first experiment, the 1 mL L⁻¹ dose provided the best results for pod length in the variety “Pingo de Ouro” under an electrical conductivity salinity of 5.00 dS m⁻¹. In the variety “Costela de Vaca”, this same dose increased the number of seeds per pod and the 100-seed weight under the same salinity level. In the second experiment, seedlings of “Pingo de Ouro” grown from seeds produced by plants treated with 2 and 3 mL L⁻¹ doses showed greater shoot length, root length, stem diameter, and shoot fresh mass, particularly under 0.54 dS m⁻¹ salinity. Therefore, “Pingo de Ouro” exhibited superior seedling growth at doses of 2 and 3 mL L⁻¹, particularly under conditions of low salinity. These findings support the use of foliar magnesium fertilization as an effective agronomic strategy to enhance seed production and quality in cowpea landraces under salt stress conditions. Full article

The coffee cherry processing produces various waste products, such as coffee husks, which are a valuable source of pectin and phenolic acids that can be used as high-value biomolecules in human and animal food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical production chains. This study aims to optimize the eco-friendly extraction of polysaccharides, as pectin, and phenolic compounds from coffee peel using response surface methodology (RSM). This model was used to evaluate the extraction variables (temperature, time, pH, ionic strength, ultrasonic frequency, particle size, and solid/liquid ratio in water) to identify the critical factors. All responses were fitted to the RSM model, which revealed high estimation capabilities. Ionic strength and temperature were found to be critical process variables for pectin extraction, while the main factors responsible for phenolic extraction were ultrasonic frequency, pH, and solid/liquid ratio. Therefore, the operating conditions to optimize the extraction of both pectin and phenolic compounds were 80 °C, ultrasonic frequency 60 kHz, solid/liquid ratio 1:20, using pH 2 or 12 in the case of pectin or polyphenols, respectively. Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy–Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) analyses were performed to evaluate the chemical profile of the extracts and pectin. The recycling of coffee husk waste into bioproducts in view of the circular economy contributes to minimizing the impact on the environment and to generating additional income for coffee growers. Full article

Olea europaea L. ‘Lavagnina’ is cultivated in the Eastern Ligurian coast (Italy), and during the pruning process a huge amount of pruning residues is produced. This by-product is generally disposed of by burning, despite still containing bioactive compounds. In particular, olive leaves are indeed rich in secondary metabolites, which can vary both in quality and quantity in relation to the cultivar considered and the area of cultivation. For this reason, we aimed to carry out a pharmacognostic study of the pruned leaves of the unexplored local cultivar ‘Lavagnina’, evaluating the possibility of reusing this by-product for new health applications. The micromorphological characterization was conducted by light and scanning electron microscopy. ‘Lavagnina’ leaf was micromorphologically similar to that of other olive cultivars; however, it differed in terms of midrib structure. Leaf extracts were obtained using solvents of increasing polarity (petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol) and the food-grade solvent, 70% ethanol. A high antioxidant activity was found only for the methanolic (ME) and hydroalcoholic (HAE) extracts, and, therefore, they were then characterized from a phytochemical point of view by LC-ESI-HR-MS. Such analysis allowed the identification of secondary metabolites belonging mainly to secoiridoids, flavonoids, and iridoids. Overall, the HAE had the highest antioxidant activity (17.3 ± 0.6 μg/mL), and it is, therefore, the best candidate for health applications related to a protective effect on a variety of inflammation-related diseases, also considering that inflammation may play a role in cancer progression. Full article

Concrete is the most used material worldwide, with cement as its essential component. Cement production, however, has a considerable environmental footprint contributing nearly 8% of global CO₂ emissions, largely from clinker calcination. This review aims to examine strategies for reducing these emissions, with a particular focus on alternative materials for producing magnesium phosphate cements (MPCs). Specifically, the objectives are first to summarize mitigation pathways, such as CO₂ capture, energy efficiency, and alternative raw materials, and second evaluate the feasibility of using industrial wastes and by-products, including low-grade MgO, tundish deskulling waste (TUN), boron-MgO (B-MgO), and magnesia refractory brick waste (MRB), as MgO sources for MPC. The review highlights that these materials represent a promising route to reduce the environmental impact of cement production and support the transition toward carbon neutrality by 2050. Full article

Current consumer trends for meat production with reduced antibiotic use constitute huge challenges in animal farming. Using indigenous raw materials such as aromatic or medicinal plants or their extracts could positively affect or retain animals’ health. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of medicinal plant extracts and essential oils on pig performance parameters, health indices and meat quality. A phytobiotic mixture (PM) consisting of oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) essential oil, rock samphire (Crithmum maritimum L.) essential oil, garlic flour (Allium sativum L.) and false flax flour (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) was used in pig diets, containing in the experimental trials two different proportions of the oregano essential oil (200 mL/t of feed vs. 400 mL/t of feed). Three groups of weaned pigs were fed either the control diet (CONT) or one of the enriched diets (PM-A or PM-B, 2 g/kg). After a 43-day feeding period, at 77 days of age, blood was taken from the jugular vein for biochemical and hematological tests, and eight pigs were humanely slaughtered. A microbiological analysis of intestinal digesta from the ileum and caecum was conducted. Additionally, meat tissue cuts (biceps femoris, external abdominal and triceps brachii) were collected for a chemical analysis, fatty acid lipid profile and oxidative stability testing. The statistical analysis revealed no differences (p > 0.05) in the body weights and growth rates among the groups. An increase (p < 0.05) in total aerobic bacteria was detected in the ileum of group PM-A, while Escherichia coli (E. coli) counts were reduced (p < 0.05) in group PM-B. In the caecum, reductions in Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacillaceae counts were observed in groups PM-A and PM-B. Concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) as an indicator of lipid peroxidation were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in triceps brachii and biceps femoris for both groups PM-A and PM-B (day 0). A reduction (p < 0.05) in MDA was noticed in triceps brachii and external abdominal meat samples (day 7) for groups PM-A and PM-B. In addition, the fatty acid profile of the meat lipids (ΣPUFA, h/H and PUFA/SFA ratios) was positively modified (p < 0.05) in the ham and belly cuts. The addition of the PM significantly (p < 0.05) affected the redness of the ham and shoulder meat (a* value increased), the yellowness of only the ham (b* value decreased) and the lightness of both belly (L* value increased) and ham samples (L* value decreased). The meat proximate analysis, as well as hematological and biochemical parameters, did not identify any differences (p > 0.05) between the groups. In conclusion, the two investigated mixtures could be used in weaned pigs’ diets, with positive results in intestinal microbial modulation, oxidative stability, fatty acid profile and color characteristics of the pork meat produced. Full article

In order to investigate the formation pathway of hydrochar during hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and to identify the optimal process conditions for producing high-quality pyrolysis feedstock, the effect of hydrothermal temperature (220, 250, and 280 °C) on tar and hydrochar properties were analyzed by GC-MS, XRD, XPS, FT-IR, and SEM using protein-rich brewer’s spent grain (BSG) as raw material. The results showed that aromatic compounds play a major role in tar production. Increasing hydrothermal temperature significantly enhanced volatile matter removal and consequently increased the fixed carbon content from 23.14 wt.% in HC-220 to 27.07 wt.% in HC-280, while the catalytic effect of H₃O⁺ produced by high-temperature water facilitated the dehydration and decarboxylation reactions, resulting in a reduction in the H/C atomic ratio from 1.44 in HC-220 to 1.25 in HC-280 and the O/C atom ratio from 0.32 in HC-220 to 0.25 in HC-280. HC-280 exhibited superior fuel properties, with a high heating value (HHV) of 35.4 MJ/kg. XPS analysis indicated that elevated temperatures promote the conversion of sp³ C to sp² C (the value of sp² C/sp³ C increased from 1.13 in HC-220 to 1.49 in HC-280), significantly increasing the aromatic condensation degree of hydrochar. The more pronounced reduction in the -OH content compared to -COOH indicated that dehydration reactions predominated over decarboxylation. Finally, the formation pathways of hydrochar during HTC were revealed based on the properties of different products. The results demonstrate that HTC is an effective method for converting BSG into pyrolysis feedstock with potential applications in energy production. Future work should focus on the technical–economic assessment of the process at a pilot scale and evaluating the hydrochar’s performance in real pyrolysis systems. Full article

This study investigates the operation and management of an advanced Italian liquid waste treatment platform, focusing on its dual-line configuration and the challenges posed by increasingly heterogeneous waste streams. The main objectives are to (i) characterize the technological and operational features of the system, (ii) evaluate strategies for dealing with variable waste compositions and non-compliant inputs, and (iii) propose governance measures to strengthen cooperation between producers and operators. The methodology integrates the analysis of operational data from 2022 to 2024 (waste volumes, European Waste Catalogue Codes, reagent consumption, sludge production, and energy use) with a critical assessment of acceptance procedures and monitoring protocols. Results show a 10% increase in liquid waste treated over the study period, a growing predominance of complex EWC codes, higher oxygen demand in the thermophilic reactor, and seasonal fluctuations in sludge production. At the same time, the plant achieved stable or improved performance indicators, with specific energy consumption decreasing to 2.08 kWh/kg COD removed in 2024. The study concludes that modular, flexible treatment systems, supported by rigorous waste characterization and real-time decision-making, are essential to ensuring efficiency, regulatory compliance, and long-term environmental sustainability in liquid waste management. Full article

In response to the growing number of forcibly displaced persons caused by natural disasters and conflicts, this study investigates the use of paper-based materials in the design and construction of temporary emergency shelters. The research presents an iterative development of five full-scale prototypes of the TECH (Transportable Emergency Cardboard House) project. The study combines material testing, thermal simulations, and prototyping to evaluate the structural, thermal, and environmental performance of mass-produced paper elements—such as corrugated cardboard, honeycomb panels, and paper tubes—applied in various architectural and climatic contexts. Each TECH prototype was assessed for durability, thermal resistance, and assembly feasibility. Findings confirm that paper-based materials can meet the basic requirements of emergency architecture while maintaining low environmental impact, ease of transport, and low production costs. The results support the feasibility of using cellulose-based components as sustainable alternatives to conventional relief shelters. The study concludes with design guidelines for further development of long-lasting, low-impact housing units adaptable to diverse climate zones and emergency scenarios. Full article