Search Results (17,311)

Mitochondria, as the metabolic hubs of cells, play a pivotal role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis through dynamic regulation of energy metabolism, redox balance, and calcium signaling. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including heart failure, ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and myocardial infarction, remain the leading cause of global mortality, with mitochondrial dysfunction emerging as a unifying pathological mechanism across these conditions. Emerging evidence suggests that impaired mitochondrial transport systems—critical gatekeepers of metabolite flux, ion exchange, and organelle communication—drive disease progression by disrupting bioenergetic efficiency and exacerbating oxidative stress. This review synthesizes current knowledge on mitochondrial transport proteins, such as the voltage-dependent anion channels, transient receptor potential channels, mitochondrial calcium uniporter, and adenine nucleotide translocator, focusing on their structural–functional relationships and dysregulation in CVD pathogenesis. We highlight how aberrant activity of these transporters contributes to hallmark features of cardiac pathology, including metabolic inflexibility, mitochondrial permeability transition pore destabilization, and programmed cell death. Furthermore, we critically evaluate preclinical advances in targeting mitochondrial transport systems through pharmacological modulation, gene editing, and nanoparticle-based delivery strategies. By elucidating the mechanistic interplay between transport protein dysfunction and cardiac metabolic reprogramming, we address a critical knowledge gap in cardiovascular biology and provide a roadmap for developing precision therapies. Our insights underscore the translational potential of mitochondrial transport machinery as both diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets, offering new avenues to combat the growing burden of CVDs in aging populations. Full article

This study aimed to investigate whether intracellular complement 3 (C3) activation regulates ATP production in yak rumen epithelial cells under inflammatory conditions and its potential mechanism. An in vitro inflammation model was established by stimulating yak rumen epithelial cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Then, protease inhibitors targeting C3 activation enzymes were added. Additionally, to explore the downstream signaling pathway, exogenous C3a and the C3a receptor (C3aR) inhibitor C3aRY were applied to the inflammation model. After treatment with different concentrations of LPS, the gene expression levels and concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were significantly up-regulated (p < 0.05), while a significant reduction in cellular ATP levels was observed (p < 0.05), along with a significant reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential (p < 0.05). After treating the inflammation model with different protease inhibitors, the ATP content and gene expression of the ATP synthase subunit ATP5A were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Exogenous addition of the C3aR inhibitor C3aRY in the inflammation model exhibited a significant increase in ATP content and ATP5A gene expression (p < 0.05) when compared to the inflammation model. These results demonstrated that intracellular C3 activation inhibited ATP production in yak rumen epithelial cells under inflammatory conditions, likely through C3a–C3aR signaling and the cAMP/PKA pathway. Full article

In institutional environments characterized by ambiguity and contestation, the formation of sustainability capabilities poses significant interpretive and organizational challenges. Existing perspectives often assume clear mandates, strategic intent, and rational agency, yet such assumptions rarely hold in transitional or weakly institutionalized settings. This study adopts a constructivist grounded theory (CGT) approach to examine how sustainability-related routines emerge, stabilize, and contribute to capability formation under conditions of institutional complexity. Drawing from multiple organizational cases across East Asian contexts, this study identifies three interdependent categories of routines, including sensemaking, stabilization, and coordination, that interact recursively to generate sustainability capabilities. These routines function not as linear processes or technical tools, but as dynamic infrastructures of interpretation, consolidation, and alignment. Their recursive interplay enables organizations to translate ambiguous sustainability signals into patterned practices and symbolic legitimacy over time. We consolidate these insights into a mid-range theoretical framework, the Routines-as-Practice Configuration for Sustainability Structuring (RAPCSS). The RAPCSS explains how sustainability is not merely implemented but enacted and continually remade through situated, performative routines. By bridging strategic and practice-based perspectives, this study contributes to sustainability theory by theorizing capabilities as emergent configurations shaped through recursive routine work. This offers a situated, processual, and reflexive account of how sustainability unfolds under conditions of institutional ambiguity. Full article

The repeated head impacts experienced by athletes have attracted significant interest from both the public and the scientific community; however, the neurobiological effects following the games are not well understood. For example, a single football match carries the risk of repeated concussive and subconcussive head impacts, which can increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is one of the neurodegenerative conditions athletes often face or are unaware of. However, addressing the disease progression in CTE is difficult to determine due to several reasons, such as the failure to identify risk factors, difficulty in differentiating CTE from other neurodegenerative diseases, and the lack of a specific mechanism by which CTE leads to tau protein accumulation. In addition, CTE symptoms overlap with other neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), which poses a challenge to producing specific targeted therapy. In this case, ultrasound represents a promising non-invasive technique that enables clear visualization of brain structures and may modulate neuronal activity. The term ultrasound encompasses various modalities; for example, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) employs thermal energy to ablate cells, whereas low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) delivers mechanical energy that activates molecular signaling pathways to impede the progression of CTE. Therefore, the LIPUS application could potentially minimize the risk of damage in the surrounding tissues of the brain and reduce the disease progression in individuals with CTE. Nevertheless, limited studies have been reported in the literature, with a poor mechanistic approach. Hence, this review aims to highlight the molecular signaling pathways, such as AKT, MAPK, and ERK, affected by LIPUS and emphasize the need for additional research to clarify its mechanistic effects in CTE management. Ultimately, this review aims to contribute to a nuanced understanding of LIPUS as a therapeutic strategy in addressing the complexities of CTE and its associated neurodegenerative disorders. Full article

Ensuring the reliability of dialysis machines and their components, such as sensors and actuators, is critical for maintaining continuous and safe dialysis treatment for patients with chronic kidney disease. This study investigates the application of Artificial Intelligence for detecting drift in dialysis machine components by comparing a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network with a traditional linear regression model. Both models were trained to learn normal patterns from time-dependent signals monitoring the performance of specific components of a dialytic machine, such as a weight loss sensor in the present case, enabling the detection of anomalies related to sensor degradation or failure. Real-world data from multiple clinical cases were used to validate the approach. The LSTM model achieved high reconstruction accuracy on normal signals (most errors < 0.02, maximum ≈ 0.08), and successfully detected anomalies exceeding this threshold in complaint cases, where the model anticipated failures up to five days in advance. On the contrary, the linear regression model was limited to detecting only major deviations. These findings highlighted the advantages of AI-based methods in equipment monitoring, minimizing unplanned downtime, and supporting preventive maintenance strategies within dialysis care. Future work will focus on integrating this model into both clinical and home dialysis settings, aiming to develop a scalable, adaptable, and generalizable solution capable of operating effectively across various conditions. Full article

Electrical networks face operational challenges from power quality-affecting disturbances. Since disturbance signatures directly affect classifier performance, optimized feature selection becomes critical for accurate power quality assessment. The pursuit of robust feature extraction inevitably constrains the dimensionality of the discriminative feature set, but the complexity of the recognition model will be increased and the recognition speed will be reduced if the feature vector dimension is too high. Building upon the aforementioned requirements, in this paper, we propose a feature extraction framework that combines improved symplectic geometric mode decomposition, refined generalized multiscale quantum entropy, and refined generalized multiscale reverse dispersion entropy. Firstly, based on the intrinsic properties of power quality disturbance (PQD) signals, the embedding dimension of symplectic geometric mode decomposition and the adaptive mode component screening method are improved, and the PQD signal undergoes tri-band decomposition via improved symplectic geometric mode decomposition (ISGMD), yielding distinct high-frequency, medium-frequency, and low-frequency components. Secondly, utilizing the enhanced symplectic geometric mode decomposition as a foundation, the perturbation features are extracted by the combination of refined generalized multiscale quantum entropy and refined generalized multiscale reverse dispersion entropy to construct high-precision and low-dimensional feature vectors. Finally, a double-layer composite power quality disturbance model is constructed by a deep extreme learning machine algorithm to identify power quality disturbance signals. After analysis and comparison, the proposed method is found to be effective even in a strong noise environment with a single interference, and the average recognition accuracy across different noise environments is 97.3%. Under the complex conditions involving multiple types of mixed perturbations, the average recognition accuracy is maintained above 96%. Compared with the existing CNN + LSTM method, the recognition accuracy of the proposed method is improved by 3.7%. In addition, its recognition accuracy in scenarios with small data samples is significantly better than that of traditional methods, such as single CNN models and LSTM models. The experimental results show that the proposed strategy can accurately classify and identify various power quality interferences and that it is better than traditional methods in terms of classification accuracy and robustness. The experimental results of the simulation and measured data show that the combined feature extraction methodology reliably extracts discriminative feature vectors from PQD. The double-layer combined classification model can further enhance the model’s recognition capabilities. This method has high accuracy and certain noise resistance. In the 30 dB white noise environment, the average classification accuracy of the model is 99.10% for the simulation database containing 63 PQD types. Meanwhile, for the test data based on a hardware platform, the average accuracy is 99.03%, and the approach’s dependability is further evidenced by rigorous validation experiments. Full article

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) adheres to host cells and persists intracellularly, causing chronic inflammation and significant economic losses in the cattle industry. The role of host cell apoptosis in this host–pathogen interaction remains unclear. This study isolated and identified the M. bovis Xinjiang strain XJ01 from diseased cattle in China. XJ01 exhibited typical “fried egg” colony morphology, distinct biochemical characteristics, and a 1.02 Mb genome (29.33% GC content) encoding 939 genes, including 93 unique genes. Functional analysis under optimal infection conditions (MOI = 1000, 24 h) revealed that XJ01 induced significant apoptosis and reduced viability in bovine macrophages (BoMac). This was accompanied by mitochondrial homeostasis disruption, characterized by increased Bax expression and suppressed Bcl-2 levels. Transcriptome analysis identified 9926 differentially expressed genes. KEGG pathway enrichment indicated significant activation of apoptosis and P53 signaling pathways, with Gadd45 and XIAP identified as key regulators. Mechanistic validation demonstrated that Gadd45 overexpression or XIAP knockdown enhanced Bax expression, inhibited Bcl-2, increased apoptosis rates, and consequently significantly reduced intracellular bacterial load at 24 h post-infection. Conversely, suppressing Gadd45 or overexpressing XIAP promoted pathogen survival. Collectively, this study reveals that M. bovis XJ01 activates host stress signaling to upregulate Gadd45 and suppress XIAP, thereby triggering mitochondrial apoptosis as a mechanism to eliminate intracellular bacteria—illustrating a self-limiting antibacterial mechanism. Full article

The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is framed as a flagship of Türkiye’s national low-carbon transition. This study examines how domestic economic actors perceive the project’s socio-economic and environmental impacts, and how those perceptions align with—or diverge from—official assessments and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the research draws on 28 semi-structured interviews with members of the Silifke Chamber of Commerce and Industry Council. This lens captures how locally embedded businesses read the project’s risks and rewards in real time. Four themes stand out. First, respondents see a clear economic uptick—but one that feels time-bound and vulnerable to the project cycle. Second, many feel excluded from decision-making; as a result, their support remains conditional rather than open-ended. Third, participants describe environmental signals as ambiguous, paired with genuine ecological concern. Fourth, skepticism about governance intertwines with sovereignty anxieties, particularly around foreign ownership and control. Overall, while short-term economic benefits are widely acknowledged, support is tempered by procedural exclusion, environmental worry, and distrust of foreign control. Conceptually, the study contributes to energy-justice scholarship by elevating sovereignty as an additional dimension of justice and by highlighting the link between being shut out of processes and perceiving higher environmental risk. Policy implications follow directly: create robust, domestic communication channels; strengthen participatory governance so local actors have a real voice; and embed nuclear projects within regional development strategies so economic gains are durable and broadly shared. Full article

The growth of bamboo shoots during the rapid growth phase critically determines overall bamboo height development. While exogenous hormones and sugars promote plant growth, their interactions with environmental factors and regional variations remain unclear. This study examined moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) from Anhui and Hubei provinces using random forest and Bayesian hierarchical models to analyze direct and interactive effects of auxin, gibberellin, sucrose, auxin transport inhibitors, mTOR signaling pathway inhibitors, and environmental factors on shoot height. Results identified mean temperature, minimum temperature, precipitation, and subsurface runoff as key environmental drivers. Regional adaptations were evident: Anhui bamboo showed positive correlations with temperature factors, while Hubei bamboo exhibited negative correlations. Subsurface runoff consistently promoted growth, whereas precipitation negatively impacted development. Gibberellin and auxin treatments significantly enhanced bamboo responsiveness to favorable environmental conditions, while inhibitor treatments reduced these responses. This research elucidates complex interactions among exogenous hormones, sugars, and environmental factors affecting bamboo shoot growth. The findings reveal distinct regional adaptation patterns and demonstrate how hormone treatments can modulate environmental responsiveness. These insights provide theoretical foundations and practical guidance for optimizing regional bamboo forest management strategies and improving yield outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sex determination and differentiation exhibit remarkable molecular diversity across taxa, driven by genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Invertebrates with sequential hermaphroditism, such as the Pacific oyster (Magallana gigas), represent a poorly understood system despite their role as keystone species and contribution to a substantial aquaculture industry. Methods: To identify sex-related molecular markers during gametogenesis, we repeatedly sampled hemolymph from artificially conditioned oysters over two months, and sex phenotypes were assigned at the end of the experiment by biopsy. Results: RNA-sequencing analysis of five males and five females revealed subtle yet consistent sex-specific transcriptional signatures in hemolymph. We show that gametogenesis proceeds asynchronously among oysters, even within the same sex individuals. Complex physiological trade-offs were discovered between sexes during gonad maturation; in early stages of sexual maturation, females prioritized cell division, whereas males suppressed it. Females exhibited higher expression of solute carrier family (SLC) genes, suggesting enhanced nutrient exchange during oogenesis. Temporal dynamics highlighted differential expression of genes regulating cross-membrane ion gradients (e.g., transient receptor potential channels) and signal transduction (e.g., signal transducer and activator of transcription), previously linked to environmental sex determination (ESD) in some reptilian species. Conclusions: Together, these findings underscore that gametogenesis in Pacific oysters is complex and dynamic, and that molecular pathways of ESD may be partially conserved between invertebrate and vertebrate species. Full article

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small-molecule polypeptides with broad-spectrum antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties. As feed additives, they have demonstrated synergistic effects in aquaculture by enhancing growth performance and maintaining host health. Its negligible drug resistance makes it an ideal additive to replace antibiotics in the “antibiotic-free breeding” system. Antimicrobial peptides were added to the basic diet of the crucian carp (Carassius auratus) to assess their impacts on growth, muscle quality, antioxidant capacity, immune function, and key gene expression in the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Crucian carp were fed with experimental diets containing antimicrobial peptides for 49 days, namely four treatments: L0 (0 g/kg), L1 (0.2 g/kg), L2 (0.4 g/kg), and L3 (0.6 g/kg), with three repetitions of each treatment. The findings indicated that AMPs had the potential to improve growth performance and muscle quality. The final weight, WGR, and SGR of crucian carp of group L1 significantly increased compared with groups L0 and L3 (p < 0.05). The condition factor of group L2 significantly increased compared with group L0(p < 0.05). The FCR of groups L0, L1, and L2 was significantly reduced compared with group L3 (p < 0.05). The muscle redness of group L1 was significantly higher compared with groups L0, L2, and L3 (p < 0.05). The muscle shear force of groups L0, L1, and L2 was significantly lower compared with group L3 (p < 0.05). The crude protein content of groups L0, L1, and L2 showed significantly higher crude protein content than group L3 (p < 0.05). Conversely, the crude fat content was significantly lower in groups L1, L2, and L3 compared with group L0 (p < 0.05). The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of group L1 was significantly higher compared with groups L0, L2, and L3 (p < 0.05). The catalase (CAT) activity of groups L0 and L1 was significantly increased compared with groups L2 and L3 (p < 0.05). The malondialdehyde (MDA) content of groups L1 and L2 was significantly reduced compared with groups L0 and L3 (p < 0.05). The acid phosphatase (ACP) activity of groups L1 and L2 was significantly increased compared with group L0 (p < 0.05). The alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity of group L1 was significantly increased compared with groups L0 and L3 (p < 0.05). Compared with groups L2 and L3, the lysozyme activity of group L1 was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The C3 content of groups L1, L2, and L3 was significantly higher compared with group L0 (p < 0.05). Similarly, C4 levels of groups L2 and L3 significantly exceeded group L0 (p < 0.05). For inflammatory cytokines, the IL-1 levels of groups L1 and L2 were significantly higher than those of group L0 (p < 0.05). The IL-6 and IL-12 levels of groups L0, L1, and L2 significantly increased compared with group L3 (p < 0.05). Compared with group L0, the levels of TNF and IFN-γ of groups L1, L2, and L3 were significantly higher (p < 0.05). Compared with group L0, the relative expression levels and protein expression levels of key genes TLR4, MyD88, IRAK4, TRAF6, and NF-κB of groups L1, L2, and L3 were significantly upregulated (p < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation with 0.2–0.4 g/kg antimicrobial peptides promoted the growth of crucian carp, improved muscle quality, enhanced the antioxidant capacity, and boosted immunity through modulation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Full article

As automation technologies continue to advance within the automotive industry, urban road traffic is gradually shifting from conventional driving toward fully autonomous. This transition is supported by the progressive integration of partially automated functions, such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and lane-keeping assistance, which are already implemented in commercial vehicles and increasingly affect both individual driving behavior and overall traffic flow dynamics. The main purpose of this research is to evaluate the impact of automated vehicles presence in a complex signalized intersection under mixed traffic conditions, considering different penetration rates and demand levels. A review of previous modeling approaches from the literature was conducted, highlighting critical aspects to be considered in the design and simulation of road traffic. Field traffic data were collected and used as input for a microsimulation model developed in AIMSUN. A base scenario and a 20% growth scenario were analyzed to assess the impact of AV-ACC penetration, varying the AV-ACC’s rates in traffic composition. The results indicate that increased AV-ACC penetration rates, especially beyond 50%, contribute significantly to improving traffic stability and efficiency. Full article

Schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder may represent neurodegenerative conditions involving both degeneration and aberrant regeneration of monoaminergic axons. Negative and cognitive symptoms could arise from monoaminergic axon degeneration, whereas positive symptoms and manic states might result from excessive axonal regeneration and sprouting. The molecular mechanisms driving these opposing processes remain largely unclear. This review considers the possible role of calcium-independent phospholipase A₂ (iPLA2) in regulating monoamine axon degeneration and hyper-regeneration in schizophrenia. Emerging evidence suggests that pro-inflammatory signaling mediated by cytosolic PLA₂ (cPLA2) may promote monoamine axon degeneration, while anti-inflammatory iPLA2 activity could facilitate regeneration and sprouting. Overactivation of iPLA2 might lead to aberrant axonal sprouting, potentially contributing to positive symptoms through hyperdopaminergic states in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Conversely, axon degeneration in the same region may underlie negative and cognitive symptoms. The review also discusses a potential interplay between dopamine and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor signaling in distinct neuronal populations of the mPFC and suggests that targeting iPLA2 and its pathways could represent a promising therapeutic strategy. Viewing schizophrenia and related disorders through the lens of monoamine axon pathology may eventually improve diagnostic precision and inform the development of treatments aimed at restoring the balance between degeneration and regeneration. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by progressive cognitive decline associated with oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and impaired neurotrophic signaling. Sulforaphane, a bioactive compound found in broccoli, has demonstrated neuroprotective effects by activating NRF2 and inhibiting NF-κB. However, the efficacy of whole-food-derived sulforaphane remains unclear. This study evaluated the neuroprotective potential of broccoli sprout extract using a scopolamine-induced mouse model of memory impairment. Mice were orally administered broccoli sprout extract once daily at doses of 100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg for four weeks prior to behavioral and biochemical assessments. Treatment with broccoli sprout extract significantly improved scopolamine-induced deficits in long-term memory, as determined by the passive avoidance test. The spatial working memory remained unaffected. High doses of broccoli sprout extract restored hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and reduced cortical lipid peroxidation, suggesting antioxidant and neurotrophic benefits. Additionally, the low dose preserved striatal choline acetyltransferase expression and reduced systemic tumor necrosis factor-alpha and hippocampal cyclooxygenase-2 levels, indicating its anti-inflammatory and cholinergic protective effects. No significant changes in acetylcholinesterase activity or glutathione levels were observed. Overall, these results imply that broccoli sprout extract has multi-targeted neuroprotective effects, possibly involving redox and inflammatory regulation. Therefore, it may be a safe dietary strategy to support cognition in neurodegenerative conditions. Full article

Statins, primarily prescribed for their lipid-lowering effects, have garnered significant attention for their potent anti-inflammatory effects. This review explores the underlying molecular pathways and clinical relevance of statins’ anti-inflammatory actions, extending beyond cardiovascular disease management to chronic inflammatory conditions and oncological applications. The lipid-lowering effect of statins stems from their ability to suppress HMG-CoA reductase, a crucial enzyme in cholesterol synthesis; however, their pleiotropic effects include modulation of critical inflammatory pathways such as the inhibition of NF-κB signalling, a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and enhancement of endothelial function. We delve into the molecular pathways influenced by statins, including their effects on inflammatory mediators like C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukins (IL-6, IL-1β), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of statins in managing chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and osteoarthritis, is critically reviewed. Additionally, we investigate the emerging role of statins in oncology, examining their impact on inflammation-driven carcinogenesis, tumour microenvironment modulation, and cancer progression. Despite their broad therapeutic potential, the safety profile of statins, particularly concerning adverse effects such as myopathy, hepatotoxicity, and potential diabetes risk, is discussed. Controversies surrounding the extent of their anti-inflammatory benefits and the variability in patient responses are also addressed. This review consolidates the current literature, elucidating the biochemical mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory properties of statins and evaluating their clinical applications and associated controversies. Future research directions are identified, including the development of novel statin analogues with enhanced anti-inflammatory effects and the investigation of new therapeutic indications in inflammatory diseases and cancer. By providing an in-depth analysis, this review underscores the expanding therapeutic scope of statins and advocates for their integration into broader clinical strategies for the management of inflammation and cancer. Full article