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The challenge in achieving simultaneous electrochemical detection of multiple phytohormones stems from the intricacies involved in delineating oxidation mechanisms of multiple phytohormones, along with the precise delineation of peaks in the electrochemical profiles. Electron-rich phytohormones, which readily participate in electron transfer reactions, possess strong electron-donor properties and can drive redox processes in signal transduction. This work reports electrochemical simultaneous detection of multiple electron-rich phytohormones (indole-3-acetic acid, salicylic acid, and naphthaleneacetic acid) on a portable flexible sensor and virtual visualization. The approach integrates electrochemical investigations with theoretical computations to decipher the intricate oxidation mechanisms of these electron-rich phytohormones at the sensor interface. The number of electrons and protons transferred during the redox processes of the three electron-rich phytohormones were individually quantified via electrochemical method. Furthermore, through calculations and analysis of electronic structure properties-frontier orbital distribution, Fukui function, electroactive sites and oxidation reaction energy barriers-the structure-activity relationship governing the molecular oxidation process is clearly elucidated. This work not only establishes an experimental and virtual visualization platform for the rapid multicomponent electron-rich phytohormones electro-analysis, but also provides an in-depth clarification of their interfacial reaction mechanisms and electron transfer pathways. It reveals distinct differences in the electrochemical behaviors of these phytohormones, thereby advancing the field from empirical monitoring toward rationally designed detection systems.

Excitons play a decisive role in governing light absorption, charge separation, and carrier utilization in low-dimensional photocatalysts. In this work, we present a comprehensive first-principles investigation of excitonic effects and their impact on photocatalytic water splitting in a SnS2/h-BN van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure. Density functional theory (DFT), combined with many-body perturbation theory (MBPT) within the GW approximation and the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE), is employed to determine the quasiparticle band edge alignment, exciton binding energies (EBEs), optical absorption, carrier effective masses, and solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency. The SnS2/h-BN heterostructure exhibits a staggered type-II band alignment with quasiparticle band edges straddling the redox potentials, ensuring thermodynamic feasibility for overall water splitting. Beyond band alignment, the heterostructure supports multiple optically active bright interlayer excitons with spatially separated electrons and holes at the interface. These interlayer excitons display reduced electron-hole (e-h) wave function overlap and favorable effective masses, particularly a highly dispersive SnS2-derived conduction band that enables efficient electron transport toward hydrogen evolution reaction sites. Despite their sizable binding energies, efficient exciton dissociation is promoted by strong interfacial electric fields and large conduction band offsets, leading to effective charge separation. Consequently, photogenerated carriers are selectively funneled to distinct catalytic surfaces, enabling spatially separated hydrogen and oxygen evolution. The synergistic enhancement of light absorption, carrier lifetime, and charge transport results in a markedly higher STH efficiency (11.04%) compared to that of pristine SnS2. This work underscores the necessity of explicit excitonic treatment and establishes exciton engineering in vdW heterostructures as a key strategy for the design of efficient photocatalysts for solar water splitting.

The synergistic use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and photosensitizer's offers promise biomedical improvements. This study assesses and creates the potential for photosensitizers (Chlorine e6 (Ce6), Methylene Blue (MB)) and Silver Nanoparticles to work together to enhance biological activity. AgNPs were created by the laser ablation method and characterized using methods including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD).The antibacterial and anticancer properties of these nanoparticles, both individually and in combination with photosensitizers, were further examined. AgNPs were combined with Methylene Blue and Chlorine e6 to enhance their antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, such as Salmonella enteritidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii, resulting in inhibition zones of up to as large as 0.66 ± 057 mm. The anticancer properties of the combination therapy were also examined against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, where Chlorine e6 alone had an IC50 of approximately 231.2%. Another photosensitizer, Methylene blue, showed a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability, with an IC50 of around 6.52 ± 3.26%. When AgNPs and Methylene Blue combined, the IC50 decreased to 11.42 ± 5.71, indicating a synergistic increase in cytotoxicity. Similarly, Chlorine e6 and AgNPs together significantly decreased the IC50 to 80µM to 100 µM. These findings show that the combined use of Methylene Blue or Chlorine e6 with AgNPs greatly improves anticancer and antibacterial efficacy compared to their individual applications. This research highlights how AgNPs and photosensitizers have the ability to change treatment approaches by providing improved specificity and efficacy in biomedical applications.

The kappa class of glutathione S-transferases 1 (GSTK1) is a vital regulatory factor in metabolic diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the regulatory effects of GSTK1 on renal ectopic fat deposition (EFD) and lipotoxic injury in diabetic nephropathy (DN) . HK-2 cells under high glucose(HG) / high fatty acid (HFA) stimulation, diabetic mice and human renal biopsy tissues were used. GSTK1 plasmid, GSTK1 siRNA and OSBPL8 siRNA were applied in vitro. Lipid accumulation was analyzed in the renal tissue of type 2 DN patients, diabetic mice and HK-2 cells under HG/HFA stimulation. The expression of GSTK1, DGAT1, ACAT1, CPT-1, BECLIN1, LC3II, ATG5 and RAB7 in renal tubular cells of diabetic mice and HK-2 cells under HG/HFA condition decreased significantly. Metformin treatment restored the expression of GSTK1 in diabetic mice. Additionally, the GSTK1 pharmacological modulator metformin relieved lipophagy dysfunction and promoted fatty acid (FA) β-oxidation enzyme CPT-1. In vitro, GSTK1 plasmid reduced lipid accumulation, fibrosis and inflammation and up-regulated the expression of CPT1 in HK-2 cells, but GSTK1 plasmid had no effect on lipid metabolizing enzymes (ACAT1, DGAT1) . In addition, GSTK1 plasmid could obviously restore lipophagy. However, pretreatment of HK-2 cells with the AMPK inhibitor Compound C, GSTK1 siRNA or OSBPL8 siRNA negated the activating effects of GSTK1 on lipophagy. This study indicated that GSTK1 could contribute to alleviate EFD in DN tubular cell through increasing the expression of FA β-oxidation enzyme CPT-1 and restoring lipophagy via AMPK-OSBPL8 pathway.

Carbon dot (CD)-based nanozymes have become promising substitutes to natural enzymes in high-performance analytical detection systems, due to their high-water solubility, tunable surface chemistry, and their ability to produce multiple signaling outputs. It has been shown that CDs have a variety of enzyme-mimetic activities, such as peroxidase (POD), oxidase (OXD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities, and can be used in bioassays and environmental monitoring. Although such progress has been made, there is still no detailed theoretical framework that explains the origins of their catalytic activity and the mechanisms that underlie sensing selectivity, thus restricting the rational design and optimization of CD-based nanozymes. This is a systematic review of the impact of precursor selection, reaction conditions, and doping strategies on the surface functional groups, defect structures, and metal active centers of CDs. It also explains how these structural features work synergistically to regulate electron transfer processes and active site formation. Furthermore, the review suggests that interfacial noncovalent interactions are the main determinants of the sensing selectivity of CD nanozymes, which is accompanied by molecular recognition processes and energy-level complementation. Recent advances in multimodal signaling strategies to detect complex systems are also mentioned. Lastly, the present issues and future outlooks in the controlled construction and sensing uses of CDs are also pointed out, which can be useful in the rational design and practical use of these new nanozymes.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) often suffers operation failure from ammonia inhibition and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) accumulation under high organic loading rates (OLRs). To overcome these limitations, this study employed granular activated carbon coupled with riboflavin (RFGAC) by stimulating direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET). A semi-continuous AD experiment was conducted for 145 days with OLRs ranging from 2.25 to 11.25 kg COD/(m3·d). The results showed that the RFGAC group achieved the highest methane content of 78%, and maintained a COD removal rate above 95%, outperforming the GAC group and the control. At an OLR of 6.75 kg COD/(m3·d), the control collapsed due to severe acidification when the pH dropped lower than 6.5, while the RFGAC group stably operated with effluent COD of 2200-5300 mg/L and seldom VFAs accumulation. Microbial community analysis revealed that RFGAC selectively shifted microbial community composition especially at high OLR, promoting Methanosarcina to form a synergistic consortium. The Pearson correlation analysis of digestion performance and metagenome revealed that Methanosarcina had a stronger correlation with methanogenesis than Methanothrix, which was enriched in the presence of GAC alone. Metabolic pathway analysis confirmed key DIET-related functional genes, hdrA2 and methyl transfer-associated mtrH, were respectively upregulated by 7-fold and 5-fold. This study offers a viable strategy to improve chicken manure AD, and provides deep mechanistic insights on RFGAC modulation of microbial community succession and functional gene expression.

The slow proliferation of anammox bacteria (AnAOB) limits the large-scale application of anammox technology in mainstream wastewater treatment. Here, an innovative strategy was proposed in which agricultural waste corncob was utilized as biocarriers for the rapid enrichment of AnAOB. This study systematically validated the feasibility of using corncob as biocarriers to enhance the self-enrichment of AnAOB. Results showed that corncob addition shortened the anammox startup time by approximately 64.0% and increased total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) removal efficiency by 28.4%. The anammox activity of the corncob biofilm and flocs was 3.2- and 1.1-fold higher, respectively, than that of the control. The microbial community analysis indicated that corncob biofilm harbored the highest relative abundance of AnAOB (23.9%). Within the corncob biofilm, lignocellulolytic microbes degraded macromolecular organics to provide electron donors for denitrifiers, which facilitated nitrogen metabolic couplingbetween denitrifiers and AnAOB, therebyestablishing favorable microenvironment for the enrichment of AnAOB. Furthermore, metagenomic revealed NO cross-feeding between AnAOB and their symbionts further offered an ideal niche for AnAOB. Concurrently, the upregulation of key carbon metabolism genes indicated heightened microbial activity within the biofilm, while quorum sensing (QS) mechanisms also played a significant role in maintaining the dynamic stability of microbial community. This work established a natural and highly efficient pathway for the self-enrichment of AnAOB, simultaneously providing a synergistic solution for agricultural wastes (AWs) valorization, advanced wastewater nitrogen removal, and carbon neutrality, demonstrating broad application prospects and significant ecological value.

The development of stable, environmentally benign, and high-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has increasingly focused on innovative inorganic absorber materials. In this study, we conduct a detailed evaluation of the optoelectronic and mechanical properties of Ca3AsBr3, a promising non-toxic halide perovskite, using density functional theory (DFT) alongside SCAPS-1D simulations. The DFT results indicate that Ca3AsBr3 possesses a direct bandgap of 1.66 eV, along with good mechanical stability and strong optical absorption, making it well-suited for photovoltaic applications. To further investigate device performance, four electron transport layers (ETLs)-WS2, SnS2, CdS, and TiO2 were incorporated into HTL-free FTO/ETL/Ca3AsBr3/Au architecture, allowing analysis of energy band alignment, defect tolerance, and overall efficiency. Among these configurations, the WS₂-based device demonstrated superior performance, achieving a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.50%, with an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.165 V, a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 20.55 mA/cm², and a fill factor (FF) of 85.64%. Further simulation results highlight that an optimal absorber thickness of 1200 nm, along with reduced bulk and interface defect densities (≤ 10¹⁵ cm⁻³ and ≤ 10¹³ cm⁻²), plays a crucial role in minimizing non-radiative recombination losses and improving charge carrier collection. Overall, this work identifies Ca3AsBr3 as a viable eco-friendly absorber material and emphasizes the importance of ETL optimization in achieving efficient, stable, and scalable PSC devices.

Direct recovery of phosphorus from Sargassum spp. in the form of magnesium-whitlockite (Ca9.5MgO28P7) was proposed for the first time. The effects of the acid digestion and calcination sequence on the naturally adsorbed minerals in Sargassum spp. were investigated through two treatment approaches (I and II). Treatment I (producing Ash-1) consisted of acid digestion followed by calcination, while Treatment II (producing Ash-2) involved initial calcination, subsequent acid digestion, and a final calcination step. It was found that Treatment I is effective in obtaining ashes containing magnesium-whitlockite (Mg-WH) together with diatoms frustules. Whereas Ash-2 showed an almost complete absence of diatom frustules and phosphate-based components. It was revealed that in Treatment I, a significant fraction of phosphorus, particularly organic ones, were less susceptible to acid digestion and therefore remained intact. During subsequent calcination, together with calcium- and magnesium-containing species, they can be thermally decomposed or oxidized, and Mg-WH will be the preferred final product. In contrast, in Treatment II, the initial calcination predominantly transformed organic phosphorus into acid-soluble inorganic forms, resulting in almost no phosphorus remaining after final calcination. Conclusively, this work unravels the importance of acid digestion and calcination sequence in phosphorus recovery and determining the yield and properties of the minerals. This study can shed light on the requirements and limitations of this efficient treatment in promoting the valorization of marine biomass and supporting sustainable strategies for mitigating the environmental impacts of excessive sargassum proliferation in coastal regions.

The corrosion inhibition behavior of carbon steel (CS) in 1.0 M HCl in the presence of 4-(2-(4-oxo-3-phenyl-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-2-yl) vinyl) phenyl benzenesulfonate (4-OPB) and4-(2-(3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-2-yl)vinyl)phenyl benzenesulfonate (4-HPB) was investigated through chemical evaluation via weight loss (WL) measurements, as well as electrochemical techniques, including AC impedance (EIS), and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP). The inhibition efficiency (IE) increased progressively with higher concentrations of the tested compounds and with temperature elevation, reaching a maximum of 93.2% and 90.1% at 21&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10&#x207b;3 M of 4-HPB and 4-OPB, respectively from WL tests at 25C. In the other hand, it reached 96.5%, 95.9% for 4-HPB and 4-OPB at 45oCand the same concentration, respectively. The findings indicated that these compounds adhere on the CS surface and create a protective film whose formation conforms to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, consistent with chemisorption, as supported by the relatively high adsorption energy values (&#x394;G&#xb0;ads&#x2009;<&#x2009;- 46 kJ mol&#x207b;1), rise in % inhibition by raising the temperature and the lowering in activation energy (E*) in presence of inhibitors than in its absence. These chemical compounds function as mixed-type inhibitors, according to PDP studies. Surface characterization of the inhibited CS using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) demonstrated significant improvement in surface morphology. The collective results from all employed techniques exhibited strong agreement, validating the inhibitory performance of the studied compounds.

Microfibers (MFs) are a prevalent form of microplastics in aquatic environments and are frequently ingested by aquatic organisms. In nature, individual fibers do not always remain straight but can bend, coil, or become partially self-entangled, potentially altering their biological interactions. However, how such morphological variability influences MF ingestion by benthic gastropods remains poorly understood. Here, we exposed the freshwater snail Sinotaia quadrata to 50 items/L, within the range reported for freshwater systems, of polyethylene terephthalate and polyamide MFs, including elongated single fibers and coiled forms derived from the same individual fibers of corresponding lengths but exhibiting smaller external dimensions. Regardless of food availability and across all tested size classes, snails ingested significantly more elongated single fibers than coiled MFs. Ingestion of both forms peaked within 6 h; however, elongated fibers exhibited longer retention times in the digestive tract, whereas coiled forms were largely egested within 24 h. Microscopic observations indicated that radula-mediated feeding interactions more effectively captured elongated, flexible fibers, whereas coiled MFs were more likely to undergo transient contact without sustained retention and be dislodged during repeated radula-mediated movements. Scanning electron microscopy and micro-Raman analyses further revealed localized surface irregularities on ingested fibers. Together, these results provide experimental evidence that feeding interactions may enhance the bioavailability of elongated MFs and may facilitate their physical alteration. Our findings underscore the importance of fiber morphology and feeding mode in shaping MF exposure pathways and fate in benthic freshwater ecosystems.

Innovative biomaterials are playing an increasingly important role in biomedicine as drug-delivery carriers, tissue-repair scaffolds, and beyond. However, effective approaches for in situ, longitudinal monitoring of lesion initiation and progression in vivo during biomaterial-based interventions remain limited. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers high spatial resolution and excellent soft-tissue contrast. Here, gadolinium ions (Gd3&#x207a;) were incorporated into a double-network gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel microsphere platform for photothermal-chemotherapy. Monodisperse microspheres were fabricated via microfluidics and photocrosslinking to construct an MRI-visible biomaterial for pancreatic cancer treatment, enabling non-invasive, real-time tracking of both the material and therapeutic response. The microsphere morphology and photothermal performance were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), spectroscopy, and photothermal measurements, and a pancreatic cancer model was established for in vivo evaluation. Following in-situ injection of the hydrogel microspheres, serial MRI was performed to monitor intratumoral distribution and treatment outcomes. The microspheres exhibited an MRI contrast half-life of 32&#x202f;h and supported continuous MR monitoring for 15 days, allowing clear visualization of tumor evolution. In addition, the system demonstrated favorable in vivo safety with no evident toxicity.

The challenges of conventional chemotherapy's side effects highlight the need for new treatments. Phytochemicals like myricetin show promise in cancer therapy, but their bioavailability is limited due to poor solubility and rapid clearance, requiring nanocarriers for improved delivery. This study focused on synthesizing and characterizing myricetin-encapsulated casein nanoparticles (M-CNPs) and evaluating their effects on angiogenesis and pro-apoptotic activities in human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells. M-CNPs were characterized using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Cytotoxicity was assessed via MTT assay, and cell cycle and apoptosis studies were conducted using flow cytometry and AO/PI staining. Key gene expression, including Caspase 3, Caspase 9, and MMP-2, was analyzed by real-time PCR. The anti-angiogenic effects of M-CNPs were evaluated using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The results showed that M-CNPs are spherical, averaging 75.38 nm in size with a polydispersity index of 0.31, indicating uniformity in particle distribution. MTT analysis revealed a dose-dependent reduction in AGS cell viability, while AO/PI staining and flow cytometry confirmed that M-CNPs induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Gene expression analysis indicated upregulation of Caspase 3 (p > 0.05) and downregulation of MMP-2 (p &#x2264; 0.05). The CAM assay demonstrated significant anti-angiogenic effects and downregulated VEGFR expression (p &#x2264; 0.05). These findings suggest that M-CNPs could be an effective cancer treatment by enhancing myricetin bioavailability and targeting multiple pathways.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a widely utilized antimetabolite in colorectal cancer chemotherapy, primarily exerting its cytotoxic effects by irreversibly inhibiting thymidylate synthase (TS). This inhibition leads to a reduction in deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP), which disrupts DNA synthesis and repair. A major challenge in 5-FU treatment is the dose-limiting toxicity of chemotherapeutic-induced intestinal mucositis. Da-Bu-Pi Decoction (DBPD), a well-established formula in traditional Chinese medicine for treating spleen-stomach deficiency, is often used to enhance spleen qi and balance the middle jiao. While growing clinical evidence points to the therapeutic benefits of DBPD in alleviating 5-FU-induced mucositis, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely undefined. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis (CIM) induced by 5-FU, with a focus on the disruption of bile acid metabolism and the downregulation of the key detoxifying enzyme DPYD expression. DBPD was administered orally to C57BL/6 mice with 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis over a seven-day period. The evaluation of intestinal damage included assessments of diarrhea, morphology, intestinal barrier function and inflammatory factors, alongside techniques such as immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy and Western blot. Transcriptome analysis of mouse ileal tissue was applied to reveal differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in different treated mice, and bile acid metabolism-related genes (UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1), UGT1A9, Farnesoid x receptor (FXR), TGR5) and DPYD, a key detoxification enzyme for 5-FU, were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Additionally, changes of DCA and LCA were measured using ELISA. Bioinformatics helped delineate the association of these genes with pan-cancer versus normal tissues. Meanwhile, 5-FU-induced intestinal epithelial cells (HIEC) were treated with serum containing DBPD. It was further explored how DBPD modulates the UGT1A1/TGR5/FXR signaling pathway and enhances DPYD activity to reduce apoptosis and intestinal barrier damage in 5-FU induced HIEC. AlphaFold3 and further bioinformatics analysis predicted the binding interactions and expression correlations among UGT1A1, UGT1A9 and FXR. DBPD is protective by reducing inflammation and intestinal barrier dysfunction in 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis. Transcriptome analysis and in vivo validation highlighted the crucial function of bile acid metabolism-related pathways and DPYD in 5-FU-induced CIM. 5-FU increased the levels of deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA) in the mouse ileum. DBPD activated the UGT1A1/TGR5/FXR pathway and up-regulated DPYD to suppress the pathological accumulation of these specific cytotoxic bile acids within the local intestinal microenvironment and ameliorate 5-FU-induced CIM. It was indicated by the analysis of bioinformatics that low levels of UGT1A1, UGT1A9, and FXR exhibited a connection with poor prognosis within colorectal cancer. In vitro studies confirmed that DBPD significantly improved the UGT1A1/TGR5/FXR pathway and increased the expression of DPYD in 5-FU treated HIEC, thereby improving intestinal barrier integrity and alleviating apoptosis. Further validation using the FXR inhibitor (Gly-&#x3b2;-MCA) showed that DBPD ameliorated Gly-&#x3b2;-MCA induced HIEC apoptosis and barrier attenuation. Finally, AlphaFold3 and bioinformatics predictions suggested potential binding interactions between UGT1A1, UGT1A9 and FXR with positively correlated expression.

UVB-induced lens epithelial cell (LEC) senescence is among the important factors involved in the pathogenesis of age-related cataract (ARC). This study aimed to investigate the anti-aging effect of metformin (Met) and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect. RNA sequencing, nontargeted metabolomics analysis and network pharmacology were conducted. The expression of senescence indicators (P53 and P21Cip1) and senescence-associated &#x3b2;-galactosidase (SA-&#x3b2;-gal) activity were assessed. Mitochondrial function and dynamics were evaluated by measuring the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Western blotting. Cytosolic mtDNA was visualized by fluorescence staining, and the activation of the SIRT1-PGC-1&#x3b1; pathway and the cGAS-STING pathway were analysed by Western blotting. Our findings indicated that cellular senescence was predominantly responsible for UVB-induced cataract. Met attenuated UVB-induced cataract by inhibiting the senescence phenotype. Mechanistically, Met activated the SIRT1-PGC-1&#x3b1; pathway to inhibit mitochondrial fragmentation. This attenuation of mitochondrial fragmentation reduced mtDNA release into the cytosol, thereby inhibiting the activation of the cGAS-STING-mediated LEC senescence. Our findings on the efficacy of Met pave the way for the development of new pharmacological strategies to prevent cataract development.

aphthalene diimide and derivatives (NDIs) are preferential to construct stable optic gas sensitive hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) owing to their photo-responsive electron accepting-donating conjugated building blocks. In this study, we developed series of NDIs-HOFs films with structural, spectral diversity, and optical gas sensing specificities that vary with the shape or length of the NDIs substituent. A series of NDIs-HOFs films were constructed from benzene dicarboxylic acid (bdc), NDIs (NDI, dpNDI, H4BIPA-TC), and phenylporphyrin sulfonate (TPPS), and were rapidly fabricated on the surface of titanium-dioxide (TiO2) film optical waveguides (OWGs) substrate using UV-light irradiation approach. The surface of NDIs-HOFs films showed different morphologies due to the difference in shapes or length of NDIs, i.e., NDI-HOF showed a spherical shape, dpNDI-HOF showed a straw-like hexagonal shape, and BIPA-TC-HOF showed a smooth plane amorphous structure. The structural diversity of NDIs-HOFs inducing differences in spectral characteristics and gas sensing specificity. Owing to the Lewis base nature of amide bound in NDI central aromatic ring, the NDIs-HOFs films OWGs exhibited sensing response to H2S. The H2S detectability of NDIs-HOFs films OWGs were varied from their structure and pore-size, following the order of NDI-HOF&#xa0;>&#xa0;BIPA-TC-HOF&#xa0;>&#xa0;dpNDI-HOF. Among the series NDIs-HOFs films, NDI-HOF films OWG exhibits most sensitive response (response time: 2&#xa0;s; detection range: 0.01-10&#xa0;ppm; limit of detection: 0.92&#xa0;ppm) to H2S without any interference from the other acid/base gases (e.g., NH3, SO2, NO2, or HCl) and ambient humidity.

Oxyrhopus guibei is a conspicuous colubrid snake popular in the exotic pet trade that has been implicated in envenomation cases involving local and systemic clinical manifestations. This study aims to characterize the venom apparatus of O. guibei, including the composition and immunochemical reactivity of its secretion. The maxilla and fangs were examined using scanning electron microscopy, while the histology and histochemistry of the glands were analyzed via hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Alcian Blue pH 2.5, and Gomori's trichrome staining. Additionally, the protein profile was evaluated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Tricine-SDS-PAGE, and cross-reactivity with bivalent and tetravalent bothropic antivenoms was assessed by Western blot. Anatomically, recurved teeth were observed in the anterior maxilla, followed by enlarged, deeply grooved posterior teeth (opisthoglyphous dentition). Histologically, Duvernoy's venom glands exhibited distinct structural and chemical characteristics compared to the supralabial glands; their secretory units are organized into lobules of predominantly serous acini composed of columnar cells with acidophilic cytoplasm and PAS-negative basal nuclei. The venom protein profile displayed bands ranging from &#x2248;8.5 to 65 kDa, with a predominance of proteins migrating within molecular mass ranges consistent with snake venom metalloproteinases, which showed immunoreactivity with both antivenoms tested. In conclusion, O. guibei possesses a specialized venom delivery system consisting of modified anatomical structures designed to deliver a venom containing components reminiscent of bothropic venoms, primarily involved in prey subjugation and with the potential to cause envenomation in humans. This study provides preliminary insights into the venom of this species and underscores the need for further functional characterization to determine its potential toxicological relevance to humans.

Gastric ulcers are a highly prevalent gastrointestinal disorder, impacting a significant portion of the global population, and have serious complications, such as bleeding, perforation, and malignant transformation. The ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model provides a distinct advantage because it faithfully mimics clinical features seen in acute peptic ulcer disease. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of bimetallic zinc oxide-magnesium oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-MgO NPs) on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in albino rats. Different monometallic and bimetallic NPs have been completely characterized and synthesized by an eco-friendly and cost-effective method utilizing Gum Arabic as a strong reducing agent. Fifty rats were divided into five groups: control, ethanol-induced gastric ulcer, ulcerated rats treated daily for 14 days with ZnO NPs, MgO NPs, or bimetallic ZnO-MgO NPs. Rat's stomachs underwent biochemical estimation for catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Malondialdehyde (MDA), Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Nuclear factor kappa b (NF-&#x3ba;B), and Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-&#x3b1;), as well as, histological, immunohistochemical (including Vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF, and Inducible nitric oxide synthase, iNOS), and Scanning electron microscopic examinations. The synthesized monometallic and bimetallic NPs had a semi-spherical shape, with an average diameter of 40.44&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;1.3&#xa0;nm (for ZnO NPs), 35.56&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;1.2&#xa0;nm (for MgO NPs) and 48.46&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;1.5&#xa0;nm (for ZnO-MgO NPs). In alcohol-induced gastric ulcer group, ulceration with a significant increase in histopathological changes was noticed in the form of ulceration, inflammatory infiltrations, activated mast cells, edema, and hemorrhage. Decrease activities of CAT, SOD, and Nrf2, as well as an increase in MDA, TNF-&#x3b1;, and NF-&#x3ba;B, with upregulation of iNOS, and downregulation of VEGF, which were improved partially by treatment of either ZnO NPs or MgO NPs. ZnO-MgO NPs restored the normal histological picture of the rat's stomach. Bimetallic ZnO-MgO NPs have a more powerful curative effect than each one of ZnO NPs or MgO NPs; separately, which can be explained by the synergetic effect of them leading to more potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Dirofilaria repens is a mosquito-borne filarial nematode that causes subcutaneous dirofilariasis in dogs and is closely related to Dirofilaria immitis. Infection with D. immitis can lead to immune-mediated glomerulonephritis characterized by immune complex deposition along the glomerular basement membrane, resulting in proteinuria and renal dysfunction. Reported histopathological changes include membranous glomerulonephritis with potential chronic progression to chronic interstitial nephritis, glomerulosclerosis, and amyloidosis. Despite the close relationship between these two Dirofilaria species, renal clinicopathological changes associated with D. repens infection have been only rarely investigated, and renal ultrastructural and immunofluorescence findings have not been described in naturally infected dogs. The objective of this study was to collect clinicopathological data and evaluate kidneys from dogs naturally infected with D. repens for structural abnormalities using light microscopy (LM), immunofluorescence (IF), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Seventy-two shelter dogs from the university neutering program were screened for D. repens infection. Six infected dogs were identified, and renal biopsies were obtained during neutering. Serum urea, creatinine, and SDMA concentrations were measured, and comprehensive urinalysis was performed, including urinary protein-to-creatinine and albumin-to-creatinine ratios. None of the dogs had increased serum creatinine or SDMA; two of six dogs had mildly increased urea. Mean urine specific gravity was 1.029&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;0.011, and urine sediment was unremarkable in all dogs. Two dogs were borderline proteinuric and one was proteinuric; the mean urine protein-to-creatinine ratio was 0.29&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;0.15. Microalbuminuria was detected in one case (median: 0.001). Histopathology predominantly demonstrated podocyte injury with variable podocyte foot process effacement, without evidence supporting an immune complex-mediated glomerulopathy. Two dogs had mild focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). IF was available for two dogs and did not support immune complex-mediated disease, in agreement with TEM findings. In this cohort, dogs naturally infected with D. repens showed predominantly mild renal lesions characterized mainly by podocyte injury and, less frequently, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. These findings differ from the immune-complex-dominant renal pathology commonly described in D. immitis infection and highlight the value of ultrastructural and immunofluorescence assessment for characterizing renal changes associated with D. repens infection.