Pathophysiological impacts of particulate matter exposure on respiratory health and emerging biomarkers for early detection.

Synthetic insecticides have been widely used for pest control but cause environmental issues such as pesticide residues, soil contamination, and resistance. As a result, there is a need for eco-friendly alternatives. Essential oils (EOs) are renewable, biodegradable, and non-persistent, making them promising candidates for natural insecticides. This study explores the potential of essential oils from the heartwood of Taiwania flousiana Gaussen, sourced from Tengchong, Yunnan. The chemical composition of T. flousiana essential oils was analyzed, displaying their diversity of chemical composition. Assessment of insecticidal activity against various pests revealed their broad-spectrum insecticidal activity. Afterwards we assessed their biochemical effects on Armigeres subalbatus, measuring esterase-α, esterase-β, SOD, LPO, and GST levels. Toxicity to non-target organisms, including Nicotiana tabacum, Danio rerio, and Apis mellifera, was also evaluated. Computational simulations identified four key bioactive compounds, with two dominant compounds isolated and characterized, laying the foundation for further studies. EOs of T. flousiana exhibit a broad spectrum of insecticidal activity, coupled with a remarkably low impact on non-target organisms. This suggests they could serve as an eco-friendly substitute for synthetic insecticides. This finding is significant for developing greener pest control strategies. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Ecosystem functions beneath the tide: A trait-based study of tropical intertidal macrobenthos.

Functional dynamics of fish assemblages in a tropical estuary during different phases of El Niño‒Southern Oscillation.

Irrigation-driven shifts in weed community composition, functional identity, and functional diversity: Evidence from a Mediterranean vineyard

Effects of tetracycline exposure on microbial community structure, functions, and assembly in coastal bay sediments: evidence from a laboratory study.

Hierarchical approach reveals site-scale drivers of nematode assemblages on the west coast of Korea.

The association between gut microbiota and insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Solanum americanum, or American black nightshade, is a common weed in Pakistan with a rich history of medicinal applications. Traditionally, its leaves and fruits have been employed to treat various conditions, including skin problems, inflammation, and menstrual irregularities. The plant's therapeutic potential is attributed to its diverse phytochemical composition, encompassing alkaloids, glycosides, and flavonoids. Its traditional use highlights the reliance on folk knowledge for treating liver disease. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacognostic features and evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of the crude fruit extract of S. americanum against ethanol-induced liver toxicity in rats. An aqueous ethanolic extract of S. americanum fruit was administered to rats with ethanol-induced liver toxicity. Silymarin was used as a reference drug for comparison. Hepatoprotective activity was assessed through biochemical analysis of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, and total protein levels. Histopathological examination of liver tissues was also conducted. The ethanol-treated group exhibited intense hepatocellular injuries and necrosis in liver tissues. Treatment with the aqueous ethanolic extract of S. americanum and silymarin resulted in near-normal lobular architecture, with only slight centrilobular degeneration of hepatocytes and minimal necrotic changes. The S. americanum extract demonstrated hepatoprotective activity, as evidenced by the partial normalization of liver biomarkers. However, its effect was less pronounced than that of silymarin. The aqueous ethanolic fruit extract of S. americanum possesses hepatoprotective properties against ethanol-induced liver toxicity in rats. S. americanum mitigates ethanol-induced liver toxicity in rats, partially normalizing liver biomarkers, likely through its antioxidant and nutritional properties, supporting its traditional use in liver disease management.

Comparative assessment of drying techniques on the quality of millet (Sorghum bicolor) microgreens.

Microbial profiling of urothelial carcinoma and benign bladder tissue from formalin-fixed specimens.

Distribution of N2O-reducing bacteria in Zoige plateau peatlands driven by nitrate nitrogen and pH.

Diversity and potential environmental risks of DNA viruses on international ships' ballast water at Shanghai port, China.

The inherent diversity and complex composition of vegetable oils present significant challenges to elucidating the mechanistic pathways involved in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF, C8-C16) production. Octadecane emerges as a critical model compound for probing SAF synthesis mechanisms due to its structural relevance to vegetable oil derivatives. In this work, we establish P-modulated Ni2P1/SAPO-11 for SAF production using octadecane as a representative feedstock. Comparative analysis reveals that the Ni2P1-based catalyst achieves superior C8-C16 yield (69.1%) and i/n ratio (4.5) compared with conventional Ni/SAPO-11, attributable to its optimized charge distribution by P species. Through comprehensive characterization analyses, we demonstrate that the P-modulated Ni active center critically governs the balance between isomerization-cracking reactions. Detailed characterization of the Ni2P1/SAPO-11 clarified the effect of the introduction of P on the charge distribution and acidic properties of Ni/SAPO-11. The resulting SAF product meets critical ASTM D7566 specifications, particularly excelling in low-temperature fluidity (freezing point < -53°C). This work provides valuable insights into acid site engineering for biomass-derived alkane upgrading.

Molecular basis of fatty acid composition diversity in different avocado cultivars.

The impacts of mining on aquatic biodiversity pose significant challenges for environmental mitigation, particularly near protected areas. This study assessed fish abundance and diversity (assemblage composition, alpha and beta diversity, indicator species, and Species Contribution to Beta Diversity - SCBD) in the Itacaiúnas and Parauapebas river basins, Brazilian Amazonia, across dry and rainy seasons. We hypothesized that basins near mining-impacted areas would exhibit reduced fish abundance and diversity compared to control areas. To test this, four sampling points were established per basin (two controls, two impacted), totaling eight sites, where fish were collected using gillnets and physicochemical water parameters were simultaneously recorded. Fish abundance and alpha diversity peaked during the rainy season but showed no significant differences between control and impacted areas. Beta diversity was higher in the Parauapebas basin, and indicator species analysis identified taxa associated with particular groups. A Redundancy Analysis (RDA) linked environmental variables (temperature, salinity, and conductivity) to species distributions, suggesting an influence of water quality on assemblage organization. Although abundance and richness did not clearly differentiate areas, the combined assemblage and species-level results support the importance of continuous, integrated monitoring to assess long-term ecological changes.

Butyrate-producing bacteria (BPB) are widely used as additives in aquaculture because of the beneficial effects of the butyrate they produce. However, most available BPB currently are of terrestrial origin, which are quite different from aquatic animals, resulting in profoundly unstable probiotic performance. This study isolated a novel, indigenous BPB, Clostridium moniliforme G18, from the gut of mud crabs, Scylla paramamosain. The strain demonstrated robust butyric acid production, tolerance to gastrointestinal conditions (pH 4-9, 0-3% NaCl, 0.4-1.0% bile salts), antibiotic sensitivity, pathogen inhibition, and non-hemolytic activity. Dietary supplementation with G18 alone or in combination with resistant starch and galactooligosaccharides (GR18) significantly enhanced mud crab body weight (P < 0.05). The supplementation improved intestinal health by enhancing histomorphology and upregulating tight junction genes (ZO-1 and Claudin). Furthermore, it boosted antioxidant capacity (elevated SOD and CAT; reduced MDA), modulated immune responses (increased AKP and ACP; reduced ALT and AST, P < 0.05), and increased intestinal butyrate levels. Analysis of the gut microbiota of mud crabs fed G18 alone or in combination with prebiotics revealed an increase in alpha diversity and beneficial composition changes (including reduced Vibrionaceae and elevated Proteocatella, P < 0.05). Following Vibrio parahaemolyticus challenge, mud crabs fed G18 and GR18 showed significantly higher survival rate (66.7% and 73.3%, respectively, P < 0.05) versus 53.3% in the control group. These diets mitigated intestinal damage, restored immune and antioxidant parameters, and enhanced the expression of barrier function genes. These results establish indigenous C. moniliforme G18 as a highly promising probiotic candidate for enhancing growth and health in mud crabs.

The single-walled zeolitic nanotube is a novel open-framework material distinguished by its hollow tubular morphology and double-layered zeolitic walls. Expanding its compositional diversity and tunability is crucial for unlocking the potential of this new material. Here, we report the synthesis of tin-incorporated single-walled zeolitic nanotubes (Sn-ZNT) through a solid-state ion exchange method. Owing to the unique double-layered structure, where most framework atoms are highly exposed, local dealumination is expected to occur during ion exchange using an acidic precursor, generating vacant sites for Sn substitution. Characterizations revealed that the incorporated Sn species were located at framework sites and primarily existed as partially hydrolyzed "open" sites. These Sn species enriched and strengthened the Lewis acidity, enabling Sn-ZNT to act as an efficient Lewis acidic catalyst. Using the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation as a probe reaction, Sn-ZNT exhibited remarkable activity in converting 2-adamantanone to its corresponding lactone, achieving a turnover number three times higher than that of Sn-MFI. Sn-ZNT also exhibited unexpectedly high stability, with both its structural integrity and catalytic performance preserved over multiple reaction-regeneration cycles. The successful synthesis of Sn-ZNT expands the compositional versatility of this novel material and is expected to open up new opportunities for its applications in advanced catalysis and beyond.

Comprehensive Summary Block copolymer nanoparticles prepared via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)‐mediated polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA) have attracted considerable attention because of their structural controllability, compositional diversity, and scalability. However, conventional RAFT‐PISA formulations can only generate block copolymer nanoparticles with RAFT groups buried inside, which restricts subsequent surface modification and morphological control. Herein, we synthesized a multifunctional macro‐RAFT agent bearing multiple poly( N,N ‐dimethylacrylamide) side chains enriched in RAFT reactive groups. This macro‐RAFT agent enabled orthogonal RAFT‐PISA of methacrylic monomers, affording block copolymer nanoparticles with a high surface density of RAFT groups. Notably, the surface‐exposed RAFT moieties can be reactivated for the subsequent chain extension, allowing surface‐initiated RAFT polymerization to functionalize nanoparticles and construct hierarchical vesicles with well‐defined nanostructures on the surface. This work provides insights into the intrinsic origin of the different levels of control imparted by RAFT agents and offers a new design strategy for the surface modification and further functionalization of block copolymer nanoparticles.

The growing demand for sustainable, biocompatible, and multifunctional sensing materials has intensified interest in melanin and its derivatives, including melanin-inspired polymers and composites. Melanin is a naturally occurring biopolymer whose intricate structure and diverse chemical composition give rise to a remarkable combination of optical, electrical, and chemical properties. Key physicochemical characteristics, such as broadband optical absorption, hydration-dependent conductivity, redox activity, and metal ion coordination, are closely linked to melanin’s signal transduction capabilities and underpin its relevance in sensing applications. Recent advances in melanin-based sensing technologies encompass pH, humidity, chemical, biological, and optical platforms, with particular emphasis on hybrid systems incorporating graphene, silicon, or nanomaterials, and printable or wearable device architectures. These developments have enabled enhanced performance and broadened potential application fields. However, persistent challenges, including intrinsic heterogeneity, limited selectivity, relatively low electrical conductivity, and poor long-term operational stability, still limit practical implementation. Emerging molecular engineering and advanced fabrication strategies are being developed to address these limitations. Together, these findings position melanin as a versatile, eco-compatible, and functionally rich material, with a significant potential to underpin the next generation of sustainable sensing technologies.