As a physical mutagen, carbon ion beam (CIB) irradiation can induce high-frequency mutation, which is user-friendly and environment-friendly in plant breeding. In this study, we resequenced eight mutant lines which were screened out from the progeny of the CIB-irradiated dehulled rice seeds. Among these mutants, CIB induced 135,535 variations, which include single base substitutions (SBSs), and small insertion and deletion (InDels). SBSs are the most abundant mutation, and account for 88% of all variations. Single base conversion is the main type of SBS, and the average ratio of transition and transversion is 1.29, and more than half of the InDels are short-segmented mutation (1–2 bp). A total of 69.2% of the SBSs and InDels induced by CIBs occurred in intergenic regions on the genome. Surprisingly, the average mutation frequency in our study is 9.8 × 10⁻⁵/bp and much higher than that of the previous studies, which may result from the relatively high irradiation dosage and the dehulling of seeds for irradiation. By analyzing the mutation of every 1 Mb in the genome of each mutant strain, we found some unusual high-frequency (HF) mutation regions, where SBSs and InDels colocalized. This study revealed the mutation mechanism of dehulled rice seeds by CIB irradiation on the genome level, which will enrich our understanding of the mutation mechanism of CIB radiation and improve mutagenesis efficiency. Full article

Lions (Panthera leo) play a crucial ecological role in shaping and maintaining fragile ecosystems within Africa. Conservation efforts should focus on genetic variability within wild populations when considering reintroduction attempts. We studied two groups of lions from two conservation sites located in Zambia and Zimbabwe to determine their genetic make-up, information that is usually unknown to the sites. In this study, we analysed 17 specimens for cytb and seven microsatellite markers to ascertain family relationships and genetic diversity previously obtained by observational studies. We then produced a standardised haplogroup phylogeny using all available entire mitogenomes, as well as calculating a revised molecular clock. The modern lion lineage diverged ~151 kya and was divided into two subspecies, both containing three distinct haplogroups. We confirm that Panthera leo persica is not a subspecies, but rather a haplogroup of the northern P.l. leo that exited Africa at least ~31 kya. The progenitor to all lions existed ~1.2 Mya, possibly in SE Africa, and later exited Africa and split into the two cave lion lineages ~175 kya. Species demography is correlated to major climactic events. We now have a detailed phylogeny of lion evolution and an idea of their conservation status given the threat of climate change. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the evolutionary profile (including diversity, activity, and abundance) of retrotransposons (RTNs) with long terminal repeats (LTRs) in ten species of Tetraodontiformes. These species, Arothron firmamentum, Lagocephalus sceleratus, Pao palembangensis, Takifugu bimaculatus, Takifugu flavidus, Takifugu ocellatus, Takifugu rubripes, Tetraodon nigroviridis, Mola mola, and Thamnaconus septentrionalis, are known for having the smallest genomes among vertebrates. Data mining revealed a high diversity and wide distribution of LTR retrotransposons (LTR-RTNs) in these compact vertebrate genomes, with varying abundances among species. A total of 819 full-length LTR-RTN sequences were identified across these genomes, categorized into nine families belonging to four different superfamilies: ERV (Orthoretrovirinae and Epsilon retrovirus), Copia, BEL-PAO, and Gypsy (Gmr, Mag, V-clade, CsRN1, and Barthez). The Gypsy superfamily exhibited the highest diversity. LTR family distribution varied among species, with Takifugu bimaculatus, Takifugu flavidus, Takifugu ocellatus, and Takifugu rubripes having the highest richness of LTR families and sequences. Additionally, evidence of recent invasions was observed in specific tetraodontiform genomes, suggesting potential transposition activity. This study provides insights into the evolution of LTR retrotransposons in Tetraodontiformes, enhancing our understanding of their impact on the structure and evolution of host genomes. Full article

Achieving precise stopping of electric locomotives is crucial for the realization of intelligent and unmanned auxiliary transportation systems. Presently, human drivers play a central role in ensuring accurate stopping, presenting obstacles to automation and cargo location precision, especially within the coal mining sector. This article centers on achieving the precise stopping of electric locomotives under various conditions through the utilization of permanent magnet synchronous motor-driven locomotives. This approach introduces a novel stopping control method that integrates a fuzzy proportional–integral–derivative (F-PID) controller with a vector control model for permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM). Subsequently, we develop the F-PID controller using the PMSM technique, incorporating new fuzzy rules for each subsystem to enhance control accuracy and efficiency. Finally, extensive simulations and real-world experiments are conducted on an electric locomotive stopping test bed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control method. The results show that the method consistently achieves precise stopping under diverse working conditions, with an error of less than 0.3 m, confirming its robustness and reliability. Full article

Zirconium is recognized as one of the main impurities of the rare earth element scandium during purification. It presents significant challenges due to its similar chemical properties, making separating it difficult. This study used trialkyl phosphine oxide (TRPO) as a functional ligand, and the effects of carrier type and acidity on adsorption performance were first investigated. Among these, the novel extraction resin SiO₂-P as a carrier for TRPO demonstrated more prominent separation performance in 0.2 M H₂SO₄ and 5 M HCl solutions. The kinetic and isotherm data were consistent with the pseudo-secondary kinetics and Langmuir model, respectively, and the adsorption process could be regarded as homogeneous monolayer adsorption subject to the dual effects of chemisorption and internal diffusion. In addition, thermodynamic analysis showed that the adsorption process of zirconium under the experimental conditions was a spontaneous endothermic process. Combined with the results of SEM-EDS, FT-IR, and XPS analyses, scandium and zirconium were successfully adsorbed by the resin and uniformly distributed on its surface, and the greater affinity of the P=O groups on the resin for zirconium was the critical factor contributing to the separation of scandium and zirconium. Finally, scandium and zirconium in sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid media were extracted and separated by column experiments, and the purity of scandium could reach 99.8% and 99.99%, respectively. Full article

Active illumination light becomes strongly reflective interference light after specular reflection. It causes saturation in some areas of the image during target detection, resulting in the inability to recognize detailed target feature information. This greatly limits the application of active illumination detection. Based on the Mueller matrix analysis of the difference in polarization characteristics between the background specular reflected light and the target reflected light, we propose a reflection suppression method based on orthogonal polarization imaging. The method employs a polarization modulation strategy in a bidirectional manner between the light source and the detector. First, the polarization information difference is amplified by active polarized illumination between the background specular reflected light and the target reflected light. Then, the target recovery is achieved by suppressing the background specular reflected light through the polarized orthogonal imaging method. Meanwhile, this method can also be used for moving target detection. The experimental results show that the reflection suppression method of orthogonal polarization imaging can effectively suppress the interference of specular reflection on the target image. Additionally, it can reduce the problems of missed and false detection that occurs in moving target detection and improve the active illumination detection effect. Full article

The presence of sex-based asymmetry in the behaviours of youths with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is currently under research scrutiny. ASD is characterised by challenging behaviour (CB) and is often accompanied by anxiety, both of which often exacerbate social interaction difficulties. The present study examined the presence of sex-based asymmetry in the prevalence of CB and anxiety and in the association between CB and anxiety in a sample including 32 male autistic youths (M age = 10.09, SD = 3.83, range = 6–18 yr) and 32 female autistic youths (M age = 10.31, SD = 2.57, range = 6–15 yr) matched for age, IQ, and ASD severity (p > .101). While the prevalence and severity of behavioural characteristics across males and females with ASD were similar (p = .767), representing symmetry, there was asymmetry in the ways that CBs and anxiety were associated with each other across the two sexes. Specifically, there were 3 instances of symmetry (r > .3, p < .05)), but there were also 10 occurrences of sex-based asymmetry (r < .3, p > .05) in the association between five aspects of CB and five anxiety disorders. These findings emphasise the underlying sex-based symmetry in the prevalence of ASD-related behaviours, also highlighting unique sex-based asymmetry in the association between CBs and anxiety in autistic youths. Full article

This study represents a pioneering investigation and comparative analysis of lipid extracts from four different colors of peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunt) fruits—red, yellow, green, and white—by employing a green method based on ethanolic ultrasound-assisted extraction. This study examined the extraction yield, physico-chemical-quality attributes, chromatographic profiles (GC), color measurements, total carotenoid content, differential thermogravimetry (TG/DTA), and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The obtained lipid extracts displayed a high quality, considering the physico-chemical parameters of the Codex Alimentarius, and a fatty acids profile characterized by unsaturated fatty acids, notably omegas (ω-3, ω-6, and ω-9). The indices of atherogenicity (A.I.), thrombogenicity (I.T.), and hypocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic ratios revealed superior outcomes for the red peach palm lipid extract (approximately 0.35, 0.52, and 2.75, respectively), along with higher levels of β-carotene (748.36 µg of β-carotene per 100 g⁻¹ of lipid extract) compared to the yellow, green, and white counterparts. Consequently, this research successfully demonstrates the efficacy of using a green extraction method in preserving the lipid’s quality, which can display cardiovascular functionality and thermal stability. These findings underscore the considerable potential of peach palm lipid extract as a valuable raw material for diverse industrial applications across various sectors. The results support its utilization in the production of functional food products and nutraceuticals due to its favorable fatty acid composition, potent antioxidant properties exhibited by its high β-carotene content, and notable cardiovascular functionality indices. Full article

The treatment of chronic wounds involves precise requirements and complex challenges, as the healing process cannot go beyond the inflammatory phase, therefore increasing the healing time and implying a higher risk of opportunistic infection. Following a better understanding of the healing process, oxygen supply has been validated as a therapeutic approach to improve and speed up wound healing. Moreover, the local implications of antimicrobial agents (such as silver-based nano-compounds) significantly support the normal healing process, by combating bacterial contamination and colonization. In this study, silver (S) and tannylated calcium peroxide (CaO₂@TA) nanoparticles were obtained by adapted microfluidic and precipitation synthesis methods, respectively. After complementary physicochemical evaluation, both types of nanoparticles were loaded in (Alg) alginate-based gels that were further evaluated as possible dressings for wound healing. The obtained composites showed a porous structure and uniform distribution of nanoparticles through the polymeric matrix (evidenced by spectrophotometric analysis and electron microscopy studies), together with a good swelling capacity. The as-proposed gel dressings exhibited a constant and suitable concentration of released oxygen, as shown for up to eight hours (UV–Vis investigation). The biofilm modulation data indicated a synergistic antimicrobial effect between silver and tannylated calcium peroxide nanoparticles, with a prominent inhibitory action against the Gram-positive bacterial biofilm after 48 h. Beneficial effects in the human keratinocytes cultured in contact with the obtained materials were demonstrated by the performed tests, such as MTT, LDH, and NO. Full article

Non-invasive techniques, such as close-range photogrammetry (CRP) and 3D ultrasonic tomography complemented with optical and scanning electron microscopy and mercury porosimetry, were applied to characterize the carbonate rock samples of the Calcari di Cagliari formation. The integrated approach started with the computation of high-resolution 3D models of the carbonate samples using the CRP technique to produce 3D high-resolution models texturized both with natural colors and intensity. Starting from the 3D models from previous techniques, a 3D ultrasonic tomography on each rock sample was accurately planned and carried out in order to detect the elastic properties of such rocks and relate them to textural heterogeneity or internal defects. The results indicate that the relationship between longitudinal velocity and rock properties is complex even in the same carbonate formation. Understanding the relationship between the geomatic and geophysical responses in the investigated rock properties, such as textural characteristics and especially structure and geometry of pores, type of pores, tortuosity and cementing material, is important for many practical applications and especially in the diagnostic process of the conservation state of monumental structures. The integration of the above non-invasive techniques complemented by petrographical–petrophysical data proved to be a powerful method to associate each lithotype with a different susceptibility to degradation. The results presented in this paper demonstrate that the proposed integrated use of complementary methodologies would guarantee the reproducibility of the measurements both at the laboratory and field scale for the monitoring in time of the rock condition while giving a useful contribution in making decisions on an appropriate remedial strategy. Full article

The process of muscle growth directly affects the yield and quality of pork food products. Muscle fibers are created during the embryonic stage, grow following birth, and regenerate during adulthood; these are all considered to be phases of muscle development. A multilevel network of transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and pathway levels controls this process. An integrated toolbox of genetics and genomics as well as the use of genomics techniques has been used in the past to attempt to understand the molecular processes behind skeletal muscle growth and development in pigs under divergent selection processes. A class of endogenous noncoding RNAs have a major regulatory function in myogenesis. But the precise function of miRNA-423-5p in muscle development and the related molecular pathways remain largely unknown. Using target prediction software, initially, the potential target genes of miR-423-5p in the Guangxi Bama miniature pig line were identified using various selection criteria for skeletal muscle growth and development. The serum response factor (SRF) was found to be one of the potential target genes, and the two are negatively correlated, suggesting that there may be targeted interactions. In addition to being strongly expressed in swine skeletal muscle, miR-423-5p was also up-regulated during C2C12 cell development. Furthermore, real-time PCR analysis showed that the overexpression of miR-423-5p significantly reduced the expression of myogenin and the myogenic differentiation antigen (p < 0.05). Moreover, the results of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) demonstrated that the overexpression of miR-423-5p led to a significant reduction in SRF expression (p < 0.05). Furthermore, miR-423-5p down-regulated the luciferase activities of report vectors carrying the 3′ UTR of porcine SRF, confirming that SRF is a target gene of miR-423-5p. Taken together, miR-423-5p’s involvement in skeletal muscle differentiation may be through the regulation of SRF. Full article

Bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) were grown in a greenhouse to evaluate organic fertilizer and foliar seaweed application effects on plant architecture, yield, and fruit quality. Many organic fertilizers contain phytohormones intrinsically. Hydrolyzed and non-hydrolyzed fish fertilizer and cyano-fertilizer treatments were applied in split applications every 7 days over a 135-day growing period. Control plants received no supplemental N. Each fertilizer treatment received applications of one of two different foliar seaweeds or no foliar seaweed in a 4 × 3 factorial design with three replications. Both hydrolyzed and non-hydrolyzed fish fertilizers and cyano-fertilizer increased the number of branches per plant compared to the N-deficient control. The plants receiving cyano-fertilizer or non-hydrolyzed fish fertilizer yielded more than the N-deficient control, and those treatments received 2–3 times the auxin application as the hydrolyzed fish fertilizer. In addition, the leaves from the plants treated with non-hydrolyzed fish fertilizer contained substantially higher levels of abscisic acid, although no abscisic acid was detected in the fertilizers. Both seaweed products decreased the number of fruits that were “bell”-shaped and increased the number of “long”-shaped fruits. Organic fertilizers are complex matrices of nutrients, phytohormones, and other metabolites, making it very challenging to determine the mechanisms behind the observations. Full article

Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant global health challenge. Notably, the risk of CRC escalates with age, with the majority of cases occurring in those over the age of 65. Despite recent progress in tailoring treatments for early and advanced CRC, there is a lack of prospective data to guide the management of older patients, who are frequently underrepresented in clinical trials. This article reviews the contemporary landscape of managing older individuals with CRC, highlighting recent advancements and persisting challenges. The role of comprehensive geriatric assessment is explored. Opportunities for treatment escalation/de-escalation, with consideration of the older adult’s fitness level. are reviewed in the neoadjuvant, surgical, adjuvant, and metastatic settings of colon and rectal cancers. Immunotherapy is shown to be an effective treatment option in older adults who have CRC with microsatellite instability. Promising new technologies such as circulating tumor DNA and recent phase III trials adding later-line systemic therapy options are discussed. Clinical recommendations based on the data available are summarized. We conclude that deliberate efforts to include older individuals in future colorectal cancer trials are essential to better guide the management of these patients in this rapidly evolving field. Full article

Chemokines, also known as chemotactic cytokines, stimulate the migration of immune cells. These molecules play a key role in the pathogenesis of inflammation leading to atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, insulin-resistant diabetes, and cancer. Moreover, they take part in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The main objective of our research was to determine the activity of methyl-derivatives of flavanone, namely, 2′-methylflavanone (5B), 3′-methylflavanone (6B), 4′-methylflavanone (7B), and 6-methylflavanone (8B), on the releasing of selected cytokines by RAW264.7 macrophages activated by LPS. We determined the concentration of chemokines belonging to the CC chemokine family, namely, MCP-1, MIP-1β, RANTES, and eotaxin, using the Bio-Plex Magnetic Luminex Assay and the Bio-PlexTM 200 System. Among the tested compounds, only 5B and 6B had the strongest effect on inhibiting the examined chemokines’ release by macrophages. Therefore, 5B and 6B appear to be potentially useful in the prevention of diseases associated with the inflammatory process. Full article

Three neutral nickel(II) complexes of 3,5–dibromo–salicylaldehyde (3,5–diBr–saloH) were synthesized in the presence or absence of 1,10–phenanthroline (phen) or its derivative 2,9–dimethyl–1,10–phenanthroline (neoc) as co–ligands, namely [Ni(3,5–diBr–salo)₂(neoc)] (complex 1), [Ni(3,5–diBr–salo)₂(phen)] (complex 2) and [Ni(3,5–diBr–salo)₂(H₂O)₂] (complex 3), and were characterized by various techniques. The crystal structure of [Ni(3,5–diBr–salo)₂(neoc)] was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. According to employed studying techniques, the complexes interact tightly with calf-thymus DNA by an intercalative fashion. Furthermore, compounds 1–3 bind tightly and reversibly to human and bovine serum albumin. Full article

Global climate change has precipitated a surge in urban flooding challenges, prompting the imperative role of green infrastructure (GI) as the linchpin of sponge city construction to enhance urban sustainability and resilience. But the evaluation of urban stormwater resilience faces challenges due to the lack of a comprehensive evaluation framework taking the intrinsic features of the resilience system into account and the insufficient coverage of alternative scenarios’ performance under multiple rainfall return periods. This study, focusing on Fengxi New City, China, evaluates the suitability of GI (i.e., green roofs, rain gardens, and permeable pavements) and constructs a stormwater management model (SWMM) for urban stormwater hydrological simulation. This study also establishes a comprehensive urban stormwater resilience evaluation system and uses quantitative methods to unify the performances of scenarios under different rainfall return periods. Our analytical findings elucidate that the suitability of GI is predominantly concentrated in the northern and western areas of the study area, with the smallest suitable area observed for permeable pavements. Divergent GIs exhibit disparate performances, with rain gardens emerging as particularly efficacious. Importantly, the combination of multiple GIs yields a synergistic enhancement in resilience, underscoring the strategic advantage of adopting a diverse and integrated approach to GI implementation. This study facilitates a deeper understanding of urban stormwater resilience and assists in informed planning decisions for GI and sponge cities. Full article

Hydrogen, one of the most promising forms of new energy sources, due to its high energy density, low emissions, and potential to decarbonize various sectors, has attracted significant research attention. It is known that electrocatalytic hydrogen production is one of the most widely investigated research directions due to its high efficiency in the conversion of electricity to H₂ gas. However, given the limited reserves and high cost of precious metals, the search for non-precious metal-based catalysts has been widely explored, for example, transition metal phosphides, oxides, and sulfides. Despite this interest, a detailed survey unveils that the surface and internal structures of the alternative catalysts, including their surface reconstruction, composition, and electronic structure, are poorly studied. As a result, a disconnection in the structure–property relationship severely hinders the rational design of efficient and reliable non-precious metal-based catalysts. In this review, by focusing on Ni₅P₄, a bifunctional catalyst for water splitting, we systematically summarize the material motifs pertaining to the different synthetic methods, surface characteristics, and hydrolysis properties. It is believed that a cascaded correlation may provide insights toward understanding the fundamental catalytic mechanism and design of robust alternative catalysts for hydrogen production. Full article

Objectives: To slow down the chemical fixation of phosphate fertilizer, reduce the risk of active phosphorus leaching, stimulate the inherent phosphorus resource activity of soil, and improve phosphorus supply capacity. Methods: This study utilized a combination of field experiments and indoor chemical analysis. Six types of exogenous organic matter (fulvic acid, biochar, compound microbial fertilizer, high-energy microbial inoculum, pig manure-vermicompost, cow manure-vermicompost) were added based on conventional fertilization. The experiment was conducted under the wheat-maize rotation system in the Huang-Huai-Hai region. Results: Compared with control (CK) without exogenous organic matter (EOM), all the other treatments with EOM had an enhancing effect on the available phosphorus of the cultivated soil. During the maize harvest, the combined application of biochar, pig manure-vermicompost and cow manure-vermicompost treatment significantly increased the content of available phosphorus in 0–20 cm soil by 45.87–56.59% compared with CK. The combined application of fulvic acid, biochar, pig manure-vermicompost and cow manure-vermicompost treatment significantly increased the content of Ca₂-P in 0–20 cm soil by 34.04–65.14%. The content of Ca₁₀-P in each treatment with EOM exhibited a lower level compared to CK. EOM could slow down the fixation of phosphorus to some degree. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between Ca₂-P, Ca₈-P, Al-P, Fe-P, neutral phosphatase activity, acid phosphatase activity, and the available phosphorus content in the soil. The combined application of fulvic acid, biochar, and cow manure-vermicompost could enhance the activity of neutral and acid phosphatase in topsoil to a certain extent, thereby facilitating the conversion of phosphorus into highly available Ca₂-P. EOM could enhance the soil phosphorus availability and decelerate the conversion of soil phosphorus into O-P and Ca₁₀-P forms with low availability. Among all treatments, biochar exhibited the most pronounced efficiency in mitigating phosphorus leaching downward. Conclusions: All the EOMs had the potential to enhance the conversion of phosphorus into soluble phosphorus (Ca₂-P), thereby mitigating the chemical fixation of soil phosphorus and ameliorating non-point source pollution caused by phosphorus. EOM enhanced the activity of neutral and acid phosphatase, which was beneficial to the conversion of organic phosphorus to inorganic phosphorus and increasing the content of available phosphorus. All EOMs had good effects on the retention of soil effective phosphorus, among which biochar had the best effect on retaining effective phosphorus in the tillage layer and blocking phosphorus leaching downward. Full article

As an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is essential for human safety and city sustainability. In recent years, natural disasters, which have had a tremendous negative impact on economic and social development, have frequently occurred in cities. As one of these devastating disasters, earthquakes can severely damage the achievements of urban development and impact the sustainable development of cities. To prepare for potential large earthquakes in the future, efficient evacuation plans need to be developed to enhance evacuation efficiency and minimize casualties. Most previous research focuses on minimization of distance or cost while ignoring risk factors. We propose a multi-objective optimization model with the goal of reducing the risk during the evacuation process, which is called the risk reduction model (RRM). Problem-specific indicators for screening optimal solutions are introduced. The research selects the Ogu area in Tokyo as a case study, where there is a relatively high density of wooden structures, increasing the risks of building collapse and fire spread after an earthquake, and is based on a two-phase evacuation flow that considers secondary evacuation for fire response. The results indicate that, in this case, RRM can, in most situations, reduce the risk level during the evacuation process and improve evacuation efficiency and success rate without significantly increasing the total evacuation distance. It proves to be superior to the traditional distance minimization model (DMM), which prioritizes minimizing the total distance as the objective function. Full article

Organ-on-chip (OOC) technology has gained importance for biomedical studies and drug development. This technology involves microfluidic devices that mimic the structure and function of specific human organs or tissues. OOCs are a promising alternative to traditional cell-based models and animals, as they provide a more representative experimental model of human physiology. By creating a microenvironment that closely resembles in vivo conditions, OOC platforms enable the study of intricate interactions between different cells as well as a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms pertaining to diseases. OOCs can be integrated with other technologies, such as sensors and imaging systems to monitor real-time responses and gather extensive data on tissue behavior. Despite these advances, OOCs for many organs are in their initial stages of development, with several challenges yet to be overcome. These include improving the complexity and maturity of these cellular models, enhancing their reproducibility, standardization, and scaling them up for high-throughput uses. Nonetheless, OOCs hold great promise in advancing biomedical research, drug discovery, and personalized medicine, benefiting human health and well-being. Here, we review several recent OOCs that attempt to overcome some of these challenges. These OOCs with unique applications can be engineered to model organ systems such as the stomach, cornea, blood vessels, and mouth, allowing for analyses and investigations under more realistic conditions. With this, these models can lead to the discovery of potential therapeutic interventions. In this review, we express the significance of the relationship between mucosal tissues and vasculature in organ-on-chip (OOC) systems. This interconnection mirrors the intricate physiological interactions observed in the human body, making it crucial for achieving accurate and meaningful representations of biological processes within OOC models. Vasculature delivers essential nutrients and oxygen to mucosal tissues, ensuring their proper function and survival. This exchange is critical for maintaining the health and integrity of mucosal barriers. This review will discuss the OOCs used to represent the mucosal architecture and vasculature, and it can encourage us to think of ways in which the integration of both can better mimic the complexities of biological systems and gain deeper insights into various physiological and pathological processes. This will help to facilitate the development of more accurate predictive models, which are invaluable for advancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and developing novel therapeutic interventions. Full article

Viruses are a real threat to every organism at any stage of life leading to extensive infections and casualties. N-heterocycles can affect the viral life cycle at many points, including viral entrance into host cells, viral genome replication, and the production of novel viral species. Certain N-heterocycles can also stimulate the host’s immune system, producing antiviral cytokines and chemokines that can stop the reproduction of viruses. This review focused on recent five- or six-membered synthetic N-heterocyclic molecules showing antiviral activity through SAR analyses. The review will assist in identifying robust scaffolds that might be utilized to create effective antiviral drugs with either no or few side effects. Full article

In recent times, there has been a notable surge in the interest in promoting environmentally conscious products, particularly within the building industry where the focus has shifted towards sustainable materials. In this study, as a sustainable building material, ceiling tiles have been fabricated as a composite board containing waste materials, namely waste paper, sawdust, recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and epoxy resin, and characterized comprehensively through physical and mechanical tests, density, thickness swelling (TS), modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and flexural strength (FS) for product stability. A total of nine composites were fabricated with different ratios through molding techniques, and the characterization results were compared to determine the optimized stable ratio of composite composition. The composition of 25% waste paper, 15% sawdust, 10% recycled PET, and 50% epoxy resin presented the maximum FS compared to the other composite ratios. Water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling were evaluated after immersion durations of 1–24 h. The findings revealed that as the density increased, the sawdust content within the matrix decreased from 25–35%. Concurrently, an increase in recycled PET content resulted in decreased water absorption and thickness swelling. Significantly, the MOE, MOR, and FS demonstrated optimal values at 864.256 N/mm², 12.786 N/mm², and 4.64 MPa, respectively. These observations represent the excellent qualities of this hybrid composite board, particularly in terms of sustainability, stability, and water absorption capacity. Moreover, its lightweight nature and ability to support ceiling loads further enhance its appeal for construction applications. This study not only advances the discourse on sustainable construction materials but also fosters opportunities for broader acceptance and innovation within the industry. Full article