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Because of their high electrocatalytic activity, sensitivity, selectivity, and long-term stability in electrochemical sensors and biosensors, numerous nanomaterials are being used as suitable electrode materials thanks to developments in nanotechnology. Electrochemical sensors and biosensors are two areas where two-dimensional layered materials (2DLMs) are finding increasing utility due to their unusual structure and physicochemical features. Nanosensors, by their unprecedented sensitivity and minute scale, can probe deeper into the structural integrity of piles, capturing intricacies that traditional tools overlook. These advanced devices detect anomalies, voids, and minute defects in the pile structure with unparalleled granularity. Their effectiveness lies in detection and their capacity to provide real-time feedback on pile health, heralding a shift from reactive to proactive maintenance methodologies. Harvesting data from these nanosensors, data was incorporated into a probabilistic model, executing the reliability index calculations through Monte Carlo simulations. Preliminary outcomes show a commendable enhancement in the predictability of vertical bearing capacity, with the coefficient of variation dwindling by up to 12%. The introduction of nanosensors facilitates instantaneous monitoring and fortifies the long-term stability of pile foundations. This study accentuates the transformative potential of nanosensors in geotechnical engineering. • Nanosensors detect pile defects with unprecedented sensitivity. • Real-time pile health monitoring shifts to proactive maintenance. • Data from nanosensors enhance vertical bearing capacity predictability. • Monte Carlo simulations used to calculate reliability indices. • Study shows up to 12% improvement in bearing capacity accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cerambycid beetle, Pharsalia antennata Gahan, 1894 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is a wood-boring pest that spends most of its life cycle in the trunks or under the bark of trees. These distinctive biological characteristics make it likely that this beetle will encounter a number of plant defensive compounds, coupled with a broad range of host plants, possibly resulting in the overexpression or expansion of uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glycosyltransferase (UGT) genes. Here, we identified and characterized the UGT gene family in P. antennata through transcriptome data, sequence and phylogenetic analyses, and PCR and homology modeling approaches. In total, 59 transcripts encoding UGTs were identified, 34 of which harbored full-length sequences and shared high conservation with the UGTs of Anoplophora glabripennis. Of the 34 PantUGTs, only 31.78% amino acid identity was observed on average, but catalytic and sugar binding residues were highly conserved. Phylogenetic analyses revealed four Cerambycidae-specific clades, including 30 members from P. antennata. Combining the transcriptome and PCR data showed that PantUGTs had a wide tissue expression, and the majority of the genes were presented mainly in antennae or abdomens, suggesting their putative roles in olfaction and detoxification. This study provides, for the first time, information on the molecular and genetic basis of P. antennata, greatly enhancing our knowledge of the detoxification-related UGT gene family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integrity of steel is affected by the adhesion of macrofouling organisms, which is an obstacle to their marine industry application. Corrosion of the fouled steel surface covered by oysters and ascidians was investigated, the results showed that the electrochemical processes, oxygen diffusion, ion transport paths, and secretion state differences caused differentiated corrosion forms with fouled steel. Manifested as localized corrosion at oyster/steel interface, while uniform corrosion at ascidian/steel interface from the state of the entire covering interface. A micro-reaction mechanism was finally proposed concerning the effects of Cl-, anaerobic bacteria, enclosed space, and secretions to reasonably explain this phenomenon. [Display omitted] • Oysters and ascidians are potentially environmental hazardous organisms in marine engineering safety service. • Covered oyster and ascidian caused differentiated corrosion forms with fouled steel. • Electrochemical processes, oxygen diffusion, ion transport paths, and secretion state differences were considered. • Cl- were enriched, and mackinawite were generated at macrofouling/steel interface. • Corrosion mechanism of the macrofouling/steel interface was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhered oysters can cause complex corrosion of fouled steel structures, with localized crevice corrosion being the most severe. A crevice corrosion model of steel caused by oysters is proposed, showing that oyster secretions can penetrate into the oyster/steel interface and act as a stabilizer of the rust layer, enabling tight attachment and thereby slowing the metal corrosion rate. In contrast, oxygen concentration cells, enriched Cl-, anaerobic bacteria, the presence of organic free radicals and oxidative cross-linking during the curing process of oyster secretions act as localized corrosion accelerators facilitating the crevice corrosion process in the oyster/steel gap. [Display omitted] • Adhered oysters could cause severe localized crevice corrosion of fouled steel structures. • Oyster secretions could act as a stabilizer of the rust layer. • Synergistic effects of fouling and inorganic factors acted as localized corrosion accelerators. • The proliferation of anaerobic bacteria enhanced the corrosion in the crevice. • Oyster influenced marine corrosion model was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway regulates specific immunological responses and controls a wide range of physiological processes. NF-κB inhibitor alpha (IKBA) is an NF-κB inhibitory mediator in the cytoplasm that modulates the nuclear translocation and DNA binding activities of NF-κB proteins. However, whether the upstream cascade of the canonical NF-κB signaling pathway has physiological roles independent of IKBA-mediated transcriptional activation remains unclear. Herein we investigated the function of IKBA in mature sperm in which transcriptional and translational events do not occur. IKBA was highly expressed in human sperm. The repression of IKBA phosphorylation by its inhibitor Bay117082 markedly enhanced sperm motility. On the contrary, lipopolysaccharide-stimulated IKBA phosphorylation significantly decreased sperm motility. Nevertheless, Bay117082 treatment did not affect the motility of IKBA-knockout sperm. Further, untargeted metabolomic analysis and pharmacological blocking assays revealed that the Bay117082-induced increase in sperm motility was attributable to fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) enhancement. In addition, we found that IKBA phosphorylation inhibition resulted in a significant reduction of acetyl-CoA carboxylase levels in the FAO metabolic pathway. Our findings indicate that IKBA-mediated signaling orchestrates sperm motility program and improves our understanding of transcription-independent NF-κB signaling pathway in cells. NF-κB inhibitor alpha (IKBA) signaling in mature sperm drives sperm motility and controls fatty acid b-oxidation metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Dioryctria abietella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a destructive forest pest that feeds on the shoots and cones of Pinaceae plants. The reception of host volatiles and toxic compounds can be mediated via odorant binding proteins (OBPs) expressed in olfactory organs. Here, a number of DabiOBPs may be involved in reproduction, as indicated by the expression profiles. Further, DabiOBP5 and DabiOBP14 enriched in adult antennae could strongly interact with two plant volatiles and four insecticides. Of these, β-ionone derived from plant flowers possibly served as an feeding attractant of female moths, while a pear ester ethyl-(2E,4Z)-decadienoate identified as a non-host volatile may repel D. abietella. In addition, two DabiOBPs were possibly associated with insecticide resistance. Molecular simulations identified several key residues involved in ligand-binding, revealing different binding mechanisms of DabiOBP5 and/or DabiOBP14 with the best ligands. These findings provide potentially active compounds for the control of D. abietella and characterize the interaction mechanisms of two antennal DabiOBPs with plant odorants and insecticides. The management of forest pests has become a significant challenge, particularly for wood borers, because they spend most of the time in the trunks or cones. The coneworm, Dioryctria abietella, is a representative of cone borers as its larvae feed on the cones of Pinaceae plants. The molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between this species and host plants or habitats can assist in developing strategies for pest control. In this study, we extended the expression profiles of 32 odorant binding proteins (OBPs) in the reproductive tissues of D. abietella, revealing the detectable transcription of 29 genes. Using two DabiOBPs highly expressed in antennae (DabiOBP5 and DabiOBP14) as targets, six compounds with high affinities (dissociation constants < 13 μM) were identified through a reverse chemical ecology strategy, including insecticides widely used for the control of lepidopteran pests. Of these compounds, a floral volatile β-ionone and a pear-produced ester ethyl-(2E,4Z)-decadienoate may serve as behaviorally active compounds in D. abietella. The strong binding of DabiOBPs to insecticides suggested their involvement in insecticide resistance, reflecting sophisticated detoxification mechanisms of this moth. In the molecular simulations, DabiOBP14 possessed stronger interactions with the six ligands compared to DabiOBP5, in which a few key residues within the binding pockets were involved in the formation of hydrogen bonds. This study provides some valuable reference active compounds for the development of lures or repellents in D. abietella and unravels the putative roles of two antenna-dominant DabiOBPs in the perception of plant-derived odorants and insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hybrids of graphene oxide and ZnO quantum dots (GO@ZnO QDs) are synthesized. • Waterborne epoxy coatings loaded with silane grafted GO@ZnO QDs are prepared. • Nanocomposite coatings show advanced corrosion resistance in NaCl solution. • Nanocomposite coatings show both anti-fouling and anti-bacterial properties. • Nanocomposite coatings have high adhesion strength and water contact angle. In this research, the amino-silane functionalized ZnO quantum dots (F-ZnO QDs), graphene oxide (F-GO), and their nanohybrids (F-GO@ZnO QDs) are used as effective nanofillers to improve the anti-corrosion and anti-fouling properties of waterborne epoxy coatings. The synthesized nanomaterials before and after silane functionalization are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Then, the nanocomposite waterborne epoxy coatings loaded with 0.1 wt% F-ZnO QDs, F-GO, and F-GO@ZnO QDs are prepared through solution mixing method. The effects of different nanofillers on the surface roughness, water contact angle, pull-off adhesion strength, fracture surface, and corrosion resistance of the nanocomposite coatings are considered. The results reveal that the uniformly dispersed F-GO@ZnO QDs in the fracture surface of the coating could provide the highest barrier and corrosion resistance on the steel substrates. Meanwhile, the nanocomposite coatings have higher water contact angle and higher adhesion strength to the substrates. The anti-bacterial and anti-fouling properties of the nanocomposite coatings have also been confirmed. The multifunctional performance of the epoxy/F-GO@ZnO QDs is assigned to the synergy effect between the GO, ZnO QDs, and amino-silane; exhibiting the importance of the nanohybrids to combine the advantages of different nanomaterials in one coating system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative experiment was set up in a field site and laboratory to study the effect of barnacles (model organisms of macrofouling) on the corrosion behavior of a low-alloy high-strength steel. The results indicated that barnacle adhesion can slow the corrosion rate of steel in an immersion environment by hindering the diffusion of corrosive ions. It was found that barnacle adhesion had a significant promotion effect on localized corrosion. Due to steel's high corrosion rate, the corrosion-impeding effect was improved, and the promotion effect on localized corrosion was weakened. The study proposed a corrosion mechanism model influenced by barnacles. • A comparative experiment was set up in a field site and laboratory. • Barnacle adhesion can slow the corrosion rate of steel in an immersion environment. • Barnacle adhesion hinders the diffusion of corrosive ions to the steel surface. • Barnacle adhesion had a significant promotion effect on localized corrosion. • The accumulation of barnacle metabolites can promote the corrosion of steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular modification has attracted many attentions in the field of gelatin science. In this work, a transglutaminase (TG) modification method was developed and applied to modify bovine bone gelatin, porcine skin gelatin, and cold-water fish skin gelatin, and then the effect of TG crosslinking on the structural, physicochemical, functional, and emulsion stabilization properties of three types of gelatins were explored and compared. The results demonstrated that TG modification increased the nanoparticle formation behaviors and change the physicochemical and functional properties of three types of gelatins. Further, TG-modified aquatic gelatin showed comparable foaming properties (147% ± 6% for foaming capability and 55% ± 4% for foam stability) and higher emulsifying properties (18 ± 1 m2/g for emulsion activity index and 142 ± 11 min for emulsion stability index) to unmodified mammalian gelatins. In addition, TG-modified gelatins decreased the droplet sizes and increased creaming stability of fish oil-loaded emulsions compared with unmodified gelatins. All these results suggested TG modification was an efficient molecular modification method for gelatins. Moreover, TG-modified aquatic gelatin could be potential mammalian gelatin replacer. This work could provide useful information to understand the relationship among animal sources, tissue sources, extraction methods, amino acid compositions, molecular modification, molecular structure, physicochemical properties, functional properties, and emulsification stability of gelatins. • Bovine bone, porcine skin, and fish skin gelatins were modified by transglutaminase. • Modification increased the molecular aggregation behaviors of gelatins. • Modification increased the surface hydrophobicity of gelatins. • Modified fish skin gelatin can be mammal gelatin replacer as foamer and emulsifier. • Modification decreased droplet sizes and increased creaming stability of emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]