The role of the gut microbiota in colorectal cancer (CRC) development has garnered attention, highlighting probiotics as potential adjuncts in CRC prevention and treatment. In recent years, probiotics and their derivatives have demonstrated mechanisms that may contribute to anticancer properties. This study investigates the cytotoxic effects of Bifidobacterium bifidum KCTC 3357, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus KCTC 5033, Limosilactobacillus reuteri VA 103, Bacillus galactosidilyticus VA 107, and Lactococcus taiwanensis VE101 on CT-26 mouse colon carcinoma cells using live cells, heat-killed cells (paraprobiotics), and cell-free supernatants (CFS, postbiotics) through an MTT assay. The results indicate that live bacterial strains, such as KCTC 3357, VA 103, and VA 107, promoted CT-26 cell viability, while heat-killed cells and CFS exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity. Inactivated forms of KCTC 3357 and VE 101, as well as CFS at 10 mg/mL concentration of KCTC 5033, VA 103, and VE 101, showed the strongest antiproliferative effects. These findings suggest that non-viable probiotic derivatives, such as paraprobiotics and postbiotics, offer promising therapeutic potential for CRC, providing a safer and more stable alternative to live probiotics. However, further research is required to explore their mechanisms of action, in vivo efficacy, and potential clinical applications.

Maize (Zea mays. L) is one of the major sources of green fodder for livestock in Pakistan. Crop management plays a key role in obtaining high yields for green fodder. Fertilizer application, seed rate, and row spacing are critical components of crop management, which can significantly affect crop biomass. To determine the best production technology, a two-year (2021-2023) study was conducted at the research area of National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad. Plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, green fodder yield per acre, and green fodder yield per hectare were recorded. Various row spacing (15 cm, 30 cm, 45 cm, and 60 cm), fertilizer ratio (N: P = 55:30, 65:40, 75:50, and 85:60), and seed rates (30 kg/ac, 35 kg/ac, 40 kg/ac, and 45 kg/ac) were applied. Results obtained experiments revealed that in both growing seasons, the maximum green fodder yield was obtained when fertilizer N: P ratio was 75:50 (green fodder biomass: 74.61 t/ha and 72.56 t/ha). Similarly, the optimal seed rate was found to be 40 kg/ac, which resulted in the highest green fodder yield (73.41 t/ha and 72.88 t/ha in two seasons). Furthermore, the plant of maize at row spacing of 30 cm was found to generate the maximum green fodder yield (72.39 t/ha and 72.40 t/ha, respectively). Green fodder yield per hectare was found to be positively correlated with plant height, number of leaves, and leaf area. These findings underscore the significance of applying a fertilizer ratio of N: P = 75:50, a seed rate 40 kg/ac, and a row spacing of 45 cm for higher yields of green fodder in maize crop.

Production technology trials for PARC’s new fodder oat cultivar (PARC-Oat) were conducted at the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) under rain-fed conditions in Islamabad from 2021 to 2023. The effects of different fertilizer doses, planting densities (seed rates), and inter-row spacing on green fodder yield were studied. The experiment comprised four fertilizer doses of nitrogen and phosphorus (N:P) (55:30, 65:40, 75:50, and 85:60 kg/ha), four seed rate densities (30 kg/ac, 35 kg/ac, 40 kg/ac, and 45 kg/ac), and four inter-row spacings (15 cm, 30 cm, 45 cm, and 60 cm). Results based o n k ey p arameters a ffecting t he y ield of PARC-O at—namely plant height (cm), leaf area (cm²), leaves per tiller, number of tillers per plant, and green fodder yield (t/ha)—indicated that the maximum yield of 72.74 t/ha was observed with the fertilizer dose of 75:50 kg/ha (N:P). Similarly, a seed rate of 40 kg/ha produced optimal planting densities, resulting in the highest green fodder yield of 72.85 t/ha, while an inter-row spacing of 30 cm yielded the maximum green fodder yield of 74.30 t/ha. These results suggest that to achieve maximum green fodder biomass of oats, best management practices should include the application of a fertilizer dose of 75:50 (N:P), a seed rate of 40 kg/ha, and an inter-row spacing of 30 cm.

Probiotics have been evaluated as therapeutic agents for cancer treatment in an increasing number of studies. This study investigated the inhibitory and cytotoxic effects of specific Lactobacillus strains on a human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29). The strains assessed were Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri VA 102, Ligilactobacillus (L.) animalis VA 105, and Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272). The viability of HT-29 cells was evaluated using the MTT assay. The findings revealed that cell-free supernatants (CFS) exhibited significant anticancer effects. Heat-inactivated L. reuteri VA 105 and L. reuteri KCTC 3594 induced a pronounced reduction in cell viability. Furthermore, live cultures of L. reuteri VA 105 and L. reuteri VA 102 also showed reduced cell viability compared to the control group. These results suggest that CFS and heat-inactivated cells may be more suitable for therapeutic applications than live bacteria owing to their improved safety profiles and reduced potential for adverse effects. Our findings also emphasize the potential anticancer benefits of these LAB strains.

Probiotic lactic acid bacteria are live microorganisms that provide health benefits when administered in adequate amounts and may exhibit antiproliferative effects on various cancer cell lines, including colon cancer. This study investigates the cytotoxic effects of three Lactobacillus strains - Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri VA 102, Ligilactobacillus (L.) animalis VA 105, and Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272) - on mouse colon carcinoma cells (CT-26). Live cells, heat-killed cells, and cell-free supernatant (CFS) of Lactobacillus sp. were prepared and used to treat CT-26 cells at different concentrations. The cytotoxic effect was assessed using the MTT assay. The results indicated that the CFS of all strains significantly reduced the viability of CT-26 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with the VA 102 strain showing the most pronounced effect. Heat-killed cells of L. reuteri VA 102 and L. reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272) also reduced cell viability. These findings suggest the potential anticancer properties of these Lactobacillus strains and indicate that CFS and heat-killed cells may offer a safer and more effective alternative to live bacteria for therapeutic applications. Our study contributes to the understanding of the potential of Lactobacillus strains, particularly L. reuteri VA 102, L. reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272), and L. animalis VA 105, as possible candidates for cancer treatment and control.

To fabricate intermetallic nanoparticles with high oxygen reduction reaction activity, a high-temperature heat treatment of 700 to 1,000 °C is required. This heat treatment provides energy sufficient to induce an atomic rearrangement inside the alloy nanoparticles, increasing the mobility of particles, making them structurally unstable and causing a sintering phenomenon where they agglomerate together naturally. These problems cannot be avoided using a typical heat treatment process that only controls the gas atmosphere and temperature. In this study, as a strategy to overcome the limitations of the existing heat treatment process for the fabrication of intermetallic nanoparticles, we propose an interesting approach, to design a catalyst material structure for heat treatment rather than the process itself. In particular, we introduce a technology that first creates an intermetallic compound structure through a primary high-temperature heat treatment using random alloy particles coated with a carbon shell, and then establishes catalytic active sites by etching the carbon shell using a secondary heat treatment process. By using a carbon shell as a template, nanoparticles with an intermetallic structure can be kept very small while effectively controlling the catalytically active area, thereby creating an optimal alloy catalyst structure for fuel cells.

Activated carbon (AC) is a versatile and extensively employed adsorbent in environmental remediation. It possesses distinct properties that can be enhanced to selectively target specific pollutants through modifications, including chemical impregnation or incorporation into composite materials. In this study, porous calcium alginate beads (PCAB) were synthesized by incorporating AC and natural alginate through ion gelation in a Ca(II) ion-containing solution, with the addition of sodium lauryl sulfate as a surfactant. The prepared PCAB was tested for Cu(II) removal. PCAB exhibited a spherical shape with higher porosity and surface area (160.19 m2. g−1) compared to calcium alginate beads (CAB) (0.04 m2. g−1). The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-first-order model for PCAB and the pseudo-second-order model for CAB. The Langmuir isotherm model provided the best fit for adsorption on PCAB, while the Freundlich model was suitable for CAB. Notably, PCAB demonstrated a maximum adsorption capacity of 75.54 mg.g−1, significantly higher than CAB's capacity of 9.16 mg. g−1. Desorption studies demonstrated that 0.1 M CaCl2 exhibited the highest efficiency (90%) in desorbing Cu(II) ions from PCAB, followed by 0.1 M HCl and 0.1 M NaCl. PCAB showed efficient reusability for up to four consecutive adsorption– desorption cycles. The fixed-bed column experiment confirmed the match with the Thomas model to the breakthrough curves with qTH of 120.12 mg.g−1 and 68.03 mg.g−1 at a flow rate of 1 mL.min−1 and 2 mL.min−1, respectively. This study indicated that PCAB could be an effective adsorbent for Cu(II) removal, offering insights for further application and design considerations.

Composites of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are important materials to utilize the optical properties of CQDs in diverse applications including photoluminescence-based sensing and LED phosphors. Combining pre-prepared CQDs with a polymeric matrix usually causes changes in the optical properties of CQDs due to unavoidable aggregation. Recently, the preparation of composites based on in-situ formed CQDs has been debated to overcome the aggregation limits of the conventional mixing methods. Herein, we have demonstrated the synthesis of homogeneous CQDs composites by simple thermal annealing blends of aluminum hydroxide (AlOH), citric acid (CA), and urea (URA). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy studies revealed the formation of individual CQDs with a diameter of about 2–9 nm dispersed homogeneously over the AlOH matrix. The composites have a broad excitation band centered at about 360 nm and exhibit excitation-dependent photoluminescence which was similar to that of hydrothermally synthesized CQDs from CA and URA. The photoluminescent intensity of the composite was stable to UV irradiation and responded selectively to Cu(II) ion demonstrating its potential application in Cu(II) sensing.

Carbon dots (CDs) are a novel type of fluorescent nanoparticles with a particle size smaller than 10 nm. They possess several advantageous properties, including excellent biocompatibility, light stability, water solubility, and low toxicity. CDs have been widely researched in recent years. As a treasure of ancient Chinese science, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is rich in various active ingredients and has a variety of pharmacodynamic effects, which have been used for thousands of years. TCM-CDs prepared with TCM as carbon source can create some special functions and then may play a greater medicinal value. The purpose of this review was to engage in an in-depth conversation about the use of TCM-CDs in medical therapy and bioimaging. Firstly, this study provides a comprehensive exploration of different synthesis methods for TCM-CDs, comparing their respective advantages and disadvantages. Subsequently, the intrinsic pharmacological activity of TCMCDs, encompassing antibacterial, hypoglycemic, hemostatic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects, is mainly discussed, alongside their underlying mechanisms of action. Additionally, investigations into in vitro imaging of diverse cell types and the distribution and uptake of TCM-CDs under in vivo imaging guidance are presented. Finally, the significance of TCM-CD research, key challenges and issues within this field, and future directions for development are summarized and outlined.

Cellulose has experienced a renaissance as a precursor for carbon fibers (CFs). However, cellulose possesses intrinsic challenges as precursor substrate such as typically low carbon yield. This study examines the interplay of strategies to increase the carbonization yield of (ligno-) cellulosic fibers manufactured via a coagulation process. Using Design of Experiments, this article assesses the individual and combined effects of diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP), lignin, and CO2 activation on the carbonization yield and properties of cellulose-based carbon fibers. Synergistic effects are identified using the response surface methodology. This paper evidences that DAP and lignin could affect cellulose pyrolysis positively in terms of carbonization yield. Nevertheless, DAP and lignin do not have an additive effect on increasing the yield. In fact, combined DAP and lignin can affect negatively the carbonization yield within a certain composition range. Further, the thermogravimetric CO2 adsorption of the respective CFs was measured, showing relatively high values (ca. 2 mmol/g) at unsaturated pressure conditions. The CFs were microporous materials with potential applications in gas separation membranes and CO2 storage systems.

In this research, reduced graphene oxide/polypyrrole (rGO/PPy) particles were synthesized and used to measure the amount of dopamine (DA) electrochemically. The obtained rGO/PPy particle was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR), UV–Visible Spectrophotometer (UV–Vis), and X-Ray Diffraction Diffractometry (XRD). To investigate the DA sensor performance, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were used to acquire electrochemical measurements of the sensor. Current values of 1.65 and 5.9 mA were observed in the CV at 0.2 mM and 1.2 mM concentrations of target molecule, respectively. Under optimized conditions, the linear calibration plots were found to exhibit significant sensitivity in the linear range of 0.2 and 1.2 mM, with a corresponding detection limit of 0.061 μM for DA. The results obtained were similar to the sensor results of DA made using precious metals. This work was a demonstration of the feasibility of high-sensitivity electrochemical analysis with conductive carbon materials without the use of precious metals. It was also observed that the cost-effective rGO/PPy exhibited a very high potential for DA detection.