Insecticides are extensively utilized in modern agriculture to control pests and enhance crop yields; however, their pervasive application has emerged as a primary driver of global soil contamination. Following a systematic literature search strategy across major academic databases, this review critically examines the environmental fate, sources, transport mechanisms, and persistence of these agrochemicals within the dynamic soil matrix. Current estimates reveal a staggering inefficiency, with less than 0.1
This study was conducted to determine the effects of seven different rootstocks (Seedling, Quince A, Quince BA 29, Fox 11, Farold 40, OHxF 87, and OHxF 333) on the postharvest quality characteristics of ‘Williams’ pear fruits during cold storage at 0 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 5
The development of multifunctional nanocomposite fibers that combine dielectric performance, thermal stability, and antimicrobial activity is of increasing importance for advanced flexible electronics and antimicrobial surface technologies. In this study, PVA-CMC-SA/5
In this study, multifunctional PVA–SA-based nanofibers incorporating cerium hexaboride (CeB₆) nanoparticles and MXene (Ti₃CNTₓ) were successfully fabricated via electrospinning to develop advanced dielectric and thermally stable materials. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the homogeneous integration of both fillers within the polymer matrix while preserving fiber integrity. The synergistic interaction between CeB₆ and MXene played a critical role in enhancing interfacial polarization, charge transport, and thermal resistance. MXene incorporation increased the maximum degradation temperature from 311 °C to 327 °C, while significantly improving dielectric performance, with ε′ values reaching 15–16 at higher loadings. In addition, capacitance values nearly doubled, indicating enhanced energy storage capability. Mechanistically, MXene sheets facilitated the formation of conductive pathways and strong interfacial dipolar interactions, whereas CeB₆ served as a stabilizing phase and a charge-trapping center. This hybrid interaction resulted in reduced impedance and improved frequency-dependent electrical behavior. Overall, the developed CeB6–MXene/PVA–SA nanofibers exhibit tunable surface characteristics and enhanced multifunctional performance, making them promising candidates for flexible electronics, dielectric layers, sensor platforms, and energy-related applications.
Microglial activation is a central mediator of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative processes. Growing evidence indicates that dysregulated lipid metabolism and ferroptosis drive microglial dysfunction, yet pharmacological interventions targeting these interconnected pathways remain scarce. Fenofibrate is well-documented for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects; nevertheless, its influence on microglial lipid metabolism and ferroptotic signaling remains unexplored. The present study was designed to examine the effects of fenofibrate on lipid remodeling, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis in human HMC3 microglia activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). HMC3 cells were pre-treated with fenofibrate followed by inflammatory activation. Cell viability, cytokine secretion, oxidative stress, lipid droplet (LD) accumulation, and ferroptosis-associated markers were analyzed by ELISA, fluorescence imaging, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting. Fenofibrate decreased the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, restored mitochondrial membrane potential, and suppressed ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) generation while increasing intracellular glutathione (GSH). The treatment markedly decreased LD accumulation by downregulating the lipid metabolism–related enzymes PLIN2, DGAT1, and GPAT4. Functional assays demonstrated enhanced fatty acid oxidation and restored lipolysis, directly confirming reprogrammed lipid catabolism. Moreover, fenofibrate attenuated ferroptotic stress, evidenced by reduced intracellular Fe²⁺ levels, decreased ACSL4 expression, and significant increase of the ferroptosis-protective enzyme GPX4. These molecular changes were accompanied by improved cell survival and decreased oxidative damage, suggesting that fenofibrate may partially modulate metabolic and and redox balance in activated microglia under in vitro conditions. In conclusion, these findings suggest that fenofibrate may exert protective effects by modulating lipid metabolism and suppressing ferroptosis-related pathways in activated microglia.
