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26 pages, 848 KB

Open AccessReview

Hitting the Wall in Marathon Running: An Integrative Psychophysiological and Durability-Based Review

by Gerasimos V. Grivas, Walaa Jumah Alkasasbeh and Adam Tawfiq Amawi

J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2026, 11(3), 291; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11030291 (registering DOI) - 26 Jul 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Hitting the wall (HTW) is a common and performance-limiting phenomenon in marathon running, traditionally attributed to glycogen depletion and reduced carbohydrate availability. However, the persistence of late-race performance collapse despite advances in fueling strategies suggests that HTW may not be explained [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Hitting the wall (HTW) is a common and performance-limiting phenomenon in marathon running, traditionally attributed to glycogen depletion and reduced carbohydrate availability. However, the persistence of late-race performance collapse despite advances in fueling strategies suggests that HTW may not be explained by a single metabolic mechanism. Instead, HTW may represent a psychophysiological performance-collapse phenomenon arising from the interaction between physiological strain, perceived exertion, pacing regulation, and the athlete’s capacity to preserve function under prolonged stress. Methods: This narrative review aimed to synthesize the physiological and psychophysiological mechanisms contributing to HTW and to propose an integrative durability-based framework for understanding late-race performance deterioration during marathon running. Results: Current evidence indicates that HTW may emerge from the cumulative interaction of metabolic stress, thermoregulatory strain, dehydration, gastrointestinal dysfunction, neuromuscular fatigue, biomechanical deterioration, perceptual responses, and pacing errors. These stressors may progressively increase perceived effort, impair pace regulation, and reduce the athlete’s capacity to preserve physiological function and sustain the intended race pace. Within this framework, durability represents the ability to resist deterioration in physiological characteristics and performance capacity during prolonged exercise and may help explain why runners with similar fitness levels experience different late-race outcomes. Conclusions: HTW should therefore not be viewed simply as running out of fuel. Rather, it may represent the manifestation of reduced durability and psychophysiological dysregulation arising from multiple interacting stressors during marathon running. Strategies aimed at improving durability through marathon-specific training, optimized fueling, gastrointestinal tolerance, thermoregulatory preparation, neuromuscular resilience, pacing regulation, perceptual awareness, and individualized monitoring may reduce susceptibility to HTW. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychophysiological Mechanisms of Exercise Performance and Adaptation)

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17 pages, 441 KB

Open AccessReview

Ultrasound-Guided Axillary Management in Early-Stage Breast Cancer: From Diagnosis to De-Escalation

by Xiangmin Shen, Zi Yi and Kui Tang

Cancers 2026, 18(15), 2405; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18152405 (registering DOI) - 26 Jul 2026

Abstract

Axillary lymph node management in early-stage breast cancer has undergone a fundamental transformation over the past three decades, shifting from routine radical clearance to precision-guided de-escalation. Ultrasound (US) has emerged as the central imaging modality in this paradigm shift, serving as the first-line [...] Read more.

Axillary lymph node management in early-stage breast cancer has undergone a fundamental transformation over the past three decades, shifting from routine radical clearance to precision-guided de-escalation. Ultrasound (US) has emerged as the central imaging modality in this paradigm shift, serving as the first-line tool for preoperative nodal assessment, guidance for biopsy and clip placement, monitoring of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), and localization of marked nodes for targeted axillary dissection (TAD). This review systematically examines the evolution of axillary management in early-stage breast cancer through a US-centric lens. We summarize the historical transition from Halstedian axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), critically appraise the landmark trials—Z0011, AMAROS, OTOASOR, and SOUND—that have progressively de-escalated axillary surgery, and detail the role of US in preoperative staging (including conventional B-mode, superb microvascular imaging, contrast-enhanced US, elastography, and AI-assisted diagnostics), US-guided biopsy and node marking, and post-NAC TAD. We further explore the integration of US with liquid biopsy, multigene profiling, and molecular subtype-guided systemic therapy to enable individualized decision-making. Finally, we propose a stepwise US-centric clinical algorithm and discuss future directions, including AI-powered real-time interpretation, imaging-omics, and US-guided targeted therapy. This review provides a comprehensive framework for incorporating ultrasound as a key component of multidisciplinary decision-making—alongside pathological, surgical, radiotherapeutic, and molecular inputs—in contemporary axillary management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Cancer Therapy)

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16 pages, 2661 KB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Wood Ash on the Mechanical Properties and Durability of Cement Mortars

by Oskars Lescinskis, Genadijs Sahmenko, Girts Bumanis and Diana Bajare

Materials 2026, 19(15), 3186; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19153186 (registering DOI) - 26 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of wood fly ash (WFA) and wood bottom ash (WBA) as a partial replacement of Portland cement (PC) on the mechanical performance and durability of cement mortars. Mortar mixtures containing 20% WFA (FA-20) and 20% WBA (BA-20) were [...] Read more.

This study investigates the influence of wood fly ash (WFA) and wood bottom ash (WBA) as a partial replacement of Portland cement (PC) on the mechanical performance and durability of cement mortars. Mortar mixtures containing 20% WFA (FA-20) and 20% WBA (BA-20) were compared with a reference mixture (REF) using bending and compressive strength tests, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), total water absorption (TWA), and durability tests such as alkali–silica reaction (ASR) and carbonation resistance. The results showed that BA-20 exhibited higher mechanical performance and a denser microstructure than FA-20, as confirmed by UPV and TWA. At 365 days, compressive strength reached 71.9 MPa for REF, 64.3 MPa for BA-20, and 43.7 MPa for FA-20. Durability results indicated that after 365 days, REF exhibited the highest ASR expansion (~0.50%), whereas the incorporation of wood ash reduced expansion to approximately 0.41% for FA-20 and 0.29% for BA-20. In terms of carbonation resistance, FA-20 showed the greatest accelerated carbonation depth (10–14 mm), while REF exhibited the lowest carbonation depth (~3 mm). The differences were attributed to PC dilution and microstructural variations affecting porosity and transport properties. WBA demonstrated better performance than WFA, highlighting the importance of wood ash particle characteristics in PC replacement applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Lightweight Metallic and Non-Metallic Materials: From Properties to Applications)

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10 pages, 547 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effective Use of Curriculum Design Methodology and Simulation to Improve Applicant Review in a Doctor of Medicine Admissions Program

by Simranjeet S. Sran, Carson Flamm, Kevin Nies, Latricia Lombardi, Pavan Zaveri and Ioannis Koutroulis

Int. Med. Educ. 2026, 5(3), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/ime5030068 (registering DOI) - 26 Jul 2026

Abstract

Recruitment and admission of highly qualified applicants to Doctor of Medicine (MD) programs are vital components of many academic institutions. We aimed to develop a structured curriculum to facilitate consistent and mission-aligned review of applicants within our MD admissions program. Across the 2023–2024 [...] Read more.

Recruitment and admission of highly qualified applicants to Doctor of Medicine (MD) programs are vital components of many academic institutions. We aimed to develop a structured curriculum to facilitate consistent and mission-aligned review of applicants within our MD admissions program. Across the 2023–2024 admissions cycle, we utilized Kern’s Six-Step Approach to Curriculum Development to design and implement a simulation-based curriculum to enable mission-aligned applicant evaluation, beginning with the interview process. The training targeted faculty interviewers and admissions committee members responsible for reviewing a diverse applicant pool that includes many non-traditional candidates. Our training was completed by 32 interprofessional medical school faculty, of whom 28 submitted both pre- and post-training rubrics, and 24 completed a retrospective post-then-pre survey. On a 4-point Likert scale, comfort applying competency-based interviewing (CBI) within the mission-aligned review framework increased from 3.0 to 3.8 (p < 0.0001, 95% CI 0.44–0.97), and ease of use for the new rubric was rated 3.4 compared to 3.0 for the prior rubric (p = 0.0215). Concordance with ideal scoring improved from 68% to 73% (p = 0.0287), corresponding to a mean increase from 6.11 to 6.54 of 9 competencies correctly assessed. Identification of weak competencies increased from 14% to 27% (p = 0.0287). Faculty rated the overall quality of the training as 3.7/4 (SD 0.5). These findings, based on a small sample from a single institution, suggest that simulation-based faculty development may improve interviewer comfort, rubric usability, and the process measure of scoring consistency in a simulated MD admissions setting. Full article

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25 pages, 21065 KB

Open AccessArticle

Satellite-Based Evidence of Shorter-Term Lagged Drought Driving High-Intensity Wildfires in Subtropical China

by Jialin Yue, Feng Liu, Gui Zhang, Zhigao Yang and Menyuan Zeng

Forests 2026, 17(8), 868; https://doi.org/10.3390/f17080868 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Climatic drought shapes wildfire regimes, yet the multi-timescale lagged responses of high-intensity wildfires to drought and their spatial heterogeneity remain unclear in subtropical monsoon forests. We integrated long-term MODIS satellite observations and monthly drought metrics (SPEI, VPD, VAP, and precipitation) across subtropical China [...] Read more.

Climatic drought shapes wildfire regimes, yet the multi-timescale lagged responses of high-intensity wildfires to drought and their spatial heterogeneity remain unclear in subtropical monsoon forests. We integrated long-term MODIS satellite observations and monthly drought metrics (SPEI, VPD, VAP, and precipitation) across subtropical China during 2005–2024. We used Spearman rank correlation to identify multi-scale drought–wildfire relationships and constructed zero-inflated negative binomial generalized linear mixed models (ZINB-GLMM) to quantify multi-temporal drought, vegetation, and anthropogenic effects. Our results showed that 64.7% of 0.5° grid cells experienced high-intensity wildfires, with 77.8% of events occurring in the cold dry season (November–March). Concurrent dry conditions (low SPEI, VAP, precipitation) generally increased fire susceptibility, while atmospheric aridity (high VPD) showed spatially dipolar effects. The 1–3-month lagged model had the highest explanatory power (R² = 0.54), identifying antecedent moisture deficit as the dominant driver. Dense vegetation amplified drought–fire synergies, especially in southeastern and southwestern China. Model predictive performance was strong overall, but lower accuracy in northern areas suggests additional local factors modulate wildfire risk there. This study provides a satellite-based spatiotemporal modeling framework that may serve as a methodological reference for ecological informatics-based wildfire early warning and climate-adaptive management in subtropical and analogous monsoon regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Natural Hazards and Risk Management)

16 pages, 9568 KB

Open AccessArticle

Equivalent Circuit Extraction of SAW Resonator with Spurious Modes Interference over a −55 °C to 85 °C Temperature Range

by Xianli Tang, Yonghao Jia and Yuandong Gu

Micromachines 2026, 17(8), 893; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17080893 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators are widely employed to design radio-frequency (RF) filters in wireless communication. To adapt to various application scenarios, the article proposes an equivalent circuit model based on the Butterworth–Van Dyke (BVD) model for SAW devices operating with spurious modes [...] Read more.

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators are widely employed to design radio-frequency (RF) filters in wireless communication. To adapt to various application scenarios, the article proposes an equivalent circuit model based on the Butterworth–Van Dyke (BVD) model for SAW devices operating with spurious modes and at extreme ambient temperatures. In cases where the resonance frequencies of the spurious modes are close to those of the main mode, isolation capacitances (IC) are proposed in the modeling process. With the IC, the different resonance frequencies produced by the proposed equivalent circuit model can be flexibly adjusted. The extreme temperature influence on the SAW resonators is investigated using the proposed model. In the temperature-dependent test environment, the performance of the SAW devices changes, and these changes are captured by the proposed model. Especially for the resonators’ spurious-mode frequencies, which are less influenced by temperature near room temperature unless extreme temperatures are applied. The parameters motional resistance R_m and motional inductance L_m are considered temperature-dependent and are used to describe the influence of the ambient temperature. The RF characteristics of the SAW devices are modeled with the proposed model and verified with measurement data. The consistent results between the measured data and simulated data indicate that the proposed model is accurate and the modeling work is effective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue MEMS/NEMS Devices and Applications, 4th Edition)

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34 pages, 3498 KB

Open AccessArticle

Path Tracking of Differential-Drive Tracked Agricultural Vehicles Using CPO-STSMC with Multi-Criteria Parameter Optimization

by Kaiwei Zeng, Faan Wang, Fujie Zhang, Jiaxing Wang, Zhuoxiang Li and Aoqi Nie

Agriculture 2026, 16(15), 1589; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16151589 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Differentially driven unmanned tracked agricultural vehicles operating on unpaved field roads are vulnerable to track micro-slip, lateral disturbances, and actuation lag, while manually tuned super-twisting sliding mode control often cannot simultaneously ensure tracking accuracy and steering smoothness. This study proposes a Crested Porcupine [...] Read more.

Differentially driven unmanned tracked agricultural vehicles operating on unpaved field roads are vulnerable to track micro-slip, lateral disturbances, and actuation lag, while manually tuned super-twisting sliding mode control often cannot simultaneously ensure tracking accuracy and steering smoothness. This study proposes a Crested Porcupine Optimizer-based super-twisting sliding mode controller (CPO-STSMC) for robust path tracking. Track slip and unmodeled dynamics are represented as bounded lumped disturbances in a coupled lateral–heading error model. A yaw-rate compensation law is developed with reference yaw-rate feedforward, a saturation boundary layer, and constraints on yaw-rate magnitude and rate. CPO is used offline to optimize key parameters through a fitness function that combines lateral and heading errors, peak errors, yaw-rate increments, and constraint penalties. Simulations and field experiments on unpaved farm roads are conducted using S-shaped and double-lane-change paths at 0.5, 0.8, and 1.0 m/s, with PP, SMC, and manually tuned STSMC as benchmarks. Compared with STSMC, CPO-STSMC reduces the root mean square lateral error by 23.9–30.0%, heading error by 23.9–28.0%, and yaw-rate increment by 11.8–22.3% in field experiments, while generally outperforming PP and SMC. The proposed method provides a practical balance among tracking accuracy, robustness, and steering smoothness for low-speed autonomous tracked agricultural vehicles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)

32 pages, 22661 KB

Open AccessArticle

AS1411-Induced Lipidomic Alterations and Therapeutic Insights in U-87 Glioblastoma Cells

by Ozan Kılıçkaya and Serap Şahin

Biomolecules 2026, 16(8), 1091; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16081091 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a devastating brain tumor heavily reliant on metabolic reprogramming for survival. The DNA aptamer AS1411 specifically targets cell-surface nucleolin (NCL), a protein overexpressed in GBM; however, its precise metabolic consequences remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the direct impact of [...] Read more.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a devastating brain tumor heavily reliant on metabolic reprogramming for survival. The DNA aptamer AS1411 specifically targets cell-surface nucleolin (NCL), a protein overexpressed in GBM; however, its precise metabolic consequences remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the direct impact of AS1411-mediated NCL inhibition on the lipidomic profile of U-87 glioblastoma cells. It was demonstrated that AS1411 treatment induced acute cytotoxicity within 24 h. Subsequently, high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) lipidomics was utilized to identify the lipidomic rewiring triggered by AS1411. Significant changes, such as the upregulation and/or exclusive emergence of specific long-chain and highly polyunsaturated diacylglycerol (DAG), triacylglycerol (TAG), and glycerophospholipid (GP) species, were determined in the species-level analyses. Additionally, our findings revealed that AS1411 treatment induced substantial alterations that profoundly affected membrane biophysics by modifying lipid saturation and acyl chain lengths. An increase in fully saturated sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesteryl ester (CE) levels was observed, leading to the formation of saturated lipid microdomains (lipid rafts) in endosomal and ER membranes, which causes membrane rigidification and decreased fluidity. Our results also demonstrate that PEs containing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)—the primary substrates for ferroptosis—were upregulated. While AS1411 subjects cancer cells to methuotic vacuolization stress, it simultaneously reduces internal structural membrane fluidity and renders the cells metabolically vulnerable to ferroptosis. In conclusion, these detailed lipidomic results indicate that AS1411 treatment proceeds strictly through targeted remodeling and an adaptive scaffolding response. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biomacromolecules: Proteins, Nucleic Acids and Carbohydrates)

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24 pages, 4680 KB

Open AccessArticle

A CASA-Based, MODIS-Constrained Framework for Consistent Annual NPP Simulation in Alpine Complex Environments: A Case Study of the Gannan Plateau

by Dingyun Zhang, Yunfei Li and Xiaohua Gou

Remote Sens. 2026, 18(15), 2456; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18152456 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Net primary productivity (NPP) is a core diagnostic variable of terrestrial carbon cycling, yet consistent annual NPP simulation remains challenging in alpine heterogeneous regions where topography, hydrothermal gradients, vegetation structure, and nutrient constraints interact. Remote-sensing products such as MODIS provide valuable observational constraints, [...] Read more.

Net primary productivity (NPP) is a core diagnostic variable of terrestrial carbon cycling, yet consistent annual NPP simulation remains challenging in alpine heterogeneous regions where topography, hydrothermal gradients, vegetation structure, and nutrient constraints interact. Remote-sensing products such as MODIS provide valuable observational constraints, whereas light-use-efficiency models such as CASA retain process transparency and scenario transfer capability. This study develops a CASA-based, MODIS-constrained framework for annual NPP simulation over the Gannan Plateau. The framework preserves a locally parameterized CASA baseline and adds a geographically weighted regression (GWR) residual-alignment layer trained on CASA–MODIS residuals during 2005–2013. The fitted correction relationship was then applied to the 2014–2020 temporal transfer period and evaluated in a 2030s SSP scenario transfer experiment. MODIS was treated as the correction target rather than ground truth, and GLASS was adopted as an independent product-level benchmark. During 2014–2020, the GWR-corrected product showed improved pooled pixel-level agreement with the MODIS-constrained target relative to parameter-localized CASA, with R² increasing from 0.438 to 0.708 and RMSE decreasing from 91.4 to 68.7 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹. Residual Moran’s I also decreased, indicating weaker residual spatial organization after correction. Product-level comparison with GLASS showed a moderate, directionally consistent improvement relative to uncorrected CASA, although this comparison was not interpreted as ground-truth validation. The 2030s scenario transfer experiment indicated that the correction layer changed the spatial expression of NPP divergence among SSP pathways. Overall, the proposed framework provides a process-model-preserving and observation-constrained approach for improving agreement between annual NPP estimates and the MODIS-constrained target in alpine heterogeneous regions, while its applicability remains subject to product uncertainty, spatial dependence, and future nonstationarity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing for Surface Biophysical Parameter Retrieval (2nd Edition): Cross-Scale Vegetation Biochemical and Structural Retrieval for Carbon and Ecosystem Monitoring)

22 pages, 12744 KB

Open AccessArticle

In Situ-Grown MIL-100(Fe) for Interfacial Regulation of KTBC and Its Adsorption Performance and Mechanism for Xylenol Orange Removal

by Shirui Zheng, Jinting Jiang, Zhihao Fang, Fangfang Liu and Yongwei Li

Molecules 2026, 31(15), 2604; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31152604 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

In this study, a MIL-100(Fe)@KTBC composite was successfully fabricated via an in situ hydrothermal method using KOH-activated tomato-biochar-derived carbon (KTBC) as the support, and was applied for the efficient adsorptive removal of xylenol orange (XO) from water. Characterization by SEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS, [...] Read more.

In this study, a MIL-100(Fe)@KTBC composite was successfully fabricated via an in situ hydrothermal method using KOH-activated tomato-biochar-derived carbon (KTBC) as the support, and was applied for the efficient adsorptive removal of xylenol orange (XO) from water. Characterization by SEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS, and BET confirmed that MIL-100(Fe) was successfully loaded onto the KTBC surface, and the resulting composite exhibited a well-developed porous structure, abundant functional groups, and good thermal stability. Adsorption experiments showed that MIL-100(Fe)_0.5@KTBC delivered the optimal performance, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 246.12 mg/g; high removal efficiency was achieved at pH 4.0 and an adsorbent dosage of 0.4 g/L. The adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating spontaneous, endothermic, monolayer adsorption dominated by chemisorption. The composite also demonstrated strong resistance to interfering ions and favorable reusability. This work provides a scientific basis for the development of efficient and stable biochar-based MOF composites for the treatment of printing and dyeing wastewater Full article

18 pages, 7364 KB

Open AccessArticle

Nanoparticle Vaccine Based on S1 Domain of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Elicits Protective Immune Responses in Mice and Pigs

by Pan Tang, Benqiang Li, Enhui Cui, Jie Tao, Jinghua Cheng, Ying Shi, Li Qi, Lv Lilei and Huili Liu

Biomolecules 2026, 16(8), 1090; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16081090 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a major enteric coronavirus that causes severe economic losses to the global swine industry. Current vaccines suffer from weak immunogenicity, insufficient mucosal immunity, and a short duration of protection. Nanoparticle delivery systems have emerged as a promising [...] Read more.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a major enteric coronavirus that causes severe economic losses to the global swine industry. Current vaccines suffer from weak immunogenicity, insufficient mucosal immunity, and a short duration of protection. Nanoparticle delivery systems have emerged as a promising strategy for next-generation vaccine development. In the present study, we constructed an S1-Ferritin nanoparticle vaccine using the SpyTag-SpyCatcher modular conjugation system. The morphology, particle size, and uniformity of the nanoparticle vaccine were systematically characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). After two immunizations, the S-Ferritin nanoparticle vaccine elicited potent humoral and cellular immune responses in both mice and piglets. In piglets, at 2 weeks post booster vaccination, PEDV-specific serum IgG endpoint titers peaked at 1:2560, virus-neutralizing antibody titers reached 1:256 against the JS-2/2015 strain, and serum IFN-γ levels reached 274 pg/mL. All these immunological indicators were significantly higher than those observed in the PEDV-inactivated whole-virus vaccine group. Furthermore, challenge tests showed that the S1-Ferritin nanoparticle vaccine provided complete protection against PEDV infection and significantly reduced the severity of diarrhea and intestinal damage in piglets after challenge. These findings suggest that the S1-Ferritin nanoparticle vaccine constitutes a promising candidate against PEDV infection, though our study is only a preliminary step and subsequent field trials in pigs are still required. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Recent Advances in Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2nd Edition)

17 pages, 1729 KB

Open AccessArticle

Serum Metabolomic Alterations and Developmental Toxicity Induced by Diquat Exposure in Pregnant Rats and Their Fetuses: A Preliminary Study

by Xuelian Li, Ying Cai, Mengcao Liu, Guang Wang and Lina Gao

Toxics 2026, 14(8), 656; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14080656 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

The reproductive and developmental toxicity of diquat (DQ), a widely used herbicide, during pregnancy remains insufficiently characterized. This study investigated the effects of repeated DQ exposure on fetal development and maternal metabolism in pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats. The rats were administered sublethal doses of [...] Read more.

The reproductive and developmental toxicity of diquat (DQ), a widely used herbicide, during pregnancy remains insufficiently characterized. This study investigated the effects of repeated DQ exposure on fetal development and maternal metabolism in pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats. The rats were administered sublethal doses of DQ (28.88 and 57.57 mg/kg), and maternal serum sex hormones, fetal skeletal development, and serum metabolomic profiles were evaluated. Compared with controls, serum estradiol levels were significantly decreased in the high-dose exposure group, whereas luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels remained unchanged. Significant alterations in malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione levels indicated oxidative stress in exposed rats. Severe fetal skeletal ossification deficits and developmental delays were observed, with incomplete or failed ossification of the occipital bone, sternum, caudal vertebrae, and pelvis, with litter-level incidences reaching 100%. Metabolomic analysis identified distinct serum metabolic profiles between DQ-exposed and control groups, suggesting ovarian steroidogenesis, phenylalanine metabolism, and aldosterone synthesis and secretion as key pathways affected by DQ toxicity. These findings suggest that repeated maternal exposure to DQ induces oxidative stress, disrupts metabolic and hormonal homeostasis, and causes delayed fetal skeletal development. This study provides novel evidence for understanding the reproductive and developmental toxicity of DQ and its potential metabolic mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity)

18 pages, 4694 KB

Open AccessArticle

Tailoring Photocatalytic Performance of BaTi₅O₁₁ Nanocrystals via Optimizing Sol–Gel Parameters for Efficient Levofloxacin Degradation

by Honghua Wang, Zherui Xing, Xingran Wang, Zhixiong Huang and Dongyun Guo

Gels 2026, 12(8), 670; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12080670 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

The effect of drying, thermal decomposition, and sintering conditions during the sol–gel synthesis of BaTi₅O₁₁ nanocrystals was investigated to optimize levofloxacin (LEV) photodegradation. Sintering emerges as the dominant factor, and BaTi₅O₁₁ nanocrystals synthesized at 700 °C for [...] Read more.

The effect of drying, thermal decomposition, and sintering conditions during the sol–gel synthesis of BaTi₅O₁₁ nanocrystals was investigated to optimize levofloxacin (LEV) photodegradation. Sintering emerges as the dominant factor, and BaTi₅O₁₁ nanocrystals synthesized at 700 °C for 120 min exhibit the smallest grain size, highest specific surface area and abundant active sites, achieving 93.2% LEV degradation within 30 min under UV irradiation. In contrast, excessive sintering temperatures or time induce grain coarsening and size homogenization, which reduce surface area and active sites, thereby impairing photocatalytic performance. The optimized nanocrystals also efficiently degrade other antibiotic pollutants, including ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and tetracycline. Radical trapping experiments confirm that •OH is the primary reactive species. Photoluminescence and photoelectrochemical analyses reveal a competition between grain size variation and charge carrier dynamics; however, photocatalytic degradation underscores the dominant role of surface-active sites and specific surface area. Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) further corroborates efficient charge separation, showing a cross-line contact potential difference (ΔV_CPD) of approximately 90 mV, indicative of facile hole migration to the crystal surface. Collectively, these findings elucidate the processing–microstructure–property relationships in BaTi₅O₁₁ nanocrystals and provide a robust basis for the rational design of high-performance photocatalytic systems for antibiotic pollutant remediation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Gel Chemistry and Physics)

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17 pages, 1656 KB

Open AccessArticle

Finite-Stroke Magnetic Quasi-Zero-Stiffness Electromagnetic Harvester for Foot-Worn Sensors: Reproducible Numerical Design Under Public Foot-IMU Excitation

by Mohamed Hamdaoui

Micromachines 2026, 17(8), 892; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17080892 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Foot-worn electromagnetic harvesters are driven by irregular rigid-body motion, while their response is limited by mechanical stroke, coil geometry, mounting direction, and the electrical interface. This paper presents a reproducible numerical design study of a finite-stroke magnetic quasi-zero-stiffness (QZS) moving-magnet harvester. Two public [...] Read more.

Foot-worn electromagnetic harvesters are driven by irregular rigid-body motion, while their response is limited by mechanical stroke, coil geometry, mounting direction, and the electrical interface. This paper presents a reproducible numerical design study of a finite-stroke magnetic quasi-zero-stiffness (QZS) moving-magnet harvester. Two public three-axis foot-IMU records are processed with stated gyroscope-bias estimation, six-axis attitude estimation, gravity removal, residual-offset correction, filtering, and angular-acceleration calculation. Three explicit axes are used in the design screen, and the selected candidate is then evaluated over a 62-direction spherical grid. Rigid-body angular-acceleration and centripetal terms are included for specified sensor-to-harvester offsets. Two normalized magnetic force laws are compared. The electrical model uses position-dependent flux linkage, explicit series connection and polarity of coil sections, winding-derived resistance, and a position-dependent electromagnetic reaction force. A fixed-seed random screen evaluates 720 geometry-constrained candidates. The highest-ranked nominal candidate is a 150 mm external foot-worn module with a 40.6 g moving mass, a 30 mm hard half-stroke, 1649 turns in two series sections, and a 25.27 mm coil outer diameter. Across 72 design-screen cases formed from 12 five-second windows, three mounting axes, and two magnetic laws, this candidate remained hard-stroke- and design-stroke-safe. Its conditional ideal load-side power had a 10th percentile of 1.38 mW and a median of 2.03 mW. In the 62-direction check, all 1488 cases remained hard-stroke-safe; two opposite directions each produced one design-stroke exceedance, with a maximum displacement of 24.15 mm. Re-ranking all 30 Stage-2 candidates under coupling and magnetic-stiffness changes retained the long geometry family, although a 30% coupling reduction changed the highest-ranked candidate from 600 to 632. Soft-stop sensitivity, equation-level consistency, and multi-case Runge–Kutta convergence are also reported. The results support finite-stroke design screening, but they do not constitute prototype, finite-element, or delivered-power validation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section E：Engineering and Technology)

13 pages, 787 KB

Open AccessArticle

Phenolic Indices and Antioxidant Properties of a Thermally Processed Model Matrix Containing Dried Cynanchum thesioides (Freyn) K. Schum Powder

by Tao Lyu, Yuchen Cheng and Woonjung Kim

Molecules 2026, 31(15), 2603; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31152603 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Phenolic compounds are valued for their antioxidant activity, but their measured response after heating can vary with the surrounding matrix. In this study, dried Cynanchum thesioides (Freyn) K. Schum powder (CTP) was added to a cookie matrix at 0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% [...] Read more.

Phenolic compounds are valued for their antioxidant activity, but their measured response after heating can vary with the surrounding matrix. In this study, dried Cynanchum thesioides (Freyn) K. Schum powder (CTP) was added to a cookie matrix at 0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% (w/w) to examine phenolic indices, antioxidant activity, and physicochemical changes after baking. CTP affected moisture content, spread ratio, hardness, color, pH, and soluble solids in the baked matrix, whereas density was unchanged. Antioxidant activity increased with increasing CTP level. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities increased from 8.04% to 46.33% and from 17.02% to 36.43%, respectively, while ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) increased from 6.17 to 23.64 mM FeSO₄ equivalents/g. Total polyphenol content (TPC) increased from 0.66 to 1.46 mg gallic acid equivalents/g, and total flavonoid content (TFC) increased from 0.20 to 0.85 mg catechin equivalents/g. These results show that increasing CTP raised the extractable phenolic indices, radical scavenging activity, and reducing capacity measured in the baked samples. The findings establish a formulation-dependent antioxidant response in the final baked products and provide a basis for future compound-specific studies of phenolic retention during processing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Bioactive Compounds: Antioxidant Properties and Associated Biological Activities)

20 pages, 2066 KB

Open AccessArticle

Coupled Impacts of Climate Variability and Landscape Transformation on Terrestrial Water Storage in the Yiluo River Basin, China

by Yingying Liu, Xiwang Lian, Songliang Chen and Hongyan Li

Land 2026, 15(8), 1344; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15081344 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Terrestrial water storage in semi-arid basins is increasingly affected by the combined pressures of climate variability, land use change and intensive human activities. However, how landscape composition and configuration interact with climatic forcing to shape basin-scale terrestrial water storage anomalies (TWSA) remains insufficiently [...] Read more.

Terrestrial water storage in semi-arid basins is increasingly affected by the combined pressures of climate variability, land use change and intensive human activities. However, how landscape composition and configuration interact with climatic forcing to shape basin-scale terrestrial water storage anomalies (TWSA) remains insufficiently understood, particularly in rapidly urbanising tributary basins of the Yellow River. This study integrates GRACE/GRACE-FO-derived TWSA, meteorological observations and multi-period land use data to examine the coupled relationships among climate variability, landscape patterns and water storage in the human-dominated Yiluo River Basin. The results show that basin-averaged TWSA experienced a significant long-term decline during the GRACE/GRACE-FO period (−4.47 mm yr⁻¹), with a statistically detectable transition around 2012 and stronger depletion in the northern and eastern parts of the basin. Precipitation exhibited a cumulative and delayed relationship with TWSA, with the strongest raw association occurring under a six-month accumulation and one-month lag (Pearson’s r = 0.44, p < 0.001, n = 134). After removing the seasonal cycle, the relationship remained significant but weaker (r = 0.30, p = 0.001, n = 129), indicating that precipitation explains part, but not all, of the interannual variability in water storage. Landscape composition showed stronger associations with TWSA than landscape configuration. Construction land was negatively associated with water storage, whereas cultivated land and grassland showed positive associations, suggesting that impervious surface expansion and the loss of permeable land may weaken the basin’s water retention capacity. These findings indicate that water storage change in the Yiluo River Basin is shaped by both climatic forcing and human-induced land surface transformation. Basin management should therefore prioritise the control of urban impervious surface expansion, the protection of permeable agricultural and ecological land, and the integration of land use planning with adaptive water resource regulation. Full article

31 pages, 18694 KB

Open AccessArticle

Machine Learning-Based Short-Term Visibility Classification for Wireless Optical Communication Systems Using METAR and Microwave-Link Features at Bangkok Airports

by Sabai Phuchortham and Hakilo Sabit

Future Internet 2026, 18(8), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi18080392 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Rapid growth in connected devices, artificial intelligence applications, and the Internet of Things (IoT) is driving demand for ultra-high data rates, low latency, and energy-efficient communication infrastructure. Wireless optical communication (WOC), including free-space optical (FSO), is recognized as a disruptive technology for 6G [...] Read more.

Rapid growth in connected devices, artificial intelligence applications, and the Internet of Things (IoT) is driving demand for ultra-high data rates, low latency, and energy-efficient communication infrastructure. Wireless optical communication (WOC), including free-space optical (FSO), is recognized as a disruptive technology for 6G and future-generation networks. However, atmospheric visibility critically affects WOC/FSO link availability, capacity, and reliability. This study proposes a machine learning (ML)-based low-visibility classification model that integrates Meteorological Aerodrome Reports (METARs) with microwave-link received-signal (Rx) features. Visibility below 6000 m is predicted at the 1 h, 3 h, and 6 h horizons using 18 months of data from Suvarnabhumi Airport (VTBS) and Don Mueang Airport (VTBD) in Bangkok, Thailand. Four ML algorithms, namely logistic regression, random forest, extreme gradient boosting, and light gradient boosting machine (LGBM), are evaluated against persistence and Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) baselines. In a 100-round block-bootstrap evaluation, LGBM with METAR-Rx achieved the highest mean F1 scores at the 1 h and 3 h horizons, outperforming TAF by 28 and 20 percentage points at the 1 h horizon for VTBS and VTBD, respectively. SHAP and ablation analyses suggested that current visibility is the dominant predictor, while Rx features provide complementary information and improve F1 performance by approximately 1–4 percentage points. Seasonal analysis shows stronger cool-season performance, while rainy-season prediction remains challenging. Adding visibility-trend features further improves performance, with the best combined model achieving 1 h F1 scores of 0.7253 for VTBS and 0.6495 for VTBD. These findings indicate that integrating the METAR-Rx feature set can support short-term low-visibility classification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disruptive Technologies and Digital Transformation)

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15 pages, 1129 KB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Permeability MRI for Preoperative Differentiation of Warthin Tumors and Malignant Salivary Gland Lesions

by Nicola Morelli, Elena Gianola, Marina Biondi, Claudia Caborni, Giuseppe Marchesi, Daria Salsi, Irene Herman, Domenico Cuda and Davide Colombi

Diagnostics 2026, 16(15), 2337; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16152337 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Preoperative characterization of salivary gland tumors remains challenging because conventional MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging may show overlapping features, particularly between Warthin tumors and malignant lesions. This study evaluated the diagnostic value of quantitative permeability MRI based on dynamic contrast-enhanced pharmacokinetic analysis [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Preoperative characterization of salivary gland tumors remains challenging because conventional MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging may show overlapping features, particularly between Warthin tumors and malignant lesions. This study evaluated the diagnostic value of quantitative permeability MRI based on dynamic contrast-enhanced pharmacokinetic analysis for differentiating salivary gland tumors. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 51 patients with 59 histologically confirmed salivary gland lesions examined between January 2022 and November 2024. MRI included diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI). Quantitative pharmacokinetic analysis based on the Extended Tofts model provided Ktrans, Kep, Ve, and Vp. Interobserver reproducibility was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient, and diagnostic performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results: Of 59 lesions, 44 were benign, and 15 were malignant. Warthin tumors showed significantly higher Kep values than malignant lesions (median, 998 vs. 480 × 10⁻³/min; p = 0.002) and lower Ve values (median, 121 vs. 245 × 10⁻³; p = 0.004). ADC values partially overlapped between Warthin tumors and malignant lesions. Interobserver agreement was good, with ICC values ranging from 0.78 to 0.86. Kep showed the highest diagnostic performance in this cohort, with an AUC of 0.96. A Kep threshold of 723 × 10⁻³/min yielded 92.3% sensitivity and 93.3% specificity. Conclusions: Quantitative DCE-MRI, particularly Kep, may provide additional information for differentiating Warthin tumors from malignant salivary gland lesions within a multiparametric MRI assessment. The threshold identified in this cohort is exploratory and requires external validation before routine clinical use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Oral and Maxillofacial Tumors and Salivary Gland Diseases)

27 pages, 3979 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enzyme Co-Immobilization on Precipitated Silica for Sustainable Lactobionic Acid Production

by Wiktoria Piątek-Gołda, Monika Osińska-Jaroszuk, Marcin Grąz, Jolanta Polak, Weronika Sofińska-Chmiel, Krzysztof Skrzypiec, Anna Olszewska and Justyna Sulej

Molecules 2026, 31(15), 2602; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31152602 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Lactobionic acid (LBA) is a compound that, in the last decade, has become critically important due to its potential applications in the food, chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Enzymatic biosynthesis in the presence of a redox mediator is one method of producing LBA [...] Read more.

Lactobionic acid (LBA) is a compound that, in the last decade, has become critically important due to its potential applications in the food, chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Enzymatic biosynthesis in the presence of a redox mediator is one method of producing LBA biologically. Cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) oxidizes the lactose to lactobionic acid, while laccase (LAC) enables the regeneration of the redox mediator (ABTS), which acts as an electron acceptor for CDH. The aim of this study was to develop an effective immobilized enzymatic system for the production of LBA. Two enzymes were used in the experiment: CDH from Phanerodontia chrysosporium (PchCDH) and LAC from Cerrena unicolor (CuLAC), which were immobilized on precipitated silica (Sipernat 22) activated by APTES and PEI. The immobilization process increased enzyme stability, improved the efficiency of LBA synthesis, and reduced costs, particularly in the context of using Sipernat 22 silica, which is inexpensive and widely used across various industries. The co-immobilization of both enzymes on the carrier proved to be the most effective approach, achieving a 90% conversion of lactose to lactobionic acid after ten cycles of synthesis. Comprehensive biochemical characterization, including protein loading, catalytic activity, and optimal pH, is provided in the main text. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Components From Fungi in the Context of Biomedical Applications)

22 pages, 3187 KB

Open AccessArticle

Remote Sensing Dynamic Monitoring and Driving Mechanism of Lake Area in Ebinur Lake, 1992–2024

by Xingyu Wang, Decao Niu, Xiaoming Cao, Yongxin Li, Jie Han, Xiaochang Jiang, Zhengwei Han, Changle Yang and Yuanxin Zhang

Water 2026, 18(15), 1810; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18151810 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Arid inland saline lakes are key components of basin ecosystems. As the largest saline lake in Xinjiang and a critical ecological barrier in northwest China, Ebinur Lake’s area dynamics are vital to regional sustainable development. This study integrates Landsat imagery (1992–2024) with meteorological [...] Read more.

Arid inland saline lakes are key components of basin ecosystems. As the largest saline lake in Xinjiang and a critical ecological barrier in northwest China, Ebinur Lake’s area dynamics are vital to regional sustainable development. This study integrates Landsat imagery (1992–2024) with meteorological and socio-economic data to investigate optimal water extraction methods, spatio-temporal lake area variations, and driving mechanisms. Multiple methods were employed, including water index comparison, Mann–Kendall test, Pearson correlation, and ridge regression. Results show that: (1) the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) maintains high, stable classification accuracy across years and months, making it suitable for long-term monitoring; (2) from 1992 to 2024, lake area demonstrates a significant fluctuating downward trend without abrupt change points, indicating continuous degradation. During the growing season (April–October), it first decreases and then increases, with larger early-season areas, minima in August and September, coinciding with peak agricultural irrigation demand; (3) regarding driving mechanisms, socio-economic factors dominate (approximately 70%), while meteorological factors play a weakly regulatory role (about 30%). Population growth and increased water consumption are the primary drivers, with obvious seasonal differences. Meteorological changes, socio-economic development, and ecological measures jointly influence lake area. Although extreme events (e.g., anomalous precipitation) induce short-term fluctuations, they do not alter the long-term degradation trend dominated by human activities. This study provides methodological support for long-term monitoring of arid saline lakes and scientific evidence for ecological conservation and water resource management in the Ebinur Lake Basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Remote Sensing in Inland and Coastal Water Monitoring)

19 pages, 2652 KB

Open AccessArticle

LLM-Assisted Interpretation of Kinematic Gait Data in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study on Gait Deviation Detection and Surgical Group Recommendations

by Mehrdad Davoudi, Jacqueline Romkes, Michèle Widmer, Chris Easthope Awai and Elke Viehweger

Bioengineering 2026, 13(8), 862; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering13080862 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Three-dimensional instrumented gait analysis is widely used to guide surgical decision-making in children with cerebral palsy (CP), but its interpretation is time-consuming and prone to inter-rater variability. In this single-centre pilot study, we investigated whether a generative large language model (LLM) could consistently [...] Read more.

Three-dimensional instrumented gait analysis is widely used to guide surgical decision-making in children with cerebral palsy (CP), but its interpretation is time-consuming and prone to inter-rater variability. In this single-centre pilot study, we investigated whether a generative large language model (LLM) could consistently generate gait deviation findings and surgical procedure suggestions that align with expert judgement. Kinematic features for lower-limb joints across the gait cycle, stance, and swing were extracted from eight children with unilateral CP using the open-source GaitSharing Toolkit and a structured prompt, then submitted three times per patient to OpenAI’s GPT-5.5 model. The model assessed 28 kinematic deviations and 12 surgical procedure groups using majority voting. One gait analyst and two paediatric orthopaedic surgeons independently rated outputs on a 0–2 ordinal scale, blinded to all clinical information beyond the kinematic curves and diagnosis. Agreement was summarised descriptively as the percentage of the maximum attainable score with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and quadratic-weighted Cohen’s kappa was used to quantify inter-surgeon agreement. Agreement with the gait expert was highest at the hip (90.6%) and lowest at the knee, particularly in the transverse plane (65.2%). For surgical procedures, agreement with the LLM reached 83.9% and 73.4% for the two surgeons, with the tibialis anterior procedure showing the lowest concordance. Inter-surgeon agreement was 79.2% (95% CI 71.9–85.4) with a kappa of 0.59 (0.47–0.70), indicating moderate agreement. The LLM showed high self-consistency (>90% across runs). These preliminary findings suggest that generative LLMs may be feasible as assistive tools in clinical gait analysis for deviation detection and future treatment planning and should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating, warranting confirmation in larger, more diverse cohorts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics of Human Motion)

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49 pages, 5671 KB

Open AccessReview

A Comprehensive Review of Energy Management Systems with the Integration of Electrical, Thermal and Hydrogen Storage in Building-Scale Hybrid Energy Systems

by Elif Çavuş Çimen, Koray Erhan, Süleyman Sapmaz, Kadriye Esen Erden and Murat Ayaz

Buildings 2026, 16(15), 2969; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16152969 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Building- and residential-scale energy systems are becoming increasingly complex due to the growing use of renewable energy sources, variable generation profiles, and uncertainties in user demand. This study comprehensively examines the role of electrical, thermal, and hydrogen-based energy storage technologies in building-scale hybrid [...] Read more.

Building- and residential-scale energy systems are becoming increasingly complex due to the growing use of renewable energy sources, variable generation profiles, and uncertainties in user demand. This study comprehensively examines the role of electrical, thermal, and hydrogen-based energy storage technologies in building-scale hybrid energy systems and evaluates these systems alongside energy management strategies. In this context, lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, flywheel systems, thermal energy storage solutions, and hydrogen-/fuel cell-based architectures are discussed in terms of their technical characteristics, intended uses, limitations, and complementary aspects. The reviewed studies show that individual storage technologies remain limited in their ability to meet all operational requirements, whereas hybrid storage architectures offer significant advantages in terms of power quality, energy flexibility, energy storage system lifetime, renewable energy utilization, and long-duration energy supply security. Furthermore, energy management systems are shown to be critical not only for cost minimization but also for user comfort, grid interaction, forecasting accuracy, uncertainty management, and the coordination of storage units operating at different timescales. Consequently, achieving high efficiency, low-carbon operation, and energy autonomy in building- and residential-scale systems requires the integrated design of multilayered hybrid storage approaches that are supported by intelligent energy management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Energy Solutions to Enhance Building Energy Efficiency and Flexibility)

35 pages, 3455 KB

Open AccessArticle

Two-Stage Coordinated Bidding and Revenue Sharing Strategies for Wind Farm Consortia

by Fugui Yang, Tianqi Xu, Yan Li, Feixiang Ying and Zhaolei He

Energies 2026, 19(15), 3509; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19153509 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Wind power producers face increasing market risks in electricity spot markets because output uncertainty may lead to large imbalance penalties and unstable revenues. This study aims to improve the market participation performance of wind farm consortia by coordinating day-ahead bidding, real-time deviation correction, [...] Read more.

Wind power producers face increasing market risks in electricity spot markets because output uncertainty may lead to large imbalance penalties and unstable revenues. This study aims to improve the market participation performance of wind farm consortia by coordinating day-ahead bidding, real-time deviation correction, and internal revenue allocation. The main novelty of this study is the integration of consortium-level bidding, shared energy storage leasing, and post-settlement revenue-cost allocation within a unified decision-allocation framework. A two-stage coordinated bidding model is developed for a wind farm consortium that leases shared energy storage to mitigate real-time power deviations. A Shapley value-based allocation mechanism is further introduced to distribute consortium revenue, while the shared energy storage leasing cost is allocated using an additional revenue-proportional fairness rule. Case studies show that the proposed strategy can reduce deviation penalties, increase the final net revenue after leasing cost, and maintain fair incentives among consortium members. Sensitivity analyses further demonstrate that the economic performance of the consortium is affected by storage size, charging/discharging efficiency, and wind farm output correlation. The proposed framework provides a practical decision-making reference for wind power aggregation, shared energy storage utilization, and coordinated participation in electricity spot markets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section A3: Wind, Wave and Tidal Energy)

26 pages, 1257 KB

Open AccessArticle

Decarbonizing the Greek Electricity System Under the Energy Storage Context: Between Ambition and Reality

by Andreas Efstratiadis, Athanasios Zisos, Aikaterini Kolioukou, Georgios-Fivos Sargentis, Pavlina Pagoulatou, Eleni Mandilaki and Nikos Mamassis

Sustainability 2026, 18(15), 7588; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18157588 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Decarbonization has been set as the ultimate target of the European energy policy, and, under this frame, Greece has substantially reformed its electricity mix over the last two decades. Yet, the rapid transition of the country’s electricity production system towards a model that [...] Read more.

Decarbonization has been set as the ultimate target of the European energy policy, and, under this frame, Greece has substantially reformed its electricity mix over the last two decades. Yet, the rapid transition of the country’s electricity production system towards a model that strongly relies on non-controllable renewables, without improving its energy storage means, has caused several adverse impacts that reasonably raise serious concerns about its sustainability. Further questions arise when accounting for the projections and underlying assumptions reported in the National Energy and Climate Plan. In this vein, key policy, societal, technical, sustainability and science issues are discussed, involving the challenges, perspectives and potential drawbacks of Greece’s long-term energy planning . To reveal the critical role of storage, a toy simulation-optimization model is applied at the national scale to evaluate several scenarios of wind and solar P/V development under the premise of a theoretically fully decarbonized mix. This allows the exploration of trade-offs between energy storage and power capacity needs against key performance metrics (frequency and quantity of deficits and percentage of rejected renewable energy). Preliminary feasibility issues are also highlighted by considering alternative configurations of pumped hydropower storage units and associating their approximative investment costs with scale and geometry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Storage Solutions for Efficient & Sustainable Renewable Integration)

19 pages, 435 KB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Air Temperature Variation on a Wind-Driven Desalination System with Pumped-Hydro Storage: A Case Study of the Regional Unit of Rethymno, Crete, Greece

by Athanasios-Foivos Papathanasiou, Daniil Michail Pitsikalis and Evangelos Baltas

Energies 2026, 19(15), 3507; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19153507 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Water scarcity and increasing energy demand are critical challenges that often characterize Mediterranean regions, especially islands such as Crete. A sustainable solution for a combined water and energy supply lies in the domain of hybrid renewable energy systems. This research study evaluates a [...] Read more.

Water scarcity and increasing energy demand are critical challenges that often characterize Mediterranean regions, especially islands such as Crete. A sustainable solution for a combined water and energy supply lies in the domain of hybrid renewable energy systems. This research study evaluates a large-scale wind-driven desalination system with pumped-hydro energy storage for the Regional Unit of Rethymno, Crete, focusing on climate-driven demand and air temperature variation. The proposed system integrates wind energy production, seawater desalination, pumped-hydro storage, and water supply both for domestic and for irrigation purposes. Four scenarios, each with increasing air temperature, are examined in order to assess their effect on water demand and system performance. The analysis evaluates electricity allocation, the production of desalinated water, domestic and irrigation coverage, as well as the economic performance of the system. The results indicate that domestic water demand is almost fully covered in all four scenarios, reaching nearly 99.9%, while irrigation water coverage decreases from 82% under present conditions to 67% under higher-temperature scenarios. Wind-generated electricity is mainly used for water-related processes, with a constant share supplied to the grid. The economic assessment indicates that the system can operate under break-even conditions using realistic water and electricity prices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flexibility Solutions and Innovations for Sustainable Hydropower)

5 pages, 229 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue “Molecular Application of Mass Spectrometry and Chromatography in Biomedicine”

by Giovanni Ventura and Mariachiara Bianco

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(15), 6659; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27156659 (registering DOI) - 25 Jul 2026

Abstract

Mass spectrometry (MS) and chromatography have become crucial pillars of biomedical studies [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Application of Mass Spectrometry and Chromatography in Biomedicine)

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