Search Results (1,098)

The conversion of low-cost, widely available, and renewable agricultural and forestry biomass waste into high-performance electrode materials for supercapacitors has attracted significant research interest. In this study, bamboo was used as a raw material to prepare bamboo-derived activated carbon (BAC) and nitrogen-doped biomass activated carbon (N-BAC) via a two-step process involving carbonization and KOH activation. The obtained materials were subsequently evaluated as electrode materials for supercapacitors. The effects of carbonization temperature and time, activation temperature and time, and impregnation ratio on the structural properties and iodine adsorption capacity of the activated carbons were systematically examined. The results revealed that all process parameters influenced the iodine adsorption value of the samples in a volcano-type trend. The BAC prepared under optimized conditions (carbonization at 600 °C for 60 min, activation at 850 °C for 60 min, and an impregnation ratio of 6:1) exhibited the highest specific surface area (3013.30 m²/g), a total pore volume of 1.5813 cm³/g, and an average pore diameter of 2.0992 nm. Although nitrogen doping slightly reduced the specific surface area and pore volume of BAC, the introduced nitrogen-containing functional groups participated in redox reactions with the electrolyte, leading to a significant enhancement in the electrochemical performance of N-BAC. In a 6.0 M KOH electrolyte at a scan rate of 0.01 V/s, the specific capacitance of N-BAC reached 288.8 F/g, exceeding that of the optimized BAC (180.85 F/g). The supercapacitor assembled with N-BAC demonstrated a high energy density of 14.4 Wh/kg at a power density of 73.1 W/kg in aqueous electrolyte, the specific capacitance retention rate is about 90.3% after 5000 cycles between −1.2 V and 0 V at a scan rate of 10 mV/s. Overall, this work successfully developed high-performance supercapacitor electrode materials, providing a promising approach for the high-value utilization of biomass resources. Full article

Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are mandatory in Indonesia following the Ministry of Health regulation, which raises significant challenges in data security and patient-centric access control. Current implementations rely on centralized healthcare systems or third-party vendors, creating risks of unauthorized access, data leakage, and uncertain data integrity. To address these issues, this study proposes DecMed, a decentralized EMR management framework built on IOTA Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). DecMed integrates Capability-Based Access Control (CapBAC), Proxy Re-Encryption (PRE), and the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) to enforce patient ownership of medical data. Patients actively grant or revoke access, define access duration, and selectively share data with healthcare personnel. The system is implemented using smart contracts in the Move programming language on the IOTA ledger, while encrypted clinical data is stored on IPFS. Evaluation through unit testing of various unauthorized access scenarios demonstrates that DecMed effectively enforces fine-grained access rules, preserves data confidentiality and integrity, and ensures compliance with national healthcare requirements. Full article

The salivary gland is a key organ in insects that plays essential roles in food digestion, nutrient absorption, and energy metabolism, thereby highlighting the importance of studying salivary gland function for gaining a better understanding of nutritional utilization and insect–plant interactions. To date, however, a lack of salivary gland-specific promoters has limited functional analyses of salivary gland genes in Lepidoptera. In this study, based on microarray and salivary gland transcriptome data, we identified nine candidate genes characterized by high salivary gland expression. Semi-quantitative PCR analysis confirmed cholinesterase (BmCe, BGIBMGA010988) as the optimal candidate for promoter cloning. Temporal expression analysis revealed that the expression of BmCe reaches a peak during days 2–4 of the fifth larval instar. A 2152 bp fragment upstream of the transcription initiation site of BmCe was selected as the putative promoter sequence (designated BmCeP) and cloned to construct a piggyBac transgenic vector driving DsRed expression. Transgenic silkworms were obtained via embryonic microinjection and tissue expression analysis on day three of fifth-instar larvae revealed the predominant localization of DsRed expression in the salivary glands. In this study, we thus identified a gene promoter characterized by salivary gland-predominant expression in Bombyx mori, which we believe could serve as a valuable genetic tool for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying silkworm nutritional utilization and interactions with its host plant, mulberry. Full article

Tomato is the most widely consumed vegetable worldwide and serves as an important source of vitamins and minerals. Using the Bacillus species as biocontrol agents and plant growth promoters is a sustainable approach to optimize production and mitigate the effects of root-infecting phytopathogenic fungi, thereby reducing reliance on chemical inputs. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a Bacillus sp.-based bioinoculant, produced in a 7 L bioreactor, for controlling root phytopathogens and enhancing tomato yields under field conditions. The trial was conducted at an experimental field of the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (Lima, Peru) using a randomized complete block design with four blocks. Treatment means were compared using Tukey’s multiple range test (α = 0.05) to evaluate treatment effects. The treatments included three concentrations of the bioinoculant (10%, 20%, and 30%) derived from an initial concentration of 1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL of a Bacillus halotolerans IcBac2.1 strain sourced from the LEMyB laboratory strain collection, a commercial biological product (1 × 10⁹ CFU/g), and uninoculated control. Applications were made for the following four key stages of crop development: 10 days after germination, when transplanting through root dipping, 7 days after transplanting, and at the onset of flowering. In all treated groups, applications were directed to the plant crown, whereas the control group received no treatment. The evaluated variables included plant height (cm), stem diameter (mm), root disease incidence (%), chlorophyll index (SPAD), °Brix, pH, vitamin C (mg/100 g), total protein (mg/100 g) and crop yield (t/ha). The greatest plant growth-promoting effects were observed in plants inoculated with the 20% bioinoculant and in the commercial product treatment, as evidenced by increased plant height, greater fruit diameter, caliber, and length, as well as lower root disease incidence (2.86% and 1.43%, respectively). In addition, yields were highest in these treatments (29.9 and 25.2 t ha⁻¹, respectively) compared with 14.5 t ha⁻¹ in the control. These results indicate that a 20% B. halotolerans-based bioformulation, similar to the commercial formulation, promotes plant growth, improves agronomic performance, and reduces root disease incidence in tomato crops. Full article

Research shows that structures are often over designed in reliability-based calculations compared to code requirements. To address the knowledge gap in applying Reliability Based Design Optimisation (RBDO) within Building Information Modelling (BIM), this paper presents a novel BIM-integrated RBDO system for highway structures aimed at reducing over design. The approach is aimed at optimising the system reliability index. This value is then applied to the BIM model of the structure as a direct safety metric describing the probability of failure. In addition, minimum robustness and redundancy indices can be derived using this approach to ensure overall compliance with structural design codes, (Eurocodes), yielding key BIM model safety metrics. The system reliability index was optimised by utilising target limit state reliability indices to derive system difference target limits. System element reliability indices were effectively increased or reduced by manipulating element resistance parameters. An optimisation algorithm was employed to ensure compliance with the minimum system difference target limits. A secondary verification was undertaken to ensure minimal element target reliability indices were not compromised. The system reliability-based case studies on one-span bridge structures demonstrated that optimisation resulted in an overall 15% reduction in design resistance compared with the Eurocodes design method. In addition to highlighting element overdesign, the balance between safety and economy is improved by yielding comprehensive structural system safety metrics as a safer approach than direct element reliability-based optimisation. Full article

Background: Nanomaterials have emerged as a transformative approach in modern pharmaceutical applications, offering advanced benefits compared to conventional therapies. Among available pharmaceutical nanomaterials, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been reported with broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential and drug delivery potency. Nevertheless, some studies suggested that chemical synthesis of AgNPs might result in redundant chemicals, posing environmental and health risks. To minimize undesired products, a promising approach is to biologically synthesize this potent nanomaterial. Methods: This study ultilized an eco-friendly system for AgNPs synthesis using Aspergillus terreus isolated from the air. Physical properties of biosynthesized AgNPs were evaluated by UV–visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and scanning electron microscopy analysis. Antibacterial activity of biosynthesized AgNPs was examined by well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration, while in vitro cytotoxicity was used to determine the antitumor activity of AgNPs. Results: The biosynthesized AgNPs had a size of around 60 nm, a PDI inferior to 0.2, and a zeta potential of −30 mV. They exhibited potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Additionally, these nanoparticles also exerted a selective antiproliferative effect on MCF-7, A549, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Conclusions: Our research presented the potential of biosynthesized AgNPs using Aspergillus terreus for antimicrobial and anticancer applications, offering an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to traditional chemical methods. Full article

Background: Alcohol is associated with increased mortality and morbidity globally. Pulmonary infections with opportunistic pathogens can occur in healthy humans; however, binge alcohol intoxication (≥0.08% BAC) is a major risk factor. We have previously shown that a single dose of alcohol comparable to binge alcohol intoxication increases infection by reducing alveolar macrophage function in vivo. Sulforaphane (SFN), a phytonutrient, is a potent inducer of antioxidant production through the induction of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and inhibition of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer (NF-kB) pathway. The aim of this study was to test the therapeutic potential of SFN given as a pretreatment to prevent alcohol-induced phagocytic dysfunction. Methods: Intracellular phagocytic killing was measured via colony-forming units (CFU) and cytokine expression via ELISA. G. mellonella survival was used to determine the therapeutic potential of SFN in vivo. Results: Dose–response curves indicated that SFN concentrations of less than 20 µM were not cytotoxic in either MH-S (murine) or THP-1 (human) cells. Live infection assay results showed that MH-S and THP-1 cells pretreated with SFN (5 µM) and challenged with 0.2% (v/v) alcohol for 3 or 8 h prior to live B. thailandensis or S. epidermidis infection improved intracellular pathogen killing between 12- and 20-fold compared to macrophages treated with alcohol alone. ELISA analysis indicated that SFN significantly reduced levels of Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression at 3 and 8 h compared to controls. Additionally, a Galleria mellonella larvae model demonstrated greater survivability in the prophylaxis group compared to larvae exposed to either Gram-positive or Gram-negative pathogens, as well as in groups that received alcohol prior to pathogen inoculation. Conclusions: Taken together, SFN-induced cytoprotection was extended beyond in vitro cell culture to include an in vivo G. mellonella model demonstrating protection against Gram-positive and negative opportunistic pathogens. These data demonstrate that SFN may be an effective pretreatment option to prevent alcohol-mediated innate immune dysfunction and restore macrophage phagocytic killing. Full article

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are often caused by biofilm formation on device surfaces. This paper presents an antimicrobial catheter-coating hydrogel comprising p(HEMA) and carboxyl-functionalized p(HEMA-co-MA), loaded with benzalkonium chloride (BAC) to increase hydrophilicity, pH responsiveness, and antibiofilm activity. Hydrogels were prepared by free-radical polymerization, loaded with BAC via swelling, and their physicochemical properties were characterized. Furthermore, microbiological assessment focused on the detection of MIC/MBC/MFC, disk diffusion, biofilm assays, SEM imaging, and RT-qPCR sequencing were used to determine the impact on biofilm-related gene expression to evaluate antimicrobial activity against major catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)-associated pathogens and identify the higher BAC loading p(HEMA) and enhanced hydrophilicity and pH-responsive swelling (p(HEMA-co-MA)). The two hydrogels exhibited a wide range of antimicrobial activity and provided lasting inhibition for up to 8 days. It is worth noting that the MA-functionalized hydrogel exhibited a high intrinsic antifouling property, and biofilm development was reduced by more than 85% in BAC-loaded formulations. SEM and gene-expression studies showed reduced microbial adhesion and substantial repression of virulence and biofilm-associated genes. In summary, BAC-loaded p(HEMA) and p(HEMA-co-MA) coatings exhibit strong antimicrobial and antiadhesive properties, and the incorporation of MA results in more effective biofilm suppression, which supports their future use as advanced catheter coatings to prevent the development of device-related infections. Full article

Exogenous genes are generally expressed by integration into the chromosomes of Pichia pastoris. However, systematic studies on the chromosomal position effect are lacking, and locations that are conducive to the high expression of foreign genes are rarely reported. In this study, a genomic random insertion mutagenesis library for P. pastoris was successfully constructed using the piggyBac (PB) transposon system. Through sequencing, the sequence TTAA was identified as the major recognition site of the PB transposon, which exhibited relatively high coverage on P. pastoris chromosomes, making it a valuable tool for studying position effect variegation in P. pastoris. Using the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene (eGFP) as a reporter, two libraries including low-expression positions and high-expression positions were obtained by flow cytometry. The low-expression sites were mainly located upstream of ORFs around the promoter region and downstream near the terminator region, while the high-expression sites were predominantly located at the gene interior. KEGG and GO analyses showed that genes in high-expression positions were significantly enriched in the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling and histone binding pathways, and genes in low-expression positions were significantly enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway, autophagy, mitochondrial autophagy, ABC transporters, and the arginine synthesis pathway. This study has clarified the genome-wide landscape of position effect variegation in P. pastoris. Additionally, it has provided novel insights into high-throughput screening strategies for strains with high exogenous gene expression. Full article

Glioblastoma, with a 5-year survival rate of just under 7.0%, is the most common form of brain cancer in adults. In this study, we evaluated the antiproliferative activity of the biopolymer p21-ELP1-Bac, a p21-derived peptide delivered via an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP1) carrier and a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), across three glioblastoma cell lines: U87, GBM43, and GBM6. We assessed proliferation, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis to determine whether ELP-mediated intracellular delivery of p21-ELP1-Bac suppresses glioblastoma growth through cytostatic mechanisms rather than inducing apoptosis. Treatment with the modified protein effectively inhibited proliferation across all three lines, with U87 cells showing the greatest sensitivity and GBM6 cells demonstrating the greatest drug tolerance. Although apoptotic responses were generally low, they appeared more pronounced in GBM6 cells. Confocal microscopy revealed sustained cellular uptake and signal observed in both the cytoplasm and in proximity to the nucleus in all cell lines. Collectively, these findings indicate that p21-ELP1-Bac is efficiently internalized and capable of modulating proliferation across all three glioblastoma cell lines, supporting its further evaluation as a cytostatic delivery platform. Full article

Background: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has shown potential in improving negative symptoms (NS) and Cognitive Impairment Associated with Schizophrenia (CIAS). However, heterogeneity in stimulation protocols and sample characteristics limit definitive conclusions regarding tDCS effectiveness in schizophrenia. Given the detrimental effects of cigarette smoking, particularly on cognition, this study explored the role of cigarette smoking as a modifiable individual factor potentially contributing to methodological heterogeneity by evaluating tDCS effects on NS and CIAS in Smoker (SM) and Non-Smoker (NoSM) patients. Methods: Post hoc analyses of a double-blind RCT were performed on 50 patients, randomized to 2 mA active or sham-tDCS (15 weekday sessions) with bilateral bipolar-nonbalanced prefrontal placement. The sample was divided according to the smoking status, consisting of 28 SM and 22 NoSM. Separate one-way analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were performed within each subgroup to assess changes over time between treatment conditions. Clinical outcomes included Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) total scores. Results: SM exhibited baseline lower cognitive scores in verbal memory, motor speed and working memory domains. NS improved in both SM and NoSM with large effect size. Significant improvement in CIAS, specifically in working memory and verbal fluency, were found exclusively in NoSM. Conclusions: Cigarette smoking appeared to limit tDCS effectiveness in improving CIAS but not NS in schizophrenia. We suggested that the neurotoxic milieu linked to chronic exposure to neurotoxins of cigarette smoking could be responsible for these effects, counterbalancing the neuroprotective effects of tDCS. Further studies are warranted to replicate these findings. Full article

As unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly utilized in urban inspection and emergency rescue missions, path planning under strong wind conditions persists as a critical challenge. Traditional algorithms frequently exhibit deficiencies in environmental adaptability or encounter difficulties in balancing exploration and exploitation. This paper presents a dynamic-proportion Bat–Cuckoo Search (BA-CS) Hybrid Algorithm enhanced with wind field perception to tackle the challenges of UAV path planning in urban environments with strong winds, specifically addressing the issues of insufficient environmental adaptation and the exploration–exploitation imbalance. The algorithm integrates a dual-feedback mechanism that dynamically modifies the ratio of the BA/CS subpopulations in accordance with real-time iteration progress and population diversity. By incorporating wind field perception into population initialization, interpopulation information exchange, and wind resistance perturbation strategies, it attains efficient path optimization under multiple constraints. Experimental results under strong winds with speeds ranging from 10.8 to 13.8 m/s indicate that the proposed algorithm generates paths that are smooth, continuous, and entirely collision-free. It achieves a superior average wind resistance cost of 0.92, which is 9.8%, 17.1%, and 52.6% lower than those of the A*, RRT, and PSO algorithms, respectively. With a planning time of 3.95 s, it satisfies the path wind resistance stability requirements stipulated in the GB/T 38930-2020 standard, providing an effective solution for UAV inspection and emergency rescue operations in urban wind scenarios. Full article

The increasing role of automation systems in energy-efficient buildings creates a need for simulation approaches that support standardized assessment already at the design stage. This paper presents a digital twin-based simulation framework that integrates building information modeling (BIM)-derived building data with MATLAB/Simulink models to enable regulation-oriented evaluation of building automation and control strategies. The proposed approach targets scenario-based analysis of automation maturity levels, covering conventional, advanced, and predictive configurations aligned with EN ISO 52120 and the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI). A representative academic building model is used to demonstrate how the framework supports reproducible modeling of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, and shading control functions and enables consistent comparison of their energy-related behavior under unified boundary conditions. The results show that the framework effectively captures performance trends associated with increasing automation sophistication and reveals interaction effects between control subsystems that are not accessible in conventional energy simulation tools. The proposed methodology provides a practical and extensible foundation for early-stage, regulation-aligned evaluation of smart building solutions and for the further development of predictive and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted control concepts. Full article

Background: Intrachromosomal rearrangements in birds play a subtle but important role in shaping genomic evolution, phenotypic diversity and speciation. However, the avian sex chromosome system (homogametic ZZ males; heterogametic ZW females) remains relatively understudied, and evolutionary rearrangements of the Z chromosome have not been mapped in most species. To address this, we employed universally hybridizing avian Z chromosome probes to metaphases of 11 avian species from South America. Methods: Chromosome preparations were obtained from fibroblast cell cultures of 11 birds representing nine different orders; four bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) probes were used in our interspecies fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments. We identified chromosomal rearrangements in the species investigated, tracing the evolution of the Z chromosome in these species through comparison with reptiles from Southeast Asia (three snake species used as an outgroup), along with two reference species: chicken (Galliformes) and zebra finch (Passeriformes). Results: We observed high rates of intrachromosomal rearrangements in the avian Z chromosome, with most species showing different patterns from chicken and zebra finch. Nannopterum brasilianum (Suliformes) and Jacana jacana (Charadriiformes) showed the same BAC order as chicken, but centromere repositioning was evident. Apart from Piciformes, all other species exhibited a conserved Z chromosome size. The corresponding Z chromosome sequences were homologous to regions of the long arms of Chromosome 2 and W in snakes but not on the Z chromosomes. Conclusions: Comparative analysis of the Z chromosome across avian orders provides important insights into the dynamics of avian sex chromosomes and the evolution of sex chromosome systems in general. Full article

Understanding the fluid dynamics of fluidized beds loaded with biomass pellets is of significant value for the design of wood waste gasifiers. In the present study, cylindrical wood pellets are loaded into a lab-scale cold gasifier unit at 2.5 vol% and 7.5 vol% concentrations and studied at superficial air velocities of 0.25, 0.282, and 0.344 m/s (corresponding to 80, 90, and 110 SCFM). Measurements of bubbles, sand particles, and biomass pellets are taken at a 45 cm height from the distributor plate, and at 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 cm radial positions from the column wall by employing the CREC-GS-Optiprobes, a valuable integrated fiber optic-laser tool system. A new data processing methodology is established using laser signals that are reflected from the outer surface of aluminum-foil-wrapped cylindrical wood pellets. In addition, a new algorithm is implemented to distinguish pellet-reflected signals from those of bubbles and emulsion-phase particles. On this basis, for the first time, a Phenomenological Probabilistic Predictive Model (PPPM), is considered to predict Bubble Axial Chords (BACs) and Bubble Rise Velocities (BRVs), in a sand fluidized bed loaded with biomass pellets. This is accomplished within a set band of values accounting for three standard deviations from their means or including 85.9% of the bubbles measured. Thus, it is demonstrated that the PPPM is adequate to establish the constrained random motion of bubbles in sand fluidized beds, under the influence of uniformly distributed biomass pellets. It is anticipated that the findings of the present study will be of significant value for the design of sand biomass gasifiers of different scales. Full article