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To solve the problems of poor fuel atomization effect, low combustion efficiency, and uneven temperature distribution of the evaporator tube of a certain micro turbojet engine, a structural optimization design method based on a genetic algorithm is proposed. Taking the inner diameter of the evaporator tube, the diameter of the nozzle hole, the number of nozzle holes as design variables, the fuel atomization particle size (d₅₀), combustion efficiency (η), and maximum wall temperature (T_max) as optimization objectives, a multi-objective optimization mathematical model is established. The iterative optimization is carried out through the selection, crossover, and mutation operations of the genetic algorithm, and the optimization effect is verified by combining CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) numerical simulation. The results show that when the inner diameter of the evaporator tube is 2.6 mm, the diameter of the nozzle hole is 0.8 mm and the number of nozzle holes is eight, the fuel atomization particle size of the evaporator tube is reduced by 18.3%, the combustion efficiency is increased by 7.6%, and the maximum wall temperature is decreased by 12.4%, which significantly improves the working performance of the evaporator tube and provides an effective reference for the optimization design of key components of micro turbojet engines. Full article

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19 pages, 1090 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study of Probable Sarcopenia in Hemodialysis Patients

by Juan Rodríguez-Mansilla, Jaime Becerra Fernández, María Victoria Martín Hidalgo-Barquero, María Jiménez-Palomares, Blanca González-Sánchez and Elisa María Garrido-Ardila

Life 2026, 16(4), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16040649 (registering DOI) - 12 Apr 2026

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease is defined as a progressive pathology that affects more than 10% of the world’s population, affecting waste filtration capacity. Sarcopenia, characterized by loss of muscle mass and strength, is a common complication in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis. It is associated with inflammation, malnutrition and reduced quality of life. Hemodialysis is the fundamental treatment for people with chronic kidney disease, as it is key to the elimination of toxins from the body. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of probable sarcopenia in patients with chronic kidney disease in the Dialysis Unit of Extremadura (Spain). Material and Methods: This is a descriptive study in which 33 patients with chronic kidney disease receiving hemodialysis were selected as participants in the assessment of functional capacity and physical fitness. The procedure was performed prior to the dialysis session. Socio-demographic, clinical and physical variables were assessed. The assessment of probable sarcopenia was carried out using manual grip strength test (dynamometry), physical performance (4-meter walk test) and phase angle (PhA) (single frequency 50 Hz bioimpedance). The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was used to determine the severity of chronic disease and its impact, and analytical variables such as albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Index (NLI), Lymphocyte–Platelet Index (LPI) and total protein (TP), among others, were also included. Results: The prevalence of probable sarcopenia was 93.9% according to the criteria for muscle strength and physical performance (EWGSOP2). PhA showed statistically significant differences between the groups with and without sarcopenia (p = 0.039), suggesting its usefulness as a nutritional marker. No statistically significant differences were found between sarcopenia and age, albumin, Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Index or C-reactive protein (p > 0.05). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of probable sarcopenia, associated with decreased handgrip strength and gait speed in patients with chronic kidney disease in hemodialysis. In addition, PhA stands out as an influential factor in the development of sarcopenia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Move to Thrive: Pioneering Health and Resilience Through Physical Activity)

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16 pages, 1096 KB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Biomarkers in Congenital Heart Disease: A Case–Control Study of ST2 in Children with Atrial Septal Defects

by Henning Clausen, Elin Friberg, Mikko Sairanen, Pia Sjöberg and Petru Liuba

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(8), 3445; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27083445 (registering DOI) - 12 Apr 2026

Abstract

Soluble growth stimulation protein form of interleukin-1 receptor-like 1 (ST2) may signal myocardial stress, and elevated ST2 blood levels are associated with adverse outcomes in adult heart disease. Data on ST2 in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) is limited. This study explored ST2 in newborns and older children with atrial septal defect (ASD), as this represents a common CHD type that remains clinically challenging to recognize in childhood with slowly evolving symptoms. A case–control study was carried out in newborn ASD cases versus controls measuring ST2 on dried blood spot samples and additionally in pediatric ASD cases versus controls on venous blood together with cardiac magnetic resonance before and after treatment. ST2 was higher in newborns with ASD (n = 19) compared to controls (n = 93); (p < 0.01). Receiver operating characteristics to diagnose newborn ASD by ST2 showed an area under the curve of 0.848. Levels of ST2 decreased in pediatric ASD (n = 16) after treatment (p = 0.014). Lower left ventricular ejection fraction correlated with higher ST2 levels before (r = −0.348) and after treatment (r = −0.497). Elevated ST2 in newborns may aid early ASD diagnosis. Levels of ST2 in pediatric ASD decrease after treatment, and higher levels are associated with lower left ventricular ejection fraction, warranting further study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)

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12 pages, 549 KB

Open AccessArticle

Clinicopathological Characteristics and Postoperative Outcomes Following Parotidectomy: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Center

by Mohammad Aljarba, Mishari Alanezi, Majed A. Alali, Azzam Alotaibi, Faisal Alkhunein and Khalid Alqahtani

Diseases 2026, 14(4), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases14040143 (registering DOI) - 11 Apr 2026

Abstract

Background/Objective: The parotid gland is the largest salivary gland, and tumors arising from it exhibit wide histopathological diversity. Management approaches vary according to tumor characteristics and carry a risk of postoperative complications, particularly facial nerve injury. However, local data remain limited. This study aimed to describe the clinicopathological characteristics, surgical approaches, and postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing parotidectomy. Method: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a high-volume tertiary center in Saudi Arabia. All consecutive patients who underwent parotidectomy between June 2015 and January 2025 were included. Demographic data, histopathological diagnoses, surgical procedures and postoperative complications were extracted from electronic medical records. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 26, with A p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 154 patients were included, with a mean age of 45.2 ± 12.6 years; 61% were male. Benign lesions constituted 87% of cases, with pleomorphic adenoma being the most common histopathological diagnosis. Malignancies accounted for 13% of cases, most frequently mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The most common postoperative complications were facial nerve palsy, followed by sensory numbness. Conclusions: The majority of parotid gland tumors in this cohort were benign, with pleomorphic adenoma as the most common histological subtype. Facial nerve palsy and sensory disturbances were the most common postoperative complications. These findings provide valuable local data on parotid gland lesions in Saudi Arabia and support current surgical management practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Oncology)

16 pages, 2469 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Genetically Truncated RGD-Containing Peptide rLj-RGD4 Exhibits Potent In Vivo Antitumor Activity via Induction of Multi-Pathway Apoptosis and EGFR-Targeted Signaling Suppression

by Yuyao Song, Huijie Yan, Yuebin Zhang, Jingyu Zhang, Li Lv and Jihong Wang

Molecules 2026, 31(8), 1266; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31081266 (registering DOI) - 11 Apr 2026

Abstract

Although the parental recombinant protein rLj-RGD3 exhibits antitumor activity, it carries immunogenicity risks owing to its large molecular size (13.5 kDa). We generated a genetically truncated mutant, rLj-RGD4 (6.27 kDa, four RGD motifs), which inhibited B16 melanoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. However, the in vivo efficacy and mechanisms of action remain unclear. Here, B16 xenograft mice were treated with rLj-RGD4 (5, 10, and 20 μg/kg i.p. daily for 14 days). Tumor growth was measured, and histopathology/apoptosis was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (HE), Masson’s dye, Hoechst, and TUNEL staining. Apoptotic pathways (mitochondrial, death receptor, and MAPK) were analyzed via Western blotting, whereas endocytosis mechanisms were explored using inhibitors (filipin III, NaN₃, cytochalasin D), and EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) interactions via fluorescence co-localization and phosphoprotein assays. The results demonstrated dose-dependent tumor growth inhibition (21.60–89.26% volume reduction, 41.03–86.51% weight reduction), with histological evidence of tissue loosening, fibrosis, and apoptosis. rLj-RGD4 induced apoptosis by activating the mitochondrial (Bax/Bcl-2 upregulation), death receptor (caspase-8 activation), and MAPK (JNK/p38 phosphorylation) pathways. Internalization was blocked by NaN₃ and cytochalasin D, indicating actin-dependent macropinocytosis. Direct EGFR binding was confirmed, accompanied by reduced EGFR expression and the inhibition of FAK/AKT/Src signaling. In conclusion, rLj-RGD4 exerts potent in vivo antitumor activity via two mechanisms: induction of multi-pathway apoptosis and EGFR-targeted suppression of pro-survival signaling. RGD4 exerts its antitumor function in vivo by targeting and co-internalizing with EGFR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Anticancer Compounds and Therapeutic Strategies, 2nd Edition)

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20 pages, 5504 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Large Language Model for Traffic Flow Prediction Based on Stationary Wavelet Transform and Graph Convolutional Networks

by Xin Wang, Gang Liu, Jing He, Xiangbing Zhou and Zhiyong Luo

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2026, 15(4), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi15040166 (registering DOI) - 11 Apr 2026

Abstract

With the rapid development of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs), traffic prediction, a crucial component of ITSs, has garnered growing scholarly attention. The appli-cation of deep learning into traffic prediction has emerged as a prominent research direction, especially amid the rapid advancement of pretrained large language models (LLMs), which offer substantial benefits in time-series analysis through cross-modal knowledge transfer. In response to this advancement, this study introduces an innovative model for traffic flow prediction, designated as WGLLM. To capture spatiotemporal characteristics inherent in traffic flow data, this model incorporates a sequence embedding layer constructed on the stationary wavelet transform (SWT) and long short-term memory (LSTM), in conjunction with a spatial embedding layer founded on graph convolutional networks (GCNs). Additionally, a fully connected layer is utilized to integrate embeddings into the LLMs for comprehensive global dependency analysis. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach, experiments were carried out on two real traffic flow datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that WGLLM achieves superior predictive performance compared to multiple mainstream baseline models, accompanied by a significant enhancement in prediction accuracy. Full article

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33 pages, 6596 KB

Open AccessArticle

Algorithmic Insights into Human Irrationality: Machine Learning Approaches to Detecting Cognitive Biases and Motivated Reasoning

by Sarthak Pattnaik, Chhayank Jain and Eugene Pinsky

Mach. Learn. Knowl. Extr. 2026, 8(4), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/make8040098 (registering DOI) - 11 Apr 2026

Abstract

This study illuminates fundamental questions in behavioral science through advanced machine learning methodologies applied to large-scale public opinion data. Drawing on Kahneman and Tversky’s dual-process theory and Sunstein’s nudge architecture, we employ hierarchical unsupervised clustering and supervised predictive models to detect cognitive biases—loss aversion, availability heuristic, and partisan motivated reasoning—embedded within a nationally representative survey of 5022 American respondents. Our primary methodological contribution is a hierarchical two-stage clustering framework that uncovers latent opinion structures without imposing a priori partisan categories, permitting discovery of cross-cutting cleavages invisible to conventional survey analysis. Three principal findings emerge: (1) loss aversion is empirically confirmed in prospective economic perception, with pessimists outnumbering optimists at a 1.14:1 ratio even among respondents rating current conditions positively; (2) partisan motivated reasoning produces a 13.15 percentage-point perception gap among individuals with identical financial circumstances; and (3) multi-platform digital engagement is associated with reduced partisan bias, providing evidence that challenges simple echo chamber assumptions. Crime safety perception emerges as the strongest predictor of economic bias, surpassing party affiliation, and substantiating availability heuristic dominance in political cognition. These findings carry implications for democratic accountability, platform governance, and the ethics of AI-augmented behavioral analysis in an era of affective polarization. Full article

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19 pages, 899 KB

Open AccessArticle

Physicochemical Properties, Colloidal Stability, and Encapsulation Efficiency of Lecithin-Based and Chitosan-Coated Liposomes Loaded with Cinnamomum zeylanicum Bioactives

by Sheba M. Culas, Lovedeep Kaur, David G. Popovich and Ali Rashidinejad

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 3754; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083754 (registering DOI) - 11 Apr 2026

Abstract

Cinnamomum zeylanicum (C. zeylanicum) is rich in bioactives, such as cinnamaldehyde and phenols, which are susceptible to thermal degradation, volatilisation, and oxidative deterioration during processing and storage, thereby reducing chemical stability and limiting bioavailability. Encapsulation using lecithin and chitosan-based systems mitigates these instabilities by forming a protective barrier against oxygen, light, and heat while enhancing structural stability. In this study, freeze-dried extracts of C. zeylanicum were encapsulated into lecithin-based primary liposomes (PL) and chitosan-coated secondary liposomes (CH/L). The coating of liposomes with chitosan improves the liposome stability, mucoadhesion, and provides protection in the gastric pH while facilitating electrostatic bonding with the biological membrane. The high compatibility and low toxicity of chitosan also make it a suitable carrier in food and nutraceutical applications. The formed liposomes were characterised for particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE), and storage stability over 8 weeks. CH/L showed superior EE (89.027%) compared to the PL (84.154%; p < 0.05). The particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential of the cinnamon-loaded lecithin-based primary liposome (CZ-PL) upon formation were 161.93 nm, 0.13, and −37.597 mV. In comparison, those of the cinnamon-loaded chitosan-coated liposomes (CZ-CH/L) were 591.7 nm, 0.27, and +28.17 mV. The particle size of CZ-PL and CZ-CH/L was 175.90 and 588.60 nm after 8 weeks of storage. The TEM confirmed the spherical morphology of the liposomes. The differential scanning calorimetry analysis demonstrated the disappearance of the characteristic cinnamon melting peak and shifts in liposomal transition temperatures, confirming successful encapsulation. FTIR analysis showed reduction or disappearance of characteristic cinnamon fingerprint peaks and slight band shifts, indicating successful encapsulation and non-covalent interactions, including hydrogen bonding and electrostatic effects, within the liposomal systems. These findings imply that lecithin-based and chitosan-coated liposomes could be employed to successfully carry C. zeylanicum bioactives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrocolloids: Characteristics and Applications)

19 pages, 619 KB

Open AccessArticle

Altruism, Pragmatism, and Critical Engagement: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Motivational Profiles of Male Primary Teachers

by Marianela Navarro, Annjeanette Martin, Alessandra Díaz-Sacco, Raimundo Ossandón-Bustos and Carla Bravo-Rojas

Educ. Sci. 2026, 16(4), 613; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16040613 (registering DOI) - 11 Apr 2026

Abstract

The low participation of men in primary education is a persistent and structural phenomenon that cannot be adequately understood through homogeneous views of teachers’ motivations and experiences. This study is conducted in the Chilean context, which is characterized by a highly feminized teaching workforce and persistent challenges related to working conditions, social valuation of teaching, and teacher retention. It aims to analyze profiles of male primary school teachers, considering their motivations, perceptions, and the meanings they attribute to the teaching profession. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design (QUAN → qual) was employed. First, 144 male in-service primary teachers completed the FIT-Choice scale and a latent class analysis was conducted. Subsequently, in-depth interviews were carried out with an intentionally selected subsample of 20 teachers, which were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Three distinct motivational profiles were identified: altruistic, pragmatic, and critical. The qualitative findings complemented these profiles, highlighting the influence of personal trajectories and working conditions on teachers’ career choice and retention in the profession. Overall, the findings suggest that policies for training, support, and professional induction must recognize teacher heterogeneity and promote inclusive working environments, moving beyond approaches that focus exclusively on increasing the number of men in primary education. Implications for the design of policies aimed at attracting and retaining male primary school teachers are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Education and Psychology)

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31 pages, 18760 KB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Study and Design Method of Irregular Steel Beam-to-CFST Column Joints with Inclined Internal Diaphragms

by Peng Li, Jialiang Jin, Yue Sheng, Wei Wang, Weifeng Jiao and Tingting Gou

Buildings 2026, 16(8), 1502; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16081502 (registering DOI) - 11 Apr 2026

Abstract

With the increasing functional and geometric complexity of modern steel buildings, irregular beam-to-column joints are becoming increasingly common in engineering practice, while their seismic performance and force transfer mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. Based on previous full-scale cyclic loading tests on unequal-depth steel beam (UDSB) and staggered steel beam (SSB) joints incorporating inclined internal diaphragms, this study presents numerical simulations and parametric analyses of irregular steel beam to concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) column joints. Three-dimensional nonlinear finite element models were developed using ABAQUS and validated against experimental results. The strengthening effects of internal diaphragms and concrete infill were then comparatively investigated. The results indicate that internal diaphragms increase the initial stiffness and load-carrying capacity of the joints to approximately 2.0–2.3 times and 1.16–1.8 times, respectively, compared with joints without diaphragms, whereas concrete infill provides smaller enhancements of about 1.3 times in stiffness and 1.2–1.3 times in strength. In addition, the hysteretic response of joints without diaphragms shows good agreement with the post-fracture behavior observed in the experiments, validating the diaphragm fracture mechanism. A parametric study further demonstrates that, under cyclic loading, the beam depth ratio, staggered floor ratio, column wall thickness, column width, diaphragm thickness, and diaphragm opening diameter have significant influences on joint strength and stress distribution, while the effect of axial load ratio is relatively minor. Finally, a strength prediction method applicable to inclined-diaphragm UDSB and SSB joints is proposed, and corresponding fitted expressions are derived based on the parametric results. The findings provide useful guidance for the seismic design of irregular steel beam–CFST column joints incorporating internal diaphragms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Structural Systems for High-Rise and Large-Span Buildings)

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26 pages, 9636 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Multi-Analytical Study of Historical Materials from the Old Armenian Church in Türkiye

by Alican Topsakal and Muhammet Gökhan Altun

Buildings 2026, 16(8), 1499; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16081499 (registering DOI) - 11 Apr 2026

Abstract

Historic structures that possess cultural heritage value are important documents that convey the architectural understanding, material technology, and construction techniques of past civilizations to the present day. However, these structures are exposed over time to physical, chemical, and mechanical deterioration due to environmental effects, climatic conditions, the natural aging processes of materials, and human interventions. The conservation and faithful restoration of historic structures necessitate the scientific determination of the properties of original building materials. In this study, we aimed to determine the physical, chemical, mineralogical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the original building materials used in the Old Armenian Church located in the city of Çanakkale. In order to reveal the chemical and mineralogical compositions of the samples, XRD, SEM, Raman, and FTIR analyses were applied. The thermal behaviors of the materials were examined through TGA. To determine the physical properties, tests for unit volume weight, specific gravity, compactness, porosity, and water absorption capacity were carried out. For the determination of mechanical properties, compressive strength tests—as well as non-destructive testing methods such as the Schmidt hammer and UPV measurements—were employed. The analysis results indicate that the materials used in the structure have a carbonate-based mineralogical composition and that calcite-bonded systems are dominant. While the physical and mechanical data reveal that the materials possess a compact internal structure, they also indicate that microcracks and weathering processes may be effective in certain areas. These findings emphasize the importance of using lime-based mortars and stones compatible with the original materials in restoration works. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Cultural Heritage—2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 2285 KB

Open AccessArticle

Oxidative Dry Reforming of Methane in a Reactor with a Porous Membrane Catalyst

by Mikhail Tarasenko, Andrey Makarov, Mark Neshin, Valery Skudin, Roman Kozlovskiy, Maria Myachina and Natalia Gavrilova

Membranes 2026, 16(4), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes16040145 (registering DOI) - 11 Apr 2026

Abstract

Oxidative dry reforming of methane (ODRM) in a membrane reactor can become the basis for creating an energy-efficient process for converting greenhouse gases into a sought-after chemical raw material for gas chemistry. The process was carried out in a distribution mode in a reactor with a membrane porous catalyst (MPC) at a temperature of 850 °C. The reagents CH₄ and CO₂ were supplied to the MPC through a volume of retentate, and O₂ mixed with N₂ through a volume of permeate. The mixture of reaction products was removed from the shell side. In the experiment, the effect of the O₂/CO₂ ratio on the conversion of CH₄, CO₂ and O₂, as well as on the thermal effect of the process, was established. When oxygen enters the reactor during dry reforming of methane (DRM), the temperature inversion in the volumes of retentate and permeate occurs, as well as a decrease in electricity consumption in the resistor furnace. The observed effects of the ODRM process in MPC were interpreted using the hypothesis of active mass transfer occurring in pore channels. It is assumed that part of the carbon deposits in MPC will be gasified by oxygen. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Membrane Applications for Energy)

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20 pages, 2979 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of UV Aging on Antimicrobial Performance and Color Stability of Hygienic Additive-Modified Polyurethane and Waterborne Coatings Applied to Oriental Beech (Fagus orientalis L.)

by Hacı İsmail Kesik, Recep Aykan and Perihan Akbaş

Polymers 2026, 18(8), 937; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18080937 (registering DOI) - 11 Apr 2026

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial performance and color stability of silver (Ag)-modified polyurethane and waterborne coating systems applied to Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.) wood after the specimens were subjected to UV aging for 24 h. Antimicrobial activity and color stability were evaluated before and after aging against Escherichia coli (E. coli, ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, NCTC 13552), and Candida albicans (C. albicans) in accordance with the JIS Z 2801 standard. Color changes were determined using CIELab parameters (ΔL*, Δa*, Δb*, and ΔE*) in accordance with the TS EN ISO 16474-3 standard. Prior to UV exposure, the highest antibacterial activity against E. coli occurred in Ag-modified waterborne varnish coatings, whereas the highest antifungal activity against C. albicans occurred in Ag-modified polyurethane paint systems. After UV aging, antimicrobial performance varied depending on the coating type. Particularly, Ag-modified waterborne varnish coatings retained significant antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus and exhibited the highest antifungal performance against C. albicans. Color analysis revealed that UV exposure also caused significant changes in all coating systems. The most pronounced variations were observed for the lightness difference (ΔL*), red–green color difference (Δa*), and yellow–blue color difference (Δb*) parameters, while the lowest total color difference (ΔE*) values were observed for Ag-modified polyurethane and Ag-modified waterborne varnish coatings. Overall, Ag-modified waterborne varnish systems demonstrated superior performance in both antimicrobial activity and color stability after UV aging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Polymer Applications)

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19 pages, 4482 KB

Open AccessReview

Impact of Reforestation on Soil Quality with Emphasis on Mediterranean Mountain Habitats: Review and Case Studies

by Jorge Mongil-Manso, Raimundo Jiménez-Ballesta and María del Monte-Maíz

Land 2026, 15(4), 625; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040625 (registering DOI) - 11 Apr 2026

Abstract

Ecological restoration—whether active or passive—includes forest development, forest rehabilitation, and a range of other activities that contribute to ecosystem services. To provide a formal framework, we hypothesized how does reforestation (through different forestry practices) affect the conservation of soil functionality? That is, how does reforestation/afforestation/forest restoration improve soil quality? And, specifically, how do they improve physical properties (such as structural stability, infiltration) and chemical properties (such as acidity, electrical conductivity)? For this purpose, we conducted a bibliometric analysis review of the peer-reviewed scientific literature and research reports of numerous articles in order to compile a large database of forest restoration studies, with an emphasis on the Mediterranean region. The final focus was to obtain conclusions about how it affects soil quality. Overall, our examination confirms that deforestation drives a decline in soil carbon and nitrogen, subsequently impairing microbial activity. Consequently, forest removal frequently leads to accelerated erosion, nutrient depletion, and compaction. In contrast, reforestation acts as a critical intervention, stabilizing soil structure, reestablishing fertility, and enhancing soil quality overall. Additionally, three case studies are synthetically presented concerning the short-, medium-, and long-term results of forest restoration projects carried out mainly in central and northern Spain. These cases corroborate the significant role of forest restoration in the control and enhancement of ecosystem services, particularly in relation to soil improvement, the enhancement of hydrological regulation processes within watersheds (runoff, infiltration, erosion), landscape amelioration, and the socio-economic aspects of rural environments. Ultimately, forest restoration is established as a necessary and essential practice in ecological restoration efforts to counteract the impacts of anthropogenic activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Restoring Forests, Restoring Soils: Integrated Approaches for Sustainable Land Management)

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17 pages, 1111 KB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Composition of Ash from Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) Biomass Combustion in the Context of Its Potential Reuse in a Circular Economy

by Anna Borkowska, Grzegorz Maj and Kamila E. Klimek

Energies 2026, 19(8), 1868; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19081868 (registering DOI) - 11 Apr 2026

Abstract

The growing importance of renewable energy sources and the implementation of circular economy principles highlight the need for the rational management of biomass combustion by-products. The aim of this study was to assess the chemical composition of ash produced through the combustion of various biomass fractions from four varieties of common hazel (Corylus avellana L.) in the context of its potential for secondary use. The analysis covered the shells, husks, leaves, and shoots of the following varieties: Kataloński, Olbrzymi z Halle, Olga, and Webba Cenny. Combustion was carried out under laboratory conditions at a temperature of 550 °C, and the content of macro- and micro-element oxides (P₂O₅, K₂O, CaO, SO₃, Cl, SiO₂, MnO, Fe₂O₃, NiO, CuO) and potentially toxic elements (ZnO, TiO₂, Cr₂O₃) was determined using the EDXRF method. The results showed significant variation in the chemical composition of the ash depending on the biomass fraction and variety. The highest P₂O₅ content was found in the leaves of the Kataloński variety (5.02), whilst the highest K₂O concentration was found in the husk of the Olga variety (47.33%). The maximum CaO content was found in the leaves of the Webba Cenny variety (32.60). The leaf and husk fractions were characterised by the highest content of nutrients of fertilising importance, whilst the shells exhibited the lowest values for most macronutrients. The content of potentially toxic elements was low. The results obtained indicate that the selective utilisation of specific fractions of hazel biomass can increase the efficiency of mineral recovery whilst maintaining environmental safety, in line with the principles of the circular economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section I2: Energy and Combustion Science)

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