Search Results (619)

This study proposes a multi-criteria decision-making framework for determining optimal locations for shared micromobility stations in Kars, Türkiye. The approach integrates spatial data with structured expert evaluation and applies the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to rank candidate locations. Eight representative locations were evaluated based on five criteria: points of interest (POId), public transport distance, activity level, accessibility, and installation suitability. Spatial indicators were obtained through map-based measurements, while qualitative criteria were assessed using expert-based scoring by 11 experts. The results indicate that locations with high activity density, strong accessibility, and a high concentration of POIs achieve the highest suitability scores. The city center (L2) and Kafkas University (L1) were identified as the most suitable locations, with closeness coefficients of 0.862 and 0.783, respectively. In contrast, the train station (L5) showed the lowest suitability, with a closeness coefficient of 0.326. A sensitivity analysis confirmed that the ranking structure remained unchanged under moderate variations in criteria weights, indicating the robustness of the proposed model. The findings suggest that micromobility systems are primarily driven by intra-urban mobility demand rather than by long-distance transportation nodes. From a sustainability perspective, the proposed framework supports evidence-based planning of shared micromobility infrastructure, which can contribute to reducing dependence on private automobiles, improving urban accessibility, and promoting low-carbon transportation. The findings provide practical guidance for municipalities seeking to develop environmentally sustainable, socially accessible, and resource-efficient urban mobility systems in medium-sized cities. The framework can also support broader sustainable urban development strategies and contribute to the achievement of sustainable mobility objectives. Full article

Welding aluminum (Al) to titanium (Ti) is particularly challenging because of the large differences in their melting points and the tendency to form cavities and brittle intermetallic compounds. Such issues can be mitigated in friction stir welding (FSW) by understanding the underlying mechanisms of microstructural evolution and tensile fracture behavior. In the present study, FSW was carried out on commercially pure Al and commercially pure Ti. X-ray micro-computed tomography results show that the distribution of Ti fragments depends on their morphology, with fine particles (volume 10³–10⁴ µm³) being distributed homogeneously, while large flakes (10⁷–10⁹ µm³) are concentrated near the joint interface. A three-dimensional analysis of Ti fragment distribution was performed to clarify material flow and particle dispersion within the weld nugget. EDS (Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy) and EPMA (Electron Probe Microanalysis) composition mapping confirmed the formation of AlTi and Al₃Ti intermetallic phases, with Al₃Ti as the dominant phase (consistent with its lower Gibbs free energy of formation). Because Al is the primary element in the matrix and undergoes the highest degree of deformation, its microstructural evolution in Al was examined using Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). Grain refinement in Al was attributed to continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX). Mechanical mixing and intermetallic formation increased the hardness of the weld, while the tensile response corresponded to a joint efficiency of approximately 77%, alone with an 11% improvement in elongation over base Al. The study further establishes a correlation among Ti particle distribution, local microstructural evolution, and the tensile response of the joint. Fractographic analysis indicates a bimodal fracture mechanism, and failure occurred away from the joint interface, indicating a strong joint. To interpret this behavior, a spring-based model was proposed to relate the fracture location and tensile deformation to the spatial variation in microstructure across the welded zones. This approach provides a conceptual framework that is extendable to other dissimilar material systems with spatially varying microstructures. Full article

During construction of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railroad between Kars City in Türkiye and Tbilisi in Georgia, blasting operations in an anthrax-endemic region disrupted a burial pit containing carcasses of cattle that had died of anthrax. Railroad workers expressed concerns that release of this material could result in them developing anthrax infection. We therefore undertook a seroprevalence study six months later to seek evidence of exposure to Bacillus anthracis spores. We used an optimised Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to screen serum for antigen-specific IgG antibodies to the anthrax toxin subunits Protective Antigen (PA) and Lethal Factor (LF). Stepwise linear regressions and t-tests were performed to compare results from railroad workers (n = 64) with a group of long-term Kars City residents (urban dwellers, n = 16), who had no history of possible contact with anthrax antigens. Anti-PA IgG concentrations were higher (p = 0.038) in railroad workers than in urban dwellers, but anti-LF IgG concentrations did not differ (p = 0.932) between the two groups. The anti-PA response is known to be dominant, and the difference was small. The lack of LF response did not preclude an antibody response to B. anthracis. Following the blasting operations, no cases of anthrax infection occurred in either railroad workers or villagers living nearby, suggesting that the spore exposure (evidenced by higher antibody titres) was at levels insufficient to initiate clinical infection. The elevated PA-specific antibody responses in railroad workers compared with urban dwellers might be consistent with the former having had previous subclinical exposure to B. anthracis. In anthrax-endemic regions, therefore, construction activities that involve blasting or large-scale excavation may pose risks of occupational exposure to Bacillus anthracis spores. Full article

The oral cavity harbors a complex microbial community where pathogens implicated in dental caries and periodontitis can heavily colonize toothbrushes, transforming them into persistent sources of contamination that threaten both oral and systemic health. Consequently, this study evaluated the bactericidal efficacy of 275 nm ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV-LED) irradiation against common oral bacteria in vitro and its practical utility for extraoral toothbrush sanitization. Suspensions of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum were irradiated for 3 min, 6 min, and 9 min. Bacterial growth and bactericidal effects were measured using growth curve and colony-forming unit assays, respectively. LIVE/DEAD staining and crystal violet staining were used to evaluate the bacterial viability and multispecies biofilm formation after irradiation. Additionally, the sanitization effects of a 275 nm UVC-based portable device on used toothbrushes were investigated. Direct UVC irradiation at 275 nm exhibited strong bactericidal effects against common oral bacteria in vitro. UVC irradiation also showed great sanitization effects on used toothbrushes. In summary, the vulnerability of common oral bacteria to 275 nm UVC, combined with its sanitizing efficacy on used toothbrushes, establishes a solid basis for extraoral sanitization, offering a reliable strategy to mitigate the risk of oral pathogen transmission from contaminated toothbrushes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity is a complex disease involving the accumulation of an excessive amount of body fat. It is a condition that develops when energy intake and expenditure are out of balance. Inflammation and hypertrophy are caused by the storage of too much white adipose tissue, resulting in adiposity, which also secretes several pro-inflammatory cytokines. Several marketed drugs used to treat obesity have many side effects from long-term ingestion. Other therapeutic compounds from marine sources have already been established for treating obesity. In this paper, the main aim is to establish the anti-obesity effect of derived omega-3 fatty acids, i.e., 20:3(n-3)11-14-17 Icosa Trienoic Acid from Setipinna phasa oil. Methods: In the present investigation, inbred male Swiss albino mice were segregated into six categories as Control, Positive Control, Obese Control, and 20:3(n-3)11-14-17 Icosa Trienoic Acid treated groups with three different doses: Treatment 1, Treatment 2 and Treatment 3. To establish the potentiality of extracted fatty acid, different parameters would be considered, such as body weight, lipid composition and different obesity and obesity-associated inflammation markers. Results: After the isolated compound from Setipinna phasa oil was applied to the treated mice group, it decreased their body weight and serum lipid profile by 39.05%, 62.69%, 62.72%, and 78.46% compared to obese mice. They also had lower levels of uric acid, Serum Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase, Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase, and Alkaline Phosphatase, at 67.52%, 57.09%, 64.80%, and 43.99%, than the obese group. Accordingly, the treated group’s expression of genes linked to obesity and pro-inflammatory cytokines was downregulated. The isolated compound affected both anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity markers’ increased expression. Conclusions: After the experiments, it was found that the possibility of using fatty acids might be helpful as an anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity therapeutic strategy. This therapeutic strategy will be cheap and cost-effective. Full article

Background/Objectives: Endovascular treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) is associated with substantial radiation exposure due to procedural complexity and repeated angiographic acquisitions. This study evaluates radiation exposure during AVM and AVF embolization and establishes local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs). Methods: A single-center retrospective dose audit was conducted, encompassing 114 endovascular procedures performed using a low-dose workflow. Radiation exposure was quantified using dose area product (DAP), reference air kerma (K_a,r), fluoroscopy time (FT), and the number of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) frames per procedure. Median values were defined as the median (P50), and local DRLs as the 75th percentile (P75). Comparative analyses were conducted between AVM and AVF procedures, between male and female patients, and within selected AVM subgroups. Results: The analysis comprised 86 AVM procedures and 28 AVF procedures. For AVMs, the local DRLs (P75) were 28.9 Gy·cm² for DAP, 400 mGy for K_a,r, 310 DSA frames per procedure, and 1619 s for FT. For AVFs, the respective values were 47.3 Gy·cm², 465 mGy, 478 DSA frames, and 1820 s. No statistically significant differences were identified between female and male patients. However, AVF procedures demonstrated significantly higher radiation exposure than AVM procedures for all parameters except FT. Within the AVM subgroup, no significant differences were observed between single-stage and other AVM procedures or between female and male patients. Conclusions: AVM and AVF embolization procedures are dose-intensive neuroendovascular interventions. Establishing local DRLs for AVM and AVF may enhance radiation monitoring and facilitate procedure-specific dose optimization. Full article

This article presents a technology for the physical recycling of printed circuit boards (PCBs) that is consistent with the principles of circular economy and sustainable production. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed for PCB recycling using shredding, grinding, and physical and physicochemical processes such as electrostatic separation, gravity separation, and flotation for the separation of metals and plastics. Based on this assessment and the selectivity criterion, electrostatic separation was found to be the best separation method, followed by shredding and cryogenic grinding. For this option, the yield of metals and plastics was 25.1% and 72.5% of feed, respectively, while the yield of the middling’s product (mixture of metals and plastics) was only 2.4%. Furthermore, the financial benefits of recycling, including economics of the business case and the environmental benefits are presented. The possibility of using non-metallic fraction (plastic) generated during recycling as an additive in the production of composite materials was also assessed. The results suggest that low filler contents (2.5–5%) provide a compromise between maintaining mechanical performance and improving hardness and tribological properties. Physical recycling technology is a pretreatment method for WPCB, complementing conventional chemical recycling methods. The global warming potential for the entire physical and chemical process is then lowered by about 70%, due to the smaller mass of input material going to the downstream metallurgical processes. Full article

Cannabis sativa L. is a medicinal plant cultivated globally due to its remarkable historical and scientific relevance. Through the consumption of its flowers, also referred to as inflorescences, which contain a high content of cannabinoids, terpenes and polyphenols, the therapeutic properties of C. sativa can be harnessed. This study therefore aimed to determine the chemical profile, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oils (EOs) obtained from the fresh and dried flowers of two C. sativa cultivars, Lifter and Cherrywine, grown in Komga, South Africa, to assess which cultivar has greater biological potential. The chemical profiles of the hydro-distilled EOs were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), while the in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of the EOs was analyzed using the DPPH and EAD methods, respectively. The identified constituents from the EOs were molecularly docked against NOX2 and NIK (NF-κB-inducing kinase) protein, which are implicated in oxidative stress. The afforded EOs were yellow (pale and bright yellow) in color with a sweet to mildly sweet aroma description. A total of 51 constituents were identified in both fresh and dry oils from the Lifter cultivar, while the Cherrywine cultivar contained a total of 44 constituents. Eighteen compounds, were found to be the main chemical constituents consistent in the flower EOs of both cultivars, notably, caryophyllene (10.71–19.96%), levo-β-pinene (1.37–13.21%), humulene (5.88–9.77%), caryophyllene oxide (4.32–7.49%), D-limonene (1.40–5.48%), α-pinene (2.22–5.22%), nerolidol (0.63–4.97%), cis-β-ocimene (0.22–4.37%), linalool (1.12–4.28%), selina-3,7(11)-diene (0.15–4.23%), humulene-1,2-epoxide (1.23–3.32%), guaiol (0.17–2.60%), (+)-β-selinene (1.20–2.51%), trans-α-bergamotene (0.68–2.37%), β-ocimene (0.90–2.27%), fenchol exo- (0.15–1.27), terpineol (0.14–1.38%) and α-terpineol (0.19–0.75%). The fresh Lifter flower oil (LFO) showed 50% inhibition at 100 μg/mL, with an IC₅₀ of 69.50 ± 4.05 µg/mL against DPPH, suggesting moderate to low radical scavenging activity. The maximum percentage inhibition response of DLFO, CFO and DCFO remained below 50% at all concentrations. The antioxidant activity of fresh LFO may be attributed to its overall chemical composition. The flower oils showed in vitro inhibition of protein denaturation; however, the high standard deviation relative to the mean IC₅₀ values limited the ability to rank the samples’ potencies. Further in silico studies on the putative constituents in the Lifter and Cherrywine cultivars revealed β-bisabolene and α-curcumene as potential molecular targets, with binding energy scores of −7.7 and −7.9 kcal/mol, respectively. Thus, the study findings highlight the promising biological importance of C. sativa inflorescences in the management of oxidative stress-related conditions. Further studies may investigate the influence of environmental growing conditions on their chemical composition, total ROS analysis, pharmacokinetic properties, and in vivo efficacy against oxidative damage to DNA, proteins and lipids. Evaluating the toxicity of the flower EOs is also recommended. Full article

SMXL proteins serve as central regulators of strigolactone (SL) and karrikin (KAR) signaling pathways, orchestrating key developmental processes including shoot branching, floral transition, photomorphogenesis and stress responses. However, the SMXL gene family has not been systematically characterized in Lavandula angustifolia. We identified 37 LaSMXL genes in the lavender genome. Phylogenetic and synteny analyses classified these proteins into four subgroups (Groups I–IV) and indicated that family expansion in lavender was mainly driven by whole-genome and segmental duplications, with most duplicated pairs evolving under strong purifying selection. Gene structure and motif analyses revealed high conservation within each subgroup. Promoter cis-element analysis suggested that LaSMXL genes are integrated into light-, hormone- and stress-responsive regulatory networks. RNA-seq profiling showed that most LaSMXL genes are weakly expressed, but a small subset displays pronounced tissue specificity and clear transcriptional responses to low temperature. Protein–protein interaction predictions and co-expression network analysis further placed highly expressed LaSMXLs within conserved SL/KAR and chloroplast/light-associated modules, alongside D14, KAI2, MAX2, CCD7/CCD8, and CYP711A. Together, these findings provide the first comprehensive overview of the SMXL gene family in lavender and identify candidate LaSMXL genes for future functional studies aimed at optimizing plant architecture and inflorescence-derived essential oil biosynthesis. Full article

Given the increasing concern around greenhouse gas emissions and the decline in the availability of fossil fuels, there is increasing global demand to develop alternate fuels for maritime transportation that are sustainable and which have lower greenhouse gas emissions. Methanol is one such alternative fuel that has garnered considerable attention given its potential to be produced by more sustainable processes and its more favorable greenhouse gas emission profile in comparison with current fossil fuels. Understanding the physical and chemical properties of methanol under a range of conditions is essential for its development as a marine fuel. In this study, we seek to define physical and chemical properties of different methanol samples to simulate real-world storage conditions as these data are lacking in the literature. Several methanol samples were evaluated: nearly pure methanol; International Organization for Standardization (ISO) marine methanol (MM) grades A, B, and C; and methanol plus higher alcohols. We first evaluated all methanol samples for impurities, acetic acid content, density, and distillation range. We then characterized the effects of water absorption and found that methanol can easily absorb unacceptable water content from humid air within hours, necessitating storage conditions that prevent this process. In eight-week aging experiments at 20 °C and 40 °C in ambient air, we did not observe significant oxidation for any of the methanol samples; however, we did observe increases in acid number. We assessed the impact of contamination of methanol with water, marine gas oil (MGO), and an MGO–biodiesel mixture on density, viscosity, distillation range, and lubricity. Finally, we show that MGO contamination of methanol results in a slight increase in sooting tendency. In aggregate, our results provide an in-depth analysis of physical and chemical properties of methanol as well as the impacts of storage conditions and impurities on the properties of fuel methanol. Full article

Norovirus is the leading cause of acute infectious gastroenteritis in the world and accounts for a significant proportion of outbreaks at the food-borne and person-to-person levels. Due to their low infectious dose, persistence in the environment, and broad genetic diversity, they can quickly spread and reappear in even the most diverse populations. This review integrates current knowledge on the epidemiology of noroviruses, genomic organization, structural biology, virus–host interactions, and replication mechanisms, with a focus on factors that determine virus evolution and strain dominance. Literature has been systematically searched in the PubMed and Scopus databases to incorporate recent experimental and epidemiological findings. Analysis of global surveillance data indicates ongoing genetic diversification of circulating strains, with periodic replacement of major variants, particularly the GII.4 lineage. Variability of the capsid and recognition of histo-blood Group Antigens strongly affects the host’s susceptibility, viral attachment and immune escape. The capsid consists of most of the viral protein complexes. The structural proteins VP1 and VP2 are responsible for determining the contours of the capsid and antigenic specificity. Non-structural proteins are responsible for coordinating the genome replication and the modification of host cell pathways to favor the production of the virus. Eliminating these gaps by means of integrated genomic surveillance and functional studies will provide insight into the evolution of norovirus and help to develop broadly effective vaccines and antiviral strategies. Full article

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a common occupational disorder, yet non-invasive molecular indicators of chronic occupational noise exposure remain insufficiently characterized. Although the cochlear mechanisms behind NIHL have been extensively studied in experimental models, peripheral blood transcriptomic alterations in affected human populations are less well defined. In this exploratory study, we aimed to describe peripheral blood gene expression patterns associated with occupational NIHL and to generate candidate molecular signals for future validation. Peripheral blood RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed in 11 male individuals with occupational bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and four noise-unexposed healthy male controls. Transcript abundance was quantified using a standardized RNA-seq workflow, and formal differential expression analysis was conducted on gene-level count data derived from Salmon quantification using DESeq2 with Benjamini–Hochberg correction. Through our analysis, we identified a limited set of differentially expressed genes, including upregulated interferon-associated transcripts, such as RSAD2, IFIT1, IFI44L, and CMPK2, host-defense-related genes, including DEFA1, DEFA3, and DEFA4, and immune-regulatory transcripts such as HLA-DRB1 and GPR15, together with downregulated non-coding RNAs including SNORD3A and SNORD3C. These findings suggest that occupational NIHL may be accompanied by detectable peripheral blood transcriptomic alterations, predominantly involving immune- and host-defense-related pathways. Given the limited cohort size and exploratory design, these genes represent preliminary candidates for validation in larger independent cohorts. Full article

This paper examines the interaction between fiscal and monetary policies in Myanmar under ongoing political and economic uncertainty. We estimate a small open-economy New Keynesian DSGE model using Bayesian methods, combining the Kalman filter with Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling on quarterly data from 2013Q1 to 2022Q1. The results show a persistent regime of monetary and fiscal policy conflict. While the central bank follows an active anti-inflationary interest rate rule that satisfies the Taylor principle, fiscal policy shows weak responsiveness to public debt, providing limited fiscal backing for monetary stabilization. As a result, monetary tightening aimed at controlling inflation exacerbates fiscal stress through the debt-service channel, undermining the overall effectiveness of macroeconomic stabilization. Political instability emerges as a key structural driver of macroeconomic fragility. Political shocks are highly persistent and are transmitted primarily through increases in the country risk premium, accounting for more than 50% of real exchange rate volatility and generating exchange rate depreciation, higher inflation, and output contraction. Overall, the findings indicate that monetary tightening alone is insufficient to restore macroeconomic stability in fragile and conflict-affected economies. Credible fiscal adjustment and improvements in political stability are necessary to contain external vulnerabilities and restore the effectiveness of monetary policy. Full article

Background and aims: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is a widely studied probiotic species with well-documented benefits for gastrointestinal function and immune modulation. However, probiotic effects are strain-specific, and the safety of newly identified strains must be clinically established. L. plantarum K014, isolated from traditionally fermented vegetables, has not previously been evaluated in human subjects. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of L. plantarum K014 in healthy Malaysian adults by assessing its effects on anthropometric measures, hematological indices, liver and renal function, gastrointestinal health, and selected immune-related outcomes, including the incidence and severity of common cold symptoms. Methods: This single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted over a 6-month period. Of 304 healthy adults screened, 152 were enrolled and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either L. plantarum K014 (≥1 × 10⁹ CFU/day) or placebo (maltodextrin), administered daily in sachet form; 125 participants completed the study. Clinical assessments, including physical examination, anthropometric measurements, and blood analyses, were performed at baseline, Month 4, and Month 6. Gastrointestinal symptoms, stool characteristics, and immune-related outcomes were monitored weekly using structured online questionnaires. Results: L. plantarum K014 was well tolerated, with no probiotic-related adverse events reported. No clinically significant changes were observed in body weight, BMI, hematological indices, or renal function in either group. Exploratory analyses indicated that participants receiving L. plantarum K014 exhibited statistically significant differences in several liver function markers, as well as lower severity of diarrhea and abdominal pain compared with placebo, though these findings were not prespecified efficacy endpoints and should be interpreted cautiously. Similarly, lower weekly ratings of common cold symptoms interfering with work or study were observed in the probiotic group as an exploratory observation. Conclusions: Daily consumption of L. plantarum K014 at a dose of ≥1 × 10⁹ CFU for six months was safe and well tolerated in healthy adults. The absence of adverse effects, together with observed trends toward lower gastrointestinal discomfort and immune-related symptoms, supports the suitability of L. plantarum K014 for further investigation in efficacy-driven clinical studies. Full article