Search Results (50,435)

Thermal modification is widely applied to improve the durability and dimensional stability of wood; however, it alters the emission profile of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which may affect indoor air quality. This study evaluated the effect of accelerated aging on VOC emissions from thermally modified Norway spruce (Picea abies) wood. Untreated and thermally treated samples (160, 180, and 210 °C) were subjected to accelerated aging in a xenon test chamber for 600 h. VOC emissions were analyzed using headspace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS), and total VOC emissions (TVOC) were calculated from peak areas. Thermal modification significantly reduced TVOC compared to untreated wood, with samples treated at 210 °C showing up to a 376-fold decrease. Increasing modification temperature reduced the amount and variability of emitted VOCs and altered their chemical composition. Terpenes dominated in untreated wood, particularly α-pinene (51%), whereas thermally treated samples showed lower terpene content and higher proportions of carbonyl compounds such as furfural. Accelerated aging further affected VOC emissions, including a 42% decrease in TVOC for the 160 °C sample and compositional shifts characterized by the disappearance or formation of specific compounds. Thermal modification and subsequent aging substantially modify VOC emission profiles and improve emission stability of thermally treated spruce wood. Full article

The increasing interest in valorizing agricultural by-products has positioned grape pomace as a rich source of bioactive compounds. This study developed an effect-directed extraction (EDE) approach guided by bioactivity quantification on thin layer chromatography (TLC). Twelve grape pomaces were screened based on antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory properties. Using hydroalcoholic solvent (ethanol:water, 1:1), the two most promising sources (Malbec from San Rafael) were subjected to response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize extraction of anti-browning and antioxidant compounds visualized as TLC spots. Temperature and time were optimized (76 °C, 45 min), and samples were analyzed using TLC coupled with DPPH and laccase inhibition bioautography. Antioxidant compounds showed retention factor values on TLC plates of 0.37 and 0.75 (DPPH/ABTS-active), while laccase inhibition occurred at Rf 0.35, coinciding with the primary tyrosinase inhibition zone. However, subsequent bioassay-guided HPLC fractionation and HRMS/MS analysis revealed that tyrosinase and laccase inhibitions are mediated by distinct compounds within this bioactive zone, highlighting a synergistic multi-target effect in the optimized extract that is retained throughout the process. The primary tyrosinase inhibitor at Rf ~0.35 was tentatively elucidated as an acylated anthocyanin, consistent with malvidin-3-O-(p-coumaroyl)glucoside. Optimized extracts were evaluated on Pink Lady apple slices at different timepoints. The browning index was reduced by 25% versus the control at 15 h, confirmed by significantly lower ΔE values (p < 0.05). The process requires only food-grade solvents and conventional equipment, facilitating scale-up for grape pomace generated worldwide. Validating the EDE strategy, this TLC-guided approach successfully tracked and preserved the primary anti-tyrosinase activity from the crude waste matrix down to the tentatively identified molecule, contributing to circular economy objectives in the wine industry. Full article

Passenger fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) require high-gain DC/DC converters to achieve voltage matching between the low-power fuel cell (FC) stack (50–200 V) and the vehicle DC bus (400–800 V). To address the challenges in existing step-up DC/DC converters in relation to balancing the requirements of high voltage gain, wide input voltage range, low input current ripple and voltage stress, the common ground of input–output, and high efficiency in passenger FCV applications, this paper proposes three types of high-gain DC/DC converters based on an interleaved structure, incorporating quadratic Boost, quasi-Z source, and switched-inductor impedance networks. These designs effectively balance the scenario requirements of passenger FCVs. Meanwhile, taking one of the proposed converters (Interleaved-Quadratic Boost; I-QB) as an example, its steady-state performance such as voltage gain is analyzed and compared in detail with existing voltage step-up DC/DC converters. Furthermore, a scaled-down SiC-based experimental platform is constructed. Steady-state experiments validate the converter’s maximum voltage step-up capability of ten times, wide input voltage range of 30–80 V, input current ripple of less than 0.3 A, and low voltage stress on devices (≤U_o/2), thereby confirming the feasibility of these converters and the correctness of the performance analysis. The dynamic experimental results indicated that under input voltage step changes of 50–80 V and 100–50% load step changes, the I-QB converter exhibits a minor voltage overshoot with settling time under 200 ms. The prototype achieves a peak efficiency of 94.2%, confirming these converters’ suitability for passenger FCV powertrains. Full article

Fungicide contamination is an increasing global environmental concern, due to the harm they may pose to non-target organisms, their contribution to antimicrobial resistance, and the potential risks to human health when drinking water (DW) sources are impacted. Many fungicides used in agriculture are chiral and may exist as racemates, or a combination of diastereoisomers and/or enantiomers. Since enantiomers can differ in environmental fate, distribution, and toxicity, enantioselective analysis of chiral fungicides is crucial. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an analytical method for the determination of azole chiral and achiral fungicides in DW using solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS). Chromatographic separation of one achiral fungicide and five chiral fungicides was achieved using a polysaccharide chromatographic column under reverse elution mode. The validated method demonstrated high sensitivity with method detection limits (MDL) below 0.86 ng L⁻¹ and was successfully applied to 13 DW samples collected from various supply networks across Portugal. Seven out of the 15 targeted analytes were found at trace concentrations (>MDL). Fluconazole was the most frequently detected (~87% of the samples). The hazard quotients (HQs) for individual compounds for each individual fungicide (sum of the enantiomers for those chiral) and the hazard index (HI, sum of the individual HQ values) were calculated in each DW sample, indicating no significant health risks to consumers, since it is well below 0.1 for all compounds. Full article

Termite guts represent a unique microbial habitat harboring bacteria with potential probiotic properties, owing to their ability to inhibit pathogenic microorganisms. This study investigated the probiotic characteristics of lactic acid bacteria newly isolated from the guts of the termite Termes propinquus, aiming to enhance growth performance and reduce the incidence of foodborne pathogen contamination in the commonly consumed edible two-spotted crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus). In this study, five morphologically different bacteria (TPL-1 to TPL-5) were isolated and respectively identified as Levilactobacillus brevis, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Streptococcus anginosus, Companilactobacillus alimentarius, and Aerococcus viridans based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and MALDI-TOF MS. All isolates were evaluated for tolerance to stressful conditions (pH 2.5 and 0.3% bile salts), cell surface properties, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens, safety profiles, and adhesion to human colon adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2 and HT-29). Among them, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TPL-2 demonstrated the strongest probiotic attributes and was further assessed for anti-adhesion activity against foodborne pathogens and in vivo effects on the crickets. Dietary supplementation with Lb. plantarum TPL-2 significantly improved cricket growth, survival, and gut microbiota homeostasis. These findings point to the prospect of termite-derived lactic acid bacteria as beneficial probiotics for use in biotechnological applications and edible insect farming. Full article

Resin-based dental composites are widely used in restorative dentistry; however, concerns persist regarding their potential release of Bisphenol-A (BPA), a compound with recognized endocrine-disrupting activity. This in vitro study evaluated the time-dependent release of BPA from four contemporary resin-based dental filling composites immersed in artificial saliva under different thermal conditions. Disk-shaped specimens (5.5 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness) of Estelite Sigma Quick, Clearfil Majesty ES-2, Omnichroma Flow, and Luna 2 were incubated in artificial saliva at physiological pH (6.8) at 37 °C and 44 °C. BPA concentrations were quantified after 1, 7, and 28 days using a validated UHPLC–MS/MS method. BPA release was observed for all materials except Luna 2, for which it remained below the limit of quantification (LOQ) at all time points and temperatures. Across all BPA-releasing composites, the highest concentrations were observed after 1 day of immersion, particularly at 44 °C. Estelite Sigma Quick exhibited the highest BPA release, followed by Clearfil Majesty ES-2 and Omnichroma Flow. BPA release decreased progressively over time for all materials. Statistical analysis confirmed significant effects of material type, temperature, and exposure duration on BPA release (p < 0.001). Within the limitations of this in vitro study, BPA release appears to be material-dependent and influenced by thermal conditions and immersion time. Although absolute BPA concentrations were low, these findings highlight the importance of material-specific evaluation and continued monitoring of potential sources of cumulative BPA exposure from restorative dental materials. Full article

This study developed a facial skin care serum based on extracts from cornflower petals (Centaurea cyanus L.). The study applied the concept of loan extraction, in which the ingredients of the final cosmetic product were used as the extraction medium. The extracts obtained were analyzed for stability and physicochemical parameters, as well as phytochemical composition, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity. Among the tested solvents, the extract prepared with 1,3-propanediol aqueous solution exhibited the highest TPC (13.5 mg GAE/g) and demonstrated the strongest antioxidant activity measured by ABTS (20.12 d ± 0.07 mgTE/g). HPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed that the extract obtained using this medium showed the most complex profile of bioactive compounds among all the studied samples. After the extraction process the borrowed ingredients were returned together with the extracted ingredients to prepare cosmetic preparations—facial skin care serums. The finished model cosmetic products were evaluated for physicochemical parameters (stability, viscosity, color) and irritation potential, considering the extract used, which varied depending on the extraction agent borrowed from the formulated composition. The preparation obtained on the basis of an aqueous solution of 1,3-propanediol as an extraction agent showed the most favorable properties in terms of irritation, determined on the basis of the zein number (15 ± 4 mgN/100 mL), compared to facial skin face serum without extract addition (21 ± 1 mg N/100 mL). This extract was also characterized by the highest values of TPC and antioxidant activity, hence the observed reduction in irritation potential can be attributed to the beneficial effects of bioactive compounds derived from Centaurea cyanus L. extract. Full article

This study evaluated the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and chemical properties of four wild edible macrofungi—Tuber aestivum (Wulfen) Spreng., Terfezia claveryi Chatin, Agaricus arvensis Schaeff. and Bovistella utriformis (Bull.) Demoulin & Rebriev—collected from different regions of Türkiye, with particular emphasis on the role of phenolic compounds. Methanol and hexane extracts were assessed for antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial strains, and Candida albicans using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined, and antioxidant capacities were evaluated using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), and CUPRAC (cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity) assays. The chemical profiles of hexane extracts were characterized by GC–MS analysis, whereas methanol extracts were analyzed by LC–MS/MS. Methanol extracts with high content of phenolic compounds exhibited markedly higher antimicrobial activity than hexane extracts, especially against Gram-positive bacteria. B. utriformis and A. arvensis displayed the highest phenolic contents (29.61 ± 0.6 and 27.14 ± 0.59 mg GAE/g DW, respectively) and antioxidant activities, revealing a strong positive correlation between TPC and antioxidant capacity. LC–MS/MS analysis revealed catechin, cinnamic acid, and caffeic acid as prominent phenolic constituents, highlighting the role of polyphenols in the observed bioactivity. GC–MS profiling predominantly identified fatty acid methyl esters, particularly linoleic and oleic acids, together with minor phenolic derivatives, suggesting a possible synergistic interaction contributing to the overall biological potential. The results highlight phenolic-rich macrofungi as valuable natural sources of antioxidant and antimicrobial agents with potential applications. Full article

Background: Childhood obesity is becoming an increasingly prevalent global health issue. Pesticides, which pose significant threats to human health and the environment are major risk factors for various diseases, including cancer, obesity, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and food allergies. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is an enzyme found on high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in serum, which hydrolyzes toxic oxon metabolites of organophosphate pesticides, certain carbamates, aromatic and aliphatic lactones, aromatic esters, and oxidized lipids through its calcium-dependent glycoprotein structure. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between environmental pesticide exposure, childhood obesity, and PON1 levels. Methods: The study included 58 obese children with a body mass index above the 95th percentile and 43 healthy children of the same age group. Serum PON1 levels were measured using the ELISA method. Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in the blood were determined through LC/MS/MS and GC analysis methods. Results: According to ELISA analysis, the PON1 level was significantly lower in the obesity group (102.8 ± 12.49 ng/mL) compared to the control group (134.8 ± 14.29 ng/mL) (p < 0.001). LC/MS/MS and GC analyses showed significantly higher levels of Σ₄OPPs and Σ₄PCBs in obese children compared to the control group (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of Σ₄OCP levels (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the presence of OPPs and PCBs in the blood of obese children. Although these factors are associated with PON1, further research is needed to evaluate their potential role as risk indicators for obesity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Infraocclusion in pediatric patients may result in space loss, malocclusion and the need for complex orthodontic treatment if not detected early. Conventional diagnosis may be subject to human error and can be challenging, particularly in pediatric cases. The aim of this study is to design and evaluate a lightweight, two-stage deep learning framework with integrated explainable AI (XAI) techniques for automated infraocclusion detection in pediatric panoramic radiographs. Methods: Annotated panoramic radiographs of pediatric patients aged 7–11 years were used for training and validation. In the first stage, a MobileNet V2 Lite model was used to detect the region of interest (ROI) comprising premolars and molars. In the second stage, a custom CNN classifier was proposed to distinguish between infraocclusion and no infraocclusion. Model performance was evaluated in terms of diagnostic accuracy, computational complexity, and statistical significance. XAI techniques were also incorporated to visualize model attention and enhance interpretability. Results: The detection stage achieved high reliability with a precision, recall, F1-score, and AP50 values of 0.99, and an AP75 of 0.89, indicating accurate ROI localization. The classification stage reached an overall accuracy of 98.78%, with class-specific accuracies of 99.25% for infraocclusion and 98.31% for no infraocclusion cases. The framework also demonstrated computational efficiency, requiring only 1.88 M trainable parameters (7.19 MB), with short training times and low inference latency (0.8 ms for classification and 19 ms for detection). XAI visualizations consistently highlighted clinically relevant regions, such as occlusal margins and interproximal areas, confirming the model’s alignment with radiographic features recognized by clinicians. Conclusions: The proposed two-stage framework provides an accurate, computationally efficient, and interpretable solution for automated infraocclusion detection in pediatric patients. Its modular design and reduced complexity support practical integration into routine clinical workflows, including resource-constrained environments. These findings indicate that lightweight and XAI systems may enhance early infraocclusion detection while maintaining clinical transparency. Full article

The objective of this research was to apply morphometric and chemometric techniques to analyze the influence of climate and soil type on the morphological, proximate, and fatty acid fingerprints of moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) seeds cultivated in different regions of Mexico. Seeds were collected from the states of Chiapas, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Yucatán. The morphological traits of the seeds were evaluated, while the proximate composition and fatty acid profiles of the seed flours were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Data were assessed through analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear discriminant analysis to develop their fingerprint profiles. The results showed that the morphological variables that constituted the climate-based morphological fingerprint were seed length, width, seed weight, and kernel weight, whereas for the soil type-based fingerprint, only seed length was significant. Regarding the proximate chemical composition, all variables (fat, ash, moisture, and protein), except fiber content, were influenced by both climate and soil type, forming the proximate chemical fingerprint. The fatty acid fingerprint consisted of 21 compounds, with oleic, behenic, stearic, palmitic, and arachidic acids present in the highest concentrations. The fingerprints obtained from the different determinations were confirmed through cross-validation values exceeding 50%, according to the linear discriminant analysis validation technique. The fatty acid and proximate composition determinations showed the highest classification values (83–100%) and contributed most significantly to ensuring the fingerprinting of moringa seeds cultivated in Mexico. Full article

The recurrent influx of pelagic Sargassum spp. along Caribbean coastlines poses a significant environmental challenge while offering potential as a resource-recovery agricultural input. However, agricultural reuse of Sargassum biomass raises concerns regarding salinity and trace-metal distribution within the soil–plant–food continuum. This study evaluated the short-term elemental response to a Sargassum-Based Liquid Biofertilizer (SBLB) produced via controlled anaerobic fermentation, using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) grown under greenhouse conditions. Raw biomass, fermented biofertilizer, irrigation water, soils, vegetative tissues, and fruits were chemically characterized. Elemental concentrations were quantified by ICP–OES and ICP-MS and treatment effects were analyzed using one-way and two-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). Anaerobic fermentation resulted in lower measured concentrations of sodium, arsenic, and selected trace elements in the liquid fraction relative to raw biomass. SBLB application increased soil macronutrient availability (N, P, K, Ca, Mg), while soil trace-metal concentrations remained within international reference ranges during the experimental period. Metals of concern (As, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr) showed no detectable short-term enrichment in soils, vegetative tissues, or fruits relative to controls. In tomato fruits, arsenic, cadmium, and lead were below the limit of quantification across all treatments. Within the experimental timeframe, SBLB application was not associated with detectable trace-element accumulation in the soil–plant system. Long-term field studies and detailed soil physicochemical characterization are required to evaluate cumulative effects under repeated applications. Full article

In desert regions, frequent aeolian dust events lead to rapid dust accumulation on greenhouse films, critically compromising light transmittance and inhibiting crop growth. To address this challenge, this study integrated Computational Fluid Dynamics–Discrete Phase Model (CFD-DPM) simulations with field experiments to conduct a comprehensive investigation spanning from microscopic deposition mechanisms to macroscopic physiological responses. Particle characterization revealed a distinct aerodynamic sorting effect, wherein fine particles (<65 μm) preferentially adhered to film surfaces driven by airflow, contrasting sharply with the gravitational settling of coarse ground particles. Numerical simulations further confirmed that as wind speeds increased from 2 to 7 m/s, dust deposition rates exhibited a significant exponential reduction, with accumulation predominantly concentrated in the windward and wake zones. The dust layer covering the film induced a substantial reduction in the indoor daily light integral (DLI), which leads to influence tomato growth that stunted plant height and suppressed the net photosynthetic rate. Physiologically, antioxidant enzyme activities exhibited an initial surge followed by a decline, reflecting photosynthetic constraints and oxidative stress. Consequently, a high-frequency cleaning interval of 7–14 days is recommended to significantly enhance photosynthetic capacity and stress resilience. Full article

Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have become an important platform for accelerating real-time communication systems, and System-on-Chip (SoC) devices provide the flexibility to design and optimize architectures that support high data rates, different modulation formats, and channel equalization schemes. Selecting the appropriate architecture can be guided through Design Space Exploration (DSE) using high-level synthesis tools, which enables the identification of numerical representations that balance performance with reduced hardware resource consumption. Despite their relevance, recent developments in communication systems often overlook the impact of numerical precision in Digital Signal Processing algorithms, particularly the trade-offs between floating- and fixed-point arithmetic when targeting hardware implementations. In this work, two widely used blind equalization algorithms, the Constant Modulus Algorithm (CMA) and the Multi-Modulus Algorithm (MMA), were implemented on a low-cost Ultra96 SoC-FPGA to analyze the effect of a fixed-point representation. A multi-objective Design Space Exploration methodology was applied to minimize hardware utilization while maintaining reliable transmission performance. Resource consumption, latency, and throughput were measured across different binary formats using the Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) criterion. Parallelization techniques were incorporated to improve throughput. The DSE generated comprehensive performance surfaces quantifying latency, MMSE convergence, and FPGA resource utilization (DSP48E/FF/LUT/BRAM) across fixed-point formats, achieving optimal 4 MS/s throughput configurations. Although this throughput is naturally lower than the Gigabit speeds required in backbone optical networks, the results demonstrate the effectiveness of numerical representation optimization in resource-constrained SoC-FPGA devices, offering a practical approach for real-time Edge and IoT implementations where cost and hardware limitations are critical. Full article

Load monitoring is essential in football to optimise training prescription and reduce injury risk, yet the internal and external demands of common possession drills such as rondos remain insufficiently described. Rondo formats are widely used across levels, but changes in player configuration may substantially alter their load profile. This study examined how three rondo configurations (5vs2, 6vs2 and 8vs2) affect internal load (RPE) and external load (GPS-derived metrics) in semi-professional football players. Twenty-one Spanish players (mean age = 28.9 years) from the same team participated in the study. All players completed three rondo formats (5vs2, 6vs2 and 8vs2) across four separate weeks. Each format consisted of three 3-min bouts with 1 min of recovery, and players were restricted to one touch. Internal load was assessed using players’ rating of perceived exertion (RPE), while external load was measured using a global positioning system (GPS). The results showed a significantly higher perceived exertion in the 5vs2 rondo compared with the other formats (p < 0.001). Regarding external load, significantly greater values (p < 0.001) were observed in the 6vs2 rondo for distance covered at 12.1–18.0 km·h⁻¹ (DZ2) and 18.1–21.0 km·h⁻¹ (DZ3) compared with the other rondo formats. In contrast, 6vs2 also elicited a significantly lower number of accelerations above 3 m·s⁻² and decelerations below −3 m·s⁻² than the other formats (p < 0.001; p < 0.006). Finally, 5vs2 produced significantly higher maximum speed than 8vs2 (p = 0.016). In conclusion, the 6vs2 rondo may be the most suitable option to target DZ2 and DZ3 compared with 5vs2 and 8vs2. Conversely, 5vs2 induced the greatest acceleration and deceleration demands, followed by 8vs2. Therefore, coaches can select the rondo format according to the desired external load requirements. Full article