Search Results (192,129)

The use of manure as a growing medium for horticultural crop cultivation is a sustainable practice that may allow a reduction in the production costs and the environmental burden of bulky waste management. For this purpose, the current study investigated the partial substitution of peat with manure at various rates (0% (GS1), 100% (GS2), 80% (GS3), 60% (GS4), 40% (GS5), and 20% (GS6)) in pot-cultivated purslane. Our results indicate that the substitution of peat with manure may increase crop yield by 60% to 80%. Moreover, the nutritional value was improved for specific manure rates; for example, the ash and carbohydrate contents in leaves increased at 60% and 20%, respectively, while the fat and carbohydrate contents in shoots increased at 80% and 20%, respectively. P content increased in both leaves and shoots when manure was added to the growing medium, while application at low rates (e.g., 20%) resulted in decreased N and K content. Finally, regarding leaf total phenol and flavonoid contents, as well as antioxidant activity in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays, values increased when manure was added at 40% to 60%; in shoots, increased values were observed for these parameters when manure was applied at 0% or 100%. In conclusion, our results suggest that peat substitution with manure is a viable, sustainable practice in purslane cultivation in pots without compromising the yield and quality parameters of plants. However, more species and different types of manure must be tested to design tailor-made growing media for horticultural crops. Full article

Background/Objective: Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute and highly contagious immunosuppressive disease in chickens caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). In recent years, a novel variant IBDV (nVarIBDV) has emerged and spread widely, inducing severe immunosuppression and posing a substantial threat to the poultry industry. More importantly, owing to antigenic variations, nVarIBDV can escape the immune protection of the existing vaccines. Therefore, it is imperative to develop a new vaccine that is antigenically matched to nVarIBDV. Methods: The major protective antigen gene VP2 of the representative nVarIBDV strain SHG19 was inserted into the eukaryotic expression plasmid pCAGGS to construct the recombinant plasmid pCASHGVP2. Subsequently, pCASHGVP2 was encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to form pCASHGVP2-LNP nanoparticles. Finally, using the SPF chicken model, the immune efficacy of pCASHGVP2-LNP was preliminarily assessed by administering two vaccine doses (10 and 20 μg) and two immunization regimens (single or double immunization). Results: Efficient VP2 protein expression from pCASHGVP2 was confirmed by in vitro transfection experiments. The prepared pCASHGVP2-LNP nanoparticles exhibited an optimal particle size distribution and acceptable polydispersity index, indicating a homogeneous formulation. Furthermore, animal experiments showed that the candidate DNA vaccine elicited specific neutralizing antibodies after double immunization and protected immunized chickens from disease induced by nVarIBDV challenge. Conclusions: This study reports the first development of an LNP-encapsulated VP2 DNA vaccine (pCASHGVP2-LNP) against nVarIBDV, highlighting its potential application for the prevention of nVarIBDV. Full article

Hydrodynamic development in laminar pipe flow is mostly defined by classical entrance length relations and fully developed friction factor relations. However, in real systems, the inlet velocity profiles are often shaped by upstream components such as bends, contractions, or manifolds, causing them to deviate significantly from the ideal Poiseuille profile. These deviations directly affect both the development length in the entrance region and energy losses. In this study, steady three-dimensional laminar CFD simulations were performed to investigate the effect of three inlet velocity profile shapes, a uniform profile, a parabolic (Poiseuille) profile, and a strongly peaked power-law profile, in a circular pipe over a Reynolds number range of Re = 100–1500. The flow development was quantified using a profile-sensitive deviation metric based on the ratio of the maximum velocity to the local averaged fluid velocity. The results showed that, although, for all modeled cases, the flows reach the same fully developed laminar flow profile, the entrance development length strongly depends on the inlet velocity profile, and this dependence becomes more pronounced as the Reynolds number increases. The parabolic inlet profile evolves toward the Poiseuille profile very rapidly, and the additional entrance loss is minimal. On the other hand, the power-law (n = 7) profile produces the largest entrance distortions, which leads to the longest relaxation distance. Overall, the proposed perspective in this study directly links profile-based flow development with energy loss and provides a basis for shaping entrance conditions in compact laminar flow systems. In addition, an empirical scaling analysis yielded a compact power-law relation linking L_dev/D to the Reynolds number and the inlet profile parameter 𝛽 = 𝑈_max/ Ū. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity has a high prevalence and is associated with many health risks. Minimal effects from behavioral obesity treatments might be linked to their atheoretical dependence on simply educating participants on healthy eating and increased physical activity/exercise, rather than evolving behavior-change methods through theory-based research. The use of pharmacologic interventions has recently overtaken bariatric surgery in medically based efforts to obtain greater weight losses than through behavioral means. Methods: The present longitudinal observational study aimed to extend earlier treatment-associated findings concerned with the order of emphasizing 3-, 6-, and 9-month changes in the theory-driven psychosocial constructs of self-regulation, self-efficacy, and mood associated with 12-month improvements in weight-loss behaviors. The “parent study” of women with obesity (N = 106) found significant paths through changes in self-regulation → mood → self-efficacy and mood → self-regulation → self-efficacy. In the present extension of that investigation, only those participants who did not already complete recommended physical activity amounts and consume recommended portions of fruits/vegetables at baseline were included (N = 73). Results: Only paths from changes in mood → self-regulation → self-efficacy were significantly associated with 12-month improvements in both physical activity and dietary behaviors. A mean weight change of −5.2 kg, or −5.5% from baseline weight, was found. Baseline scores in emotional eating and anxiety significantly moderated the mood–self-regulation change relationships within the significant paths. Conclusions: Findings suggested that future treatment contents focus on early physical activity-associated improvement in mood because of its association with increased usage of treatment-developed self-regulatory skills. Those skills should then be leveraged because of their association with feelings of ability (i.e., self-efficacy) to overcome lifestyle barriers to weight-loss behavior changes. Further improvements in behavioral obesity treatments should be reconsidered as either stand-alone modalities or, after appropriate testing, as an adjunct to medical means. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nutraceuticals, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and antioxidants (AOXs), are nutrient-derived bioactive compounds considered as potential treatments for metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, in vitro studies of their effects are limited by inconsistent experimental conditions, including differences in cell lines, methods of steatosis induction, and culture media, and by reliance on qualitative rather than quantitative assessments. Here, we systematically evaluate the anti-steatotic potential of eight commonly used nutraceuticals—three SCFAs (butyrate, acetate, and propionate) and five AOXs (resveratrol, curcumin, berberine, chlorogenic acid, and vitamin E)—using a standardized in vitro approach. Methods: Following a systematic literature review to identify common experimental conditions, we developed an assay to validate steatosis induction and quantified the effects of the nutraceuticals. For our studies we used the HepG2 liver cancer cell line and the Fa2N-4 immortalized hepatocyte cell line. Steatosis was modeled by stimulating cells with free fatty acids and fructose for 48 h. Nutraceuticals were added either concurrently with steatotic stimulation, to assess preventive effects, or after 24 h to assess therapeutic effects. Anti-steatotic drugs (resmetirom, semaglutide, obeticholic acid, and a DGAT2 inhibitor) were included as positive controls. Intracellular triglyceride levels were measured to quantify steatosis. Results: A systematic review of 46 studies revealed large differences in culture conditions, steatosis induction, and nutraceutical assessment. In our experiments, most nutraceuticals did not reduce intracellular triglycerides, with the exception of vitamin E. Surprisingly, butyrate, berberine, and curcumin increased triglyceride accumulation. Resmetirom was the only drug that significantly decreased triglycerides, while obeticholic acid, semaglutide, and the DGAT2 inhibitor showed minimal or inconsistent effects. Fa2N-4 cells were generally more sensitive than HepG2 cells, showing larger absolute changes in triglyceride levels in response to both nutraceuticals and resmetirom. Conclusions: We established a standardized in vitro assay to evaluate the anti-steatotic potential of nutraceuticals. Using this system, we found that SCFAs and AOXs did not consistently reduce intracellular triglycerides, highlighting the need for quantitative assessments and careful validation when studying anti-steatotic interventions in vitro. Full article

Background: Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are among the most aggressive breast tumors, due not only to the absence of clinically functional biomarkers used in other molecular subtypes, but also their marked heterogeneity and pronounced migratory and invasive behavior. The search for new molecules of interest for risk prediction, diagnosis and therapy stems from the class of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which often display context-dependent (“dual”) functions and tissue specificity. Among them, lncRNA LINC01133 stands out for its dysregulation across cancer, although its molecular role in TNBC remains unclear. Methods: In the present study, we used the human TNBC cell line Hs578T to generate a cell panel comprising the parental line (Hs578T_wt), the control line (Hs578T_ctr), and the LINC01133 knockout line (Hs578T_ko). Subsequently, we performed bulk RNA-Seq to identify KO-associated Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) using ko_vs_ctr as the primary contrast. Functional interpretation was achieved by Over-Representation Analysis (ORA) using Gene Ontology. We then conducted a comparative patient-cohort analysis using TCGA-BRCA Basal-like/TNBC cases (TCGA/BRCA n = 1098; Basal-like/TNBC n = 199), classified with the AIMS algorithm, and evaluated concordance between KO-associated signatures and patient tumor expression patterns via trend-based analyses across the LINC01133 expression levels and associated genes. Results: A total of 265 KO-dominant DEGs were identified in Hs578T_ko, reflecting transcriptional changes consistent with tumor progression, with enrichment of pathways associated with LINC01133 knockout including cell adhesion, cell–cell interactions, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. The main DEGs included ITIH5, GLUL, CACNB2, PDX1, ASPN, PTGER3, MFAP4, PI15, EPHB6, and CPA3 with additional candidates, such as KAZN and the lncRNA gene SSC4D, which have been implicated in migration/invasion, ECM remodeling, or signaling across multiple tumor contexts. Translational analyses in TCGA-BRCA basal-like tumors suggested a descriptive association in which lower LINC01133 levels were accompanied by shifts in the expression trends of genes linked to ECM/EMT programs and modulation of genes related to cell adhesion and protease inhibition. Conclusions: These results suggest a transcriptional model in which LINC01133 is associated with TNBC-related gene expression programs in a concentration-dependent manner, with loss of LINC01133 being associated with a transcriptomic shift toward pro-migratory/ECM remodeling signatures. While functional validation is required to establish causality, these data support LINC01133 as a molecule of interest in breast cancer research. Full article

Iberian ham is a Spanish product that is highly prized for its unique sensory characteristics. The possibility of predicting these characteristics using non-invasive methods is therefore of great interest. In this context, this study compares the performance of two benchtop and four portable devices in addition to the influence of recording factors (lean meat, fat, and whole slices) for the prediction of sensory parameters. A total of 28 descriptors were determined by a trained panel for 60 samples (100% Iberian and Iberian), and the sensory profile was predicted by using a feedforward multilayer perceptron artificial neural network. A significant effect of the breed on the sensory profile and the spectral characteristics was observed, especially in the case of fat. On the other hand, the NIRFlex N-500 (desktop) and MicroPhazir (portable) devices gave the best performances, with 27 parameters predicted for whole slices and fat, respectively (R² > 0.5). In addition, it was possible to predict 25 parameters by using the MicroNIR portable device at all recording sites, which demonstrated that portable devices are suitable for this analysis. The results indicate that the number and type of sensory parameters predicted depend largely on the recording site and that measurements taken in different areas provide complementary information. Full article

Based on the discrete element method (DEM), a sand particle contact force model and a motion model for the 3D sand printing (3DSP) process were developed. By accounting for the viscous support force and contact force between sand particles, and gravity acting on each individual sand particle, the displacement of sand particles was calculated, enabling the simulation of the 3DSP process using sand particle ensembles. Furthermore, the effects of the ratio of silica sand to ceramsite sand and the recoating speed on sand-recoating performances and mechanical properties were investigated. Irregularly shaped sand particles (primarily silica sand) were constructed via the multi-sphere filling method. The simulation was performed on a virtual sand-recoating device (180 mm in length, 100 mm in width, 70 mm in height) with reference to the EXONE S-MAX printer. Meanwhile, the EXONE S-MAX was utilized to print the bending samples for experimental validation. Simulation and experimental results indicate that as the ratio increases, the porosity first decreases and then increases, whereas mechanical properties exhibit an initial increase followed by a decrease. At a ratio of 3:7, the porosity reaches a minimum of 21.3%; correspondingly, the shear force of bonding bridges peaks at 908 mN, and the bending strength of specimens attains a maximum of 2.87 MPa. With the increasing recoating speed, the porosity rises consistently, while the shear force of bonding bridges and the bending strength of specimens first increase and then decrease, which is primarily attributed to the penetration behavior of the binder under capillary force. At a recoating speed of 160 mm·s⁻¹, the shear force of bonding bridges reaches its maximum, and the specimens achieve a maximum bending strength of 2.89 MPa. The simulation results are well-validated by the experiments. The DEM-based simulation method proposed in this study offers a practical and convenient tool for parameter optimization in 3DSP process. Full article

Background/Objectives: The rising global demand for sustainable and nutritionally valuable food sources highlights the importance of exploring alternatives to conventional livestock. Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) have gained attention as an environmentally efficient species, offering high-quality eggs and meat with favorable nutritional profiles. This study aimed to characterize the fatty acid (FA) composition of quail eggs (QEs) and meat (QM), investigating breast (B) and thigh (T) muscles produced in Poland under small-scale farming conditions, with a focus on assessing their functional foods’ potential. Methods: Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis was applied to determine FA profiles in fresh and stored samples. Statistical evaluation included two-way ANOVA, principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis. Results: Results demonstrated that QE contained the highest total FA levels, dominated by monounsaturated fatty acids, with notable contributions from long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and conjugated linoleic acid isomers. In contrast, QM were characterized by higher proportions of PUFA, with significant differences between breast and thigh samples. Storage influenced the levels of selected FA, particularly n-3 PUFA and the n-3/n-6 ratio. PCA and cluster analysis confirmed clear separation between eggs and muscles, regardless of storage status. Overall, both QE and QM exhibited a favorable PUFA/SFA ratio, exceeding dietary recommendations. Conclusions: These findings underscore the nutritional and functional value of quail-derived foods, supporting their consideration as sustainable alternatives to chicken products and potential candidates for the ‘superfood’ category. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify anatomical and systemic predictors of early (≤2 months) response to subthreshold micropulse laser (SMPL) in center-involving diabetic macular edema (DME) using automated AI-based OCT biomarker quantification. Methods: Retrospective observational study of 65 eyes. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) volumes were analyzed with a CE-marked software (Ophthal v1.0; Mr. Doc s.r.l., Rome, Italy) to quantify intraretinal fluid (IRF) and subretinal fluid (SRF) volumes and outer retinal integrity (external limiting membrane, ELM; ellipsoid zone, EZ). SMPL (577 nm; 5% duty cycle; 200 ms; 150 µm; 250 mW) was applied in a high-density macular grid, sparing the foveal avascular zone. The primary endpoint was absolute and percentage change in IRF volume from baseline to follow-up; predictors of %IRF reduction were assessed by multivariable linear regression. Results: At 52 days (IQR 41–60), best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.22 to 0.15 logMAR (p < 0.001). IRF volume decreased (median −0.045 mm³; p = 0.034) despite stable central subfield thickness. All eyes with baseline SRF (n = 5; median 0.026 mm³ [0.020–0.046]) achieved complete SRF resolution. Treatment-naïve eyes had greater %IRF reduction than pretreated eyes (59.6% vs. 11.5%; p = 0.029). High responders showed shorter diabetes duration than low responders (14.5 vs. 17 years; p = 0.025); however, treatment-naïve status was the strongest independent predictor of %IRF reduction (p = 0.028). Conclusions: AI-derived fluid volumetrics capture early SMPL response despite unchanged thickness. Treatment-naïve status and shorter diabetes duration may define a metabolic window for optimal early response in DME. Full article

Conventional descriptive statistical approaches in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) environmental forensics often fail under small-sample, ecosystem-level complexity, challenging the optimization of sampling, monitoring, and remediation strategies. This study presents an advance from passive description to adaptive decision-support for complex PFAS contamination. By integrating Bayesian optimization (BO) via Gaussian Processes (GP) with a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM), we developed a signal-extraction framework for both understanding and action from limited data (n = 18). The BO/GP model achieved strong predictive performance (GP leave-one-out R² = 0.807), while the GLMM confirmed significant overdispersion (1.62), indicating a patchy contamination distribution. The integrated analysis suggested a dominant spatiotemporal interaction: a transient, high-intensity perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) plume that peaked at a precise location during early November (the autumn recharge period). Concurrently, the GLMM identified significant intra-sample variance (p = 0.0186), suggesting likely particulate-bound (colloid/sediment) transport, and detected n-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA) as a critical precursor (p < 0.0001), thus providing evidence consistent with the source as historic 3M aqueous film-forming foam. This coupled approach creates a dynamic, iterative decision-support system where signal-based diagnosis informs adaptive optimization, enabling mission-specific actions from targeted remediation to monitoring design. Full article

Background: Implant material may influence interfragmentary mechanics in medial malleolar (MM) fracture fixation. This study aimed to compare stainless steel, titanium, magnesium, and PLGA screws under identical conditions using finite element analysis (FEA). Methods: A CT-based ankle model with a unilateral oblique MM fracture (θ = 60° to the medial tibial plafond) was fixed with two parallel M4 × 35 mm screws placed perpendicular to the fracture plane (inter-axial distance 13 mm). Contacts were defined as nonlinear frictional, and each screw was assigned a pretension force of 2.5 N. Static single-leg stance was simulated with physiologic tibia/fibula load sharing. Four scenarios differed only by screw material. Primary outputs were interfragmentary micromotion (maximum sliding and gap). Secondary measures included fracture interface contact/frictional stresses, screw/bone von Mises stress, global construct displacement, and average tibiotalar cartilage contact pressure. Results: Interfragmentary micromotion increased as screw stiffness decreased. Maximum sliding was 32.2–33.8 µm with stainless steel/titanium, 40.4 µm with magnesium, and 65.0 µm with PLGA; corresponding gaps were 31.2–32.0 µm with stainless steel and titanium, 31.2 µm with magnesium, and 54.1 µm with PLGA, respectively. Interface stresses followed the same pattern: contact pressure (3.18–3.24 MPa for stainless steel/titanium/magnesium vs. 4.29 MPa for PLGA); frictional stress (1.46–1.49 MPa vs. 1.98 MPa). Peak screw von Mises stress was highest in stainless steel (104.1 MPa), then titanium (73.4 MPa), magnesium (47.4 MPa), and PLGA (17.9 MPa). Global axial displacement (0.26–0.27 mm) and average tibiotalar cartilage contact pressure (0.73–0.75 MPa) were essentially unchanged across materials. All conditions remained below commonly cited thresholds for primary bone healing (gap < 100 µm); however, PLGA exhibited a reduced safety margin. Conclusions: Under identical geometry and loading conditions, titanium and stainless steel yielded the most favorable interfragmentary mechanics for oblique MM fixation; magnesium showed intermediate performane, and PLGA produced substantially greater micromotion and interface stresses. These findings support the use of metallic screws when maximal initial stability is required and suggest that magnesium may be a selective alternative when reducing secondary implant removal is prioritized. Full article

Wooden waste railroad ties preserved with coal tar creosote oil represent a specific source of polluting substances. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare extraction capacity due to solvent extraction of fifteen frequently used organic solvents for the purpose of decontamination treatment of waste wooden railroad ties, while recovering wood for reuse. Pure organic solvents, ethanol 96%, propan-2-ol, deionized water, dichloromethane, acetone, n-hexane, mixture n-hexane/acetone (V/V = 1/1), cyclohexane, methanol, N,N-dimethyl formamide, toluene, ethyl acetate, acetonitrile, amyl acetate, medical gasoline, n-pentane and n-butyl acetate were for leaching pollutants from waste railroad ties. The highest extraction capacity was achieved using dichloromethane, where 7.50 to 7.89 wt.% of total sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were extracted from waste railroad tie chips. The most promising solvents for the treatment exhibited extraction efficiency which decreases in a series dichloromethane > n-hexane/acetone > acetone > methanol > ethanol 96% > propan-2-ol > cyclohexane > toluene > n-hexane. Solvent extraction represents a novel approach for treatment of wooden waste railroad ties. The experiments are based on the search for a management process for the treatment of wood waste railroad ties that is simple, low energy consumption, efficient and could potentially be applied for large scale. Full article

Geothermal energy is recognized as one of the most reliable and environmentally sustainable energy sources. This study presents a comprehensive energy, exergy, economic, and exergoenvironmental assessment of the Mis I binary geothermal power plant (GPP) operating with a low-temperature geothermal resource. This study fills a critical gap in the literature by providing a four-dimensional (4-E) assessment—energy, exergy, economic, and exergoenvironmental—of the Mis I binary geothermal power plant (GPP). Unlike conventional studies that focus on theoretical models, this research utilizes real-time operational data to identify potential improvements at the component level by evaluating exergy-based environmental sustainability and economic performance. The energy efficiency of the n-pentane Rankine cycle was calculated as 39.76%, indicating that a substantial portion of the geothermal heat is rejected as waste. The exergy input to the plant was determined to be 18,580.29 kW, while the net electrical power output was 8990 kW, resulting in an overall exergy efficiency of 48.38%. These results highlight the clear disparity between energy and exergy efficiencies and underline the importance of exergy-based performance evaluation for low-temperature geothermal power systems. Component-level exergy balance analyses were conducted using real operating data, revealing that the cooling towers are the dominant sources of exergy destruction, whereas the turbine units exhibit comparatively high thermodynamic effectiveness. Improvement potential analysis identified cooling towers I–II, evaporator II, and preheater I as key components requiring further optimization. Economic evaluation showed that approximately 64% of the total investment cost is associated with turbine units, with a total plant cost of about USD 6.7 million. The levelized cost of electricity was calculated as 0.0136 USD/kWh, and the payback period was approximately 1.5 years. Exergoenvironmental results indicate that the Mis I GPP achieves the highest sustainability index (1.94) among comparable plants, confirming its superior thermodynamic, economic, and environmental performance. Full article

Background: To compare the biomechanical strength of three fixation techniques for the elbow anterior capsule and coronoid process using a synthetic ulna model. We hypothesize that a cortical suture button would be equivalent to the bone tunnel model but inferior to a screw-post construct. Methods: A biomechanical study was conducted using a composite ulna bone model to simulate coronoid process fixation with three techniques: traditional trans-osseous bone tunnel repair, suspensory fixation using a cortical button, and a screw-post construct using a 3.5 mm cortical screw. All constructs were assembled using high-strength suture. Each specimen underwent axial loading on an Instron machine until failure, defined as loss of fixation through the dorsal cortex. Peak ultimate strength was recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test. Results: The suture button construct demonstrated the highest mean ultimate strength at 490.3 ± 125.2 N, significantly greater than both the bone tunnel (328.8 ± 86.4 N, p < 0.01) and screw-post constructs (273.4 ± 54.5 N, p < 0.001). While the bone tunnel construct exhibited a 20.3% higher strength than the screw-post construct, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.13). The screw-post construct showed the least variability in strength to failure but the lowest overall strength. The suture button demonstrated the greatest mechanical strength but also the most variability. Conclusions: Suspensory fixation using a titanium cortical suture button provides significantly greater mechanical strength compared to traditional bone tunnel and screw-post techniques in a synthetic ulna model. While variability was greatest with the suture button construct, its superior load-bearing capacity suggests potential advantages in stabilizing the elbow through anterior capsule and coronoid fracture repair. These findings support further clinical investigation of suture button fixation as a viable technique in complex elbow injuries. Full article