Search Results (306)

Standard laboratory protocols for simulating short-term asphalt aging, including the Thin-Film Oven Test (TFOT) and Rolling Thin-Film Oven Test (RTFOT), are widely adopted but frequently lack sensitivity to the distinct thermo-oxidative kinetics of high-viscosity and polymer-modified systems. This study evaluates a severity-graded aging matrix incorporating the Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV) at variable durations (2, 5, and 10 h at 163 °C/2.1 MPa) as a potential alternative to conventional thin-film methods. Three binder systems BA-70 (PG 64-22), SBS-modified, and compatibilized functional thermoplastic (CFT)-modified asphalt were subjected to TFOT, RTFOT, and PAV variants. Comprehensive rheological characterization (DSR frequency/temperature sweeps, rutting parameter, MSCR) and SARA fractionation were employed to quantify oxidative stiffening, permanent deformation resistance, and compositional evolution. An Aging Severity Index (ASI) was developed to normalize multi-parameter responses and establish quantitative protocol equivalence thresholds. BA and SBS-modified binders exhibited pronounced protocol-dependent stiffening, with PAV-5h vs. RTFOT ASI gaps of 30.0% and 33.0%, respectively, confirming distinct aging severity under the tested conditions. Conversely, the CFT-modified binder demonstrated a compressed aging signature, maintaining stable complex modulus, minimal non-recoverable compliance escalation, and near-complete elastic recovery across all protocols. The ASI gap between PAV-5h and RTFOT for CFT was 6.0%, falling within the pre-defined ≤7% equivalence threshold established from combined rheological test uncertainty, specification-aligned engineering tolerance, and empirical gap clustering. SARA analysis corroborated these findings, showing CFT retained higher aromatic/resin fractions while limiting asphaltene accumulation compared to BA-70 and SBS. Importantly, the observed interchangeability between PAV-5h and RTFOT is strictly limited to the specific CFT-modified binder formulation tested under laboratory conditions. Broader specification adoption requires targeted validation across diverse modifier chemistries, dosages, and field-aged binders before generalization. Full article

To reveal the long-term anti-aging mechanisms of rubber–plastic elastomer-modified asphalt in complex service environments and overcome the inherent defects of single polymer modifiers—namely their susceptibility to degradation or phase separation—this study prepared styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), low Mooney rubber (LMMR), and low-density polyethylene (LDPE)-modified asphalts. Simultaneously, an LMMR-LDPE rubber–plastic thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) was fabricated utilizing twin-screw extrusion technology and subsequently used to prepare a composite-modified asphalt. Three aging protocols were simulated: short-term thermo-oxidative aging (RTFOT), long-term pressure aging (PAV), and ultraviolet light aging (UV). A multi-scale quantitative characterization was conducted using a dynamic shear rheometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy to evaluate the rutting factor, carbonyl index, and surface microroughness of each system before and after aging. The experimental results indicate that the coupled effect of long-term stress and thermal oxidation causes the most severe damage to the colloidal structure of modified asphalt. Conventional SBS-modified asphalt, due to its abundance of unsaturated double bonds, exhibits a sharp increase in the carbonyl index and aging index of the rutting factor after aging, making it highly susceptible to oxidative chain scission. Although LDPE-modified asphalt possesses chemical inertness, it is prone to crystalline phase separation under aging conditions, resulting in a microroughness distortion rate of up to 86.36%. In contrast, the LMMR-LDPE composite system, leveraging the high chemical stability of the saturated aliphatic carbon chain and the flexibility-enhancing and crystallization-inhibiting effects of LMMR, effectively reduces active oxidation sites and improves interfacial compatibility. This composite system exhibits the lowest carbonyl increment and rheological attenuation under all aging conditions, while effectively inhibiting the free migration and agglomeration of macromolecular components. The LMMR-LDPE composite modification technology effectively overcomes the inherent drawbacks of single polymers, such as susceptibility to degradation or segregation, demonstrating excellent long-term macroscopic rheological stability and microscopic phase morphology anti-aging capability. The present findings provide laboratory-scale mechanistic support for the design of durable rubber–plastic-modified asphalt systems, while further pilot-scale, economic, and field validation is still required before practical engineering application can be fully assessed. Full article

This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic divergence between two Lentinula edodes strains, Le_L and Le_S, which exhibit distinct fruiting body morphologies. While phenotypic variation among mushroom strains has been widely observed, the relative contributions of transcriptional regulation and structural genomic variation to these differences remain poorly understood. Comparative transcriptome analysis identified 8541 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), revealing clear functional divergence between the two strains. Genes upregulated in Le_S were predominantly enriched in ribosomal components and translation-related processes, indicating enhanced protein synthesis activity. In contrast, Le_L-upregulated genes were associated with transporters, transcription factors, and diverse metabolic pathways, suggesting broader regulatory and physiological functions. Protein–protein interaction network analysis further highlighted distinct regulatory architectures, with ribosomal proteins forming highly interconnected hub gene modules in Le_S, whereas Le_L hub genes were functionally diverse and included multiple members of the Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS). Ortholog analysis across 33 L. edodes strains demonstrated that most hub genes were conserved, indicating their roles as core genetic components. Despite widespread genome-wide variation, including 7931 SNPs and 1149 INDELs, sequence variation within hub genes was limited, and allele-specific expression analysis revealed no significant allelic imbalance. In contrast, presence–absence variation (PAV) analysis identified structural differences affecting MFS transporter genes, which were absent in Le_S but present and upregulated in Le_L. Collectively, these findings suggest that structural genomic variation, particularly involving transporter genes, may play a more prominent role than sequence-level variation in driving phenotypic divergence. This study provides new insights into the genetic basis of strain-specific traits in L. edodes and highlights the importance of integrating multi-level genomic analyses. Full article

Urbanization increases pluvial flood risk by expanding impermeable surfaces, which is a trend likely to intensify with climate change. Permeable pavement (PePav) made from industrial byproducts, in accordance with circular economy principles, may improve soil permeability. Public acceptance remains a critical barrier to its implementation. Existing measures of willingness to accept (WtA) new technologies are inconsistent, limiting interdisciplinary collaboration. Therefore, a concise WtA scale was adapted from the Bogardus Social Distance Scale to assess acceptance of PePav at varying levels of proximity in residential contexts, from public flood-prone roads to private yards. The scale was evaluated across three studies: Study 1 (N = 195) and Study 2 (N = 187) utilized mixed student samples, while Study 3 (N = 625) involved a non-student sample. The 5-item solution, identified through factor analysis in Study 1, consistently demonstrated a unidimensional and cumulative structure and satisfactory reliability, even after the proposed PePav ingredient modification in subsequent studies. The scale correlated with recycling experience and professional background, indicating convergent validity, but not with flooding or informal construction experience, across all samples. Study 3 provided evidence of external validity by incorporating empirically well-established Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs and showing that WtA predicted PePav use beyond TPB variables and demographics. The scale also showed measurement invariance across sample type (student vs. general population) and different levels of construction experience. The constructed WtA scale is suitable for efficiently assessing professional and public acceptance of circular building materials and may have broad cross-disciplinary relevance. This enables timely, targeted interventions and informed policy decisions to advance sustainable technologies in the built environment, with substantial implications for education, professional policy, and sustainable engineering. Nevertheless, further validation is required. Full article

Mindfulness and body image anxiety are psychological factors associated with disordered eating and may contribute to orthorexia nervosa, yet their combined effects remain underexplored. In this cross-sectional online survey, 382 adults in Greece completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS-15), the Orthorexia scale (ORTO-6), the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS-12), and measures of body mass index (BMI) and physical activity (PAVS). Descriptive statistics, correlations, regression analyses, and mediation analysis were conducted to examine the associations among mindfulness, body image anxiety, and orthorexia. Mindfulness correlated negatively with orthorexia and body image anxiety, whereas body image anxiety correlated positively with orthorexia. In multinomial logistic regression, higher body image anxiety increased the odds of low (OR = 1.194, 95% CI 1.114–1.280) and moderate mindfulness (OR = 1.125, 95% CI 1.068–1.185); orthorexia also increased the odds of low (OR = 1.146, 95% CI 1.040–1.264) and moderate mindfulness (OR = 1.099, 95% CI 1.026–1.176). Overall, psychological factors (mindfulness, body image anxiety) appeared more influential than anthropometric or lifestyle factors (BMI, physical activity) in relation to orthorexia. These findings indicate that mindfulness was inversely associated with orthorexia tendencies, while body image anxiety was positively associated with orthorexia and was statistically linked to this association in the mediation analysis. Full article

Oxidative aging drives asphalt pavement degradation, causing critical structural failures. This study evaluated hazelnut (HS) and walnut shell (WS) powders (0–3% w/w; 10–12 μm) as sustainable antioxidants, from valued residues, to mitigate thermo-oxidative aging in CA-24 binders. After evaluating the antioxidant potential (ORAC; Oxygen radical absorbance capacity, and TPC; Total phenolic content), modified binders underwent RTFO (Rolling thin film oven) and PAV (Pressure aging vessel) aging, evaluated by Fraass fragility, Relative Aging Index (RAI), dynamic shear rheometry (G*/sin δ), and Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR). WS exhibited significantly higher antioxidant capacity (6000 μmol TE g DW⁻¹) and TPC than HS. The 3% treatments demonstrated optimal antioxidant efficacy, reducing long-term RAI by 14% and improving low-temperature flexibility by 3.8 °C (Fraass point −12.3 °C). However, MSCR revealed initial plasticizing effects decreasing elastic recovery (70%) and increasing non-recoverable compliance (Jnr) compromising unaged rutting resistance. Principal component analysis confirmed progressive diversification of aging-induced properties, evidencing complex multivariate trajectories. Ultimately, while nutshell derived phenolic modifiers provide effective concentration-dependent antioxidant protection, practical application requires optimization through targeted phenolic extraction, particle engineering, or elastomeric co-modification. Balancing aging resistance with high temperature stability remains essential for advancing these sustainable biomodification strategies in road infrastructure. Full article

Sunflower oil is particularly prone to thermo-oxidative degradation due to its high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially under high-temperature conditions. This study investigated the oxidative stability of sunflower oil heated at 180 °C for 4 and 8 h, focusing on the protective effect of silibinin oleate (SIL-O), a lipophilic polyphenolic derivative, compared to the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Oxidative changes were evaluated through peroxide value (PV), p-anisidine value (p-AV), and total oxidation value (TOTOX), while structural alterations were monitored using FTIR spectroscopy. Additionally, fatty acid composition was analyzed by GC-MS to assess compositional changes associated with oxidation. Thermal treatment led to increases in PV, p-AV, and TOTOX, indicating progressive oxidation, alongside a decrease in unsaturated fatty acids. FTIR analysis revealed characteristic changes, including a reduction in the unsaturation band (~3008 cm⁻¹), modifications in the ester carbonyl region (~1743 cm⁻¹), and the emergence of bands associated with cis–trans isomerization (~968–970 cm⁻¹). Strong correlations were observed between fatty acid degradation, FTIR indices, and oxidation parameters. Compared to the control, SIL-O inhibited oxidation in a dose-dependent manner. At 300 ppm, it outperformed BHT, demonstrating its potential as a natural antioxidant for enhancing the stability of sunflower oil during high-temperature processing. Full article

The microencapsulation of plant bioactive compounds by spray drying enhances their stability and controlled delivery in food systems. In this study, flaxseed hydrocolloid (Linum usitatissimum L.) was evaluated as a natural wall material for encapsulating phenolic extracts from mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum Ruiz & Pav.) and oca (Oxalis tuberosa Molina). Microcapsules were produced using hydrocolloid concentrations of 2.5–10%. The resulting particles showed low moisture content (3.79–5.42%), low water activity (0.31–0.39), and high solubility (90.94–96.45%). Encapsulation efficiency ranged from 78.67 to 62.32% for mashua and from 71.94 to 40.45% for oca, decreasing with increasing wall material concentration. Phenolic content ranged from 14.48 to 11.47 mg GAE/g (mashua) and 8.52 to 4.82 mg GAE/g (oca), with antioxidant capacity between 293.19–143.77 and 84.49–10.33 µmol TE/g, respectively. Particle size ranged from 4.02–10.50 µm (mashua) and 3.93–4.82 µm (oca), and zeta potential values (−37.86 to −27.55 mV) indicated good colloidal stability. Release kinetics showed a biphasic profile and were predominantly diffusion-controlled. The Higuchi model showed significant diffusion (p < 0.05), while the Korsmeyer–Peppas analysis indicated mainly Fickian diffusion (n = 0.234–0.426) with anomalous transport at higher mashua concentrations. These results demonstrate that flaxseed hydrocolloid is an effective and sustainable wall material for controlled release of phenolic compounds from Andean tubers. Full article

High-modulus asphalt binders are increasingly used to improve rutting resistance and enable pavement thickness reduction. Conventional binder indices do not always capture the stress-dependent response of high-modulus systems under heavy loading, and quantitative rules for selecting a high-modulus additive dosage are still limited. This study develops a full-temperature-range evaluation and dosage determination framework for high-modulus additive-modified asphalt binders (HMABs) produced on an SBS-modified base binder. Four binders were prepared with high-modulus additive dosages of 0%, 17%, 22% and 28% with a binder mass basis. High-temperature performance was evaluated by PG grading and an enhanced MSCR protocol that included 0.1, 3.2, 6.4 and 12.8 kPa. MSCR temperatures were selected based on PG results. Intermediate-temperature performance was evaluated using LAS at 25 °C with VECD-based fatigue analysis on RTFO + PAV-aged binders. Low-temperature cracking was evaluated using ABCD on PAV-aged binders at −36 °C. The results show that the high-temperature PG increased with dosage, but the 22% and 28% binders fell into the same grade, indicating limited dosage discrimination by the PG test. The enhanced MSCR test captured clearer dosage differences under higher stresses. Non-recoverable compliance decreased markedly with dosage, and stress sensitivity showed an overall decreasing trend; 6.4 kPa provided higher dosage sensitivity and lower variability than 3.2 kPa. LAS test shows a non-monotonic fatigue response in which peak shear stress and predicted fatigue life increased up to 22% and then declined at 28%. At 2.5% and 5% strain, the 22% binder increased predicted fatigue life by about 273% and 83% relative to the base binder, while at 10% strain, it was about 11% lower. ABCD results show an upward shift in critical cracking temperature and a clear reduction in fracture stress at high dosages, indicating increasing low-temperature fracture risk. Therefore, high-modulus additives markedly improve high-temperature stability but introduce full-temperature trade-offs. The proposed full-temperature-range examined framework improves performance discrimination and supports dosage selection. A target dosage of 22% is recommended, and 17~22% is suggested as an engineering-controllable range for a balanced full-temperature performance, while 28% should be treated as an upper-bound option, primarily for warm regions where rutting dominates. Full article

This study aims to investigate the restorative effects and rejuvenation mechanisms of two rejuvenators on ultraviolet (UV)-aged SBS modified asphalt binder. Two types of rejuvenators were developed. The rheological properties of aged and rejuvenated asphalt were systematically evaluated using a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), bending beam rheometer (BBR), and multiple stress creep and recovery (MSCR) tests. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) were employed to analyze the rejuvenation mechanisms. The results demonstrate that UV aging significantly deteriorates both the high- and low-temperature performance of SBS modified asphalt binder. Oil-rich rejuvenator A effectively restores UV-aged asphalt’s high-temperature performance and low-temperature stiffness. Polymer-based rejuvenator B better repairs PAV-aged cross-linked networks with superior chemical dilution, but over-dilutes large molecules. Both comparably restore aged low-temperature performance, with rejuvenator A favoring stiffness recovery and rejuvenator B favoring m-value recovery. FTIR analysis reveals that aging significantly increases the carbonyl and sulfoxide indices of SBS modified asphalt binder, especially after PAV and UV aging. Rejuvenator B exhibits superior chemical dilution, reducing these indices nearly to their original levels. GPC analysis demonstrates an aging-induced molecular weight increase and large molecular size (LMS) formation. The recovery effect of rejuvenator A is quite limited (reducing LMS by 2%). Conversely, rejuvenator B aggressively reduces LMS but causes over-dilution. Overall, rejuvenator B is recommended to be used for aged SBS modified asphalt binder, especially after UV aging. Full article

This study introduces five types of wax materials to replace traditional Sasobit warm mix agents (WMAs), aiming to reduce the aging performance of high-viscosity modified asphalt (HMA) under high temperatures and optimize wax-based WMAs for a better warm mix effect and more stable performance of HMA. In this study, styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) modifier was first used to prepare HMA, and then wax materials were added to prepare HMA. Thin-Film Oven Tests (TFOTs) and Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV) aging tests were conducted, followed by dynamic shear rheology (DSR) tests, to study the high-temperature rheological properties of each warm mix HMA. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) tests and fluorescence microscopy were used to observe the microstructures of the asphalt. The results show that all six wax materials exhibited good warm mix effects, among which refined Fischer–Tropsch Wax 1 (RFW1) outperforms conventional Sasobit WMA in terms of warm mix effect, high-temperature rheological properties, and anti-aging performance, indicating its potential to replace Sasobit in engineering applications. Full article

Brazil is home to one of the greatest biodiversities on the planet, with numerous plant species with unexplored pharmacological potential. In this study, the antifungal activity and cytotoxicity of crude extracts obtained from the seeds of Sterculia foetida L., Bulbostylis capillaris (L.) Kunth ex CB Clarke, and Pouteria caimito (Ruiz & Pav.) Radlk were investigated. The previously dehydrated seeds were subjected to extraction with physiological saline (saline extract), hexane (hexane extract) and sequential extraction with hexane followed by saline (hexane-saline extract). To determine antifungal activity via disk diffusion assays, broth microdilution based on the CLSI and evaluation of cellular specificity (EC₅₀) by redox metabolism with resazurin were performed on C. albicans ATCC 14053, C. albicans ATCC 24433 and non-albicans species Candida krusei ATCC 6258 and C. glabrata ATCC 22019. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in mouse bone marrow cells by determining the cytotoxic concentration (CC₅₀/24 h). The selectivity index (SI) was calculated as the ratio between CC₅₀ and EC₅₀. Statistical analysis of the data was performed via ANOVA, with the significance level set at p < 0.05. Saline, hexane, and hexane—saline extracts of S. foetida, as well as the saline extract of B. capillaris, showed selectivity indices higher than those of ketoconazole against C. albicans and C. krusei. With respect to C. glabrata, only the saline extract of B. capillaris demonstrated greater selectivity than the reference drug. All P. caimito extracts presented lower EC₅₀/24 h values than did ketoconazole but presented a low selectivity index, suggesting high cellular toxicity. The results obtained demonstrate that the crude extracts of S. foetida and B. capillaris seeds have significant antifungal activity and represent promising sources of bioactive compounds. Future studies should focus on the purification, isolation, and characterization of the active principles responsible for the observed activity. Full article

Ageing significantly affects the long-term durability of asphalt pavements, yet quantitative correlations between laboratory ageing protocols and actual field ageing remain insufficiently defined. This study investigates the ageing behaviour of an 80/100 penetration-grade bitumen at binder, mixture, and field levels to establish equivalence relationships among different ageing pathways. Binder samples were subjected to RTFO, PAV (20–60 h), and coupled thermal–photo-oxidative ageing (RTFO + PAV + UV, 6–18 d). Asphalt mixtures were oven-aged at 85 °C for 5–10 d, followed by binder extraction and recovery, and field-aged binders were obtained from a 12-year-old pavement in Xinjiang, China. Rheological properties were characterised using frequency sweep and multiple stress creep and recovery tests, from which ageing index (AI), low-temperature ageing index (LAI), Glover–Rowe (G–R) parameter, and nonrecoverable compliance (J_nr) were derived. AI increased from 1.00 for virgin binder to 1.12 under coupled ageing, while G–R increased from near zero to 318 kPa after 60 h PAV ageing and exceeded 400 kPa under coupled ageing. UV exposure increased G–R by approximately 20%–65% relative to thermal ageing alone. Nonlinear growth models described property evolution with high reliability (R² = 0.995–0.999). Equivalent ageing analysis showed that RTFO + PAV required over 50 h to reproduce field ageing, whereas coupled ageing and mixture oven ageing achieved comparable states within shorter durations. These results demonstrate that photo-oxidation and mixture-scale interactions significantly influence ageing pathways and should be considered in laboratory simulations of field ageing. Full article

This paper aims to investigate the effects of the co-pyrolytic product produced from the co-pyrolysis of waste cooking oil (WCO) and polypropylene (PP) on pure bitumen by using some physical and rheological tests. To reach this goal, the product was obtained by producing from the co-pyrolysis of WCO and PP at distinct conditions. Different pyrolytic products with different structural properties can be obtained from the co-pyrolysis of various materials at different pyrolysis conditions. It was not found any study in which bitumen was modified with the co-pyrolytic product produced from the co-pyrolysis of WCO and PP materials at specified blending ratios and conditions, as described in this paper. For this reason, this paper investigates the effects of this co-pyrolytic product as an additive on bitumen in order to improve some of the rheological and physical properties of bitumen and to overcome some problems for the first time. The mixture ratio was determined as 1:2 (WCO:PP). PG 64-22 neat bitumen was modified with this co-pyrolytic product, and some features of the bituminous binders were detected by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), penetration, softening point, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), rotational viscometer (RV), a rolling thin film oven test (RTFOT), a pressurized aging vessel (PAV), a bending beam rheometer (BBR), storage stability, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests. From the FTIR results of the modified binders, it was found that the intensity of the peak around 2357.69 cm⁻¹ increased with the addition of this pyrolytic product. This pyrolytic additive hardened the pure bitumen’s consistency, increased its viscosity, improved its resistance against rutting deformations, and enhanced its high-temperature performance. It can be said that PG 64-22 pure bitumen can easily be modified with this pyrolytic product at the conditions described in this study. Additionally, this co-pyrolytic product improved the high-temperature performance grade (PG) of pure bitumen from PG 64 to PG 76 when it was used at 5% of the weight of neat bitumen. The findings demonstrated that the modified bituminous binders containing 3% and 5% co-pyrolytic product had suitable storage stabilities. Full article

Essential oils from species of the genus Varronia (Boraginaceae) are recognized for their chemical diversity and biological potential; however, phytochemical information on Varronia crenata Ruiz & Pav. remains scarce, despite its wide distribution in the Andean region. The aim of this study was to provide the first chemical and enantioselective characterization of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of V. crenata growing in Ecuador. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out by GC–MS and GC–FID, respectively, using two columns with stationary phases of contrasting polarity. Compounds were identified by matching linear retention indices and mass spectra to literature references and quantified by external calibration using relative response factors (RRFs) calculated for each compound based on its combustion enthalpy. The most abundant constituents (≥3.0% on average between the two columns) of the essential oil of V. crenata, both in the nonpolar and polar stationary phases, were germacrene D (18.4%), (E)-β-caryophyllene (13.3%), α-copaene (10.4%), tricyclene (9.3%), δ-cadinene (8.9%), and α-pinene (8.3%). The volatile fraction was dominated by sesquiterpenes (60.2%) and monoterpenes (22.1%), while other chemical families were present in minor proportions. The enantioselective analysis was performed on two different columns, coated with stationary phases based on β-cyclodextrins: 2,3-diacetyl-6-tert-butyl-dimethylsilyl-β-cyclodextrin and 2,3-diethyl-6-tert-butyl-dimethylsilyl-β-cyclodextrin. Nine chiral compounds were analyzed; among them, (1R,5R)-(+)-α-pinene, (1R,5R)-(+)-sabinene, and (S)-(+)-β-phellandrene were detected as enantiomerically pure, while the other metabolites presented scalemic mixtures. Overall, the high content of bioactive sesquiterpenes and the observed stereochemical complexity highlight the potential pharmaceutical and agricultural relevance of V. crenata essential oil, while also providing novel chemotaxonomic information for the genus. Full article