Search Results (8,441)

This study examines the influence of business analytics, social capital, market orientation, and absorptive capacity on innovation ambidexterity in Indonesia’s emerging market context. Drawing on the socio-technical perspective and dynamic capabilities views, the study develops a conceptual model and tests it with a disjoint two-stage SEM-PLS approach to examine the hierarchical component model using data from 218 large and medium-sized enterprises. The results show that business analytics significantly enhances social capital and builds socio-technical capabilities. Market orientation positively influences absorptive capacity, and both constructs act as complementary partial mediators. The study advances business analytics and sustainable innovation literature by strategically harnessing business analytics while acknowledging social capital. Some countries have practical manifestations of social capital in their communities that support their innovation activities. Furthermore, firms’ business analytics adoption strategy must be tailored to local cultural values to harness economic and social performance. These findings also highlight the critical roles of market orientation and absorptive capacity in selecting insights with high potential utility from the vast data amassed and preserved by business analytics. This relationship, in turn, helps balance the competing activities of exploitative and exploratory to sustain innovation in an emerging market. Full article

Lightweight artificial aggregates (LWAs) are key materials for sustainable construction, offering reduced structural self-weight, improved thermal performance, and enhanced resource efficiency. However, their production remains geographically concentrated and largely dependent on virgin raw materials, while significant volumes of industrial waste continue to be landfilled. This study addresses these challenges by developing regional LWAs through the incorporation of high levels of porcelain polishing residue (PPR) into red clay matrices, promoting waste valorisation within a circular economy framework. Four mixtures were produced with 20, 40, 60, and 80 wt.% PPR replacing red clay and sintered at 1220 °C and 1240 °C. Raw materials were characterized by laser granulometry, X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray diffraction, while the produced aggregates were evaluated in terms of bloating index, mass loss, bulk density, water absorption, modulus of deformation, crushing strength, and visual morphology. A full factorial experimental design coupled with analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to quantify the effects of mixture composition, firing temperature, and aggregate size. All formulations exhibited significant bloating (>35%), with expansion intensifying as PPR content and firing temperature increased, reaching up to 140.6% for mixtures with 80% PPR at 1240 °C. Bulk density values ranged from 0.53 to 1.14 g/cm³, and water absorption remained below 20% for all compositions, confirming their classification as lightweight aggregates. Mechanical performance was strongly dependent on the balance between expansion and matrix densification. The mixture containing 40% red clay and 60% PPR sintered at 1220 °C showed the most favourable performance, achieving crushing strengths of approximately 5.00 MPa while maintaining low density, outperforming commercial reference aggregates. Statistical analysis identified mixture composition and firing temperature as the dominant factors governing expansion and density. The results demonstrate that porcelain polishing residue is a technically viable and sustainable raw material for high-performance LWA production, enabling regional manufacturing routes with reduced environmental impact and strong potential for structural and non-structural construction applications. Full article

Cyanobacteria of the genus Phormidesmis are recognized as a promising source of biologically active secondary metabolites with anticancer and immunomodulatory properties. In the present study, we investigated both the cytotoxic and immunological effects of an extract obtained from Phormidesmis molle PACC (Plovdiv Algal Culture Collection) 8140 as well as its chemical composition. The extract was profiled by LC-ESI-MS/MS (Liquid chromatography—electrospray ionization—tandem mass spectrometry), and selected compounds were evaluated with in silico ADMET (Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) modeling. The cytotoxic potential of the extract was evaluated in vitro using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines (Caco-2, HT-29, and LS-180). The immunological impact of the extract was assessed on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from healthy donors. PBMCs were treated with 100 µg/mL extract for 48 h, followed by flow cytometric immunophenotyping and ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay)-based cytokine quantification. The extract induced a concentration- and time-dependent decrease in cancer cell viability after 24, 48, and 72 h of exposure. At 72 h, treatment with the highest concentration (200 µg/mL) reduced cell viability to 74% in Caco-2 cells, 69–70% in HT-29 cells, and 59–61% in LS-180 cells. Morphological changes observed after treatment with Phormidesmis extract showed pronounced cytotoxic and apoptosis-related effects in the colorectal cancer cell lines tested. Immunophenotyping revealed a pronounced expansion of natural killer (NK) cells (CD56⁺ and/or CD16⁺). CD3⁻CD56⁻CD16⁺ NK population was markedly increased (from 67.7 ± 0.95% in non-treated PBMCs to 94.66 ± 0.90% in extract-treated PBMCs, p < 0.001). In contrast, the proportions of CD8⁺ T cells, CD19⁺ B cells, and CD11b⁺ monocytes were significantly reduced (from 21.5 ± 4.50% to 7.22 ± 0.41%, from 11.9 ± 1.70% to 6.06 ± 0.42%, and from 66.4 ± 0.60% to 34.4 ± 0.87%, respectively). Cytokine analysis demonstrated strong suppression of Th1-associated cytokines, with significantly reduced interferon gamma (IFN-γ, 461 ng/mL in controls vs. 84 ng/mL in extract-treated cultures) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels (169 ng/mL in controls vs. 32 ng/mL in extract-treated cultures), whereas nterleukin-6 (IL-6) was moderately elevated (from 158 ng/mL in controls to 234 ng/mL in extract-treated cultures) and IL-10 remained low. These findings demonstrate that P. molle extract combines cytotoxic activity against cancer cells with potent immunomodulatory effects, highlighting its potential as a source of bioactive compounds for immune-based therapeutic strategies. Full article

Glucose transport dysregulation plays a central role in pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus. Synthetic agents like sotagliflozin or canagliflozin have been discovered recently and are currently used as antidiabetic therapy, providing great efficacy in modulation of glucose transport. However, the search for additional compounds with antidiabetic potential continues, as researchers aim to identify new molecules that may complement or enhance existing therapies. Numerous plant-derived compounds are currently under investigation and have demonstrated promising effects, while others remain far less studied yet could hold meaningful potential. In this context, resveratrol and its oligomers, including ε-viniferin, have gained attention due to promising in vitro findings, particularly due to influencing glucose homeostasis through direct SGLT interaction, indirect metabolic pathways, or a combination of both. This review examines their molecular mechanisms, absorption profiles, and inhibitory activity on sodium–glucose cotransporters SGLT1 and SGLT2. While resveratrol demonstrates high cellular uptake and metabolic conversion, ε-viniferin exhibits poor intestinal permeability, suggesting limited systemic bioavailability but potential local activity at the intestinal epithelium. Gliflozins are clinically validated dual SGLT1/SGLT2 inhibitors that offer superior glucose-lowering efficacy and organ protection. In regard to stilbenoids, they offer promising in vitro results, though in vivo studies and clinical trials are scarce. Understanding resveratrol and viniferin pharmacokinetics, target interactions, and limitations is vital for their development as potential complementary or even alternative antidiabetic therapies. Full article

The degradation of aquatic pollutants using eco-friendly and non-toxic photocatalytic materials is a pivotal strategy for water pollution remediation. However, single-component photocatalysts typically suffer from low photocatalytic efficiency due to limited light absorption spectra and rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. This study reports a novel and facile one-step mixing strategy for realizing triple synergistic modifications: heterostructured composite construction, specific surface area regulation, and efficient photogenerated electron–hole pair separation of Bi₂MoO₆ (BMO) via composite enhancement with low-cost and intrinsically green g-C₃N₄ (CN), which avoids the high cost, complex processes, and potential pollution risks of precious metal/heavy metal modification for BMO. Under visible-light irradiation, the BMO composite modified with 15 wt% CN achieved a dye removal rate of 85.1% within 60 min, representing a 1.6-fold enhancement in photocatalytic performance compared with that achieved using pristine BMO. We further clarify the unique photocatalytic mechanism of the CN/BMO heterojunction via radical quenching experiments, identifying photogenerated holes (h⁺) and superoxide radicals (·O₂⁻) as the dominant active species for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation. This study systematically demonstrates a scalable photocatalyst preparation method that integrates controllable specific surface area, rational heterostructure construction, and simple operation, and we provide an in-depth investigation into the photocatalytic reaction process and underlying synergistic enhancement mechanism. The proposed non-metallic modification route provides a new theoretical and experimental basis for the design of high-efficiency BMO-based photocatalysts, and the as-prepared CN/BMO composite holds great potential for practical application in sustainable solar-driven water purification. Full article

Nicotine exposure from e-cigarette use remains a growing public health concern, necessitating reliable biomarkers and analytical approaches for long-term exposure assessment. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of detecting and classifying cotinine, the primary metabolite of nicotine, in fingernails of e-cigarette users using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy coupled with chemometric analysis. Fingernail samples were collected and extracted from 30 e-cigarette users and 30 non-smokers. Infrared spectra were acquired in attenuated total reflectance mode and analysed using principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) for classification and prediction. Distinct spectral features associated with cotinine were observed in smoker samples, particularly an absorption band near 1277 cm⁻¹ corresponding to C–N stretching vibrations. Quantitative analysis revealed significantly higher cotinine concentrations in smokers compared with non-smokers (p < 0.05, Mann–Whitney U test). Chemometric modelling achieved complete discrimination between groups, with the PLS-DA model demonstrating excellent predictive performance and an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 1.0. These findings indicate that FTIR spectroscopy combined with chemometric tools provides a rapid and effective approach for cotinine detection in fingernails, supporting its potential application in nicotine exposure assessment. Full article

The high potential of saliva for use in the non-invasive diagnosis of a number of diseases raises a number of questions regarding the substantiation of normal and abnormal salivary composition criteria. Factors that must be considered when forming patient cohorts include age, hormonal status, and circadian variability. However, the influence of sex remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of sex on the biochemical composition of normal saliva, including amino acid and lipid profiles, cytokine levels, and electrolytes. The study involved 120 healthy volunteers (75 females and 45 males). The amounts of electrolytes (NH₄⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₂⁻, NO₃⁻, F⁻, PO₄³⁻), amino acids (Arg, Lys, Tyr, Phe, His, Leu+Ile, Met, Val, Pro, Thr, Ser, Ala, Gly), cytokines (VEGF, MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, INF-α, INF-γ), and biochemical parameters (protein, urea, total content of α-amino acids, imidazole compounds, lipid peroxides) were analyzed. Lipid content was determined based on the intensity of absorption bands at 1396, 1458, 2853, 2923, and 2957 cm⁻¹ in the IR spectra of salivary lipid extracts. A clear sex correlation was found for amino acid and lipid content in saliva. For electrolytes and biochemical parameters, median differences were demonstrated in some cases; however, the range of variation for all parameters overlapped. Although overall cytokine profiles did not show clear multivariate separation, significant differences between sexes were observed for individual cytokines (IL-1β and IL-10). A comprehensive assessment of all parameters (amino acids, lipids, cytokines, etc.) allows for the formation of a sex-associated metabolic profile of saliva. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid the use of mixed cohorts when analyzing the amino acid and lipid profiles of saliva. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dapagliflozin is an SGLT2 inhibitor prescribed for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The drug lowers blood glucose levels by increasing urinary glucose excretion (UGE). Despite established efficacy, dapagliflozin demonstrates significant inter-individual variability in pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD), with potential impact on treatment outcomes. Methods: To evaluate the sources of variability and to support patient stratification and model-informed individualized therapy, we developed a physiologically based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PBPK/PD) model of dapagliflozin using curated data from 28 clinical studies. This framework integrates absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and pharmacodynamics, and accounts for key determinants of variability including renal and hepatic function, and food effects. Results: The simulations reproduced dose-dependent pharmacokinetics with predicted C_max and AUC values typically within 10–15% of observed data. Renal impairment reduced UGE by 40–60% despite modest changes in plasma exposure, while hepatic impairment produced only small shifts in PK and PD. The model also reproduced the fed-state reduction of peak concentrations, consistent with the 30–50% decrease reported clinically. Conclusions: All model files, code, and curated datasets are openly available in line with FAIR standards and Open Science practices, enabling transparent and reproducible analyses and providing a mechanistic basis for individualized therapy in type 2 diabetes. Full article

The rapid deployment of 5G technology has raised public concern regarding the potential health effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile devices. This study systematically evaluates the specific absorption rate (SAR) and temperature distribution in a multi-layer spherical head model exposed to near-field radiation from a 5G mobile phone antenna. A planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) covering the 3.5 GHz band was integrated into a smartphone model, and simulations were performed in COMSOL Multiphysics 6.3 under input powers of 21 dBm and 24 dBm at varying antenna–head distances. The results show that the peak SAR in the brain layer remained at 0.034 W/kg and 0.065 W/kg for the two power levels, both well below the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) safety limit of 2 W/kg. The highest SAR occurred in the scalp layer, decreasing gradually through the skull and brain tissues. After 30 min of exposure, the maximum brain temperature reached only 37.223 °C, far lower than the thermal damage threshold. Increasing the antenna–head distance from 5 mm to 30 mm reduced SAR by up to 50.2%, while temperature variations remained negligible (≤0.18%). These findings demonstrate that under typical usage conditions, 5G mobile phone radiation complies with international safety standards and poses no significant thermal risk, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of bio-electromagnetic interactions and supporting ongoing wireless-communication safety assessments. Full article

Insulin therapy remains essential for the management of diabetes mellitus; however, conventional subcutaneous injection continues to impose significant physical, psychological, and behavioral barriers that negatively affect treatment adherence and metabolic outcomes. Injection-related pain, fear of needles, local tissue complications, and psychological insulin resistance contribute to delayed insulin initiation, inadequate dose titration, and suboptimal glycemic control worldwide. In response, alternative insulin delivery routes (including oral, pulmonary, nasal, and transdermal strategies) have been explored to reduce invasiveness and improve patient experience. Among these, transdermal insulin delivery has emerged as a particularly promising approach due to its potential to bypass gastrointestinal degradation, provide controlled absorption, and enhance patient acceptance. Recent advances in microneedle-based systems and needle-free jet injectors have enabled effective transdermal insulin administration by overcoming the skin barrier while minimizing pain and discomfort. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on insulin delivery technologies with a specific focus on transdermal and needle-free systems. We discuss the biological and physicochemical challenges of insulin transport, the mechanisms underlying emerging delivery platforms, and clinical evidence regarding metabolic efficacy, glycemic variability, and patient-reported outcomes. The integration of these technologies with continuous glucose monitoring is also explored. Finally, we address translational challenges and future perspectives, highlighting the role of needle-free insulin delivery as a patient-centered strategy to improve adherence and metabolic control in diabetes care. Full article

Anthropogenic activities generate waste that negatively impacts the environment, especially water resources, due to the accumulation of heavy metal ions. Several adsorption methods have been developed, including the use of natural materials such as algae and activated clay. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pH on batch adsorption of heavy metal ions using Nostoc sphaericum hydrocolloid (HA)/activated nanoclay (NR) composites. The NR/HMB-HA and NR/HUT-HA composites were prepared with a 2:8 mass ratio of HA and NR, using types of clay with code HMB and HUT, previously activated with 1 M NaCl and acid treatment. The adsorption capacity was evaluated using batch tests at pH 4.5 and 5.5, analyzing the removal percentage, adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms, and regeneration cycles for unimetal and multimetal systems. The composites present a load point close to 5.1. The FTIR analysis showed changes in the intensity of functional groups following adsorption, confirming the interaction with metallic ions. Both composites showed high affinity in multimetallic systems, especially at pH 5.5, with high selectivity for Pb²⁺ (≈99% removal), followed by As, Cd, and Zn, from an initial concentration of 10 ppm for each metal ion. Equilibrium is reached in approximately 90 min, allowing adsorption of up to 69.9% after five regeneration cycles in a multimetal system. The kinetic study showed that multimetal absorption at equilibrium is governed by chemisorption processes in the order Pb > As > Zn > Cd, with q_e values between 0.392 and 0.058 mmol/g and diffusivity from 15.506 × 10¹¹ to 1.692 × 10¹¹ m²/s. Likewise, the isotherms study indicated a favorable process with maximum adsorption (q_max) between 16.696 and 5.223 mmol/g at pH 5.5. Altogether, the developed composites show high potential for the removal of heavy metals in contaminated waters, in addition to their high reuse capacity. Full article

The demand for biodegradable, recyclable, natural composites with lightweight structures is driven by the fact that advanced structures can withstand quasi-static and dynamic loadings. This study examined the energy-absorbing characteristics of interlocking periodic honeycomb sandwich structures made from short sugar palm, kenaf, and pineapple leaf fibres (PALFs) reinforced with a polylactic acid (PLA) composite. The biodegradable sugar palm, kenaf, and PALF/PLA composite sheets were subjected to hot compression and cut into single- and double-slot square plates. The interlocking technique was used to assemble periodic two-dimensional square-honeycomb sandwich structures. Moreover, new and recyclable PLA-based composites with three fibres were tested for tensile properties. The biodegradable PLA-based composite honeycomb sandwich structure underwent a quasi-static compression test. Finite element modelling was used to simulate the load–displacement curve, energy-absorption characteristics, and failure behaviour, incorporating tensile properties and geometric imperfections. The results revealed that the double-slot design of the pineapple/PLA sandwich structure significantly increased by 1.33 times compared to the sugar palm/PLA sandwich structure. Notably, it reduced the compressive strength of recyclable pineapple/PLA (66.4%) and recyclable sugar palm/PLA (31.5%) composite sandwich structures compared to the new pineapple/sugar palm PLA-based composite. In addition, finite element analysis (FEA) showed reasonable agreement with experimental data, with a 7.11% error in energy absorption (EA). It was highlighted that biodegradable, recyclable, interlocking sandwich-structured composites have potential for advanced, sustainable energy-absorbing structures. Full article

The negative impacts caused by synthetic herbicides have necessitated research on environment-friendly and sustainable alternatives. In this study, a novel botanical nanoherbicide was developed through green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) assisted by aqueous extract of Brucea javanica (BJ) residue. The BJ-Ag NPs were characterized using ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) attached with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). TEM images indicated that the BJ-Ag NPs were spherical with an average particle size of 12.75 nm. Meanwhile, the herbicidal activity against two paddy weeds (Echinochloa crusgalli and Bidens pilosa L.) and phytotoxicity to rice (Oryza sativa L.) were evaluated using the Petri dish method. Compared to the BJ residue extract, the BJ-Ag NPs exhibited enhanced inhibitory activity on the seed germination and seedling growth of two target weeds, while showing alleviated phytotoxicity and partially restored seedling vigor in rice. Obviously, positive impacts on both the weed and crop were obtained after synthesizing Ag NPs using the BJ residue extract. The results in this study demonstrated the potential of the BJ-Ag NPs as a sustainable, crop-friendly nanoherbicide for weed management in paddy fields. Full article

To address the recurring issue of excessive carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations at the return corner of fully mechanized mining faces under goaf conditions, this study investigated the elimination of CO at ambient temperature and pressure using deep eutectic solvents (DESs). CO, a colorless, odorless, and highly toxic gas, is notoriously difficult to remove under conventional conditions. A series of DESs were prepared and screened, revealing that the ethanol-modified system [Emim]Cl-CuCl-1.0E exhibited optimal CO elimination performance under conditions of 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure. Further investigations measured the viscosity-temperature relationship and thermal stability of this system while systematically examining the effects of temperature, CO contact time, and storage duration on its elimination efficiency. Analysis by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy indicated that Cu(I) ions play a crucial role in the CO absorption process. The introduction of ethanol significantly enhanced the activity of the Cu(I) ions, thereby effectively improving the CO elimination capacity of the system. This study proposes a novel potential method for managing CO in goaf areas and provides an experimental foundation for the application of DESs in the field of gas purification. Full article

This study examines the shear behavior of geopolymer (zero-cement) concrete (ZCC) beams under monotonic and cyclic loading, focusing on the effects of concrete compressive strength, reinforcement ratio, and shear span-to-depth ratio. A total of 48 simply supported beams were tested under two-point loading, with compressive strengths of 20 and 30 MPa, longitudinal reinforcement configurations of 2Ø10, 3Ø10, and 3Ø12, and shear span-to-depth ratios (a/d) of 2, 2.5, and 3. The results demonstrate that ZCC beams achieve shear capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation comparable to or exceeding those of conventional concrete beams, confirming their suitability for shear-critical structural applications and providing valuable experimental data to support future design and modeling of sustainable concrete systems. Results showed that under monotonic loading, increasing compressive strength and longitudinal reinforcement enhanced load capacity by up to 33%, improved energy absorption, and reduced deflection, while higher a/d ratios decreased load capacity by about 37% but increased deflection by nearly 48%. Similar trends were observed under cyclic loading, although beams exhibited additional vertical cracking and stiffness degradation; ZCC beams sustained 70–90% of their monotonic displacement capacity, with 30 MPa specimens demonstrating superior energy dissipation and ductility. Reinforcement strains were consistently lower in ZCC beams than in normal concrete beam, indicating improved bond performance. Failure was primarily governed by diagonal shear cracks at angles of 30–45°, similarly to NC beams but with more gradual crack development. The findings confirm that ZCC beams achieve shear performance comparable to beams made with conventional concrete while offering improved ductility and energy absorption, highlighting their potential as a sustainable alternative for shear-critical structural applications subjected to monotonic and cyclic loading. Full article