Search Results (1,259)

Biodegradable polymer materials, which reduce the problem of waste and are often produced from renewable raw materials, contribute to sustainable development. The imparting of antimicrobial properties to biodegradable materials represents a significant advantage in a variety of potential applications, including the domain of packaging materials and medical applications. In this study, biodegradable polymer compositions, including polylactide (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL), were prepared with copper, which was applied to the polymers using a magnetron sputtering technique. PLA and PCL were selected as representatives of biodegradable polymers of natural and synthetic origin. Copper was used as an alternative to other more expensive metals with antimicrobial properties. The microbiological properties of the samples were examined, the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) was determined, and the influence of controlled thermo-oxidative and weathering aging on the surface properties of the materials (color, wettability, surface energy, UV-Vis spectra) was analyzed. The UPF values for the PLA and PCL samples containing copper were UPF > 50, so the materials provided excellent UV protection. Thermo-oxidative aging of PCL and weathering aging of PLA influenced the change in color and surface properties (wettability and surface energy) of the composition, resulting from the oxidation of the copper layer deposited on the polymers. Biological evaluation included measurements of prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) to assess how the synthesized materials influence the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of blood coagulation, reflecting their potential biomedical relevance. Furthermore, the antimicrobial performance of the obtained samples was examined against representative bacterial strains—Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative)—to verify their ability to inhibit microbial growth and ensure their suitability for use in infection-prone environments. Full article

Background: The clinical research laboratory plays a pivotal role in the execution of clinical studies. The accurate and consistent registration of patients is dependent on the competent use of laboratory equipment and manual techniques by technicians, ensuring the reliability of the data collected. To support these activities, the Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé (GRAS) has been registered with the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the Clinical Laboratories Services (CLS) in Johannesburg, South Africa, for external proficiency testing (EPT) of its laboratory, as part of our commitment to quality assurance. The following report details the performance achievements over the past five years. Methods: Proficiency testing (PT) samples are dispatched to GRAS Lab three times a year (quarterly) and the results are generally returned within two to three weeks. In the field of parasitology, challenge specimens were prepared as follows: thick and thin blood films were stained with Giemsa and mounted with strips to protect them for multiple uses. Photographs, also known as whole slide images (WSIs), were also taken. For the biochemistry and haematology tests, a set of five samples were received for processing. All evaluations were carried out in accordance with the GRAS laboratory’s internal procedures. Results: The CAP laboratory’s performance in terms of the diagnosis of malaria and other blood parasites from 2020 to 2024 was 97.3% accurate (ranging from 93.33% to 100%), with 93.33%, 100%, 100%, 93.33% and 100% achieved in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively. The number of microscopists evaluated annually has been subject to variation according to operational staff at the time of evaluation. A total of 31 microscopists were enrolled in the CLS PT scheme, of which 73.9% were classified as ‘experts’ and 19.2% as ‘reference’ microscopists. In the field of haematology, the PT demonstrated 100% accuracy over the four-year study period. This outcome is indicative of the high-performance levels exhibited by the automated systems under scrutiny and the comparable nature of the data produced by these systems. The same trend was observed in the biochemistry PT results, with an overall score of 92.12%, ranging from 78% to 100%. Conclusions: Proficiency testing has been shown to be an effective tool for quality assurance in laboratories, helping to ensure the accuracy of malaria and other blood parasite diagnoses made by microscopists, as well as the results generated by automated systems. It has been instrumental in assisting laboratories in identifying issues related to test design and performance. Full article

Distributed fiber-optic photoacoustic non-destructive testing (DFP-NDT) represents a paradigm shift from passive sensing to active probing, fundamentally transforming structural health monitoring through integrated fiber-based ultrasonic generation and detection capabilities. This review systematically examines DFP-NDT’s evolution by following the technology’s natural progression from fundamental principles to practical implementations. Unlike conventional approaches that require external excitation mechanisms, DFP-NDT leverages photoacoustic transducers as integrated active components where fiber-optical devices themselves generate and detect ultrasonic waves. Central to this technology are photoacoustic materials engineered to maximize conversion efficiency—from carbon nanotube-polymer composites achieving 2.74 × 10⁻² conversion efficiency to innovative MXene-based systems that combine high photothermal conversion with structural protection functionality. These materials operate within sophisticated microstructural frameworks—including tilted fiber Bragg gratings, collapsed photonic crystal fibers, and functionalized polymer coatings—that enable precise control over optical-to-thermal-to-acoustic energy conversion. Six primary distributed fiber-optic photoacoustic transducer array (DFOPTA) methodologies have been developed to transform single-point transducers into multiplexed systems, with low-frequency variants significantly extending penetration capability while maintaining high spatial resolution. Recent advances in imaging algorithms have particular emphasis on techniques specifically adapted for distributed photoacoustic data, including innovative computational frameworks that overcome traditional algorithmic limitations through sophisticated statistical modeling. Documented applications demonstrate DFP-NDT’s exceptional versatility across structural monitoring scenarios, achieving impressive performance metrics including 90 × 54 cm² coverage areas, sub-millimeter resolution, and robust operation under complex multimodal interference conditions. Despite these advances, key challenges remain in scaling multiplexing density, expanding operational robustness for extreme environments, and developing algorithms specifically optimized for simultaneous multi-source excitation. This review establishes a clear roadmap for future development where enhanced multiplexed architectures, domain-specific material innovations, and purpose-built computational frameworks will transition DFP-NDT from promising laboratory demonstrations to deployable industrial solutions for comprehensive structural integrity assessment. Full article

Seed germination of celery (Apium graveolens L.) is notoriously slow and asynchronous, which severely constrains uniform seedling establishment and crop yield. Seed priming is an effective technique to improve germination, and acidic electrolyzed water, characterized by low pH and high oxidation–reduction potential, has emerged as a novel priming agent. However, the effect of acid electrolyzed water priming (EWP) on celery seed germination and the underlying mechanisms still need to be explored. The present study aimed to investigate the physiological and molecular mechanisms by which EWP promotes celery seed germination, with a focus on the roles of the phenylpropane metabolism and the antioxidant enzyme system. Celery seeds were treated with EWP, hydro-priming (HYD), and untreated (CK). It was found that the EWP treatment significantly enhanced germination characteristics compared to both CK and HYD. Transcriptome analysis revealed that EWP triggered more extensive transcriptional reprogramming than HYD, and EWP specifically enriched “Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis” and “Flavonoid biosynthesis” pathways, downregulating upstream genes (PAL, 4CL) while upregulating downstream genes (CCR, CHI, F3H) in the phenylpropane pathway. Physiologically, EWP significantly increased CHI activity and the contents of total phenols and flavonoids at all sampling time points, and enhanced the activities of SOD, POD, CAT, and APX. Consequently, the DPPH and FRAP free radical scavenging capacities were significantly strengthened in EWP-treated seeds. In conclusion, it is believed that EWP activation promotes celery seed germination by coordinating the phenylpropane pathway and antioxidant enzyme system, ensuring effective radical scavenging activities and cell protection. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the application of EWP and highlight the potential as a novel priming technology for celery and other horticultural crops. Full article

Postharvest storage and quality maintenance represent significant constrains for the marketability and long-distance exportation of button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). Protective techniques such as arginine application has been demonstrated to extend the shelf life of button mushroom. However, the underlying mechanism by which arginine mitigates postharvest softening in button mushroom require further elucidation. In this study, comprehensive physiology, metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses of button mushroom following arginine treatment were conducted to investigate its potential mechanisms of action. Physiological analysis showed that arginine treatment (1.5 g L⁻¹) markedly alleviated the postharvest softening of button mushroom, resulting in a 23.8% increase in firmness, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content, suppressed activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and maintained elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses demonstrated that arginine application significantly altered lipid-related metabolites, including free fatty acids, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC). Notably, arginine treatment increased the levels of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). Transcriptomic analysis further revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were predominantly enriched in lipid metabolism pathways following arginine treatment. Specifically, arginine application stimulated the lipid metabolism by upregulating genes associated with fatty acid desaturation (FAD), while downregulating genes related to phospholipases A2 (PLA2). These findings collectively demonstrate that arginine effectively mitigates postharvest softening of button mushroom by modulating lipid metabolism. Full article

The purpose of this paper is to develop sustainable bio-colored healthcare cotton fabrics using chitosan/pectin layer-by-layer coatings enriched with strawberry pomace extract. Ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from strawberry pomace was optimized using a Box–Behnken experimental design to maximize the total polyphenol content (29.6 mg GAE/g DW). HPLC analysis confirmed the presence and quantity of anthocyanins in the extract obtained under optimized conditions (time: 37 min, ethanol concentration: 48.4%, liquid-to-solid ratio: 40.4 mL/g). This extract was used to enrich chitosan/pectin coatings, and applied onto cotton fabric using a layer-by-layer technique. Among the fabrics with 0, 4, 8, and 12 bilayers of chitosan/pectin coating enriched with extract, the 12-bilayer coated fabric exhibited the best bioactivity: 98.4% antioxidant activity, outstanding antibacterial efficacy, and the highest release of extract over 24 h. The last two properties showed a strong linear correlation with the number of bilayers, adsorbed extract, and weight gain. In vitro cytotoxicity testing proved the non-cytotoxic nature of 12-bilayer fabric extract. Additionally, the performed 12-bilayer coating imparted a natural reddish-brown color, high color strength (K/S = 1.45), and excellent UV protection (UPF 79.4), offering a sustainable, multifunctional approach for obtaining bio-colored cotton fabrics suited for wound dressing and other healthcare applications. Full article

The increasing prevalence of deep learning models in industry has highlighted the critical need to protect the intellectual property (IP) of these models, especially generative adversarial networks (GANs) capable of synthesizing realistic data. Traditional IP protection methods, such as watermarking model parameters (white-box) or verifying outputs (black-box), are insufficient against non-public misappropriation. To address these limitations, we introduce EGAN (Encrypted GANs), which secures GAN models by embedding a novel self-adversarial mechanism. This mechanism is trained to actively maximize the feature divergence between authorized and unauthorized inputs, thereby intentionally corrupting the outputs from non-key inputs and preventing unauthorized operation. Our methodology utilizes key-based transformations applied to GAN inputs and incorporates a generator loss regularization term to enforce model protection without compromising performance. This technique is compatible with existing watermark-based verification methods. Extensive experimental evaluations reveal that EGAN maintains the generative capabilities of original GAN architectures, including DCGAN, SRGAN, and CycleGAN, while exhibiting robust resistance to common attack strategies such as fine-tuning. Compared with prior work, EGAN provides comprehensive IP protection by ensuring unauthorized users cannot achieve desired outcomes, thus safeguarding both the models and their generated data. Full article

This Special Issue, “Symmetry/Asymmetry Studies in Modern Power Systems,” presents a curated collection of research addressing the critical and evolving role of symmetry in the context of energy transition. The contributions, selected through a rigorous review process, collectively advance the understanding and management of power system balance, stability, and resilience amidst the increasing integration of renewables and power electronics. The published papers offer innovative solutions across several interconnected areas, including advanced control for active power symmetry, optimized renewable integration and inertia support, intelligent equipment operation, system-wide dynamic analysis, scheduling under uncertainty, and enhanced protection and power quality. By synthesizing advanced computational techniques with core power engineering challenges, this issue provides both theoretical insights and practical methodologies. It underscores a paradigm shift towards actively orchestrating system stability within inherently asymmetric conditions, laying a foundation for the design of more resilient, efficient, and sustainable future grids. Finally, key future research directions are outlined to further integrate adaptive control, physics-informed machine learning, and standardized metrics for holistic system design. Full article

In the current digital landscape, where platforms process AI-generated content and intelligent network traffic on a large scale, it is the duty of such platforms to continuously measure the reliability, trustworthiness, and security of various data streams. Driven by this practical challenge, this research develops an effective decision-support mechanism in intelligent decision-making in big-data AI-generated content and network systems. The decision problem has considered several uncertainties, including content authenticity, processing efficiency, user trust, cybersecurity, system scalability, privacy protection, and cost of computing. The multidimensional uncertainty of AI-generated information and trends in network behavior are challenging to capture in traditional crisp and fuzzy decision-making models. To fill that gap, a new Picture Fuzzy Faire Un Choix Adequat (PF-FUCA) methodology is proposed, based on multi-perspective expert assessment and better computational aggregation to improve the accuracy of rankings, symmetry, and uncertainty treatment. A case scenario comprising fifteen different alternative intelligent decision strategies and seven evaluation criteria are examined under the evaluation of four decision-makers. The PF-FUCA model successfully prioritizes the best strategies to control AI-based content and network activities to generate a stable and realistic ranking. The comparative and sensitivity analysis show higher robustness, accuracy, and flexibility levels than the existing MCDM techniques. The results indicate that PF-FUCA is specifically beneficial in settings where a large amount of data has to flow, a high uncertainty rate exists, and the variables of decision are dynamic. The research introduces a scalable and credible methodological conception that can be used to facilitate high levels of intelligent computing applications to content governance and network optimization. Full article

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are among the most adaptable nanocarriers in modern pharmaceutics, characterized by a high surface area, tunable pore size, controllable morphology, and excellent biocompatibility. These qualities enable effective encapsulation, protection, and the delivery of drugs in a specific area and, therefore, MSNs are powerful platforms for the targeted and controlled delivery of drugs and theragnostic agents. Over the past ten years and within the 2021–2025 period, the advancement of MSN design has led to the creation of hybrid nanostructures into polymers, lipids, metals, and biomolecules that have yielded multifunctional carriers with enhanced stability, responsiveness, and biological activities. The current review provides a review of the synthesis methods, surface functionalization techniques, and physicochemical characterization techniques that define the next-generation MSN-based delivery systems. The particular focus is put on stimuli-responsive systems, such as redox, pH, enzyme-activated, and light-activated systems, that enable delivering drugs in a controlled and localized manner. We further provide a summary of the biomedical use of MSNs and their hybrids such as in cancer chemotherapy, gene and nucleic acid delivery, antimicrobial and vaccine delivery, and central nervous system targeting, supported by recent in vivo and in vitro studies. Important evaluations of biocompatibility, immunogenicity, degradation, and biodistribution in vivo are also provided with a focus on safety in addition to the regulatory impediments to clinical translation. The review concludes by saying that there are still limitations such as large-scale reproducibility, long-term toxicity, and standardization by the regulators, and that directions are being taken in the future in the fields of smart programmable nanocarriers, green synthesis, and sustainable manufacture. Overall, mesoporous silica and hybrid nanoparticles represent a breakthrough technology in the nanomedicine sector with potentials that are unrivaled in relation to targeted, controlled, and personalized therapeutic interventions. Full article

Freshwater mussels (Unionida) perform important functions that are integral to keeping streams, rivers, and lakes operating as holistic ecosystems. Some of these functions improve water quality for humans through their filtration activities such as nutrient cycling and feces and pseudofeces production. In this study, we estimated the magnitude of contaminant sequestration by mussel assemblages using data at polluted and relatively unpolluted sites from watersheds in the upper Mississippi River (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, USA), the Clinch River (Virginia and Tennessee, USA), and the upper Neuse River (North Carolina, USA). Data from these rivers represented a range of (1) spatial scales from wadable streams to large rivers, (2) population sizes from tens of thousands to hundreds of millions of mussels, (3) survey techniques from qualitative to quantitative, and (4) chemical classes from inorganic to organic contaminants. We estimated that mussels in two relatively unpolluted reaches of the upper Mississippi River sequestered 1.42 × 10¹³ µg of total metals, metalloids, and ions (i.e., 14.2 metric tons). Mussels in the relatively unpolluted upper Neuse River sequestered between 22.2 and 53.3 million ng of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; i.e., 22.2–53.3 mg). Mussels at a polluted site in the Clinch River (Pendleton Island) sequestered 168 million ng of PAHs, compared to 1.45 billion ng of PAHs sequestered at relatively unpolluted sites. Mussels at unpolluted sites in the Clinch River had a 10 times greater sequestration capacity despite having lower tissue concentrations. The accuracy (precision and bias) associated with estimating assemblage-level contaminant sequestration by mussels varied as a function of survey design, spatial scale, population size, and contaminant type. This preliminary assessment of sequestration of contaminants by mussels outlines a framework for understanding the contributions these organisms make in supporting water quality and highlights the need to protect and conserve mussels and the ecosystem functions and services they provide. Full article

The dugong (Dugong dugon) is the sole extant species of the genus Dugong within the order Sirenia, and the only strictly herbivorous marine mammal. As one of the oldest marine mammals, it plays a vital role in maintaining marine biodiversity. Inhabiting the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific, its populations and their seagrass habitats continue to decline due to compounded pressures from human activities and climate change. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently classifies the species as vulnerable to endangered. Dugongs were once widely distributed along China’s southern coast, but sightings have become extremely rare since 2000. Population recovery remains challenging, necessitating urgent actions to enhance protection and restoration of critical habitats—particularly seagrass beds—alongside foundational scientific research. This paper examines the conservation status and threats to China’s dugong population and their habitats, analyzes conservation challenges, and proposes protection strategies (including strengthening protection and management of dugongs and their habitats; exploring population recovery methods; enhancing habitat monitoring; improving population monitoring techniques; and raising public awareness). These protection strategies aim to advance dugong conservation. Full article

This article addresses a critical security challenge in Internet of Things (IoT) systems, which are vulnerable to traffic detection attacks due to their reliance on shared wireless communication channels. We propose a novel cooperative covert transmission strategy to enhance the security of IoT communications against these attacks through the implementation of physical-layer security mechanisms. Inspired by zero-forcing precoding techniques, the proposed approach enables cooperation between different IoT devices in the system to increase the likelihood of adversaries making incorrect conclusions about the communication activity of the targeted IoT device. The proposed covert communication strategy complements traditional security measures, provides a scalable solution, and is suitable for resource-constrained IoT environments. The numerical results in this article demonstrate significant improvements in protecting communications against traffic detection attacks, which contributes to the overall security and privacy of IoT systems. Full article

Static cold storage (SCS) remains the most widely used method of liver graft preservation due to its simplicity, accessibility, and reduced cost in transplantation practice. Since the invention of the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution, several alternative preservation solutions—including histidine–tryptophan–ketoglutarate (HTK), Celsior, and more recently IGL-1 and IGL-2—have been formulated to optimize cellular and vascular protection during cold ischemia. More recently, the introduction of dynamic perfusion techniques, such as hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) and normothermic machine perfusion (NMP), approximately fifteen years ago, has further enhanced transplantation protocols, being applied either alone or in combination with traditional SCS to ensure optimal graft preservation prior to implantation. Despite these technological advances, achieving fully effective dynamic perfusion remains a key challenge for improving outcomes in vulnerable grafts, particularly steatotic or marginal livers. This review details how Polyethylene Glycol 35 (PEG35)-based solutions activate multiple cytoprotective pathways during SCS, including AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), nitric oxide (NO) production, and the antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2. We propose that these molecular mechanisms serve as a form of preconditioning that is synergistically leveraged by HOPE to preserve mitochondrial function, endothelial glycocalyx integrity, and microvascular homeostasis. Furthermore, the oncotic and rheological properties of PEG35 reduce perfusate viscosity, mitigating shear stress and microcirculatory damage during dynamic perfusion—effects that are further enhanced by NO- and AMPK-mediated protection initiated during the SCS phase. This integrated approach provides a strong rationale for combining PEG35-mediated SCS with HOPE, particularly for grafts with high susceptibility to ischemia–reperfusion injury, such as fatty livers. Finally, we highlight emerging avenues in graft preservation, including the design of unified perfusion solutions that optimize endothelial, mitochondrial, and redox protection, with the potential to improve post-transplant outcomes and extend applicability to other solid organ grafts. Full article

This review explores the synergistic integration of edible coatings and non-thermal preservation technologies as a multifaceted approach to maintaining food quality, safety, and sustainability. Edible coatings—composed of polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, or composite biopolymers—serve as biodegradable barriers that control moisture, gas, and solute transfer while acting as carriers for bioactive compounds such as antimicrobials and antioxidants. Meanwhile, non-thermal techniques, including high-pressure processing, cold plasma, ultrasound, photodynamic inactivation, modified atmosphere packaging, and irradiation, offer microbial inactivation and enzymatic control without compromising nutritional and sensory attributes. When combined, these technologies exhibit complementary effects: coatings enhance the stability of bioactives and protect surface quality, while non-thermal treatments boost antimicrobial efficacy and promote active compound penetration. The review highlights their comparative advantages over individual treatments—improved microbial inhibition, nutrient retention, and sensory quality. It further discusses the possible mechanisms through which edible coatings and selected hurdles induced microbial decontamination. Finally, the study identified major drawbacks and provided strategic recommendations to overcome these limitations, including optimizing coating formulations for specific food matrices, tailoring process parameters to minimize adverse physicochemical changes, and conducting pilot-scale validations to bridge the gap between laboratory success and industrial application. Full article