Search Results (13,735)

Marine red algae have been reported to contain a variety of bioactive compounds that are effective in promoting wound-healing processes. In the present study, the wound-healing potential of Grateloupia angusta, which has been rarely explored, was examined using in vitro and in vivo models. A 70% ethanol extract of G. angusta (GAE) was prepared and profiled by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Its effects on the wound-healing process were examined using three different types of cells that participate in this process, namely, Raw264.7, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Various assays including migration/scratch, tube formation, procollagen type I C-peptide production, and Western blotting were used to investigate the therapeutic potential of GAE. In vivo efficacy was tested in a mouse full-thickness skin incision wound model. In HUVECs, GAE increased viability, migration, tube formation, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Raw264.7 cells also showed increased VEGF production following GAE treatment. In HDFs, GAE did not affect proliferation and migration, but did increase collagen production. In mice, GAE accelerated wound closure from day 3 to day 5 and increased granulation/matrix with higher proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) expression after a single topical application. In addition, keratin 14 (K14) expression was restored in GAE-treated wound tissues, suggesting improved epidermal re-epithelialization. Taken together, GAE promotes matrix production and pro-angiogenic activity in vitro and improves early wound repair in vivo, suggesting that G. angusta is a promising marine-derived candidate for wound-healing adjuvants. The results of the present study support further bioassay-guided fractionation and mechanistic validation in future studies. Full article

Screw compressors are critical equipment in oil and gas production and transportation, where efficiency losses caused by rotor geometry, inlet pressure pulsations, and harsh climatic conditions can accumulate into substantial annual energy penalties and reliability degradation. This study provides a quantitative assessment of these coupled effects within a unified multiphysics framework that combines time-accurate transient CFD simulations based on a fixed Cartesian immersed-boundary formulation with a climate-calibrated offline physics-based digital twin—functioning as a digital shadow with one-way data flow from archival SCADA records—a reduced-order seasonal model with no real-time updating, calibrated against a full calendar year of SCADA records and validated against a held-out cold-season dataset (October–December 2022, T_amb = −15 to +8 °C); summer-period predictions rely on calibrated extrapolation beyond the validation window—an integration not previously demonstrated for oil-flooded screw compressors. Two rotor profile configurations (Type A and Type B) were analyzed to quantify geometry-driven differences in static pressure distribution, leakage tendency, and pulsation sensitivity. Transient suction conditions were modeled using harmonic and quasi-random inlet pressure disturbances to evaluate pressure amplification, phase lag, leakage intensification, and efficiency degradation. Seasonal performance was assessed by integrating temperature-dependent gas properties, oil viscosity behavior, and external heat transfer into an annual climatic load framework. The results show that inlet oscillations are amplified inside the chambers (pressure amplification factor П_р ≈ 1.95; П_р up to 2.3 under quasi-random excitation), reducing mass flow and volumetric efficiency by 8–10% and decreasing polytropic efficiency from 0.78 to 0.69–0.71, while increasing leakage by up to 27% and raising peak contact pressures to 167–171 MPa. Seasonal variability (+30 to −30 °C) increased suction density by 38% but raised drive power by ~9% due to viscosity-driven mechanical losses, producing an energy penalty up to 10.8% and an estimated annual additional consumption of approximately 186 MWh per compressor, decomposed as: cold-season contribution ~113 MWh (±10 MWh, directly field-validated against October–December 2022 SCADA data) and summer-season contribution ~51 MWh (calibrated extrapolation; additional uncertainty unquantified and not included in the ±10 MWh bound). The full annual figure of 186 MWh should be interpreted as a model-based estimate rather than a fully validated result. These findings demonstrate that rotor design optimization and mitigation of nonstationary suction effects, coupled with climate-aware offline physics-based digital shadow operation, represent high-priority levers for improving efficiency and reducing energy penalties in field conditions; reliability implications require further validation against summer-season field measurements. Full article

Background: In the year 2022 more than 390 million kids and teenagers aged between 5 and 19 years old were overweight, including 160 million individuals who were suffering from obesity. It is commonly known that, in order to have a possitive change in physical and mental health, physical activity is needed. The aim of this study was to determine whether the type of physical activity undertaken influenced changes in body mass and physical fitness scores in children aged 7–10 years who practice taekwondo, swimming, and team sports, using tag rugby as an example. Material and Methods: A total of 200 children were eligible to participate in the research project and the analysis was conducted on 150 subjects (49% girls and 51% boys). Group IA (n = 20) trained in taekwondo, group IB (n = 42) trained in swimming, and group IC (n = 20) trained in rugby tag. Group II control subjects (n = 68) did not participate in any additional sports activities. Children’s body height was determined with a SECA 213 heightometer and body mass and body composition using Tanita’s MC-780 eight-electrode body composition analyser. Selected Eurofit tests were used to assess physical fitness. Results: A peripheral distribution of fat mass was found in all subjects, with the highest levels determined in the upper limbs. The highest values, apart from arm muscle strength, were found in the swimming group. Significant changes were observed in the subjects training in taekwondo. Conclusions: Results suggest that physical activity targeting the development of different motor skills should be part of preventive health care for children. Full article

Caking and powder adhesion are widespread challenges in dry powder processes. The influence of process parameters such as humidity and temperature on the adhesion behavior of dry powders has been extensively studied in numerous studies. Besides that, the impact of other process characteristics, such as additional process parameters or wall materials, has received little attention so far. In addition, existing methods to characterize caking behavior do not account for powders in a fluidized state. To address phenomena based on process and material behavior, a test rig was specifically designed to investigate the adhesion of dry particles to different metal walls at varying speeds at a 90° angle, representing the main novelty of this study. The deposition area, deposition mass, and maximum deposition thickness were evaluated, and the correlations were discussed. The investigations revealed that at low velocities (<12 m/s) and for smooth surfaces (Sq < 0.3–0.4 µm), wall materials with a high ratio of dispersive to polar surface energy components (D/P: 13–15.8) exhibit minimal powder adhesion. The test rig has demonstrated its effectiveness as a straightforward method for measuring adhesion across various powder–wall material pairs and could serve as a valuable preliminary test for industrial applications. Full article

Sarcopenia is a degenerative condition that imposes a substantial global public health burden, yet safe and effective interventions remain limited. Nutritional support is regarded as an important strategy to mitigate age-related muscle loss and improve physical function in older adults. Due to time and cost constraints, dexamethasone (DEX)-treated models are often used as an alternative to age-related sarcopenia models. This study investigated the effects of pumpkin seed protein peptides (PSPP) and vitamin D on DEX-treated mice. In vitro, PSPP attenuated senescence-associated phenotypes, reduced cellular injury, and partially alleviated DEX-treated myofibrillar atrophy, as evidenced by decreased Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 expression and increased MyoD expression. In vivo, PSPP and vitamin D, particularly in combination, ameliorated DEX-treated declines in muscle mass, grip strength, and endurance. Histological analyses further demonstrated improvements in myofibrillar architecture and muscle fiber cross-sectional area. In addition, each intervention was associated with increased ATP content, elevated interleukin-10 and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels, and reduced tumor necrosis factor-α and malondialdehyde levels. Collectively, these findings suggest that PSPP, either alone or combined with vitamin D, may alleviate DEX-treated sarcopenia, potentially through the modulation of mitochondrial homeostasis, attenuation of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, and promotion of myogenic regeneration. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity has a huge impact on global healthcare and economy. Consequently, the pharmaceutical industry has recently introduced novel anti-obesity drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, which can yield remarkable weight reduction in patients, while also having significant cardiovascular benefits. Methods: Other weight-lowering medications are currently under investigation, and this narrative review provides an overview of the main novel drugs that are being tested. Results: These novel agents have different mechanisms of action, e.g., calorie intake reduction, increase in basal metabolism, and increase in muscle mass. Conclusions: In the future, obesity treatment is likely to become increasingly personalized, and further cardiovascular benefits could be expected. The combined use of different molecules could minimize their side effects, for instance, by minimizing muscle wasting observed during glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) therapy. In our opinion, these highly effective drugs could represent a valuable addition to healthy lifestyle, as the evidence linking increases in muscle mass and basal metabolic rate to improved cardiovascular health is strongest when these changes are achieved through diet and regular physical activity. Full article

As oil and gas development increasingly targets low and ultra-low permeability reservoirs, conventional recovery techniques often prove insufficient for mobilizing residual oil. Surfactant flooding, a key chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology, thus requires careful system optimization and mechanistic investigation. This study focuses on low-permeability reservoirs in the Changqing Oilfield, evaluating three surfactant systems—YHS-Z1 (a 7:3 mass ratio blend of hydroxypropyl sulfobetaine and cocamide),YHS-Z2 (a polyether carboxylate, a nonionic-anionic composite) and a middle-phase microemulsion system (Heavy alkylbenzene sulfonate and hydroxysulfobetaine were combined with a mass ratio of 7:3)—through a series of experiments including interfacial tension measurement, contact angle analysis, static and dynamic oil displacement tests, as well as emulsion transport/retention index assessments, to comprehensively characterize their oil displacement properties. Based on the experimental data, this study constructed four classical regression models: Ridge Regression, Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR), and Support Vector Regression (SVR), and conducted a comparative analysis of their predictive performance. The results demonstrate that the Random Forest (RF) model achieved the optimal prediction performance, with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 1.8245, a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 4.78%, and a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.9428 on the training set. Further analysis using the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) algorithm revealed that the retention index is the primary global factor (accounting for 49.79% of the variance), while significant intergroup differences exist in the primary factors across different surfactant systems. Concurrently, single-factor and multi-factor sensitivity analyses were conducted to elucidate synergistic effects and threshold behaviors among parameters. The optimal parameter combination, identified via a random search method, achieved a predicted recovery factor of 45.61%, representing a 6.57% improvement over the highest experimental value. This study demonstrates that machine learning methods can effectively identify the dominant factors in oil displacement and enable synergistic parameter optimization, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for the efficient development of surfactant flooding in low-permeability reservoirs. Full article

Background and Objectives: Present assessment methods have not effectively mitigated the risk of recurrent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury following reconstruction (ACLR), suggesting that critical neuromuscular deficits may be underdiagnosed. This study aimed to compare limb asymmetries across strength, concentric and eccentric power, and deceleration metrics during return-to-sport (RTS) testing in professional athletes post-ACLR. Materials and Methods: Forty-four participants (33 males, 11 females; age 22.5 ± 5.8 years, body mass 75.9 ± 13.0 kg, height 180.5 ± 8.38 cm) (mean ± SD) with a unilateral reconstructed ACL (BTB = 33, HT = 11 graft) were included. They underwent isokinetic testing of knee flexor and extensor strength and bilateral countermovement jump (CMJ) assessments to measure concentric and eccentric peak power and deceleration metrics. Limb symmetry indices (LSI) were calculated for each parameter. Welch’s ANOVA and Games–Howell post hoc tests were used to compare LSIs among parameters. Results: Welch’s ANOVA showed that limb symmetry differed significantly across the measured neuromuscular parameters (F = 12,59, p < 0.001). Knee flexor strength LSI was significantly higher than knee extensor strength LSI (p = 0.003; d = 1.18), concentric peak power LSI (p < 0.001, d = 1.44), eccentric peak power LSI (p = 0.001, d = 1.71), and deceleration LSI (p = 0.001, d = 2.09). In addition, deceleration LSI was significantly lower than knee extensor strength LSI (p = 0.001, d = 1.34) and concentric peak power LSI (p = 0.007, d = 1.10). No significant difference was found between concentric and eccentric peak power, nor between knee extensor strength and either concentric or eccentric peak power LSIs. Conclusions: The findings of this study revealed significantly greater asymmetries in load absorption capacity compared to strength and concentric power measures at return-to-sport time frame in professional athletes post-ACLR. Full article

Background: Extrinsic compression of the left atrium (LA) is a rare and underrecognized condition that may result in significant hemodynamic compromise and atrial arrhythmias. The available evidence has been largely limited to isolated case reports and small case series, and clinical awareness has remained low. Methods: We performed a structured review of published case reports and case series indexed in PubMed between 2016 and 2026 describing extracardiac LA compression. A predefined and reproducible literature search strategy with explicit eligibility criteria was applied. The structured review included 22 publications reporting 23 individual cases of LA compression; in addition, two institutional cases with distinct etiologies were presented separately. Demographic characteristics, presenting symptoms, diagnostic modalities, complications, management strategies, and outcomes were synthesized descriptively. Results: The structured review identified gastroesophageal disorders, particularly hiatal hernia, as the most frequent etiology, followed by vascular, mediastinal, malignant, and musculoskeletal causes. Dyspnea was the most common presenting symptom, while hemodynamic compromise, pulmonary edema, and atrial arrhythmia represented the most frequent complications. Transthoracic echocardiography was the initial diagnostic modality in all reported cases, with computed tomography required for definitive etiological diagnosis. The two institutional cases illustrated both a common cause, hiatal hernia mimicking intracardiac mass, and a rare, aggressive malignant cause with extensive mediastinal involvement. Conclusions: Extrinsic LA compression arises from diverse extracardiac pathologies and may be clinically severe. Transthoracic echocardiography can serve as a pivotal first-line tool for early recognition and differentiation from intracardiac masses, while cross-sectional imaging is essential for etiological clarification. By integrating institutional experience with a structured synthesis of published cases, this review can provide practical insights to support timely diagnosis and management of this potentially life-threatening condition. Full article

Magnesium potassium phosphate cement (MKPC) is a promising bone repair material but suffers from excessively rapid setting time (typically within minutes) that limits clinical application. This study systematically investigates trimagnesium phosphate (TMP) as a candidate retarding additive for MKPC. TMP was used to partially replace dead-burned magnesium oxide at replacement levels of 0%, 10%, and 15% by mass. The effects of TMP content, water-to-cement ratio (0.17–0.23), and magnesium-to-phosphate molar ratio (4–10) on setting time, fluidity, hydration kinetics, compressive strength, and microstructure were comprehensively evaluated. Results show that TMP effectively extends the setting time from 9–13 min (without TMP) to 10–19 min, providing a working window that may be suitable for biomedical applications requiring extended handling time. Notably, 10% TMP incorporation enhances early compressive strength, with 1-day strength reaching 35.2 MPa compared to 28.5 MPa for control samples. Hydration heat analysis reveals TMP moderates the acid-base reaction kinetics through its slower dissolution rate compared to MgO. Microstructural characterization shows TMP promotes the formation of denser K-struvite crystals with refined microstructure. The optimal TMP dosage of 10% achieves a balanced performance, extending setting time while improving early strength and microstructural densification. These findings establish TMP as an effective retarder for developing MKPC-based materials with potential for biomedical applications, pending further biological validation. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) rarely exhibit intraductal growth, a pattern that may mimic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) or pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Preoperative recognition is challenging, particularly when associated with anatomic variants such as pancreas divisum. Case Presentation: A 63-year-old man with a history of pancreatic duct dilation presented with pruritus, weight loss, and lymphadenopathy. Cross-sectional imaging revealed a cephalopancreatic mass with upstream ductal dilatation. EUS demonstrated a hypervascular lesion with intraductal extension into the dorsal duct in the setting of pancreas divisum. EUS-FNB confirmed a well-differentiated pNET (G1) with loss of DAXX expression and preserved ATRX. Ga-68 PET/CT showed intense uptake in the primary lesion and lower-grade uptake in two additional nodules, later proven non-neoplastic. A multidisciplinary tumor board recommended preoperative optimization with somatostatin analog therapy and supervised weight reduction, followed by pylorus-preserving duodenocephalopancreatectomy. Final pathology confirmed NET G1 with intraductal growth and full concordance with preoperative EUS-FNB findings. Conclusions: in this case, a pNET showed intraductal growth within the dorsal duct in the context of pancreas divisus, further expanding the range of its reported presentations. It underscores the diagnostic value of EUS-FNB for morphologic, proliferative, and molecular characterization, and highlights the importance of multidisciplinary evaluation in guiding preoperative optimization and tailored surgical management. Full article

Hazardous compounds from used batteries pose a great threat to the environment. To prevent pollution and to recover critical materials from battery waste, efficient recycling is required. Until now, battery recycling has focused on the recovery of valuable metals from cathode materials, while organic fractions have often been neglected due to their low material value. New approaches to battery recycling are therefore necessary, where recycling methods based on supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) extraction show great potential. In this work, a SC-CO₂ method was implemented to extract electrolyte solvents for the purification and recovery of a separator waste material (SWM) sorted out from lithium-ion battery (LIB)-based black mass. In addition, two other separation routes (ultrasonic washing and thermal treatment) were used for comparison. Based on the results from the three routes, mass balances revealed the gravimetric composition of the SWM, which includes separator, electrolyte, and electrode powder. The composition of electrolyte solvents was determined via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy analysis. Furthermore, the polymeric separator was analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry analysis to evaluate the effects of SC-CO₂ extraction on the physicochemical properties. The recovery of electrolyte by the SC-CO₂ route is more efficient than the others, with extraction yields of 162 mg of electrolyte per gram of SWM. Moreover, no changes are observed in the analyzed properties of the polymeric separator material due to the SC-CO₂ extraction. Thus, the SC-CO₂ process proves to be a promising method for an efficient and sustainable recycling of electrolyte solvent and purifying of separator material from LIB waste. Full article

Municipal sewage sludge is an environmental liability but also an energy-rich biomass that can support circular economy resource recovery. Here, we benchmark thin-layer drying of dewatered municipal sewage sludge (sludge cake) (40 g; layer thickness ≤ 5 mm) under open-air, convective hot air (40–150 °C), and microwave (70–1200 W) conditions to quantify drying kinetics, hygienisation indicators, and a screening-level energy-use proxy. High-power microwave drying reduced the time to constant mass from 32 h (open air) and 25 h 05 min (40 °C convection) to 20 min (900 W) and 14 min 05 s (1200 W). Faecal indicators (total/thermotolerant coliforms and presumptive Escherichia coli) were below detection after ≥100 °C convection or ≥300 W microwave treatment, while mesophilic aerobes and sulfite-reducing Clostridium spp. decreased by ~3–4 log10 with increasing exposure. A dragonfly-optimised ε-support vector regression model (DA–SVR) predicted drying trajectories across modes (overall RMSE ≈ 0.79 percentage points; held-out RMSE ≈ 1.47; R² ≥ 0.99). Overall, microwave thin-layer drying coupled with DA–SVR decision support enables constraint-based screening of sewage–sludge conditioning windows for logistics and thermal valorisation pathways; the framework can be extended to incorporate additional analytical endpoints where available. Full article

Background/Objectives: Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are age-related musculoskeletal disorders with a high socio-health burden, affecting both healthcare systems and individuals’ quality of life. Both conditions are generally accompanied by a concomitant decline in muscle mass and strength, referred to as sarcopenia. In this context, tensiomyography emerges as a novel, non-invasive potential diagnostic strategy for assessing muscle quality, as this parameter influences the progression of both conditions. Methods: Histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses were performed on vastus lateralis muscle tissue obtained from patients undergoing surgery for femoral fracture affected by osteoporosis or osteopenia, patients operated for hip osteoarthritis, and patients undergoing hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis, concomitantly affected by osteoporosis or osteopenia. In addition, muscle function was assessed in these patients using tensiomyographic analysis. Results: In osteoarthritic, osteoporotic, and osteopenic patients, a reduction in muscle quality and function was observed compared with the other two experimental groups, indicating an unfavorable effect of the coexistence of the two conditions on the muscular component. Furthermore, contraction time (Tc) measured by tensiomyography was negatively correlated with lumbar spine bone mineral density values and positively correlated with the percentage of type II muscle fibers. Conclusions: This study highlights how tensiomyography may represent a valuable non-invasive diagnostic strategy for assessing muscle status in osteoporotic and osteoarthritic patients, as it is able to detect muscle alterations that parallel the worsening of bone status and that cannot be inferred from simple biopsy analysis. Thus, tensiomyography could be considered a practical adjunct tool in the clinical assessment of musculoskeletal frailty. Full article

This study reports the synthesis and evaluation of diclofenac-derived organotin(IV) complexes as photostabilizing additives for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). Diclofenac was selected as a ligand due to its aromatic structure and heteroatom-rich framework, enabling the formation of stable tin-based complexes with potential UV-absorbing and radical-scavenging properties. The synthesized di- and tri-organotin complexes were incorporated into PVC films at 0.5 wt.% and exposed to UV irradiation (365 nm) for up to 300 h to assess their stabilizing efficiency. Photodegradation was monitored by tracking changes in carbonyl, polyene, and hydroxyl indices, as well as weight loss and surface deterioration. Compared with blank PVC and ligand-containing films, the organotin-modified samples exhibited significantly slower growth of degradation indices, reduced mass loss, and improved surface integrity after irradiation. Among the evaluated additives, the tributyltin complex demonstrated the highest photostabilizing performance, showing superior retention of chlorine content and lower surface roughness parameters. Overall, the results indicate that diclofenac-based organotin(IV) complexes are effective photostabilizers for PVC, with the tributyltin derivative emerging as the most promising candidate for enhancing the durability of PVC materials under UV exposure. Full article