Search Results (7,668)

Background/Objectives: The increasing global prevalence of chronic diseases has intensified the search for potential natural therapeutic agents. Fagonia arabica is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine; however, comparative information on the phytochemical composition and biological activities of its leaves and seeds remains limited. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first comparative investigation of the phytochemical profiles and bioactivities of methanolic leaf (FALE) and seed (FASE) extracts of F. arabica collected from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: Methanolic extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and their total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antidiabetic activities were evaluated using standard in vitro assays. Results: GC–MS analysis identified 60 and 68 compounds in FALE and FASE, respectively, with (9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol, and (1R,3aR,5aR,5bR,7aR,9S,11aR,11bR,13aR,13bR)-3a,5a,5b,8,8,11a-Hexamethyl-1-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,7a,9,10,11,11b,12,13,13a,13b-hexadecahydrocyclopenta[a]chrysen-9-ol as major constituents. FASE exhibited higher TPC and TFC values (104.13 mg GAE/g and 62.16 mg QE/g, respectively) than FALE. Both extracts demonstrated antioxidant activity, with FASE showing greater potency against DPPH and ABTS radicals (IC₅₀ = 63.3 and 42.4 μg/mL, respectively). FASE also displayed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 7.81 μg/mL). Furthermore, FASE exhibited stronger concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and HepG2 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 106.8 and 89.5 μg/mL, respectively, compared with 112.5 and 103.1 μg/mL for FALE. Apoptosis induction in MCF-7 and HepG2 cells was associated with upregulation of caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, and Bax, alongside downregulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. In addition, FASE exhibited potent α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities (IC₅₀ = 61.62 and 67.38 μg/mL, respectively), comparable to acarbose. Conclusions: These findings highlight F. arabica seed extract as a promising source of multifunctional bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical application. Full article

Background/Objectives: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has transformed the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke due to large-vessel occlusion, yet peri-procedural haemodynamic instability may compromise penumbral perfusion and neurological recovery. We assessed the frequency, determinants and clinical consequences of post-procedural hypotension after EVT. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 201 consecutive adults who underwent endovascular thrombectomy for anterior-circulation large-vessel occlusion at a single tertiary centre over a period of eight years, from 1 January 2017 to 31 January 2025. Post-procedural hypotension was defined as hypotension requiring initiation of a continuous noradrenaline infusion within 24 h of the procedure. Comorbidities, anaesthetic modality (general anaesthesia [GA] or conscious sedation [CS]), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores, and in-hospital mortality were recorded. Logistic regression identified independent predictors of hypotension. Results: Fifty-five patients (27.4%) developed post-procedural hypotension. They presented with more severe strokes (NIHSS 16.0 ± 5.0 vs. 13.7 ± 5.0; p = 0.002), had higher NIHSS scores at day 2 (14.0 ± 6.9 vs. 9.4 ± 6.7; p < 0.001) and day 7 (p = 0.003), and displayed markedly higher in-hospital mortality (50.9% vs. 20.5%; p < 0.001). In an ordinal analysis of the day 7 modified Rankin Scale with death coded as 6, hypotension was associated with a shift towards greater disability (common OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.40–4.72; p = 0.002). In an exploratory model, each additional 10 min of door-to-groin time was independently associated with hypotension (adjusted OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.03–1.18; p = 0.003). Independent predictors of hypotension were baseline NIHSS (adjusted OR 1.11 per point, 95% CI 1.04–1.19; p = 0.003) and active malignancy (adjusted OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.04–8.09; p = 0.042). Hypotension occurred with similar frequency under GA and CS (28.6% vs. 24.6%; adjusted OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.54–2.34; p = 0.766). Conclusions: Post-EVT hypotension is common and associated with poorer early neurological recovery and a more than two-fold higher in-hospital mortality rate. Its independent predictors were baseline stroke severity and active malignancy. Patients with severe stroke or active cancer may warrant intensified haemodynamic surveillance after thrombectomy. Procedural delay emerged as the only modifiable predictor identified and warrants prospective evaluation. Full article

The universal stress protein (USP) family is a large but poorly studied group of plant proteins whose roles are considered primarily in the context of stress tolerance. This study demonstrates that the functions of USPs are not limited to the stress response but also influence plant developmental processes, namely, the regulation of seed germination and seedling establishment. Using reverse genetics, we found that disruption of the Arabidopsis thaliana At3g58450 gene, encoding germination-related USP (GRUSP), results in delayed germination and abscisic acid (ABA) hypersensitivity in the mutant the GABI-kat 115C08 (grusp-115) knockout line. This hypersensitivity was only partially rescued by the application of fluridone, an ABA biosynthesis inhibitor. Altered ABA content and expression patterns of genes involved in ABA metabolism and signaling, along with a decrease in the mRNA levels of gibberellin (GA) oxidases in dry and either Murashige and Skoog (MS)- or ABA-imbibed mutant seeds, indicate that GRUSP function is primarily associated with seed imbibition and early germination stages. Furthermore, the grusp-115 mutant showed upregulation of ABI5 transcripts in imbibed seeds and seedlings as well as an accumulation of ABI5 protein level under excess GA conditions, indicating a functional relationship between these proteins. Hence, GRUSP is a novel component of the GA and ABA pathways whose function is initiated during seed germination. Full article

Humic acid, as a natural macromolecular aggregate rich in functional groups, offers abundant modification sites and tunable chemical functionality, making it a promising building block for three-dimensional network construction. In this study, glutaraldehyde (GA) was employed as a crosslinking agent to incorporate sodium humate (NaHA, sodium salt of humic acid from alkaline treatment) into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix, yielding composite membranes with enhanced structural stability and performance. The results demonstrate that NaHA effectively modulates the crosslinked network, and the physical and mechanical characteristics can be readily tailored by varying the PVA/NaHA/GA ratio. Compared with pristine PVA/GA hydrogel, the inclusion of NaHA significantly influences the mechanical response, with optimal comprehensive performance achieved at a NaHA content of 7.5 wt%, corresponding to a tensile strength of 60.4 MPa and an elongation at break of 74.2%. Furthermore, the cumulative release of NaHA after two days reached 64.4%, confirming that NaHA supramolecular aggregates were stably entrapped within the PVA/GA crosslinked matrix. The release kinetics were well described by the Korsmeyer–Peppas model. Overall, the covalent crosslinking of PVA with GA, together with hydrogen-bonding associations and physical entrapment mediated by NaHA, constructed a composite membrane network. This network exhibited tunable dry-state mechanical properties and sustained NaHA release, supporting its further evaluation as a prospective candidate for agricultural mulching films. Full article

Conventional anaerobic digestion relies on diverse inocula present in sludge-based systems. A defined consortium approach was investigated as an alternative. Acetivibrio cellulolyticus was chosen as the cellulose degrader, and two strains of Methanosarcina barkeri were selected as methane producers. Initial cultivation following manufacturer protocols highlighted significant challenges in maintaining strict anaerobic conditions, particularly in the absence of specialized infrastructure. A simplified anaerobic cultivation workflow was therefore evaluated for pure cultures of the selected anaerobes and subsequently used to evaluate a defined consortium using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and industrial lignocellulosic biomass (LB) residue as growth substrates. The workflow enabled successful cultivation of pure cultures in their recommended nutrient media without detectable contamination, as assessed by microscopy, aerobic contamination checks, and gas chromatography analysis. Growth-associated observations were obtained on MCC after prolonged incubation (~30 days); however, a metabolically active cellulolytic–methanogenic consortium was not established, as methane was not detected and no activity was detected on the LB substrate. This study demonstrates that anaerobic cultivation of fastidious microorganisms is feasible using a simplified method without fully controlled anaerobic environments and highlights inherent challenges associated with the defined consortium on substrates such as MCC and complex LB residue. The simplified workflow may provide an accessible approach to anaerobic cultivation for sustainable biomethane research in laboratories lacking specialized anaerobic infrastructure. Further work is required to determine conditions supporting methane production using the defined consortium. Full article

In the context of the global shift toward sustainable energy systems and circular economy strategies, anaerobic digestion is a well-established biotechnology for the valorisation of organic residues, the production of biogas as a renewable energy carrier, and the generation of nutrient-rich digestate. This study aimed to evaluate the stability and methane yield of a two-stage co-digestion process using a substrate mixture developed based on the actual feedstock composition of a full-scale agricultural biogas plant. The daily feed mixture consisted of maize silage (8.2%), sugar beet pulp (4.9%), cellulose pulp (6.6%), distillery stillage (38.6%), corn syrup (6.4%), cattle slurry (22.5%) and sterilised animal by-products (12.8%). Digestate was recirculated separately as part of the reactor operation. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted in a two-stage anaerobic digestion system operated at 42 °C and 50 °C. The physicochemical properties of the substrates and digestate were determined, biogas quantity and composition were monitored, and the microbial community structure was assessed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The process remained stable throughout the experimental period, with pH values ranging from 8.23 to 8.53, alkalinity between 2600 and 2940 mg CaCO₃/dm³, and a VFAs/alkalinity ratio of 0.17–0.93. Despite ammonium nitrogen concentrations reaching 4346 mg N-NH₄⁺/L, no clear concurrent reduction in gas or methane production was observed. Methane accounted for approximately 70–80% of the biogas produced. The overall specific methane yield reached 346.4 NL CH₄ kg⁻¹ VS added. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed a diverse microbial community containing taxa previously associated with hydrolysis, fermentation and syntrophic interactions, including Proteiniphilum and Syntrophaceticus. The results demonstrate stable process performance and methane production in this site-specific laboratory-scale case study based on the feedstock composition and process configuration of a full-scale agricultural biogas plant. Full article

Geopolitical disruptions of natural gas supply have repeatedly forced importing countries to reorganize their electricity systems, yet it remains unclear whether such disruptions are followed by movement of structurally different economies toward comparable energy-security and sustainability outcomes. This study compares Germany, a high-income economy exposed to the 2022 curtailment of Russian pipeline gas, with Jordan, a developing import-dependent economy exposed to the repeated sabotage of the Arab Gas Pipeline after 2011, using harmonized generation-mix and carbon intensity data for Germany over 1985–2024 and Jordan over 2000–2022, supplemented by weekly German market data. The generation fuel mix concentration is measured with a Herfindahl-based Supply Concentration Index (SCI), structural change is estimated with segmented interrupted time series (ITS) regressions inferred through Newey–West heteroskedasticity- and autocorrelation-consistent standard errors, and the joint security–sustainability position of each country is summarized with a newly proposed Energy Vulnerability–Transition Index (EVTI) that combines diversification, renewable penetration, and carbon intensity performance. The results show that Jordan’s 2011 disruption was associated with a baseline estimated change in its carbon intensity trajectory from +3.32 to −12.63 gCO₂/kWh per year and with renewable growth of +2.39 percentage points per year from a near-zero base, while Germany’s 2022 disruption was associated with a temporary carbon intensity shock, visible in a coal reactivation index that peaked at 1.26 and a sixfold wholesale price increase, followed by a policy-supported return to the pre-existing decarbonization pathway. The Germany–Jordan EVTI ratio narrowed from 6.5× in 2014 to 1.8× in 2022, and this convergence is robust to alternative component weightings. The findings indicate that geopolitical gas disruptions, despite their high short-run costs, were followed in both contexts by measurable movement toward more diversified and lower-carbon electricity systems, with direct implications for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7. Full article

Natural gas production from mature fields is progressively shifting toward low-rate wells operating near their economic limit, creating challenges for long-term asset management. This study proposes an integrated stochastic decision-support framework combining Arps decline curve analysis, a calibrated Schwartz Type-I mean-reverting jump-diffusion model, Monte Carlo simulation, and Bellman dynamic programming to optimize marginal dry gas well management. The framework evaluates pipeline commercialization and a hybrid strategy integrating on-site electricity generation, while incorporating monetized environmental externalities associated with CO₂ emissions from gas combustion and potential post-abandonment CH₄ emissions. Application to the Mareógrafo 100 well in Mexico shows that the environmentally adjusted Bellman policy yields a mean NPV of USD 34.84 thousand, exceeding the comparable pipeline-only and hybrid strategies. Internalizing environmental costs reduces the mean optimal NPV by 46.6% relative to the economic-only formulation, while the mean abandonment time is approximately 200 days. Sensitivity analysis identifies electricity price, natural gas price, and pipeline distance as the dominant profitability drivers. The proposed framework provides a transferable methodology for jointly evaluating commercialization, environmental externalities, and abandonment decisions in mature dry gas fields under uncertainty. Full article

Spontaneously fermented camel milk from Xinjiang is valued for its nutrition but faces quality inconsistency due to complex microbial ecosystems. This study investigated how regional microbial communities correlate with volatile flavor profiles. Nine samples from three distinct areas—Dabancheng, Hami, and Keping—were analyzed using bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS region amplicon sequencing combined with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOF MS). Bacterial communities were dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, while Ascomycota and Basidiomycota prevailed among fungi. Dominant genera varied by region: Lactobacillus and Dekkera in Dabancheng; Lactobacillus and Dipodascus in Hami; Lactococcus and Cutaneotrichosporon in Keping. Flavor profiles also diverged, with Dabancheng being rich in esters, alcohols, and ketones; Hami featuring hydrocarbons and alcohols; and Keping containing elevated hydrocarbons, alcohols, and esters. Key statistical associations were identified: Lactobacillus, Rahnella, and Acetobacter were positively associated with propene and 3-decyn-2-ol (VIP > 1.0, |r| > 0.8), while Pseudomonas, Lactococcus, and Klebsiella showed negative correlations with vinyl n-caproate. These findings reveal statistical associations between geographic origin, specific microbial taxa, and flavor attributes, providing a scientific foundation that may inform future efforts toward developing targeted starter cultures pending microbial isolation and functional validation. Full article

In contrast to foreign nucleic acids, some of our own endogenously synthesized nucleic acids may become immunologically active without being considered “foreign”. For example, abnormalities in chromatin organization, transcription termination, ribonucleic acid (RNA) splicing, and RNA editing, together with damage to mitochondrial integrity, may render normally functional deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and RNA persistently available and aberrantly structured ligands for innate immunity. Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1), recently identified as an important component of this innate immune system, recognizes both left-handed DNA (Z-DNA) and left-handed RNA (Z-RNA) using its tandem Z-alpha (Zα) domains and couples recognition of these conformational states to receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1)-, receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)-, and mixed-lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL)-dependent inflammatory and cell-death pathways. More recent studies have also shown that ZBP1 plays a role in recognizing damaged self-nucleic acids associated with tauopathies, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and amyloid-associated neuroinflammation. The nucleic-acid forms associated with these conditions include transposable-element activation, extended repeat-containing transcripts, RNA–RNA duplexes or RNA:DNA hybrids, oxidized mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and intercellularly transferred nucleic acids, all of which may exhibit substrate structures compatible with Z-form formation. Signaling by ZBP1 does not occur simply based upon nucleic-acid abundance; rather, signaling occurs after prolonged exposure to a nucleic acid when it persists in a structurally competent state, sufficient receptors are present to bind its exposed regions, the receptor proteoforms are competent to participate in signaling, receptor-interacting protein homotypic interaction motif (RHIM)-dependent assembly occurs, and the appropriate adaptor molecules are present. Furthermore, the identity of the cell type expressing ZBP1 determines whether the response produces RIPK3–MLKL-dependent neuronal injury, microglia-mediated inflammation, apoptosis, or mixed cell death. Finally, competition with adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1), melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5), double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR), the cyclic guanosine monophosphate–adenosine monophosphate synthase–stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS–STING) pathway, and other nucleic-acid-sensing proteins divides the available pool of endogenous nucleic acids among the outcomes of immune tolerance, type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling, translational inhibition, neuroinflammation, and necroptosis. Full article

Background and Objectives: The 2024 Korean medical–political conflict caused the mass resignation of trainee physicians, raising concerns about the quality of care for time-critical emergencies. This study aimed to assess the impact of workforce disruptions on the management and outcomes of adults presenting to the emergency department (ED) with septic shock. Materials and Methods: This retrospective single-center cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care ED and included adults with septic shock between September 2022 and August 2025. This study compared the pre-conflict period, operating under a resident-supported model, with the conflict period characterized by a specialist-led staffing model. The primary outcome was the all-cause in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcomes included process-related time intervals and clinical course measurements. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the independent predictors of mortality. Results: Altogether, 343 patients were included (159 pre-conflict, 184 conflict). During the conflict, ED crowding significantly decreased (average concurrent ED patients: 14.9 vs. 7.6, p < 0.001). Key diagnostic process metrics, including time to blood gas analysis, blood sampling, blood culture, computed tomography, and total ED length of stay, were significantly shortened. Time-critical therapeutic intervals, such as time to empirical antibiotics, remained unchanged. In-hospital mortality did not differ significantly between the pre- and conflict periods. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the conflict period was not independently associated with mortality; only initial serum lactate levels and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores remained significant predictors. Conclusions: The 2024 Korean medical–political conflict was not associated with increased in-hospital mortality among patients with septic shock. Process-related metrics improved, while key therapeutic intervals and overall clinical outcomes remained stable. These findings may reflect reduced ED crowding, organizational adaptation, and continued adherence to established septic shock management practices. Reduced ED volume likely contributed substantially to improvements in diagnostic and throughput-related processes. Full article

Objectives: The present study evaluated the association between plasma concentrations of selected endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)—bisphenol A (BPA), methylparaben (MeP), propylparaben (PrP), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), 4-octylphenol (4-OP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and imazalil (IMZ)—and prior coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) status. Methods: Plasma EDC levels were quantified via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in 262 voluntary blood donors (121 convalescents and 141 controls) at the Regional Centre for Transfusion Medicine in Bialystok, Poland. Results: The cohort exhibited widespread environmental exposure to all selected EDCs (BPA: 1.14 ng/mL, MeP: 1.20 ng/mL, PrP: 1.38 ng/mL, 4-NP: 1.90 ng/mL, 4-OP: 0.57 ng/mL, DEHP: 49.68 ng/mL, IMZ: 20.06 ng/mL). Convalescents had significantly higher concentrations of MeP, PrP, 4-OP, and 4-NP. Logistic regression revealed that MeP, PrP, and 4-NP were significantly associated with prior COVID-19 status, increasing infection odds by 80%, 70%, and 63%, respectively. While 4-OP was strongly associated with prior COVID-19 status (odds ratio > 300 per unit change and 1.79 per 0.1 unit change), the wide confidence interval for the unit change estimate requires cautious interpretation. Conclusions: These findings suggest a strong link between selected paraben and alkylphenol exposure and prior COVID-19 status in blood donors. Additionally, the high IMZ levels highlight the need for urgent evaluation of its safety and environmental prevalence. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a preventable neurodevelopmental condition associated with dysfunction of fronto-subcortical networks affecting attention, executive function, and behavioral regulation. Central auditory processing difficulties frequently persist despite preserved peripheral hearing, complicating clinical evaluation when behavioral testing is limited or unreliable, and objective markers that do not depend on behavioral cooperation are therefore needed. This exploratory observational case study investigated whether Frequency-Following Responses (FFRs) can capture measurable within-subject change in speech-evoked neural encoding in a pediatric patient with FASD. Methods: FFRs were recorded at two time points bracketing an eight-session period of non-invasive superficial neuromodulation (NESA^®) in an 8-year-old girl with FASD, using speech syllables (/da/, /ba/, /ga/) presented monaurally at 80 dB SPL. Two-tailed block-level Mann–Whitney U tests with rank-biserial correlations compared peak latencies, sustained pitch-tracking metrics (pitch strength, pitch error), onset stimulus–response correlation, and signal-to-noise ratio. Results: Sustained pitch-tracking metrics differed between time points, with increased pitch strength and reduced pitch error, whereas onset peak latencies, onset cross-correlation, and signal-to-noise ratio remained stable. Peak C, marking the transition to the sustained portion of the response, occurred earlier at the post-assessment in all six stimulus–ear combinations. The differences were therefore selective to sustained encoding rather than to onset timing or recording quality. Conclusions: FFR-derived pitch-encoding metrics detected measurable within-subject change, providing proof of concept for the feasibility of FFRs as a candidate objective tool for longitudinal monitoring of speech-evoked neural encoding in pediatric FASD. This single-case observation does not evaluate diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, or discrimination from typically developing children, and therefore does not establish FFR as a validated diagnostic technique. The findings are hypothesis-generating and motivate controlled longitudinal studies. Full article

To address the challenges associated with operational ventilation in high-altitude tunnels, this study investigates the distribution patterns of ventilation flow fields and optimizes the spatial layout parameters of jet fans to determine the most effective configuration. Using a case study from the Zhuohe Expressway tunnel, numerical simulations were conducted to analyze four key design parameters: the lateral clear distance (L) between two jet fans in a single group, the vertical distance (H) from the fan center to the tunnel lining, the axial distance (T) from the fan to the tunnel entrance, and the longitudinal spacing (S) between two groups of fans. The results indicate that for a single-fan group, when the parameter L is 1.25D (D is the fan diameter), pressure rise and comprehensive influence coefficients reach peak values of 20.090 Pa and 0.886, respectively. As well as the parameter H between 1.20 m and 1.25 m, the diffusion of the vertical wind field velocity is continuously reduced due to the constraint of the tunnel lining on Section BB of the tunnel fan’s symmetry axis, and the interference of the tunnel lining on the stable flow state of the fan’s outlet airflow is relatively small. Moreover, parameter T has a relatively low sensitivity impact on the increase in pressure and the variation of the influence coefficient. When the parameter T is within the range of 50 m to 100 m, the airflow at the entrance of the tunnel is smoothly connected with the airflow at the suction section of the fan. Additionally, the pressure rise and the influence coefficient increase by the parameter T. Both the fan’s pressure rise and the influence coefficient reach their maximum values when the parameter T is 100 m. Furthermore, in the case of two-fan groups, the gas is fully mixed in the tunnel when the parameter S is 150 m, and the fan pressure rise and the influence coefficient increase as well as parameter S. The gas between the two sets of fans has been fully mixed in the parameter S at 175 m, and the pressure rise and the coefficient influence reach their maximum values of 40.231 Pa and 0.887, respectively. In light of these findings, the following optimal parameters ranges are recommended for similar tunnel ventilation designs: parameter L is 1.25D for two jet fans within a single group, parameter H is between 1.20 m and 1.25 m, parameter T is 100 m from the tunnel entrance, and parameter S is between 150 m and 175 m for two groups of fans. Full article

This study presents an integrated framework for developing kinetic models of vacuum gas oil (VGO) catalytic cracking under sparse experimental data conditions. Experiments were performed in the CREC Riser Simulator at different C/O (catalyst/VGO) weight ratios. The CREC Riser Simulator is a bench-scale mini-fluidized reactor capable of reproducing the short contact times and operating conditions of industrial fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) risers. Product distributions were characterized by using a five-lump scheme consisting of unconverted VGO, light cycle oil (LCO), gasoline, light gases, and coke. To address the limitations associated with sparse datasets, a feedforward neural network (FNN) was used to reconstruct continuous reaction trajectories from discrete experimental measurements. These synthetic trajectories enabled the estimation of kinetic parameters for a phenomenological five-lump reaction network that incorporates catalyst deactivation. The resulting kinetic model established was subsequently implemented in a 1D heterogeneous model of a large-scale industrial FCC riser, providing reliable predictions of VGO conversion, product selectivity, and axial temperature profiles. Full article