Search Results (2,243)

Plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems is an increasing environmental concern, prompting the search for biodegradable polymer (BP) alternatives. However, their degradation in natural aquatic environments remains poorly investigated and understood. This four-month in situ study compared the degradation in a lentic freshwater ecosystem of two compostable items, Mater-Bi^® shopping bag and disposable dish, with their respective pure polymer matrices, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA). Additionally, biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and oil-based polypropylene (PP) were also tested. Changes in morphology, chemical composition and thermal and mechanical properties, as well as microbial colonization, were analyzed over time. A validated cleaning protocol was employed to ensure accurate surface analysis. Results showed detectable but limited degradation of pure polymers and their matrices in commercial products after 120 days of immersion with variations observed among polymer materials. Compostable materials exhibited significant leaching of fillers (starch, inorganic particles), leading to morphological changes and fragmentation. PHBV showed the fastest degradation among tested polyesters. PP exhibited only minor surface changes. Microbial colonization varied with polymer structure and degradability, but long-term degradation was limited by polymer properties and the gradual development of the plastisphere. This study highlights that standard laboratory tests may overestimate the environmental degradability of BPs and emphasizes the importance of in situ assessments, careful cleaning procedures and property characterizations to accurately assess polymer degradation in freshwater systems. Full article

Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila) is responsible for causing abdominal dropsy, swimming abnormalities, skin ulcerations, and pale gills in fish. Vaccination is an essential strategy for disease prevention in aquaculture. This study evaluated the efficacy of an oral vaccine against A. hydrophila in Ctenopharyngodon idella (C. idella). The vaccine was formulated as feed-based monovalent pellets, incorporating or spraying formalin-killed A. hydrophila on/into commercial feed with 30% crude protein. Mineral and fish oils were used as adjuvants at 10% of the feed. Prior to the trial, the experimental feed groups were subjected to quality and safety tests. Grass carp fingerlings (20 ± 5 g) were divided into seven groups (n = 20 per group): sprayed vaccinated feed with fish oil (SVFF), incorporated vaccinated feed with fish oil (IVFF), sprayed vaccinated feed with mineral oil (SVFM), incorporated vaccinated feed with mineral oil (IVFM), sprayed vaccinated feed (SVF), incorporated vaccinated feed (IVF), and a control group. Feed was provided at 3% of body weight for 60 days. Immunomodulation was investigated through lysozyme activity, antibody titers, and immunoglobulin M (IgM). The IVFF group showed significantly enhanced immunity and growth performance, with an 87% protection rate, 13% mortality, and the highest relative percentage survival (83%) following intraperitoneal A. hydrophila (6.8 × 10⁹ CFU/mL) challenge. Histological analysis indicated minimal pathological changes in the IVFF group compared to controls. Fish oil as an adjuvant enhanced immunity without adverse health effects. Overall, this study demonstrated that feed-based monovalent vaccines effectively improve immune responses and provide protection against A. hydrophila in C. idella. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary cannabidiol (CBD) supplementation on behavior, blood parameters, oxidative status, metabolomic profile, and the fatty acid composition of meat and liver in rabbits. A total of 42 New Zealand White × California rabbits (60 days old; 1:1 sex ratio; average weight 1621.3 ± 46.2 g) were randomly assigned to two groups (a control group, CTRL, and a CBD group, n = 21 each). Both groups received the same commercial diet, with the CBD group additionally supplemented with 0.1 mL of cannabis extract in coconut oil, corresponding to 10 mg CBD/animal/day. At 92 days of age, rabbits were slaughtered, and samples were collected for analyses. Results showed that CBD supplementation significantly improved body weight gain, reduced plasma triglyceride levels, and enhanced oxidative status. Behavioral observations indicated increased motor and grooming activities in CBD-supplemented animals, suggesting enhanced psychological well-being. The fatty acid profile of meat and liver was not significantly altered by CBD supplementation. Overall, dietary CBD demonstrated the potential to positively influence physiological and behavioral responses, representing a promising strategy to enhance animal welfare and productivity in rabbit farming. Although no adverse effects on lipid profiles were observed, further studies are warranted to explore CBD’s role in lipid metabolism and cholesterol regulation. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, affecting over 50 million people globally. Since 1906, efforts to understand this neurodegenerative disease and to develop effective treatments have continued to this day. Recognizing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) as a safe, inexpensive and vital nutrient for brain health and cognitive protection due to its key role in brain development and function, this study explores novel, sustainable non-fish sources as potential dietary supplements to prevent or mitigate AD, within a blue biotechnology framework. Forty 5×FAD male mice, five weeks old, were allocated to five body weight-matched dietary groups (n = 8) and fed isocaloric diets based on AIN-93M standard chow for 6 months. Each diet, except the control feed (non-supplemented group), enclosed a modified lipid fraction supplemented with 2% of the following: (1) linseed oil (LSO, rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA,18:3n-3)); (2) cod liver oil (fish oil, FO, rich in both DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3)); (3) Schizochytrium sp. microalga oil (Schizo) with 40% of DHA; and (4) commercial DHASCO oil (DHASCO) with 70% of DHA. The different diets did not affect (p > 0.05) growth performance criteria (e.g., final body weight, daily feed intake, and body weight gain) suggesting no effect on the overall caloric balance or mice growth, but n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated-fatty acid (n-3 LCPUFA) supplementation significantly reduced total cholesterol (p < 0.001) and total lipids (p < 0.001). No systemic inflammation was detected in 5×FAD mice. In parallel, a beneficial modulation of lipid metabolism by DHA-enriched diets was observed, with polyunsaturated fatty acid incorporation, particularly DHA, across key metabolic tissues, such as the liver (p < 0.001) and the brain (p < 0.001). No behavioural variations were detected using an open-field test after 6 months of diet (p > 0.05). While mice fed a standard diet or LSO diet showed cognitive deficit, the incorporation of FO, Schizo or DHASCO oils into dietary routine showed promising protective effects on the working memory (p < 0.05) and the last two diets also on the recognition memory (p < 0.05) Increased neuronal count (p < 0.05), reflecting neuronal survival, was clearly observed with the fish oil diet. In turn, the number of TAU-positive cells (p < 0.05) was reduced in the Schizo diet, while β-amyloid deposition (p < 0.01) and the neuroinflammatory marker, IBA1 (p < 0.05), were decreased across all DHA-enriched diets. These promising findings open new avenues for further studies focused on the protective effects of DHA derived from sustainable and underexploited Schizochytrium sp. microalga in the prevention of AD. Full article

Nanoparticle-based lubricants, or nanolubricants, can exhibit superior tribological properties compared to unmodified base oils. However, these performance gains are highly dependent on the nanoparticle surface chemistry, particularly in maintaining stable colloidal dispersions. This study explores the influence of oleic acid (OA) and oleylamine (OAm) functionalization on the tribological and colloidal properties of CuO nanoparticles dispersed in an SAE 20W50 base oil. We present a hybrid optimization framework combining Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Bayesian Optimization (BO) to identify the optimal OA to OAm ratio (OA–OAm) for CuO nanolubricants. Unlike prior studies that employed either RSM alone or trial-and-error approaches, this integrated method enables precise tuning of ligand ratios, achieving balanced tribological performance and colloidal stability. Characterization techniques, including UV–vis spectroscopy, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and TGA, were employed to investigate dispersion stability. Results demonstrate that OA/OAm-functionalized CuO nanoparticles exhibit improved dispersion stability and reduced sedimentation compared to non-functionalized counterparts. Tribological evaluations using the four-ball test revealed that the ligand-tuned CuO nanolubricants maintained their tribological enhancements under a variety of additive loadings and ligand combinations, with an improvement ranging from 44.9% to 60.6% in the coefficient of friction (COF) and from 29.2% to 63.9% in the specific wear rate (SWR). For the colloidal stability, OA/OAm-functionalized CuO nanoparticles exhibited a 75% reduction in sedimentation rate (k = 0.003 day⁻¹) compared to unfunctionalized CuO (k = 0.012 day⁻¹). Finally, the high thermal stability of the functionalized nanoparticles ensures their suitability for high-performance applications. Overall, this work represents a crucial step towards commercial applications of CuO-enhanced lubricants. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is globally valued for protein, oil, and biofuel applications. Thailand imports 99.8% of its soybean consumption due to declining cultivation areas. Northeastern Thailand presents substantial potential for expanding soybean production through integrated seed rotation systems in post-sugarcane (upland) and post-rice (lowland) environments. This study evaluated the newly developed ‘Morkhor 60’ soybean variety compared to three commercial varieties (SJ 5, 223*Lh-85, and CM 60) across thirteen diverse environments in Northeastern Thailand during 2022–2023. Field experiments employed a randomized complete block design with four replications per site. The ‘Morkhor 60’ demonstrated favorable yield stability and competitive performance across most environments. The variety showed broad adaptability across soil types (sandy loam to clay) and seasonal conditions (rainy and dry seasons) with minimal genotype-by-environment interactions. Chemical analysis revealed favorable protein content (39.63%) and oil content (14.66%). These findings support the cultivation of ‘Morkhor 60’ in integrated seed rotation systems, offering a viable strategy to reduce national soybean seed shortages while enhancing domestic production and agricultural sustainability. Full article

As part of the energy transition needed to mitigate global warming, the study and sustainable exploitation of geothermal resources—a largely underutilized form of energy and heat production—is crucial. The availability of subsurface data acquired for oil and gas exploration purposes provides an opportunity to reconsider these data to enhance the use of geothermal potential. This is the case of a fractured carbonate reservoir in the Southern Apennines (Italy). All available subsurface data were gathered, homogenized, and reinterpreted to build a 3D geological model of the study area, where a positive thermal anomaly is known, yet the mechanisms and pathways of heat transport were previously unclear. By integrating subsurface, temperature, and literature data, a geological model is proposed that explains how high temperatures and heat propagation are closely linked to specific geological features. By cross-referencing and weighing the relevance of data for geothermal purposes, an attempt is made to rank the geothermal potential of existing wells in the area. This study demonstrates how a well-constrained geological model and the joint analysis of multidisciplinary data can provide the necessary knowledge base for conducting further technical, engineering, and economic analyses to assess the commercial viability of the identified geothermal resource. Full article

Origanum vulgare L. is an important aromatic plant traditionally used in folk medicine since ancient times. Its growing interest for the scientific community is mainly attributed to its distinctive chemical profile, which includes bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols (phenolic acids and flavonoids) and volatile compounds (essential oil). These components collectively contribute to oregano’s wide spectrum of biological activities. In this study, the volatile components of the essential oil (WEO_OR) and the polyphenolic fraction of the methanolic extract (ME_OR) obtained from leaves and inflorescences of wild Origanum vulgare collected in central Italy were characterized using GC-MS and UHPLC-DAD, respectively. Carvacrol was identified as the major compound in the essential oil, while rosmarinic acid was predominant in the methanolic extract. A comparative analysis was also carried out with a commercially available essential oil (CEO_OR), aiming to evaluate potential differences in chemical composition and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays). ME_OR showed the strongest antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 0.052 mg mL⁻¹; ABTS = 3.94 mg TE mL⁻¹; FRAP = 30.58 mg TE g⁻¹), followed by CEO_OR (DPPH IC₅₀ = 0.45 mg mL⁻¹; ABTS = 9.57 mg TE mL⁻¹; FRAP = 7.33 mg TE g⁻¹), while WEO_OR displayed the lowest values (DPPH IC₅₀ = 1.54 mg mL⁻¹; ABTS = 0.10 mg TE mL⁻¹). Furthermore, ME_OR and WEO_OR were tested in vitro using the human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2 to assess their potential biological activities related to cell survival and oxidative stress. The results indicated that at the tested doses, neither the ME nor the EO showed significant toxicity, as evidenced by the unchanged proliferation rate of HepG2 cells. However, the ME at low doses (50 and 100 μg mL⁻¹) and the EO (0.005%), administered as a pre-treatment, exhibited a protective effect against oxidative stress, as inferred from the reduction in 8-OHdG levels, a marker of oxidative damage to nucleic acids. Full article

Tarragon extracts, especially from Artemisia dracunculus, have shown their potential as natural pesticides and can harm aquatic ecosystems. In addition, waste from tarragon essential oil production can also contribute to aquatic pollution if not properly managed. In this study, a hydrodistillate and a commercial tarragon essential oil were considered to evaluate their effects on aquatic ecosystems. A growth inhibition test was performed using Lemna minor to evaluate the potential ecotoxicity of tarragon extracts, and a biochemical test was performed to investigate the potential effects of the lowest volume of oil, which did not cause any visible impact on this organism. The results showed that the hydrodistillate did not show toxic effects on L. minor, but the essential oil demonstrated potential ecotoxicity, with volumes of 0.5 µL and above leading to percentage reductions in frond numbers of 50% and higher. The biochemical assay revealed no significant differences between the negative control and the lowest volume of oil tested, suggesting the absence of biochemical effects at low exposure levels. The effects of compounds identified at higher concentrations in the tarragon extracts on other aquatic organisms were predicted using the admetSAR3.0 tool, and potential toxicity against numerous aquatic organisms was emphasized, particularly for cis-beta-ocimene, trans-beta-ocimene, and caryophyllene oxide. These findings emphasize the need for careful consideration of both the application dose and disposal practices of tarragon-based products. Full article

Rolling Bearings are crucial components for induction motors and generators in electric vehicles (EVs), as their performance considerably influences the system’s operational reliability and safety. However, the commercial greases used for bearing lubrication in EV motors pose a detrimental impact on the environment. In addition, they are ineffective in mitigating the effect of electric discharges on rolling surfaces leading to premature bearing failures. This study investigates the viability of a developed eco-friendly grease from palm olein as the base oil and glycerol monostearate as the thickener, enhanced with conductive multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for EV motor bearings prone to electrical currents. Chemical–physical, tribological, and electrical tests were conducted on the developed grease samples without and with MWCNTs at 1 wt.%, 2 wt.%. and 3 wt.% concentrations and results were compared to lithium and sodium greases. Palm grease samples demonstrated a lower EDM voltage range reaching 1.0–2.2 V in case of 3 wt.% MWCNTs blends, indicating better electrical conductivity and protecting the bearing surfaces from electric-related faults. These findings were further confirmed using vibrations measurement and SEM-EDX analysis of the electrically worn bearings. Bearings lubricated with palm grease blends exhibited lower vibration levels. Palm grease with 2 wt.% MWCNTs reduced vibration amplitudes by 28.4% (vertical) and 32.3% (horizontal). Analysis of bearing damaged surfaces revealed enhanced damaged surface morphology for MWCNT-enhanced palm grease as compared to surface lubricated by commercial greases. The results of this work indicate that the proposed bio-grease is a promising candidate for future application in the field of next-generation electric mobility systems. Full article

The overuse of nonrenewable resources has motivated intensive research and the development of new types of green bio-based and degradable feedstocks derived from natural sources, such as cellulose derivates, also in nanoforms. The inclusion of such nanoparticles in bio-based polymers with the aim of providing reinforcement is a trend, which, when associated with the incorporation active compounds, creates active packaging suitable for the packaging of highly perishable food, thus contributing to the product’s shelf-life extension. Chitosan (Ch)/sage essential oil (SEO) bionanocomposite reinforced with nanocrystalline cellulose (CNC) was cast as active packaging for the preservation of fresh poultry meat. Meat samples were wrapped in different bioplastics (pristine chitosan, chitosan with commercial CNC, chitosan with CNC obtained from three different lignocellulosic crops, giant reed (G), kenaf (K), and miscanthus (M), chitosan with SEO, and chitosan with SEO and CNC), while unwrapped samples were tested as the control. Periodically, samples were evaluated in terms of their physicochemical properties and microbial growth. Additionally, bionanocomposites were also evaluated in terms of their in situ antimicrobial properties, as well as migration toward food simulants. Meat samples protected with bionanocomposites showed lower levels of microbiological growth (2–3 logs lower than control) and lipid oxidation (20–30% lower than in control), over time. This was attributed to the intrinsic antimicrobial capacity of chitosan and the high oxygen barrier properties of the films resulting from the CNC inclusion. The SEO incorporation did not significantly improve the material’s antimicrobial and antioxidant activity yet interfered directly with the meat’s color as it migrated to its surface. In the in vitro assays, all bionanocomposites demonstrated good antimicrobial activity against B. cereus (reduction of ~8.2 log) and Salmonella Choleraesuis (reduction of ~5–6 log). Through the in vitro migration assay, it was verified that the SEO release rate of phenolic compounds to ethanol 50% (dairy products simulate) was higher than to ethanol 95% (fatty food simulate). Furthermore, these migration tests proved that nanocellulose was capable of delaying SEO migration, thus reducing the negative effect on the meat’s color and the pro-oxidant activity recorded in TBARS. It was concluded that the tested chitosan/nanocellulose bionanocomposites increased the shelf life of fresh poultry meat. Full article

With the growth of the plant-based food sector, increasing amounts of by-products are generated. Sea buckthorn pomace (SBP), a by-product of juice and other manufacturing products, is rich in bioactive compounds such as phenolics, oligosaccharides, proteins, and dietary fiber. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of modification methods, such as enzymatic hydrolysis and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SFE-CO₂), on the chemical composition and technological properties of SBP. SBP and SBP obtained after SFE-CO₂ (SBP-CO₂) were enzymatically modified using Pectinex^® Ultra Tropical, Viscozyme^® L, and Celluclast^® 1.5 L (Novozyme A/S, Bagsværd, Denmark). The SBP’s main constituent was insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), followed by crude proteins and lipids (respectively, 58.7, 21.1 and 12.6 g/100 in d.m.). SFE-CO₂ reduced the lipid content (by 85.7%) in the pomace while increasing protein and TDF content. Enzymatic hydrolysis decreased the content of both soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and IDF, and increased the content of mono- and oligosaccharides as well as free phenolics, depending on the commercial enzyme preparation used in SBP and SBP-CO₂ samples. Celluclast^® 1.5 L was the most effective in hydrolyzing IDF, while Viscozyme^® L and Pectinex^® Ultra Tropical were the most effective in degrading SDF. Enzymatic treatment improved water swelling capacity, water retention capacity, water solubility index, oil retention capacity of SBP and SBP-CO₂; however, it did not have a significant effect on the stability of the emulsions. Modification of SBP by SFE-CO₂ effectively increased WSC and WSI, however it reduced WRC. These findings highlight the potential of targeted modifications to enhance the nutritional and technological properties of SBP for functional food applications. Full article

This paper addressed the problem of oil diagnostics lubricants applied to the predictive maintenance of industrial gearboxes, proposing the integration of an artificial intelligence (AI) system into the process analysis. The main objective was to overcome the critical issues of the traditional method, characterized by long analysis times and a marked dependence on the subjective interpretation of operators. The method includes a detailed statistical analysis of the common ways to assess the condition of lubricants, such as optical emission spectroscopy, particle counting, measuring viscosity and density, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). These methods are then combined with an artificial intelligence model. Tested on commercial gearbox data, the proposed approach demonstrates agreement between IA and expert evaluation. The application has shown that it can effectively support diagnoses, reduce processing time by 60%, and minimize human errors. It also improves knowledge sharing through an increase in the stability and repetitiveness of diagnoses and promotes consistency and clarity in reporting. Full article

As the popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) continues to increase, the need for effective and efficient driveline lubricants and dielectric coolants has become crucial. Commercially used mineral oils or synthetic ester-based coolants, despite performing satisfactorily, are not environmentally friendly. The fatty esters of vegetable oils, after overcoming their shortcomings (like poor oxidative stability, higher viscosity, and pour point) through chemical modification, have recently been used as potential dielectric coolants in transformers. The benefits of natural esters, including a higher flash point, breakdown voltage, dielectric character, thermal conductivity, and most importantly, readily biodegradable nature, have made them a suitable and sustainable substitute for traditional coolants in electric transformers. Based on their excellent performance in transformers, research on their application as dielectric immersion coolants in modern EVs has been emerging in recent years. This review primarily highlights the beneficial aspects of natural esters performing dual functions—cooling as well as lubricating, which is necessary for “wet” e-motors in EVs—through a comparative study with the commercially used mineral and synthetic coolants. The adoption of natural fatty esters of vegetable oils as an immersion cooling fluid is a significant sustainable step for the battery thermal management system (BTMS) of modern EVs considering environmental safety protocols. Continued research and development are necessary to overcome the ongoing challenges and optimize esters for widespread use in the rapidly expanding electric vehicle market. Full article

The efficiency of electric motors is highly dependent on their operating temperature, with lower temperatures contributing to enhanced performance, reliability, and extended service life. This study presents a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art cooling technologies and evaluates their impact on the thermal behavior of a commercial motor–generator system in high-demand applications. A baseline model of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) was developed using MotorCAD 2023^® software, which was supported by reverse engineering techniques to accurately replicate the motor’s physical and thermal characteristics. Subsequently, multiple cooling strategies were simulated under consistent operating conditions to assess their effectiveness. These strategies include conventional axial water jackets as well as advanced oil-based methods such as shaft cooling and direct oil spray to the windings. The integration of these systems in hybrid configurations was also explored to maximize thermal efficiency. Simulation results reveal that hybrid cooling significantly reduces the temperature of critical components such as stator windings and permanent magnets. This reduction in thermal stress improves current efficiency, power output, and torque capacity, enabling reliable motor operation across a broader range of speeds and under sustained high-load conditions. The findings highlight the effectiveness of hybrid cooling systems in optimizing both thermal management and operational performance of electric machines. Full article