Search Results (8,662)

Soil erosion (SE) is a constant, complex land degradation process, a common natural disaster that occurs all over the world and severely impacts soil fertility, food security, and environmental balance. Soil erosion depends on many factors, including soil properties, slope, vegetation, rainfall amount and intensity, and anthropogenic activities. There are two main natural erosive forces by which soil is eroded and transported—water and wind. Water erosion refers to the detachment, transportation, and deposition of soil particles (solid runoff) into river networks. These particles, varying in size and composition, are the main products of soil erosion and most strongly affect river ecosystems. Solid runoff, or sediment-laden runoff, affects water quality, destroying habitats, carrying pollutants, reducing reservoir storage, and causing flooding. Erosion control activities also influence river ecosystems in different ways. Hydrotechnical facilities, a major erosion control practice, can alter the composition of aquatic biota by disrupting longitudinal connectivity and isolating populations. Reforestation and afforestation are other erosion control practices that have a strong impact on ecosystems. Stormwater retention systems in urban and forest areas are also important measures addressed in this review. This review examines complex environmental interactions and the roles of erosion and erosion control activities in river ecosystems. During the research, several key points were established: erosion and erosion control activities significantly affect river ecosystems. There is a lack of quantitative analysis of erosion intensity and its influence on ecosystems. This is probably due to the exceptional complexity and diversity of river ecosystems, but such a study would provide important information about complex relationships in nature. Full article

Glycolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) offers a promising route for chemical recycling, yet conventional homogeneous catalysts often suffer from low selectivity, severe side reactions (especially diethylene glycol, DEG formation), and detrimental metal residues that compromise the quality of recycled products. To address these challenges, we herein develop dipotassium phenylphosphonate (PPOA-K) as an efficient homogeneous catalyst for PET glycolysis. Under optimized conditions (1 wt% catalyst, 197 °C, EG/PET mass ratio 3:1, 90 min, atmospheric pressure), PPOA-K achieves 100% PET depolymerization and a high BHET yield of 86.0%, and the reaction follows apparent first-order kinetics with an activation energy of 70.3 kJ·mol⁻¹. Beyond its high catalytic activity, PPOA-K effectively suppresses the acid-catalyzed etherification of ethylene glycol to DEG, a common side reaction that reduces monomer purity and degrades recycled polyester properties. Remarkably, the trace amount of PPOA-K remaining in the recovered BHET (17.3 ppm) is not detrimental; instead, it continues to inhibit DEG formation during repolymerization and acts as a thermal stabilizer, improving the melting point and thermal stability of recycled PET. The advantages of PPOA-K are further demonstrated in a partial (in situ) glycolysis–repolymerization process, where it reduces the DEG content in the final rPET to 1.78% (vs. 2.25% for conventional Zn(OAc)₂), yielding rPET with a higher melting point, higher crystallinity, and better color. This work demonstrates that dipotassium phenylphosphonate uniquely combines high catalytic activity, side reaction suppression, and beneficial residue effects, offering a new catalyst design strategy for high-quality PET recycling. Full article

The consumption of vegetable oils is steadily increasing, especially in Asian countries. Once used, the utilized cooking oils are either thrown into landfills or dumped there, endangering both the environment and people. One common method is to convert waste cooking oil (WCO) into biofuel; however, since WCO contains many free radicals, burning it releases large quantities of pollutants, meaning that disposal of WCO poses significant environmental risks. To stabilize the WCO (Cocos nucifera) before converting it into biofuel, this study analyzed the extraction, optimization, and use of antioxidant-rich bio-oil from Anisomeles malabarica leaves as a natural additive. Solvent screening revealed that a hexane–ethanol ratio of 4:2 was optimal for generating 76.7% bio-oil at room temperature. A maximum yield of 77% was attained by temperature and time optimization, which determined that 50 °C and 20 min were ideal. The extraction exhibits zero-order kinetics during the increasing phase, according to kinetic studies, with rate constants ranging from 0.54 to 1.44% min⁻¹ (R² = 0.950–0.997). The Peleg equilibrium model (average R² = 0.806) was used to describe the extraction profile. The regression equation ln(k) = 1799.3 × (1/T) − 10.828 (R² = 0.9748, p = 0.0002) was obtained using Arrhenius analysis. It was found that the compounds responsible for the antioxidant scavenging activity were found to be phytol, hexadecenoic acid, and tocopherol (vitamin E). The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) test confirmed that 3% (v/v) bio-oil scavenged about 95% of free radicals, whereas the conjugated diene experiment demonstrated that over 90% of lipid oxidation in WCO was prevented. The combustion and emission properties of biofuel (WCB), which was created by transesterifying bio-oil-treated WCO, were compared to those of neat diesel and untreated WCO-derived biofuel (WC). In comparison to both WC50 and neat diesel, WCB50 demonstrated an equivalent in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate, but significantly reduced emissions of NO_x, CO, hydrocarbons, and smoke. These results show that Anisomeles malabarica bio-oil works well as a natural antioxidant addition for clean combustion and biodiesel stabilization. Full article

Even though the functional food market has rapidly increased in recent years, the links between bioactive-rich formulations and consumers’ health benefit are not fully established, mainly because of insufficient consideration of food matrix effects. This review provides a comprehensive and integrated evaluation of how food matrix properties (structural and physicochemical) affect the bioaccessibility of plant bioactive compounds. Unlike many reviews that focus on a single nutrient approach, we highlight quantitative evidence of how bioaccessibility can be affected by matrix properties, illustrating the interactions between main food components (lipids, proteins, dietary fiber and minerals). This review integrates fragmented information among different areas of food and nutrition sciences, i.e., food structure, gastrointestinal science, mineral chemistry, protein chemistry, providing a holistic framework for Quality by Design (QbD) functional food development. Synergisms and antagonistic behaviors, threshold effects, and concentration-dependent behaviors are analyzed comparatively for the most common plant-derived bioactives, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, curcuminoids and minerals (iron, zinc and calcium). We propose a matrix-informed optimization as a prerequisite for credible health claims and sustainable plant-based nutrition strategies. This can ultimately serve as a foundation for next-generation functional food development based on bioaccessibility, supporting the central argument that functional food development should move from composition-based fortification to bioaccessibility-based matrix engineering. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of incorporating carrot pomace from different varieties (Baltimore, Belgrado, Niagara, and Sirkana) into pasta formulations made from durum and common wheat flours, as well as to optimize the addition level and characterize the resulting products. To this end, dough rheological properties, pasta chemical composition, cooking behavior, color, texture, sensory attributes, and microstructure were evaluated. Increasing levels of carrot pomace significantly influenced flour functionality, dough rheology, pasta texture, cooking behavior, and color characteristics. Higher pomace addition resulted in increased flour water absorption, dough complex modulus and hardness, pasta fracturability, cooking losses, and contents of crude fiber and total yellow pigments, while reducing dough deformation resistance, pasta color intensity, and chewiness. The magnitude of these changes was dependent on the carrot variety used. Process optimization allowed the determination of variety-specific optimal inclusion levels of carrot pomace for both flour types. For durum wheat flour, optimal levels ranged from 6.34% to 9.25%, while for common wheat flour they ranged from 8.12% to 11.17%. At these levels, cooking losses remained within acceptable limits (<8%), yellow coloration was enhanced, and dough structure rigidity increased, accompanied by delayed starch gelatinization. Pasta samples containing Niagara and Sirkana pomace showed the highest contents of dietary fiber and yellow pigments, reflecting their elevated β-carotene levels. Sensory evaluation indicated improved overall acceptability compared with control samples. These results demonstrate the potential of carrot pomace as a functional ingredient for the development of nutritionally enriched, value-added pasta products. Full article

With the rapid advancement of portable wearable electronics, flexible supercapacitors have ushered in new development opportunities. In recent years, MXene and its composites have demonstrated potential as advanced supercapacitor electrode materials due to their outstanding theoretical capacitance, specific surface area, conductivity, hydrophilicity, and mechanical flexibility. This review traces the development of MXene and summarizes common synthesis strategies, with a focus on the effects of different preparation methods on its structure and properties. Departing from previously reported work, this review draws from the practical requirements of flexible supercapacitors to conduct an in-depth analysis of the key factors influencing the charge storage, rate capability, cycling life, and mechanical flexibility of the devices. It summarizes common design strategies for MXene composites currently used to enhance device performance. Additionally, this study analyzes key challenges facing MXene-based electrode materials, including issues such as self-stacking of layers, insufficient oxidation stability, limited energy density, and structural degradation under complex deformation conditions. Mitigation strategies are summarized, including optimizing synthesis methods and constructing composite systems integrating carbon materials, conducting polymers, and transition metal compounds. Finally, future research directions for MXene in flexible energy storage are explored, emphasizing the need to achieve a balance between performance and manufacturability through synergistic regulation at structural design, interfacial engineering, and device levels. This review aims to provide theoretical guidance for the development of practical MXene-based wearable energy storage devices. Full article

Prosocial skills, a subset of social skills, are voluntary behaviors intended to benefit others that do not produce a direct benefit for the individual (e.g., sharing). In contrast to social skills broadly, the reinforcing properties of prosocial skills can be obscured by the immediate contingencies (e.g., sharing requires relinquishing access to preferred items). Nonetheless, the benefits of prosocial behavior underscore the need for behavior analysts to establish these skills and promote their generalization and maintenance. We conducted a scoping review of behavior analytic articles targeting prosocial skills to identify (a) how often generalization and maintenance were assessed and (b) what strategies were typically programmed. Our findings indicate that generalization and maintenance are not consistently assessed, and response generalization is evaluated less often than stimulus generalization. Program Common Stimuli and Introduce to Natural Maintaining Contingencies were the most frequently used strategies. Train and Hope was also frequently observed when programming for maintenance. Our results underscore the need for more systematic programming and evaluation of generalization and maintenance to promote durable prosocial behavior. Full article

Postbiotics, a type of fermented functional food, are attracting attention alongside the more common pro- and prebiotics. The main production stages—fermentation, thermal inactivation, and drying—significantly influence the functional effects of these foods. This study investigated the impact of pH control during the fermentation of oat flour suspension and optimized spray-drying parameters to produce oat-based postbiotic powders. A Lacticaseibacillus paracasei CBA L74 fermented hydrolyzed oat suspension was analyzed at 37 °C for 24 h, with and without pH control. Both pH conditions produced similar bacterial growth (~10⁹ CFU/mL) and lactic acid (~9 g/L). No significant differences were observed in polyphenols, flavonoids, or antioxidant activity, indicating that pH control did not noticeably improve productivity or the phytochemical properties. The best results—57.40% drying yield and 3.9% relative humidity—were achieved when the postbiotic suspension (diluted 1:4 with water) was mixed 1:1 with maltodextrins, and the spray drying process was conducted with 50 L/min air flow, 200 °C, 3.2 bar atomization pressure, and 5 L/min feed flow. These results support the possibility of scaling the production process from laboratory-optimized parameters and represent a first step toward a cost-effective and industrially feasible route for manufacturing stable oat-based postbiotic powders. Full article

Rainfall-induced delayed instability of fractured rock slopes is strongly affected by fracture preferential flow, hydro-mechanical coupling, and spatial matrix heterogeneity. However, the coupled influence of stress-dependent fracture aperture evolution and heterogeneous matrix properties on delayed slope deformation remains insufficiently quantified. In this study, a two-dimensional discrete fracture network (DFN)–equivalent continuum coupled model was established using spectral random field theory and a representative Monte Carlo-generated fracture geometry. The spectral exponent β = 1.0–2.5 was adopted to characterize different degrees of matrix heterogeneity, and rainfall infiltration–stress coupling simulations were conducted under an extreme rainfall scenario followed by drainage. The results indicate that the wetting front advances irregularly in the heterogeneous matrix, while fracture preferential flow accelerates rainwater infiltration and promotes local pore-pressure accumulation near the phreatic surface. After rainfall cessation, water stored in fractures continues to recharge the deep matrix, leading to delayed pore-pressure increase and post-rainfall deformation. The simulated fracture aperture shows an initial closure followed by gradual dilation, which is controlled by the competition between saturation-induced stress redistribution and pore-pressure-driven effective stress reduction. Under a common strength reduction factor of FOS = 1.4, stronger matrix heterogeneity results in more pronounced plastic strain concentration and larger displacement amplitude along the potential slip zone. These findings suggest that fracture aperture evolution and matrix heterogeneity jointly influence delayed deformation and potential failure-zone development in rainfall-affected fractured rock slopes. The conclusions should be interpreted within the scope of a two-dimensional DFN–equivalent continuum numerical framework with prescribed rainfall conditions and representative fracture/random-field realizations. Full article

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of gut–brain interaction (DGBI) of multifactorial genesis. Studies consistently show a disrupted intestinal barrier with increased permeability in IBS patients, regardless of subtype. This allows facultative pathogenic bacteria to translocate into underlying body tissue and to initiate or exacerbate IBS symptoms. Protecting the intestinal barrier is therefore a primary therapeutic target. Bifidobacterium bifidum MIMBb75 has proven its efficacy in IBS both in its viable and heat-inactivated forms. Its efficacy is thought to be mediated by the physical adhesion of B. bifidum MIMBb75 to intestinal epithelial cells, thereby protecting the intestinal barrier. In the present study, we show—using a Caco-2 model—that this strain-specific adhesion is facilitated by the high cell surface hydrophobicity of B. bifidum MIMBb75, which is retained following heat inactivation. In line with these adhesive properties, both viable and heat-inactivated B. bifidum MIMBb75 protect the epithelial barrier, as indicated by an increased transepithelial electrical resistance in Caco-2 monolayers. Together, these findings strongly support a physical mode of action in which both viable and heat-inactivated B. bifidum MIMBb75 adhere to the epithelial surface and act, figuratively, as a protective plaster on the epithelial barrier. Full article

Background: This paper presents the development of digital tools created within the BIORADAR European project to improve user access to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results from the project’s use cases and to enable users to upload, benchmark and analyze their own data. The work addresses common challenges in circularity and environmental impact assessment, particularly data availability and expert-assisted self-assessment for users such as small- and medium-sized enterprises. Methods: The LCA data for the project use cases is calculated using the Environmental Footprint methodology. Benchmarking compares bio-approach use cases with traditional approaches across three key sectors selected by the BIORADAR project: fertilizer, textile and packaging. These sectors are recognized by the European Commission as three of the most important sectors in terms of environmental impact. Case impact factor data are normalized using a reference statistic, and a weighting is assigned to each key performance indicator to calculate the global score. Individual impact factor values can also be used for benchmarking. Synthetic data are generated through an advanced statistical decomposition algorithm. Advanced data analytics are provided with clustering and a decision tree algorithm using supervised machine learning. Results: Two examples of decision-oriented case studies are used to illustrate how the platform can support the interpretation and use of already computed LCA results in realistic settings. The web-based expert-assisted self-assessment tool, developed in JavaScript, allows users to input their data, benchmark them against project results and perform multidimensional data analysis. The resulting digital tools provide access to LCA data for each use case, generate realistic synthetic datasets preserving key statistical properties, support benchmarking of both project and user-uploaded cases, and perform data analytics, which complement the benchmarking module with a structural and exploratory interpretation of the data. Conclusions: Overall, the tools integrate use case benchmarking, data processing, advanced analytics and user interfaces to facilitate environmental self-assessment and comparison within the BIORADAR framework. Full article

Hybrid nanofluids combining thermally conductive nanoparticles with latent heat-storing nanocapsules have attracted growing interest for near-ambient liquid-based thermal management, yet direct comparisons between mono and hybrid phase-change-material-containing systems on a common experimental basis remain scarce. In this work, water-based mono Al₂O₃, mono polyurethane-nanoencapsulated n-nonadecane (PU-NEPCM), and Al₂O₃/PU-NEPCM hybrid nanofluids were prepared under identical surfactant, sonication, and dispersion conditions, and their thermal conductivity, dynamic viscosity, and Day-1 colloidal stability were characterized over 298–313 K at total volume fractions of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 vol.%, with the hybrids prepared at a 50:50 volumetric ratio. At 0.5 vol.% and 313 K, the hybrid (NFH3) exhibited the highest thermal conductivity enhancement (+8.27%), exceeding the corresponding mono Al₂O₃ and mono PU-NEPCM nanofluids by 4.6 and 5.2 percentage points, respectively, while maintaining a moderate viscosity penalty. The hybrid formulations also achieved |ζ| = 32–37 mV, exceeding the conventional electrostatic-stabilization threshold and outperforming both mono families. A two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) identified particle concentration as the dominant factor governing both properties (p < 0.001), with temperature becoming statistically significant only for the hybrid viscosity (p = 0.043). The synergy index varied between 0.85 and 1.43 across the tested conditions—reaching values of 1.20–1.43 for the lowest-loaded hybrid (NFH1)—while the performance index remained close to unity (0.97–1.01). These results identify low-loaded Al₂O₃/PU-NEPCM hybrid nanofluids as a balanced and stable candidate for near-ambient liquid-based thermal management applications. Full article

Motoneurons are under strong pressure to maintain stable motor output throughout an individual life, through homeostatic regulation of their electrical properties. Dysregulated spinal motoneuron excitability has long been implicated in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Recent work in SOD1^G93A mice suggests that the homeostatic response of motoneurons becomes dysregulated as cellular processes are disrupted by the disease, causing fluctuations in motoneuron electrical properties. Yet, few studies directly test whether ALS motoneurons respond differently than wild-type motoneurons to a common chronic perturbation. Here, we used in vivo electrophysiology to test whether motoneurons from pre-symptomatic SOD1^G93A mice modulate excitability differently than wild-type motoneurons in response to the same homeostatic perturbation: chronic inhibition exerted by the benzodiazepine diazepam. Using linear mixed-effects statistical models, we assessed whether diazepam treatment differentially modulated passive properties, firing behavior, spike properties, and/or synaptic inputs in SOD1^G93A versus wild-type motoneurons. We identified a significant genotype × treatment interaction effect selectively for properties related to passive membrane integration and spike initiation, including membrane time constant, peak input resistance, and recruitment current. In contrast, firing gain, spike waveform characteristics, and synaptic inputs were largely unaffected. These findings indicate that sustained inhibitory perturbation selectively triggered overactive intrinsic compensatory mechanisms in SOD1^G93A motoneurons rather than inducing widespread changes in firing or synaptic transmission. Together, our results provide direct evidence for over-active homeostatic control of motoneuron excitability and support a view of motoneuron dysfunction in ALS as a problem of altered feedback regulation rather than simply hyper- or hypo-excitability. Full article

Shuanghuanglian oral liquid (SHL) is widely used in companion animals and poultry, but its molecular mechanism in pneumonia–myocarditis comorbidity and heart–lung inflammatory crosstalk remains largely unclear. This computational study investigated the conserved AKT1/HIF1A-mediated immunoregulatory mechanism of SHL and its cross-species translational potential in veterinary medicine. Network pharmacology was integrated with GO, KEGG, and Reactome enrichment analyses, protein–protein interaction network construction, ADMET evaluation, cross-species sequence homology analysis (human, dog, cattle, and pig), molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation. A total of 61 active compounds, 251 putative targets, and 52 common targets associated with pneumonia and myocarditis were identified. These targets were mainly enriched in inflammation- and immune-related pathways, including TNF, IL-17, AGE–RAGE, and PPAR signaling. AKT1 and HIF1A showed high sequence conservation across species (85–98%). Key compounds exhibited favorable binding affinity to AKT1, and molecular dynamics simulation suggested the stability of the Baicalein–AKT1 complex. ADMET analysis suggested favorable pharmacokinetic properties and low predicted toxicity. These findings suggest that SHL may potentially alleviate pneumonia and myocarditis through modulation of the conserved AKT1/HIF1A axis and support its potential as a complementary therapeutic approach for managing heart–lung inflammatory diseases in multiple livestock species. This entirely computational study highlights promising mechanisms that should be further validated in vivo. Full article

Common beans contain insoluble-bound phenolic compounds with potential bioactive properties; however, their recovery generally depends on harsh hydrolytic conditions and organic solvents. This study evaluated alternative extraction strategies for the recovery of insoluble-bound phenolic compounds from raw and cooked common bean flours of two Andean varieties (Peumo and Magnum), using Viscozyme L^®, ultrasound, and pretreatment with ultrasound followed by Viscozyme L^®. The resulting extracts were characterized in terms of phenolic profile by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity. Enzymatic treatment improved the recovery of insoluble-bound phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity compared with the control, while ultrasound alone showed limited effectiveness under the evaluated conditions. The combination of ultrasound pretreatment and Viscozyme L^® generally improved recovery of some phenolic compounds and antioxidant-related endpoints relative to control conditions. Cooking generally reduced TPC and antioxidant activity, although the effect on individual phenolic compounds depended on the extraction treatment. Overall, enzyme-assisted extraction, especially when combined with ultrasonic pretreatment, represents a promising strategy for improving the recovery of insoluble phenolic compounds from common bean flour. Further optimization is still needed to improve the sustainability of the process and its industrial applicability. Full article