Search Results (37,179)

This review is devoted to the occurrence, extraction, structural characterization and catalytic applications of vanadyl porphyrins present in heavy crude oils and petroleum residues. Vanadyl porphyrins represent the major vanadium-containing compounds in petroleum systems and play a dual role as both catalyst poisons during refining processes and valuable precursors for functional catalytic materials. Particular attention is devoted to recent advances in extraction technologies, including solvent extraction, ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, functionalized adsorbents and chelating agents. Process intensification approaches such as ultrasound- and microwave-assisted extraction, are also discussed as promising strategies for improving extraction efficiency and selectivity. Furthermore, recent developments in petroleum characterization using FTICR-MS, EPR, HYSCORE and LA-ICP-MS techniques are reviewed, providing insights into metalloporphyrin speciation, oxidation states, and distribution within complex petroleum matrices. Beyond their traditional role in catalyst deactivation, vanadyl porphyrins have emerged as attractive precursors for catalytic materials applied in oxidation reactions, photocatalysis, oxidative desulfurization, wastewater treatment and selective organic synthesis. The development of hybrid catalytic systems based on mesoporous silica, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, polymer matrices, and metal–organic frameworks has significantly improved catalyst stability, activity and recyclability. Current challenges related to the selective extraction, preservation of metalloporphyrin structure and catalytic performance evaluation are also discussed. Overall, this review provides an integrated perspective on the recovery, characterization and valorization of vanadyl porphyrins for sustainable petroleum upgrading and environmental applications. Full article

Polylactic acid (PLA) remains poorly mineralized under mesophilic conditions relevant to home and decentralized composting. This study assessed whether bioaugmentation with Amycolatopsis orientalis, protein-based biostimulation with skimmed milk powder, or their combined application could enhance the mineralization of compression-molded amorphous PLA fragments at 28 °C in activated vermiculite. Closed respirometric bioreactors were monitored for 90 days, and the PLA mineralization extent was calculated from the cumulative CO₂ evolution after correction using treatment-specific blanks. The recovered PLA fragments were further analyzed by FTIR-ATR and DSC to provide complementary physicochemical monitoring. The final mineralization remained low, reaching 1.19 ± 1.88% for bioaugmentation, 3.49 ± 1.82% for biostimulation, and 8.75 ± 4.31% for the combined treatment. The combined treatment gave the highest mean value, which was significantly higher than bioaugmentation alone, but the individual biological replicates followed heterogeneous trajectories. In particular, BABS-3 reached 13.19% mineralization, indicating that higher responses can occur at the individual bioreactor level, although they were not consistently reproduced. FTIR-ATR and DSC revealed treatment- and replicate-dependent physicochemical changes but did not provide evidence of extensive bulk PLA transformation. These results contrast those of previous reports of higher PLA mineralization under warmer, mature compost conditions, emphasizing the complexity of the combined influence of temperature and matrix. Overall, the tested strategies were insufficient to achieve effective home compostability of PLA at 28 °C. Full article

Tunnel construction in tectonically active mountainous regions is frequently hampered by elevated geothermal conditions, threatening construction safety and long-term infrastructure performance. In the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, characterized by complex fault systems and intense hydrothermal activity, rigorous assessment of geothermal hazard susceptibility along tunnel corridors is of critical engineering importance. However, the sparsity of geothermal observational data renders conventional assessment approaches insufficient, as they fail to quantify predictive uncertainty, which is essential for reliable risk decision-making. To address this gap, this study proposes a three-stage framework that integrates multi-source data fusion with Monte Carlo-based uncertainty quantification, using the Nige Tunnel as a case study. Ten conditioning factors were incorporated, with temperature-weighted positive samples constructed from field-surveyed hot springs. Gaussian noise injection and fractal buffer randomization were applied across 500 Monte Carlo iterations of an L2-regularized logistic regression model, evaluated by leave-one-out cross-validation. The three-stage assessment framework achieved robust predictive performance (mean leave-one-out cross-validation area under the curve (LOO-AUC) = 0.824) under sparse-sample conditions. High and Very High susceptibility zones account for 14.2% of the study area, concentrated along fault traces and collocated with hydrothermal discharge locations, with the Nige Tunnel traversing predominantly High to Very High susceptibility zones. Fault distance emerges as the dominant predictive factor, surpassing heat flow and Moho depth, indicating that structural permeability is the rate-limiting control on geothermal fluid enrichment in fault-dominated systems. The findings offer scientific support and methodological insights for risk zoning and hazard mitigation design in tunnel engineering projects in comparable geological settings. Full article

Cardiovascular and vascular diseases remain major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, despite substantial advances in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. In recent years, cardiovascular imaging has moved beyond the traditional assessment of anatomy and morphology toward a multidimensional evaluation of function, tissue composition, haemodynamics, inflammation, and individualized risk. This evolution has been driven by technological progress in echocardiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance, computed tomography, nuclear imaging, intravascular imaging, and point-of-care ultrasound, together with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, radiomics, and predictive analytics. Advanced echocardiographic techniques, including contrast stress echocardiography and emerging methods for myocardial scar detection, may improve functional and prognostic assessment in patients with suspected or established coronary artery disease. Cardiac magnetic resonance, through tissue mapping, late gadolinium enhancement, and 4D flow imaging, provides unique information on myocardial fibrosis, perfusion, ventricular remodelling, and vascular haemodynamics. Computed tomography, particularly with the introduction of photon-counting technology, is expanding the non-invasive characterization of coronary plaques, vascular calcification, and thromboembolic disease. Hybrid imaging with PET/CT and PET/MR offers additional insight into vascular inflammation, myocardial metabolism, and active disease processes. At the same time, intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography, and augmented-reality-supported imaging are refining interventional guidance, while point-of-care ultrasound is broadening access to rapid bedside cardiovascular and vascular assessment. The integration of imaging findings with circulating biomarkers, clinical scores, lipid profiles, coagulation parameters, and machine-learning models represents a promising strategy for personalized risk stratification, particularly in complex conditions such as coronary artery disease, venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, and bleeding risk during antithrombotic therapy. This review summarizes current advances in cardiovascular imaging, discusses their translational implications, and highlights future directions for integrating imaging, artificial intelligence, and precision medicine into daily clinical practice. Full article

Sarcopenia is a progressive age-related skeletal muscle disorder characterized by the loss of muscle mass, strength, and physical performance, leading to frailty, disability, and increased mortality. Although its clinical consequences are well recognized, the underlying biological mechanisms remain incompletely understood, limiting the development of early diagnostic strategies and targeted therapies. Increasing evidence indicates that sarcopenia results from complex interactions among mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging), cellular senescence, neuromuscular junction degeneration, and anabolic resistance. The present review critically summarizes the current evidence on the principal circulating and molecular biomarkers associated with these interconnected mechanisms. Mitochondrial dysfunction appears to represent an early upstream event that promotes excessive reactive oxygen species production, defective mitophagy, inflammatory activation, and cellular senescence. Chronic inflammation, mediated primarily through IL-6 and TNF-α, further accelerates muscle catabolism and regenerative failure, whereas senescence-associated pathways impair satellite cell function and muscle repair. Neuromuscular degeneration and anabolic resistance further contribute to progressive muscle atrophy and functional decline. Among the candidate biomarkers, GDF-15, FGF-21, IL-6, TNF-α, CAF22, p16INK4a, p21/CDKN1A, IGF-1, and myostatin appear particularly promising for characterizing the biological heterogeneity of sarcopenia. However, no single biomarker currently demonstrates sufficient diagnostic accuracy for routine clinical use. Instead, integrated multi-biomarker approaches combining mitochondrial, inflammatory, senescence-associated, neuromuscular, and anabolic markers may improve early diagnosis, risk stratification, and personalized therapeutic strategies. Future prospective longitudinal studies are required to validate these biomarkers and facilitate their translation into clinical practice. Full article

Pruritus is a common and burdensome symptom in inflammatory, autoimmune, and connective tissue skin diseases, significantly impairing quality of life, sleep, and psychological well-being. Pruritus arises from a complex interplay between skin barrier dysfunction, immune activation, and neuronal sensitization involving cytokines, alarmins, neuropeptides, and sensory pathways. Increasing evidence indicates that both biological sex and gender-related factors influence itch perception, severity, and clinical expression, although these differences remain insufficiently explored. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of current evidence on sex- and gender-related differences in pruritus across dermatological diseases, with particular attention to the neuroimmune mechanisms underlying chronic itch. Available studies suggest that women more frequently report greater itch intensity, enhanced psychological burden, and higher impairment in daily activities and sleep, whereas men may exhibit different clinical and sensory profiles. However, findings remain heterogeneous because of methodological limitations, small cohorts, and the lack of standardized itch assessment tools. In addition to biological determinants, psychosocial and behavioral factors likely contribute to sex- and gender-specific differences in chronic pruritus. Overall, the available evidence highlights the need for more standardized and sex-informed research approaches to improve the understanding and management of pruritus in dermatological diseases. Full article

In this study, we systematically decoupled reversible charge transitions via recombination and irreversible bulk trapping via ionization in solution-processed indium zinc oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs) under positive- and negative-bias-stress (PBS and NBS) conditions. We defined highly decoupled degradation behavior by completely evaluating time-dependent transfer characteristics and saturation leakage currents across a range of indium molarities (0.0125 M to 0.2 M). Results indicate that PBS-induced instability is likely governed by a reversible electrostatic neutralization process reducing total effective shallow and deep acceptor-like states, which are dynamically counteracted by interfacial recombination at the dielectric/semiconductor boundary. Conversely, severe degradation under NBS originated from irreversible bulk trapping triggered by the ionization of donor-like oxygen vacancies in a ZnO amorphous random network. Total effective trapped charges were calculated from threshold voltage shifts to clarify these defect kinetics quantitatively; these calculations demonstrated direct correlation with the integrated theoretical capacities of the deep and shallow acceptor-like gap-state distributions. Finally, we propose a comprehensive density of state–energy band alignment model incorporating thermal activation energies and flat-band voltages. This analytical framework proves that the composition-dependent Fermi level positioning rigorously limits and dictates complex bias-stress instabilities, offering profound insights for designing highly stable amorphous oxide semiconductor TFTs. Full article

Background/Objectives: To map the literature and describe the meaning, use, and experience of power mobility for children with complex non-ambulant cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Classification System (GMFCS) levels IV–V and Manual Abilities Classification System (MACS) levels III–V). Methods: Included searches in five electronic databases, grey literature, and hand searches with no restrictions on date, study type, or language, as well as independent duplicate screening and data extraction. Outcomes and experiences were mapped to the integrated F-words Interdependence Human Activity Assistive Technology (iHAAT) framework. Results: In total, 90 studies, from randomized trials to case reports and qualitative designs, included 916 children (10 months–18 years; 432 GMFCS IV; 262 GMFCS V; 222 GMFCS IV/V), with 351 parents, therapists, or educators. Only 32 studies reported MACS levels. Power wheelchairs were used by 724 children (68 used switches rather than joysticks). Other children used modified ride-on cars, specialty pediatric devices, or platform/smart training devices. Based on 22 studies where this information was provided, alternate access/control methods were primarily used by children classified at GMFCS/MACS V, but there was considerable variability. Introduction predominantly occurred in natural settings with limited training or support. Significant and meaningful improvements in power mobility use were reported for intensive play-based, child-led, and caregiver-supported approaches; for virtual training with joystick users; and for skills-training approaches with older children who already achieved functional power wheelchair use. Conclusions: Children classified at GMFCS IV and V may benefit from power mobility experience to promote fitness, functioning, friends, family, fun, and future outcomes. Their use and experience of power mobility may be interdependent with parents, therapists, and educators, changing attitudes and perceptions of child potential. Full article

Motor imagery-based brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) have attracted significant attention due to their potential applications in assistive technologies, neurorehabilitation, and wearable human–machine interaction systems. However, practical implementation of EEG-based BCIs remains challenging because high-density EEG recordings increase hardware complexity, prolong setup time, and introduce substantial spatial redundancy. In addition, the performance of motor imagery classification strongly depends on preprocessing strategy and temporal segmentation parameters. Unlike previous studies that primarily focused on developing new deep learning architectures, this work proposes a systematic optimization framework for identifying practical low-channel EEG configurations by jointly analyzing channel selection, temporal segmentation, and preprocessing strategies for subject-independent motor imagery classification. This study investigates the influence of EEG channel reduction, temporal window segmentation, and baseline correction on motor imagery classification performance using EEGNet-based deep learning architectures. Experiments were conducted using the publicly available PhysioNet EEG Motor Movement/Imagery dataset under subject-independent evaluation conditions. Several EEG configurations were analyzed, including full-scale 64-channel recordings and reduced 15-, 6-, 3-, and 2-channel motor-cortex setups. The obtained results demonstrate that reduced-channel EEG configurations can achieve performance comparable to full-scale recordings. The best classification accuracy of 65.04% was achieved using a 15-channel motor configuration combined with 2 s sliding-window segmentation and baseline correction, achieving performance comparable to the conventional 64-channel setup (64.76%), while substantially reducing the number of electrodes and hardware complexity. Statistical analysis confirmed that the difference between the two configurations was not significant (paired t-test, p = 0.1684). Furthermore, compact 3-channel configurations maintained classification accuracy above 60%, supporting the feasibility of lightweight wearable EEG systems for practical BCI applications. The experiments additionally revealed that shorter temporal windows improve classification stability and reduce susceptibility to unrelated background EEG activity. Baseline correction significantly improved model generalization by compensating for inter-trial signal variability and slow EEG drift. Overall, the findings of this study demonstrate that careful optimization of electrode selection and preprocessing strategies can substantially improve the practicality of lightweight EEG-based motor imagery classification systems while reducing hardware complexity and preserving competitive performance. Full article

Proteases are among the most commercially important industrial enzymes, yet their large-scale production is often limited by complex and costly downstream processing. In this study, an integrated bioprocess was developed for the production, in situ recovery, and purification of an extracellular protease produced by Aspergillus sp. (SIS 22/UCP 1287) under submerged fermentation. Enzyme extraction was coupled directly to fermentation using a polyethylene glycol (PEG)–phosphate aqueous two-phase system (ATPS), aiming to enhance recovery while preserving enzymatic activity. The effects of PEG molecular weight, polymer and phosphate concentrations, and pH on enzyme partitioning were systematically investigated through a full factorial experimental design. Low-molecular-weight PEG and near-neutral pH conditions significantly favored enzyme migration to the PEG-rich phase. Under optimized conditions (15% PEG 3500, 20% phosphate, pH 7.0), the ATPS achieved a partition coefficient of 65.55, enzyme recovery of 209%, and a purification factor of 1.64. Subsequent purification by DEAE–Sephadex ion-exchange chromatography yielded a tenfold increase in specific activity, with optimal elution at 0.5 M NaCl. SDS–PAGE analysis confirmed the homogeneity of the purified protease, revealing a single band at approximately 59 kDa. Overall, the proposed integrated ATPS–chromatography strategy represents a robust, scalable, and environmentally friendly platform that significantly simplifies downstream processing while maintaining high enzyme activity, highlighting its potential for industrial and biotechnological applications. Full article

Continental shale oil reservoirs contain multiscale pore–fracture systems with strong heterogeneity and fractal characteristics, which complicate oil mobilization during post-fracturing shut-in imbibition. In this study, shale cores from the LGS Formation (a lacustrine continental shale oil formation in China) were used to investigate capillary-force-regulated pressurized shut-in imbibition by integrating interfacial tension measurements, apparent contact angle tests, capillary pressure calculation, time-lapse nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), NMR-based fractal characterization, visual observations, and pre-/post-imbibition permeability measurements. Two surfactant-based imbibition agents with different capillary-force regulation mechanisms were compared to represent different capillary-force regulation pathways. Agent 1 mainly modified apparent wettability, increasing the contact angle from 51.0° to 66.1°, whereas Agent 2 reduced the oil–water interfacial tension from 31.85 to 22.12 mN/m while maintaining a favorable apparent contact angle of 49.3°. Time-lapse NMR results showed that oil recovery increased with shut-in time and reached approximately 12–30% after 144 h. Agent 2 generally produced higher recovery than Agent 1, with the optimum response at 0.15 wt%. NMR-derived fractal dimensions ranged mainly from 2.32 to 2.61, confirming the multiscale heterogeneity of the LGS shale pore system. Pore-size-resolved recovery further showed that oil mobilization was dominated by pores larger than 20 nm and microfracture-related spaces, whereas pores smaller than 20 nm contributed only limited bulk recovery. This indicates an apparent nanopore mobilization threshold near 20 nm, controlled by fractal pore complexity, pore-throat connectivity, oil adsorption, capillary pressure, and molecular accessibility of imbibition agents. Visual and permeability evidence further showed that pressurized imbibition can selectively activate connected pore–fracture pathways. Post-imbibition dry-core permeability increased in all tested samples, although the enhancement was highly heterogeneous. These results demonstrate that shut-in imbibition in LGS shale is governed by coupled interfacial regulation, fractal pore heterogeneity, pore-size-dependent oil accessibility, and selective pore–fracture structural modification. Full article

Secreted phospholipases A₂ (sPLA₂s) act at lipid interfaces where enzymatic turnover is strongly influenced by membrane packing and interfacial physicochemical conditions. Vipoxin, a heterodimeric neurotoxin from Vipera ammodytes meridionalis, is one such complex, comprising a catalytically active sPLA₂ subunit (VBC) and a catalytically impaired homolog, VAC, suggesting a pseudoenzymatic regulatory role. Using SAPC Langmuir monolayers as a model of arachidonic-acid-containing membranes, we monitored the compensated monolayer area change, $\Delta A\left(t\right)$, under barostatic conditions as an integrated readout of the interfacial behavior of Vipoxin and its isolated subunits. The responses revealed pronounced modulation by surface pressure and by the acidic acetate versus basic Tris-HCl subphase environment: VBC retained high catalytic competence under both conditions, whereas Vipoxin displayed greater environmental sensitivity, consistent with VAC-dependent modulation of enzyme–membrane coupling. VAC, although lacking canonical catalytic activity, produced measurable interfacial effects under acidic conditions and high lateral pressure. Analysis using the interfacial quality parameter $Q_m$ demonstrated that VAC modifies the pressure dependence of the heterodimer and stabilizes interfacial accommodation of VBC. These findings indicate that VAC functions as a pseudoenzymatic regulatory subunit whose role emerges from dynamic coupling between enzymatic activity and lipid interfacial organization. Full article

There is a growing interest in preventive and complementary therapies to support health, increase the effectiveness of conventional medical treatments, and improve quality of life (QoL). This review summarizes the effects of β-glucans, triterpenes and nucleoside analogs of edible and/or medicinal mushrooms with results of clinical trials that investigated these effects in diabetes, breast-, prostate-, lung- and colorectal cancer patients. The results support that these components effectively alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life of these patients. Higher than 3 g of mushrooms, or equivalent extracts, per day are able to diminish metabolic parameters associated with diabetes, i.e., hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and inflammation. The found survival benefit of mushrooms in breast cancer patients was subgroup- or marker-specific. Additionally, their immunomodulatory effects were more complex—different immunological parameters could be either activated or suppressed by different amounts. Data are limited for prostate cancer patients to date, but lentinan intake may increase the survival time of these patients. The survival of lung cancer patients is significantly improved with the use of beta-glucan as complementary therapy. However, its immunomodulatory role was not confirmed. The application of these mushroom components in patients with colorectal cancer may improve QoL. However, survival benefits are inconsistent across different clinical trials of these patients. In summary, although further randomized clinical trials are still required to evaluate optimal dosage and long-term mechanisms of actions in humans, edible and medicinal mushrooms may serve as valuable tools in preventive or in complementary therapies beside the conventional medical treatments of diabetes and cancer. Full article

Natural killer (NK) cells represent a promising tool for cancer immunotherapy; however, their efficacy against solid tumors is severely limited by the hostile tumor microenvironment (TME). This review provides a comprehensive overview of the physical, molecular, and metabolic barriers that drive NK cell dysfunction and immune evasion, emphasizing the physical challenge posed by extracellular matrix (ECM) density, which restricts infiltration. Beyond structural barriers, we examine the role of immunosuppressive cytokines (e.g., TGF-β) and immune checkpoint upregulation, both of which directly inhibit NK cell activation. Furthermore, NK cell signaling and cytotoxicity are profoundly affected by metabolic stressors such as hypoxia and acidosis, which act synergistically with the accumulation of immunosuppressive metabolites, including adenosine. These factors impair antitumor activity through multiple mechanisms, particularly the shedding of activating ligands. To investigate these complex interactions, we evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different three-dimensional (3D) preclinical platforms, including tumor spheroids and Organ-on-Chip technologies, highlighting their distinct characteristics. Rather than advocating for a single technology, we emphasize that each model offers unique advantages for studying specific physical, chemical, and cellular components of the TME. Ultimately, leveraging the capabilities of these advanced 3D platforms is essential for deciphering microenvironmental barriers and unlocking the full therapeutic potential of NK cells against solid tumors. Full article

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy characterized by target organ damage, affecting approximately 5% of pregnancies. Complex neuroendocrine alterations, vascular imbalances, excessive oxidative stress, environmental factors, and inappropriate immune responses drive the pathology of this condition. Inadequate remodeling of the uterine spiral arteries serves as a fundamental marker of the disease. PE is heavily mediated by an inflammatory cascade involving complement system activation, decreased tolerogenicity of natural killer (NK) cells, M1 macrophage polarization, and dendritic cell alterations. Furthermore, the disease is characterized by a shift toward Th1, Th17, and Th22 cell populations, alongside a decrease in Th2 and regulatory T (Treg) lymphocytes, significantly increasing the risk of maternal autoimmunity. The disorder also disrupts angiogenesis, alters specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators, and impairs responses to infections. Although advancements in immunological treatments have been made, many therapeutic approaches remain under active investigation. Full article