Search Results (2,612)

The consolidation of mural paintings presents a significant challenge for conservators, as the treatments applied must not only be effective but also preserve the aesthetic qualities of the artwork. Ongoing research focuses on developing new products that are more efficient, durable, and compatible with the physicochemical and aesthetic characteristics of the original materials, thereby addressing the limitations of existing consolidants. This study examines two consolidants for mural painting restoration: Estel 1200^® (C.T.S., Madrid, Spain), a commercially available and widely used ethyl silicate-based product, and Nanorepair UV^® (Patent: ES-2766074-B2, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain), a nanocomposite composed of calcium hydroxide nanoparticles doped with zinc quantum dots. On mortar specimens, prepared according to the Roman fresco technique, the application method for the proposed treatments was optimized. The applicability of the treatments for mural painting conservation was studied by colorimetric measurements and SEM imaging to detect and characterize the formation of surface layers. The effectiveness of the treatments was quantitatively evaluated with tape-peeling cycles. The results show that, although both treatments enhance the consolidation state of mural paintings, Nanorepair UV^® proved to be a more effective consolidant, without altering the aesthetic or physicochemical properties of the artwork. Additionally, this treatment allows for straightforward evaluation of its penetration and enables distinction between treated and untreated areas through the fluorescence of the zinc oxide quantum dots. Full article

Cadmium (Cd), a toxic and mobile heavy metal, poses significant risks to agricultural systems due to industrial pollution. Tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.) efficiently absorb and accumulate Cd from soil, leading to contamination in leaves. Chronic consumption of Cd-laden tea can cause severe health issues, including neurological, reproductive, and immunological disorders, as well as increased cancer risk. Despite growing concerns, the molecular mechanisms of Cd stress response in tea plants remain poorly understood. Current research highlights key physiological adaptations, including activation of antioxidant defenses and modulation of secondary metabolite pathways, which influence tea quality. Cd disrupts photosynthesis, induces oxidative stress, and alters the biosynthesis of flavor-related compounds. Several critical genes involved in Cd transport (e.g., CsNRAMP5, CsHMA3, CsZIP1), sequestration (CsPCS1), and stress regulation (CsMYB73, CsWRKY53, CsbHLH001) have been identified, offering insights into molecular responses. This review systematically examines Cd dynamics in the soil-tea plant system, its effects on growth, photosynthesis, and quality, and the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying Cd tolerance. By consolidating recent findings on Cd-responsive genes and regulatory pathways, this study provides a theoretical foundation for breeding Cd-resistant tea varieties and ensuring production safety. Furthermore, it identifies future research directions, emphasizing the need for deeper mechanistic insights and practical mitigation strategies. These advancements will contribute to safer tea consumption and sustainable cultivation practices in Cd-contaminated regions. Full article

The investigation of the behavior of ZrB₂-SiC-based ultra-high temperature ceramic (UHTC) materials under high-velocity CO₂ plasma flow is of significant importance and relevance for evaluating their prospective use in the exploration of planets such as Venus or Mars. Accordingly, the degradation process of a ZrB₂-30 vol.% SiC ceramic composite, fabricated by hot-pressing at 1700 °C with a 15 vol.% Ti₂AlC sintering aid, was examined using a high-frequency induction plasmatron. It was found that the modification of the ceramic’s elemental and phase composition during consolidation, resulting from the interaction between ZrB₂ and Ti₂AlC, leads to the formation of an approximately 400 µm-thick multi-layered oxidation zone following 15 min stepwise thermochemical exposure at surface temperatures reaching up to 1970 °C. This area consists of a lower layer depleted of silicon carbide and an upper layer containing large pores (up to 160–200 µm), where ZrO₂ particles are distributed within a silicate melt. SEM analysis revealed that introduction of more refractory titanium and aluminum oxides into the melt upon oxidation, along with liquation within the melt, prevents the complete removal of this sealing melt from the sample surface. This effect remains even after 8 min exposure at an average temperature of ~1960–1970 °C. Full article

Shaft lifting is an important process of coal mining, and its integrity is a prerequisite for ensuring efficient mining. The non-mining-induced rupture of vertical shafts in coal mines, primarily caused by the consolidation settlement of overlying unconsolidated strata due to aquifer dewatering, poses a significant threat to mining safety. Accurately predicting such ruptures remains challenging due to the multicollinearity and complex interactions among multiple influencing factors. This study proposes a novel multiscale discriminant analysis model, termed the SDA-PCA-FDA model, which integrates Stepwise Discriminant Analysis (SDA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Fisher’s Discriminant Analysis (FDA). Initially, SDA screened five principal controlling factors from nine original variables. Subsequently, PCA was applied to reorganize these factors into three principal components, effectively eliminating information redundancy. Finally, the FDA model was established based on these components. Validation results demonstrated that the SDA-PCA-FDA model achieved high correct classification rates of 96.43% and 91.67% on the training and testing sets, respectively, significantly outperforming traditional FDA, PCA-FDA, and SDA-FDA models. Applied to engineering practice in the Yanzhou Mining Area, the model successfully predicted the rupture risk of the main shaft, consistent with field observations. Furthermore, to achieve sustainable governance, the “Friction Pile Method” was proposed as a preventive measure. Numerical simulations using NM2dc software determined the optimal governance parameters: a pile height of 112.86 m, a stiffness coefficient of 0.9, and a pile–shaft spacing of 10 m. A comparative analysis incorporating techno-economic sustainability indicators confirmed the superior effectiveness and economic viability of the friction pile method over traditional approaches. This research provides a reliable, multiscale methodology for both the prediction and sustainable governance of non-mining-induced shaft rupture. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a pervasive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by chronic neuroinflammation; current interventions primarily offer symptomatic relief. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid, exhibits multi-target therapeutic potential due to its established anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. While growing interest exists, the evidence regarding CBD’s effects on AD-related neuroinflammation has not been robustly consolidated in a quantitative meta-analysis. Therefore, this article reviews the current literature around CBD related to its potential in alleviating neuroinflammation, followed by a meta-analysis of preclinical and clinical studies using random-effects modeling to assess CBD efficacy on neuroinflammation and clinical outcomes in AD. In preclinical AD models, the meta-analysis demonstrated that CBD significantly and consistently reduced key markers of neuroinflammation and reactive gliosis, specifically glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) (p < 0.0001), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Effects on other markers, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), were non-significant and heterogeneous. Clinical evidence, though limited by small sample size and heterogeneity, showed a borderline significant benefit favoring CBD for overall behavioral symptoms (p = 0.05), agitation, and caregiver distress. Adverse events were typically mild. We conclude that CBD demonstrates biologically consistent anti-inflammatory efficacy in preclinical AD models. While current clinical data remains insufficient to substantiate efficacy, they suggest promising signals for behavioral control. Determining CBD’s full therapeutic potential in AD necessitates future rigorous, mechanism-driven trials with standardized preparations and biomarker-anchored endpoints. Full article

This contribution illustrates the research focused on the process of securing and the transportation prior to the conservation treatment of a wooden Crucifix—severely damaged in 2016 during the earthquake of Central Italy—through the application of menthyl lactate. The preparatory and paint layers of the polychrome sculpture are extremely fragile due to decohesion issues and the presence of unstable cleavages and losses linked to severe thermo-hygrometric variations. Many scientific and application tests were carried out in the laboratory and then, later, on a fragment of the Crucifix in order to identify the volatile binder best-suited to this case study: menthyl lactate was selected among six binders as the most appropriate compound due to its effective consolidation, lower sublimation rate, negligible residue, and non-hazardousness. Lastly, a very specific transportation system was designed and realised to move the work, without further loss and damage, from the storage building where it was kept in Spoleto to the conservation department of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence. The volatile binder will continue to be locally applied to allow the mechanical cleaning, in order to remove the thick deposits of debris without damaging the colour. The conservation treatment will be carried out in the future, in parallel with further scientific tests. Full article

Purpose: This review consolidates current evidence on how chronic kidney disease (CKD)-especially end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and its treatments-alters choroidal and retinal vascular permeability, leading to changes in intraocular fluid homeostasis. Methods: A literature search of Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), reference lists, and key ophthalmology-nephrology texts was performed for studies published between 1980 and 2025. One-hundred-forty-four articles (clinical trials, observational cohorts, and case reports) met the inclusion criteria. Data were abstracted on choroidal thickness changes, blood-retinal barrier integrity, incidence of Central Serous Chororioretinopathy (CSCR) and Serous Retinal Detachment (SRD) in dialysis and transplant populations, and systemic variables such as oncotic pressure, hypertension, and corticosteroid exposure, with special attention to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) pump function. Findings were synthesized qualitatively and tabulated where appropriate. Results: ESKD induces a triad of lowered plasma oncotic pressure, fluctuating hydrostatic forces, and impaired RPE pump function that collectively drive subretinal fluid accumulation. Hemodialysis acutely reduces sub-foveal choroidal thickness by a mean of ≈15–25 µm yet shows inconsistent effects on retinal thickness. Large population data demonstrate a three- to four-fold higher SRD risk and ~1.5-fold higher CSCR risk in dialysis patients versus controls, with peritoneal dialysis conferring the greatest hazard. After kidney transplantation, CSCR prevalence approaches 6%, driven by combined stresses of surgery, hypertension, and long-term corticosteroid or calcineurin-inhibitor therapy. Most reported SRDs resolve as systemic parameters normalize, underscoring the importance of promptly identifying systemic drivers. Conclusions: Systemic fluid-pressure imbalances and treatment-related factors in CKD significantly perturb the outer blood-retinal barrier. Regular ophthalmic surveillance, early visual-symptom screening (e.g., Amsler grid), and close nephrologist-ophthalmologist collaboration are essential for timely detection and management. Future research should quantify the relative contribution of hypoalbuminemia, hypertension, and immunosuppression to ocular permeability changes, and evaluate preventive strategies tailored to high-risk CKD subgroups. Full article

Color in urban public spaces is often approached as an aesthetic issue, yet it also governs psychological responses, legibility and safety, place identity, and environmental performance. Despite three decades of research, planners and designers still lack measurable, audit-ready guidance that links color decisions to verifiable outcomes. This paper presents a systematic review that consolidates evidence from environmental psychology, architecture and urban design, cultural studies, and building and urban physics. Studies were screened for outdoor or outward-facing settings and for explicitly reported color variables and performance indicators. The findings are organized into four domains in which color operates as a system variable: psychological and physiological effects; cultural expression and place identity; functional zoning and wayfinding; and sustainability and environmental adaptation. Across these domains, the review identifies robust patterns—such as the central role of luminance and saturation in shaping affect, attention, and visibility—while highlighting where outcomes are strongly conditioned by cultural, climatic, and material context. On this basis, the paper proposes an Objective–Strategy–Metric–Validation (OSMV) framework that connects design objectives to color strategies, quantitative metrics (e.g., color difference, contrast, and reflectance measures), and procedures for simulation or field validation. Framed in this way, color emerges not as a decorative accessory but as a measurable design variable that can be integrated into performance-based planning, regulation, and multi-objective optimization of urban public spaces. Full article

The utilization of treated dredged sludge as a partial replacement for natural sand and gravel in construction projects offers a promising approach to reducing the exploitation of natural resources. The conventional vacuum preloading (VP) method, while widely used for soft soil improvement, is often associated with prolonged consolidation periods and high energy consumption in its later stages. Conversely, the electroosmosis (EO) technique is effective in enhancing drainage in low-permeability soft clays but is constrained by issues including anode corrosion, high operational costs, and uneven soil reinforcement. This study presents an experimental investigation into an alternating vacuum preloading and electroosmosis method for sludge treatment based on the underlying reinforcement theory. A series of laboratory model tests was conducted using a self-made vacuum–electroosmosis alternating test device. The reinforcement efficiency was assessed through the continuous monitoring of key performance indicators during the tests, including water discharge, surface settlement, electric current, electrode corrosion, and energy consumption. Post-test evaluations of the final soil shear strength and moisture content were also performed. The test results demonstrate that the alternating vacuum–electroosmosis yielded more significant improvement than their synchronous application. Specifically, the alternating vacuum–electroosmosis increased total water discharge by 46.1%, reduced final moisture content by 20.8%, and enhanced shear strength by 35.6% relative to the synchronous mode. Furthermore, an alternating VP-EO mode was found to be particularly advantageous during the electroosmosis phases, facilitating a more stable and sustained dewatering process. In contrast, the application of vacuum preloading alone resulted in inefficient performance during the later stages, coupled with relatively high energy consumption. Full article

Environmental and economic concerns due to the increasing use of fossil-based chemicals, especially fuel, may be alleviated by production of renewable fuels based on plant biomass, in particular, waste. Multistep cascades of enzymatic reactions are being increasingly sought to enhance the effectiveness of sustainable, environment-friendly processes. The biochemical transformation of lignocellulosic biomass and oils into fatty acid esters (“biodiesel”) involves biomass pretreatment, followed by polysaccharide hydrolysis and sugar fermentation to alcohol, either sequentially or simultaneously. Subsequent trans-esterification with waste or non-food-based oils is usually carried out in an organic solvent. Biocatalysis in aqueous emulsion offers significant advantages. This study presents a novel “one-pot” emulsion-based process for transforming unmodified cellulose and castor oil into biodiesel via hybridized yeasts with cellulose-coated micro-particles incorporating cellulolytic enzymes and lipases. The resultant consolidated bioprocess of saccharification, fermentation, and transesterification (cSFT) promotes effective substrate channeling and can potentially serve as a model for emulsion-based “one-pot” transformations of cellulose into valuable chemicals. Full article

This dataset presents field observations collected in the municipality of Goiatuba, Goiás State, Brazil, a consolidated and representative agricultural frontier of the Brazilian Cerrado biome. The region presents diverse land use dynamics, including annual cropping systems, irrigated fields with up to three harvests per year, and pasturelands. We conducted a field campaign from 3 to 7 November 2025, corresponding to the beginning of the 2025/2026 Brazilian crop season, when crops were at distinct early phenological stages. To ensure representativeness, we delineated 117 reference fields prior to the field campaign, and an additional 463 plots were surveyed during work. Geographic coordinates, crop types, and photographic records were obtained using the GPX Viewer application, a handheld GPS receiver, and the QField 3.7.9 mobile GIS application running on a tablet uploaded with Sentinel-2 true-color imagery and the municipal road network. Plot boundaries were subsequently digitized in QGIS Desktop 3.34.1 software, following a conservative mapping strategy to minimize edge effects and internal heterogeneity associated with trees and water catchment basins. In total, more than 26,000 hectares of agricultural fields were mapped, along with additional land use and land cover polygons representing water bodies, urban areas, and natural vegetation fragments. All reference fields were labeled based on in situ observations and linked to Sentinel-2 mosaics downloaded via the Google Earth Engine platform. This dataset is well-suited for training, testing, and validation of remote sensing classifiers, benchmarking studies, and agricultural mapping initiatives focused on the beginning of the agricultural season in the Brazilian Cerrado. Full article

Land consolidation plays a crucial role in improving agricultural mechanization by optimizing land-use efficiency, reducing transportation distances, and enhancing the operational viability of mechanized farming. This study evaluates the effects of land consolidation on key mechanization indicators in Türkiye, focusing on Kırşehir Province over a 13-year period (2010–2022). By integrating official statistics, field data, and variance-based statistical methods, changes in tractor density, average parcel size, tractor power per hectare, and the number of implements per tractor were analyzed before and after consolidation. The results indicate that land consolidation significantly increased parcel size and contributed to the use of stronger, more modern machinery. Additionally, thematic maps were utilized to visually support the spatial aspects of consolidation, although no GIS-based quantitative analysis was performed. These findings highlight the importance of aligning land consolidation policies with mechanization strategies to foster more sustainable and efficient agricultural systems. Full article

This study examines the influence of adjacent tunnel excavation on pile-supported embankment in soft clay under both unconsolidated and long-term consolidated conditions. A comprehensive three-dimensional numerical model was developed to simulate the coupled hydro-mechanical interaction between the embankment, piles, and surrounding ground. The soft clay behaviour was described using a hypoplastic constitutive model enhanced with intergranular strain theory to capture stress-dependent stiffness, dilatancy, and degradation under loading. Three tunnel alignments relative to the pile foundation alongside the pile shaft (S), near the pile toe (T), and beneath the pile toe (B) were analyzed to evaluate deformation and load transfer mechanisms. Results indicate that tunnelling induces significant differential settlements, with maximum values of 0.49%, 0.20%, and 0.45% for Cases S, T, and B, respectively. Consolidation substantially reduced both surface and pile settlements while improving subgrade stiffness and load-carrying performance. The maximum bending moment in the leading pile reached 142 kNm at Z/Lp = 0.56 under unconsolidated conditions and decreased following consolidation. The findings highlight the critical role of tunnel depth and consolidation state in controlling deformation, stress redistribution, and structural safety of pile-supported embankment during tunnelling activities. Full article

This study develops and empirically validates a theoretical model designed to assess the performance of tourism innovation ecosystems by integrating the dimensions of innovation, technology, and sustainability—dimensions that have typically been examined in isolation within the literature. The empirical investigation was conducted at two major tourism destinations: a pilot phase in Las Vegas, followed by the main study in Orlando, USA. Data collection was facilitated via the Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) platform, and analysis was conducted using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), enabling the examination of eight hypotheses across seven constructs. The findings provided evidence of both convergent and discriminant validity and supported five of the eight proposed hypotheses. Specifically, the study confirmed significant relationships among technology acceptance and adoption, adoption and innovation generation, innovation and both sustainability and overall ecosystem performance, and adoption and sustainability. Conversely, collaboration and actor-integration barriers did not exhibit significant effects in Orlando, which is consistent with its mature institutional environment. Innovation emerged as a mediating variable linking technology and sustainability, exerting a substantial influence on overall ecosystem performance. This research advances the theoretical consolidation of the tourism innovation ecosystem concept and offers actionable insights for destination managers aiming to foster innovation, facilitate the adoption of connective technologies, and implement sustainable strategies. The proposed model demonstrates empirical robustness and practical relevance, providing a comprehensive framework for analyzing and enhancing smart, resilient tourism destinations. Full article

Accurate and timely detection of road surface cracks plays a crucial role in ensuring sustainable infrastructure maintenance and improving road safety, particularly under complex and dynamic environmental conditions. However, existing deep learning-based detection methods often suffer from high computational overhead, limited scalability across diverse crack patterns, and insufficient robustness against complex background interference, hindering real-world deployment in resource-constrained UAV platforms. To address these challenges, this study proposes CrackLite-Net, an improved and lightweight variant of the YOLO12n architecture tailored for adaptive UAV-based road crack detection. First, a novel GhostPercepC2f backbone module is introduced, combining ghost feature generation with axis-aware attention to enhance spatial perception of crack structures while significantly reducing redundant computations and model parameters. Second, a Spatial Attention-Enhanced Feature Pyramid Network (SAFPN) is developed to perform adaptive multi-scale feature integration. By incorporating spatial attention and energy-guided filtering, SAFPN strengthens the representation of cracks with varying widths, orientations, and shapes. Third, the Selective Channel-Enhanced Cross-Stage Fusion module (SC2f) consolidates channel-wise feature dependencies using an adaptive lightweight convolution mechanism, effectively suppressing noise and improving feature discrimination in visually cluttered road scenes. Experimental evaluations on the newly constructed LCrack dataset demonstrate that CrackLite-Net achieves a mAP of 92.3% with only 2.2 M parameters, outperforming YOLO12 by 3.9% while delivering superior efficiency. Cross-dataset validation on RDD2022 further confirms the model’s strong generalization capability across different environments and imaging conditions. Overall, the results highlight CrackLite-Net as an effective, energy-efficient, and deployable solution for sustainable road infrastructure inspection using UAV platforms. Full article