Search Results (16,748)

The competitive retention of pollutants in water tables determines their environmental fate and guides routes for their removal. To distinguish the fine differences in competitive binding at zeolite adsorption centers, a group of neonicotinoid pesticides is compared, relying on theoretical (energy of adsorption, orientation, charge distribution) and experimental (spectroscopic and thermogravimetric) analyses for quick, inexpensive, and reliable screening. The MOPAC/QuantumEspresso platform was used for theoretical calculation, indicating close adsorption energy values for acetamiprid and imidacloprid (−2.2 eV), with thiamethoxam having a lower binding energy of −1.7 eV. FTIR analysis confirmed hydrogen bonding, among different dipole-dipole interactions, as the dominant adsorption mechanism. Due to their comparable binding energies, when the mixture of all three pesticides is examined, comparative adsorption capacities are evident at low concentrations, owing to the excellent adsorption performance of the FAU zeotype. At higher concentrations, competition for adsorption centers occurs, with the expected thiamethoxam binding being diminished due to the lower bonding energy. The catalytic impact of zeolite on the thermal degradation of pesticides is evidenced through TG analysis, confirming the adsorption capacities found by UV/VIS and HPLC/UV measurements. Detailed analysis of spectroscopic results in conjunction with theoretical calculation, thermal profiles, and UV detection offers a comprehensive understanding of neonicotinoids’ adsorption and can help with the design of future adsorbents. Full article

Funka Bay, located in southwest Hokkaido, is a vital fishing area with a shallow depth of less than 100 m. Seasonal flows of the Oyashio and Tsugaru Warm Current affect the marine environment, leading to significant changes in zooplankton communities, yet limited information is available on these variations. This study used ZooScan imaging to analyze seasonal and interannual changes in zooplankton abundance, biovolume, community structure, and size composition from 2019 to 2023. Water temperature was low in March–April and high in September–November, with chlorophyll a peaks occurring from February to April. Notable taxa such as Thaliacea, Noctiluca, and cladocerans were more common in the latter half of the year. Interannual variations included a decline in large cold-water copepods, Eucalanus bungii and Neocalanus spp., which were abundant in 2019 but decreased by 2023. Zooplankton abundance and biovolume showed synchronized seasonal changes, correlating with shifts in the Normalized Biovolume Size Spectra (NBSS) index, which measures size composition. Cluster analysis identified eight zooplankton communities, with Community A dominant from July to December across all years, while Community D was prevalent in early 2019 but was replaced in subsequent years. Community E emerged from March to April in 2021–2023. In 2019, large cold-water copepods were dominant, but from 2020 to 2023, appendicularians became the dominant group during the March–April period. The decline in large copepods is likely linked to marine heat waves, influencing yearly zooplankton community changes. Full article

The gyroid minimal surface is one type of triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS). TPMS is a minimal surface replicated in the three main directions of the Cartesian coordinate system. The minimal surface is a surface stretched between two objects, known as the smallest possible area (e.g., a soap bubble with a saddle shape stretched between two parallel circles). The complicated shape of the TPMS makes its production possible only by additive methods (3D printing). This article presents the results of experimental studies on heat transfer and flow resistance in a heat exchanger made of stainless steel. The heat exchange surface, a TPMS gyroid, separates two working media: hot and cold water. The water flow rate was varied in the range from 8 kg/h to 25 kg/h (Re = 246–1171). The water temperature at the inlet to the exchanger was maintained at a constant level of 8.8 ± 0.3 °C and 49.5 ± 0.5 °C for cold and hot water, respectively. The effect of water flow rate on the change in its temperature, the heat output of the exchanger, the average heat transfer coefficient, pressure drop, and overall resistance factor was presented. Full article

This study evaluates the potential use of reclaimed sand from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), categorized as waste under code 19 08 02, as a full substitute for natural sand in cement mortars. The sand was subjected to alkaline pretreatment using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at concentrations of 0.5%, 1% and 2% to reduce organic impurities and improve surface cleanliness. All mortar mixes were prepared using CEM I 42.5 R as the binder, maintaining a constant water-to-cement ratio of 0.5. Mechanical testing revealed that mortars produced with 100% WWTP-derived sand, pretreated with 0.5% NaOH, achieved a mean compressive strength of 51.9 MPa and flexural strength of 5.63 MPa after 28 days, nearly equivalent to reference mortars with standardized construction sand (52.7 MPa and 6.64 MPa, respectively). In contrast, untreated WWTP sand resulted in a significant performance reduction, with compressive strength averaging 30.0 MPa and flexural strength ranging from 2.55 to 2.93 MPa. The results demonstrate that low-alkaline pretreatment—particularly with 0.5% NaOH—allows for the effective reuse of WWTP waste sand (code 19 08 02) in cement mortars based on CEM I 42.5 R, achieving performance comparable to conventional materials. Although higher concentrations, such as 2% NaOH, are commonly recommended or required by standards for the removal of organic matter from fine aggregates, the results suggest that lower concentrations (e.g., 0.5%) may offer a better balance between cleaning effectiveness and mechanical performance. Nevertheless, 2% NaOH remains the obligatory reference level in some standard testing protocols for fine aggregate purification. Full article

This study evaluated the effectiveness of eDNA metabarcoding in assessing fish communities in two urban lakes (First Lake and Second Lake) in Zagreb, Croatia, following IAS removal. Water samples were collected in April and June 2024 and analyzed using MiFish primers targeting the 12S rRNA gene. The results indicated that the cleanup efforts were largely successful, as several IAS previously recorded in these lakes were not detected (Ameiurus melas, Lepomis gibbosus, and Hypophthalmichthys spp.). However, some others persisted in low relative abundances, such as grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva), and prussian/crucian carp (Carassius sp.). Species composition differed between lakes, with common carp (Cyprinus carpio) dominating Maksimir First Lake, while chub (Squalius cephalus) was prevalent in Maksimir Second Lake. Unexpected eDNA signals from salmonid and exotic species suggest potential input from upstream sources, human activity, or the nearby Zoo Garden. These findings underscore the utility of eDNA metabarcoding in biodiversity monitoring and highlight the need for continuous surveillance and adaptive management strategies to ensure long-term IAS control. Full article

Environmental monitoring plays a key role in understanding and mitigating the effects of climate change, pollution, and resource mismanagement. The growth of printed sensor technologies offers an innovative approach to addressing these challenges due to their low cost, flexibility, and scalability. Printed sensors enable the real-time monitoring of air, water, soil, and climate, providing significant data for data-driven decision-making technologies and policy development to improve the quality of the environment. The development of new materials, such as graphene, conductive polymers, and biodegradable substrates, has significantly enhanced the environmental applications of printed sensors by improving sensitivity, enabling flexible designs, and supporting eco-friendly and disposable solutions. The development of inkjet, screen, and roll-to-roll printing technologies has also contributed to the achievement of mass production without sacrificing quality or performance. This review presents the current progress in printed sensors for environmental applications, with a focus on technological advances, challenges, applications, and future directions. Moreover, the paper also discusses the challenges that still exist due to several issues, e.g., sensitivity, stability, power supply, and environmental sustainability. Printed sensors have the potential to revolutionize ecological monitoring, as evidenced by recent innovations such as Internet of Things (IoT) integration, self-powered designs, and AI-enhanced data analytics. By addressing these issues, printed sensors can develop a better understanding of environmental systems and help promote the UN sustainable development goals. Full article

As typical environmental hormones, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have become a global environmental health issue of high concern due to their property of interfering with the endocrine systems of organisms. As a commonly used substitute for bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol E (BPE) has been frequently detected in environmental matrices such as soil and water in recent years. Existing research has unveiled the developmental and reproductive toxicity of BPE; however, only one in vitro cellular experiment has preliminarily indicated potential neurotoxic risks, with its underlying mechanisms remaining largely unelucidated in the current literature. Potential toxic mechanisms and action targets of BPE were predicted using the zebrafish model via network toxicology and molecular docking, with RT-qPCRs being simultaneously applied to uncover neurotoxic effects and associated mechanisms of BPE. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the frequency of embryonic spontaneous movements was observed in zebrafish at exposure concentrations ≥ 0.01 mg/L. At 72 hpf and 144 hpf, the larval body length began to shorten significantly from 0.1 mg/L to 1 mg/L, respectively (p < 0.01), accompanied by a reduced neuronal fluorescence intensity and a shortened neural axon length (p < 0.01). By 144 hpf, the motor behavior in zebrafish larvae was inhibited. Through network toxicology and molecular docking, HSP90AB1 was identified as the core target, with the cGMP/PKG signaling pathway determined to be the primary route through which BPE induces neurotoxicity in zebrafish larvae. BPE induces neuronal apoptosis and disrupts neurodevelopment by inhibiting the cGMP/PKG signaling pathway, ultimately suppressing the larval motor behavior. To further validate the experimental outcomes, we measured the expression levels of genes associated with neurodevelopment (elavl3, mbp, gap43, syn2a), serotonergic synaptic signaling (5-ht1ar, 5-ht2ar), the cGMP/PKG pathway (nos3), and apoptosis (caspase-3, caspase-9). These results offer crucial theoretical underpinnings for evaluating the ecological risks of BPE and developing environmental management plans, as well as crucial evidence for a thorough comprehension of the toxic effects and mechanisms of BPE on neurodevelopment in zebrafish larvae. Full article

The present research features an experimental comparative design and the objective of this work was to determine the susceptibility to microbiological contamination in fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and the FAME–water interface of residual and refined lard, large volume simulating storage conditions as fuel supply chain, and to identify the microorganisms developed. The plates were seeded according to ASTM E-1259 and the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the Bushnell Haas agar. Microbiological growth was observed at the FAME–water interface of FAME obtained from residual lard. Using the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry technique, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptomyces violaceoruber bacteria were identified in the residual lard FAMEs, with the latter being previously reported in FAMEs. The implications of microorganism development on the physicochemical quality of FAMEs are significant, as it leads to an increase in the acid index, which may negatively impact metals by inducing corrosion. The refined lard FAMEs did not show any development of microorganisms. The present research concluded that residual lard tends to be more prone to microbiological attack if the conditions of water and temperature affect microbial growth. The findings will contribute to the knowledge base for a safer introduction of FAMEs into the biofuel matrix. Full article

Prolonged drought and soil degradation severely affect soil fertility and limit crop productivity. Superabsorbent hydrogels offer an effective solution for improving water retention in soil and supporting plant growth. In this work, we examined the performance of superabsorbent hydrogels based on sodium alginate, acrylic acid (AA), and poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) cross-linked with 12.5 kGy using e-beam irradiation. The hydrogels were assessed in various aqueous environments by examining network characteristics, swelling capacity, and swelling kinetics to evaluate the impact of water’s electrical conductivity (which ranges from 0.05 to 321 μS/cm). Morphological and chemical structure changes were evaluated using SEM and FTIR techniques. The results demonstrated that water conductivity significantly affected the physicochemical properties of the hydrogels. Swelling behavior showed notable sensitivity to electrical conductivity variations, with swelling degrees reaching 28,400% at 5 μS/cm and 14,000% at 321 μS/cm, following first-order and second-order kinetics. FTIR analysis confirmed that structural modifications correlated with water conductivity, particularly affecting the O–H, C–H, and COOH groups sensitive to the ionic environment. SEM characterization revealed a porous morphology with an interconnected microporous network that facilitates efficient water diffusion. These hydrogels show exceptional swelling capacity and are promising candidates for sustainable agriculture applications. Full article

Concrete mix design plays a pivotal role in ensuring the mechanical performance, durability, and sustainability of construction projects. However, the nonlinear interactions among the mix components challenge traditional approaches in predicting compressive strength and optimizing proportions. This study presents a two-stage hybrid framework that integrates deep learning with reinforcement learning to overcome these limitations. First, a Convolutional Neural Network–Long Short-Term Memory (CNN–LSTM) model was developed to capture spatial–temporal patterns from a dataset of 1030 historical concrete samples. The extracted features were enhanced using an eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) meta-model to improve generalizability and noise resistance. Then, a Dueling Double Deep Q-Network (Dueling DDQN) agent was used to iteratively identify optimal mix ratios that maximize the predicted compressive strength. The proposed framework outperformed ten benchmark models, achieving an MAE of 2.97, RMSE of 4.08, and R² of 0.94. Feature attribution methods—including SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), Elasticity-Based Feature Importance (EFI), and Permutation Feature Importance (PFI)—highlighted the dominant influence of cement content and curing age, as well as revealing non-intuitive effects such as the compensatory role of superplasticizers in low-water mixtures. These findings demonstrate the potential of the proposed approach to support intelligent concrete mix design and real-time optimization in smart construction environments. Full article

(1) Background: Physical inactivity is a major public health concern in modern society. Group fitness programs are widely used to promote physical activity, combining choreographed movements with various dance steps and music. This study aimed to examine the effects of Zumba and MoFit group fitness programs on body composition parameters in women. (2) Methods: The study included 98 female participants (Mean age = 27.8 ± 2.9 years), divided into three groups: E1 (n = 33), which followed the experimental Zumba program; E2 (n = 31), which followed the experimental MoFit program; and a control group (n = 34), which continued with their usual daily activities for 10 weeks. Body composition was assessed using 14 variables measured with the InBody 270 analyser. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests, MANCOVA, and ANCOVA. (3) Results: The findings confirmed the positive effects of both group fitness programs on most body composition parameters in women (p < 0.001). However, Bonferroni post hoc test results indicated that the Zumba program led to significantly greater improvements in most body composition variables compared to the MoFit program. (4) Conclusions: Both Zumba and MoFit programs were effective in reducing body fat, increasing muscle mass, total body water, and mineral content, whereas the control group did not achieve positive changes. Full article

Antioxidative neuroprotection is effective at preventing ischemic stroke (IS). Ferulic acid (FA) offers benefits in the treatment of many diseases, mostly due to its antioxidant activities. In this study, a glycosylated ferulic acid conjugate (FA-Glu), with 1,2,3-triazole as a linker and bioisostere between glucose at the C6 position and FA at the C4 position, was designed and synthesized. The hydrophilicity and chemical stability of FA-Glu were tested. FA-Glu’s protection against DNA oxidative cleavage was tested using pBR322 plasmid DNA under the Fenton reaction. The cytotoxicity of FA-Glu was examined via the PC12 cell and bEnd.3 cell tests. Antioxidative neuroprotection was evaluated, in vitro, via a H₂O₂-induced PC12 cell test, measuring cell viability and ROS levels. Antioxidative alleviation of cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury (CIRI), in vivo, was evaluated using a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. The results indicated that FA-Glu was water-soluble (LogP −1.16 ± 0.01) and chemically stable. FA-Glu prevented pBR322 plasmid DNA cleavage induced via •OH radicals (SC% 88.00%). It was a non-toxic agent based on PC12 cell and bEnd.3 cell tests results. FA-Glu significantly protected against H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage in the PC12 cell (cell viability 88.12%, 100 μM) and inhibited excessive cell ROS generation (45.67% at 100 μM). FA-Glu significantly reduced the infarcted brain areas measured using TTC stain observation, quantification (FA-Glu 21.79%, FA 28.49%, I/R model 43.42%), and H&E stain histological observation. It sharply reduced the MDA level (3.26 nmol/mg protein) and significantly increased the GSH level (139.6 nmol/mg protein) and SOD level (265.19 U/mg protein). With superior performance to FA, FA-Glu is a safe agent with effective antioxidative DNA and neuronal protective actions and an ability to alleviate CIRI, which should help in the prevention of IS. Full article

Discovering, analyzing, and finding a key to understanding the physiological and biochemical responses that Vitis vinifera L. undertakes against drought stress is of fundamental importance for this profitable crop. Today’s considerable climatic fluctuations force researchers and farmers to focus on this issue with solutions inclined to respect the ecosystem. In this academic work, we focused on describing the drought stress consequences on several parameters of secondary metabolites on Vitis vinifera leaves (quercetins, kaempferol, resveratrol, proline, and xanthophylls) and on some ecophysiological characteristics (e.g., water potential, stomatal conductance, and leaf temperature) to compare the answers that diverse agronomic management techniques (i.e., irrigation with and without zeolite, pure zeolite and no application) could instaurate in the metabolic pathway of this important crop with the aim to find convincing and thought-provoking responses to use this captivating and versatile mineral, the zeolite known as the “magic rock”. Stressed grapevines reached 56.80 mmol/m²s gs at veraison and a more negative stem Ψ (+10.63%) compared to plants with zeolite. Resveratrol, in the hottest season, fluctuated from 0.18–0.19 mg/g in zeolite treatments to 0.37 mg/g in stressed vines. Quercetins were inclined to accumulate in response to drought stress too. In fact, we recorded a peak of quercetin (3-O-glucoside + 3-O-glucuronide) of 11.20 mg/g at veraison in stressed plants. It is interesting to note how the pool of metabolites was often unchanged for plants treated with zeolite and for plants treated with water only, thus elevating this mineral to a “stress reliever”. Full article

Biopolymer films doped with active substances may become a promising alternative to traditional dressings for skin wounds, as they can deliver drugs while maintaining wound moisture, thus contributing to the healing process. This article describes the preparation of amygdalin-doped biopolymer films for in vitro testing against the bacterial strains typical of chronic wounds: E. coli and S. aureus. Thus, FTIR characterization suggests minimal chemical interaction between amygdalin and the biopolymer matrix components, indicating potential compatibility, while thermogravimetric analysis highlights the thermal behavior of the films as well as the influence of the polymer matrix composition on the amount of bound water and the shift of T_peak value for the decomposition process of the base polymer. Moreover, the identity of the secondary biopolymer (gelatin or CMC) significantly influences film morphology and antibacterial performance. Full article

Climate extremes threaten the resilience of Eucalyptus plantations, yet hybridization with drought-tolerant species may enhance stress tolerance. This study analyzed xylem anatomical and functional drought responses in commercial Eucalyptus grandis (GG) clones and hybrids: E. grandis × camaldulensis (GC), E. grandis × tereticornis (GT), and E. grandis × urophylla (GU1, GU2). We evaluated vessel traits (water transport), fibers (mechanical support), and wood density (D) in stems and branches. Theoretical stem hydraulic conductivity (k_Stheo), vessel lumen fraction (F), vessel composition (S), and associations with previous hydraulic and growth data were assessed. While general drought responses occurred, GC had the most distinct xylem profile. This may explain it having the highest performance in different irrigation conditions. Red gum hybrids (GC, GT) maintained k_Stheo under drought, with stable F and a narrower vessel size, especially in branches. Conversely, GG and GU2 reduced F and S; and stem k_Stheo declined for a similar F in these clones, indicating vascular reconfiguration aligning the stem with the branch xylem. Almost all clones increased D under drought in any organ, with the highest increase in red gum hybrids. These results reveal diverse anatomical adjustments to drought among clones, partially explaining their growth responses. Full article