Search Results (2,128)

Tropical lignocellulosic residues are increasingly relevant feedstocks for lignin-containing nanocellulose composites, but their performance cannot be predicted from botanical origin or bulk lignin percentage alone. This review defines the interface as the geometrical boundary between phases and the interphase as the finite, compositionally graded region in which lignin distribution, nanocellulose morphology, adsorbed water, and the surrounding matrix jointly govern stress transfer and mass transport. Using an evidence-weighted framework, the literature is organized into the following categories: residual-lignin nanofibrils, redeposited-lignin systems, lignin nanoparticle assemblies, compatibilized thermoplastic hybrids, and all-lignocellulosic sheets. Representative quantitative observations show that controlled residual lignin can the increase water contact angle from approximately 35 degrees to 78 degrees and reduce oxygen permeability by up to 200-fold in nanopapers, while selected PLA/LCNF systems show tensile-strength and modulus increases of 37% and 61%, respectively; however, high or poorly distributed lignin can suppress fibrillation, lower viscosity, weaken gel networks, and reduce reproducibility. The most defensible near-term product windows are packaging layers, grease/oil barrier papers, coatings, paper-like multilayers, and selected porous media. Thermoplastic matrices remain process-sensitive, and biomedical, additive-manufacturing, nano-reactor, and energy-material claims require stronger validation of the extractables, rheology, humidity history, TEA/LCA metrics, and end-of-life behavior. This review, therefore, provides a critical, application-backward roadmap for tropical biorefineries in which interfacial function, wet handling, drying energy, and process integration are assessed together rather than treated as independent variables. The abbreviations used in the abstract are defined as follows: CNFs, cellulose nanofibrils; CNC, cellulose nanocrystals; LCNF, lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils; LCNCs, lignin-containing cellulose nanocrystals; PLA, poly(lactic acid); PHB, polyhydroxybutyrate; PHAs, polyhydroxyalkanoates; PVA, poly(vinyl alcohol); DESs, deep eutectic solvents; TEA, techno-economic analysis; LCA, life-cycle assessment; ML, machine learning. Full article

Background/objectives: Alpha-synuclein (aSyn) is best known for its role in Parkinson’s disease. Increasing evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship between diabetes mellitus and synuclein pathology. Carboxymethyllysine (CML), an advanced glycation end-product, serves as a marker of cumulative glycation stress and tissue damage in diabetes. Our study aimed to evaluate epidermal phosphorylated alpha-synuclein at Ser129 (p-aSyn) immunoreactivity in relation to CML accumulation in epidermis. Methods: Skin punch biopsies were obtained from seven diabetic patients with long-standing type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and from seven healthy volunteers. Tissue samples were processed and analyzed by immunohistochemical DAB-staining for p-aSyn and CML. Quantitative analysis was performed by measuring the percentage area of positive staining using Fiji/ImageJ2. Integrated density was also assessed as a complementary threshold-limited measure of staining signal intensity. Statistical analysis and data visualization were conducted using GraphPad Prism. Comparisons between groups were performed using the exact two-tailed Mann–Whitney U test. Results: Area-fraction analysis showed significantly greater CML-positive staining in diabetic epidermis than in controls (median 10.18 vs. 8.955, p = 0.0262), whereas p-aSyn-positive area fraction did not differ significantly between groups (13.53 vs. 14.64, p = 0.8048). In the complementary integrated density analysis, p-aSyn signal was significantly higher in diabetic epidermis than in controls (21,365 vs. 10,960, p = 0.0023), whereas the increase in CML integrated density did not reach statistical significance (14,165 vs. 6585, p = 0.1282). In diabetic epidermis, both markers showed a more widespread distribution, involving basal keratinocyte cytoplasm and extension into suprabasal layers. Control samples showed staining largely restricted to basal cell contours. In serial sections, p-aSyn and CML showed a similar topographic distribution in diabetic skin. Conclusions: These preliminary observations suggest that chronic diabetic skin changes are associated with increased epidermal CML burden when assessed by area fraction and with higher p-aSyn signal intensity when assessed by integrated density. However, because the study was small and based on semiquantitative DAB immunohistochemistry, the findings should be interpreted cautiously and require validation in larger multimodal studies. Full article

The deposition of volcanic ash in areas affected by erupting volcanoes can contaminate the soil with heavy metals, thereby jeopardizing food security and public health. This study focused on the use of compost for the bioremediation of this type of contaminated soil and on evaluating the effectiveness of this remediation technique in a horticultural crop. To this end, composts made from organic waste generated in the areas with volcanic-ash-affected soil, such as crop residues, cow manure, and cheese whey, were used. The design and optimization of the composting process for these wastes were described using three piles with the same proportion of crop residues and cow manure but different doses of whey (pile 1: without whey, pile 2: whey diluted with water (1:2 (v:v)); and pile 3: with undiluted whey) and by monitoring the evolution of physicochemical and biological parameters throughout the compositing process. The effectiveness of the composts obtained for soil remediation was evaluated by assessing the physiological response of a lettuce crop in pots. Five treatments were used: control soil without fertilization, inorganic fertilization, and the three composts obtained. The main agronomic properties of the soil and heavy metal availability were measured, along with the physiological and chemical parameters of the lettuce, including growth and macronutrient and heavy metal content. The results obtained in the composting experiment showed that the addition of cheese whey only affected the rate of organic matter degradation and the salt content of the final composts, without negatively affecting the stability and humification of their organic matter or their plant nutrient content. In the pot experiment, all composts improved soil fertility and reduced the availability of Ni, As, Cd, and Pb, but this did not consistently reduce uptake into lettuce, except in the case of Pb. Therefore, it is advisable to adjust the compost application rate and optimize crop selection to minimize the impact of heavy metals on the food chain, thereby ensuring safe production. Full article

Annually, there are more than two million deaths from liver disease. This is driven by organ inflammation and scarring, leading to a decline in function and regeneration. Frequently, this can develop into decompensated liver disease, resulting in the loss of physiological balance and toxin build-up within the body, with an increased risk of patient mortality. Currently, there are no approved medicines for the long-term treatment of liver cirrhosis. The only successful treatment option for end-stage liver disease patients is donor organ transplantation. However, patient requirement outstrips the number of donated organs. To address this bottleneck, researchers around the world have developed cell-based prototype systems to restore failing liver function, with some in clinical trials. Although significant progress has been made, no mainstream commercial liver assist products are available for routine clinical use. In this study we developed a stem cell-derived vascularized liver tissue implant prototype from pluripotent cells. The liver tissue was produced from a stem cell line that is banked at clinical grade, and displayed stable and mature liver function over a 6-week period in vitro. This included decreasing levels of the fetal marker, alpha-fetoprotein, when the serum albumin increased. This was further supported by stable alpha-1-antitrypsin secretion and cytochrome P450 function. Following the establishment of stable liver tissue, it was delivered as a cell product or attached to an electrospun polycaprolactone scaffold, to form a tissue implant. Next, cellular material was quality-controlled, and subsequently shipped to a contract research organization for external in vivo validation. The transplanted liver tissue functioned when implanted into the kidney capsule and subcutaneously, remaining functional for up to two weeks in vivo. Full article

The housing crisis in rapidly transforming earthquake zones represents the exhaustion of conventional construction paradigms. Unlike single-focused analyses, this study compares conventional reinforced concrete and modular steel systems from a holistic lifecycle perspective, using Turkey as a strategic laboratory for urban transformation. Employing qualitative content analysis, it maps in-depth interviews with 14 sector experts onto a ‘Dialectical Life Cycle Matrix’ via frequency-based consensus indicators. Expert assessments indicate that conventional methods face a structural bottleneck driven by architectural uniformity, labour-related weaknesses, rising costs, and prolonged durations, triggering seismic vulnerability, compromised living quality, and non-circular end-of-life outcomes. Modular systems counter this through factory-controlled rapid production, QA/QC mechanisms, and economies of scale, integrating guaranteed safety and the robust option of steel with R&D-driven human comfort. However, transitioning requires relinquishing deep-rooted advantages—financial flexibility, established order, regulatory comfort, cultural perception, and morphological harmony—introducing local trade-offs: high initial investment, geometric plot and logistical constraints, cultural barriers, and design concerns. Consequently, universal technologies cannot be directly transferred. To overcome Turkey’s local barriers, this study proposes a three-stage transition model: (I) civil and public-led legislative and workforce reforms; (II) financial innovation and gradual hybrid adaptation; and (III) industrial maturation transforming housing into a continuously updated living product. Full article

Achieving China’s green transition and its carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals requires joint efforts in low-carbon transformation across supply chain enterprises. This study constructs a supply chain low-carbon awareness (LCA) index using text analysis and examines, from a micro-perspective, the relationship between supply chain low-carbon awareness, corporate carbon emissions, and low-carbon behaviors. The results show that: (1) LCA significantly improves carbon reduction performance, especially in firms with higher supply chain concentrations, non-state ownership, and lower energy intensity. (2) LCA drives the adoption of three distinct mitigation strategies: source control, end-of-pipe treatment, and efficiency improvements. Specifically, downstream LCA is more effective in promoting environmentally beneficial products, circular economy practices, and waste reduction, while upstream LCA is more effective at advancing energy conservation and green office initiatives. (3) By encouraging proactive emission reduction strategies, LCA effectively lowers carbon intensity and enhances firm value. The findings provide micro-level evidence for understanding supply chain low-carbon synergy in China. The study contributes to the theory of supply chain low-carbon synergy and offers insights for promoting corporate low-carbon transition practices. Full article

The cohesion zone of a blast furnace is instrumental in determining the gas-dynamic regime and the efficiency of reducing gas utilization. The extent of this phenomenon is contingent upon the initial and final temperatures at which iron ore undergoes softening, which, in turn, are determined by the chemical and phase composition, as well as the degree of reduction of the charge. The present study investigated sinter with a basicity (CaO/SiO₂) ranging from 1.2 to 3.0 using a combination of methods. The experimental program involved the use of X-ray diffraction (XRD) with refinement using the Rietveld method, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and load-dependent softening tests. It was established that as the basicity increased, the content of the calcium–aluminum silicoferrite (SFCA) binder phase increased from 6.2 to 17.5 wt.%, whilst the amount of hematite decreased from 12.6 to 2.3 wt.%. The softening onset temperature increases from 1185 to 1260 °C, the softening end temperature from 1345 to 1415 °C, and the softening interval narrows from 160 to 155 °C. The evolution of the phase composition of sinter during controlled reduction (0–95%) has been investigated for the first time. It has been demonstrated that the maximum accumulation of wustite (FeO) is attained at a reduction degree of 40–60%, irrespective of the basicity of the substance. It is precisely in this range that the minimum softening start (1040–1065 °C) and end (1170–1210 °C) temperatures are observed, which is associated with the formation of low-melting eutectics. The sinter belongs to the CaO–SiO₂–FeO–Al₂O₃–MgO system, and the softening behavior is governed by the FeO–CaO–SiO₂ system where low-melting eutectics form. When the reduction rate exceeds 60%, the metallic phase becomes dominant, leading to an increase in softening temperatures and a narrowing of the cohesion zone. It is evident from the data obtained that the optimal basicity range of the sinter is 2.0–2.5. Furthermore, it is recommended that a reduction degree of at least 60% is implemented in order to improve gas dynamics and increase blast furnace productivity. The findings can be utilized to enhance the efficiency of charge materials and refine mathematical models of the blast furnace process. Full article

Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and oxidative stress (OS) have been linked to bone complications related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the effects of AGEs and OS on bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMMSCs), which play a key role in bone homeostasis and repair, remain unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of AGEs on BMMSCs function and the ability of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to alleviate AGE-induced OS in a T2DM context. Methods: Bone marrow (BM) and BMMSCs were isolated from Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, which serve as a T2DM model, and their lean littermates (ZL, controls) at 24 weeks of age. Results: The results show that long-standing T2DM leads to changes in the BM’s cellular composition and BMMSCs function that are distinct from age-related changes. In vitro, AGEs decreased BMMSCs viability, proliferation, and migration. The effects of AGEs were stronger in BMMSCs derived from a T2DM microenvironment. In both T2DM- and ZL-BMMSCs, AGEs induced cytoplasmic ROS, which was differentially reduced by NAC. The effect of NAC on T2DM-BMMSCs was greater when the cells were pre-treated with NAC 24 h before exposure to AGEs, whereas simultaneous exposure to both resulted in a smaller effect. Conclusions: These results show that AGEs impair BMMSCs expansion and functionality. AGE-induced ROS generation may be a critical factor in this impairment, while NAC was able to reduce OS in BMMSCs from a T2DM context. These findings highlight the vicious negative effects of the T2DM microenvironment on BMMSCs and underscore the need for further studies to better understand the underlying mechanisms and to explore strategies aimed at mitigating OS in the T2DM context. Full article

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) affects up to 50% of diabetes patients and is driven by hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, polyol pathway activation, advanced glycation end-product formation, and inflammation. Current management is largely symptomatic, prompting interest in metabolic/nutritional therapies. This review critically evaluates the mechanistic rationale and clinical evidence for alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and benfotiamine as adjunctive treatments for DPN. Methods: A structured narrative review of PubMed/MEDLINE was conducted using predefined keywords for DPN, oxidative stress, metabolic therapy, and thiamine derivatives. Randomized controlled trials, clinical studies, systematic reviews, and relevant experimental studies were included. Evidence was synthesized qualitatively with emphasis on mechanistic plausibility, clinical efficacy, intervention duration, and methodological rigor. Results: ALA consistently improves short-term symptoms across multiple randomized trials. The long-term NATHAN 1 trial reported a marginal, borderline significant effect on the primary composite endpoint (NIS-LL, p = 0.05) without significant improvements in nerve conduction studies; therefore, evidence for functional stabilization is very limited and inconclusive. ALA’s effects are attributed to antioxidant activity, mitochondrial protection, and improved microvascular function. Benfotiamine has a strong biochemical rationale (transketolase activation, diversion of glycolytic intermediates from damaging pathways), but clinical evidence remains limited to short-duration, symptom-based studies, with no large-scale, long-term trials published. Conclusions: Both agents target key pathways in DPN pathogenesis. ALA is the most established adjunctive metabolic therapy for symptomatic DPN, although no study has demonstrated structural nerve regeneration or a definitive disease-modifying effect. Benfotiamine is biologically plausible but requires further validation in long-term randomized trials with structural and biomarker-based endpoints. Outside of documented thiamine deficiency, its routine use cannot be recommended based on current evidence. Full article

Coal-fired power units remain integral to electricity supply in many regions while facing increasingly stringent environmental expectations. Bridging reliable generation with sustainability requires more than end-of-pipe controls; it demands continuous intelligence embedded in plant operations. This study introduces an industry-oriented monitoring framework that transforms historical operational records into actionable foresight, enabling on-the-fly orchestration of combustion conditions to anticipate sulfur oxide (SOx) concentrations. Leveraging 919 empirical data points collected in 2019 from Unit 8 of the Taichung Thermal Power Plant, the framework integrates robust data governance, targeted feature curation, and a neural network-based analytics core. Eight process variables—sulfur content, coal feed rate, fixed carbon, grinding rate, calorific value, excess air, air flow, and boiler efficiency—emerge as the most influential drivers through systematic selection and feature importance attribution. The resulting forecasting module exhibits near-perfect alignment with observed emissions (R² = 0.99), enabling near-real-time guidance for setpoint adjustments and facilitating compliance strategies under varying load and fuel-quality conditions. Beyond accuracy, the system is architected for scalability and portability, aligning with Industry 4.0 paradigms by coupling continuous sensing, data-driven decision support, and stakeholder transparency. By reframing emission oversight as a proactive, intelligent service rather than a static reporting function, the proposed approach advances operational resilience, regulatory compliance, and community trust, with direct implications for resource efficiency and circular economy initiatives across heavy industry. The framework reduces potential SOx emissions and improves energy utilization efficiency under varying operational conditions. This approach contributes to environmental sustainability by enabling proactive emission reduction and cleaner production practices. It supports regulatory compliance and aligns with global sustainability goals, including SDG 7 and SDG 13. Full article

Climate warming is reshaping hydrothermal resources for rice production, but the climatic responses of different rice-based cropping systems have not been sufficiently compared. This study evaluated the climatic suitability and dominant climatic controls of four major rice cropping systems in China: single-season rice, double-season rice, rice–wheat rotation, and rice–maize rotation. Occurrence records were extracted from ChinaCP and screened using a 30 m rice distribution mask. MaxEnt models were calibrated using agroclimatic variables for the historical baseline and end-century SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios. The models showed good presence–background discrimination, with mean training AUC values of 0.868 ± 0.001, 0.959 ± 0.001, 0.969 ± 0.002, and 0.963 ± 0.003 for the four systems, respectively. Dominant climatic controls differed among systems. Single-season rice, rice–wheat rotation, and rice–maize rotation were mainly associated with heat accumulation, with temperature ≥0 °C (AT₀) showing the highest permutation importance of 55.9%, 59.8%, and 77.0%, respectively. Double-season rice showed a distinct response constrained by precipitation and monthly temperature conditions, with annual precipitation contributing 69.8%. Scenario-based projections for 2081–2100 indicated a system-specific redistribution of climatic suitability, with northward increases most evident for single-season rice and rice–wheat rotation, localized changes for double-season rice, and increased suitability for rice–maize rotation mainly in Southwest and parts of South China. Changes were stronger under SSP5-8.5. These findings show that rice-based cropping systems should not be treated as a single uniform category in climate-change suitability assessments. Full article

This paper highlights the state of the art in Cooperative Dual-Manipulation (CDM) and Cooperative Multi-Manipulation (CMM), comparing advances in modeling, control, planning, sensing, vision, and end-effector technologies. Methods originally established in CDM have been extended or adapted to support higher complexity of CMM. A historical timeline visualizes the steady growth of cooperative manipulation (CM) and the recent acceleration of CMM driven by rising process complexity and the need for more flexible automation strategies. CM is becoming increasingly relevant as industrial processes demand higher payload capacity, larger workspaces, and greater flexibility. In addition, this paper categorizes existing applications by cooperation type and application domain. Here, a clear dominance of simultaneous object manipulation tasks is visible (fixation-fixation). However, fixation-tooling tasks, where one manipulator grasps the product while another performs a tool operation, and tooling-tooling tasks, where multiple manipulators perform tool operations simultaneously, remain significantly underrepresented. A similar imbalance is found for rigid/non-deformable object manipulation and flexible/deformable object manipulation, respectively. Based on this review, several research gaps are identified: (i) reliable flexible object manipulation methods; (ii) CM strategies for disassembly (e.g., battery pack deconstruction); (iii) complexity in control and planning for multi-manipulator systems; (iv) pathways to industrial deployment beyond laboratory demonstrators; and (v) task-specific tooling and end-effector innovation. Full article

HyperCoreg is an automated, end-to-end pipeline for geometric co-registration of spaceborne hyperspectral imagery (PRISMA L2D and EnMAP L2A) to Sentinel-2 Level-2A reference data. The workflow addresses scene-dependent geolocation errors that hinder reliable data fusion and multi-temporal analyses, particularly in cloud-affected acquisitions. HyperCoreg builds on the AROSICS framework without replacing its image-matching engine and extends it at the workflow level through four operational functions: automated Sentinel-2 candidate selection, hyperspectral-to-multispectral band pairing, sequential alignment logic, and quality-controlled acceptance. The main output is a co-registered hyperspectral cube along with comprehensive metrics, per-scene reports, and optional diagnostic products that support accessible quality control. Performance is evaluated on a long time series of PRISMA images collected from 2019 to 2025 and an EnMAP test set acquired in 2025, over the Metropolitan City of Rome (Italy). The multi-sensor dataset encompasses heterogeneous acquisition conditions, including variable cloud cover, illumination, and seasonal variability. The results show systematic reductions in mean residual error compared with a controlled basic AROSICS-based pipeline configuration. The largest gains are achieved in challenging conditions where tie points are sparse or unevenly distributed. By improving geometric consistency, this pipeline facilitates spatial layering and integration of hyperspectral data with higher-resolution urban layers and supports a range of downstream applications where data integration and spatiotemporal consistency are cornerstones of further analysis. Full article

To address the issues of severe goaf collapse, difficulties in secondary extraction, and insufficient pillar stability encountered during the mining of high stopes north of Line 60 at the Dongguashan Copper Mine, this paper takes these high stopes as the research object. Based on an analysis of the engineering geological conditions, goaf failure characteristics, and current mining status in this area, a study on pillar stability and the mechanical behavior of combined mining is conducted. Given the susceptibility of pillars with high aspect ratios to bending instability, the secondary extraction pillar is simplified as a rod with fixed ends. A mechanical model for the triangular pillar’s stability is established, the critical instability equation is derived, and the influence of the reserved width on the pillar’s critical stress and safety factor is analyzed. Subsequently, based on the critical instability equation, the relationship between the reserved pillar width and critical stress is obtained to optimize the pillar dimensions. Simultaneously, to mitigate the adverse effects of primary stope collapse on secondary extraction, optimized schemes such as three-stope combined mining and two-stope combined mining are proposed. A mechanical model for combined mining is established based on the Protodyakonov’s arch theory to analyze the stress distribution characteristics of the surrounding rock in the goaf under different mining schemes. The calculated stress of the original rectangular pillar is 29.01 MPa. When the reserved width exceeds 4 m, the pillar safety factor becomes greater than 1.6, satisfying the stability requirement. In addition, three combined mining schemes were compared using Protodyakonov’s arch theory. The goaf spans of the three schemes are 40 m, 26.6 m, and 36 m, respectively. The results indicate that the two-stope combined mining scheme transfers the main roof load to the adjacent ore body and backfill, reducing the load borne by the barrier pillar and providing a better balance between safety and production efficiency. The proposed framework, integrating field goaf detection, pillar buckling analysis, reserved-width optimization, and combined mining comparison, provides a practical method for the stability control and secondary recovery of deep high stopes. Full article

Arched plastic-film greenhouses are widely used in agricultural production because of their low cost and strong adaptability. However, their lightweight and flexible characteristics make them highly vulnerable to wind-induced damage. Although previous studies have investigated greenhouse wind loads under different structural forms and wind directions, the combined influence of terrain-induced turbulence intensity and oblique wind direction on local wind pressure characteristics remains insufficiently understood. Therefore, wind tunnel experiments were carried out on a 1:10 scale model of an arched plastic-film greenhouse under three terrain categories and multiple wind directions. The local mean, fluctuating, and peak wind pressure coefficients on the greenhouse surface were analyzed to identify the governing wind directions, critical pressure zones, and turbulence amplification effects. The results show that wind direction is the dominant factor controlling the spatial distribution of local pressure on the arched roof. The most unfavorable condition occurs under oblique wind at about 60°, where the windward leading-edge corner exhibits the largest absolute values of mean suction, fluctuating pressure, and negative peak pressure coefficient. Increasing terrain-induced turbulence intensity tends to increase the mean negative pressure, fluctuating pressure, and peak pressure on the greenhouse surface. However, the amplification effect is much more pronounced for fluctuating and peak pressures than for mean pressure, and the terrain effect on mean pressure is mainly evident under oblique wind directions. The windward roof edge, roof corner, and near-gable ridge-end regions are therefore the most critical areas for wind-resistant design. Full article