Search Results (11,410)

Planar microwave (MW) sensors offer high-resolution, non-invasive technology for monitoring critical soil properties, serving as a support for modern precision agriculture. While laboratory studies confirm their exceptional sensitivity, the widespread adoption of these sensors is severely impeded by critical translational challenges that constitute a defining “lab-to-field gap”. These barriers include high sensor-to-sensor variability, debilitating thermal cross-sensitivity, soil heterogeneity necessitating unique site-specific calibration, and the enduring tension between high-performance and cost-effective scaling. This review systematically synthesizes the current state of planar permittivity MW technology, moving beyond technical mechanisms to critically assess these operational limitations. We detail advanced architectural strategies designed to bridge this gap, focusing particularly on the transition toward more robust solutions. The key strategies analyzed include the adoption of differential sensor designs using microstrip patch antennas to mitigate common-mode environmental errors, the integration of ultra-compact metamaterial structures such as split-ring resonators (SRRs) and complementary split-ring resonators (CSRRs) for enhanced field robustness and deep soil sensing, and the necessity of multi-parameter sensing capabilities (moisture, pH, and salinity). By establishing a comprehensive roadmap that prioritizes field stability, cost efficiency, and seamless IoT integration, this review demonstrates that planar MW sensors are poised to become reliable and scalable tools. Addressing these critical translational hurdles will ensure optimal resource management, significantly enhance crop productivity, and enable sustainable practices within smart farming ecosystems. Full article

Ticks harbor complex microbial communities composed of symbionts, commensals, and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). Together, these microorganisms form the tick holobiont. Within this system, the tick’s physiological architecture structures microbial communities by distributing microorganisms across distinct tissues. This compartmentalization creates spatially distinct ecological niches, which in turn shape how microbial communities assemble and interact. In this review, we integrate ecological theory with current knowledge of tick microbiome research to examine how pathogen–pathogen and pathogen–microbiome interactions emerge within these tissue-structured microbial communities. We first outline how baseline ecological filters, including tick species, developmental stage, tissue identity, vertical transmission, and environmental context, shape the microbiome configuration through community assembly processes. We then examined how TBPs, as high-impact colonizers, can further modify microbial networks by altering host-mediated selective pressures, influencing interaction topology, and reshaping community stability. Based on these observations, we propose a dual selective pressure framework in which (i) baseline ecological structuring processes and (ii) pathogen-associated selective pressures interact to determine the microbial network configuration and functional outcomes within the tick holobiont. These interacting forces may drive shifts in diversity, modularity, keystone taxa emergence, and network resilience, ultimately influencing vector competence. This review frames the microbial communities within the tick holobiont as spatially structured ecological systems shaped by multilevel selective pressures. This conceptual foundation provides a coherent framework for understanding microbial interactions in arthropod vectors and highlights avenues for mechanistic research and microbiome-based strategies to mitigate tick-borne diseases. Full article

This study demonstrates the high efficiency and selectivity of p-toluenesulfonic acid-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for simultaneous extractive denitrogenation (EDN) and desulfurization (EDS) of model fuel. Three DESs—TBPB:PTSA, TBAB:PTSA, and ChCl:PTSA (1:1 molar ratio)—were synthesized and evaluated for their effectiveness against representative heteroaromatic pollutants: thiophene, dibenzothiophene, pyridine, and carbazole. The phosphonium-based TBPB:PTSA exhibited the highest extraction performance, achieving over 96% removal of nitrogen species and up to 85% removal of sulfur species at 40 °C. Increasing the temperature enhanced desulfurization by reducing viscosity, thereby improving mass transfer kinetics. Additionally, a 3:1 ratio of DES to fuel provided an optimal balance between solvent economy and operational efficiency. Denitrogenation was driven by strong acid–base protonation facilitated by PTSA, while desulfurization was governed by π–π and dispersion interactions, modulated by the hydrophobicity of the cations. The DES achieved nearly quantitative nitrogen removal and satisfactory sulfur extraction after three reuse cycles, while multistage operation enabled complete purification within four extraction steps. ¹H NMR analysis confirmed that no DES components were found in the raffinate phase, verifying the immiscibility and stability of the solvent. These results indicate that TBPB:PTSA is a robust, regenerable, and environmentally benign solvent, effectively enabling simultaneous EDN–EDS of hydrocarbon fuels and positioning it as a promising green alternative to traditional hydrogen-based refining methods. Full article

The rapidly growing concern over the hazardous impact of phthalates on the environment and public health has led to a critical need for alternative and environmentally friendly plastics. Plasticizers developed from natural materials represent one possible solution. This paper explores four types of renewable feedstocks (sorbitol/polyols, glycerin, cardanol from cashew nutshell liquid, and limonene from citrus peels) as sources for developing alternative plasticizer systems. Key areas explored include the type of feedstock utilized, the methods used for extracting or processing the feedstocks, the nature of the chemical modification processes (e.g., esterification, epoxidation, etherification, or reactive grafting) applied to generate the respective plasticizers, and the resultant physical and mechanical properties. The performance of each plasticizer system in polymers such as PVC, PLA, and polysaccharide-based bioplastics is evaluated, alongside the compatibility with biological tissues, toxicological properties, biodegradability, and chemical migration into food simulants. The feasibility of each family of plasticizers is also assessed from an economic perspective, including availability of the feedstocks, economies of scale associated with large-volume production, and competitive pricing relative to established petroleum-derived plasticizers. Overall, sorbitol/polyol and glycerin derivative families have reached a level of maturity that provides a good balance of processability, food-contact safety, and biodegradability. Cardanol-based systems provide an attractive option where aromatic functional groups and combined plasticization–stabilization effects are needed. Limonene-derived plasticizer systems appear promising for use in PLA, but their broader utility may be limited by volatility, strong odors, and susceptibility to oxidation. Common issues identified across all four families include chemical migration into food products, regulatory approval, and the need for detailed life-cycle assessments. Full article

Biodiesel is a sustainable and promising alternative energy source produced from renewable raw materials using various methods. One effective approach is simultaneous esterification and transesterification, which relies on suitable catalysts that can be either homogeneous or heterogeneous. Homogeneous catalysts (acid or base) offer high activity but are corrosive and difficult to recover, necessitating energy-intensive processes such as aqueous quenching and neutralization, which can lead to soap formation and stable emulsions. By comparison, heterogeneous catalytic systems overcome many of these challenges due to their ease of recovery, reusability, and simplified product separation, which collectively enhance economic viability and environmental sustainability. This review highlights recent progress in the application of zeolite-based solid catalysts for biodiesel synthesis, with particular emphasis on their use in converting waste cooking oil and other low-cost feedstocks, including non-edible oils, non-food biomass sources, algal resources, and genetically engineered microorganisms. Key factors such as catalytic activity, selectivity, catalyst loading, and reusability are discussed, highlighting the advantages of zeolites due to their unique crystal structure, high thermal stability, and ease of product recovery. Overall, this review underscores the challenges and opportunities in zeolite-based catalysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of its potential to enhance the efficiency and scalability of biodiesel production. Full article

This study explored the physiological responses and gene expression profiles of the Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) and the hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) under heat and hyposaline stress. Experimental conditions involved increasing the temperature from 25 °C to 35 °C and decreasing salinity from 25 ppt to 15 ppt over a 6 h acclimation period, followed by 72 h exposure. Key physiological and immune indicators, including filtration rate, oxygen consumption rate, ammonia excretion rate, and the expression of related genes, were measured. Under heat stress, R. philippinarum exhibited higher filtration, oxygen consumption, and ammonia excretion rates than M. mercenaria at most sampling time points. The expression of fatty acid desaturase (Δ6FAD) and heat shock protein (HSP70) genes increased and then decreased for both species, whereas superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) gene expression gradually decreased over time. Furthermore, the expression levels of all three genes were generally significantly higher in M. mercenaria compared to R. philippinarum. Under hyposaline stress, R. philippinarum exhibited significantly higher filtration, oxygen consumption, and ammonia excretion rates than M. mercenaria between 24 h and 72 h. Expression levels of the Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase (NKAα), HSP70, and Cu/Zn SOD genes remained higher in M. mercenaria compared to R. philippinarum. Overall, the present study indicates that M. mercenaria maintains relative stability and R. philippinarum exhibits greater physiological fluctuation under both heat and hyposaline stress. This study highlights bivalve species-specific responses to environmental stressors and provides valuable insights for aquaculture planning and ecological management in different environmental regions, particularly in the context of global climate change. Full article

The synergistic effects of soil acidification and heavy metal pollution present major challenges for global agroecosystems. To systematically trace the evolution of research and identify key topics in this field, this study employed CiteSpace to visualize and analyze 691 records from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and 6747 highly relevant articles or reviews from the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection database from 2005 to 2025. The results indicate a steady to rapid rise in global publications, with China contributing the largest share, at 2468 publications. This has produced a research cluster centered around the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); however, the centrality of its international cooperation remains limited. Studies in the CNKI database are driven by agricultural needs, focusing on national food security, rice yield stability, improvement of arable land, and heavy metal passivation and remediation, with a concentration on basic agricultural science. By contrast, research in the WOS database emphasizes fundamental mechanisms and interdisciplinary integration, addressing aluminum toxicity, microbial communities, the nitrogen cycle, and global climate change, intersecting fields such as environmental science, soil science, ecology, and microbiology. The evolution of research hotspots shows a clear trajectory: from acidity regulation and chemical speciation analysis of heavy metals (2005–2013), to heavy metal passivation, remediation, and phytoremediation (2014–2018), and then to biochar materials, microbiome analysis, and the synergistic role of carbon sequestration (2019–2025). This study argues that future research should move beyond single remediation measures and adopt integrated strategic management to jointly improve bioremediation efficiency, promote soil carbon sequestration and soil health, and enhance microbial adaptation to global climate change. Full article

Background: Adults with disabilities living in low-resource communities experience persistent inequities in access to healthcare, mental health services, and community participation. However, qualitative data capturing lived experiences in the Deep South remain limited. This study aimed to identify priority needs among adults with mobility disabilities residing in economically distressed communities near Birmingham, Alabama, to inform future telehealth programming. Methods: Fifteen adults (mean age = 60 ± 10 years), predominantly African American and female, completed semi-structured phone interviews exploring basic needs, neighborhood accessibility, health priorities, and perceived supports. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis. Results: Five themes emerged: (1) seeking stability amid severe mental health strain and inadequate supports; (2) constrained food environments shaped by cost, location, and safety; (3) feeling forgotten: systemic neglect and restricted participation in community life; (4) physical health deprioritized by competing needs and structural barriers; and (5) remote support as a viable but unrealized option. Participants described how safety concerns, transportation barriers, and rising food costs constrained daily functioning, while unmet mental health needs compounded isolation. Despite widespread cardiometabolic disease, immediate needs related to mental health, food, and housing consistently superseded physical health. Mental health support was identified as the most feasible area for remote delivery, though poor awareness of available resources limited engagement with any service model. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate that disability-related disparities in low-resource communities are driven largely by structural and environmental factors rather than individual choice. Telehealth and mobile-based services may provide a feasible access strategy for mental health and supportive care in under-resourced settings, particularly when integrated with broader community supports. Addressing foundational needs is essential for advancing health equity among people with disabilities in the Southeast. Full article

The selection of bridge construction systems significantly influences the sustainability of infrastructure projects, encompassing both economic and environmental dimensions. This study presents a comparative assessment of three hybrid fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques, Fuzzy AHP–VIKOR, Fuzzy TOPSIS, and Fuzzy BWM–VIKOR, for choosing optimum bridge construction system during the preliminary design phases. Each method was applied consistently, integrating project-specific criteria and construction alternatives. The comparison extended beyond the final rankings to assess computational efficiency, sensitivity to input variations, ease of implementation, and stability. Expert opinions were gathered using semi-structured interviews and questionnaires to reflect the practical circumstances of bridge engineering in the field. The results show distinct strengths and trade-offs among the techniques, offering valuable insights for researchers and industry professionals alike. This study contributes to the knowledge base by explaining how different fuzzy MCDM methods are used in real-world bridge construction projects. These outcomes improve the methodological rigor of decision science and support more robust decision-making frameworks in bridge engineering. Full article

Tailings management presents a critical challenge for the mining industry, particularly in mountainous regions with high seismicity and steep slopes. This article presents the development and design criteria for dry stacking of filtered tailings as a sustainable and safe alternative to conventional slurry tailings storage facilities (TSFs). The study focuses on the extreme conditions of a mountainous location characterized by complex topography with 10% slopes, space constraints, and significant seismic activity defined by a peak ground acceleration (PGA) of 0.3 g. The design methodology, which incorporates layered compaction of the filtered tailings to achieve a geotechnically stable structure, is detailed for a filtered TSF consisting of 7 terraces, each 10 m high, reaching a total height of 70 m. This approach minimizes the risk of liquefaction and prepares the filtered tailings surface for progressive closure, with unit operating costs (OPEX) of 2.5 USD/t. The results of the physical stability analysis confirm the viability of this solution: pseudo-static stability analysis yielded a safety factor of 1.22, demonstrating a significant reduction in water consumption and potential environmental impact. It is concluded that the dry disposal of filtered tailings is a technically robust option for tailings management in extreme mountainous environments, offering greater long-term safety guarantees and facilitating landscape integration, thus setting a precedent for mining projects in similar geographies. Full article

White tea infusion micro-nanoparticles (WTMPs) are important for colloidal stability, but the optimal strategy for their isolation and the mechanisms underlying their stability remain unclear. Here, a multi-indicator TOPSIS strategy was used to optimize ultrafiltration–centrifugation, and the best condition was identified as a 100 kDa membrane, 3000×g, and 20 min. The isolated WTMPs were not merely a concentrated form of white tea colloids (WTCs), but a selectively enriched fraction with remodeled composition, more regular morphology, more ordered intermolecular organization, and improved environmental stability. In particular, gallic acid (GA) was enriched, whereas caffeine (CAF) decreased markedly after isolation. Spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations further suggested that GA and CAF played different roles in the protein–polysaccharide network: GA was more favorable for cooperative interfacial stabilization, whereas CAF behaved more like a locally associated ligand. Overall, these results support a composition–structure–stability relationship for WTMPs and provide mechanistic insight into the selective enrichment of GA and the enhanced stability of the isolated micro-nanoparticle fraction. Full article

Global environmental norms increasingly shape commodity governance in the Global South, with the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) representing a prominent attempt to govern land-based products through extraterritorial sustainability criteria. This study examines how such norms are received, reinterpreted, negotiated, and resisted in Indonesia’s palm oil sector, focusing on smallholder-dominated value chains in Serdang Bedagai and Simalungun, North Sumatra. Centered on everyday resistance and policy decoupling as its core interpretive lenses, and drawing on habitus as a supporting concept, the study employs qualitative fieldwork, in-depth interviews, field observations, and critical discourse analysis to investigate tensions between deforestation-free supply chain expectations and local realities marked by fragmented landholdings, informal tenure, intermediary dependence, and cashflow-oriented livelihood strategies. The findings show that the EUDR is widely perceived not as a sustainability opportunity, but as an externally imposed regulatory pressure that threatens income stability and market access. Local actors respond through discursive reframing, continued reliance on informal trading practices, and partial or symbolic implementation of legality and traceability requirements. The study argues that inclusive deforestation-free governance requires differentiated obligations, transitional legality pathways, and cooperative-based traceability mechanisms that better align global norms with local institutional capacity and livelihood structures. Full article

Plant viruses pose serious threats to global crop production, and members of the genus Tobamovirus are particularly problematic due to their environmental stability, efficient mechanical transmission and rapid global spread. Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) has emerged as one of the most damaging tobamovirus affecting tomato, a crop of major economic importance worldwide. ToBRFV has been reported in more than 45 countries, including Portugal. However, to date, no peer-reviewed molecular characterization of local isolates has been published, and official records classify its presence in Portugal as transient. This study confirms the occurrence of ToBRFV and provides the first comprehensive genomic and phylogenetic characterization of local virus isolates in Portugal. RNA-seq generated 192,852,438 reads, of which 103,882,115 (58.9%) mapped to ToBRFV, allowing reconstruction of a complete 6393 nt viral genome. A second full-length consensus sequence was independently obtained from the same composite sample using an overlapping Sanger sequencing strategy, differing by only two SNPs. Comparative genomic, functional, structural, and phylogenetic analysis revealed low diversity, with most variation located in replicase-coding regions, while movement and coat protein genes remained highly conserved. Nucleotide-based phylogenies resolved geographically structured clades, although the Portuguese sequences formed a strongly supported subclade with a Chinese isolate. These findings support recent global dissemination of ToBRFV and reinforce the importance of integrated surveillance and genomic monitoring for effective virus management. Full article

In this study, we examined cross-cultural interest in sustainable brands in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom in 2015–2025 as a dynamic proxy of consumer behavior and public awareness through the Google Trends tool. Due to the increasing significance of sustainability marketing as a part of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies, the research focuses on the evolution of sustainability discourse as influenced by cultural environment, language, and policy frameworks. Sustainability-related search terms in English and Arabic were gathered in Google Trends monthly and aggregated to eliminate short-term variability and were compared through nonparametric Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and time-stability tests. The findings demonstrate that there is more stable and higher public interest in issues that relate to sustainability in the UK, which is an indicator of a well-established ESG and regulatory climate. Contrarily, Saudi Arabia shows a significant upsurge in search transactions on sustainability-related topics that occurred after 2018, when the country started implementing reforms to Vision 2030 and launched more environmental programs. The results indicate the importance of policy context and language in the formation of sustainability awareness and show the usefulness of Google Trends as a useful cross-national sustainability and marketing research tool. Full article

Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials have emerged as a promising platform for next-generation sensing technologies due to their atomic thickness, tunable magnetic properties, and compatibility with van der Waals heterostructures. Rapid progress in material discovery, synthesis, and device integration has expanded opportunities for compact, low-power, and highly sensitive sensor platforms. This review examines selected sensing mechanisms enabled by 2D magnetic materials, highlighting recent experimental advances and emerging device concepts. Current limitations and challenges such as environmental stability, scalability, and room-temperature operation are considered in the context of ongoing research efforts. By examining these approaches, this review aims to provide insight into the current development and potential of 2D magnetic materials for sensing technologies. This review is organized to first introduce the fundamental properties and challenges of 2D magnetic materials, followed by a survey of key sensing mechanisms and representative device implementations, and concludes with an outlook on future research directions. Full article