Search Results (7,125)

To improve the foamability and steam-chest molding performance of polypropylene (PP) bead foams, ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR) was introduced into PP via melt blending. The role of EPR in the complete bead-foaming-to-molding process was systematically investigated by correlating phase morphology, crystallization behavior, melt viscoelasticity, CO₂ dissolution and diffusion, cellular structure, inter-bead welding, and the mechanical properties of molded foam products. The incorporation of EPR refined the PP crystalline morphology, reduced the apparent crystallinity, and markedly enhanced the melt viscoelasticity, thereby broadening the foaming temperature window. The dispersed EPR phase functioned simultaneously as a CO₂ reservoir and a high-diffusivity pathway of CO₂, which promoted cell growth while suppressing excessive nucleation. The enhanced melt viscoelasticity and improved CO₂ affinity promoted bead expansion and optimized the cellular structure. At 150 °C, the expansion ratio increased from 18.7 for neat PP to 21.1 with 10 wt% EPR. EPR also regulated the cellular structure. At 150 °C, the cell diameter increased from 83 to 176 μm as the EPR content increased from 0 to 20 wt%. EPR markedly changed the double-melting behavior of PP bead foams. The low-temperature melting enthalpy increased from 28.5 J/g for neat PP to 37.8 J/g with 10 wt% EPR, which served as an effective interfacial binder, significantly promoting inter-bead welding. Consequently, the optimized PP/EPR foam containing 10 wt% EPR exhibited a tensile strength of 1.13 MPa and an elongation at break of 22.1%. More importantly, excellent molding quality was achieved at a reduced steam pressure of 2.2 bar, demonstrating the great potential of PP/EPR bead foams for the energy-efficient manufacturing of high-performance lightweight products. Full article

High-viscosity sodium alginate solutions (4.5% by mass, apparent viscosity 1 × 10⁴–2 × 10⁴ cP) are widely used in the preparation of hydrogels, wet spinning, and biomedical materials. Residual bubbles can cause internal voids in hydrogels, mechanical heterogeneity, fiber breakage during spinning, and reduced strength, and can severely affect the cell compatibility and clinical safety of biomaterials. Due to the difficulty of bubble migration, coalescence, and rupture in high-viscosity systems, traditional vacuum-standing degassing takes up to 24 h and is extremely inefficient, severely limiting the quality of subsequent processing. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel vacuum-assisted centrifugal recirculating degassing method for highly viscous sodium alginate solutions and aims to establish a kinetic framework for describing its overall degassing behavior. Using the number density of bubbles larger than 0.5 mm in diameter as an evaluation metric, we conducted vacuum-standing control experiments and univariate experiments with different screen mesh apertures (5, 1.5, 0.3, and 0.07 mm). We experimentally verified a continuous kinetic model of bubble number decay based on vacuum bubble expansion, centrifugally enhanced migration, and removal probability during the cycle. The results indicate that the bubble removal effect of 40 min of vacuum–centrifugal cyclic degassing is equivalent to that of 4 h of vacuum static settling, representing a 450% increase in degassing efficiency. There is an optimal range for a screen aperture, with the best degassing effect observed at 0.3 mm, achieving a bubble removal rate of 83.69%. The established kinetic model exhibits good fitting accuracy (RMSE = 0.17, MAPE = 5.9%) and can accurately predict degassing efficiency under different process conditions. This study provides a quantifiable, modelable, and optimizable process scheme for rapid degassing of high-viscosity sodium alginate solutions, and offers a theoretical reference for the development of degassing technologies for high-viscosity polysaccharide fluids. Full article

With the expansion of ammonia energy applications, long-distance liquid ammonia pipelines are expected to support large-scale cross-regional ammonia transport. In the liquid ammonia pipeline commissioning process, gaseous ammonia purging involves ammonia–nitrogen mixing and possible liquefaction, while liquid ammonia injection may induce flashing and severe local cooling, all of which can affect commissioning safety. To characterize these thermodynamic phenomena, a transient gas–liquid two-phase flow model was established and validated using OLGA 2022.1.0 software for simulating the long-distance liquid ammonia pipeline commissioning. The model adopts the cross-sectionally averaged one-dimensional approach. A volume-corrected Soave–Redlich–Kwong (SRK) equation of state for ammonia was adapted, validated, and used to generate OLGA-compatible thermodynamic property tables. The results show that, during gaseous ammonia purging, a higher flowrate shortens the displacement time by accelerating nitrogen removal, and this effect is more pronounced at higher ambient temperatures due to enhanced molecular diffusion. Along the pipeline, pressure gradually decreases from frictional resistance, with a steeper drop near the outlet caused by gas acceleration, and temperature gradually approaches ambient through heat exchange with the pipe wall and surrounding soil. A high gaseous ammonia flowrate can cause partial liquefaction, regasification, and temperature fluctuations. During liquid ammonia injection, local condensation and slight liquid accumulation occur before the liquid front arrives, and the low-temperature region moves with the liquid front. The liquid ammonia mass flowrate has the strongest influence on the injection process, as it reduces the completion time but increases the outlet temperature, outlet pressure, and the low-temperature risk downstream of the valve. Therefore, it should be controlled within an appropriate range to balance efficiency and low-temperature safety risks. This work provides a rapid and efficient prediction model for key thermo-hydraulic parameters during liquid ammonia pipeline commissioning, and the overall analyses offer insights for on-site process design and safety control. Full article

P. massoniana is an important native economic and ecological tree species in southern China, where seasonal drought has emerged as a critical factor limiting its productivity. The SAUR gene family, recognized as core early auxin-responsive genes, plays a crucial role in balancing plant growth, development, and stress adaptation; however, research related to this family in conifers remains limited. Utilizing the chromosome-level genome of P. massoniana, this study identified 73 SAUR genes (PmSAUR1~73) through bioinformatics methods, systematically analyzing the physicochemical properties of the encoded proteins, chromosomal localization, phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, and cis-acting elements. Combined with transcriptome sequencing and molecular experiments, the drought stress response patterns of these genes were further elucidated. The results indicated that PmSAUR genes predominantly encode alkaline proteins, primarily localized in mitochondria and nuclei, with an uneven distribution across nine chromosomes, where tandem duplication serves as the primary mechanism driving family expansion. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into seven subfamilies, which include both conserved clades homologous to angiosperms and branches specific to P. massoniana. All members contain the Auxin_inducible conserved domain, with motif1 identified as the core essential motif. Promoter regions were enriched with MeJA (methyl jasmonate)-responsive (56%), ABA-responsive, and drought stress-related cis-elements. Under drought stress, 38 PmSAUR genes exhibited diverse temporal expression patterns. Four key genes (PmSAUR14, PmSAUR28, PmSAUR54, and PmSAUR73), which are localized in the nucleus and exhibit high expression specifically in male cones or roots, were identified. These genes exhibit an expression pattern consistent with an auxin-negative response (i.e., repressed by IAA and induced by drought) and display a distinctive response pattern characterized by drought-induced upregulation coupled with IAA-mediated downregulation. This mechanism may contribute to the drought adaptation strategies of P. massoniana, involving regulatory processes for aboveground reproduction and adaptation of the underground root system. This study represents the first effort to elucidate the evolutionary characteristics and drought response patterns of the SAUR gene family in P. massoniana, thereby addressing the existing research gap regarding the functions of SAUR genes in coniferous trees. Furthermore, it offers candidate gene resources and theoretical support for the molecular breeding of stress resistance in P. massoniana. In addition, two auxin-induced SAUR genes (PmSAUR22 and PmSAUR37) were identified as contrasting examples, but the main focus of this study is on the four auxin-repressed genes. Full article

Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous Gram-positive bacterium responsible for listeriosis, a foodborne zoonotic disease affecting humans and animals. Although infection in immunocompetent individuals is often asymptomatic or limited to mild self-limiting gastroenteritis, Listeria monocytogenes may cause severe invasive disease in vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, neonates, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised patients. Although the incidence of listeriosis is relatively low compared with many other foodborne pathogens, the high hospitalization and mortality rates associated with clinical cases make this bacterium a major concern for food safety and public health. The evolutionary success of L. monocytogenes reflects the interaction between a conserved core genome and a dynamic accessory genome shaped by horizontal gene transfer (HGT), ecological selection, and expansion of specific clones. Transient intestinal carriage in humans and animals, potentially influenced by gut microbiome composition, creates ecological interfaces where plasmids, transposons, prophages, and integrative conjugative elements contribute to the exchange of antimicrobial resistance determinants, virulence factors, and stress tolerance systems. Virulence diversification is further influenced by the differential distribution of pathogenicity islands such as LIPI-1, LIPI-3, and LIPI-4 across specific clonal lineages. These evolutionary processes occur across interconnected farm, food-production, environmental, and clinical ecosystems consistent with the One Health framework. Advances in whole-genome sequencing have clarified lineage-specific gene flow, expansion of specific clones, and the dynamics of the resistome and mobilome in L. monocytogenes populations. This narrative review aims to synthesize current knowledge on the mobile genetic elements and ecological interfaces that shape horizontal gene transfer in L. monocytogenes. Its novelty lies in integrating antimicrobial resistance, virulence-associated genomic islands, stress adaptation, and gut microbiome-mediated selection within a One Health and metapopulation framework. The main message of this review is that HGT should be interpreted as a context-dependent contributor to L. monocytogenes adaptation, acting together with clonal background, ecological selection, and mobile genetic elements. Full article

The GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) in C9ORF72 was recognized as the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation of the expanded repeat generated dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs), which disrupted multiple cellular processes and contributed to neurodegeneration. Emerging evidence indicated that disease pathogenesis involved both gain-of-function (GOF) and loss-of-function (LOF) mechanisms. DPR-mediated GOF toxicity induced ribosomal dysfunction, nucleolar stress, proteostatic impairment, and neuronal injury, whereas C9ORF72 LOF disrupted lysosomal and autophagic pathways in microglia, impairing the immune homeostasis. Neuronal injury further promoted the release of damage-associated signals that triggered secondary microglial activations and chronic neuroinflammations. This review summarized current knowledge of DPR biology, microglial dysfunction, and their contributions to disease progression in C9ORF72-associated ALS/FTD. Therapeutic strategies targeting repeated RNA, DPR productions, proteostasis, autophagy, and neuroinflammatory pathways were also discussed. In addition, the potentials of fluid biomarkers, including cerebrospinal fluid poly (GP) and blood neurofilament light chain (NfL), for diagnosis, disease monitoring, and therapeutic assessment were shown. Together, these findings provided important insights into disease mechanisms and potential avenues for improved clinical management. Full article

Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic bacteria of the Leptospira genus. Currently, 77 genomic species have been described. Leptospira interrogans is the most extensively studied species due to its high prevalence worldwide and the severity of the disease it causes in humans and animals. However, Leptospira santarosai is an important pathogenic species in the Americas, the Caribbean islands, and Taiwan. This species has a high serological diversity: it can infect domestic, wild, and agricultural production animals, causing reproductive problems and substantial economic losses. Additionally, Leptospira santarosai has been detected in water sources and wet soils. In humans, infection with this species can lead to a wide range of clinical manifestations and severe complications. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize available information on the serological diversity, geographical distribution, natural sources of infection, and human leptospirosis caused by Leptospira santarosai to better understand their role in the leptospirosis transmission cycle. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted, following the criteria established by the PRISMA-2020 guide, the search for scientific articles was conducted in five specialized and multidisciplinary databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and LILACS), and a search engine (Google Scholar). Two different search strategies (Leptospira santarosai OR L. santarosai) were used. Result: Once the search was carried out in the databases, 2989 scientific articles were identified. These articles underwent a process of identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion, resulting in 84 articles that met all established inclusion criteria. These articles were included in the qualitative synthesis and elaboration of the systematic review. Conclusions: Leptospira santarosai shows a high serological diversity, with 14 serogroups and 59 serovars. The species has a wide geographic distribution, having been reported on five continents and in 26 countries, and has been described as an infectious agent in at least 24 host animals. It has also been detected in environmental sources such as water and wet soils; 24 serovars have been identified as the causative agents of human leptospirosis, causing clinical manifestations that range from mild to severe forms of the disease and clinical complications such as myocarditis, uveitis, and neuroleptospirosis. Although L. santarosai is considered native to the Americas, it shows an expansion pattern to other continents and countries. Therefore, this pathogenic species of the Leptospira genus represents an important public health problem worldwide. Full article

Cordyceps militaris is a high-value medicinal mushroom with growing demand in functional-food and nutraceutical markets, yet practical frameworks for small-scale, family-operated cultivation remain limited. This study presents an integrated technical and economic feasibility analysis of small-scale Cordyceps production under two scenarios: a one-room setup (Scenario 1) and a two-room configuration with a shared processing area and staggered scheduling (Scenario 2). Both use consistent biological, operational, and market assumptions with no hired labor, and the analysis covers capital expenditure (CapEx), operating costs (OpEx), profitability, payback, and break-even thresholds, complemented by sensitivity analysis of parameters such as biological efficiency and contamination rates. Both scenarios were technically and financially viable. Scenario 1 achieved a net present value (NPV) of $1761, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 10%, a 4.7-year discounted payback, and a 133% five-year return on investment (ROI); Scenario 2 attained an NPV of $85,437, a 66% IRR, a 1.6-year payback, and a 366% ROI. Because gross margins were consistent across scales, the expansion’s advantage stemmed from more efficient CapEx amortization rather than improved unit profitability. Cordyceps cultivation emerges as a viable family-operated, small-scale enterprise that can diversify family income, generate supplementary or primary earnings, and support urban and rural livelihoods. Full article

Stenting is a minimally invasive treatment used in managing peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, clinical challenges persist, including in-stent thrombosis and restenosis, primarily driven by axial foreshortening or elongation and suboptimal balance between radial stiffness and flexibility inherent to conventional stent designs. This study proposes an innovative arrow-shaped geometry exhibiting zero Poisson’s ratio (ZPR) behaviour for 3D-printed self-expanding Nitinol stents. The complete stent deployment process was modelled using finite element analysis (FEA), including radial crimping and subsequent expansion to enable systematic parametric investigation while accounting for µ-3D printing constraints. Response surface methodology (RSM) rigorously evaluated mechanical performance, defining peak stress, chronic outward force (COF), radial resistive force (RRF), and foreshortening (FS) as constraint and objective functions within the optimisation framework. The optimised ZPR stent achieved favourable performance: extremely low foreshortening (|FS| ≤ 0.12%), representing outstanding axial stability compared with previously reported self-expanding stents, and a well-balanced radial response with ~50% higher radial strength than positive Poisson’s ratio (PPR) structures, while 16.67% lower than negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) counterparts. These results highlight the ZPR stent’s capability to minimise axial deformation while maintaining adequate radial support, highlighting substantial potential for precise, stable deployment in PAD applications. Full article

Metabolic dysfunction and proteinopathy are hallmarks of neurodegenerative disease, yet their mechanistic interplay remains poorly understood. Here, we show that loss of the neuronal NAD⁺-synthesizing enzyme Nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 2 (NMNAT2) disrupts amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing in cortical neurons, leading to accumulation of APP C-terminal fragments (APP-CTFs). NMNAT2 deficiency lowers the NAD⁺/NADH redox ratio coincident with APP-CTF buildup. Temporal profiling reveals a biphasic increase in APP-CTFs, with an initial gradual rise followed by rapid accumulation, paralleling the expansion of differentially expressed proteins. Pathway analysis indicates early activation of JNK/MAPK signaling, followed by late-stage suppression of mitochondrial pathways and induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response programs. Seahorse analyses reveal early glycolytic impairment followed by deficits in mitochondrial respiration. Knockdown of the NAD⁺ hydrolase sterile alpha and TIR motif-containing protein 1 (SARM1) restores mitochondrial function and normalizes APP-CTF levels in NMNAT2 knockout neurons, whereas NAD⁺ supplementation provides only modest rescue. Together, these data demonstrate that neuronal NAD⁺ depletion drives progressive, SARM1-dependent disruption of glucose metabolism and proteostasis, impairing APP processing. The NMNAT2–SARM1 axis thus links metabolic stress to proteinopathy and highlights SARM1 as a central mediator of neurodegenerative dysfunction. Full article

The rapid expansion of e-commerce has reshaped global consumption systems by transforming production processes, logistics infrastructures, and consumer behaviour. While this transformation has generated significant economic opportunities, it has simultaneously intensified environmental pressures, particularly through last-mile delivery emissions, excessive packaging waste, and high return rates. At the same time, the growing diffusion of corporate sustainability reporting has raised increasing concerns about greenwashing, defined as the misrepresentation of environmental performance through selective disclosure or symbolic communication. This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of sustainability practices in e-commerce, focusing on the relationship between environmental performance, transparency, and economic outcomes. Particular attention is devoted to the role of blockchain technology as a potential mechanism for enhancing verifiable transparency in complex supply chains. The research adopts a multiple case study design grounded in the methodological frameworks and integrates qualitative analysis with a semi-quantitative evaluation model. Seven companies operating in different segments of the e-commerce ecosystem are analyzed through an extensive review of secondary data sources, including ESG reports, financial disclosures, NGO assessments, and industry benchmarks. The findings reveal a substantial gap between declared sustainability commitments and actual implementation, with significant heterogeneity across firms. Companies that embed sustainability into their strategic core demonstrate stronger alignment between environmental and economic performance, whereas firms relying primarily on communication-driven approaches exhibit higher implementation gaps. The study contributes to the literature by introducing an analytical framework centered on the concept of the implementation gap and by demonstrating the central role of transparency in determining sustainability effectiveness. It also highlights the potential, yet still largely unrealized, role of blockchain technology in addressing information asymmetry and reducing greenwashing in e-commerce. Full article

This study investigates potassium-L zeolite (K-L) as an adsorbent for the removal of thallium (Tl⁺) from aqueous solutions, focusing on the relationship between cation exchange and framework structural response. X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), thermal analysis, and Rietveld refinements were employed to monitor structural modifications upon Tl⁺ uptake, combined with batch adsorption experiments to evaluate the removal performance. At low Tl⁺ uptake, only minor structural perturbations occur, mainly involving slight shifts in extra-framework cation positions and limited rearrangement of channel water molecules. At higher Tl⁺ concentrations, a measurable anisotropic expansion of the zeolite framework is observed, consistent with partial substitution of K⁺ by Tl⁺ and progressive modification of the hydration environment within the pores. Moreover, the crystallographic distribution of Tl⁺ differs from that of the original K⁺ cations, suggesting a specific site preference during the uptake process. Batch experiments reveal rapid uptake kinetics, with equilibrium reached within minutes, and high removal efficiency up to 99.5%. The adsorption behaviour is well described by the Langmuir model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 631 mg g⁻¹. These findings highlight the coupling between ion exchange and structural flexibility in K-L zeolite and support its potential application for efficient thallium removal from contaminated water. Full article

With the expansion of modern protected agriculture, the amount of post-harvest tomato biomass has increased sharply. Conventional unmanaged disposal practices disrupt carbon flows and cause substantial environmental emissions. Tomato plant residues (TPRs), which are rich in lignocellulose and selected high-value secondary metabolites, have considerable potential as feedstocks for green industrial materials. However, their complex biophysical properties, high physiological moisture content, and recalcitrant cell-wall barriers hinder large-scale processing. This review systematically examines the mechanisms and process architectures for converting TPRs into macromolecular products. First, it analyzes cross-scale anatomical heterogeneity and dynamic rheological properties of TPRs, defining their physicochemical boundaries as industrial precursors. Second, it summarizes the development of physical field-coupled equipment, ranging from anti-tangling harvest-shredding to die-roller densification. Furthermore, it examines the core mechanisms of multi-field-coupled pretreatment technologies, including steam explosion, deep eutectic solvents (DES), and mechanochemistry, in deconstructing vascular skeletons and reducing multiphase mass-transfer resistance. Finally, this review discusses reconstruction pathways for TPR-derived components in advanced polymer materials, including biodegradable nanocellulose films, bio-based composites, aerogels, and lignin-based polyurethane networks. Overall, it links microscopic reaction kinetics with macroscopic equipment engineering, proposes a closed-loop material conversion system from in-field volume reduction to cascaded biorefinery, and provides an engineering framework for future multi-machine intelligent collaboration and continuous production across the industrial chain. Full article

The rapid expansion of solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment has led to increasing concerns regarding end-of-life module management and the sustainability of material supply chains, where waste volumes are projected to reach 3.3–5.6 million tons by 2045. This study evaluates the environmental and economic impact of advanced photovoltaic recycling in Germany, focusing on high-value material recovery from crystalline silicon modules. A Full Recovery of End-of-Life Photovoltaics (FRELP) pathway is developed, integrating light-pulse delamination and molten salt etching, and a comparative life cycle assessment and economic assessment framework is applied. The results indicate that advanced recycling achieves high recovery rates for silicon, silver, aluminum, copper and low-iron glass, yielding around €1174.88 per ton of panels recycled. Economic analysis shows that manufacturing PV modules from recycled materials reduces costs by approximately 60–77% compared to virgin material production, mainly due to avoided energy-intensive upstream processes. From an environmental perspective, the recycling-based pathway yields net benefits across impact categories, as avoided impacts from primary material extraction outweigh additional burdens associated with recycling. Overall, PV recycling in Europe is shown to be environmentally and economically favorable; however, technological maturity and policy constraints remain key barriers to large-scale implementation and a holistic overall recycling process, indicating the need for targeted policy support. Full article

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and osteoporosis (OP) are epidemiologically linked, but shared cell-type-specific molecular features remain unclear. We integrated public single-cell/single-nucleus transcriptomic datasets for OP (GSE147287) and MASLD (GSE289173) with two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR), colocalization, network annotation, macrophage-focused in silico perturbation, and exploratory serum assessment. After quality control, 13,753 OP cells and 42,438 MASLD cells/nuclei were analyzed. Macrophages were consistently identified in both datasets and showed disease-associated expansion. Directionally concordant macrophage differentially expressed genes yielded 147 shared candidate genes, with enrichment mainly involving lipid/sterol metabolism, extracellular matrix and adhesion processes, immune presentation, lysosomal processing, and phagocytic pathways. MR prioritized MUC20 as the only candidate with concordant odds ratios greater than 1 for both OP (OR = 1.044, 95% CI 1.003–1.086) and MASLD (OR = 1.111, 95% CI 1.038–1.189). Colocalization supported shared genetic signals for MUC20 in OP (PP.H4 = 0.855) and MASLD (PP.H4 = 0.816). In silico perturbation suggested a limited but pathway-enriched predicted transcriptional footprint. Serum MUC20 was higher in patients with OP+MASLD than in healthy controls. This integrative analysis identified shared macrophage-associated transcriptional themes and prioritized MUC20 as a candidate molecule for future liver–bone crosstalk studies. Full article