Search Results (9,674)

Bamboo, renowned for its rapid growth, high carbon sequestration capacity, and superior mechanical properties, has become a strategic sustainable material in product design. Through bibliometric and content analysis, this study systematically examines its current applications across multiple sectors, including furniture, consumer electronics, transportation interiors, fashion, and cultural and creative products. It further proposes four core innovation strategies: material-driven optimization, digital manufacturing process innovation, cultural narrative design, and circular economy system transformation. Despite its potential, bamboo faces several challenges, such as inconsistent material properties, precision processing limitations, and biased market perceptions. To address these issues, future research should prioritize the development of standardized material databases, functional bamboo-based composites, integration of digital technologies, and enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration. By framing bamboo not merely as an alternative but as a preferred material, this study provides theoretical foundations and strategic directions for sustainable design and green industrial advancement. Full article

The rapid growth and diversification of the cosmetic industry have led to increasingly complex formulations containing numerous bioactive ingredients, excipients, and synthetic additives, often delivered through advanced nanostructured systems. Ensuring product safety, efficacy, and regulatory compliance requires analytical approaches capable of accurately detecting both declared components and hazardous contaminants such as heavy metals, phthalates, nitrosamines, and banned preservatives or dyes. Traditional sample preparation methods are often solvent-intensive, time-consuming, and environmentally burdensome, prompting a shift toward green microextraction strategies aligned with the principles of green analytical chemistry. Techniques including solid-phase microextraction (SPME), stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) offer miniaturized, solvent-efficient workflows with improved selectivity and sensitivity for complex cosmetic matrices. This review summarizes advances from the past five years in green microextraction methods for the determination of organic and inorganic species in cosmetic products. Emphasis is placed on their integration with separation techniques and applicability across product categories. Emerging trends, analytical challenges, and future directions toward more sustainable cosmetic safety assessment are also highlighted. Full article

The global poultry industry continues to face significant challenges due to Salmonella infections, which pose severe public health concerns and economic losses. Recently, the reemergence of antimicrobial resistance has led to the restriction of antibiotic use in poultry, especially as growth promoters, thus accelerating the search for sustainable alternatives. Among these, probiotics have gained attention as potential candidates for improving poultry health and mitigating Salmonella colonization in the gut. This review summarizes the key mechanisms through which probiotics exert anti-Salmonella effects, including competitive exclusion, production of antimicrobial substances, reinforcement of the intestinal barrier, and modulation of host immune responses. Commonly used probiotic strains in poultry such as Lactobacillus and Bacillus are discussed, alongside emerging candidates derived from non-poultry hosts that may offer additional functional benefits. Despite encouraging findings, the use of probiotics in poultry faces several challenges, including strain-specific efficacy, variation in results across studies, environmental influences, and regulatory limitations. Therefore, we further explore future directions that are aimed at improving probiotic application in poultry production, such as microbiome-guided strain selection, advanced delivery systems, and combination therapies. Advancing our understanding of probiotic-pathogen-host interactions will be essential for optimizing probiotic use to enhance poultry health, reduce zoonotic transmission of Salmonella, and contribute to safer and more sustainable food systems. Full article

The enhanced performance of electrokinetics (EK) on the cadmium (Cd) dissociation, redistribution, and phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated agricultural soil has been investigated based on the application of an electric field in different dimensions (1D, 2D, 3D). In electrokinetic–assisted phytoremediation (EKPR), unlike the uniform pH change observed in 1D treatment, more soil points (P1–P9) under 2D/3D electric fields were exposed to the influence of the anode (or cathode during polarity switching). Sedum plumbizincicola mitigates EK-induced soil acidification and alkalization, particularly anode acidification under high voltage (10–20 V). Studies reveal that EK promotes Cd dissolution into soil pore water, with a 227.82% maximum increase in the anode region under EK2 treatment of 10 V voltage, facilitating Cd phytoextraction. Periodically reversed DC electric fields enhanced Sedum plumbizincicola height more significantly than biomass, with no conspicuous regional differences. Overall, EKPR (voltage of 5–10 V) can effectively promote soil Cd phytoremediation due to the synergistic effect of direct interface action and indirect influence of the electric field to improve the Cd speciation evolution, dissociation, and bioavailability at the soil–water interface. The appropriate electric field arrangement and voltage were 2D treatment (EKPR2) and 5 V for S. plumbizincicola, respectively. In this case, the average Cd removal rate was as high as 50.23%, and the biomass and Cd accumulation increased by 16.59% and 29.31%. This suggests that plant growth constitutes the pivotal stage driving Cd accumulation and ultimately achieving Cd removal from soil, which is the key to enhancing remediation efficiency. Meanwhile, the configuration and intensity regulation of electric fields, as core elements ensuring the enhanced efficacy of electrokinetic–assisted phytoremediation (EKPR), can indirectly affect plant growth and Cd accumulation processes by modulating intermediate variables such as soil pH, nutrient status, and heavy metal speciation evolution. Full article

Coronaviruses are worldwide-distributed RNA viruses with zoonotic potential and the ability to jump from one host species to another, including humans. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic, the search for new, biologically active substances with anti-coronavirus activity continues to be a critical milestone for human health protection. In the framework of a complex engineering strategy, we cultivated the microalgal species Scenedesmus acutus in two different innovative types of flat-plate photobioreactors (PBR1 and K1) for CO₂ utilization and biomass production with special features. Isolated extracts from the microalgal biomass of each one were compared for their anti-coronavirus potential. The design of both PBRs allows a hydrodynamic regime to achieve best fluid flow distribution in their sections, therefore providing the optimal so-called flashing light effect. Of course, this is achieved under well-controlled operational conditions. A strain of beta coronavirus 1 (BCoV, bovine coronavirus) replicated in MDBK cells was used as an in vitro model for the evaluation of the antiviral activity of both extracts. The cell viability, number of survived BCoV particles, and cytopathic effect were evaluated after pre-incubation of the virus with the extracts or direct treatment. The extracts’ samples exhibited evident antiviral activity—extract 1 (from PBR1) in concentrations ≥ 200 µg/mL and extract 2 (from K1) in concentrations ≥150 µg/mL. The ddPCR result revealed significant diminishment of the BCoV particles in samples treated with higher concentrations of the extracts. The phytochemical analysis for certain main groups of compounds (flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids, and lipids) showed some differences for both extracts, which could be a possible reason for the observed difference in the antiviral activity. In conclusion, the innovative PBRs are a good platform for studying microalgal growth kinetics by applying different stress conditions from hydrodynamics and mass transfer subsystems. Both extracts showed promising potential for the isolation of metabolites with antiviral activity against BCoV and could be an object for future pharmacological investigations. Full article

The global population growth and the demand for agricultural food products have generated a significant volume of agro-industrial by-products which, inadequately managed, affect the quality of the environment. The construction industry, a large consumer of raw materials and energy, constitutes an important source of waste and greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, the circular economy provides the right framework for the valorization of such natural materials, allowing us to obtain innovative sustainable building materials. The paper presents experimental research that led to the development of twelve plasters incorporating rice husks that were characterized by means of thickness (2.71–6.26 mm, when applied on concrete, and 4.20–10.29 mm, when applied on plasterboards), adhesion to the concrete surface (0.18–0.65 N/mm²), thermal conductivity (0.072–0.083 W/m·K), and impact on indoor air quality, in terms of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) emissions (3272–9470 µg/m³). The determined levels of the emissions suggest the possibility that by extending the monitoring for at least seven days after application, the information is more relevant. The findings confirmed that using the rice husks for the obtaining of such plasters represents a possible direction of valorization in construction; additional research is necessary for a more precise delineation of the characteristics of these products. Full article

Reaction–diffusion equations provide a fundamental framework for modelling spatial population dynamics and invasion processes in mathematical biology. Among these, Fisher’s equation combines diffusion with logistic growth to describe the spread of an advantageous gene and the formation of travelling population fronts. In this work, we investigate the one-dimensional Fisher’s equation using Lie symmetry analysis to obtain a deeper analytical understanding of its wave propagation behaviour. The Lie point symmetries of the partial differential equation are derived and used to construct similarity variables that reduce Fisher’s equation to ordinary differential equations. These reduced equations are then solved by a combination of direct integration and the tanh method, yielding explicit invariant and travelling-wave solutions. Symbolic computations in MAPLE are employed to compute the symmetries, verify the reductions, and generate illustrative plots of the resulting wave profiles. The computed solutions capture sigmoidal fronts connecting stable and unstable steady states, providing clear information about wave speed and shape. Overall, this study demonstrates that Lie group methods, combined with hyperbolic-function techniques, offer a powerful and systematic approach for analysing Fisher-type reaction–diffusion models and interpreting their biologically relevant invasion dynamics. Full article

Digital competence has become a key component of teaching excellence in higher education. This study, from a global framework, presents a bibliometric analysis of scientific production on digital competences in the university context to identify research trends, collaboration networks, and thematic evolution in Latin America. A total of 1985 papers published between 1993 and 2025 in the Web of Science Core Collection were analyzed using a PRISMA-based protocol. The results show exponential growth in publications since 2019, underscoring the global relevance of digital literacy in transforming teaching and learning processes. Spain stands out as a leading country in productivity and impact, supported by consolidated institutional frameworks such as DigComp and DigCompEdu. Keyword analysis reveals a transition from a tech-skills-focused approach to a more holistic perspective that incorporates critical thinking, ethics, and responsible use of emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence. Although Latin America shows an increase in its contributions, its international visibility remains limited and requires strengthening scientific collaboration. This study provides a broad understanding of the field’s academic structure and outlines strategic directions to advance teachers’ digital competence and promote more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable university systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Traumatic experiences may lead to both negative and positive outcomes. Positive psychological changes following trauma are commonly referred to as posttraumatic growth (PTG). The present study aims to examine factors associated with posttraumatic growth among Syrian refugees who have been living in Turkey for an extended period. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a sample of 240 Syrian refugees. Participants completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Path analysis was conducted to examine the effects of PTSD symptoms and mindfulness levels on posttraumatic growth. In addition, Multivariate Adaptive Regression Spline (MARS) analysis was used to identify threshold values for the contributions of these variables to posttraumatic growth. Results: The mean age of the participants was 36.9 ± 10.4 years, and 47% were female. The direct effect of PTSD symptoms on posttraumatic growth was negative and statistically significant (β = −0.291, p < 0.001). PTSD symptoms also had an indirect effect on posttraumatic growth through mindfulness (β = −0.254), resulting in a total effect of −0.545. According to the MARS model, when MAAS scores exceeded 78, mindfulness demonstrated a positive effect on posttraumatic growth. Conclusions: The findings indicate that PTSD symptoms among refugees are associated with posttraumatic growth through both direct and indirect pathways. Furthermore, mindfulness emerges as a key factor in understanding the development of posttraumatic growth in this population. Full article

Ni–Fe alloys were prepared via electrodeposition from a citrate electrolyte under different magnetic field (MF) strengths (0.1 T, 0.3 T, and 0.5 T) and configurations parallel (B_‖) and perpendicular (B_⊥) to the electrode surface. The magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) induced by the magnetic field influences their structural, compositional, and electrocatalytic properties. The application of an external homogeneous magnetic field significantly altered the alloy morphology, composition, and crystallinity, which we investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) studies reflected that moderate MF intensity (0.3 T) led to modest variation in Fe incorporation and produced smoother, denser, and more homogeneous Ni–Fe films, particularly under (B_⊥), while high field strength (0.5 T) resulted in surface roughening and compositional nonuniformity. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed that the perpendicular MF enhanced crystallinity and favored (111) and (200) texture growth, while parallel orientation led to weaker and broader diffraction peaks, providing less-ordered growth. Furthermore, slight variations in Fe content were observed with changes in magnetic field strength and direction. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the deposited Ni-Fe under various magnetic field conditions modulated both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in 1 M NaOH. For HER, the lowest overpotential (η₁₀ = −227 mV at 10 mA cm⁻²) and Tafel slope (120 mV·dec⁻¹) were obtained for the deposited Ni-Fe under (B_‖) at 0.1 T, while for OER, the best catalytic performance occurred for fabricated Ni-Fe alloy under (B_⊥) at 0.3 T with an overpotential value of (η₁₀ = 320 mV, Tafel = 202 mV·dec⁻¹). The deposited Ni-Fe alloys under both orientations exhibited reasonable stability and durability during a prolonged operation process. Overall, the findings demonstrate that controlling magnetic field orientation and intensity during electrodeposition provides a versatile route to tailor the microstructure and optimize the bifunctional electrocatalytic performance of Ni–Fe alloys for the water-splitting reaction in an alkaline medium. Full article

Organic fruit and vegetable production in the United States is increasingly popular, driven by consumer interest in foods associated with healthier lifestyles and environmentally friendly practices. This review synthesizes evidence on the production of this subsector from 1960 to 2021, using major literature databases (Agricola, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar), to summarize health and environmental implications, economic importance, research trends, and persistent challenges. The production of fruits and vegetables is frequently reported to exhibit favorable quality and safety attributes, including higher antioxidant capacity and lower levels of cadmium, pesticides, and other chemical residues, supporting its relevance to nutrition and human health. This type of practice is also described as contributing to environmental restoration and preservation through improved soil conditions, reduced reliance on synthetic inputs, enhanced nutrient cycling, and climate-smart benefits such as increased soil organic matter and lower energy intensity. Nevertheless, it faces constraints that increase costs and limit scalability, including high labor demand, limited effectiveness and availability of some organic pest control tools, perishability, post-harvest losses, certification burdens, and market access regulations. Despite these barriers, data indicate growth: from 2007 to 2021, acreage increased by more than 100%, farm-gate value rose from $685 million to $1913 million, and the number of participating farms increased by more than 100%. Moreover, it accounts for 0.9% of the total value of the agricultural production in the U.S. Overall, the outlook for U.S. organic fruit and vegetables is encouraging, supported by expanding consumer demand, government support, and improved conditions for international trade. Full article

With the rapid development of the automotive industry, autonomous driving has attracted growing research interest, among which path planning and trajectory tracking play a central role. To better understand the evolution, current status, and future directions of this field, this study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis combined with latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic modeling on publications related to autonomous vehicle path planning and trajectory tracking indexed in the Web of Science database. Multiple dimensions are examined, including publication trends, highly cited authors, leading institutions, research domains, and keyword co-occurrence patterns. The results reveal a sustained growth in research output, with trajectory planning, path optimization, trajectory tracking, and model predictive control (MPC) emerging as dominant topics, alongside a notable rise in learning-based approaches. In particular, reinforcement learning (RL) and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) have become increasingly prominent in complex decision-making and tracking control scenarios. The analysis further identifies core contributors and institutions, highlighting the leading roles of China and the United States in this research area. Overall, the findings provide a systematic overview of the knowledge structure and evolving research trends, offering valuable insights into key opportunities and challenges and supporting future research toward safer and more intelligent autonomous driving systems. Full article

Fumaric acid is one of the most important bio-based chemicals, with applications in the food, feed, polymer, pulp, and pharmaceutical industries. To overcome the limitations of the current petrochemical production process, alternative methods are being developed. Biotechnological production using wild-type fungi like Rhizopus sp. is a promising alternative. In this study, apple pomace was used as a carbohydrate source for fumaric acid production using Rhizopus arrhizus NRRL 1526. Our focus was on the use of free, non-structurally bound carbohydrates present in high amounts in apple pomace originating from direct apple juice processing. Three processes were compared: pressing, extraction, and a combination of both. Two cultivation strategies were applied: pre-culture and separate upstream biomass production. Using the pre-culture approach, a fumaric acid titer of 68.3 g/L was achieved with a yield of 0.53 g/g and a productivity of 0.29 g/(L·h) from synthetic apple pomace juice. Separate biomass production enabled growth-decoupled fumaric acid production, yielding 50.2 g/L and 79.3 g/L with yields of 0.82 g/g and 0.54 g/g and productivities of 0.17 g/(L·h) and 0.27 g/(L·h) from synthetic and real apple pomace juice, respectively. Thus, the efficient use of apple pomace for the fermentative production of fumaric acid is shown. Full article

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are a new type of pollutant that are widely present in terrestrial ecosystems due to agricultural plastics, sludge use, deposition, and litter degradation. Plants can absorb them through the soil and atmosphere, with adverse effects on plant growth and development. Several studies have reported the effects of MNPs on plant physiology, biochemistry, and toxicity. However, the food chain risk of plant uptake of MNPs has not been systematically studied. This review synthesizes current research on plant MNP pollution, focusing on the uptake and transport mechanisms of MNPs by plants, influencing factors, and health hazards. The size, type, and surface charge characteristics of MNPs, as well as environmental conditions, are key factors affecting MNP absorption and accumulation in plants. Furthermore, when MNP-enriched plants are consumed by humans and animals, the accumulated MNPs can diffuse through the bloodstream to various organs, impairing physiological functions and causing a range of health problems. While a comprehensive, traceable investigation of the transmission of MNPs through the terrestrial food chain remains unconfirmed, health risk signals are unequivocal—dietary intake is the primary route of human exposure to MNPs, with direct evidence of their bioaccumulation in human tissues. Addressing this critical research gap, i.e., systematically verifying the full terrestrial food chain translocation of MNPs, is therefore pivotal for conducting robust and comprehensive assessments of the food safety and health risks posed by MNPs. This study analyzed a total of 154 literature sources, providing important theoretical insights into the absorption, transport, and accumulation of MNPs in plants, as well as the health risks associated with their transfer to humans through the food chain. It is expected to provide valuable reference for the research on the transfer of MNPs in the “soil-plant-human” chain. Full article

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low breast cancer is a clinically relevant subgroup defined by low but detectable HER2 protein expression, immunohistochemistry (IHC) score of 1+ or 2+ with negative in situ hybridization findings, positioned at the interface between traditional HER2-positive and HER2-negative disease. The recent introduction of antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) has increased the clinical significance of borderline HER2 expression and exposed important diagnostic challenges, particularly in cases with very low levels of membrane staining, including the emerging HER2-ultralow category. Background and Objectives: This review summarizes the pathological and biological framework of HER2-low and HER2-ultralow breast cancer and critically appraises the magnitude, direction, and determinants of HER2 variability under systemic therapy. Particular focus is placed on treatment-associated shifts after chemotherapy, intratumoral heterogeneity, and pre-analytical and analytical factors that can influence HER2 assessment, with direct implications for therapeutic stratification and biomarker reassessment. Materials and Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, focusing on studies published within the last five years. Eligible publications included clinical trials, retrospective cohorts, and translational or molecular studies that reported paired HER2 assessment in breast cancer and were interpreted according to American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists-aligned criteria. Results: Across major cohorts, HER2-low appeared to be the most dynamic category, with variability frequently observed following systemic therapy. Beyond treatment-related effects, shifts in HER2 status may be attributable to intratumoral heterogeneity and technical variability, with the greatest impact observed at the IHC 0–1+ interface. Conclusions: Given the clinical relevance of low-level HER2 expression, standardized testing and transparent reporting are essential, and HER2 reassessment may be justified in selected clinical scenarios to optimize access to HER2-directed therapies. Full article