Search Results (174)

The nexus of sustainable manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies is redefining modern industrial practices. Conventional manufacturing, characterized by intensive energy use, resource depletion, and waste generation, is increasingly unsustainable in the face of environmental pressures and evolving regulations. Industry 4.0 technologies—including IoT, artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud computing platforms, and, recently, digital twins—provide opportunities to embed sustainability by enabling real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and adaptive decision-making. This paper addresses key methods and strategies for sustainability and Industry 4.0 nexus. It involves IoT systems for data-driven monitoring, AI for process optimization, cloud platforms for supply chain sustainability, and emphasizes the use of digital twins for predictive maintenance. Organizational strategies such as cross-functional collaboration, customized software, dual-focus performance metrics, and workforce reskilling are explored, alongside barriers including high capital costs, cybersecurity risks, and system integration challenges. The findings present a structured perspective on harmonizing sustainability and Industry 4.0, demonstrating how this nexus can reduce environmental impact, enhance efficiency, and support long-term industrial resilience. Full article

Background: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the main microbial fermentation products in the colon, have immunometabolic and anti-neoplastic properties. Alterations in fecal SCFA profiles have been proposed as potential non-invasive biomarkers for colorectal cancer (CRC), but previous findings remain inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine whether fecal acetate, propionate, and butyrate concentrations differ between patients with CRC and healthy individuals. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library was conducted on 18 September 2025. Eligible studies were observational, included adults with histologically confirmed CRC and healthy controls, and reported fecal concentrations of at least one SCFA quantified using validated analytical methods. Two independent reviewers performed study screening, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment. Random-effects models were applied to calculate pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Thirteen studies met inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis, and four (141 CRC cases, 98 controls) were eligible for meta-analysis. Compared with healthy controls, patients with CRC had significantly lower fecal acetate (pooled SMD −0.37; 95% CI −0.63 to −0.10; p = 0.006; I² = 0%) and butyrate (pooled SMD −0.59; 95% CI −1.10 to −0.07; p = 0.026; I² = 64.4%), whereas propionate did not differ significantly (pooled SMD −0.02; 95% CI −0.85 to 0.82; p = 0.971; I² = 89%). Conclusions: CRC is associated with reduced fecal butyrate and, to a lesser extent, acetate, suggesting impaired microbial fermentation. Propionate shows no consistent difference. SCFA profiling currently lacks sufficient standardization and validation for clinical application. Future harmonized, longitudinal studies integrating diet, microbiome, and metabolomic data are warranted to confirm SCFAs as reproducible biomarkers of CRC. Full article

Cement production in Africa remains carbon-intensive, primarily due to the use of coal-based thermal energy. This study conducts a comparative cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) of cement production using 100% coal (Scenario A) against partial substitution with refuse-derived fuel (RDF) at a 20% thermal input rate (Scenario B), with case studies in South Africa and Ethiopia. The LCA, modeled in SimaPro 9.2.0.1 with Ecoinvent v3.7.1 and regional data, evaluates midpoint environmental impacts across the following five stages: raw materials, clinker production, electricity, fuel use, and transportation. The results show that Scenario B reduces the global warming potential (GWP) by 3.3–4.2% per kg of cement, with minimal increases in other impact categories. When avoided landfill methane is accounted for, GWP reduction improves to 6.7%. Fossil resource depletion drops by 10%, and toxicity and particulate emissions show marginal improvements. Economic analysis under South Africa’s 2025 carbon policy reveals a modest net cost increase of $2–3 per ton of cement and an abatement cost of $64–87 per ton of CO₂. The study provides new insights by harmonizing LCA models across national contexts, linking emissions reductions to economic instruments, and quantifying the co-benefits of RDF for waste management. The results support RDF co-processing as a scalable mitigation strategy for the African cement sector, recommending substitution rates of 15–30%, policy alignment, and enhancement of the RDF supply chain to maximize impact. Full article

Plant tissues exhibit a layered architecture that makes spatial context decisive for interpreting transcriptional changes. This review explains why the location of gene expression is as important as its magnitude and synthesizes advances uniting single-cell/nucleus RNA-seq with spatial transcriptomics in plants. Surveyed topics include platform selection and material preparation; plant-specific sample processing and quality control; integration with epigenomic assays such as single-nucleus Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing (ATAC) and Multiome; and computational workflows for label transfer, deconvolution, spatial embedding, and neighborhood-aware cell–cell communication. Protoplast-based single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) enables high-resolution profiling but introduces dissociation artifacts and cell-type biases, whereas ingle-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) improves the representation of recalcitrant lineages and reduces stress signatures while remaining compatible with multiomics profiling. Practical guidance is provided for mitigating ambient RNA, interpreting organellar and intronic metrics, identifying doublets, and harmonizing batches across chemistries and studies. Spatial platforms (Visium HD, Stereo-seq, bead arrays) and targeted imaging (Single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH), Hairpin-chain-reaction FISH (HCR-FISH), Multiplexed Error-Robust Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (MERFISH)) are contrasted with plant-specific adaptations and integration pipelines that anchor dissociated profiles in anatomical coordinates. Recent atlases in Arabidopsis, soybean, and maize illustrate how cell identities, chromatin accessibility, and spatial niches reveal developmental trajectories and stress responses jointly. A roadmap is outlined for moving from atlases to interventions by deriving gene regulatory networks, prioritizing cis-regulatory targets, and validating perturbations with spatial readouts in crops. Together, these principles support a transition from descriptive maps to mechanism-informed, low-pleiotropy engineering of agronomic traits. Full article

Persistent discrepancies remain in the perceived far-field noise of automotive permanent-magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) and the predictions of conventional NVH simulations. To bridge this gap, a Tri-source Electromagnetic Coupling NVH Integrated Framework (Tri-ECNVH) is developed, in which air-gap electromagnetic force harmonics, torque ripple, and cogging torque are treated as a coupled excitation system rather than as independent sources. Traditional workflows usually superpose their responses in the power domain, which tends to underestimate the radiating contribution of torque-related excitations and neglect their phase and order coupling with radial electromagnetic forces. In the proposed Tri-ECNVH framework, the three sources are mapped into the order domain, aligned by spatial order, and applied to the stator with phase consistency, so that inter-source coupling and cross terms are explicitly retained along a unified electromagnetic–structural–acoustic chain. Acoustic radiation is evaluated by prescribing the normal velocity on the stator outer surface as a Neumann boundary condition and computing the far-field A-weighted sound pressure level (SPL) using a boundary element method (BEM) model. Numerical results reveal pronounced cooperative amplification of the three sources at critical orders and within perceptually sensitive frequency bands; relative to independent-source modeling with power-domain summation, Tri-ECNVH predicts peak levels that are typically 5–10 dB higher and reproduces the spectral envelope and peak–valley evolution more faithfully. The framework therefore offers a practical, radiation-oriented basis for multi-source noise mitigation in traction PMSMs and helps narrow the gap between simulation and perceived sound quality in automotive applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) are derived from camelid heavy-chain antibodies (HCAb). Their small size, high stability, and ease of production, among other properties, makes them highly valuable in biomedical research and therapeutic development. Several sdAb-based molecules are currently progressing through clinical trials, highlighting their translational relevance. As sdAbs originate from HCAb of Camelidae family, they can originate from multiple species including Vicugna pacos, Lama glama, Camelus dromedarius and Camelus bactrianus. Although several reports and databases analyze the structure of sdAbs, comprehensive evaluations on species-dependent structural differences remain scarce. Methods: We assembled MO-IISA, an open-access curated database of sdAbs with known antigen targets by integrating six public resources (iCAN, INDI, SAbDab-nano, sdAb-DB, PLabDab-nano, NbThermo) under harmonized eligibility criteria. Results: The final dataset comprises 2053 sdAbs derived from llamas (Lama glama, n = 1316); alpacas (Vicugna pacos, n = 325), dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius, n = 377) and Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus, n = 35). We quantified region lengths, amino acid frequency, and conservation/entropy across frameworks (FR1–FR4). The average length of all sdAbs was about 124 ± 8 amino acids, with minor interspecies differences. We observed a consistent enrichment of lysines in FR3 (and secondarily FR2) and cysteines primarily in FR1 and FR3, with non-canonical cysteines more frequent in Bactrian and dromedary sdAbs CDRs. CDR2 and, particularly CDR3, contributed most to inter- and intra-species variability, whereas FRs were highly conserved. Conclusions: Species-neutral framework constraints and species-tuned loop adaptations have practical implications for sdAb engineering, species selection, and conjugation strategies. These features are captured in MO-IISA, an open-access database of known-target sdAbs from different species. Full article

Global climate change exerts a systematic threat to the yield stability, nutritional quality, pest and disease control, and supply chain security of the fruit and vegetable industry via multiple ways, including altering temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, rainfall, ocean acidification, and soil deterioration. To tackle climate change, actions like carbon pricing and low-carbon technologies not only promote emission reduction but also impose pressure and economic difficulties on farmers, producers, logistics, transport, etc. This review, from an integrated view of “policy–technology relationship”, begins by summarizing the impacts of the aforementioned climate factors and systematically analyzes the influence of climate, policy, and technology on the fruit and vegetable industry. The research shows that the solution lies in the strategic cooperation between policies and technologies: technological innovation (e.g., controlled environment agriculture) offers potential for establishing resilient production systems, yet its successful implementation largely relies on forward—looking policy support and infrastructure investment, particularly the initial investment in renewable energy. Therefore, this paper puts forward an integrated framework intended for designing “resilient” fruit and vegetable systems, offering new theoretical foundations and path options for the coordinated advancement of climate mitigation and global nutrition security goals. This work offers an integrated framework for designing antifragile fruit and vegetable systems, harmonizing climate mitigation (SDG 13) with nutritional security (SDG 2) through strategically coordinated policy and technology interventions. Full article

We present analytical investigations of evolution of localized disturbances during their propagation in an infinite monoatomic nonlinear one-dimensional lattice, specifically the $\alpha$-Fermi-Pasta-Ulam (FPU) chain. We focus on two key disturbance characteristics: the position of the energy center and the energy radius. Restricting our analysis to long-wave low-amplitude disturbances, we investigate the dynamics in the $\alpha$-FPU chain and its two continuous versions described by the Boussinesq and Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equations. Utilizing the energy dynamics approach and leveraging the known property of the KdV equation that any localized disturbance eventually decomposes into a set of non-interacting solitons and a dispersive oscillatory tail, we establish a similarity between the behavior of the disturbance in the linear chain and the nonlinear chain under consideration. Namely, at large time scales, the disturbance energy center propagates and the energy radius increases linearly in time, meaning dispersion also occurs at a constant velocity, analogous to the linear case. It was also found that, prior to its decomposition into non-interacting components, a disturbance in the KdV equation generally evolves as if subjected to an effective force from the medium. Furthermore, for two reduced versions of the KdV equation—one lacking the dispersive term and the other lacking the nonlinear term—the energy center of any disturbance moves with constant velocity. These results generalize the behavior observed in harmonic chains to weakly nonlinear systems and provide a unified framework for understanding energy transport. Full article

Background/Objectives: The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is rising worldwide, although its biological and clinical features remain incompletely understood. Emerging evidence implicates gut microbial dysbiosis as a key driver of EOCRC pathogenesis, acting through complex interactions with host genetics, mucosal immunity, and early-life exposures. This review synthesizes current evidence on EOCRC-specific microbial signatures, delineates host–microbiome interactions, and evaluates how these insights may inform precision prevention, early detection, and therapeutic strategies. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to August 2025, using combinations of “early-onset colorectal cancer,” “gut microbiome,” “dysbiosis,” and “host–microbiome interactions.” Both clinical and preclinical studies were included. Extracted data encompassed microbial composition, mechanistic insights, host-related factors, and microbiome-targeted interventions. Evidence was synthesized narratively to highlight consistent patterns, methodological limitations, and translational implications. Results: EOCRC is consistently associated with enrichment of pro-inflammatory and genotoxic taxa (e.g., Fusobacterium nucleatum, colibactin-producing Escherichia coli, enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis) and depletion of short-chain fatty acid–producing commensals. Multi-omics analyses reveal distinct host–microbiome signatures influenced by germline predisposition, mucosal immunity, sex, and early-life exposures. However, substantial methodological heterogeneity persists. Collectively, these data point to candidate microbial biomarkers for early detection and support the rationale for microbiome-targeted preventive and adjunctive therapeutic approaches. Conclusions: EOCRC harbors unique microbial and host–environmental features that distinguish it from late-onset disease. Integrating host determinants with microbiome signatures provides a framework for precision prevention and tailored therapeutic strategies. Future priorities include harmonizing methodologies, validating microbial biomarkers in asymptomatic young adults, and rigorously testing microbiome-targeted interventions in clinical trials. Full article

Eleven novel asymmetric pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized. The pyrimidine core was functionalized with a coumarin chromophore and a pro-mesogenic fragment bearing either chiral or linear alkyl chains of variable length and substitution patterns. The thermal properties were investigated using polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and small-angle X-ray scattering, revealing that only selected derivatives exhibited liquid crystalline phases with ordered columnar or smectic organizations. Linear and nonlinear optical properties were characterized by UV–Vis absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy, two-photon absorption, and second-harmonic generation. Optical responses were found to be highly sensitive to the substitution pattern: derivatives functionalized at the 4 and 3,4,5 positions exhibited enhanced 2PA cross-sections and pronounced SHG signals, whereas variations in alkyl chain length exerted only a minor influence. Notably, compounds forming highly ordered non-centrosymmetric mesophases produced robust SHG-active thin films. Importantly, strong SHG responses were obtained without the need for a chiral center, as the inherent asymmetry of the linear alkyl chain derivatives was sufficient to drive self-organization into non-centrosymmetric materials. These results demonstrate that asymmetric pyrimidine-based architectures combining π-conjugation and controlled supramolecular organization are promising candidates for nonlinear optical applications such as photonic devices, multiphoton imaging, and optical data storage. Full article

Driven by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the global “Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic” initiative, China has become a key bamboo industry player by leveraging abundant resources and an integrated supply chain. To enhance international competitiveness, optimizing product structure and market resilience is essential. Using descriptive statistics, visualization, trade concentration index, and K-means clustering, this study analyzed China’s bamboo trade spatiotemporal patterns and market resilience based on 2015–2024 China customs data. Results revealed major revisions in the Harmonized System (HS) codes for bamboo products in 2017, yet existing classifications remain insufficiently detailed. Imports declined overall, characterized by fragmented primary products mainly sourced from the Taiwan region of China and Vietnam. In contrast, exports grew steadily, led by Bamboo Tableware, with the United States, Japan, and Europe as key markets, and notable expansion into Southeast Asia. In 2024, bamboo products accounted for over 99% of China’s total bamboo trade value, and the export–import gap kept widening. Compared with 2015, export concentration declined: low- and medium-concentration markets increased, highly concentrated ones decreased, and overall resilience improved. Cluster analysis split core destinations into seven groups in 2015 but only five in 2024, signalling broader demand diversity and fewer single-category-dominated markets. The study recommends refining HS codes to reflect new bamboo innovations; consolidating markets in Europe and America while expanding differentiated demand in Southeast Asia; upgrading Bamboo Tableware through technology; and boosting core product competitiveness to support global bamboo trade and the “Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic” initiative. Full article

Hydrogen plays a central role in ensuring the fulfillment of the climate and energy goals established in the Paris Agreement. To implement sustainable and resilient hydrogen economies, it is essential to analyze the entire hydrogen value chain, following a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. To determine the current methodologies, approaches, and research tendencies adopted when performing LCA of hydrogen energy systems, a systematic literature analysis is carried out in the present study. The choices regarding the “goal and scope definition”, “life cycle inventory analysis”, and “life cycle impact assessment” in 70 scientific papers were assessed. Based on the collected information, it was concluded that there are no similar LCA studies, since specificities introduced in the system boundaries, functional unit, production, storage, transportation, end-use technologies, geographical specifications, and LCA methodological approaches, among others, introduce differences among studies. This lack of harmonization triggers the need to define harmonization protocols that allow for a fair comparison between studies; otherwise, the decision-making process in the hydrogen energy sector may be influenced by methodological choices. Although initial efforts have been made, their adoption remains limited, and greater promotion is needed to encourage wider implementation. Full article

Periodontitis is a biofilm-driven inflammatory disease in which conventional indices (probing depth, clinical attachment level, and radiographs) quantify tissue destruction without capturing the biology of infection. In this review, we synthesized microbiological diagnostics, from chairside tools to omics. We outline sampling strategies and emphasize the quantitative monitoring of bacterial load. Enzymatic assays (e.g., N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-2-naphthylamide hydrolysis assay test) measure functional activity at the point of care. Immunological methods include rapid immunochromatography for Porphyromonas gingivalis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the high-throughput measurement of bacterial antigens. Molecular platforms encompass quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) (TaqMan, SYBR, multiplex panels; propidium monoazide quantitative-qPCR for viable cells), checkerboard DNA–DNA hybridization for semi-quantitative community profiling, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)/molecular beacon-LAMP for portable isothermal detection, and microarrays. Complementary modalities such as fluorescent in situ hybridization, next-generation sequencing, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy provide spatial, ecological, and biochemical resolutions. We discuss the limitations of current approaches, including sampling bias, presence–activity discordance, semi-quantitation, method biases, limited strain/function resolution, low-biomass artifacts, and lack of validated cutoffs. To address these challenges, we propose a pragmatic hybrid strategy: site-specific quantitative panels combined with activity and host-response markers interpreted alongside clinical metrics under standardized quality assurance/quality control. Priorities include outcome-linked thresholds, strain-aware/functional panels, robust point-of-care chemistry, and harmonized protocols to enable personalized periodontal care. Full article

This paper presents the development and characterization of a reference high-voltage sensing chain for the calibration and conformity assessment of instrument transformers with Class 0.1-WB3, in the extended frequency range up to 150 kHz, according to IEC 61869. The sensing chain, composed of a high-voltage divider, precision attenuators and high-pass filters, has been specifically developed and characterized. The chain features two parallel measurement paths: the first path, comprising the high-voltage divider and attenuator, is optimized for measuring the fundamental frequency superimposed with high-amplitude harmonics; the second path, consisting of the high-voltage divider followed by a high-pass filter, is dedicated to measuring very-low-level superimposed harmonic components by enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio. These two paths are integrated with a digitizer to form a complete and modular measurement chain. The expanded uncertainty of measurement has been thoroughly evaluated and confirms the chain’s ability to support assessment of instrument transformers with Class 0.1-WB3 compliance. Additionally, the chain architecture enables a future extension up to 500 kHz, addressing the growing need to evaluate instrument transformers under high-frequency power quality disturbances and improving the sensing capability in this field. Full article

The gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in athletic health and performance by influencing metabolism, immunity, gastrointestinal integrity, and recovery. Advances in high-throughput sequencing and integrative multi-omics approaches have provided unprecedented insights into how microbial communities adapt to the physiological demands of training and competition. Key microbial taxa, including short-chain fatty acid producers, lactate utilizers, and carbohydrate fermenters, have been linked to enhanced endurance, reduced inflammation, and improved recovery, opening exciting opportunities for targeted probiotic interventions. While conventional probiotics remain valuable, next-generation engineered strains hold particular promise, supported by recent regulatory milestones such as FDA approvals of engineered probiotics and gene-edited livestock. In this narrative review, we synthesize recent multi-omics research to examine mechanistic links between the athlete gut microbiome and performance, evaluate current and emerging probiotic strategies, and highlight challenges related to personalization, standardization, and regulation. With longitudinal, performance-oriented trials and harmonized frameworks, microbiome-targeted interventions are poised to move beyond exploratory research toward evidence-based, precision tools that optimize athletic performance and recovery. Full article