Search Results (3,734)

Low-frequency noise, primarily generated by transformers and electrical machinery in substations, presents considerable environmental and health risks due to its strong penetration and minimal attenuation. Conventional noise control methods often fail to effectively absorb such low-frequency sounds. In response to this challenge, acoustic metamaterials featuring unique subwavelength structures have emerged as a promising solution for absorbing low-frequency and broadband noise. This study introduces a novel sound-absorbing metamaterial that integrates parallel-connected Helmholtz resonators with a helical cavity structure. To enhance its performance across a broad frequency range, the metamaterial is optimized using a genetic algorithm. Experimental validation, based on 3D-printed samples and impedance tube measurements, demonstrates high absorption efficiency at target frequencies (100 Hz, 300 Hz, and 500–1300 Hz), with absorption coefficients exceeding 0.9. The results confirm that the metamaterial effectively reduces low-frequency core noise. This work represents a significant advancement in noise control technologies for substations, with broader implications for urban noise mitigation and environmental protection. Full article

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a pathological condition characterized by the co-occurrence of multiple metabolic abnormalities. The affected population is increasingly shifting toward younger age groups. Emerging digital health technologies, arising from advances in digital society, offer novel methodological tools for lifestyle-based interventions targeting metabolic risk. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of emerging digital health technologies based on dietary and physical activity regulation in improving MetS-related outcomes among adolescents, including school-aged children. Methods: This review followed the PRISMA guidelines, systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, MEDLINE, and Scopus, and screened eligible studies based on the PICO framework. Results: A total of 12 randomized controlled trials published between 2012 and 2025 were included in the analysis. Single device interventions (5/12) and dual device combinations (5/12) were the predominant approaches used in current digital health technology applications. Intervention content primarily focused on either physical activity alone (5/12) or combined exercise and nutrition interventions (7/12), with most programs lasting 3–6 months (7/12). Across the included digital health interventions, 13 MetS-related measures were assessed, including anthropometric/body composition measures (BMI, BMI z-score, WC, WHR, WHtR, and VFA), blood pressure measures (SBP/DBP), and biochemical markers (BG, HOMA-IR, TG, TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C). Conclusions: The available evidence supports the potential of digital health technologies to improve MetS-related outcomes. Although the selection of biochemical markers varied across studies, the findings highlight the importance of combined exercise and nutrition interventions or physical activity of moderate to high intensity in improving MetS. These results underscore the value of digital health technologies in elucidating the complex interactions among diet, physical activity, and metabolic responses. Overall, these findings support integrating digital health technologies into adolescent lifestyle interventions to facilitate more personalized monitoring and behavior support, and to potentially improve MetS-related outcomes. By promoting timely improvements in these outcome measures, such digital health interventions may have potential longer term implications for chronic disease prevention. Full article

Staphylococcus aureus, as a critical zoonotic and foodborne pathogen, not only triggers public health threats such as food poisoning but also acts as a leading cause of diverse clinical infections, including skin infections, pneumonia, and endocarditis. Confronted with the growing crisis of multidrug resistance in S. aureus, both phage therapy and probiotic therapy have emerged as promising alternative biological strategies; however, the current literature predominantly examines them in isolation. This review therefore aims to delineate the contemporary therapeutic challenges of drug-resistant S. aureus and to systematically compare the mechanisms and clinical translation of phages and probiotics within an integrated analytical framework. We first outline the current therapy landscape, then present side by side the molecular inhibitory mechanisms and clinical progress of both approaches, followed by a comparative analysis of their antibacterial mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and industrial challenges. Through this consolidated perspective, the review not only clarifies the distinct strengths and limitations of each strategy but also seeks to provide researchers and clinicians with a comprehensive mechanistic and evidence-based reference for developing novel antibacterial technologies and designing innovative therapeutic regimens. Ultimately, it highlights potential synergies between phages and probiotics, offering a forward-looking roadmap to overcome S. aureus resistance and advance personalized combinatorial therapies. Full article

The continuous emission of persistent and bioaccumulative pollutants into aquatic environments has become a critical global issue. Among these, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are of particular concern due to their exceptional stability, extensive industrial use, and adverse impacts on ecosystems and human health. Their resistance to conventional physical, chemical, and biological treatments stems from the strength of the carbon–fluorine bond, which prevents efficient degradation under standard conditions. This review provides a concise and updated assessment of emerging advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for PFAS remediation, with emphasis on heterogeneous photocatalysis and electrochemical oxidation. Photocatalytic systems based on In₂O₃, Bi-based oxyhalides, and Ga₂O₃ exhibit high PFAS degradation under UV light, while heterojunctions and MOF-derived catalysts improve defluorination under solar irradiation. Electrochemical oxidation—particularly using Ti₄O₇ reactive electrochemical membranes and BDD anodes—achieves near-complete mineralization with comparatively low specific energy demand. Energy consumption (E_EO) was calculated from literature data for UV- and simulated-solar-driven photocatalytic systems, enabling a direct comparison of their energy performance. Although solar-driven processes offer clear environmental advantages, they generally exhibit higher E_EO values, mainly due to lower apparent quantum yields and less efficient utilization of the incident solar photons compared to UV-driven systems. Hybrid systems coupling photocatalysis and electro-oxidation emerge as promising strategies to enhance degradation efficiency and reduce energy requirements. Overall, the review highlights key advances and future research directions toward scalable, energy-efficient, and environmentally sustainable AOP-based technologies for PFAS removal. Full article

The growing global population and the rapid increase in older adults are driving healthcare costs upward. In response, the healthcare system is shifting toward models that enable continuous monitoring of individuals without requiring hospital admission. Advances in sensing technologies, embedded systems, wireless communication, nanotechnology, and device miniaturization have made these smart systems possible. Wearable sensors can monitor physiological indicators and other symptoms, helping to detect unusual or unexpected events. This allows for the provision of timely assistance when it is needed most. This paper outlines the challenges associated with these systems and reviews recent developments in wearable, sensor-based human activity monitoring. The focus is on health monitoring applications, including relevant biomarkers, wearable and implantable sensors, and established sensor technologies currently used in healthcare, as well as future prospects. It also discusses the challenges involved in researching, developing, and applying these sensors. The goal is to promote the widespread use of these sensors in human health monitoring. Full article

The growing demand for low-carbon, resource-efficient, and multifunctional construction materials has intensified interest in solutions that can support both circular economy strategies and sustainable urban development. Expanded perlite—a lightweight volcanic material with low embodied energy and multiple functional properties—is increasingly considered a potential component of circular and nature-based material systems. This paper critically examines whether expanded perlite can serve as a sustainable alternative in civil engineering applications, contributing to reduced material consumption, improved thermal performance, and lower environmental impact across the life cycle. The review provides an overview of current applications of expanded perlite in lightweight concretes, insulation systems, green roofs, water-retention substrates, and other technologies relevant to resilient and net-zero cities. It also identifies key research gaps related to long-term durability, large-scale implementation, and life-cycle assessment, while emphasizing the need for proper handling procedures due to health concerns associated with dust exposure. By situating expanded perlite within the context of circular design and low-carbon construction, the paper highlights its potential role in decarbonizing the built environment and advancing the transition toward climate-resilient and regenerative urban systems. Full article

Heavy metal contamination of seafood remains a critical challenge for public health and industrial processing. Emerging research demonstrates that post-mortem treatments can reduce toxic elements through distinct mechanistic pathways, including diffusion-driven leaching, ligand-specific chelation, thermal redistribution, and physicochemical separation. This article synthesizes recent evidence to evaluate innovative processing approaches through a mechanistic and technology-oriented lens. Acidified marinades promote proton-mediated desorption and diffusion of arsenic, achieving reductions approaching 90%. Chelation strategies using food-grade ligands such as sodium acetate or combined cysteine–EDTA systems show strong affinity for divalent metals, removing up to 88.6% of lead, 80% of nickel, and over 90% of mercury. In parallel, advanced green technologies, such as supercritical CO₂ extraction and electrocoagulation, enable 90–98% removal. Full article

Mobile pyrolysis systems offer a practical pathway for the decentralized valorization of biomass waste, addressing the high logistical and economic burdens of transporting low-density, moisture-rich feedstocks to centralized facilities. By operating directly at the source, these systems convert diverse agricultural and forestry residues into biochar, bio-oil, pyrogas, and wood vinegar, while reducing transport volumes and associated emissions. Reported mobile reactors process between 4 kg per batch and 10 t/day, achieving biochar yields of 33–44 wt.% at 400 °C and bio-oil yields of 55–68 wt.% in fast pyrolysis at 500–550 °C, demonstrating performance comparable to stationary installations. This review synthesizes current mobile pyrolysis technologies, including reactor configurations, feedstock suitability, operational constraints, and recent advances in automation, real-time monitoring, and machine learning-based optimization. The agricultural and industrial applications of pyrolysis products are examined, with emphasis on soil health enhancement, biopesticide activity, renewable gas generation, and carbon sequestration. Emerging international projects and commercial efforts are highlighted, illustrating growing interest in flexible, low-carbon pyrolysis solutions for rural waste management and distributed bioresource utilization, while outlining the technological gaps that remain to be addressed. Full article

Background/Objectives: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease with marked inter-individual heterogeneity and well-established links to cardiometabolic and other systemic conditions. Conventional clinical diagnostics remain indispensable. However, they provide limited real-time insight into molecular activity and host-response biology. This review aimed to synthesize recent advances in point-of-care diagnostics and emerging molecular biomarkers relevant to periodontal disease and its systemic associations. Methods: We performed a state-of-the-art narrative review of literature published between 2018 and 2026. The focus was on point-of-care biosensing technologies and molecular biomarkers assessed in oral and related biological matrices. These included saliva, gingival crevicular fluid, blood, and dental plaque. Evidence was prioritized based on analytical performance, clinical validity, and translational readiness. Results: Substantial progress has been made in multiplex optical and electrochemical point-of-care platforms. These include microfluidic systems and early intraoral wearable sensors. Such technologies enable quantification of host-response proteins, including MMP-8, cytokines, and chemokines. In parallel, omics-derived biomarkers are emerging as clinically informative adjuncts for diagnosis and monitoring. MicroRNAs, cell-free DNA, extracellular vesicle–derived signals, proteomic profiles, and microbiome classifiers demonstrate promising discrimination. They also provide mechanistic links to systemic inflammation. Clinical translation remains limited by study heterogeneity, spectrum bias, and insufficient external validation. Conclusions: Near-term clinical value lies in adjunctive risk stratification and longitudinal disease monitoring. Replacement of conventional periodontal examination is not currently justified. Meaningful clinical and public-health impact will require standardized disease definitions. Harmonized sampling and reporting protocols are essential. Multicenter validation across comorbidity strata is needed. Regulatory-grade evidence must be generated for in vitro diagnostics and artificial intelligence software classified as medical devices. Full article

The increasing demand for reliability and safety in naval and offshore structures has accelerated the adoption of advanced Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) techniques. Among them, acoustic methods—ranging from passive acoustic emission monitoring to guided ultrasonic waves—have demonstrated exceptional potential for early detection, localization, and characterization of structural damage under harsh marine environments. This review provides a comprehensive and critical synthesis of the state-of-the-art in acoustic-based SHM applied to ships, submarines, offshore platforms, and floating renewable energy systems. Special emphasis is placed on the comparative performance of different acoustic techniques, their integration with numerical modeling and data-driven methods, and their suitability for real-world deployment considering hydrodynamic, operational, and environmental constraints. By bridging current achievements with future challenges, the paper highlights research gaps and outlines key directions to accelerate the transition of acoustic SHM technologies from laboratory studies to widespread industrial applications. This review aspires to serve as a reference work for both academic researchers and practitioners, consolidating knowledge and inspiring innovation in the field. Full article

Over the past two decades, advances in the understanding of epigenetic mechanisms—driven by the rapid expansion of omics technologies—have catalyzed a major paradigm shift in biology: from the genetic determinism and linear causality of the Central Dogma toward the dynamic, networked complexity of systems biology and multilevel regulation. This reconceptualization extends to inheritance itself, highlighting the crucial role of the epigenome as a molecular interface between the genome and the exposome—the cumulative set of internal and external environmental influences experienced across the lifespan. Within this evolving framework, neurodevelopmental disorders exemplify the deep entanglement between genetic predisposition, environmental exposure, and epigenetic modulation. Their increasing global prevalence and frequent comorbidities underscore the need for an integrated etiological understanding that transcends reductionist models. This review tries to synthesize current evidence on the shared molecular and systemic mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental spectrum disorders and examines how environmental and epigenetic factors jointly shape neurodevelopmental trajectories across generations. Finally, it discusses the broader implications of this paradigm shift for early diagnosis, prevention, and public health policies aimed at fostering healthy brain development in future generations. Full article

Herbicides are widely used agrochemicals and are increasingly recognised as contaminants of emerging concern in aquatic environments due to their extensive application, environmental persistence, and potential ecological and human health impacts. Their determination in water presents significant analytical challenges, as these compounds occur at trace to ultra-trace levels and encompass a wide range of chemical properties, including highly polar and ionic species as well as transformation products. This review provides a critical overview of recent advances in separation technologies for the analysis of herbicides in water, based on peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025 retrieved from the PubMed and Scopus databases. The discussion focuses on developments in sample preparation, extraction strategies, chromatographic separation, and detection techniques, with particular attention to analytical performance and sustainability. The reviewed studies demonstrate that solid-phase extraction remains central to achieving the lowest detection limits, while miniaturised and greener extraction approaches are increasingly adopted to reduce solvent consumption and simplify workflows. Advances in chromatographic separation and detection, especially liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, have further enhanced sensitivity and selectivity for a broad range of herbicides. Overall, this review highlights current analytical capabilities and emerging trends, outlining future directions for reliable and sustainable monitoring of herbicides in aquatic environments. Full article

The rapid increase in e-waste has become a significant global concern, influenced by swift technological advancements, shorter product lifecycles, and rising consumer demand. This situation leads to considerable environmental and health hazards, primarily due to the presence of toxic materials, energy demands, and the inadvertent loss of valuable resources when waste is not adequately managed. This review synthesises contemporary theories related to sustainable e-waste management, featuring concepts such as principles of the circular economy, energy efficiency and innovative recycling technologies. The review explores a range of actions, including regulatory strategies, mechanical pre-treatment methods, focusing on reagent-free recovery techniques, and the utilisation of digital solutions to enhance traceability and operational efficiency. The findings indicate substantial improvements in formal e-waste collection rates in areas with strong legislative frameworks, enhanced metal recovery efficiencies through refined hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical techniques and minimised environmental footprints through reagent-free and energy-conserving practices. The review emphasises the importance of viewing e-waste recycling not just as a waste management issue but as a fundamental element of resource security and sustainable industrial practices. By assessing recent developments, this work advocates for closed-loop recycling as an essential driver in the global shift towards a resilient, low-carbon, energy-efficient and circular economy. Full article

Male infertility is increasingly recognized as a complex, multifactorial disorder that extends beyond abnormalities in conventional semen parameters. A growing body of evidence highlights oxidative stress, sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), and epigenetic alterations as tightly interconnected mechanisms contributing to sperm dysfunction and impaired fertility. Reactive oxygen species, though vital for sperm maturation and signaling, can inflict extensive genomic and chromatin damage when their levels exceed the antioxidant capacity of the testis and seminal plasma. These redox-driven lesions not only compromise fertilization potential but may also influence embryonic development and offspring health. Clinical studies and meta-analyses consistently report that elevated SDF and redox imbalance are associated with reduced pregnancy and live birth rates, particularly in assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). The use of testicular sperm in men with high ejaculated SDF appears to improve ART outcomes, although long-term safety data remain limited. Advances in redox and genomic diagnostics, including assays for oxidation–reduction potential, SDF, and sperm epigenetic profiling, have opened new avenues for precision-based andrology, enabling targeted antioxidant, metabolic, and surgical interventions. Nonetheless, methodological variability, lack of assay standardization, and insufficient longitudinal follow-up constrain the full clinical translation of these findings. This review synthesizes evidence linking OS, SDF, and epigenetic alterations, highlighting their mechanistic crosstalk and translational relevance in the personalized management of male infertility. Full article

Livestock operations significantly contribute to global methane (CH₄) emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. This occurs primarily through enteric fermentation (a digestive process in ruminant animals that produce methane) and manure management. This review synthesizes the current understanding of the sources of methane within livestock farming systems. It focuses on the primary drivers of these emissions, namely methane production during ruminant digestion and emissions from manure handling. The review also explores the concept of methane sinks, highlighting the processes that remove methane from the atmosphere and their role in the global methane cycle. While natural methane sinks exist, their capacity to offset methane emissions from livestock operations is limited. This review therefore discusses a range of mitigation approaches, categorized into animal and feed management, diet manipulation, rumen manipulation, and advanced technologies. Synthesizing these elements provides a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities in addressing livestock-related methane emissions. Effective strategies should aim to reduce methane production without negatively impacting animal productivity and health. This emphasizes that addressing sustainable livestock production requires integrated approaches that simultaneously tackle climate change mitigation. Full article