Search Results (32,526)

Thalassemia is an inherited hemoglobin disorder characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia and substantial long-term healthcare needs. In β-thalassemia major, patients typically require regular red blood cell transfusions with iron chelation to prevent transfusional iron overload. Although supportive care has markedly improved survival, it is associated with a high treatment burden and does not provide a cure. In recent years, curative and disease-modifying therapies have expanded the treatment landscape. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) offers a potentially curative option for selected patients, while autologous gene therapy and gene-editing approaches have shown the capacity to achieve transfusion independence in clinical studies. In parallel, pharmacologic advances—including luspatercept, a transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) ligand trap—have been shown to enhance erythropoiesis and reduce transfusion requirements, and emerging agents such as fetal hemoglobin inducers (e.g., thalidomide) and the oral pyruvate kinase activator mitapivat have demonstrated clinically meaningful hemoglobin improvements in selected populations. Adjunctive strategies, including antioxidants, are under investigation to mitigate oxidative stress, and applications of artificial intelligence are increasingly used to support screening, diagnosis, and longitudinal monitoring of iron overload. This review synthesizes recent advances in curative therapies, novel pharmacologic agents, supportive strategies, and AI-enabled tools and highlights priorities for future clinical development and implementation. Full article

Cladocora caespitosa is an endemic hermatypic scleractinian in the Mediterranean Sea, currently threatened by both environmental and anthropogenic pressures, whereas Oculina patagonica is a cryptogenic hermatypic scleractinian that is expanding across the basin. This study provides the first assessment of co-occurring natural populations of these shallow-water taxa, examining their population structures, habitat preferences, and responses to environmental stressors based on SCUBA surveys conducted in the summers and autumns of 2022 and 2023. Both species were dominated by medium- to large-sized colonies, indicating relatively stable population structures, with C. caespitosa exhibiting significantly higher densities than O. patagonica. Both scleractinians showed a preference for sub-vertical and vertical rocky substrates, although O. patagonica appeared more tolerant of horizontal surfaces. Disease events were more frequent and severe in C. caespitosa, particularly affecting larger colonies during autumn 2022, whereas O. patagonica showed lower incidence and greater resilience overall. Temporal comparisons suggest that O. patagonica may act as a strong competitor to C. caespitosa; however, both species demonstrate a considerable capacity for recovery, likely due to adaptation to high-stress environments. These findings highlight key differences in ecological strategies and vulnerability to environmental stressors, emphasizing the need for targeted conservation approaches to preserve Mediterranean shallow-water coral communities under accelerating climate change. Full article

Edible insects have emerged as a sustainable source of high-quality proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates (including chitin), as well as micronutrients such as minerals and vitamins, and diverse bioactive compounds, thereby making them promising ingredients for functional food applications. Their favourable nutritional profile and low environmental footprint make them attractive ingredients for next-generation food systems. However, processing and preservation remain critical challenges, particularly with respect to the stability of bioactive compounds, lipid oxidation, and protein functional properties such as solubility, emulsifying capacity, and water-holding capacity. This review critically examines recent advances in food processing technologies applied to edible insects, including drying, extraction, fermentation, and microencapsulation, with emphasis on their effects on bioactive compound retention and functional performance. The role of processing strategies in enhancing oxidative stability, protein solubility, emulsifying properties, and overall technological applicability is discussed, alongside safety, regulatory, and consumer acceptance considerations. Overall, this review highlights key technological pathways for the effective valorisation of insect-derived ingredients and outlines future directions for their integration into sustainable and functional food products. In contrast to previous reviews, this work provides a comparative and mechanism-oriented analysis of processing methods, highlighting inconsistencies across studies and identifying key technological trade-offs. Particular attention is given to the relationship between processing parameters and the stability of bioactive compounds. Full article

Modern performance-based bridge design seeks to control damage in specific failure modes in order to balance safety and economy, particularly in high-seismic regions where inelastic and ductile deformation is expected to occur, both in the structure and soil, allowing potential reduction in seismic demand through fuse elements. In short-span bridges, abutments strongly influence longitudinal response, whereas transverse performance depends largely on seismic components such as shear keys and other energy-dissipation devices. Thus, performance assessment requires explicit representation of their hysteretic behavior. This study presents a numerical evaluation of the damping provided by common elements in typical bridge systems, using as reference damage observations from bridges affected by recent interface earthquakes in Mexico. Three-dimensional finite-difference models were developed, and nonlinear response-history analyses were performed to simulate ductile behavior and energy dissipation. The Sig3 hysteretic model available in FLAC^3D was used for abutments and foundation soils, while shear keys were represented as nonlinear springs. The results established a relationship between plastic deformation and energy dissipation, showing that incorporating the hysteretic behavior of both soil and sacrificial structural components enhanced the seismic bridge performance assessment, and led to more reliable and cost-efficient designs when inelastic deformation capacity was explicitly included in the numerical simulations. Full article

Organic redox-active molecules are promising catholyte materials for aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFBs), yet they often suffer from low solubility and poor cycling stability. Herein, we report a series of water-soluble phenothiazine derivatives functionalized with quaternary ammonium groups. The optimized compound, N,N,N-trimethyl-1-(10H-phenothiazin-10-yl) propan-2-aminium chloride (TMiPrPTCl), exhibits exceptional solubility (2.69 M in water) and a high redox potential (0.902 V vs. SHE). A comparative study of four derivatives reveals that side-chain length and branching critically modulate both solubility and degradation pathways: while three-carbon-linked analogs N,N,N-trimethyl-3-(10H-phenothiazin-10-yl)propan-1-aminium chloride (TMPrPTCl) degrade primarily via irreversible oxidation to sulfoxide, two-carbon-linked species (TMiPrPTCl) undergo additional side-chain cleavage, leading to rapid capacity fade. Although the quaternization strategy successfully achieves record solubility, the electrochemical stability remains a key challenge. Post-cycling analysis confirms the loss of redox activity and the formation of inert products. This work highlights the delicate balance between solubility enhancement and molecular stability, providing clear design guidelines for future phenothiazine-based catholytes. Full article

Mountain flood susceptibility in complex mountainous basins is strongly influenced by terrain–climate interactions; however, the linkage between spatial susceptibility patterns and hydrological processes remains poorly understood. This study proposes a process-oriented framework that explicitly links flood susceptibility patterns with hydrological processes, moving beyond conventional approaches that rely on independent model integration. The Baishuijiang River Basin, located in Wenxian County, southern Gansu Province, China, is selected as a representative mountainous watershed for this analysis. The specific conclusions are as follows: (1) Flood susceptibility was mapped using a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)-enhanced Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model based on multi-source environmental variables, including climatic, terrain, soil, land cover, and vegetation factors. The model achieved high predictive accuracy (Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) = 0.912), identifying precipitation of the driest month (bio14), elevation, and land use as dominant controlling factors. Medium-to-high-susceptibility areas account for approximately 22% of the basin and are mainly distributed along river valleys and flow convergence areas. These patterns are strongly associated with reduced infiltration capacity under dry antecedent conditions and enhanced flow concentration in steep terrain, and they exhibit clear nonlinear responses and threshold effects. (2) Hydrological simulations using Hydrologic Engineering Center–Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) show good agreement with observed runoff (Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) = 0.74−0.85). Sensitivity analysis indicates that runoff dynamics are primarily controlled by the Curve Number (CN), recession constant, and ratio to peak, corresponding to infiltration capacity, recession processes, and peak discharge amplification. The spatial consistency between high-susceptibility areas and areas of strong runoff response demonstrates that susceptibility patterns can be physically explained through hydrological processes, providing a process-based interpretation rather than a purely statistical prediction. (3) Future projections indicate that medium–high-susceptibility areas remain generally stable but show a gradual expansion (+5.2% ± 0.8%) and increasing concentration along river corridors under climate change scenarios. This reflects intensified precipitation variability and enhanced runoff concentration processes, suggesting a climate-driven amplification of flood risk in hydrologically connected areas. Overall, this study goes beyond conventional susceptibility assessment by establishing a physically interpretable framework that provides a consistent linkage between environmental controls, susceptibility patterns, and hydrological responses. The proposed approach is transferable to similar mountainous basins with strong terrain–climate interactions, although uncertainties related to data limitations and single-basin application remain and require further investigation. Full article

Myrtaceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants and is well known for its prolific terpene production. To investigate the genetic basis underlying this high-level terpene output, we conducted comparative genomic analyses of genes of the entire terpene biosynthetic pathways in selected Myrtaceae species and representative species from three other families within the order Myrtales. Our analyses revealed that genes encoding enzymes in the upstream terpene biosynthetic pathways are generally conserved in copy number across Myrtales. Similarly, isoprenyl diphosphate synthases, which are positioned centrally and responsible for producing the direct precursors of major terpene classes, also exhibit conserved gene numbers among these species. In contrast, substantial differences were observed in the number of terpene synthase (TPS) genes, which function downstream and directly catalyze terpene formation. Myrtaceae species possess markedly more TPS genes than species from other Myrtales families. This expansion is primarily attributable to increased gene numbers in the TPS-a, TPS-b, TPS-g, and TPS-e/f subfamilies, with the first three subfamilies largely associated with sesquiterpene and monoterpene biosynthesis. Further analyses indicate that the enlarged TPS-a and TPS-g subfamilies resulted at the origination of Myrtaceae-specific groups, whereas TPS-b exhibited Myrtaceae-specific expansion. In Eucalyptus grandis, tandem duplication makes a larger contribution to the expansion of TPS-a, TPS-b and TPS-g subfamilies than interchromosomal duplication. The majority of these TPS genes exhibit moderate to high levels of expression in leaves, consistent with their role in elevated terpene production in leaves of E. grandis. Collectively, our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the novel terpene-producing capacity of Myrtaceae is driven primarily by Myrtaceae-specific origination and/or expansion of downstream TPS genes rather than changes in upstream pathway gene copy numbers. Full article

Acidic tropical soils act as strong sinks for phosphorus (P) due to the high adsorption capacity of this nutrient by iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al) minerals. In this study, we investigated the effects of applying acai waste biochar (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in combination with dolomitic lime on the P dynamics of a Ferralsol with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) test crop. Application of 12 t ha⁻¹ of biochar and 75% of the recommended lime rate increased soil pH by 1.77 units, reaching 6.77, and resulted in the lowest C:N ratio (18.99) at 0–5 cm depth. Inorganic P concentrations increased in Resin-Pi (2-fold), NaHCO₃-Pi (2-fold), NaOH-Pi (2.89-fold) and HCl-Pi (4-fold) fractions relative to the corresponding treatments without biochar, while NaHCO₃-Po decreased markedly, declining from 68% to 9% of the organic P fraction, NaOH-Po showed a less consistent response among treatments. In addition, P recovery in the Resin-Pi fraction increased, reaching 34.91% and 37.36% in the treatments with 12 t ha⁻¹ of biochar and both 75 and 100% liming, respectively. Combined use of alkaline biochar and lime is a practical strategy to raise pH and increase labile and moderately labile inorganic P, and improve P use efficiency in acid Ferralsols. These responses are consistent with a redistribution of P among the assessed fractions and with the absence of detectable short-term effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonisation and easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EE-GRSP) production. Full article

Soil health is critical for the sustainability of tropical plantation ecosystems, However, the ecological factors driving productivity gradients remain inadequately understood. This study investigated rubber plantations on Hainan Island with varying yield levels to assess soil health and its underlying ecological mechanisms using a minimum data set (MDS) approach. Twenty-seven soil physical, chemical, and biological indicators were analyzed at two depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm). Principal component analysis identified seven key indicators for the MDS: soil organic matter (OM), alkaline-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), cation exchange capacity (CEC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP), acid phosphatase activity (ACP), and microbial diversity (Shannon-Wiener index, SHDI). The soil health indices derived from the MDS showed strong correlations with those generated from the total data set (TDS) (p < 0.001), confirming the reliability of the MDS framework. Overall, soil health levels were rated low to moderate with no significant differences across low-yield plantations (≤900 kg·ha⁻¹), medium-yield plantations (900–1200 kg·ha⁻¹), and high-yield plantations (≥1200 kg·ha⁻¹)., suggesting a decoupling of soil health and rubber productivity under uniform management practices. Random forest analysis identified microbial-driven phosphorus cycling, particularly MBP and ACP, as the primary determinant of soil health across soil layers, with DOC and SHDI also contributing significantly. These findings highlight the critical role of microbial-mediated nutrient cycling in maintaining soil health in rubber plantations and suggest that current management practices prioritize short-term yields over long-term soil ecological stability. Enhancing microbial activity and increasing organic matter inputs may be essential for improving soil health and ensuring the sustainability of rubber production in tropical agroecosystems. Full article

With the increasing penetration of wind and solar renewable energy into modern power systems, grids exhibit ‘dual-high’ (i.e., a high proportion of both renewable energy and power electronic devices) and ‘dual-low’ (i.e., low equivalent rotational inertia and low short-circuit capacity) structural characteristics. This leads to critical challenges, notably insufficient short-circuit capacity, declining voltage and frequency stability, and weakened system damping. To address the stability requirements of new power systems, this study proposes and systematically investigates a variable-speed synchronous condenser based on AC excitation technology. The research encompasses the operational principles, starting mechanisms, and control strategies of the device, with a particular focus on analyzing its stator-flux-oriented vector control method and active–reactive power decoupling regulation mechanism. By independently adjusting the frequency, amplitude, and phase of the AC excitation on the rotor side, the system achieves a millisecond-level dynamic reactive power response, rapid frequency support, and self-starting capability without the need for external starting devices. To validate the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis and engineering practicality, this study presents grid-connected operational tests using a 3600 kVar engineering prototype at a wind farm. The test results demonstrate that the variable-speed synchronous condenser performs excellently in speed regulation, dynamic reactive power response, and primary frequency modulation. It effectively provides short-circuit capacity, enhances system damping, and significantly improves the voltage and frequency stability of power grids with high penetration of renewable energy. This study offers innovative technical pathways and empirical evidence for constructing a stability support system that meets the developmental needs of new power systems. It holds significant theoretical value and engineering guidance for promoting the smooth transition of power grids from synchronous machine-dominated to power electronics-based architectures. Full article

Olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is a major Mediterranean crop, valued for both fruit yield and high-quality oil, yet extreme summer stress, including high temperature, intense irradiance, and water limitation, can substantially reduce productivity and affect oil composition. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the mitigating efficacy of foliar applications of glycine betaine (GB), kaolin (K), and calcium carbonate (CC) under rainfed conditions across three Greek sites on “Koroneiki” (in two sites) and “Lianolia Kerkyras” (in one site) cultivars. Treatments were applied during the summer, and effects on fruit yield, oil content per fruit, oil yield per tree, and key oil quality parameters—including total phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and fatty acid composition—were assessed. GB significantly enhanced fruit yield and oil production for “Koroneiki” at the site with the harshest environmental conditions (24.37 Kg fruits per tree and 4.69 Kg of oil per tree compared to 19.16 Kg fruits per tree and 3.48 Kg of oil per tree in control). In contrast, K proved most effective at the other two sites for both cultivars (43% and 52.8% increase in fruit yield and oil mass per tree in “Koroneiki” respectively and 30% as well as 34% increase in yield and oil mass per tree in “Lianolia Kerkyras”, respectively. CC exhibited limited impact on both productivity and quality. Under all treatments, the oils produced could be classified as extra virgin olive oils, with the products exhibiting minor effects on the functional properties of the oils. These findings indicate that the efficacy of stress-alleviating foliar treatments is strongly influenced by both environmental conditions and cultivar. Overall, K was the most effective treatment, followed by GB. Tailored application of these treatments represents a sustainable approach to maintaining olive productivity and preserving oil quality in the context of climate change. Full article

The mechanical performance of joints in prefabricated subway stations is a key factor governing the overall structural stability. This study investigates the grouted mortise–tenon joint (GMTJ), which is widely used in prefabricated subway station structures. A refined finite element model was established by incorporating material nonlinearity and a cohesive–friction hybrid constitutive model for the grout–concrete interface, and the accuracy of the model was validated against experimental results. Using the prototype GMTJ from an engineering project as the baseline, parametric analyses were conducted considering three concrete strength grades (CSGs) and three longitudinal reinforcement ratios (LRRs). The results show that increasing the CSG improves the joint’s flexural capacity and delays crack propagation. Although a higher LRR enhances the overall deformation resistance, an excessively high LRR intensifies stress concentration in the tenon region due to the absence of reinforcement in this area. Therefore, merely increasing the LRR cannot effectively improve joint durability, and local reinforcement of critical components such as the tenon is recommended in practical engineering. These findings provide meaningful references and insights for the structural design of prefabricated subway station joints. Full article

Chimonobambusa utilis is a dominant bamboo species in China, yet its leaves remain an underutilized resource despite their significant bioactive potential. To elucidate the metabolic reprogramming of Ch. utilis leaves across an elevational gradient and its link to antioxidant phenotypes, we integrated widely targeted metabolomics with redox profiling of leaves collected from 1150, 1600, and 2000 m in the Qingba Mountains. The mid-elevation (1600 m) group exhibited the most robust antioxidant capacity and the highest total flavonoid content. Metabolomic analysis identified 3113 metabolites across 13 classes, with flavonoids (604 compounds, 22.7% of total abundance) emerging as the predominant secondary metabolites. Pairwise comparisons revealed 1716 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). KEGG enrichment indicated that while the low-elevation (1150 m) group prioritized primary metabolism and upstream phenylpropanoid branches, the high-elevation (2000 m) group was associated with photoprotection and defense responses. In contrast, the mid-elevation environment optimized the flux toward flavonoid biosynthesis while maintaining steady metabolic supply. HPLC quantification further confirmed that key markers—vitexin, hyperoside, orientin, and luteoloside—peaked at 1600 m. Correlation analysis between 423 differential flavonoids and antioxidant indices demonstrated that distinct radical-scavenging activities are driven by specific flavonoid structural motifs. Overall, altitude-driven metabolic remodeling, characterized by a mid-elevation advantage for flavonoid accumulation, dictates the antioxidant plasticity of Ch. utilis leaves. Full article

The increasing release of non-biodegradable heavy metals, particularly lead (Pb²⁺) and cadmium (Cd²⁺), poses severe risks to ecosystems and human health. Herein, we present a sustainable “treating-waste-with-waste” strategy that simultaneously addresses heavy-metal contamination in water and the accumulation of expanded perlite waste. Expanded perlite waste was directly converted into a high-purity, low-silica CHA zeolite via a simple, one-pot, template-free hydrothermal conversion. The resulting sodium-exchanged material (Na-CHA-p) demonstrated excellent Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ removal performance, featuring ultrafast adsorption kinetics (reaching equilibrium within 5 min for both ions), high adsorption capacities (555.6 mg·g⁻¹ for Pb²⁺ and 211.0 mg·g⁻¹ for Cd²⁺), and superior selectivity. This study demonstrates an efficient pathway for the high-value utilization of perlite waste and highlights the strong potential of waste-derived CHA zeolites as advanced adsorbents for heavy-metal wastewater remediation. Full article

Gluten allergy is linked to high risk of anaphylaxis. The relative allergenicity of glutens (alcohol-soluble gliadin and acid-soluble glutenin) from the three commercially grown wheat species (diploid Triticum monococcum, tetraploid Triticum durum, hexaploid Triticum aestivum) is unknown. A comparative gluten allergenicity map (CGAM) from these species will enable the identification of potentially hyper-/hypo-/iso-allergenic species/varieties of wheat as well as the determination of substantial equivalence of genetically engineered (GE) or other novel wheat lines. Here, using a recently described novel mouse model, we tested the hypothesis that the three different wheat species will exhibit natural variation in their gluten allergenicity. Groups of Balb/c mice were transdermally sensitized to alcohol-soluble or acid-soluble gluten extracts followed by elicitation of systemic anaphylaxis. Initial studies were performed to validate the model for glutens from the three wheat species. Both glutens from all three wheat species elicited robust specific IgE responses, as well as systemic anaphylaxis. However, comparative mapping analysis revealed differences in capacity to elicit specific IgE among the three wheat species with T. aestivum being the most potent in both gluten extracts. Hypothermic shock response analysis revealed that the three species elicited similar kinetics and intensity of anaphylaxis. Nevertheless, when analyzing mucosal mast cell response, it was revealed that the glutens from T. aestivum emerged as the most potent elicitor. Collectively, these results yield the first CGAM that may be utilized for preclinical testing of the allergenic potential of glutens from novel (e.g., GE) wheats and processed wheat products against existing wheat glutens. Full article