Search Results (8,414)

Lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE), while advantageous for advanced nuclear reactors due to its thermophysical properties, faces oxidation and corrosion challenges during operation. This study aims to optimize gas-phase oxygen control by computationally analyzing oxygen transport dynamics in an LBE loop. High-fidelity simulations were performed using ANSYS Fluent and STAR-CCM+ based on the CORRIDA loop geometry, employing detailed meshing for convergence. Steady-state analyses revealed localized oxygen enrichment near the gas–liquid interface (peaking at ∼$3\times {10}^{-6}$ wt%), decreasing to ∼$5.0-6.8\times {10}^{-8}$ wt% at the outlet. Transient simulations from an oxygen-deficient state ($1\times {10}^{-8}$ wt%) demonstrated distribution stabilization within 150 s, driven by convection-enhanced diffusion. Parametric studies identified a non-monotonic relationship between inlet velocity and oxygen uptake, with optimal performance at 0.7–0.9 m/s, while increasing temperature from 573 K to 823 K monotonically enhanced the outlet concentration by >$200\%$ due to improved diffusivity/solubility. The average mass transfer coefficient (0.6–0.7) aligned with literature values ($\pm 20\%$ deviation), validating the model’s treatment of interface thermodynamics and turbulence. These findings the advance mechanistic understanding of oxygen transport in LBE and directly inform the design of oxygenation systems and corrosion mitigation strategies for liquid metal-cooled reactors. Full article

This study elucidates the variations in phenolic acids, soluble sugars, and pinking development of midribs of two cultivars of Romaine lettuce (Keona—high pinking and Icarus—low pinking) under two light intensities (high L1—558 and low L2—244 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) harvested at two harvest dates (M1—42 and M2—49 days after transplanting, DAT). The pinking index of Keona was higher than that of Icarus on 8 days of storage (5 °C). The concentrations of cinnamic acid were reduced in most treatments for both cultivars during storage, except for Keona grown in L2 with M2 harvest. Upon storage, the concentrations of coumaric acid in Keona were similar regardless of light intensities and harvest dates. Coumaric acid and caffeic acid concentrations in Icarus in L1 harvested at M2 were the highest. Low light intensity with M1 harvest enhanced the concentration of chlorogenic acid in Keona, but a similar situation reduced its content in Icarus during storage. Icarus contained higher initial concentrations of glucose under both light intensities, regardless of harvest dates, compared to Keona. In conclusion, high pinking was associated with high phenolic acids except for cinnamic acid. High light intensities and more advanced harvests increased the pinking of Keona but not of the Icarus. Full article

Background/Objectives: Combat trauma involving large joints is associated with a high risk of thromboinflammatory complications. Early identification of laboratory markers for hypercoagulability is essential to optimise perioperative management. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of inflammation and haemostasis indicators in patients with combat-related joint trauma and to identify the most informative markers for preoperative risk assessment. Methods: A total of 29 patients with combat injuries to the hip, knee, elbow, or ankle joints were examined. Blood samples were taken 1–3 days prior to surgery and again on the first postoperative day. Parameters of coagulation (e.g., PT, INR, fibrinogen, D-dimer, soluble fibrin complexes, antithrombin III), fibrinolysis, and inflammation (e.g., CRP, haptoglobin, sialic acid, ESR, LSI, LII) were analysed and compared to those of 30 healthy controls. Statistical analysis included Student’s t-test and Pearson’s correlation. Results: At baseline, patients demonstrated significant increases in inflammatory markers (CRP 64.2 ± 7.3 mg/L, ↑738.9%; haptoglobin 3.25 ± 0.4 g/L, ↑164.3%; ESR 46.8 ± 5.2 mm/h, ↑313.8%) and procoagulant activity (D-dimer 1.42 ± 0.18 µg/mL, ↑136.6%; fibrinogen 6.12 ± 0.51 g/L, ↑102.4%; soluble fibrin complexes 38.7 ± 4.9 mg/L, ↑597.3%), together with a reduction in antithrombin III activity (63.5 ± 6.2%, ↓39.5%) and prolonged fibrinolysis time (increase by 197%). Postoperatively, these abnormalities intensified, indicating a sustained thromboinflammatory response. Strong correlations were found between inflammatory and haemostatic markers. Conclusions: Combat trauma of large joints is associated with preoperative thromboinflammatory dysregulation, which is exacerbated by surgery. Monitoring specific biochemical and haematological markers—such as CRP, fibrinogen, D-dimer, and soluble fibrin complexes—may support preoperative risk assessment and postoperative monitoring strategies for hypercoagulable states in this high-risk group. These findings lay the groundwork for future prospective studies aimed at developing stratified therapeutic protocols and predictive models for thromboinflammatory complications in orthopaedic trauma care. Full article

Rhenium is one of the rarest and most strategically important metals, indispensable in high-temperature superalloys and platinum–rhenium catalysts used across the aerospace and petrochemical industries. Owing to its limited primary reserves, recovering rhenium from secondary sources, such as spent catalysts, superalloy residues, and metallurgical dusts, has become vital to ensuring supply security. This review examines technological developments between 1998 and 2025, focusing on how operational parameters, including temperature, leaching time, reagent concentration, and solid-to-liquid ratio, govern dissolution kinetics and overall process efficiency. Comparative evaluation of hydrometallurgical, alkaline, and hybrid processes indicates that modern systems can achieve recovery rates exceeding 98% through selective oxidation, alkaline activation, or combined pyro and hydrometallurgical mechanisms. Acid–chlorine leaching facilitates rapid, low-temperature dissolution; alkaline sintering stabilises rhenium as soluble perrhenates; and hybrid smelting routes enable the concurrent separation of rhenium and osmium. Sustainable aqueous systems employing nitric and ammonium media have also demonstrated near-complete recovery at ambient temperature under closed-loop recycling conditions. Collectively, these findings highlight a technological transition from energy-intensive, acid-based pathways towards low-impact, recyclable, and digitally optimised hydrometallurgical processes. The integration of selective oxidants, phase engineering, circular reagent management, and artificial intelligence-assisted modelling is defining the next generation of rhenium recovery, combining high extraction yields with reduced environmental impact and alignment with global sustainability goals. Full article

Background/Objectives: Ineffective erythropoiesis (IE) is a hallmark of β-thalassemia and contributes to major clinical complications, including severe anemia, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and progressive iron overload. Despite its central role in disease pathophysiology, there is no established biomarker for the reliable identification and monitoring of IE. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate potential serum markers that reflect IE in β-thalassemia. Methods: Across seven databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, SpringerLink, Taylor & Francis, ProQuest, and SAGE), thirteen studies met the eligibility criteria and were analyzed to identify circulating biomarkers associated with IE in β-thalassemia. Results: The most consistently reported markers were growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), erythropoietin (EPO), and erythroferrone (ERFE), all of which demonstrated strong correlations with the degree of IE and erythroid expansion. Additional markers, including circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), CA15.3, hepcidin, ferritin, and phosphatidylserine (PS)-exposed red blood cells, were also found to be elevated, reflecting increased erythroid turnover, apoptosis, and secondary iron dysregulation. These findings suggest that while individual markers capture different aspects of IE, their combined evaluation may provide a more comprehensive picture of disease burden. Conclusions: IE represents the central pathophysiological driver of β-thalassemia and is closely linked to disease complications. Early detection through circulating biomarkers offers the potential for timely identification of high-risk patients, monitoring of therapeutic responses, and prognostication. Although current evidence highlights GDF-15, sTfR, ERFE, and EPO as the most promising candidates, further validation in larger, longitudinal cohorts is required before clinical implementation. Full article

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have attracted significant attention as eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives to conventional, often toxic, organic solvents. They are easy to synthesize, and their tunable physicochemical properties enable their application in microextraction techniques for a wide range of analytes. However, some DESs may exhibit thermal instability, and their high viscosity or solubility can influence the extraction efficiency. Despite these limitations, in recent years, DESs have been successfully used in multiple roles in solid-phase microextraction (SPME). They may be used to functionalize or modify sorbent materials, thereby forming composite sorbents with enhanced performance. Moreover, DESs can be combined with polymers to produce hybrid materials with improved extraction capabilities. Additionally, DESs can act as porogens within SPME sorbents, increasing sorption capacity and, consequently, extraction efficiency. They can also serve as green desorption solvents, replacing traditional volatile organic solvents during the recovery of analytes from sorbent materials. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the implementation of DESs in SPME techniques, critically evaluating their primary advantages and inherent limitations. The novelty of this review lies in the assessment of DES-based SPME through the metrics of greenness and sustainable chemistry. Furthermore, the review identifies research perspectives and priorities to advance DES-based SPME, including: the integration of predictive modeling (COSMO-RS, machine learning) to elucidate DES-analytes interactions; the adoption of 3D printing for the precision fabrication of DES-based sorbents; the standardization of DES-based SPME performance; and the exploration of natural DESs for in vivo SPME in biomedical applications. Full article

Dilute methane (CH₄) emissions from dairy barns (<500 ppm) are a challenging agricultural greenhouse-gas source to abate via biofiltration because its poor solubility makes gas–liquid mass transfer a primary limitation in biotrickling filters (BTFs). Here, we evaluated lab-scale BTFs for treating dairy-relevant CH₄ concentrations and tested two enhancement strategies: (1) aerosolised nutrient delivery to improve liquid distribution and (2) reduced liquid addition rates to increase gas–liquid mass-transfer efficiency. Liquid-fed BTFs and aerosol-fed BTFs (ABTFs) packed with scoria or glass beads were compared. Aerosolised nutrients reduced the elimination capacity (EC) compared to biotrickling delivery. Switching from liquid to aerosol decreased an initial EC of ~30 g m⁻³ h⁻¹ by 35% at 2500 ppm CH₄, and the original EC was not recoverable. Slower liquid addition consistently improved CH₄ removal for both delivery techniques. In a glass bead ABTF at 2500 ppm CH₄, the EC increased from 5.5 to 12.4 g m⁻³ h⁻¹ when the liquid coalescence rate decreased from 0.79 to 0.006 cm h⁻¹. In a scoria ABTF, a 1.5-fold increase in EC was observed as the rate decreased from 2.36 to 0.15 cm h⁻¹. Below a threshold liquid addition rate in the scoria BTF, the EC dropped ~33%, likely due to uneven wetting or high pH conditions. Therefore, optimising liquid delivery can significantly enhance BTF performance for agricultural CH₄ mitigation. Full article

The development of safer, more effective, and tumor-specific therapeutic strategies remains a major challenge in oncology. Conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy often cause severe side effects and are limited in their ability to target deep-seated or resistant tumors. In this context, sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has emerged as a promising, non-invasive option, harnessing low-intensity ultrasound to activate sonosensitizers deep within tissues and generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) that selectively induce cancer cell death. Interestingly, SDT can also be combined with other therapies to achieve synergistic effects. However, despite encouraging preclinical results, SDT clinical translation is hindered by the poor aqueous solubility, instability, and low tumor specificity of traditional sonosensitizers. To overcome these limitations, recent studies have focused on employing extracellular vesicles (EVs), especially exosomes, as natural, biomimetic nanocarriers for sonosensitizer delivery. EVs offer unique advantages, including high biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and intrinsic tumor-targeting ability, which make them ideal platforms for improving the therapeutic precision of SDT. Although several delivery strategies have been proposed, a comprehensive and focused overview of approaches specifically designed to enhance SDT performance using EVs is currently lacking. This review summarizes recent advances in integrating EVs with SDT for cancer treatment. It discusses the mechanisms underlying SDT, the engineering strategies developed to enhance exosome functionality, and the synergistic effects achieved through this combination. Furthermore, this review emphasizes that EV-based SDT not only enhances tumor accumulation of the therapeutic nanoplatforms, but also actively remodels the tumor microenvironment by improving oxygen availability, reversing immunosuppressive conditions, and triggering durable antitumor responses. Finally, the review addresses the translational challenges and outlines the critical future directions required to advance this promising therapeutic approach toward clinical application. Full article

The carbonate reservoir of the Shunbei oilfield is characterized by deep burial depth and high temperature. During acid fracturing, the reaction rate between conventional acid systems and the rock is relatively fast, leading to a limited effective acid penetration distance. To extend the acid penetration distance, a combination of solid retarded acid and conventional acid was used in field operations. The effectiveness of the solid retarded acid depends on its acid generation pattern, making it necessary to study the acid generation behavior of the solid retarded acid. This paper establishes a frame for evaluating the solid retarded acid, including tests for solid retarded acid solubility, acid concentration, and acid-etched fracture conductivity. Based on the test results, the acid generation pattern of solid retarded acid was analyzed, its slow-generation performance was evaluated, and an acid generation model was established. Finally, by integrating the acid generation model with the existing acid fracturing model, the effective distance of solid retarded acid was predicted. The study shows that the solubility of acid-generating materials is influenced by both temperature and solid retarded acid concentration. When the concentration of solid retarded acid exceeds 25%, it does not completely dissolve at room temperature, but can fully dissolve after 40 min at 120 °C. The acid concentration is significantly affected by temperature, with an acid concentration of about 1.6 mol/L at room temperature and up to 3.1 mol/L at high temperatures, comparable to a 12% hydrochloric acid concentration. Solid retarded acid exhibits good slow-generation performance, with a comprehensive reaction rate approximately one-third of that of cross-linked acid. When the acid-rock contact time is around 3 h, the acid-etched fracture conductivity of solid retarded acid can remain above 5 D·cm under a closure pressure of 60 MPa. The predicted effective acid penetration distance of solid retarded acid can reach over 150 m, under typical conditions of Shunbei oilfield. The findings of this study can serve as a reference for the design and optimization of solid retarded acid fracturing. Full article

Electrospinning of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) commonly relies on toxic organic solvents, which limit its sustainability and biomedical applicability. In this work, a green electrospinning process was developed using dimethyl carbonate (DMC), a biodegradable and low-toxicity solvent, combined with acetone as a volatile co-solvent to promote efficient jet solidification. Three commercial PLA grades were evaluated for solubility and spinnability, and PLA 4043D was identified as the most suitable for DMC and acetone systems. The electrospinning parameters, including solvent ratio, flow rate, and applied voltage, were systematically optimized to achieve stable jet formation and uniform fiber morphology. Under optimized conditions, the process produced continuous, bead-free nanofibers with a mean diameter of ~1 µm and uniform nanoscale surface porosity resulting from differential solvent evaporation. The resulting fibers were characterized in terms of morphology, structure, thermal behavior, and mechanical performance, confirming increased amorphous content, high porosity (about 78%), and tensile strength of ~3 MPa for the selected electrospinning condition. This study demonstrates that DMC-based solvent systems enable a sustainable and potentially biocompatible route, considering the lower toxicity of the solvents employed, offering a green alternative to conventional toxic processes for the fabrication of medical scaffolds. Full article

Fluidized bed drying has been widely applied in the food industry due to its high heat and mass transfer rates. In this study, the impact of drying temperatures (50, 60, 70 and 80 °C) in a fluidized bed on the physicochemical, functional, morpho-structural, and thermal properties of avocado seed starch was evaluated. The process yield for all temperatures ranged from 52.3 to 58.5% (p > 0.05), with a starch content of 59.20–60.9 g/100 g, amylose content of 28.85–31.84 g/100 g, and amylopectin content of 29.13–30.37 g/100 g. Additionally, all samples showed high water, milk, and oil absorption capacity (>90%), low solubility (5.22–8.35%), good flow characteristics, and swelling power greater than 50%. There was also a greater release of water (syneresis) after 168 h of storage, regardless of the drying temperature, which likewise did not influence the texture parameters. The granules had a smooth surface, without cracks or cavities, predominantly oval and partially rounded, being classified as type B. In the FT-IR analysis, no new functional groups were observed, only a reduction in peak intensity with increasing drying temperature. Finally, the thermal properties indicated high conclusion temperatures (>130 °C), with gelatinization enthalpy in the range of 14.18 to 15.49 J/g, reflecting its thermal resistance and structural integrity under heat conditions. These results demonstrated that fluidized bed drying is an alternative technique for drying avocado seed starch pastes. Full article

Biomolecule–photosensitizer conjugates have rapidly evolved into one of the most powerful strategies for improving the selectivity, efficacy, and translational potential of photodynamic therapy (PDT). By integrating photosensitizers (PSs) with carbohydrates, amino acids, peptides, aptamers, proteins, cofactors, vitamins or antibodies, these constructs overcome long-standing limitations of classical PDT, including poor solubility, insufficient tumour accumulation, and strong dependence on oxygen availability. Beyond enhancing receptor-mediated uptake and enabling precise interactions with the tumour microenvironment (TME), bioconjugation also modulates aggregation, photochemical properties, intracellular accumulation, and immune system activation. A particularly transformative trend is the emergence of supramolecular architectures in which photosensitizers form defined nanostructured aggregates with peptides or proteins. Once considered an undesirable phenomenon, aggregation is now recognized as a tenable feature that governs photochemical behaviour. Engineered aggregates can undergo environment-triggered disassembly to monomeric, photoactive states, or operate as semiconductor-like nanodomains capable of Type I reaction through symmetry-breaking charge separation. This shift toward oxygen-independent radical pathways offers a promising solution to the challenge of hypoxia, a hallmark of the TME that severely compromises conventional Type II PDT. Parallel advances in 3D experimental platforms such as tumour organoids and organ-on-chip systems provide physiologically relevant validation of these conjugates, enabling the assessment of penetration, subcellular localization, immunogenic cell death, and therapeutic synergy within realistic TME conditions. Collectively, the integration of biomolecular targeting with controlled supramolecular design is redefining the landscape of PDT. Future progress will depend on designing conjugates that retain high activity under hypoxia, engineering dynamic aggregate states, and systematically validating these systems in advanced TME-mimetic models. Together, these developments position biomolecule–photosensitizer conjugates as a versatile and increasingly less oxygen-dependent class of next-generation phototherapeutic agents. Full article

Fu brick tea (FBT) develops its characteristic qualities through fermentation, yet how variation in the chemical composition of raw dark tea (RDT) is associated with microbial succession and final tea quality remains unclear. In this study, three grades of RDT (premium-grade (1M), first-grade (2M), and second-grade (3M)) were processed into FBT under identical conditions to examine the relationship between initial composition, microbial community structure, and sensory attributes. Results revealed that high-grade RDTs (1M) contained higher levels of water extracts (WE, 36.35 ± 0.14 (%), p < 0.05), total polyphenols (TP, 14.93 ± 0.19 (%), p < 0.05), and free amino acids (FAA, 2.90 ± 0.03 (%), p < 0.05), promoting Aspergillus (96.06% in C1M, compared with 66.43% in C2M and 55.01% in C3M) dominance and resulting in brighter liquor with enhanced body and smoothness. Correlation analyses demonstrated a coherent sequence from substrate composition to microbial assembly and then to quality-related chemistry. WE, TP, and FAA were positively correlated with Aspergillus abundance and body and smoothness (p < 0.05), whereas soluble sugars correlated with Rhodotorula and sweetness (p < 0.05). These findings support a substrate-mediated association framework in which the chemical composition of RDT is closely aligned with microbial community structure and sensory differentiation during FBT fermentation, providing a scientific basis for raw material grading and fermentation management in dark tea production. Full article

Growing concern about the environmental impact of traditional packaging has driven the development of biodegradable edible films made from natural and functional biopolymers. Various by-products generated during harvesting can be subjected to valorization. Potato, a tuber with high starch content, and carrot, rich in β-carotene, represent important sources of polymeric matrix and bioactive compounds, respectively. Similarly, the use of biodegradable plasticizers such as pectin and polysaccharides derived from nopal mucilage is a viable alternative. This study assessed the physical and chemical properties of edible films composed of potato starch (PS), cactus mucilage (NM), carrot extract (CJ), citrus pectin (P), and glycerin (G). The films were produced by means of casting, with three mixtures prepared that had different proportions of CJ, P, and PS. The experiments were adjusted to a simple mixture design, and the data were analyzed in triplicate, using Pareto and Tukey diagrams at 5% significance. Results showed that adding CJ (between 5 to 6%), P (between 42 to 44%) and PS (between 43 to 45%) significantly affects all of the evaluated physical and chemical properties, resulting in films with luminosity values greater than 88.65, opacity ranging from 0.20 to 0.54 abs/mm, β-carotene content up to 26.11 μg/100 g, acidity between 0.22 and 0.31% and high solubility with a significant difference between treatments (p-value < 0.05) and low water activity (around of 0.47) (p-value > 0.05). These characteristics provide tensile strength up to 5.7 MPa and a suitable permeability of 1.6 × 10⁻² g·mm/h·m²·Pa (p-value < 0.05), which ensures low diffusivity through the film. Similarly, increasing the CJ addition enables the functional groups of the other components to interact. Using carrot extract and potato starch is a promising approach for producing edible films with good functional qualities but with high permeability. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of cysteine synthase A (CysK) from Limosilactobacillus reuteri LR1 (LreCysK), an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of L-cysteine. This protein supports crucial cellular functions such as sulfur metabolism, antioxidant defense, detoxification, and protein synthesis. Previously, the gene encoding LreCysK was cloned, and the enzyme with His-tag on the N-terminus was obtained in active and soluble form. Here, kinetic parameters of the enzyme were determined by the previously developed high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ninhydrin methods. It was found that LreCysK has similar K_M^OAS and k_cat as CysKs from Escherichia coli and from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The thermal stability of LreCysK was studied using differential scanning calorimetry. It was revealed that the melting point of the enzyme increases to almost 90°C when Pyridoxal-5 phosphate (PLP) is added, indicating that the stability of the enzyme complex with PLP is relatively high. Structural studies revealed that LreCysK is a dimer, and its active site is similar to those of other enzymes, but exhibits some features characteristic of lactobacilli CysKs (GISA), as well as unique residues, such as Ile50. Also, the potential biotechnological applications of LreCysK are discussed. These findings enhance our understanding of LreCysK’s biochemical versatility and its potential applications in biotechnology and medicine. Full article