Search Results (12,298)

Background/Objectives: Hypercholesterolemia is characterized by alterations in lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammatory status. Nuts have been shown to mitigate these alterations; however, limited evidence is available regarding their effects in the Chilean population using a native nut species. This study aimed to assess the impact of a six-month Chilean-adapted Mediterranean diet supplemented with Gevuina avellana Molina, compared with a low-fat regimen, on oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from adults with hypercholesterolemia. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with a 6-month nutritional intervention. Of 106 hypercholesterolemic adults randomized, 81 completed the study, allocated to two groups: one following a Chilean diet supplemented with Chilean hazelnuts (n = 47) and the other a low-fat diet (n = 34) (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT07087704). Oxidative stress markers and inflammatory markers in PBMCs were assessed as secondary outcomes. In PBMCs, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GRd) were analysed, along with oxidative damage markers (malondialdehyde, carbonyls, and nitrotyrosine) and gene expression (SOD, CAT, GRd, IL-10, and TNF-α). Results: Both dietary interventions were associated with similar improvements in PBMC redox status, characterized by reduced oxidative damage and enhanced antioxidant defence capacity. Malondialdehyde and carbonyl levels decreased in both groups following the dietary intervention. In addition, antioxidant enzyme activities increased, with SOD showing a concomitant increase in gene expression level, whereas CAT gene expression decreased despite enhanced enzymatic activity. No significant differences between groups were observed for the assessed oxidative stress, antioxidant, or inflammatory markers. Conclusions: A Chilean diet supplemented with Chilean hazelnuts and a low-fat diet produced similar improvements in PBMC redox status in hypercholesterolemic adults. These findings suggest that improving dietary fat quality and increasing antioxidant-rich food intake may contribute to favourable changes in cellular redox homeostasis, although the specific contribution of Chilean hazelnuts requires further investigation. Full article

Offshore renewable energy (ORE) systems experience interacting chemical, biological, and mechanical stresses that make coating performance dependent on component duty and maintenance access. This critical narrative review evaluates conventional and advanced coatings across atmospheric, splash, tidal, and submerged zones, distinguishing laboratory demonstrations from field evidence. Coupled degradation is analyzed in relation to coating architecture: strain-assisted ingress and delamination in organic multilayers; cathodic disbondment in immersed barrier systems; sacrificial consumption in metallic and duplex systems; and wear-induced loss of support in ceramic-rich layers. Surface preparation, layer dimensions, filler dispersion, and wet interfacial properties govern these pathways. Component-specific multi-stressor protocols use matched controls to distinguish interaction from coincident damage. An explicitly illustrative worked example links assumed defect-area histories to a remaining protective life of 2.64 years, repair area, discounted intervention cost, and climate impact. Growth-rate and access-delay scenarios show why these outputs require site calibration and cannot be treated as validated offshore predictions. Qualified multilayer organic and metallic–organic systems remain practical reference options, while nanofillers, self-healing, and sensing functions require demonstrated benefits at matched thickness, cure, and damage state. Full article

Large catastrophic landslides in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau are characterized by huge volumes and complex chains that frequently cause river damming and casualties. Based on field surveys, multi-temporal satellite imagery, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) deformation measurements, and meteorological and seismic records, this study classifies these landslides into three types by their initiation and disaster-chain processes: (1) rock–ice avalanche → debris flow → landslide dam; (2) debris flow → landslide dam; (3) rock avalanche → landslide dam. Representative cases illustrate the material sources, initiation settings, and downstream impacts of each type. The occurrence of such landslides is influenced by the interplay of four groups of factors: fractured rock masses and abundant loose deposits provide the material basis; high mountains and narrow river valleys provide the spatial framework for landslide evolution and promote river blockage; pronounced climatic changes provide the background conditions and may affect slope stability in glaciated areas through glacier retreat; and frequent strong earthquakes can both instantaneously trigger failure and cause cumulative damage that predisposes slopes to subsequent failures. Ongoing climate warming and repeated seismic activity are expected to increase landslide susceptibility, highlighting the urgency of multi-hazard early warning and proactive mitigation. This study supports early warning prioritization and risk governance in high-mountain valleys across the Tibetan Plateau. Full article

Hippocampus abdominalis (H. abdominalis) is an important marine teleost fish with diverse functional activities. Accordingly, the present research was designed to isolate and prepare innovative antioxidant peptides derived from H. abdominalis and to assess the protective and restorative impacts of its protein hydrolysates (HAPH) against reproductive injury caused by triptolide (TP) in male mice. Notably, pepsin was ultimately identified as the optimal protease among seven screened proteases. High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) pretreatment significantly increased peptide yield and antioxidant activity of pepsin hydrolysates. Subsequently, the optimal enzymatic hydrolysis conditions were established as E/S of 3% (w/w), hydrolysis time of 3 h, S/L of 1:25 (w/v), HHP pressure of 200 MPa, and 9 min of HHP time using single-factor experiments and response surface methodology. The peptide fraction with a molecular weight below 3 kDa (HAPH-1) exhibited stronger antioxidant activity and excellent stability against pH, temperature, and simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Furthermore, animal experiments revealed that HAPH-1 alleviated triptolide-induced impaired spermatogenesis and testicular tissue damage in mice, and the underlying mechanisms involve the regulation of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway and the Bcl-2/Bax/caspase-3 apoptotic signaling pathway. Finally, through LC-MS/MS analysis, molecular docking, and in vitro activity validation, three novel peptides with high antioxidant activity (GPAPWGF, FPALLF, and LPLPLF) were successfully screened. Collectively, this study provides new insights into the high-value utilization of H. abdominalis and the development of novel antioxidant functional components. Full article

Mechanized production of processing tomatoes depends on coordinated operations, but crop variability and successive material transfers make performance strongly condition-dependent. This narrative review used structured, non-systematic literature identification across multidisciplinary databases and publisher platforms, supplemented by backward reference tracing through July 2026. Evidence was synthesized through crop–agronomy conditions, machine responses, operational trade-offs, validation maturity, sustainability-related outcomes, and downstream residue requirements. Four findings emerge. First, architecture, maturity synchronization, fruit mechanics, stand geometry, and water status define machine operating envelopes. Second, harvesting is governed by a persistent conflict among detachment, loss, damage, impurity content, throughput, and energy demand; comparisons of settings benefit from a common basis in cultivar, feed rate, machine configuration, and metric definition. Third, sensing and prediction studies provide a foundation for automatic execution and feedback-based adjustment, with replicated whole-machine field trials offering the next step in evaluating multistage control. Fourth, residue discharge, size reduction, collection, and densification need to be specified backward from soil-incorporation or valorization requirements. Operation-specific sustainability benefits are most directly supported for water and input efficiency, marketable-yield retention, and residue recovery, with matched assessments of energy, cost, and life-cycle impacts providing opportunities to extend these findings. Progress therefore requires crop-specific tests that report engineering benefits together with losses, adverse effects, resource use, and operating boundaries. Full article

Many widely used open-head models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) require craniotomy before injury, while sham-operated animals undergo surgery without impact and serve as controls. However, sham surgery itself may alter physiological, molecular, and behavioral parameters, complicating interpretation of TBI-specific effects. This narrative review, based on a structured PubMed search, synthesizes studies employing a three-group design to distinguish injury-related changes from those associated with craniotomy and other perioperative procedures. Evidence indicates that sham surgery produces outcome-, region-, and time-dependent effects that are generally milder, more localized, and more transient than TBI. These include neuroinflammatory responses, localized neuronal alterations, temporary sensorimotor and cognitive deficits, nociceptive changes, and shifts in gut microbiota. In contrast, TBI causes more severe abnormalities, including extensive neuronal damage, sustained astrogliosis, microglial activation, neutrophilic infiltration, mitochondrial dysfunction, and long-term dysbiosis. Most electrophysiological parameters are relatively unaffected by sham surgery, although selected changes have been reported. Importantly, differences between naïve and sham animals cannot be attributed exclusively to craniotomy, as anesthesia, analgesia, and surgical technique may contribute. Thus, sham surgery should not be considered a biologically neutral control. Inclusion of both naïve and sham groups is particularly important when distinguishing surgery-associated from injury-specific effects in preclinical studies. Full article

Despite the success of suppressive antiretrovirals, infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with several comorbidities which include negative consequences to the central nervous system (CNS), where disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major underlying factor in the resulting chronic inflammation and contribution to the pathogenesis of neuroHIV. Currently, the use of cannabis and cannabinoid derivatives among persons living with HIV (PWH) is common. Despite perceived benefits, we have previously identified context-dependent effects of cannabis use, including its impact on vascular biomarkers. In this study, we used an in vitro polycellular BBB model with two different human cerebrovascular endothelial cell lines (hCMEC/D3 and HBMEC/ci18) to test the effects of cannabinoids and their receptors on barrier integrity and function in the context of the latent HIV brain environment, mimicked by the addition of conditioned media from HIV latently infected promonocytes. We found that the two brain endothelial cell lines had similar responses to HIV-conditioned media by increasing permeability to dextran and decreased expression of tight junction proteins. However, their response to cannabinoids, particularly via the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R), was markedly different, with hCMEC/D3 cells showing improvement of BBB integrity by all measures, but HBMEC/ci18 cells showing no benefits or aggravation of damage. While the contrasting effects were not due to differences in cell viability or proliferation, differences CB2R-elicited baseline G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) response thresholds between the two cell lines were significant, revealed by forskolin-induced cAMP levels that were 50–200-fold higher in hCMEC/D3 cells in comparison to HBMEC/ci18. This was correlated to higher baseline CB2R expression in hCMEC/D3, and was not an HIV-induced signaling defect in HBMEC/ci18. The CBD/THC-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was also significantly stronger in hCMEC/D3 compared to HBMEC/ci18, was abrogated by a CB2R inverse agonist/antagonist. Motivated by the need to identify predictors of positive response to cannabinoids, our study suggests that CB2R levels and GPCR activation thresholds in cerebrovascular endothelium may be important candidate mechanistic biomarkers to be tested in primary cells, animal models, and longitudinal clinical cohorts, with the goal of distinguishing beneficial versus aggravating effects of cannabis to the BBB, particularly in the context of HIV. Full article

Outcomes after total hip arthroplasty (THA) remain limited by wear and wear particle reaction. Although highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) mitigated this issue, there are major differences among the various brands available. This study quantified, for the first time, the volumetric wear on the retrievals from various HXLPE brands, using an optical coordinate measuring machine. Patient- and implant-related factors and component orientation were considered. As of 30.06.2025, 104 HXLPE sockets were available, and 79 could be analysed, excluding those too severely deformed/damaged. The median (range) time in situ was 8.7 (2.1–22.1) years. Wear volume and volumetric wear rate were 91 (1–674) mm³ and 9 (0–130) mm³/year, respectively. Highcross (n = 56, Medacta) experienced approximately five times more wear (p < 0.001) than Durasul (n = 17, Zimmer Biomet). The other brands (n = 6) were too small in group size at this stage for statistical analysis. The correlation (R² = 0.94) between linear and volumetric wear was excellent, but high wearing retrievals had a strong impact on this analysis, whereas low wear retrievals showed high variability. Differences in wear were mostly driven by the brand, while other parameters had only a minor impact. This is the first retrieval study comparing volumetric wear among various brands of retrieved HXLPE bearings. Not all HXLPE bearings should be considered equal. As the cohort grows, further parameters and brands may be integrated. Full article

This study conducts a scenario-based analysis of the potential economic impacts of an eruption of Mount Fuji across Japan’s urban systems, with a particular focus on the infrastructure services that support urban functions. Using a dynamic interregional input–output model, the analysis incorporates direct damages from multiple volcanic hazards—including ashfall, lava flows, and pyroclastic flow—as well as indirect economic damage propagated through supply chains and infrastructure constraints. We classify Japan’s regions into six categories based on damage intensity and urban functional characteristics. The results reveal a three-layered impact structure comprising: (1) effects arising from physical damage in regions close to the volcano, (2) large-scale but short-term functional disruptions in the metropolitan core due to infrastructure failures, and (3) widespread indirect effects propagated through interregional economic linkages. In terms of absolute economic losses, we find the metropolitan core exerts a dominant influence, with transportation, and service sectors playing particularly critical roles. Our findings hold important policy implications for enhancing the resilience of Japan’s urban systems and ensuring infrastructure redundancy, and offer a useful modeling approach to assessing the risk of volcanic disasters. Full article

Cageless ball bearings, due to their larger number of rolling elements and stronger load-bearing capacity, are widely used in active magnetic bearing systems, serving as protective bearings. However, due to the lack of traditional cages to isolate adjacent rolling elements in cageless ball bearings, cumulative collisions are inevitable, leading to severe friction and heating. Although scholars have proposed using cageless ball bearings with local functional grooves as protective bearings for magnetic bearings, and conducted relevant theoretical and experimental research on them, the impact of bearing wear with local functional grooves on the dispersion effect remains to be studied. Wear of local functional grooves can cause their edges to expand outward, altering the contact radius between the rolling elements and the grooves. This change also affects the orbital velocity of the rolling elements passing through the grooves, leading to collisions between adjacent rolling elements. In severe cases, this can result in the rolling elements failing due to self-dispersion. By studying the impact of the degree of damage to local functional grooves on the self-dispersion behavior of rolling elements, we can assess the lifespan of protective bearings, facilitating timely replacement and reducing major accidents and economic losses caused by bearing failure. Full article

Growing global demand for resilient and sustainable infrastructure requires seismic retrofit strategies that simultaneously enhance structural performance and minimise environmental impact. This study presents a multi-objective optimisation framework that integrates circular economy (CE) indicators with seismic performance evaluation for the retrofit design of reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls. Nonlinear finite element simulations were carried out in SeismoStruct to evaluate a 125 mm thick component-level RC shear wall strengthened using three techniques: carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) overlays, externally bonded steel plates, and RC jacketing. Structural performance was assessed through nonlinear pushover and cyclic analyses interpreted using the Eurocode 8 N2 method and the ASCE 41–23 displacement coefficient method, while environmental and circularity performance was quantified using the Material Circularity Index (MCI), the Carbon Equivalence Damage Index (CEDI), and a Design for Circularity (DfC) score. A Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) was used to generate Pareto-optimal retrofit solutions across four objectives: seismic capacity, embodied carbon, retrofit cost, and material circularity. Results show lateral-capacity increases of approximately 50–75% for steel strengthening and RC jacketing, while CFRP overlays leave the flexural capacity unchanged but double the shear capacity: steel plate strengthening provides the highest structural capacity and circularity performance ($\mathrm{MCI}=0.45$, $\mathrm{DfC}=8.7/10$), RC jacketing yields the greatest stiffness gain but the lowest circularity ($\mathrm{MCI}=0.08$), and CFRP overlays offer the most balanced structural, environmental, and economic performance. The framework was validated on a six-storey RC building containing 200 mm thick shear walls, confirming that integrating seismic assessment with circular economy indicators supports more sustainable and resilient retrofit decision-making. Full article

Intensive maize production generates large quantities of crop residues, and the widespread practice of open-field straw burning poses serious environmental challenges. Sustainable agricultural intensification therefore requires effective residue management and tillage strategies that maintain crop productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. This study evaluated the effects of straw return (incorporation of chopped maize straw) versus straw removal, combined with four tillage practices: no-tillage (NT), rotary tillage (RT), sub-soiling (SS), and sub-soiling plus rotary tillage (SS + RT), on maize growth and yield in a subtropical double-cropping system in southern China. The results demonstrated that straw return significantly increased chlorophyll content and the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), while delaying the decline in leaf greenness and CO₂ assimilation during the late growing season. Straw incorporation also enhanced the antioxidant defense system, increasing catalase (CAT) activity by approximately 34% and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by about 12% on average, while reducing oxidative damage compared with straw removal. Among the tillage treatments, SS-RT consistently produced the greatest improvements in photosynthetic performance and antioxidant enzyme activities, resulting in higher dry matter accumulation and grain yield. The combined application of straw return and SS-RT achieved the highest kernel number, 1000-kernel weight, and grain yield, increasing yield by up to 17% compared with no-tillage. These findings indicate that integrating straw return with a combined deep- and shallow-tillage system effectively enhances photosynthetic capacity, strengthens antioxidant defense, and improves maize productivity, providing a practical management strategy for intensive maize production. Full article

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates can exhibit different low-velocity impact responses and post-impact performance depending on laminate configuration. This study compares three self-healing CFRP configurations manufactured from CompPair HealTech^® materials: 1.45 and 3.30 mm unidirectional (UD) laminates and a 2.66 mm woven laminate. Low-velocity impact tests were performed at 5 and 10 J. Internal damage was qualitatively examined using visual inspection and X-ray phase-contrast imaging (XPCI), while post-impact performance and recovery were assessed by compression-after-impact (CAI) testing before and after thermal healing. The 1.45 mm UD laminate exhibited the largest displacement and lowest maximum impact force, whereas the 3.30 mm UD laminate showed the highest force and smallest displacement, with the woven laminate exhibiting an intermediate response. Despite its greater impact stiffness, the 3.30 mm UD laminate showed the largest relative reduction in residual compressive strength after 10 J, with strength retention decreasing from approximately 98% after 5 J to 64% after 10 J. The 1.45 mm UD and woven laminates retained 89% and 88% after 5 J and 82% and 72% after 10 J, respectively. After healing, the 1.45 mm UD and woven laminates recovered to approximately 99% of their virgin strengths after 5 J. After 10 J, strength retention reached 91%, 79%, and 81% for the 1.45 mm UD, 3.30 mm UD, and woven laminates, with corresponding healing efficiencies of 49%, 42%, and 31%, respectively. XPCI revealed configuration-dependent internal damage patterns that became more pronounced at 10 J. Overall, the investigated laminate configurations exhibited distinct impact responses, internal damage patterns, residual strengths, and levels of mechanical recovery after healing. Full article

Barrier lakes often occur in areas with steep terrain and poor geology. Earthquakes and heavy rainfall can also cause slope damage, leading to soil and rock accumulation in river valleys and creating barrier lakes. Because barrier lakes often have artificially constructed dams that do not conform to natural formations or take into consideration seepage and dam stability, they are prone to collapse due to rising floodwaters. Therefore, if potential areas are assessed in advance based on the current geology and geometry of the riverbed and preventative measures are taken the damage caused by the collapse of a barrier lake can be avoided. Browser imaging model (BIM) software is used to construct three-dimensional models from digital terrain model spatial data, which can then be used as the basis for assessing the hazards of barrier lakes. The analysis results show that BIM 3D modeling analysis can effectively assess potential disasters on regional slopes and analyze the possible impact range and flood depth after a disaster, which can serve as the basis for flood control design and disaster response plans. Full article

The durability of coatings is often evaluated by the impact of standardized weathering cycles. While such tests may yield well-differentiated damage patterns, they do not reveal which specific weathering parameters—particularly temperature, moisture, or radiation exposure—contributed to the formation of each observed damage type or to what extent. Consequently, it remains unclear (i) how exactly each individual formulation should be modified in order to optimize coating durability, and (ii) which of the tested coatings are particularly (or less) suitable for specific climatic conditions. In the present study, a testing concept is introduced that is primarily based on conducting single-parameter variants of the fluorescent weathering cycle according to DIN EN ISO 16474-3:A (P1). These variants were designed in such a way that, by comparing the weathering results obtained from sets of three color-identical topcoat systems, conclusions could be drawn regarding the aforementioned aspects (i) and (ii). Indeed, it was demonstrated that formulation modifications derived from the observed results led to a markedly improved weathering stability of the topcoat systems, particularly with respect to their previously identified weaknesses. Full article