Search Results (816)

Manure-based anaerobic digestion (AD) systems serve multiple functions, including waste treatment, energy recovery, and nutrient cycling. However, they also entail additional energy consumption and pollutant emissions. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is typically used to holistically quantify the actual environmental impacts of these systems. Nevertheless, comprehensive reviews synthesizing LCA studies in this field remain limited. Following PRISMA guidelines, this study conducted a systematic literature review of LCA studies on manure-based AD systems, focusing on advancements, inconsistencies, and limitations in LCA methodologies and environmental impact results. The findings indicate considerable variability in functional units, allocation methods, system boundaries, and inventory analysis methods across the literature. These methodological discrepancies and the lack of standardized protocols result in remarkable variability in environmental impact potentials. Additionally, there is lack of consensus on the environmental benefits of AD systems compared to traditional manure management, and co-digestion with energy crops or food waste compared to mono-digestion of manure. Consequently, the environmental impacts of manure-based AD systems remain inconclusive due to methodological heterogeneity and data inconsistencies. Future research should develop scientific and standardized approaches and focus on the completeness of system boundaries, selection of key environmental impact categories, environmental load allocation, inventory data quality, and the transparency of the analysis. Full article

In this paper, Distribution of Relaxation Time (DRT) analysis is presented as a powerful tool for understanding the aging mechanisms in lithium-ion batteries, with a focus on its application to estimating the State of Health (SOH). A novel parameter, the characteristic relaxation time, derived from DRT analysis, is introduced to enhance SOH estimation. By analyzing the ratio of the central relaxation time (τ) between the charge transfer and diffusion peaks, the battery status can be determined without the need for historical data. Experimental data from lithium-ion batteries, including 18650 cells and LR2032 coin cells, were examined until the end of their life. Nyquist and DRT plots across various frequency ranges revealed consistent aging trends, particularly in the charge transfer and diffusion processes. These processes appeared as shifting and merging peaks in the DRT plots, signifying progressive degradation. A polynomial equation fitted to the τ ratio graph achieved a high accuracy (Adj. R² = 0.9994), enabling reliable battery lifespan prediction. Validation with a Samsung Galaxy S9+ battery demonstrated that the method could estimate its remaining life, predicting a total lifespan of approximately 2100 cycles (compared to 1000 cycles already completed). These results confirm that SOH estimation is feasible without prior data and highlight the potential of DRT analysis for accurate and quantitative prediction of battery longevity. Full article

Current clinical approaches for managing inflammatory pain are frequently accompanied by adverse effects, significantly compromising patients’ quality of life. This study investigates the analgesic potential of Heat Shock Protein Family A Member 1A (HSPA1A) in alleviating Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammatory pain. The immunomodulatory mechanisms were elucidated through behavioral studies, flow cytometry, transcriptomics, proteomics, and cellular metabolic analyses. Findings indicate that HSPA1A mitigates CFA-induced mechanical allodynia, an effect independent of T or B lymphocytes and neutrophils but positively correlated with macrophage abundance. Transcriptomic RNA sequencing suggests involvement of inflammation-associated pathways. In vitro experiments demonstrate that HSPA1A suppresses the polarization of bone marrow-derived macrophages toward the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype in an inflammatory model, with decreased mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-1β (Il1b) and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF). Macrophage metabolism undergoes reprogramming, characterized by reduced glycolysis and enhanced oxidative phosphorylation. Proteomic pathway analysis reveals suppression of pro-inflammatory and glycolytic proteins, coupled with upregulation of anti-inflammatory and tricarboxylic acid cycle-related proteins. In summary, HSPA1A likely exerts its analgesic effects by inhibiting glycolysis in macrophages, providing novel insights into inflammatory pain management and highlighting potential therapeutic targets for future clinical drug development with substantial translational potential. Full article

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play pivotal roles in post-transcriptional gene regulation, influencing development, differentiation, and disease pathogenesis. Since their discovery in 1993, miRNAs have been recognized for their evolutionary conservation and pleiotropic effects, with the 2024 Nobel Prize underscoring their significance in post-transcriptional regulation via the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. This review synthesizes the complete life cycle of miRNAs—from transcription and processing to function and decay—emphasizing regulatory mechanisms and their implications in human diseases, particularly cancer. We discuss how epitranscriptomic modifications influence miRNA biogenesis and activity, explore their nuclear and mitochondrial functions, and address emerging challenges in miRNA-based therapeutics, including the expanding small RNA landscape such as tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs), and Argonaute (AGO)-independent activities. Despite hurdles such as modest multi-target effects, off-target interactions, and delivery challenges, miRNAs remain promising as both biomarkers and therapeutic agents, underscoring the need for sustained research to bridge preclinical insights with clinical applications. Full article

To address the challenge of reduced prediction accuracy caused by capacity regeneration during the use of lithium-ion batteries, this study proposes an RUL (remaining useful life) prediction method based on mode decomposition and an enhanced Informer-LSTM hybrid model. The capacity is selected as the health indicator, and the CEEMDAN (complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise) algorithm is employed to decompose the capacity sequence into high-frequency and low-frequency components. The high-frequency components are further decomposed and predicted using the Informer model, while the low-frequency components are predicted with an LSTM (long short-term memory) network. Pearson correlation coefficients between each component and the original sequence are calculated to determine fusion weights. The final RUL prediction is obtained through weighted integration of the individual predictions. Experimental validation on publicly available NASA and CALCE (Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering) battery datasets demonstrates that the proposed method achieves an average fitting accuracy of approximately 99%, with MAE (mean absolute error) below 0.02. Additionally, both MAPE (mean absolute percentage error) and RMSE (root-mean-square error) remain at low levels, indicating improvements in prediction precision. Full article

We report the first confirmed case of persistent microfilaremia in a human host infected with Dirofilaria repens. A 54-year-old woman from an endemic area in Croatia presented with peripheral eosinophilia and dermatological symptoms. Over four months, microfilariae were repeatedly detected in her blood using thick smears and Knott’s test, and the diagnosis was molecularly confirmed via COI gene sequencing and detection of Wolbachia endosymbionts. This case provides compelling evidence that D. repens can sustain a complete or near-complete life cycle in humans under specific conditions. Our findings have significant implications for clinical diagnostics, One Health surveillance, and public health interventions. Full article

This study aims to evaluate and compare the carbon emissions and reduction strategies of two different slope construction methods—concrete slope protection and ecological sprayed-soil slope protection—using a life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach. The research focuses on identifying key carbon emission sources throughout each stage of the construction, from material production to transportation, construction, and maintenance, with a particular emphasis on the ecological benefits of vegetation in reducing carbon footprints. Results indicate that the ecological slope protection scheme significantly outperforms the concrete scheme, reducing total carbon emissions by 667.21 tons. Furthermore, the ecological solution, due to its carbon sequestration capabilities, is projected to achieve carbon neutrality within 3.66 years after completion, offering a net carbon sequestration benefit of 2422.97 tons over its lifecycle. Optimization strategies across various stages—material production, transportation, construction, and maintenance—further reduce emissions by 56.8%, underscoring the potential for ecological slope protection to contribute to sustainable construction practices. This study not only provides valuable insights into low-carbon construction methods but also highlights the importance of integrating ecological and engineering technologies to meet global carbon reduction goals. Full article

This study investigates the influence of freeze–thaw (F–T) cycles on the seismic fragility of double-column bridge piers. Mechanical tests were conducted on standard concrete specimens subjected to 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 F–T cycles using an HC-HDK9/F rapid freeze–thaw testing machine. The experimental results were used to calibrate and validate the applicability of the selected concrete constitutive model. A nonlinear finite element model of a double-column bridge pier was developed in the OpenSees platform, incorporating material degradation parameters corresponding to varying F–T cycles. Incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) was performed to derive seismic demand curves and quantify fragility corresponding to multiple damage states. The results indicate that the failure probability of the piers increases significantly with the number of F–T cycles, particularly for slight and moderate damage levels. In the low to moderate peak ground acceleration (PGA) range, the exceedance probabilities for slight and moderate damage states show a sharp rise, highlighting the sensitivity of early-stage damage to F–T degradation. It is worth noting that under the extreme condition of PGA = 1.0 g and 100 freeze–thaw cycles, the piers still exhibit a certain degree of redundancy against severe and complete damage, which to some extent reflects the certain rationality of the current seismic design in freeze–thaw environments. These findings underscore the robustness of current seismic design provisions in cold regions and provide theoretical and data-driven support for performance assessment, service life prediction, and maintenance planning of bridges exposed to freeze–thaw environments. Full article

Rhodomelaceae is the largest red algae family, with 158 genera and more than 1000 described nominal species. In particular, Acanthophora (Rhodomelaceae) is a red alga with erect thalli that arises from stoloniferous branches or holdfast discs, with cylindrical main axes and spine-like branchlets. The life cycle of members of this genus has been partially described; however, the female gamete (carpogonium) has not been described. Here, we present a complete description of each stage in the life cycle of Acanthophora. Thalli of this species were collected from 27 localities in the Gulf of Mexico between 2021 and 2024 and placed in a 5% formaldehyde solution in seawater. Reproductive structures were measured and characterized under stereo and optical microscopes. A total of 62 thalli were collected, of which 10 were carposporophytes, 12 male gametophytes, 1 female gametophyte, 16 vegetative thalli, and 23 tetrasporophytic thalli. A detailed description of the shape and size of the reproductive structures is presented. We documented carpogonium for the first time. The evidence here presented contributes to the description of the life cycle of the genus Acanthophora, in which structures forgotten in current works are recovered, which is of great help in the comparative phycology of the Rhodomelaceae family and Ceramiales order. Full article

The increasing prevalence of mental health disorders highlights the need for innovative and accessible interventions. Although existing digital meditation applications offer valuable basic guidance, they often lack interactivity, real-time personalized feedback, and dynamic simulation of real-life scenarios necessary for comprehensive experiential training applicable to daily stressors. To address these limitations, this study developed a novel immersive meditation system specifically designed for deployment within a metaverse environment. The system provides mindfulness practice through two distinct modules within the virtual world. The experience-based module delivers AI-driven social interactions within simulated everyday scenarios, with narrative content dynamically generated by large language models (LLMs), followed by guided inner reflection, thereby forming a scenario–experience–reflection cycle. The breathing-focused module provides real-time feedback through a breath-synchronization interface to enhance respiratory awareness. The feasibility and preliminary effects of this metaverse-based system were explored in a two-week, single-group, pre-test/post-test study involving 31 participants. The participants completed a battery of validated psychological questionnaires assessing psychological distress, mindfulness, acceptance, self-compassion, and self-esteem before and after engaging in the intervention. This study provides exploratory evidence supporting the feasibility and potential of immersive metaverse environments and LLM-based scenario generation for structured mental health interventions, providing initial insights into their psychological impact and user experience. Full article

The environmental impact of traditional construction materials has led to increasing interest in developing more sustainable alternatives. This study addresses the development of low-carbon autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) through the complete replacement of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with ground granulated blast furnace slag (BFS), activated with lime and, in some formulations, supplemented with calcium carbide slag (CCS). Five different AAC mixtures were prepared and evaluated in terms of workability, foaming behavior, compressive strength, phase composition, density, thermal conductivity, and life cycle assessment (LCA). The BFS-based mixtures activated with lime exhibited good workability and foaming stability. After pre-curing, the addition of CCS significantly improved the formation of tobermorite during autoclaving. As a result, the BFS–CCS formulations achieved compressive strengths comparable to the reference OPC-based mix while maintaining low densities (420–441 kg/m³) and thermal conductivities in the range of 0.111–0.119 W/(m·K). These results confirm the technical feasibility of producing structural-grade AAC with a lower environmental footprint. Full article

Project-based learning provides a common context for STEM education at all educational levels. However, before future chemistry teachers can implement it in their teaching, they need to have experience in completing complex projects by themselves. According to previous research, an engineering perspective in STEM projects has been difficult to implement. Therefore, this design-based research project focuses on producing pedagogical resources for conducting STEM projects based on authentic engineering practices. Through three-cycle design research, we crafted Excel templates that support a step-by-step framework for completing complex engineering projects and an evaluation matrix that includes formative and summative tools. The design solutions were validated through empirical problem analysis, which yielded qualitative insights into the possibilities and challenges of the produced tools. From this data, we formulated five best practices for teachers to focus on achieving successful project outcomes, with priority being to support the progress of the engineering approach and support it via guidance and peer collaboration. For future chemistry teachers, artificial intelligence tools offer support, especially for hardware assembly and software coding. The research produced educational artifacts that support conducting STEM projects in higher education and insights into their best practices. Since design solutions are based on research and real-life engineering practices, they are useful for all fields in higher education that conduct STEM projects and aim to teach authentic engineering skills. Full article

The move toward environmentally friendly methods in the global manufacturing sector has led to the use of minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional flood cooling. However, the natural limits of MQL in high-performance settings have led to the use of nanotechnology, which has resulted in the creation of nanofluids, engineered colloidal suspensions that significantly improve the thermophysical and tribological properties of base fluids. This paper gives a complete overview of the latest developments in nanofluid technology for use in machining. It starts with the basics of MQL and the rules for making, describing, and keeping nanofluids stable. The review examines the application and effectiveness of single and hybrid nanofluids in various machining processes. It goes into detail about how they improve tool life, surface integrity, and overall efficiency. It also examines the benefits of integrating nanofluid-assisted MQL (NMQL) with more advanced and hybrid systems, including cryogenic cooling (cryo-NMQL), ultrasonic atomization, electrostatic–magnetic assistance, and multi-nozzle delivery systems. The paper also gives a critical look at the main problems that these technologies face, such as the long-term stability of nanoparticle suspensions, their environmental and economic viability as measured by life cycle assessment (LCA), and the important issues of safety, toxicology, and disposal. This review gives a full picture of the current state and future potential of nanofluid-assisted sustainable manufacturing by pointing out important research gaps, like the need for real-time LCA data, cost-effective scalability, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve processes, and by outlining future research directions. Full article

Trypanosoma cruzi is a hemoflagellate protozoan and the causative agent of Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis. Transmission occurs through the feces of triatomine insects, its biological vector. It is estimated that around 7 million people are infected across Mexico, Central America, and South America. This study aimed to identify and characterize T. cruzi isolates obtained from wild triatomine vectors collected in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Molecular identification was performed at different developmental stages—epimastigotes in culture media, metacyclic trypomastigotes in triatomine feces, and amastigotes in mouse cardiac tissue—using endpoint PCR targeting satDNA and mtCytB regions. In addition, next-generation sequencing was employed to analyze variable regions of kinetoplast DNA minicircles. The pathogenicity of the isolated and identified T. cruzi strain was assessed in a murine model, where trypomastigote stages were detected in peripheral blood and amastigote stages in muscle tissue. Molecular analyses confirmed the presence of T. cruzi across different developmental stages from wild vectors, demonstrating that the isolated wild strain possesses pathogenic potential when completing its life cycle in an experimental mammalian host, specifically BALB/c mice. Full article

Pentastiridius leporinus (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae) is considered the main vector of three phloem-restricted pathogens, γ-proteobacteria ‘Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus’, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (Stolbur phytoplasma), and 16SrXII-P phytoplasma, which infect two economically important crops, sugar beet and potato. In this study, four pop-up tents (1 m²) were set up in a carrot (Daucus carota L.) field located in Bingen on the Rhine to determine whether egg laying, development of nymphs, and infection is possible on this vegetable. We further show that the planthopper P. leporinus can complete significant parts of its life cycle on carrots in the field, suggesting that it has expanded its host range to this crop in addition to sugar beet and potato. In addition, this study shows that P. leporinus is able to transmit phloem-restricted pathogens to carrots. Full article