Search Results (1,232)

The increasing need to reduce reliance on fossil-derived aviation fuels and mitigate environmental impacts has intensified research into renewable alternatives for aviation energy systems. The growing interest in ethanol-based fuels is primarily driven by their simple oxygen-rich molecular structure and advantageous physicochemical characteristics, yet experimental studies examining their application in hybrid power architectures, including micro-turboprop engine-based power sources, are still limited. This study presents an experimental investigation of ethanol–Jet A1 fuel blends used in a micro-turboprop engine operating as a power generation unit for unmanned aerial vehicle applications. Ethanol was blended with Jet A1 at volumetric fractions of 10%, 20% and 30% and the engine was tested under multiple operating regimes corresponding to different electrical power outputs. Exhaust gas temperature, electrical power output and gaseous emissions (CO and NO_x) were measured for each operating condition. The results indicate that low ethanol fractions (E10) provide performance comparable to neat kerosene, while higher ethanol fractions lead to a reduction in exhaust gas temperature at low-power regimes due to the lower heating value and high latent heat of vaporization of ethanol. Emission measurements showed a decrease in NO_x emissions with increasing ethanol content, associated with lower combustion temperatures, while CO emissions increased at low-power regimes due to incomplete combustion under lean conditions. Additionally, combustion instability was observed during rapid transitions from maximum to idle regime operation for higher ethanol blends, attributed to transient ultra-lean mixtures, evaporative cooling, and reduced reaction rates. The results demonstrate that ethanol–kerosene blends can be used in micro-turboprop systems at low blend ratios without major performance penalties, but transient operating conditions impose stability limits that must be considered in practical UAV power system applications. Full article

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), represent a growing global health challenge characterized by progressive neuronal loss and a lack of definitive disease-modifying treatments. This review explores the emerging potential of targeting non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and exosomal RNAs, to modulate pathogenic molecular pathways and address the underlying molecular origins of neurodegeneration. We evaluate the integration of advanced computational techniques for RNA structure prediction and gene regulatory network analysis, alongside chemical engineering strategies—such as Locked Nucleic Acids (LNAs) and phosphorothioate modifications—aimed at enhancing the stability and specificity of RNA-based molecules. Furthermore, we analyze cutting-edge delivery and editing technologies, including nanotechnology-driven solutions for precise neuronal targeting and the CRISPR/Cas13 system for direct ncRNA manipulation.The findings indicate that while challenges in delivery efficiency and long-term efficacy persist, the synergy of chemical engineering and computational modeling significantly improves the therapeutic profile of ncRNAs, with exosomal pathways offering a novel route for intercellular signaling modulation and biomarker discovery. Therapeutic interventions directed at specific clinical targets, such as miR-34a and BACE1-AS, demonstrate the capacity to influence protein aggregation and neuroinflammatory cascades. Although ncRNA-based therapies are currently in nascent stages, ongoing technological advancements in RNA editing and nanotechnology offer a transformative framework that could redefine the future of ND treatment and successfully halt disease progression rather than merely managing symptoms. Full article

Craniosynostosis is the premature fusion of skull bones due to loss of stem/progenitor cells located in non-mineralized tissue between growing cranial bones of infants. We generated scaffolds from a biodegradable biomaterial with small interconnected pores (125–250 μm diameter), previously shown to maintain stemness of a mesenchymal cell population, to further develop a method for the creation of an artificial cranial bone stem cell niche. Polymer scaffolds of consistent pore size were fabricated using a molecular-sieved sugar sphere casting technique with poly-l-lactic acid. A rectangular surgical defect within the parietal bone of juvenile mice was created. The three groups included sham animals with surgery but no scaffold, experimental animals with surgery plus an implanted cell-free scaffold, and experimental animals with surgery plus an implanted bone mesenchymal cell-seeded scaffold. Healing at the surgical site was evaluated at 4 and 12 weeks after surgery by micro-CT and histology. Surgical site bone volume fraction and bone mineral density were significantly greater at twelve than four weeks in the sham group but not in either of the scaffold groups. At twelve weeks, the surgical site bone volume fraction and bone mineral density were significantly lower in the cell-seeded scaffold as compared to the sham animal group. At twelve weeks, the anterior and middle cranial vault widths were significantly greater in the cell-seeded scaffold as compared to the sham animal group on the surgery side of the skulls. Less mineralization was evident within the cell-seeded than the cell-free scaffolds by histology. Based on these findings, scaffolds of sufficiently small pore size seeded with autologous bone mesenchymal stem cells could function as an artificial cranial stem cell niche to inhibit surgical-site mineralization and promote cranial growth. Full article

The increasing detection of micro-nanoplastics (MNPs) in environmental settings and in human biological samples has raised growing concern about their potential implications for human health. Exposure to plastic particles may cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic reactions, according to previous studies. It is unidentified, consequently, to what extent these basic processes result in identifiable clinical illness patterns. This narrative review investigated whether a structured symptom-mapping approach might be used to identify recurrent multisystem symptom patterns that might be consistent with environmental exposure. The Chicago Cluster System (CCS) is a conceptual framework that includes four environmental exposure indicators in addition to 26 clinical signs and symptoms. The CCS framework was used for filtering clinical descriptions of 375 disorders in 21 disease groups using conventional medical references. Using exploratory thresholds of at least eight compatible symptoms, the aim of this study was to identify scenarios exhibiting convergence with the CCS symptom pattern. Forty disorders (11%) exhibited eight or more CCS-compatible symptoms out of the 375 diseases that were evaluated. Neurodegenerative, metabolic, inflammatory, and gastrointestinal illnesses were among the various clinical categories in which these symptoms emerged. Fatigue (65%), upper gastrointestinal problems (58%), and increased inflammatory markers (55%) were the most commonly reported symptoms. These results imply that certain types of chronic disorders may exhibit recurrent multisystem symptom patterns. The observed overlap should be regarded cautiously because many CCS signs are non-specific and widely spread across medical conditions. The CCS framework may organize multisystem symptom patterns in environmental health research. Full article

Like other agricultural products, food legumes production faces uncertainty risks stemming from climate change, which may affect yields and consequently impact farmers’ livelihoods. Agricultural insurance serves as one of the climate change adaptation measures available to farmers, helping mitigate the impacts of climate change on agricultural production and livelihoods. While considerable attention has been paid to climate change adaptation through production-side measures, comparatively fewer micro level studies examine insurance adoption as an adaptive response, particularly among food legume farmers. Based on a survey of 460 food legume farmers in Baicheng City, Jilin Province of China, this study employs a binary probit regression model to analyze the relationship between climate change perceptions and farmers’ adoption of agricultural insurance as an adaptation measure. Farmers’ climate change perception is measured through four indicators: perceived changes in average annual temperature, precipitation, drought severity, and frost severity over the past five years. Robustness tests are conducted by using a replacement econometric model, altering the climate change perception variable, and implementing sample restriction. Results indicate that food legume farmers’ perceptions of climate change exhibits significant correlation with their agricultural insurance purchasing behavior. Farmers who perceive lower temperatures and more severe frosts are more inclined to purchase agricultural insurance. Participation in food legume production cooperatives and prior experience with yield reductions exert significant positive correlation with insurance purchase decisions. Therefore, enhancing targeted outreach and education, leveraging the role of cooperatives in insurance promotion, and implementing differentiated insurance promotion based on disaster experiences hold positive implications for reducing farmers’ exposure to climate change risks. The findings further offer valuable insights into climate adaptation policy in other drought-prone, legume-growing regions. Full article

In Northeast China’s degraded croplands, nitrate (NO₃⁻-N) leaching is the dominant pathway for fertilizer-nitrogen (N) loss, which presents an increasing threat to the quality of groundwater. Conservation tillage, defined as no-tillage (NT) and straw retention, is a widely adopted management strategy to maintain cropland fertility in the black soil (BS) regions. At present, however, the impact of shifting from conventional to conservation tillage on the vertical distribution and regulatory mechanisms of NO₃⁻-N derived from applied fertilizer-N (F_NO3) remains poorly understood. Based on a 12-year field experiment, we integrated ¹⁵N-tracing field monitoring with ¹⁵N-paired-labeling incubation to quantify the vertical migration of F_NO3 into deep soil profiles, and specify the dominant processes regulating N retention and supply. Across the tested BS croplands, total NO₃⁻-N production rates (4.06–6.58 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹) were faster than their consumption rates (0.36–0.92 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹), leading to a net accumulation of NO₃⁻-N, and implying a potential for leaching of NO₃⁻-N, from the perspective of substrate availability. The results of the field ¹⁵N micro-plot experiment also indicated that, by maize maturity in the first growing season, an average of 7.5% of F_NO3 had migrated to the 80–100 cm soil layer. During the following two growing seasons, the maximum accumulation of F_NO3 had shifted downward to 140–160 cm and 180–220 cm, respectively. Such a pattern, particularly in light of the increased extreme precipitation in the studied regions, raises clear concerns about NO₃⁻-N leaching losses. Compared with conventional management, no-tillage with full-rate straw mulching decreased net rates of NO₃⁻-N production from 6.22 to 3.14 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹. This reduction resulted from a decline in the gross oxidation of NH₄⁺-N to NO₃⁻-N (from 6.39 to 3.70 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹) and an increase in DNRA (from 0.35 to 0.85 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹), which collectively delayed the downward transport of F_NO3. Conservation tillage also increased the gross rate of heterotrophic nitrification (from 0.19 to 0.36 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹) and its proportion relative to total nitrification (from 2.8% to 8.9%). Despite this shift, autotrophic nitrification remained the dominant process for NO₃⁻-N production in the tested BS croplands, likely due to a pH constraint on heterotrophic nitrification. With the increasingly widespread promotion of conservation tillage for soil fertility improvement, heterotrophic nitrification warrants greater attention, particularly in BS regions where pH < 6.5 and C/N contents are relatively high. Collectively, our findings provide a scientific basis for tailoring tillage practices to maintain sustainable agriculture in Northeast China. Full article

Background: Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are widespread environmental contaminants with growing evidence linking them to adverse health effects, including progression and worsening of allergic diseases. As allergies are rapidly increasing among youth (affecting almost 30% of children), this demographic represents a vulnerable population facing emerging environmental threats. Since no prior study has investigated MNP risks perceptions in an allergic population, this study aimed to assess public awareness and risk perception of MNP in Croatian youth, focusing on the influence of urbanicity, education, and allergy status. Methods: A total of 1155 participants (aged 6–18 years) were recruited from three Croatian regions as part of the EU Horizon 2020 IMPTOX and the Horizon Europe EDIAQI studies. Allergy status was determined via skin prick tests (SPT), and standardized questionnaires were used to collect data on MNP awareness and perception. Results: Awareness was significantly higher among allergic individuals (89.5% vs. non-allergic 79%, FDR p value= 0.036) and those with university-level education (88.3% vs. elementary 63.3%, FDR p value = 0.050). Allergic participants were also more concerned about food contamination by MNPs (87.7%) compared to non-allergic individuals (79.2%), FDR p value = 0.005). Media and social media were the primary sources of information regarding MNPs (FDR p value = 0.026). Conclusions: Education and allergy status are the strongest predictors of MNP awareness and related risk perceptions in the Croatian population. Targeted public health communication and educational strategies are needed to translate basic awareness into informed behavioral and policy engagement. Full article

Hair follicles are highly specialized mini-organs within the skin that drive the production of wool and cashmere, traits of major biological and economic importance in sheep and goats. Despite their microscopic size, hair follicles exhibit extraordinary regulatory complexity, integrating genetic programs with seasonal, endocrine, environmental, and epigenetic cues. Although transcriptional networks and signaling pathways underlying follicle morphogenesis and cycling have been extensively investigated, the post-transcriptional mechanisms that fine-tune these processes remain insufficiently understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as pivotal post-transcriptional regulators that coordinate cell fate determination, lineage commitment, and tissue homeostasis. Growing evidence indicates that miRNAs play essential roles in hair follicle stem cell maintenance, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and organ-level development, functioning through interconnected regulatory networks rather than isolated linear pathways. By modulating the expression of key follicle-determining genes and signaling components, miRNA-mediated regulation shapes follicle formation, cyclic regeneration, and fiber traits. In this review, we synthesize recent advances in miRNA research related to hair follicle biology, with a particular focus on wool- and cashmere-bearing mammals. We integrate findings across species to propose a systems-level framework in which miRNA networks interface with canonical signaling pathways and epigenetic mechanisms to orchestrate follicle development and regeneration. Conserved and species-specific regulatory principles are discussed to bridge fundamental follicle biology with practical applications in fiber production. Overall, this review highlights miRNAs as a critical yet previously underappreciated regulatory layer in hair follicle biology. A deeper understanding of miRNA-mediated control provides new conceptual insights into wool and cashmere development and offers a foundation for future molecular breeding and precision regulation strategies in livestock. Full article

The growing demand for lightweight and cost-effective vehicular armor systems has driven the development of hybrid multilayer architectures capable of improving ballistic resistance while reducing structural mass. This study evaluates the ballistic performance of a functionally graded aluminum–Kevlar–cabuya fiber composite system designed for vehicle door protection. A combined experimental–numerical framework was implemented, integrating ballistic testing according to NIJ 0108.01 and STANAG 4569 Level 1 standards with explicit dynamic finite element modeling based on the Johnson–Cook constitutive formulation for AA5083-H32. The multilayer configuration (25 mm aluminum/15 mm Kevlar 29/15 mm treated cabuya composite) successfully resisted 9 × 19 mm and 5.56 × 45 mm FMJ threats without complete perforation. Numerical simulations predicted a maximum back-face deformation of 52.75 mm under 9 mm impact, showing strong agreement with the experimental measurements (mean ± SD, n = 3). Post-impact microstructural analysis revealed a sequential energy dissipation mechanism governed by plastic deformation of the aluminum layer, Kevlar fibrillation and fragment retention, and controlled micro-cracking within the treated cabuya backing layer. With an areal density of 140.87 kg/m², the system achieved a 19% weight reduction compared with conventional steel-based solutions. These results demonstrate the structural-scale feasibility of integrating treated cabuya fiber composites as active energy redistribution layers in certified hybrid vehicular armor systems. Full article

In this article operational problems associated with the use of landfill biogas as an alternative fuel in cogeneration systems, with particular emphasis on micro-installations based on the Perkins 4008-30 TRS2 combustion engine are presented. Such installations are commonly used in cogeneration systems, whose importance in obtaining stable electric and thermal energy is growing, especially when taking into account the additional reduction in environmental impact through biogas combustion. Reducing emissions of biogas, which consists of approximately 60% methane and approximately 35% carbon dioxide, directly reduces emissions of a greenhouse gas (GHG) with a high global warming potential (GWP). In this study the characteristics of the landfill, the biogas purification system, the measurement system and the energy balance of the entire process, biogas production → electric energy → thermal energy, are presented and the importance of this type of installation in the context of a low-carbon economy is discussed. Attention is also drawn to the operational problems of the cogeneration system, which led to its failure, requiring comprehensive repairs of the internal combustion engine. Full article

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are pervasive environmental contaminants with growing relevance for human health across the lifespan. Older adults may be especially vulnerable to their effects due to cumulative lifetime exposure, age-related physiological changes, and a higher burden of chronic disease. Adopting a One Health perspective, this review synthesizes current evidence on the sources, exposure pathways, and biological effects of MNPs, integrating findings from environmental, animal, and human studies with a specific focus on aging populations. Experimental studies consistently show that MNP exposure triggers oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular senescence, mechanisms central to biological aging. These processes are linked to dysfunction of the cardiovascular, nervous, gastrointestinal, and immune systems, suggesting that MNPs may contribute to the development or progression of age-related diseases. Within the One Health framework, MNPs also act as carriers of chemical additives and environmental pollutants, potentially amplifying health risks through combined and cumulative exposures along food chains and ecosystems. Despite increasing mechanistic evidence, direct epidemiological data in older adults remain limited. This review highlights key knowledge gaps and emphasizes the need for integrative, longitudinal research to clarify the role of MNPs in aging and to inform public health and environmental policy. Full article

Background: Glioblastoma is the most lethal primary brain tumor, being characterized not only by marked intratumoral heterogeneity but also by strong systemic immunosuppression. Circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) have gained growing recognition during the past decade as important mediators of intercellular communication, particularly through their microRNA (miRNA) cargo. However, the global EV miRNA landscape of circulating EV-associated miRNAs in glioblastoma patients and their relation with gene expression patterns in peripheral immune cells remain incompletely defined. Methods: To investigate these systemic associations, we profiled EV-associated miRNA expression in plasma samples from glioblastoma patients and matched healthy controls using the small RNA sequencing method, followed by differential expression and pathway analyses. Based on these findings and literature evidence, identified changes in selected EV miRNA levels were validated by qPCR in an extended cohort. In parallel, expression of their predicted immune-related mRNA targets was analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from the same individuals, allowing for the assessment of EV miRNA–PBMC mRNA correlation patterns. Results: Small RNA sequencing revealed a distinct circulating EV-associated miRNA profile in glioblastoma patients compared to controls. The validation analysis of relative expression of the identified DEmiRNAs has shown a statistically significant upregulation of hsa-miR-142-3p, hsa-miR-19b-3p, and hsa-miR-98-5p in circulating EVs of glioblastoma patients compared to controls. PBMCs from glioblastoma patients exhibited increased expression of the regulatory genes SOCS1, SOCS3, and PTEN, while CCND1 was downregulated. Correlation analyses suggested that certain EV miRNA changes parallel with alterations in PBMC gene expression in glioblastoma patients, suggesting early immune priming in the circulation. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that circulating EV miRNAs in glioblastoma patients are associated with specific gene expression patterns in peripheral immune cells, suggesting a complex regulatory balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cues, potentially preceding full tumor-associated macrophage polarization. These molecular interactions may offer opportunities for developing early biomarkers or new therapeutic approaches. Full article

The growing demand for intelligent environmental monitoring is driving the advancement of high-performance, low-cost, and highly integrated gas sensors. Silicon-compatible semiconductor gas sensors provide a promising platform to achieve this goal by leveraging their compatibility with complementary metal–oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes. The established mass-manufacturing capabilities of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and the high sensitivity and signal amplification characteristics of field effect transistors (FETs) in recent years have made the development of next-generation sensing devices feasible. In this review, we systematically summarize the latest advances in silicon-compatible gas sensors, with a focus on MEMS and FET technologies. We discuss their sensing mechanisms and performance optimization strategies, and further highlight the evolution of gas sensor technology toward on-chip intelligent olfactory systems that integrate sensing, computing, and storage capabilities. Full article

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are being found, with growing frequency, in agroecosystems, where soils function as major sinks and direct interfaces with food crops. This review shows an integrated soil–plant–food analytical framework and synthesizes evidence on MNPs behavior in soils (dispersion, aging, aggregation), plant uptake pathways (root vs. foliar, including atmospheric deposition), tissue translocation, and plant physiological responses. Across crop species and exposure conditions, convergent patterns included oxidative stress, disruption of nutrient homeostasis, impaired photosynthesis, and growth penalties, with magnitude modulated by particle size, polymer type, and surface chemistry within specific soil–plant contexts. Occurrence of MNPs in edible tissues of leafy, root, and fruit vegetables is critically appraised, as well as its implications for food safety and potential dietary exposure. Key uncertainties persist, including heterogeneous analytical methods, scarce long-term field datasets, and limited alignment between laboratory doses and environmental concentrations. These constraints translate into priorities for exposure assessment and risk governance, including the need for standardized metrics, harmonized quality criteria, and field-scale monitoring aligned with agronomic practices. By re-centering the analysis on crops and food systems while acknowledging human exposure implications, the review provides a decision-oriented basis for research and mitigation. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have emerged as pervasive contaminants across diverse environments—including soil, water, and the atmosphere—posing substantial risks to resident organisms. Concurrently, alien plant invasion represents a significant driver of environmental change, introducing considerable ecological risks to terrestrial ecosystems. Synthesizing evidence from 26 original research articles, this review examines the bidirectional interactions between micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) and terrestrial invasive plants. A growing body of evidence indicates that MNPs alter the growth and performance of both invasive and native plants. In most documented cases, MNPs appear to enhance the competitive ability of invasive plants, thereby elevating their invasion potential. However, counterexamples exist wherein MNPs strengthen the competitiveness of native plants, consequently mitigating invasion risk. These divergent outcomes are likely attributable to a suite of influencing factors, notably the characteristics of the MNPs (e.g., type, size, concentration), the specific invasive and native plant species involved, and variations in experimental conditions. Key mechanistic pathways involve MNPs-induced disturbances in soil microecology—particularly nutrient dynamics and rhizosphere microbiomes—and allelopathic interactions. Conversely, invasive plants may adsorb/absorb MNPs and subsequently modify their environmental fate and behaviors (e.g., degradation, transport). Finally, we delineate critical knowledge gaps and propose prioritized directions for future research. This review advances our understanding of the ecological risks associated with plant invasions in an era of pervasive MNP pollution and offers a scientific foundation for developing informed management strategies. Full article