Search Results (2,239)

Substantial advances have been made since the 1970s in reducing the environmental impacts of ammonia production. Renewable-driven electrochemical synthesis offers a promising pathway to decarbonize ammonia production. This review examines an integrated route in which hydrogen is generated photoelectrochemically under concentrated solar irradiation and subsequently used in electrochemical ammonia synthesis. Photoelectrochemical cells are fabricated by electrostatically depositing photosensitive particles onto cathodes to enhance light-driven hydrogen production. Hydrogen production rates and ammonia yield depend strongly on temperature and electrolyte composition. The synthesized hydrogen is fed into a molten salt electrochemical reactor that operates at atmospheric pressure and receives nitrogen from a dedicated supply. This combined solar–electrochemical approach can produce low-carbon ammonia with improved safety and reduced environmental impact, offering a scalable alternative to conventional processes. Full article

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is an important crop for human nutrition due to its high protein content and capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen. However, crop productivity is frequently compromised by biotic and abiotic stresses, among which wounding represents a highly prevalent challenge. Thus, understanding early molecular and biochemical responses to tissue damage is essential for improving plant stress resilience. We have investigated the effects of mechanical wounding on nucleic acid-degrading activities in the common bean. Mechanical wounding of leaves rapidly induced ribonuclease activity, whereas nuclease activities remained unchanged. Gel activity assays revealed a predominant ribonuclease, which was identified by proteomic analysis as PvRNS2, a member of the S-like RNase T2 family. This wound-induced ribonuclease was inhibited more strongly by nucleoside di- and triphosphate than by the corresponding nucleoside monophosphate. The increase in ribonuclease activity correlated with a rapid and transient induction of PvRNS2 expression, which peaked at 2 h after injury (600-fold increase). A similar transcriptional response was observed in radicles subjected to mechanical damage (55-fold increase), indicating that PvRNS2 responds to wounding in both aerial and subterranean tissues. In contrast, the wound-induced increase in PvRNS2 expression was not associated with a coordinated upregulation of genes encoding enzymes involved in downstream nucleotide degradation. Together, these results identify PvRNS2 as a major contributor to wound-induced RNA turnover in the common bean and support the involvement of RNA metabolism in early responses to mechanical damage. The participation of ribonucleases in the wound response of economically vital legumes remains unexplored. This work addresses this knowledge gap, establishing a new framework for understanding nucleic acid degradation during legume defense. Full article

The development of low-cost and highly sensitive electrochemical sensing platforms for pesticide monitoring has attracted significant attention in recent years. In this study, coke-derived carbon (CDC) was successfully synthesized from petroleum coke through high-temperature carbonization under a nitrogen atmosphere. Subsequently, a CDC@CuO-NP nanocomposite was fabricated by depositing copper oxide nanoparticles onto the CDC matrix. The morphology, structure, and elemental composition of the synthesized materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and elemental mapping analyses, confirming the successful formation of the composite and the uniform distribution of CuO nanostructures on the carbon surface. Electrochemical characterization demonstrated that the incorporation of CuO significantly enhanced the electrochemical performance of CDC by increasing the electroactive surface area and facilitating electron transfer. The CDC@CuO-NP-modified glassy carbon electrode was applied for the electrochemical detection of dichlorvos (DDVP) using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The sensor exhibited a concentration-dependent increase in charge-transfer resistance and showed a linear response in the concentration range of 247–3770 nM, with the regression equation y = 47.1458C + 111.8162 and a correlation coefficient of R² = 0.9832. The developed sensor achieved a low limit of detection (LOD) of 2.3 nM, demonstrating high sensitivity toward DDVP. These results indicate that the CDC@CuO-NP nanocomposite is a promising, low-cost, and efficient electrode material for the sensitive determination of organophosphorus pesticides and has considerable potential for environmental monitoring and food safety applications. Full article

Reusing wastewater in agriculture is essential due to water scarcity but requires treatment technologies that preserve soil biological integrity. This study evaluated the impact of irrigation with wastewater treated by cold atmospheric plasma (CAP; 60 min exposure) on the soil microbiome during Festuca rubra L. and Sinapis alba L. cultivation. The experimental design included various CAP-wastewater dilutions evaluated in two replicates (n = 2), with microbial shifts assessed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. CAP treatment reduced non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC) while enriching the water with nitrogen, which significantly stimulated S. alba root growth. Metagenomic analysis confirmed high microbiome stability. Dominant phyla (Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota) remained stable, and beta-diversity indices showed no statistically significant ecological shifts (R² = 0.420, p = 0.121). Furthermore, CAP-treated irrigation promoted beneficial taxa, specifically the genus Bacillus. These findings demonstrate that CAP wastewater treatment is a safe, environmentally responsible strategy for wastewater reclamation. It successfully supports nutrient cycling and agricultural production without compromising soil microbial homeostasis or health, offering a viable solution aligned with the principles of a circular economy. Full article

Diabetic wounds remain a major clinical challenge due to impaired healing associated with persistent inflammation, oxidative stress, and microvascular dysfunction. Plasma-based therapies have emerged as promising approaches for promoting tissue repair; however, comparative evidence regarding different plasma modalities remains limited. In this study, we evaluated and compared the effects of atmospheric pressure cold plasma (APCP) and plasma-activated water (PAW) on wound healing in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Forty Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to five groups: isotonic wet dressing, hydrocolloid dressing, APCP treatment, PAW application, and a non-diabetic control group. Wound healing was assessed using macroscopic evaluation, histopathological analysis, and biochemical measurements of systemic oxidative status. PAW treatment significantly accelerated wound closure during the early healing phase compared with conventional dressing methods (p < 0.05). Histological findings demonstrated enhanced re-epithelialization, increased collagen deposition, and improved follicular regeneration in the PAW group. Although total oxidant status (TOS) did not differ significantly among groups (p = 0.996), total antioxidant status (TAS) was significantly increased following PAW treatment (p < 0.05), indicating a more favorable systemic antioxidant profile. These findings suggest an association between improved wound healing and a more favorable systemic antioxidant profile following PAW treatment. However, because local wound-level redox parameters and molecular markers were not assessed, the contribution of redox-related mechanisms remains to be clarified. Moreover, PAW demonstrated superior therapeutic efficacy compared with direct plasma application, highlighting its potential as a non-invasive approach for diabetic wound management. Full article

To evaluate the effects of three different 3D printers, two clear aligner resins, two specimen thicknesses, two lengths, and two geometric designs on the tensile strength and elastic modulus of directly printed clear aligners. Specimens were produced from two orthodontic aligner resins, Clear A (Senertek, Izmir, Turkey) and Tera Harz TA 28 (Graphy Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea), using three different 3D printers: Ackuretta SOL (LCD), Asiga MAX (DLP), and UNIZ NBEE (LCD). Specimens were designed in two forms (dumbbell, in accordance with ISO 527 3, and flat strip), in two thicknesses (0.5 mm and 1 mm), and in two lengths (short and long), yielding 24 groups with 5 specimens each (n = 120). All specimens were post processed using the Tera Harz Spinner and cured for 25 min under nitrogen atmosphere in the THC 2 MC unit, followed by a 1 min boiling water treatment. Tensile tests were performed on a universal testing machine (Shimadzu Corp., Kyoto, Japan) up to fracture. Maximum force (N) and elastic modulus (N/mm²) were recorded. Data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, and Aligned Rank Transform ANOVA tests with Dunn post hoc and Bonferroni correction (p < 0.05). Printer type had no significant effect on maximum force (p = 0.357) or elastic modulus (p = 0.052). Resin type (p < 0.001), thickness (p < 0.001), and specimen geometry (p < 0.001) showed significant effects on both parameters. TA 28 specimens exhibited higher mechanical performance than Clear A. Increased thickness produced higher maximum force and elastic modulus values. Flat geometries showed the highest maximum force, while the short dumbbell exhibited the lowest. The long thin dumbbell geometry yielded the highest elastic modulus values. Resin composition, thickness, and specimen geometry are the primary determinants of mechanical performance in directly printed clear aligners, whereas printer type appears to play a limited role. Full article

Increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition and soil salinization commonly co-occur in subtropical economic forests, and responses to these stressors differ between sexes in dioecious plants. In this study, we explored soil chemical and stoichiometric responses of male and female Torreya grandis to N deposition under salt stress by adopting a two-factor completely randomized design. The two factors were (1) plant sex (2-year-old grafted male and female seedlings of T. grandis) and (2) environmental treatment (four nitrogen deposition levels: low, moderate, and high N combined with salt stress, as well as a control without salt addition). We then determined the rhizosphere C, N, P, Ca, K, and Mg concentrations and their stoichiometric ratios. The results showed that all indicators were significantly affected by sex, nitrogen treatment and their interaction (p < 0.0001). Males maintained significantly higher soil C and N levels than females across all treatments, with female soil N and C contents being 5.74–25.72% and 10.78–23.64% lower than those of males, respectively, and exhibiting far more stable stoichiometry. Moderate nitrogen deposition (SMN) increased male C:N, C:P and N:P ratios by 38.76%, 59.75% and 13.84%, distinctly lower than the 85.89%, 98.20% and 16.04% increments in females. In contrast, females had higher Mg content under all salt–nitrogen-combined treatments and greater stoichiometric plasticity, showing a 37.55% higher C:N ratio than males under low nitrogen addition (SLN). Moderate N relieved salt-induced nutrient limitation and alleviated salt-induced P immobilization, while excessive N (SHN) exacerbated stoichiometric imbalance: SHN elevated the N:P ratio by 109.73% in males and only 69.59% in females, narrowing the sexual difference in C:N ratio to 10.92% and triggering severe phosphorus limitation in male rhizosphere soil. Soil–leaf nutrient relationships and correlations differed greatly between sexes, indicating divergent nutrient adaptation strategies. Males adopted a Ca-dominated stress tolerance strategy, and females depended on Mg homeostasis for reproduction. This work provides a scientific basis for sex-specific nutrient regulation and sustainable cultivation of T. grandis under global change. Full article

Ship exhaust emissions have become an increasingly prominent global atmospheric environmental issue, triggering a series of ecological disturbances and adverse public health consequences. However, comprehensive analyses of the research progress and evolution trends in this field remain scarce. This study systematically retrieved 1346 scholarly publications in the ship exhaust emissions field for the period 2011–2025 from the Web of Science Core Collection and carried out a bibliometric analysis encompassing publication outputs, contributing countries/regions, and keyword characteristics. The findings reveal a sustained and robust growth trajectory in global research output, with annual publications increasing nearly fivefold over the 15-year study period. Notably, academic interest in this field has increased significantly since 2020 due to the implementation of the global sulfur cap regulation. Core thematic clusters (mean silhouette S = 0.7205) in this field include source apportionment, numerical modeling analysis, atmospheric criteria pollutants, and technological emission reduction strategies. The geographical distribution of research output shows a significant positive correlation with the importance of regional maritime economies. China, the United States, and Germany are the leading contributors in terms of publication outputs, while frequent research collaborations have been observed among European countries. Since 2021, the emergence of Automatic Identification System data as a keyword with high burst strength (intensity = 3.60) marks a paradigm shift toward a “big data-enabled refined management” framework. Concurrently, the sustained burst activity of keywords including nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and traffic-related emissions from 2023 to 2025 indicates rapidly growing scholarly attention to secondary aerosol precursors from shipping, and the critical need for coordinated multi-pollutant control strategies. Future research directions for ship exhaust emissions are expected to transition from fundamental characterization research to big data-driven monitoring and estimation methods, as well as advanced emission reduction technologies. The bibliometric insights derived from this study provide a valuable reference framework for subsequent in-depth studies on ship exhaust emissions. Full article

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has emerged as a novel antimicrobial therapy for wound management; however, in vivo evidence for nitrogen-based CAP across distinct wound types remains limited. This consolidated pilot study evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of a nitrogen CAP device using two specific pathogen-free (SPF) minipig models: partial-thickness burns (n = 2, 20 wounds) and full-thickness excisional wounds (n = 1, 10 wounds). Wounds were assigned to the vehicle control or plasma treatment (six sessions over 14 days). Microbial bioburden was quantified on tryptic soy agar (TSA) and Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). At day 14, animal-level analysis showed TSA reductions of 67.8–73.4% (pooled Cohen’s d = 2.10; presented as a descriptive pilot effect-size estimate) and SDA reductions of 58.4–68.5%. Wound-level linear mixed-effects model sensitivity analysis suggested reductions on both TSA and SDA, with a non-significant treatment × wound type interaction. Exploratory histopathology showed a trend toward accelerated epithelialization, with no device-related adverse events. These findings provide preliminary in vivo evidence that nitrogen-based CAP reduced cultivable bacterial and fungal burden in both wound types and support the design of adequately powered confirmatory studies. Full article

This study aimed to optimize the nitriding parameters for Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation (PIII) of stainless steels. UNS S32750 super duplex stainless steel, widely employed in the petrochemical industry, was subjected to PIII under varying nitriding atmospheres (mixtures of H₂ and N₂) and treatment pressures. The fixed PIII nitriding parameters included a temperature of 300 °C, a duration of 3 h, a bias voltage of approximately −10 kV, a frequency of 500 Hz, and a pulse width of 30 μs. Following the treatments, the phases were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), while the hardness and elastic modulus of the modified surfaces were evaluated via nanoindentation. Regarding the nitriding atmosphere, gas mixtures approaching a 60% N₂/40% H₂ (vol.) ratio yielded a higher volume fraction of nitrogen-rich expanded phases in solid solution. Furthermore, higher treatment pressures promoted the formation of these expanded phases, consequently enhancing the surface hardness up to 2.7 times the hardness value of the untreated sample. These findings stand in contrast to those found for low-energy plasma nitriding (PN) processes. Full article

The detection and quantification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in plasma-treated water (PTW) are essential for advancing plasma applications in biomedical and agricultural fields. However, RONS characterization remains challenging, as conventional techniques often require chemical reagents that can alter the sample. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) offers a non-destructive alternative by probing the electrical response of aqueous systems and providing information on ionic concentration, charge transfer, and diffusion processes. This study investigates the feasibility of EIS as a diagnostic tool for characterizing physicochemical changes in PTW. Calibration experiments were performed using saline solutions with different ionic concentrations to evaluate the sensitivity of impedance measurements. Impedance spectra were recorded over a frequency range of 0.1 Hz to 10 kHz and analyzed using Nyquist and Bode plots with equivalent circuit modeling. Deionized water was treated with cold atmospheric plasma at different discharge powers (3.53–10.15 W) and treatment times (5–30 min) to generate RONS. The results show that EIS can monitor plasma-induced changes in conductivity and interfacial properties associated with variations in ionic content. In particular, systematic changes in solution resistance and admittance were observed and were correlated with plasma-induced changes in ionic composition. These findings demonstrate that EIS is a sensitive and non-invasive diagnostic method for PTW analysis. Full article

This narrative review develops fermentation-oriented viticulture as an agronomic-oenological framework linking vineyard environment, management and must ecology to fermentation performance. The literature from 2010 to April 2026 was synthesized through structured searches in PubMed and Google Scholar, complemented by targeted searches in MDPI, Frontiers, Nature, ScienceDirect, OENO One, PNAS and European Union regulatory sources, with emphasis on 2020–2026 publications and retention of older foundational sources. Current evidence indicates that must microbiota is not a linear derivative of soil or berry surfaces, but a network outcome of connected habitats spanning the viticultural biotope and grapevine-associated biocenosis (soil, rhizosphere, phyllosphere, berry, insect, atmospheric and winery). Climate warming, drought, altered phenology, soil fertility, nitrogen nutrition, crop-protection programs and bio-based inputs jointly modify berry chemistry, yeast-assimilable nitrogen (YAN), microbial inocula and pre-fermentative selection pressures. The review distinguishes fermentation-oriented viticulture from descriptive microbial terroir by defining practical endpoints: fermentation onset and completion, sluggish or stuck fermentation risk, microbial stability, spoilage taxa, volatilome development and wine typicity. It also proposes operational indicators and a decision matrix for integrating vineyard and winery management. The framework supports future multi-vintage studies combining climate, soil, agronomic metadata, YAN, microbiome profiling and microvinification outcomes. Full article

The large-scale mobility restrictions implemented worldwide in response to the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic led to short-term reductions in anthropogenic emissions, providing an opportunity to explore atmospheric pollutant responses to large-scale changes in human activity and mobility patterns. Although numerous studies have reported air quality improvements during lockdowns, most rely on ground-based monitoring networks and focus on developed regions, leaving gaps in less-studied areas such as Central America. This study evaluates spatiotemporal changes in tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) across Central America before, during, and after COVID-19 lockdowns using satellite-based remote sensing. High-resolution NO₂ vertical column density (VCD) data from the TROPOMI instrument onboard Sentinel-5P were processed using Google Earth Engine. Percentage variations were calculated using the March–May 2020 lockdown period as a reference within the 2019–2021 analysis period. Results indicate reductions in NO₂ across several high-density departments, particularly in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, with decreases of 20–30% and localized negative variations below −40%. In contrast, Nicaragua exhibited comparatively limited changes, while a gradual recovery in NO₂ concentrations was observed during 2021. The observed patterns suggest a potential association between NO₂ variability and changes in anthropogenic activity during the COVID-19 period, while also highlighting the importance of considering meteorological influences in regional atmospheric assessments. The results further demonstrate the potential of cloud-based Earth observation platforms for atmospheric monitoring in data-scarce tropical regions. Full article

Nitrogen-containing molecules are fundamental components of astrobiology and play a key role in planetary environments. These species are particularly important because they may serve as key precursors to prebiotic molecules and contribute to chemical complexity. Reactions involving the highly reactive species methylidyne (CH) play a key role in complex organic formation in astrochemical environments, yet their interactions with nitriles such as acetonitrile (CH₃CN) remain relatively unexplored. In this work, we investigate the reaction network of CH + CH₃CN using high-level quantum-chemical calculations with RRKM and microcanonical transition-state theories to characterize the relative energies of reactants, intermediates, transition states, and products to identify the most favorable reaction pathways. Our results reveal that the most energetically favorable reaction channels proceed via barrierless CH addition to the triple CN bond and three-membered ring opening or CH insertion into a C-H bond, followed by a hydrogen elimination to form acrylonitrile (C₂H₃CN). This route highlights an efficient pathway toward a molecule of astrobiological interest. Acrylonitrile is particularly significant due to its stability and dual functional groups, which enable molecular growth complexity, both in planetary atmospheres and on surfaces, under astrochemical conditions. In addition to acrylonitrile, we identified a few other competing channels leading to an isonitrile species, which emphasizes a previously unexplored aspect of isomerization chemistry in the atmospheric planetary science. These isonitrile products, while less abundant, provide insight to the diversity of nitrogen-containing molecules that may form in environments such as Titan’s atmosphere or the interstellar medium. In these environments, acrylonitrile may serve as a reactive precursor that facilitates cyclization and molecular growth, which enables the formation of nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic molecules and N-heterocycles. This, in turn, contributes to the emergence of larger, more complex organic species relevant to prebiotic chemistry and potential origin of life in our solar system. Full article

Tropospheric ozone (O₃) is a critical air pollutant that poses significant risks to human health and ecosystems. While previous studies have primarily focused on O₃ changes in Eastern China, limited attention has been given to Northwest China, where fragile but ecologically important systems may be vulnerable to O₃ pollution. The temporal evolution and driving mechanisms of surface O₃ in this region remain poorly understood. Using the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis Version 5 (ERA5) datasets and simulations from the Community Atmosphere Model with Chemistry (CAM-Chem), we identified a significant increase in summer surface O₃ concentrations across Northwest China from 1980 to 2020, with the most pronounced rise occurring during 1993–2010. This period accounts for the majority of the long-term upward trend, despite relative declines before and after. The increase in O₃ during 1993–2010 is primarily attributed to rising surface temperatures, which reduce hydroperoxyl radical (HO₂) concentrations and enhance nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) production, leading to elevated nitrogen oxides (NO_x) levels and promoting O₃ formation. The warming trend is closely associated with a concurrent decrease in low cloud cover, which increases surface shortwave radiation and further contributes to surface warming. Further investigation reveals that warming sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Pacific influence atmospheric circulation through wave train processes, amplifying the regional geopotential height field. These circulation changes reinforce the reduction in low cloud cover and the associated increases in surface temperature and O₃ concentrations over Northwest China. The decadal variability of North Pacific SST may therefore serve as an important indicator of long-term surface ozone variability in this region. Full article