Search Results (977)

Chronic liver diseases impose a considerable global public health burden, yet available treatment options remain largely inadequate. The gut microbiota exerts a key modulatory effect on liver disease pathogenesis via the gut-liver axis. Among them, Lachnospiraceae, a dominant bacterial family in the healthy adult gut, has drawn growing interest in recent years. Lachnospiraceae exert protective functions by producing short-chain fatty acids, participating in secondary bile acid conversion, and synthesizing active metabolites such as N-acetyl-glutamic acid, thereby maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and regulating host metabolic and immune homeostasis. Extensive evidence indicates that in cirrhosis, alcohol-associated liver disease, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, Lachnospiraceae abundance is consistently and significantly reduced, and this decrease is closely correlated with disease severity and adverse prognosis. In hepatocellular carcinoma, however, different members of Lachnospiraceae exhibit functional divergence, with some butyrate-producing genera decreasing while other subgroups may become enriched and influence the tumor immune microenvironment. Live biotherapeutic products based on Lachnospiraceae have achieved clinical breakthroughs in recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection and metabolic syndrome, providing important references for their translational application in liver diseases. This review systematically synthesizes the abundance changes and mechanisms of Lachnospiraceae across major liver diseases, evaluates their biomarker and therapeutic target potential, and seeks to provide fresh perspectives for precision microbiome-modulating strategies in chronic liver disease management. Full article

In this study, quince-derived biochar was employed as a sustainable and multifunctional material for the removal of organic pollutants through different treatment alternatives depending on the pH (natural or modified), including adsorption and electro-Fenton degradation processes. The biochar, obtained by pyrolysis (500 °C, 14 h) of quince (Cydonia oblonga) biomass, exhibited a high intrinsic iron content (1296 mg/kg), which contributed to its electroactive properties and catalytic potential. Batch experiments demonstrated highly efficient adsorption of the target pollutant, the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole, achieving a maximum retention capacity of 35.51 mg/g. Regarding the degradation pathway, the electrochemical treatment achieved significant degradation rates under mild operating conditions, reaching total removal in less than 90 min. Both treatment options, under their respective optimal conditions, were subsequently evaluated using tertiary wastewater from a wastewater treatment plant, achieving good removal efficiencies exceeding 60% within 120 min. Finally, the treated effluent under optimal conditions was subjected to an ecotoxicity assay using the microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata, confirming the effectiveness of the treatment and the absence of harmful effects on this key microorganism in the aquatic food chain. These findings highlight the potential of iron-rich quince biochar as a low-cost and environmentally friendly material for various water treatment applications. Moreover, the results provide a promising approach for valorizing agricultural waste with inherent metallic content in heterogeneous electro-Fenton. Full article

Fractional Brownian motion (fBm) provides a powerful stochastic framework for modeling long-range temporal dependence that cannot be represented by classical Brownian motion. This study presents a numerical and theoretical investigation of constrained fractional Brownian motion with applications to stochastic financial systems. An efficient simulation framework combining Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)-based circulant embedding and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling is developed to generate long correlated trajectories under absorbing boundary conditions. The proposed algorithm enables simulations with trajectory lengths up to L = 10⁷ while reducing the computational complexity from O (L³) for direct covariance decomposition to approximately O(L log L). Numerical results accurately reproduce the theoretical autocorrelation function of fBm and confirm the expected persistence behavior governed by the Hurst exponent. Super-diffusive regimes (H > 0.5) exhibit persistent long-range correlations and enhanced survival probabilities, whereas sub-diffusive regimes (H < 0.5) display anti-persistent dynamics and increased boundary absorption. The fractional stochastic volatility formulation captures important characteristics associated with long-memory financial systems, including persistent volatility dynamics and implied-volatility structures. The proposed biophysical-based FFT–MCMC methodology provides an accurate, scalable, and computationally efficient framework for studying constrained fractional stochastic processes and offers a foundation for future investigations of fractional volatility models and related financial applications. A conceptual Adaptive Hurst Momentum framework is briefly discussed as a possible direction for future research. Full article

Resource assignment in heterogeneous multi-UAV systems changes both current task outcomes and the task chains that remain feasible across a mission region. Completion, delay, utilization, and role-specific reachability metrics do not retain this spatially resolved option space. This paper proposes the grid-based functional feasible domain (G-FFD), which represents capability- and time-constrained sensing–execution UAV chains subject to an intermediate decision/communication delay. A generalized index aggregates profile-labeled feasible chains and recovers feasible-chain count as the single-profile, unit-weight case. Shared resources and chain overlap describe functional coupling between grids. Controlled simulations show that local task bursts remove alternatives from external grids, with realized loss depending on the candidate-domain size, coupling, accepted demand, and occupied resources. Across 5 × 5, 10 × 10, and 20 × 20 grids, the high-G-FFD region has the largest mean peak external loss, although magnitudes and other regional rankings remain resolution-dependent. In a 20-seed paired stress test, G-FFD-guided selection reduces the cumulative external deficit relative to earliest-finish selection by a mean of $2.519$ retention-minutes (bootstrap 95% confidence interval: $1.073$–$4.089$). The differences in overall completion and post-burst completion of external medium/high-profile tasks remain inconclusive. G-FFD thus complements task outcomes with information about remaining regional alternatives and assignment consequences. Full article

Camel milk (CM), which is produced by both Camelus dromedarius and Camelus bactrianus, is gaining increasing popularity as a value-added functional dairy product, but the science of managing its shelf life has progressed more slowly than its commercial expansion. Unlike bovine milk, CM lacks β-lactoglobulin (β-LG), has a unique casein (CN) micelle structure with a high β-CN-to-αs1-CN ratio, and low κ-CN protein content, and contains an unusually rich bioactive protein fraction including lactoferrin (LF), immunoglobulin G (IgG), lysozyme (LZ), and peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP). These compositional characteristics imbue CM with both significant inherent antimicrobial benefits and place it at risk of processing weaknesses that do not have direct analogs in bovine dairy science. The review discusses three key areas of CM shelf life science that have not been sufficiently addressed in the published literature. The first relates to physicochemical mechanisms of deterioration, including lipid oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), destabilization of CN micelles in the structural absence of β-LG, and Maillard browning during thermal treatment and storage of powder. The second addresses the fate of bioactive proteins, with the majority being lactoferrin (LF), immunoglobulin G (Igs), and heavy chain-only antibodies (HCAbs), under both thermal and non-thermal processing conditions. The third looks at new non-thermal preservation methods, such as high-pressure processing (HPP), pulsed electric field (PEF), ultrasonication, ultraviolet irradiation, cold plasma, and electromagnetic (EM) field treatment, and functional packaging innovations, which contribute to longer shelf life. Of the non-thermal options examined, HPP at 200–400 MPa today provides the most mechanistically proven evidence for camel-specific microbial deactivation with satisfactory quality preservation. The latest primary CM research also indicates that processing with EMs in the 850 mT range can potentially be as effective as conventional pasteurization in microbial control and may be more effective than pasteurization in retaining desirable bioactive markers, although this result needs to be independently replicated before more responsible conclusions can be drawn. The review ends with four priority research gaps: standardized kinetic shelf life modeling frameworks, systematic characterization of bioactive protein stability under commercial processing conditions, life cycle assessment of preservation chains across the camel dairy supply continuum, and the urgent validation of camel-specific pasteurization adequacy indicators to replace bovine alkaline phosphatase, which remains active in CM after conventional high-temperature short-time (HTST) pasteurization. Full article

Background and Objectives: Amyloidosis is a systemic disorder characterized by extracellular deposition of misfolded protein fibrils, most commonly light-chain (AL) or transthyretin-derived (ATTR) ones. Cardiac involvement is well recognized, but large-vessel complications, including thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) and dissections, are rare and under-reported. The aim of this review article is to provide insights into pathophysiology, clinical diagnosis and the therapeutic opportunities in amyloidosis-related thoracic aortic diseases. Methods and Materials: The PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Guidelines were followed. An extensive search of the available literature in the English language, published between 1 January 2000, and 31 December 2025, in three large-scale scientific databases was undertaken by two independent reviewers. The terms “amyloidosis”, “thoracic aorta”, “thoracic aortic aneurysm”, “aortic dissection”, and “aortopathy” were used both as specific items, as well as in MeSH Terms. Studies reporting on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, clinical manifestations, treatment options and prognosis of amyloid deposition on the thoracic aorta were included in the review. Because of the nature of the existing literature, only a narrative review was possible. Results: Twenty-nine studies were included. Owing to the rarity of reporting, data was derived mainly from case reports and series, as well as autopsy studies. Amyloid infiltration of the aortic wall has been associated with medial architectural disruption, degeneration of elastic fibers, impairment of vasa vasorum perfusion, and arterial stiffness, all of which could contribute to aneurysmal dilation and aortic lesions. Amyloidosis management combines targeted anti-plasma cell therapy with supportive care. In AL amyloidosis, melphalan–dexamethasone (MDex) was historically standard, but regimens such as cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (CyBorD) and bortezomib, melphalan, and dexamethasone (BMDex) achieve higher complete response rates. Immunotherapy with Daratumumab has shown high overall and complete response rates. Fibril-directed approaches, including doxycycline and epigallocatechin gallate, and monoclonal antibodies, are under evaluation. Acute management of large-vessel manifestations follows conventional protocols, but prognosis is often dominated by underlying cardiac and systemic involvement. Conclusions: Management of thoracic aortic involvement follows standard imaging surveillance and surgical criteria, though operative risk is increased. Multidisciplinary care, early recognition, and individualized risk stratification are essential to improve outcomes, particularly given frequent cardiac involvement. Full article

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is an important opportunistic pathogen responsible for healthcare-associated infections, particularly among critically ill, intensive care unit (ICU), and post-surgical patients. The emergence of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) has become a major therapeutic challenge worldwide because of its multidrug-resistant nature and limited treatment options. Despite the increasing prevalence of CRAB in Pakistan, information regarding the molecular characterization of carbapenem resistance genes among isolates recovered from surgical site infections (SSIs) remains limited. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to February 2024 at Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital, Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of (n = 118) surgical wound specimens were collected from patients with clinically diagnosed SSIs. A. baumannii isolates were identified using standard biochemical tests and confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion according to CLSI 2024 guidelines. In addition, the concentration-dependent inhibition-zone response of imipenem and meropenem against carbapenem-resistant isolates was evaluated using an agar well diffusion assay. Molecular detection of blaNDM-1 and blaOXA-23 was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and representative amplicons were subjected to Sanger sequencing for further analysis. Results: In the current study, the total number of (n = 118) wound specimens from healthcare-associated patients were processed, in which A. baumannii-positive isolates (n = 23, 19.5%) were documented. Its prevalence was higher in males (69.6%) compared to females, and was strongly associated (78.2%) with elderly patients (aged 51–68 years). In vitro susceptibility testing revealed that 91.3% of isolates harbored multidrug-resistant (MDR) attributes. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiling revealed high levels of multidrug resistance, with 82.6% of isolates resistant to imipenem and meropenem, as well as 100% resistance to aztreonam and gentamicin. Colistin showed the highest activity, with 87.0% of isolates remaining susceptible. In the agar well diffusion assay, measurable inhibition of the carbapenem-resistant isolates by imipenem and meropenem occurred only at higher concentrations. Molecular screening of resistance genes identified blaOXA-23 in 60.9% and blaNDM-1 in 30.4% of isolates. Co-expression of both genes was detected in some (n = 4) isolates. Among the selected MDR isolates included in the gene resistance analysis, imipenem and meropenem resistance were recorded in 9/14 blaOXA-23-positive isolates and 5/7 blaNDM-1-positive isolates. Conclusions: This study substantiates an escalated incidence of carbapenem-resistant, MDR A. baumannii in post-surgical infections. blaOXA-23 were documented as the predominant carbapenemase gene, with co-expression of blaNDM-1 in a substantial proportion of isolates. These findings provide an important phenotypic and molecular characterization of selected carbapenemase genes in healthcare-associated infections, highlighting the exigency for strengthened antimicrobial stewardship and infection control strategies in the hospitals of the region. Full article

In an era characterized by frequent global supply chain disruptions, manufacturers increasingly explore strategies to safeguard operational continuity, including equity participation in upstream suppliers. This paper investigates partial vertical ownership (PVO), defined as a manufacturer’s partial equity stake in an upstream supplier that supports strategic cooperation and risk information access without full vertical integration. We model a single manufacturer, an unreliable primary supplier with private disruption risk information, and a reliable backup supplier. Relative to a non-ownership (NO) baseline, PVO is modeled as a benchmark governance mechanism that can improve the manufacturer’s information set before backup capacity is reserved. The analytical results show that expected profit is convex in the unit stockout penalty under the specified convex capacity cost structure and deterministic demand assumptions. They also show that the information dividend from PVO is governed by the variance of the disruption probability, while its economic magnitude depends on the scale of stockout losses, backup procurement costs, and the equity return condition. By benchmarking PVO against a clarified option contract strategy, we identify parameter regions in which equity-based information access can outperform contractual hedging. The study reframes PVO as a conditional operational hedging instrument and clarifies the assumptions under which it can strengthen supply chain resilience. Full article

The article proposes an exploratory approach that combines literature-based analysis of digital transformation and competitiveness in battery manufacturing ecosystems with survey evidence collected from Romanian companies operating in technology-related sectors. The empirical approach described provides indirect ecosystem-level evidence from Romanian firms potentially relevant to future battery value chains, as full-fledged manufacturers only now entering the strategic horizon. The study is founded on the need for companies to achieve a consistent and committed transformation that goes beyond adopting and integrating various digital technologies, reaching aspects related to production facilities, human–machine integration, and smart governance approaches. The objective of the research is to study the mutual impacts between facilities and processes on one hand, and technology on the other hand, in achieving competitiveness and sustainability for battery manufacturing ecosystems. In this regard, the paper investigates organizational capabilities, workforce adaptability, and digital technology deployment as enabling factors for a successful digital transformation. The results point to an improvement potential that may contribute to the resilience of the emerging battery industry under challenging conditions, while preparing for sector expansion brought about by developing electromobility and renewable energy options. The framework developed customizes general digital transformation capabilities into battery-manufacturing-specific requirements such as traceability, circularity, regulatory readiness, user safety, and ecosystem interconnectivity. Full article

Yellowfin tuna heads (YFTH), a major by-product of tuna processing, are rich in lipids and long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. This study developed and optimized an ultrasound-assisted extraction process without exogenous protease addition, termed non-enzymatic ultrasound-assisted extraction (NE-UAE), for recovering yellowfin tuna head oil (YFTO). The term NE-UAE distinguishes this process from the enzyme-assisted comparators and does not denote a different ultrasonic mechanism. A four-factor, three-level Box–Behnken design was used to optimize nominal ultrasonic power, heat-treatment temperature, liquid-to-solid ratio, and ultrasonic treatment time. The predicted local-optimum conditions were 58.3% of the 1000 W rated power (nominal setting, 583 W), 64.0 °C, 3.0 mL/g, and 31 min, respectively, yielding a validated oil recovery of 63.92 ± 0.24%. The NE-UAE oil (NETO) was compared at the process-chain level with oils obtained by papain-, trypsin-, and Alcalase-assisted aqueous extraction. Under the tested conditions, NETO had lower acid value, initial peroxide value, and p-anisidine value, a lighter color, and lower relative abundances of putative oxidation-related electronic-nose marker signals. Polyunsaturated fatty acids comprised 38.39% of total fatty acids in NETO, including 7.43% EPA and 27.13% DHA. During accelerated storage at 60 °C for 14 d, NETO showed lower absolute peroxide values and smaller baseline-corrected increases than the comparator oils. Overall, NE-UAE provided a feasible process option for recovering YFTO with acceptable oil recovery and favorable quality-related characteristics under the specific process conditions and comparator process chains examined in this study. Full article

The growing demand for more sustainable energy alternatives has increased interest in microalgae-based fuels, promising options due to their high biomass productivity, carbon dioxide assimilation capacity, and potential for cultivation using wastewater. However, despite this strong theoretical basis, the industrial consolidation of these routes remains limited, revealing a persistent gap between scientific progress and the technological maturity achieved across specific biofuel pathways. This review examines the current state of the main microalgae-to-fuel conversion routes, emphasizing their technological readiness, proximity to industrial application, and the factors underlying their uneven progress. It also discusses the main opportunities and challenges associated with these biofuels, including cultivation performance, photobioreactor limitations, process intensification, scale-up, integration with waste streams, and downstream processing and product recovery requirements. Overall, this review identifies three main insights. First, the industrial viability of microalgae-based fuels depends less on maximizing individual conversion yields than on overcoming systemic bottlenecks across the production chain. Second, wet biomass conversion routes, particularly hydrothermal liquefaction and anaerobic digestion, appear more compatible with current industrial constraints. Third, lipid- and carbohydrate-based fuels remain more limited by biomass production costs and downstream processing requirements. Accordingly, further progress will depend on process intensification, integrated biorefineries, and technological innovations capable of simultaneously improving productivity, economic viability, and environmental performance. Full article

Riverine mercury biomagnification is most frequently studied via metrics such as the trophic magnification factor (TMF), the biomagnification factor (BMF) and the trophic magnification slope (TMS). However, these metrics prove problematic in lotic systems dominated by benthic macroinvertebrates because short food chains, the frequent lack of fish, patchy basal production and marked spatial heterogeneity obscure the signal that they are meant to extract. We argue that stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) are not merely optional enhancements but are a prerequisite for a mechanistic understanding of the transfer of methylmercury (MeHg). Nitrogen isotopes distinguish among trophic positions not as categories, but as gradients, whilst carbon isotopes reflect the underlying pathways increasingly seen as defining how MeHg enters food webs. Invertebrate studies, published more recently, report systematically lower magnification levels compared to community-based studies and become far more comprehensible when carbon source and trophic pathways are made explicit, with Hg isotopes (δ²⁰²Hg, Δ¹⁹⁹Hg) providing supplementary data about mercury sources and processing. To be able to carry out reliable river monitoring, such frameworks require clarity in choices of background value, discrimination factors and statistical methods. Full article

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and the short-chain representative perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), are persistent environmental pollutants that pose serious health risks due to their resistance to degradation, mobility, and widespread presence in aquatic systems. This study investigates the adsorption of PFHxA onto graphene-based materials synthesised from graphite using a scalable, resource-efficient route and compares their performance with three commercial reduced graphene oxides. The graphene samples were characterised by BET surface area analysis, SEM, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy, revealing significant differences in surface area, pore volume, and surface chemistry that govern adsorption behaviour. Batch adsorption experiments in different water matrices (tap water, river water, and treated wastewater) under controlled pH conditions showed that graphene materials with higher surface area and optimised oxygen-containing functional groups achieved enhanced PFHxA removal, even in complex, real-world waters. Based on the physicochemical properties of both the adsorbent and adsorbate, hydrophobic interactions may contribute to adsorption alongside pore-filling effects, hydrogen bonding, and other intermolecular forces. Among the tested sorbents, the SG-X material, with its high BET surface area and hydrophobic character, and the CG-A material, which retained high performance across a broad pH range, exhibited the most promising adsorption capacities and operational robustness. These findings demonstrate the potential of engineered graphene-based adsorbents as a sustainable remediation option for short-chain PFASs, supporting circular and low-chemical-intensity approaches to protecting water quality under diverse environmental conditions. Full article

PFAS form a class of synthetic chemicals that has become an area of increasing concern because of its impact on the environment and the threat it poses to human health. The structure of PFAS makes them highly resistant to degradation. As a result, they are highly effective at bioaccumulation. Certain water treatment technologies have been proven to remove PFAS from contaminated water sources. This study reviews the most promising treatment technologies used for the treatment of PFAS-contaminated waters. Well-established treatment technologies, such as granular activated carbon, ion exchange resin, reverse osmosis, and nanofiltration, were quantitatively compared. The removal efficiency was assessed by collecting the data of individual PFAS species from the literature and grouping them into five groups: PFAS (all species), PFSA, PFCA, long chain, and short chain. The results identified that, for all PFAS groups, the most effective treatment technologies were in the following order: reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ion exchange resin, and granular activated carbon. The performance of reverse osmosis and nanofiltration did not appear to significantly differ between the different PFAS groups, as opposed to ion exchange resin and granular activated carbon, where there was a greater degree of variation in performance between different PFAS groups. Overall, it was identified that membrane technologies outperformed adsorbent technologies. However, the cost associated with membrane technologies may limit its economic viability when compared with adsorbent technologies, which are typically a more viable option except under specific circumstances. For example, contaminated water with high concentrations of other contaminants that need to be treated simultaneously. Lack of standardised experimental and operational conditions limited the available data. While this work provides guidance on which treatment is more likely to be appropriate based on the concentration and composition of different species of PFAS, more data are needed to conduct a more accurate statistical analysis and enable accurate modelling of treatment performance. Full article

Background/Objective: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a highly aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options and poor survival outcomes. Recent advances in molecular oncology have highlighted the significance of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutations as potential therapeutic targets. However, data on the prevalence and prognostic implications of IDH1 mutations in patients with iCCA are scarce. This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the IDH1 mutation rate, histopathological features, and survival outcomes of patients with iCCA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 88 patients diagnosed and treated between 2005 and 2025 at two tertiary oncology centers. Clinical, pathological, and survival data were obtained from the institutional oncology archives and national population databases. IDH1 mutation status was evaluated using polymerase chain reaction and next-generation sequencing of paraffin-embedded tissue samples. Results: A total of 88 patients with iCCA were included, with a median age of 62 years, and 62.5% were male. Abdominal pain was the most common presenting symptom (67%). The most frequent stages at diagnosis were stage IB and stage IIIB (22.7% each). Histopathologically, the small-duct subtype (55.7%), nodular morphology (67.0%), and solitary tumors (79.5%) predominated. IDH1 mutation was detected in 2.3% of patients. Curative surgery was performed in 78.2% of cases and was more common in early-stage disease. Gemcitabine–capecitabine was the most frequently used adjuvant regimen, whereas gemcitabine–cisplatin was the most common palliative treatment regimen. Median overall survival differed significantly by albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, with 40.1, 11.1, and 4.4 months for grades 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this multicenter cohort, iCCA was characterized by diverse clinicopathological features and treatment approaches. Surgical resection remains the main treatment modality for patients with localized disease, whereas systemic therapies are more frequently used in advanced stages. The findings highlight the prognostic relevance of baseline clinical and biochemical characteristics and may improve risk stratification in patients with iCCA. Full article