Search Results (5,712)

To further enhance the application effectiveness and energy efficiency of dielectric barrier discharge plasma coupled with catalytic technology, this study investigates the synergistic effect between coated catalysts and dielectric barrier discharge. A two-dimensional fluid model was established, and numerical simulations were conducted using the finite element method to evaluate NO removal from automobile exhaust gases. Results show that, compared to dielectric barrier discharge alone, the degradation efficiency of low-concentration NO increases by 6%–29% when a coated catalyst is introduced. Three coated catalysts, including Mn/TiO₂/γ-Al₂O₃, Mn/γ-Al₂O₃ and TiO₂, are compared for 1% NO treatment, whose degradation efficiencies are 63.1%, 53.7% and 40.2%, respectively. As the NO concentration increased from 1% to 3%, the degradation efficiency of all three catalysts decreased. In terms of NO₂ by-product generation, the synergistic system with Mn/TiO₂/γ-Al₂O₃ produces the least NO₂. This coupling technology effectively removes low-concentration nitrogen oxides from vehicle exhaust, enriches plasma-catalysis theory, and supports global efforts in controlling motor vehicle emissions pollution. Full article

Titanium alloys are widely used for implants, yet corrosion, bacterial colonization and incomplete osseointegration remain important causes of interfacial failure. This review critically analyzes major biomedical functional coating fabrication techniques employed to enhance the surface properties of titanium alloys, including micro-arc oxidation, anodic oxidation, magnetron sputtering, electrochemical deposition, electrophoretic deposition, plasma spraying, physical vapor deposition, plasma immersion ion implantation, laser surface treatment, and hybrid (composite) approaches. For each method, key operational principles, structural and functional characteristics, performance advantages and limitations, and representative application domains are critically analyzed. Across these routes, biological performance depends on coating continuity, pore or nanotube geometry, interfacial bonding, phase composition and ion release. Calcium- and phosphorus-rich oxides and hydroxyapatite deposits generally promote cell adhesion, proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, mineralization and osteogenic differentiation. Dense oxide, nitride, tantalum and carbon-based films strengthen corrosion barriers, whereas Mn, Zn, Cu and Ag containing surfaces can inhibit bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. Excessive ion release, however, may compromise cytocompatibility. Reported outcomes also vary with test medium, exposure time, bacterial strain and cell model. Standardized quantitative endpoints and longer-term corrosion, biofilm and osseointegration studies are required to guide clinically reliable multifunctional coatings. Full article

Nonlinear electromagnetic wave propagation in complex plasma environments has attracted considerable attention due to its important applications in nonlinear optics, plasma physics, space science, and communication technologies. In the present study, a time-fractional Drinfel’d–Sokolov–Wilson equation (DSWE) is investigated under the influence of electromagnetic wave perturbations. The fractional-order formulation incorporates memory and hereditary effects, providing a more realistic description of wave propagation in nonlinear dispersive media. By employing an appropriate fractional traveling-wave transformation, the governing nonlinear fractional partial differential equation is reduced to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation. Exact solitary wave solutions are subsequently constructed using the ${\displaystyle \frac{G^{\prime }}{G^2}}$-expansion technique. Furthermore, the nonlinear dynamical behavior of the reduced system is examined through phase portraits, bifurcation diagrams, Lyapunov exponents, sensitivity analysis, and multistability investigations. Particular attention is devoted to understanding the emergence of chaotic dynamics induced by electromagnetic wave effects and fractional-order interactions. The obtained results reveal that the fractional-order parameter significantly influences the stability, propagation characteristics, and dynamical evolution of nonlinear wave structures. The coexistence of multiple attractors, transitions between stable states, and chaotic regimes is identified for various parameter configurations. These findings provide deeper insight into the complex dynamics governed by the time-fractional DSWE and contribute to the understanding of nonlinear electromagnetic wave propagation in plasma and other nonlinear dispersive media. Full article

Maraviroc (MVC), a CCR5 antagonist, has been proposed as a potential antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2; however, its mechanism of action across viral variants remains unclear. Here, we evaluated the antiviral activity of MVC against SARS-CoV-2 wild-type (WT) and Omicron BA.1 variants using single-round infectious particles (SRIPs), virus-like particles (VLPs), and cell-based assays, with a focus on its impact on viral entry and Mpro function. MVC potently inhibited infection of both WT and BA.1 SRIPs in Vero E6 cells, exhibiting EC₅₀ values of 0.0065 μM and 0.016 μM, respectively. Time-of-addition assays revealed that MVC primarily targets the early phase of infection, with the strongest inhibition observed at the viral entry stage, while moderate effects were detected during attachment and post-entry stages. Fluorescence-labeled VLP imaging demonstrated distinct entry pathways, with WT predominantly entering via plasma membrane fusion and BA.1 via endocytosis, independent of cell type. MVC altered WT-VLP trafficking by promoting internalization and lysosomal localization, whereas it had minimal impact on BA.1 internalization. In spike-mediated cell–cell fusion assays, MVC preferentially inhibited WT spike-driven syncytium formation but showed limited effects on BA.1 or BA.4 fusion, while more effectively reducing Omicron spike-mediated binding. At the post-entry stage, MVC inhibited SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) activity, with BA.1 Mpro (P132H) exhibiting greater sensitivity (IC₅₀ = 0.496 µM) than WT (1.869 µM). Collectively, these findings demonstrate that MVC exerts variant-dependent antiviral effects by targeting viral entry, modulating trafficking pathways, and inhibiting Mpro activity. This study highlights MVC as a multi-stage inhibitor with differential efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 variants, providing insights into its potential therapeutic application. Full article

Plasma-activated water (PAW) is produced through an electrically driven plasma-chemical process. Numerous references confirm that the composition of PAW is sensitive to the parameters such as voltage, gap distance, and temperature. In order to advance the application of PAW, this paper focuses on investigating the impact of temperature on the reactive species in both gaseous and aqueous chemistry in a plasma reactor. A comprehensive model is developed to examine the treatment of deionized water using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor, while varying the temperature from 10 °C to 90 °C. The results reveal that as the temperature increases, the concentration of short-lived species in the gas phase, including OH, O, and O₂(¹Δg), increase. Conversely, the concentration of species such as O₃, H₂O₂, N₂O₅, and HO₂NO₂ decrease as a result of decomposition reactions and reactions with the aforementioned short-lived species. Furthermore, the behavior of aqueous chemistry differs from that of the gaseous species, with only N₂O_aq, O_3aq, and ${\mathrm{N}\mathrm{O}}_{3\mathrm{a}\mathrm{q}}^{-}$ achieving high levels of densities. Within the liquid phase, OH_aq emerges as an important species, influencing the densities of H₂O_2aq, NO_2aq, and ${\mathrm{N}\mathrm{O}}_{3\mathrm{a}\mathrm{q}}^{-}$. It is found that high temperatures decrease the pH value of the liquid, subsequently impacting the densities of weak acids and their conjugate ions. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of PAW preparation, benefiting its development for future applications. Full article

In this paper, the new fractal modified Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation (fmZKe) defined on Cantor sets is investigated. The fmZKe is a non-differentiable model that arises naturally in mathematical physics, nonlinear wave theory, and plasma physics. The extended rational sine–cosine method is utilized to construct new optical soliton solutions of the model. The fmZKe is reduced to a non-differentiable ordinary differential equation by applying a non-differentiable wave transformation defined on Cantor sets. This reduction leads to a system of linear algebraic equations, which upon solving yields several exact solutions of the model. Furthermore, to establish a clear understanding of the model’s behavior, non-smooth graphical representations of the solutions are presented for various parameter values. The stability analysis of the newly obtained solutions in a classical sense is examined using stability theory, and the real-life applications of the results are highlighted. Full article

Foodborne pathogens such as E. coli, B. cereus, L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus cause many illnesses in Europe each year due to traits like biofilm formation, spore production, and high resistance to harsh conditions. This study investigated plasma-treated water (PTW) as an eco-friendly antimicrobial approach and examined its effect on bacterial growth curves to improve food safety. PTW was generated using a microwave plasma source, then applied to bacterial cultures that were monitored by optical density and colony counts. The bacterial growth was described by application of a logistic growth model to the optical density and colony count data. Results show that PTW mainly prolonged the lag phase of growth, with a stronger effect on Gram-positive bacteria than on Gram-negative bacteria. Although PTW initially reduced viable cell numbers, most bacteria eventually recovered and reached the stationary phase after a delay of about 2 to 11 h depending on the species. These effects may be due to cell damage, cell death, viable but nonculturable state induction, or stress responses such as spore formation. Further studies are needed to confirm how PTW performs in real food systems and biofilm settings. Full article

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as one of the most extensively investigated orthobiologic therapies for tendon disorders because of its potential to modulate inflammation, enhance extracellular matrix remodeling, and promote tissue regeneration through the delivery of concentrated platelets and bioactive molecules. However, despite compelling biological rationale and encouraging preclinical evidence, clinical outcomes remain inconsistent across different tendon pathologies. This narrative review critically examines the principal biological and methodological factors underlying this variability, including differences in cellular composition, growth factor and cytokine profiles, activation strategies, and current PRP classification systems. We further synthesize the available clinical evidence across major tendon disorders, highlighting the influence of disease-specific biology, product heterogeneity, and procedural variability on treatment response. In addition, the emerging role of quantitative imaging biomarkers in objectively evaluating tendon regeneration is discussed as a complementary tool for biological outcome assessment. Based on the evidence reviewed, we propose the quantifiable platelet-rich plasma (Q-PRP) framework, a practical reporting model that integrates cellular, molecular, procedural, and clinical variables into a standardized approach for biologically meaningful PRP characterization. Rather than replacing existing classification systems, the proposed framework aims to improve reproducibility, facilitate cross-study comparison, and support the transition toward precision regenerative medicine. Standardized biological characterization, combined with objective outcome assessment, may represent a critical step toward optimizing PRP research and clinical application in tendon healing. Full article

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is frequently detected incidentally, and no widely adopted noninvasive biomarkers are available for RCC diagnosis or prognosis. In this regard, cell-free microRNAs (cfmiRs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their stability in biological fluids. In this narrative review, we summarize translational studies published from 2010 to 2025 that evaluated serum, plasma, or urinary cfmiRs for RCC diagnosis, prognosis, recurrence surveillance, or treatment-response monitoring. Forty-two studies met inclusion criteria, comprising 3454 patients with RCC and 2445 healthy donors. Twenty-nine studies assessed diagnostic performance, fewer evaluated prognostic applications, and none examined treatment-response monitoring. Multi-miRNA panels generally reported higher performance than single-miRNA assays. Serum was the most frequently studied biofluid in this review (n = 26), followed by urine (n = 12) and plasma (n = 4). Urinary biomarkers demonstrated high specificity and the practical advantage of noninvasive collection. Although limited in number, prognostic studies identified associations between cfmiRs and overall survival, recurrence-free survival, metastasis-free survival, and other clinically relevant outcomes. However, substantial heterogeneity in study design, assay methods, and reporting limited comparisons across studies. Current evidence supports continued evaluation of cfmiRs as adjunctive biomarkers alongside imaging or histopathology, but multicenter validation, standardized methods, and more robust evidence are required before clinical implementation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Feature engineering remains a major challenge in metabolomics-based prediction, particularly when rich biochemical knowledge is available but underutilized. Conventional metabolomics models rely primarily on measured variables and statistically driven feature selection, overlooking the molecular and pathway context encoded in curated metabolite knowledge bases. We propose SEFA (Semantic Embedding-based Feature Augmentation), a model-agnostic framework that integrates metabolite-level textual knowledge from the Human Metabolome Database (HMDB) into structured metabolomics modeling for lung-cancer prediction. Methods: SEFA encodes HMDB metabolite descriptions as 768-dimensional MedBERT vectors and projects measured metabolite concentrations into this semantic space via concentration-weighted aggregation, producing a 928-dimensional candidate feature matrix that concatenates 11 clinical variables, 149 metabolite concentrations, and 768 semantic projection features. Sparse L1-guided feature selection reduced this representation to 24 features (2.6% of candidates) within a leakage-free cross-validation pipeline. Six classifiers were evaluated on a lung-cancer plasma metabolomics cohort of 800 participants (586 cases, 214 controls) with a stratified 80:20 split, and a controlled ablation study compared the augmented representation with a 24-metabolite-only baseline. Pathway-enrichment analysis of the metabolite sets associated with the retained embedding dimensions was performed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0. Results: Logistic regression on the 24-feature SEFA representation achieved a test ROC-AUC of 0.969, a precision-recall AUC of 0.987, and an accuracy of 94.4%, competitive with less interpretable approaches. Under the same 24-feature budget, embedding augmentation improved test ROC-AUC by 0.008, precision-recall AUC by 0.004, and accuracy by 3.1 percentage points over the metabolite-only baseline. Five retained embedding dimensions mapped onto coherent metabolic themes—sphingolipids and acylcarnitines, carnitine and glutamine metabolism, one-carbon and nitrogen handling, purine catabolism, and oxidative stress markers—and their associated metabolite sets were enriched for arginine and proline metabolism and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, pathways with established roles in lung-cancer biology. Conclusions: SEFA demonstrates that semantic embeddings derived from biomedical language models can convert curated metabolite annotations into patient-level features that supply complementary predictive signal while preserving biological interpretability through pathway-level analysis. The present evidence is limited to a single region-specific cohort; external, cross-platform, and cross-disease evaluation is required before broader generalization or clinical application. Full article

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), a non-thermal ionized gas, is gaining attention in biomedicine due to its unique properties such as the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), immunomodulatory effects, and selective cytotoxicity. This review explores the potential of CAP as a therapeutic tool in otorhinolaryngology (ORL). CAP has shown promising applications in wound healing, pathogen eradication, and antitumor strategies, particularly in head and neck cancers. Mechanistically, CAP promotes tissue regeneration through redox signaling, stimulates immune cell activity, induces immunogenic cell death, and enhances epithelial proliferation while offering broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy. The review also discusses the development of miniaturized CAP delivery systems, including endoscope-integrated plasma jets (e.g., PLASMASKOP), to facilitate clinical use in anatomically complex ORL regions. Given the nascent stage of clinical translation in ORL, the authors highlight the need for interdisciplinary research and device innovation to realize the full therapeutic potential of CAP in this field. Full article

We present a brief review that highlights the importance of III-Nitride semiconductor compounds according to their structural, compositional, morphological, and optical properties, which have significant applications in new semiconductor devices and play a fundamental role in modern electronic and optoelectronic technologies. The importance of sputtering as a viable alternative for obtaining III-Nitride semiconductor compounds is discussed. This is due to its versatility, cost, ease of handling, and advantages provided by the physics of its operation in obtaining thin films compared to techniques such as metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The physics of the sputtering method is briefly and clearly described, including magnetron configurations, plasma generation, energy dependence of sputtering, reactive sputtering, hysteresis effects, target types, and the importance of temperature and working distance between the substrate and target. In addition, the review of the literature on the application of sputtering for obtaining III-Nitride semiconductor compounds is presented. Furthermore, this review also highlights the future of sputtering, which is moving towards high-power pulsation, atomic-level precision, and AI-driven automation due to the miniaturization of electronics, advances in green technology, and innovations in plasma control to increase film density and reduce target material loss. Full article

The growing demand for clean-label, high-quality, and sustainable meat products has increased interest in non-conventional processing technologies as alternatives to conventional processing methods. Therefore, this review aims to critically evaluate the technological advances, practical benefits, limitations, and industrial implementation potential of cold plasma, high hydrostatic pressure, ultrasound, microwave processing, and ohmic heating in meat and meat products. Studies published between 2016 and 2026 were analyzed, with emphasis on mechanisms of action, effects on physicochemical and microbiological properties, processing performance, and evidence of industrial applicability. Current evidence indicates that these technologies have progressed beyond laboratory-scale investigations in several applications, with HHP showing the highest level of commercial adoption, particularly in ready-to-eat meat products, while ultrasound, cold plasma, microwave processing, and ohmic heating exhibit different degrees of pilot- and industrial-scale development depending on the application. These technologies can enhance microbial safety, improve techno-functional properties, optimize processing efficiency, and contribute to shelf-life extension while reducing reliance on synthetic additives. However, their effectiveness is strongly influenced by processing conditions, product composition, economic feasibility, and technology-specific limitations. Reported challenges include lipid oxidation, color deterioration, texture modifications, heating non-uniformity, high implementation costs, limited process standardization, and regulatory uncertainties. Overall, recent advances demonstrate meaningful progress toward industrial application, but the degree of technological maturity varies substantially among technologies and applications. Further research should prioritize industrial-scale validation, process standardization, techno-economic assessment, regulatory harmonization, and consumer acceptance to facilitate broader commercial adoption. Full article

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based treatment modality whose efficacy is often limited by poor photosensitizer stability and delivery. In this study, mesoporous silica-coated iron oxide nanoclusters (MNCs) were synthesized and loaded with protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) to obtain a multifunctional PPIX@MNC nanoplatform. Physicochemical characterization was performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The biological effects of MNC, free PPIX, and PPIX@MNC were evaluated in HaCaT cells—as a general epithelial model—under dark conditions, light irradiation, cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) exposure, and combined CAP-assisted photodynamic treatment. FTIR, DLS, and zeta potential analyses confirmed successful incorporation of PPIX into the nanoclusters. Cell viability assays revealed pronounced phototoxicity of free PPIX, with the IC50 value decreasing from 44.4 ± 3.5 nM under dark conditions to 14 ± 2 nM following light activation, corresponding to a phototoxicity index of 3.17. CAP further enhanced PPIX-mediated cytotoxicity, and the CAP-assisted photodynamic group exhibited the strongest response, with an IC50 value of 9.6 ± 1.1 nM. CAP further enhanced PPIX-mediated cytotoxicity. Increased ROS generation, enhanced apoptosis, and marked mitochondrial membrane potential disruption were observed particularly in CAP-Light-PPIX-treated cells. Although encapsulation of PPIX within MNCs reduced acute cytotoxicity compared with free PPIX, the nanoplatform retained responsiveness to light and CAP stimulation. These findings demonstrate that CAP potentiates PPIX-mediated photodynamic effects through enhanced oxidative stress and suggest that mesoporous silica-coated magnetic nanoclusters represent a promising platform for controlled photosensitizer delivery in CAP-assisted PDT applications. Full article

Point-of-care (POC) technologies are promising tools to decentralize and accelerate the diagnosis of rare diseases. Among them, electrochemical immunosensors offer advantages such as high sensitivity, low cost, portability, low sample consumption, and suitability for use in resource-limited settings. However, the performance of these devices is dependent on electrode surface properties, which influence electron transfer, biomolecule immobilization, and analytical sensitivity. In this work, screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) were modified through two strategies: (i) gold electrodeposition and (ii) cold plasma treatment. The modified electrodes were functionalized with EDC/NHS, followed by the immobilization of anti-SMN antibodies and electrochemical characterization using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The impact of each modification approach on the electrochemical response and reproducibility of the sensor was evaluated. Gold electrodeposition resulted in higher and more reproducible electrochemical responses, demonstrating improved electron transfer properties and surface homogeneity. The primary objective of this study was to investigate how different surface modification strategies affect the electrochemical performance of SPCE-based immunosensors, employing the detection of Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein, a biomarker associated with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), as a proof-of-concept application. The resulting platform successfully differentiated specific and non-specific protein recognition events through distinct electrochemical patterns, demonstrating the suitability of gold-modified SPCEs for immunosensing applications. These findings provide insights into the influence of surface engineering strategies on sensor performance and support the future development of optimized electrochemical platforms for biomarker detection. Full article