Search Results (528)

Microplastics (MPs) can affect fish health by inducing oxidative stress, but their impact on structural coloration remains poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations (16 and 160 μg/L) of MPs and nanoplastics (NPs) exposure on growth, oxidative stress and structural coloration in blue strain guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata). Results showed exposure to 160 μg/L MPs significantly reduced specific growth rate of fish compared to controls. Plastic accumulation followed a dose-dependent pattern, especially within gut concentrations. Oxidative stress responses differed between MPs and NPs: 160 μg/L MPs decreased SOD activity in skin and reduced GSH levels, while 160 μg/L NPs increased MDA levels in gut tissues, indicating severe lipid peroxidation. Structural coloration analysis revealed exposure to 160 μg/L MPs decreased lightness and increased yellowness, demonstrating reduced blue coloration. This was accompanied by an increase in skin uric acid content, suggesting that guanine conversion might occur to combat oxidative stress. These findings demonstrate that MPs, particularly at high concentrations, impair growth and induce oxidative stress in guppies. To counteract stress, guanine in iridophores may be converted into uric acid, leading to a decline in structural coloration. This study is the first to reveal that MPs disrupt structural coloration of fish, providing new insights into the ecological risks of plastic pollution on aquatic organisms. Full article

Soil phosphorus (P) availability is an important determinant of productivity in Pinus massoniana (Masson pine) forests. The mechanistic bases governing the physiological and growth responses of Masson pine to varying soil P conditions remain insufficiently characterized. This study aims to decipher the adaptive strategies of Masson pine to different soil P levels, focusing on root morphological–architectural plasticity and the allocation dynamics of nutrient elements and photosynthetic assimilates. One-year-old potted Masson pine seedlings were exposed to four P addition treatments for one year: P0 (0 mg kg⁻¹), P1 (25 mg kg⁻¹), P2 (50 mg·kg⁻¹), and P3 (100 mg kg⁻¹). In July and December, measurements were conducted on seedling organ biomass, root morphological indices [root length (RL), root surface area (RSA), root diameter (RD), specific root length (SRL), and root length ratio (RLR) for each diameter grade], root architectural indices [number of root tips (RTs), fractal dimension (FD), root branching angle (RBA), and root topological index (TI)], as well as the content of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), carbon (C), and non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) in roots, stems, and leaves. Compared with the P0 treatment, P2 and P3 significantly increased root biomass, root–shoot ratio, RL, RSA, RTs, RLR of finer roots (diameter ≤ 0.4 mm), nutrient accumulation ratio in roots, and starch (ST) content in roots, stems and leaves. Meanwhile, they decreased soluble sugar (SS) content, SS/ST ratio, C and N content, and N/P and C/P ratios in stems and leaves, as well as nutrient accumulation ratio in leaves. The P3 treatment significantly reduced RBA and increased FD and SRL. Our results indicated that Masson pine adapts to low P by developing shallower roots with a reduced branching intensity and promoting the conversion of ST to SS. P’s addition effectively alleviates growth limitations imposed by low P, stimulating root growth, branching, and gravitropism. Although a sole P addition promotes short-term growth and P uptake, it triggers a substantial consumption of N, C, and SS, leading to significant decreases in N/P and C/P ratios and exacerbating N’s limitation, which is detrimental to long-term growth. Under high-P conditions, Masson pine strategically prioritizes allocating limited N and SS to roots, facilitating the formation of thinner roots with low C costs. Full article

Based on molecular dynamics simulation, we conducted a comprehensive study on the tensile behaviors and properties of the $\gamma$(Ni)/${\gamma }^{\prime }$(Ni₃Al) superalloy with varying ${\gamma }^{\prime }$(Ni₃Al) phase volume fractions ($V\left({\gamma }^{\prime }\right))$ under high-temperature, high-strain-rate service environments. Our investigation revealed that the tensile behavior of the superalloy depends critically on the $V\left({\gamma }^{\prime }\right)$. When the $V\left({\gamma }^{\prime }\right)$ increased from 13.5 to 67%, the system’s tensile strength exhibited a non-monotonic response, peaking at $\mathrm{V}\left({\gamma }^{\prime }\right)$ = 40.3% before progressively decreasing. Conversely, the maximum uniform plastic strain decreased linearly and significantly when $V\left({\gamma }^{\prime }\right)$ increased. These results establish an atomistically informed framework that elucidates the composition–microstructure–property relationships in $\gamma$(Ni)/${\gamma }^{\prime }$(Ni₃Al) superalloys, specifically addressing how $V\left({\gamma }^{\prime }\right)$ governs variations in deformation mechanisms and mechanical performance. Furthermore, this work provides quantitative design paradigm for optimizing ${\gamma }^{\prime }$(Ni₃Al) precipitate architecture and compositional tuning in the Ni-based $\gamma$(Ni)/${\gamma }^{\prime }$(Ni₃Al) superalloy. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) can affect microbial abundance and activity, likely by damaging cell membrane components. While their effects on anaerobic digestion are known, less is understood about their impact on microbes involved in contaminant bioremediation. Chlorinated volatile organic contaminants (CVOCs) such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and explosives like hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) are common in the environment, and their bioremediation is a promising cleanup strategy. This study examined how polystyrene (PS) and polyamide 6 (PA6) MPs and NPs influence CVOC and RDX biodegradation. PS particles did not inhibit the CVOC-degrading community SDC-9, but PA6 MPs impaired the reductive dechlorination of trichloroethene (TCE) to cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-DCE), causing a “cis-DCE stall” with no further conversion to vinyl chloride (VC) or ethene. Only 45% of TCE was dechlorinated to cis-DCE, and Dehalococcoides mccartyi abundance dropped 1000-fold in 35 days with PA6 MPs. In contrast, neither PA6 nor PS MPs and NPs affected RDX biotransformation. These results highlight the significant impact of PA6 MPs on CVOC biodegradation and the need to consider plastic pollution in environmental management. Full article

Plastic waste accumulation is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the 21st century, owing to the widespread use of synthetic polymers and the limitations of conventional recycling methods. Among available strategies, chemical upcycling via depolymerization has emerged as a promising circular approach that converts plastic waste back into valuable monomers and chemical feedstocks. This article provides an in-depth narrative review of recent progress in the upcycling of major plastic types such as PET, PU, PS, and engineering plastics through thermal, chemical, catalytic, biological, and mechanochemical depolymerization methods. Each method is critically assessed in terms of efficiency, scalability, energy input, and environmental impact. Special attention is given to innovative catalyst systems, such as microsized MgO/SiO₂ and Co/CaO composites, and emerging enzymatic systems like engineered PETases and whole-cell biocatalysts that enable low-temperature, selective depolymerization. Furthermore, the conversion pathways of depolymerized products into high-purity monomers such as BHET, TPA, vanillin, and bisphenols are discussed with supporting case studies. The review also examines life cycle assessment (LCA) data, techno-economic analyses, and policy frameworks supporting the adoption of depolymerization-based recycling systems. Collectively, this work outlines the technical viability and sustainability benefits of depolymerization as a core pillar of plastic circularity and monomer recovery, offering a path forward for high-value material recirculation and waste minimization. Full article

This study analyzes the thermal degradation of PVA and PVA/glycerol films in air under varying heating rates. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of pure PVA in both air and inert atmospheres confirmed that oxidative conditions significantly influence degradation, particularly at lower heating rates. For PVA/glycerol films in air, deconvolution of the differential thermogravimetry (DTG) curves during the main degradation stage revealed distinct peaks attributable to the degradation of glycerol, PVA/glycerol complexes, and PVA itself. Isoconversional methods showed that, for pure PVA in air, the apparent activation energy (Ea) increased with conversion, suggesting the simultaneous occurrence of multiple degradation mechanisms, including oxidative reactions, whose contribution changes over the course of the degradation process. In contrast, under an inert atmosphere, Ea remained nearly constant, consistent with degradation proceeding through a single dominant mechanism, or through multiple steps with similar kinetic parameters. For glycerol-plasticized films in air, Ea exhibited reduced dependence on conversion compared with that of pure PVA in air, with values similar to those of pure PVA under inert conditions. These results indicate that glycerol influences the oxidative degradation pathways in PVA films. These findings are relevant to high-temperature processing of PVA-based materials and to the design of thermal treatments—such as sterilization or pyrolysis—where control over degradation mechanisms is essential. Full article

Channels with three standard symmetrical sections and one asymmetric section are mounted as cantilever beams with the web oriented vertically. A classical solution to the analysis of stress in each thin-walled cantilever channel is provided using the principle of wall shear flow superposition. The latter is coupled with a further superposition between axial stress arising from bending and from the constraint placed on free warping imposed at the fixed end. Closed solutions for design are tabulated for the net shear stress and the net axial stress at points around any section within the length. Stress distributions thus derived serve as a benchmark structure for alternative numerical solutions and for experimental investigations. The conversion of the transverse free end-loading applied to a thin-walled cantilever channel into the shear and axial stress that it must bear is outlined. It is shown that the point at which this loading is applied within the cross-section is crucial to this stress conversion. When a single force is applied to an arbitrary point at the free-end section, three loading effects arise generally: bending, flexural shear and torsion. The analysis of each effect requires that this force’s components are resolved to align with the section’s principal axes. These forces are then considered in reference to its centroid and to its shear centre. This shows that axial stress arises directly from bending and from the constraint imposed on free warping at the fixed end. Shear stress arises from flexural shear and also from torsion with a load offset from the shear centre. When the three actions are combined, the net stresses of each action are considered within the ability of the structure to resist collapse from plasticity and buckling. The novelty herein refers to the presentation of the shear flow calculations within a thin wall as they arise from an end load offset from the shear centre. It is shown how the principle of superposition can be applied to individual shear flow and axial stress distributions arising from flexural bending, shear and torsion. Therein, the new concept of a ‘trans-moment’ appears from the transfer in moments from their axes through centroid G to parallel axes through shear centre E. The trans-moment complements the static equilibrium condition, in which a shift in transverse force components from G to E is accompanied by torsion and bending about the flexural axis through E. Full article

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) within the neuronal niche are expressed during brain development, contributing to multiple aspects of neurogenesis, yet their roles in glial lineage commitment remain elusive. This study utilised three human cell models expanded under basal culture conditions followed by media-induced lineage induction to identify a reproducible and robust model of gliogenesis. SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells (neuronal control), ReNcell CX human neural progenitor cells (astrocyte inductive) and ReNcell VM human neural progenitor (mixed neural induction) models were examined. The cultures were characterised during basal and inductive states via Q-PCR, Western Blotting, immunocytochemistry (ICC) and calcium signalling activity analyses. While the ReNcell lines did not produce fully mature or homogeneous astrocyte cultures, the ReNcell CX cultures most closely resembled an astrocytic phenotype with ReNcell VM cells treated with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) biased toward an oligodendrocyte lineage. The glycated variant of surface-bound glypican-2 (GPC2) was found to be associated with lineage commitment, with GPC6 and 6-O HS sulfation upregulated in astrocyte lineage cultures. Syndecan-3 (SDC3) emerged as a lineage-sensitive proteoglycan, with its cytoplasmic domain enriched in progenitor-like states and lost upon differentiation, supporting a role in maintaining neural plasticity. Conversely, the persistence of transmembrane-bound SDC3 in astrocyte cultures suggest continued involvement in extracellular signalling and proteoglycan secretion, demonstrated by increased membrane-bound HS aggregates. This data supports HSPGs and HS GAGs as human neural lineage differentiation and specification markers that may enable better isolation of human neural lineage-specific cell populations and improve our understanding of human neurogenesis. Full article

The development of high-performance adsorbent materials is crucial for any sorption-based energy conversion process. In such a context, composite sorbent materials, although promising in terms of performance and stability, are often challenging to shape into complex geometries. Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, has emerged as a powerful technique for fabricating intricate structures with tailored properties. In this paper, an innovative three-dimensional structure, constituted by zeolite as filler and sulfonated polyether ether ketone as matrix, was obtained using additive manufacturing technology, which is mainly suitable for sorption-based energy conversion processes. The lattice structure was tailored in order to optimize the synthesis procedure and material stability. The complex three-dimensional lattice structure was obtained without a metal or plastic reinforcement support. The composite structure was evaluated to assess its structural integrity using morphological analysis. Furthermore, the adsorption/desorption capacity was evaluated using water-vapor adsorption isobars at 11 mbar at equilibrium in the temperature range 30–120 °C, confirming good adsorption/desorption capacity. Full article

The problem of the conversion of diesel buses to electric ones in connection with the inevitable introduction of the EURO 7 emission standards entails an automatic requirement to follow several additional United Nations Economic Commission for Europe rules, like R100 regulations. They regulate the preservation of battery units at longitudinal 12 g and transverse 10 g accelerations without penetrating into the elements of the bus body. Three models (12 modes in total) of battery units with frames made of S235 steel were analysed. The maximum stress value varies between 364.89 MPa and 439.08 MPa in 10 g and 12 g modes, respectively, which is beyond the tensile strength (360 MPa) and provokes plastic deformations. The max deformations were recorded in the models with the highest average stress: 63.04 mm in the 12 g mode with an average stress of 83.18 MPa. The minimum deformations of 6.95 and 7.95 mm were found in the 10 g modes (left and right acceleration direction, respectively), which meet the manufacturer’s requirements (45–50 mm maximum). The study’s primary contribution lies in developing a practical method for assessing battery unit integrity and structural behaviour during the conversion of diesel buses to electric propulsion, fully compliant with R100 regulations. By combining transient structural simulation, mathematical centre modelling of acceleration propagation, and centre of gravity prediction, the proposed approach enables engineers to evaluate electric conversions’ safety and certification feasibility without modifying the existing bus body. Full article

Background/Objectives: Endometriosis and high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGS-OC) share common features within the peritoneal immune microenvironment, yet they exhibit divergent clinical outcomes. This study aimed to dissect the immune–metabolic landscape of the peritoneal cavity in patients with endometriosis and ovarian cancer by evaluating macrophage polarization, intracellular signaling pathways, and iron-driven oxidative stress. Methods: A prospective cohort study enrolled 40 patients with endometriosis, 198 with ascitic ovarian cancer (178 HGS-OC), and 200 controls with benign gynecological conditions. Peritoneal and peripheral blood samples were analyzed via flow cytometry for macrophage (M1/M2) polarization markers, mTOR/AKT expression, and glucose uptake. Inflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP), oxidative stress (ROS), and iron metabolism parameters (hepcidin, ferritin, transferrin, serum/free iron) were quantified. Results: HGS-OC displayed a predominance of M1-polarized tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) (CD14⁺/CD80⁺/Glut1⁺) and a high M1/M2 ratio (2.5 vs. 0.8 and 0.9; p = 0.019), correlating positively with IL-6 (p = 0.015), ROS (p = 0.023), hepcidin (p = 0.038), and ferritin (p = 0.043). Conversely, endometriosis showed a dominant M2 profile (CD14⁺/CD163⁺), elevated intracellular mTOR and AKT expression in both TAMs and epithelial cells (p < 0.01), and significantly higher ascitic ROS and free iron levels (p = 0.047 and p < 0.0001, respectively). In endometriosis, the M1/M2 ratio correlated inversely with free iron (p = 0.041), while ROS levels were directly associated with iron overload (p = 0.0034). Conclusions: Endometriosis exhibits a distinct immune–metabolic phenotype characterized by M2 macrophage predominance and iron-induced oxidative stress, contrasting with the inflammatory, M1-rich profile of HGS-OC. These findings suggest that iron metabolism and macrophage plasticity contribute to disease persistence in endometriosis and may inform future immunomodulatory strategies. Full article

Background: Data accessibility remains a significant barrier in healthcare AI due to privacy constraints and logistical challenges. Synthetic data, which mimics real patient information while remaining both realistic and non-identifiable, offers a promising solution. Large Language Models (LLMs) create new opportunities to generate high-fidelity clinical conversations between patients and physicians. However, the value of this synthetic data depends on careful evaluation of its realism, accuracy, and practical relevance. Objective: To assess the performance of four leading LLMs: ChatGPT 4.5, ChatGPT 4o, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, and Gemini Pro 2.5 in generating synthetic transcripts of patient–physician interactions in plastic surgery scenarios. Methods: Each model generated transcripts for ten plastic surgery scenarios. Transcripts were independently evaluated by three clinically trained raters using a seven-criterion rubric: Medical Accuracy, Realism, Persona Consistency, Fidelity, Empathy, Relevancy, and Usability. Raters were blinded to the model identity to reduce bias. Each was rated on a 5-point Likert scale, yielding 840 total evaluations. Descriptive statistics were computed, and a two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to test for differences across models and metrics. In addition, transcripts were analyzed using automated linguistic and content-based metrics. Results: All models achieved strong performance, with mean ratings exceeding 4.5 across all criteria. Gemini 2.5 Pro received mean scores (5.00 ± 0.00) in Medical Accuracy, Realism, Persona Consistency, Relevancy, and Usability. Claude 3.7 Sonnet matched the scores in Persona Consistency and Relevancy and led in Empathy (4.96 ± 0.18). ChatGPT 4.5 also achieved perfect scores in Relevancy, with high scores in Empathy (4.93 ± 0.25) and Usability (4.96 ± 0.18). ChatGPT 4o demonstrated consistently strong but slightly lower performance across most dimensions. ANOVA revealed no statistically significant differences across models (F(3, 6) = 0.85, p = 0.52). Automated analysis showed substantial variation in transcript length, style, and content richness: Gemini 2.5 Pro generated the longest and most emotionally expressive dialogues, while ChatGPT 4o produced the shortest and most concise outputs. Conclusions: Leading LLMs can generate medically accurate, emotionally appropriate synthetic dialogues suitable for educational and research use. Despite high performance, demographic homogeneity in generated patients highlights the need for improved diversity and bias mitigation in model outputs. These findings support the cautious, context-aware integration of LLM-generated dialogues into medical training, simulation, and research. Full article

Plastic waste pollution has been widely recognized as one of the most severe and pressing environmental challenges of our time, posing significant threats to ecosystem stability and human health. The transformation of plastic waste into high-value chemicals and clean energy via photocatalytic reforming technology is increasingly regarded as a promising and sustainable alternative pathway, offering dual benefits of resource recovery and environmental remediation. This review first provides an overview of the current state of research on plastic waste management. It then systematically summarizes recent representative advances in the coupling of plastic upcycling with photocatalytic technologies, with a particular focus on the potential of plastics as carbon sources in both photodegradation and photosynthetic transformation pathways, highlighting their value and future prospects. Finally, this review outlines the key scientific challenges that urgently need to be addressed in the field of photocatalytic conversion of plastic waste, and, in light of emerging research trends, proposes several promising directions for future investigation along with the authors’ perspectives. It is hoped that these insights will provide useful guidance and inspiration for the continued advancement of this field. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of this case series is to evaluate the outcomes and safety of video-assisted mastectomy, illustrating the harmonious collaboration of oncologic and plastic surgery. This novel minimally invasive technique allows immediate prosthetic reconstruction and represents a cost-effective alternative to robotic breast surgery. Methods: Video-assisted, single-port nipple-sparing mastectomies were performed in patients with small to medium-sized breasts, followed by immediate direct-to-implant reconstruction with either prepectoral or dual plane implant placement. The patients’ electronic medical records were analyzed, including demographic characteristics, operative times and histopathology reports. Results: A total of 18 patients underwent successful video-assisted mastectomy, without conversion to traditional open procedure. Fifteen of the operations were risk-reducing mastectomies. Twelve patients had complementary procedures performed concurrently on the previously operated contralateral breast (delayed reconstruction/expander-to-implant exchange). Moreover, three patients benefited from additional minimally invasive techniques during the same surgery (prophylactic laparoscopic hysterectomy). Immediate breast reconstruction with polyurethane or microtextured breast implants up to 450 cc was performed, with satisfactory aesthetic outcomes and no cancer recurrences at 6 to 12 months postoperative follow-up. Early complications included transient hypercapnia, areolar congestion and cellulitis. No skin necrosis or implant-related complications were reported. The most frequently encountered late issues were contour irregularities. Conclusions: Video-assisted mastectomy facilitates the safe removal of proven pathologic or healthy breast tissue with minimal damage to the breast’s skin envelope, facilitating single-stage breast reconstruction. Full article

Rapid economic growth has led to an increase in the use of multilayer plastic packaging, which involves complex polymer compositions and hinders recycling. This study investigated the catalytic pyrolysis of plastic packaging waste in a 3000 cm³ semibatch reactor, aiming to optimize kerosene-like hydrocarbon production. The temperature (420–500 °C), N₂ flow rate (25–125 mL/min), and catalyst loading (5–20 wt.%) were examined individually and in combination with activated carbon and an Fe-doped dolomite (Fe/DM) catalyst. Central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM) were used to identify the optimal conditions and synergistic effects. Pyrolysis product analysis involved simulation distillation gas chromatography (Sim-DGC), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The optimal conditions (440 °C, 50 mL/min N₂ flow, catalyst loading of 10 wt.% using a 5 wt.% Fe-doped dolomite-activated carbon 0.6:0.4 mass/molar ratio) yielded the highest pyrolysis oil (79.6 ± 0.35 wt.%) and kerosene-like fraction (22.3 ± 0.22 wt.%). The positive synergistic effect of Fe/DM and activated carbon (0.6:0.4) enhanced the catalytic activity, promoting long-chain polymer degradation into mid-range hydrocarbons, with secondary cracking yielding smaller hydrocarbons. The pore structure and acid sites of the catalyst improved the conversion of intermediate hydrocarbons into aliphatic compounds (C₅–C₁₅), increasing kerosene-like hydrocarbon production. Full article