Search Results (14,526)

The increasing deployment of wind energy has brought renewed attention to aeroacoustic noise generated by wind turbine blades, where broadband noise is primarily associated with vortex shedding at the trailing edge (TE) and leading edge (LE) of airfoils. Owls, particularly Tyto alba, exhibit wing morphologies such as serrations, velvet-like surfaces, and fringes that enable silent flight through aerodynamic noise suppression. This study presents a scoping review of the scientific literature on owl-inspired serration strategies applied to aerodynamic airfoils and wind turbine blades. The literature search was conducted across major academic databases, including Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and MDPI, covering publications from 1970 to 2025. A total of 69 experimental and numerical studies focusing on LE and TE serrations was analyzed. The review integrates aeroacoustic analysis with bio-inspired design perspectives. The analyzed studies consistently show that serrated geometries modify vortex dynamics and turbulence structures, leading to measurable acoustic benefits. Experimentally, the largest reductions reported for aerodynamic airfoils reached about 7 dB for both LE and TE serrations, mainly as broadband noise attenuation, in specific frequency ranges. Numerically, the highest reported reduction reached up to 21 dB for a serrated TE configuration, corresponding to spectral SPL reduction mainly below 1.6 kHz. The reviewed studies also indicate that the associated aerodynamic response is strongly configuration-dependent, ranging from limited penalties to measurable changes in lift, drag, power output, or structural loading. Numerical simulations further support experimental findings and highlight the importance of geometric parameters such as serration amplitude, wavelength, and spacing. Overall, bio-inspired serrations represent a promising passive strategy for aeroacoustic noise mitigation in wind turbines, drones, and rotating aerodynamic systems. Future research should focus on the multi-objective optimization of serration geometry, large-scale experimental validation, and the integration of bio-inspired concepts into industrial blade designs. Full article

To address the frequency stability challenges arising from the high penetration of renewable energy, this study proposes a coordinated frequency regulation strategy for wind-power–hydrogen coupled systems, considering the Equivalent State of Charge (ESOC). While wind-power–hydrogen integration offers significant regulation potential, frequent ESOC excursions toward operational limits may lead to power interruptions and increased durability-related stress on hydrogen units. To resolve this, a refined mathematical model comprising wind turbines, electrolyzers, and fuel cells is first established to characterize system dynamics. The proposed method adopts an ESOC-based partitioning control logic: within normal ESOC ranges, the hydrogen storage system provides rapid frequency support via virtual inertia control; when ESOC reaches operational thresholds, the hydrogen unit seamlessly transitions out of service to prolong its lifespan, while the wind turbine dynamically compensates for the power deficit through adaptive droop control. Compared with other methods, the strategy proposed in this paper, implemented via DIgSILENT/PowerFactory simulations, improves the frequency nadir by 0.02 Hz during load increases and reduces the frequency peak by 0.04 Hz during load shedding. Under stochastic disturbances, the absolute steady-state frequency error is maintained below 0.02 Hz, while frequency deviations are strictly confined within ±0.5 Hz. These improvements significantly enhance both grid resilience and the operational safety of hydrogen units. Full article

When in contact with microbes or other pathogens plants develop an induced defense response. This reaction is triggered by pathogen-derived molecules that provoke the so-called microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP)-triggered immunity (MTI) or pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity (PTI). Recognition of a MAMP or PAMP by a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) activates rapid downstream signaling, manifested in, e.g., a rise in the cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration. As a consequence, defense-related genes are expressed and antimicrobial substances are produced. There is also evidence that Ca²⁺-induced responses show a refractory behavior in plant cells, as the reaction to an identical stimulus applied shortly after the first one is strongly suppressed, if it can be observed at all. Subsequent elicitations over a longer period of time, on the other hand, can trigger stronger Ca²⁺ responses, which lead to so-called “defense priming”. Although refractory behavior has been documented in various plant cell types, its underlying function and causative mechanisms remain unclear. In this review article we give an overview of the refractory machinery, including elicitors, receptors, typical Ca²⁺ responses, and signal transduction pathways. We shed light on possible explanatory scenarios and address open questions. Full article

Sulfur is a well-known catalyst poison, particularly for catalysts based on transition metals. Herein, we studied the adsorption of sulfur species on small nanoparticles (~1 nm in size) of the face centered cubic (fcc) transition metals (Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, and Au) using density functional theory (DFT) modeling. At low sulfur coverage (one S atom per nanoparticle), sulfur preferentially occupies the surface hollow sites of the nanoparticles. At higher coverage, however, the subsurface diffusion of S in Ni, Pd, and Ag nanoparticles becomes energetically favorable with low activation energies. Among the considered metals, sulfur binds most strongly to Rh and Ir, and most weakly to Ag and Au. The present results shed light on the facility of S-poisoning on such metal nanoparticles, either by surface blocking or by underlying sulfurization of the metal. Full article

Dengue fever, with a high proportion of asymptomatic infections, poses a major global public health challenge that traditional surveillance systems frequently underestimate. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has emerged as a promising approach to monitoring infectious diseases beyond enteric viruses. Dengue virus is shed in urine, feces, and saliva, providing a biological basis for wastewater detection alongside clinical surveillance. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesize current evidence on dengue virus (DENV) detection in wastewater and evaluate methodological factors influencing detection success in WBE. A systematic literature search using selected databases and predetermined keywords, followed by eligibility screening, resulted in ten studies being included, covering community surveillance and experimental trials. DENV ribonucleic acids (RNA) were most consistently detected and enriched in wastewater solids, indicating this matrix as the most reliable for surveillance. Among concentration methods, ultrafiltration achieved the highest viral recovery efficiency, while reverse transcription digital polymerase chain reaction (RT-dPCR) demonstrated superior sensitivity and precision compared to those of reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), particularly at low viral concentrations. Storage at −80 °C was critical for preserving RNA integrity. The meta-analysis yielded a pooled DENV positivity rate of 24% (95% CI: 20–28%) after exclusion of outliers. Overall, solid-phase analysis combined with RT-dPCR represents the most sensitive methodological approach across the included studies. Harmonized protocols are needed to support future translation of dengue WBE into community surveillance as current evidence mainly demonstrates methodological feasibility and provides a technical foundation for future public health integration. Therefore, further longitudinal and multi-site validation is required to establish its broader applicability for dengue surveillance. Full article

In recent years, silicon-based anodes have become a model of commercial success among various high-capacity electrode materials. They also offer a promising substitute for the lithium metal anode (LMA) in lithium–air batteries (LABs), which have the highest specific energy. However, the poor air stability of lithiated silicon-based anodes makes pre-lithiation considerably more difficult and costly in mass production to improve their initial Coulombic efficiency and cyclability, which complicates their material design and electrode manufacturing. To address this issue, intensified efforts have been devoted in recent years, mainly by constructing encapsulation structures, such as core–shell, pomegranate-like or peapod-like architectures. These designs have achieved significantly boosted stability in dry air and, in some cases, even under prolonged exposure to ambient humidity. On the other hand, it was found that silicon-based anodes often provide better cyclic stability than LMAs in LABs and lithium–oxygen batteries (LOBs); however, in most cases, the silicon-based anodes were not optimized for air stability. This review summarizes the relevant works on improving the air stability of silicon-based anodes and LABs/LOBs that used a silicon-based anode, intending to shed light on future development of air-stable silicon-based anodes and bridge the gap between the electrodes’ air-stability and their application in LABs/LOBs. Full article

This study investigated the spectral profiles of different developmental stages of Sphenophorus levis, possibly the most important sugarcane pest in the Southeast, Midwest, and South regions of Brazil, given its economic relevance, distribution, and management challenges in sugarcane plantations. Hyperspectral remote sensing (HRS) techniques were employed. Spectral signatures were obtained for eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults using a Pika-L sensor (range, 400–1000 nm). This made it possible to identify distinct spectral patterns for each developmental stage, allowing for the differentiation between eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. The results indicate the presence of such distinct spectral patterns, which may suggest the potential of hyperspectral imaging for the non-destructive identification of each stage of S. levis, although further investigations are needed to validate this approach. The eggs showed high variability in reflectance, possibly related to compositional changes during embryonic development. The larval instars exhibited a decrease in reflectance with age, likely due to cuticular changes. The evaluated pupae presented spectral differences that coincidentally enabled early sex determination, while adult males and females can also be distinguished based on their reflectance profiles, with females typically showing higher overall reflectance. This spectral library provides a foundation for the determination and sexing of instars, as well as the assessment of quality patterns in this important sugarcane pest. This study highlights the integration of advanced hyperspectral imaging technologies with insect biology to enhance integrated pest management strategies and sheds light on the biological and ecological aspects of the species. Full article

Raphiel Eristavi’s [Kakheti, 1824–Telavi, 1901] archival legacy constitutes a unique, underexplored corpus for examining the sociopolitical and cultural processes shaping 19th-century Georgia’s national identity. These archival documents contain his writings as a publicist, his ethnographic and geographical notes, literary texts, and private correspondence, shedding light on the intellectual and cultural dynamics of the period, particularly about reintegrating Muslim Georgian communities into the national space. Eristavi’s contributions to periodicals reflect his publicist activities, illustrating the press’s formative role in shaping public opinion, consolidating cultural identity, and fostering national awareness. His writings articulate his conviction that language, culture, tradition, and shared historical memory function as the primary instruments for reconnecting estranged territories with Georgia’s historical continuum. This entry analyzes Eristavi’s role as an intellectual and cultural mediator in integrating Muslim Georgian populations (i.e., Tao-Klarjeti and Samtskhe) into broader national frameworks, particularly in his writings on the Crimean War and Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, as well as how he engaged with questions about ethnic identity, territorial cohesion, and cultural memory. By situating Eristavi’s archive within the wider efforts of the Georgian intelligentsia, this study seeks to highlight his contribution to preserving language, promoting education, and reaffirming historical unity as essential components of national and state consciousness. Full article

Background/Objectives: Severe hemorrhagic shock progressing to clinical death remains a major cause of mortality and long-term neurological morbidity despite advances in trauma care. While current resuscitation strategies restore circulation, their ability to preserve brain structure and function following global ischemia–reperfusion injury remains limited. Hemorrhagic shock induces widespread neuronal vulnerability, particularly within the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, contributing to persistent cognitive and behavioral deficits among survivors. Methods: Using a rat model of hemorrhagic shock-induced clinical death, we evaluated whether resuscitation with VBI-1, a phospholipid nanoparticle-based colloid, supports neurological recovery compared with whole blood-based resuscitation. Animals underwent controlled exsanguination to the point of clinical death, followed by rapid intra-arterial reanimation with either shed whole blood or VBI-1. Two phases of study were performed: histological evaluation of tissues 12 h after resuscitation and, in a separate cohort of animals, longitudinal behavioral recovery over 30 days. Histology focused on evaluating neuronal integrity in the hippocampal CA1 region and prefrontal cortex, neuronal functional status, and microglial responses. Sex was analyzed as a biological variable. Results: Resuscitation with VBI-1 is associated with sustained behavioral recovery, with pronounced sex-dependent effects favoring females during the subacute-to-chronic recovery phase. VBI-1 preserved neuronal density, laminar organization, and neuronal functional integrity in ischemia-vulnerable brain regions. This, and neuronal preservation, correlated with hippocampal-dependent working memory performance. Importantly, resuscitation with VBI-1 did not increase microglial density, coverage, or spatial organization, exacerbating the neuroinflammatory burden. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that phospholipid nanoparticle-based resuscitation confers meaningful neurological recovery following profound circulatory collapse, highlighting the importance of evaluating resuscitation agents based on long-term brain outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and breakthrough infections underscores the need for next-generation vaccines capable of protecting from natural infection and/or preventing virus transmission. Intranasal vaccination offers a promising approach by eliciting local immune responses in the nasal mucosa, the primary site of infection and reservoir for transmissible virus. We evaluated two live-attenuated, respiratory syncytial virus-vectored vaccines in which the RSV F and G surface glycoproteins were replaced with a chimeric SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein from the ancestral USA/WA-1/2020 strain (MV-014-212) or the Delta variant (MV-014-212-delta). Methods: K18-hACE2 mice and LVG Syrian hamsters were vaccinated with a single intranasal dose of MV-014-212 or MV-014-212-delta. Systemic and mucosal immunity were assessed following vaccination, and protection was evaluated following Delta SARS-CoV-2 challenge. In vaccinated hamsters, morbidity, viral shedding, and lung inflammation and injury were also assessed following natural exposure to infected cagemates. Results: A single intranasal dose of either vaccine elicited systemic and mucosal immunity in K18-hACE2 mice, including serum neutralizing antibodies, Spike-specific memory B cells and plasmablasts, and Spike-specific CD8⁺ lung-resident memory T cells. Although MV-014-212-delta vaccination provided the best protection against the Delta variant virus challenge, both vaccines decreased viral loads in nasal discharge, lung, and brain, and reduced weight loss and mortality. In naturally acquired infection studies, vaccinated hamsters exposed to infected cagemates exhibited minimal weight loss, limited viral replication within the nasal mucosa, and attenuated lung pathology. Conclusions: Intranasal RSV-vectored vaccines can elicit broad protective respiratory immunity, suggesting that this platform could be leveraged for other respiratory pathogens. Full article

Objectives: CD93, an angiogenesis-related transmembrane glycoprotein, is transcriptomically downregulated in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma, yet circulating protein levels have not been clinically evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate serum CD93 as a diagnostic biomarker for EC and to examine its association with clinicopathological parameters. Methods: In this single-center case–control study, serum CD93 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 46 patients with histologically confirmed primary EC and 35 controls with histologically verified benign gynecological pathology. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed. Results: Serum CD93 was significantly lower in EC patients than controls (median 4.55 [IQR 3.51–6.97] vs. 10.24 [7.18–12.14] ng/mL; p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis adjusted for age and body mass index, lower CD93 remained independently associated with EC (OR = 0.521; 95% CI 0.061–0.720; p < 0.001). ROC analysis yielded an area under the curve of 0.845 (95% CI 0.759–0.921), with 82.6% sensitivity and 74.3% specificity at a cut-off of 7.338 ng/mL. CD93 levels showed no significant association with histological subtype, grade, lymphovascular space invasion, nodal metastasis, or recurrence. Conclusions: Serum CD93 is significantly reduced in EC and demonstrates independent diagnostic performance, supporting its prospective validation as a non-invasive biomarker in larger multicenter cohorts. Full article

The enrichment of chocolate with healthy beneficial ingredients represents an effective strategy to create functional food with high nutritional and bioactive potential. Comparisons were made between eight treatments derived by the factorial combination of 2 types of butter (milk and cocoa) and 4 concentrations of green barley powder addition (1%, 3%; 5%; and 7%), plus 2 untreated controls (milk butter and cocoa butter with no green barley powder addition), in terms of chemical, colorimetric, physical, antioxidant, mineral and sensory characteristics of white chocolate. Increasing addition of green barley to both milk and cocoa butter led to the decrease in dry matter, soluble solids, pH and fat in the produced chocolate, with the untreated controls always showing the highest values. Opposite trends were recorded for proteins, fiber, ash and mineral substances. The ‘L’, ‘a’ and ‘b’ color components gradually decreased from the untreated control to the highest concentration of barley powder addition both to milk and cocoa butter. The increasing integration of barley powder either into milk or cocoa butter resulted in the gradual decrease in F max compression and F max cutting of the chocolate manufactured, compared to the untreated control. The addition of barley powder to milk and cocoa butter elicited a gradual increase in all the antioxidants analyzed, i.e., vitamin C, carotenes, lycopene and xanthophylls, and of chlorophyll a and b, compared to the untreated control. Vegetal flavor attributes were enhanced by the increasing addition of green barley powder. The latter incorporation into milk and cocoa butter sheds light on the interesting topic of conceiving and applying the manufacture of innovative functional chocolate with high content of fiber, nutrients and antioxidants. Full article

While substantial literature exists on COVID-19’s effects on businesses, long-term recovery strategies and support systems for informal female-owned enterprises in secondary cities are underexplored. The study sought to qualitatively examine the gendered impacts of COVID-19 on informal food businesses owned by women in Kenya. Qualitative interviews with 80 participants, including key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions in Kisumu, Kenya, were conducted. The study found that the pandemic significantly disrupted the livelihoods of female vendors, leading to changes in the market and household organization, including gender specific transformations. The women adopted some individual and collective strategies as part of the post-pandemic recovery strategies to enhance their resilience in business. The study findings shed light on the vulnerabilities of informal food businesses in secondary cities to emergencies and the need for targeted policies to support informal economies during crises. Full article

Stress has been prevalent and has become an epidemic health burden, loaded with chronic disorders. The stress response is an adaptive mechanism that prepares an individual to respond to threats or other stressors in a fight-or-flight situation. The stress response involves the induction of neurological and hormonal networks and is usually resolved when stress subsides; however, persistent stress leads to permanent and detrimental impacts on health. With the rise of advanced single-cell analysis technologies, a wave of basic and translational research aimed at elucidating stress has shed light on the underlying mechanisms. Among 80 studies in this review, stressors are classified into acute/chronic physical, physiological, and psychological groups, whereas some studies have more than one stress source. Single-cell RNA-seq was the dominant technology utilized in these studies. This advanced technique systematically reveals cellular heterogeneity in gene expression patterns and the differential transcriptomic landscape of stress response in a wide array of tissues and organ systems, e.g., the nervous system, the endocrine system, the immune system, and others. Bioinformatics identified a single-cell atlas of stress-specific cell subtypes, cell-to-cell interactions, and enriched pathways, showing promise for stress syndrome biomarkers, attenuation, and targeted therapy. The limits of these stress studies were mainly focused on transcriptomics, so future studies using multi-omics approaches across multiple organ systems will yield insights into stress disorders and novel therapeutic strategies. Full article

Industrial isolated power systems are highly sensitive to load disturbances due to their limited inertia and absence of large-grid support. This article analyzes the dynamic stability of an isolated system with a current available generation contribution of approximately 24 MW, evaluating the integration of a new production plant planned to be integrated in two construction phases of 2 MW each (total 4 MW). The system operates with local generation at 13.8 kV and distribution at 34.5 kV; therefore, demand expansion requires a detailed assessment to maintain safe operating conditions. In addition, the study verifies compliance with spinning reserve requirements for Phase 1 and Phase 2 in accordance with applicable industrial power system criteria, including IEEE 3007.1 and IEEE C37.106, as part of the N−1 security assessment. The developed stability analysis is based on time-domain dynamic simulations using IEEE AC8C excitation models and a UG-8 governor. The results show that, under severe contingencies, the frequency nadir can reach deviations close to 1.5 Hz and RoCoF values above 4 Hz/s. The results indicate that Phase 1 (2 MW) can be incorporated while maintaining acceptable spinning reserve margins, whereas the additional 2 MW corresponding to Phase 2 cannot be integrated under the current operating conditions without violating reserve criteria. However, the system remains stable when generators operate under automatic voltage control, while fixed power factor mode produces less robust responses. Based on this result, the dynamic analysis is focused on the Phase 1 condition under critical contingencies, particularly the sudden outage of the 5 MW and 8 MW generating units, with special emphasis on the outage of the largest generator, mitigated through spinning reserve support and a RoCoF-based load shedding scheme of approximately 4.4 MW. Likewise, the energization of the new plant through the 8 km line requires the evaluation of the available reactive compensation resources, including the use of capacitor banks/reactive support, to prevent underexcitation and maintain acceptable voltage conditions. Full article