Search Results (7,277)

Multiphase flow in porous media is ubiquitous in physical processes, yet modeling it consistently remains difficult, and sometimes it can be coupled with solid-phase decomposition and phase change, such as in hydrate dissociation or internal erosion processes. Recent code comparison studies have highlighted this difficulty, revealing clear inconsistencies in numerical results across different research groups for the same benchmark problem. This paper presents a new, reliable benchmark test and a hybrid explicit-implicit finite element method adaptable to various scenarios. In our mathematical framework, the solid decomposition is described by a rate equation for porosity that depends on the fluid pressure, and the phase change is modeled via mass source terms. The hybrid explicit-implicit finite element method features a novel three-stage updating strategy, which incorporates an artificial diffusion term and carefully selects the transport equation for the final saturation update. Validation results demonstrate that our proposed method achieves substantial agreement with those of the fully implicit finite volume method, confirming its reliability. Furthermore, our analysis confirms that the saturation update must use the transport equation of the incompressible fluid phase, and that the artificial diffusion term is critical for capturing physically correct saturation profiles, even when advection is not dominant. Overall, this work provides a consistent and effective tool for simulating complex multiphase flow scenarios and serves as a valuable complement to future benchmark studies. Full article

The European Union’s decarbonization strategy relies on transparent and accurate climate data across value chains. Yet, existing sustainability reporting frameworks mainly target large companies, often neglecting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Although SMEs are largely exempt from mandatory reporting under recent regulatory simplifications, they play a critical role in Scope 3 emissions, which dominate the carbon footprints of larger firms. This paper presents two complementary, freely accessible digital tools designed to support credible carbon accounting. The first tool, Climate Compass, is a government-sanctioned tool that aligns with the GHG Protocol and has been used by >10,000 SMEs in Denmark to calculate Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions through a user-friendly interface. The second, a newly developed online cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) tool, supports product-level carbon footprinting using open-source emission factor databases. The cradle-to-gate approach reflects typical SME production profiles and emphasizes embodied CO₂e from raw materials, transport, and energy consumption. Together, these tools enable researchers to effectively assess SMEs emissions in the value chain and thus support decarbonization while supplying reliable data to larger companies. The tool democratizes emissions analysis and supports regulatory and market demands and strengthens SMEs contribution to Europe’s low-carbon transition. Full article

Propolis, a sticky bee hive product collected from resinous plant sources by Apis mellifera bees, exhibits a wide range of biological and pharmacological properties, primarily attributed to its rich composition of bioactive constituents, including phenolic acids, esters, and flavonoids. In this study, the antioxidant properties of 76 liquid propolis solutions from 18 different countries were investigated based on their dry matter, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, antioxidant capacities, and phenolic profiles. The antioxidant activities of propolis from various geographic regions, including Latvia, Croatia, New Zealand, San Marino, Russia, France, Romania, Italy, Estonia, Brazil, Belgium, Germany, Slovenia, Japan, the United States of America (USA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Spain, and Korea, were compared. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as total antioxidant capacity (Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity—CUPRAC method), were analyzed by spectrophotometry, and the major constituents were investigated by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Antioxidant test results indicated that 29 products scored below 10 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/mL, and only 14 were scored above 100 mg TE/mL. The results showed that the total phenolic content of the samples ranged from 0.1 to 107.5 mg Gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/mL, while total flavonoid content varied between 0.1 and 174.5 mg Catechin equivalent (CE)/mL. Based on the CUPRAC assay, total antioxidant capacity values ranged from 0.1 to 492.3 mg TE/mL. Among the 76 analyzed samples, nine products exhibited antioxidant capacity values exceeding 150 mg TE/mL. In all of these samples, phenolic profiling confirmed the presence of propolis, and the analytical results were consistent with the information declared on the product labels. Hence, this study provides a comprehensive, real-market evaluation of commercial propolis products by integrating spectrophotometric assays with LC-MS-based targeted metabolomics profiling, highlighting formulation- and product type-driven differences in phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity beyond geographical origin. Full article

The skeletal muscle system is particularly susceptible to degenerative and inflammatory processes that threaten mobility, quality of life, and systemic health. Marine plants, including brown, red, and green algae, are valuable yet understudied sources of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential against skeletal muscle inflammation and degeneration. This narrative review provides the first overview of polyphenols, polysaccharides, carotenoids, and multiminerals derived from marine plants, with a particular focus on their effects on skeletal muscle, bone, and joint tissues. It highlights both the therapeutic potential and the limitations of marine plant-derived bioactive compounds in the musculoskeletal system. The compounds discussed, such as phlorotannins, ulvan, fucoidan, carotenoids, spirulina derivatives, and Aquamin, modulate key signaling pathways, including NF-κB, JAK/STAT3, and the NLRP3 inflammasome. Among these, MAPK emerges as the most consistently affected axis across all compound classes, leading to a reduction in TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and oxidative stress markers. These bioactive compounds have been shown in both in vitro and in vivo models to reduce muscle catabolism, enhance osteoblast differentiation and mineralization, and reduce cartilage inflammation. Despite favorable safety, biocompatibility, and biodegradability profiles, current evidence shows that systemic applications significantly dominate over local delivery, highlighting the untapped potential of localized delivery strategies. Overall, this narrative review underscores the growing importance of marine plant-derived bioactives as promising natural agents for maintaining musculoskeletal integrity and alleviating degenerative disorders. Full article

The use of unconventional water sources, such as those from marine desalination plants, is challenging for agriculture due to boron concentrations exceeding 0.5 mg L⁻¹, which can impact crop yield and quality. To ensure sustainability, it is crucial to understand crop responses to high boron levels and to develop strategies to mitigate its toxic effects. This study evaluated the impact of irrigation with a nutrient solution containing 15 mg L⁻¹ of boron on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.). To modulate the physiological effects of boron toxicity, two biostimulant products based on an extract from the brown alga Laminaria digitata and other active ingredients were applied foliarly. Agronomic, nutritional, and metabolic parameters were analyzed, including total yield, number of fruits per plant, and fruit quality. Additionally, mineral analysis and metabolomic profiling of leaves and fruits were performed, focusing on amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and other metabolites. A control treatment was irrigated with a nutrient solution containing 0.25 mg L⁻¹ of boron. The results showed that a boron concentration of 15 mg L⁻¹ significantly reduced total yield by 45% and significantly decreased fruit size and firmness. Mineral and metabolomic analyses showed significant reductions in Mg and Ca concentrations, significant increases in P and Zn levels, excessive boron accumulation in leaves and fruits, and significant changes in metabolites associated with nitrogen metabolism and the Krebs cycle. Biostimulant application did not significantly improve agronomic performance, likely due to high boron accumulation in the leaves, although significant changes were detected in leaf nutritional status and metabolic profiles. Full article

Ramaria flavobrunnescens is an ectomycorrhizal coral mushroom that is often found growing in eucalyptus forests. The mushroom has been linked to accidental ingestion-associated livestock poisonings in South America, though the toxicological agent has not yet been described. Mushroom samples identified as R. flavobrunnescens were analyzed by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to determine the potential source of the toxicity, and to provide a metabolomic profile of the species. Previously reported Ramaria secondary metabolites were detected, including ramarins, ramariolides, pistillarin and arsenic-containing compounds. A number of bacterial species were isolated from R. flavobrunnescens that produced iron-chelating cyclic peptides, which were detected in the mushroom samples. Interestingly, we detected a series of eucalyptus tree secondary metabolites in abundance from R. flavobrunnescens fruiting bodies, some of which have reported toxicities and bioactivities. To our knowledge, this is the first report of eucalyptus secondary metabolites in a mushroom. The diversity of secondary metabolites identified in the mushroom extracts provides insight into the potential complex ecological interactions between R. flavobrunnescens, its associated microbiota, and its mycorrhizal interaction with eucalyptus trees. Full article

Dietary bioactive compounds derived from plant-based and fermented foods act as plei-otropic modulators of human health, exerting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardiopro-tective, neuroprotective, and metabolic effects beyond basic nutrition. Whole foods (fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts) provide synergistic mixtures of bioactives, whereas fermented foods generate a wide range of microbial-derived metabolites (peptides, organic acids) as well as probiotics that enhance nutrient bioavailability and support gut health. The gut microbiota plays a central mediating role in the biological effects of dietary bioactives through a dynamic, bidirectional interaction: dietary compounds shape microbial composition by promoting beneficial taxa and suppressing pathogens, while microbial metabolism converts these compounds into bioactive metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, that profoundly influence host health. Despite their demonstrated health potential, the clinical translation of many dietary bioactives is limited by low bioavailability, which is influenced by digestion processes, food matrix and processing conditions, host genetics, and individual microbiota profile. Overcoming these limitations requires a deeper understanding of the synergistic interactions among dietary bioactives, probiotics, microbial metabolites, and host signaling pathways. This review provides an integrated perspective of the sources, mechanisms of action, and health effects of food-derived bioactive compounds and probiotic mediated effects, while highlighting current translational challenges and future directions for the development of effective functional foods and personalized nutrition strategies. Full article

The principal global sources of platinum-group elements (Os, Ir, Ru, Rh, Pt, Pd), collectively referred to as PGEs, are magmatic Ni-Cu sulfide deposits associated with large, layered intrusions, such as the Bushveld Complex. Recent exploration efforts have identified rock types with elevated PGE concentrations, although their potential remains uncertain. This comprehensive review synthesizes the current knowledge regarding potential sources from both natural magmatic and anthropogenic activities, as well as the environmental risks associated with the Pt, Pd, and Rh sub-group, or PPGEs. The order of Pd > Pt > Rh content in emitted particulates has been documented in dust and soil along roadsides, whereas in Fe-Ni laterite, Pt tends to accumulate residually at the top of profiles due to the higher mobility of Pd compared to Pt and Rh. The greater mobility and transfer of Pd are evidenced by higher bioaccumulation factors for Pd in plants and crops, with a higher Pd content observed in roots than in shoots. The effects of chronic occupational exposure to Pt compounds, such as allergic reactions affecting the skin and respiratory system of workers, are well-documented. Although no established permissible limits for Pt, Pd, and Rh in soil, water, or plants exist within major regulatory frameworks, the increasing applications of PPGEs and the use of Pd in catalytic converters (due to its lower cost) underscore the need for further studies on the recycling of spent catalytic converters, health impacts, ecotoxicological assessments, and the application of current technological advances to mitigate exhaust emissions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) processing generates substantial quantities of rind, seeds, and residual pulp that are typically discarded despite being rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, polar lipids, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds. These amphiphilic bioactives are increasingly recognized for their roles in modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and platelet activation; however, the lipid fraction of watermelon by-products remains insufficiently characterized. This study examined organic watermelon juice and its by-products to isolate, characterize, and evaluate extracts enriched in amphiphilic and lipophilic bioactives, with emphasis on their in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic properties. Methods: total lipids were extracted using a modified Bligh–Dyer method and fractionated into total amphiphilic compounds (TAC) and total lipophilic compounds (TLC) via counter-current distribution. Phenolic and carotenoid levels were quantified, and antioxidant capacity was assessed using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Anti-platelet and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated against ADP- and PAF-induced platelet aggregation. Structural characterization of polar lipids was performed using ATR–FTIR, and LC–MS was used to determine fatty acid composition and phospholipid structures. Results and Discussion: Carotenoids were primarily concentrated in the TLC fractions with high ABTS values for antioxidant activity, while phenolics mostly in the juice, the TACs of which showed the strongest total antioxidant capacity based on DPPH. TAC fractions of both samples showed also higher FRAP values of antioxidant activity, likely due to greater phenolic content. TAC extracts also exhibited notable inhibition of PAF- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation, associated with their enriched ω-3 PUFA profiles and favorable ω-6/ω-3 ratios based on their LC-MS profiles. Conclusions: Overall, watermelon products (juice) and by-products represent a valuable and sustainable source of amphiphilic bioactives with significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-platelet potential, supporting their future use in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and cosmetic applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Comparative analysis of antimicrobial resistomes in hospital and community wastewater can provide valuable insights into the diversity and distribution of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), contributing to the advancement of the One Health approach. This study aimed to characterize and compare the resistome profiles of wastewater sources from a hospital and community. Methods: Longitudinal metagenomic analysis was conducted on wastewater samples collected from the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (hospital) and a shopping mall (community) in Tokyo, Japan, between December 2019 and September 2023. ARG abundance was quantified using reads per kilobase per million mapped reads (RPKM) values, and comparative analyses were performed to identify the significantly enriched ARGs in the two sources. Results: A total of 46 monthly wastewater samples from the hospital yielded 825 unique ARGs, with a mean RPKM of 2.5 across all detected genes. In contrast, 333 ARGs were identified in the three shopping mall wastewater samples, with a mean RPKM of 2.1. Among the ARGs significantly enriched in the hospital samples, 23, including genes conferring resistance to aminoglycosides (nine groups) and β-lactam antibiotics (eight groups), exhibited significantly high RPKM values. No ARGs were found to be significantly enriched in the community wastewater samples. Conclusions: This study highlights the higher diversity and abundance of ARGs, particularly those conferring resistance to aminoglycosides and β-lactam antibiotics including carbapenems, in hospital wastewater than in community wastewater. These findings underscore the importance of continuous resistome monitoring of hospital wastewater as part of the integrated One Health surveillance strategy. Full article

Fungal secondary metabolites are valuable sources of natural antioxidants and antimicrobials. This study evaluated the submerged fermentation of Penicillium crustosum OR889307 supplemented with lemon peel as a co-substrate to enhance the production of bioactive compounds. Lemon peel was selected for its phenolic precursors and sustainable availability as an agro-industrial byproduct. Crude extracts, aqueous and organic fractions, and molecular-weight partitions were assessed for antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay and for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. Semi-purified extracts from co-substrate fermentations exhibited enhanced bioactivity, showing MIC values of 185 µg/mL against P. aeruginosa and 225 µg/mL against MRSA, along with strong ABTS radical-scavenging capacity (238.95 ± 2.17 µmol TE). RP-HPLC-ESI-MS profiling revealed phenolic acids, flavanones, flavonols, and lignans, including ferulic acid 4-O-glucoside, bisdemethoxycurcumin, secoisolariciresinol, and quercetin 3-O-xylosyl-glucuronide. These findings demonstrate that lemon peel supplementation promotes the biosynthesis of antimicrobial and antioxidant metabolites by P. crustosum. This approach supports sustainable agro-waste valorization and offers a promising strategy for obtaining natural bioactive compounds with potential applications in food preservation and health-related formulations. Full article

Background: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an increasingly important multidrug-resistant opportunistic pathogen frequently isolated from clinical, environmental, and plant-associated niches. Despite its medical relevance, the global population structure, species-complex boundaries, and genomic determinants of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and ecological adaptation remain poorly resolved, partly due to inconsistent annotations and fragmented genomic datasets. Methods: Approximately 2400 genome assemblies annotated as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were available in the NCBI Assembly database at the time of query. After pre-download filtering to exclude metagenome-assembled genomes and atypical lineages, 1750 isolate genomes were retrieved and subjected to stringent quality control (completeness ≥90%, contamination ≤5%, ≤500 contigs, N50 ≥ 10 kb, and ≤1% ambiguous bases), yielding a final curated dataset of 1518 high-quality genomes used for downstream analyses. Genomes were assessed using CheckM, annotated with Prokka, and compared using average nucleotide identity (ANI), pan-genome analysis, core-genome phylogenomics, and functional annotation. AMR genes, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and metadata (source, host, and geographic origin) were integrated to assess lineage-specific genomic features and ecological distributions. Results: ANI-based clustering resolved the S. maltophilia complex into multiple distinct genomospecies and revealed extensive misidentification of publicly deposited genomes. The pan-genome was highly open, reflecting strong genomic plasticity driven by accessory gene acquisition. Core-genome phylogeny resolved well-supported clades associated with clinical, environmental, and plant-related niches. Resistome profiling showed widespread intrinsic MDR determinants, with certain lineages enriched for efflux pumps, β-lactamases, and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole resistance markers. MGE analysis identified lineage-specific integrative conjugative elements, prophages, and transposases that correlated with source and geographic distribution. Conclusions: This large-scale analysis provides the most comprehensive genomic overview of the S. maltophilia complex to date. Our findings clarify species boundaries, highlight substantial taxonomic misannotation in public databases, and reveal lineage-specific AMR and mobilome patterns linked to ecological and clinical origins. The curated dataset and evolutionary insights generated here establish a foundation for global genomic surveillance, epidemiological tracking, and future studies on the evolution of antimicrobial resistance in S. maltophilia. Full article

This study evaluates the chemical profile and antifungal efficacy of essential oils from Piper glabratum, Piper friedrichsthalii, and Piper cumanense against the cocoa pathogens Moniliophthora roreri and Phytophthora palmivora. Microwave-assisted hydrodistillation followed by GC-MS analysis identified 80 constituents, predominantly monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, which exhibited significant mycelial inhibition comparable to commercial fungicides. Beyond basic characterization, a comprehensive chemoinformatic analysis was conducted to elucidate the molecular mechanisms driving this bioactivity. The computed physicochemical landscape reveals a dominant lipophilic profile (average LogP 3.4) and low polarity (TPSA 11.5 Ų), characteristics essential for effective fungal membrane penetration. Structural mining identified conserved benzene and cyclohexene scaffolds alongside specific 1,3-benzodioxole moieties, while Maximum Common Substructure (MCS) analysis uncovered high similarity clusters among phenylpropanoids and sesquiterpenes. These findings suggest a synergistic mode of action where conserved structural backbones and interchangeable diastereomers facilitate membrane destabilization and ion leakage. Consequently, the integrative chemoinformatic profiling elucidates the molecular basis of this efficacy, positioning these Piper essential oils not merely as empirical alternatives, but as sources of rationally defined synergistic scaffolds for next-generation sustainable fungicides. Full article

Automata and artificial intelligence (AI) have long occupied a central place in cultural and artistic imagination, and the recent proliferation of AI-generated artworks has intensified debates about authorship, creativity, and human agency. Empirical studies show that audiences often perceive AI-generated works as less authentic or emotionally resonant than human creations, with authorship attribution strongly shaping esthetic judgments. Yet little attention has been paid to how AI systems themselves evaluate creative authorship. This study investigates how large language models (LLMs) evaluate literary quality under different framings of authorship—Human, AI, or Human+AI collaboration. Using a questionnaire-based experimental design, we prompted four instruction-tuned LLMs (ChatGPT 4, Gemini 2, Gemma 3, and LLaMA 3) to read and assess three short stories in Italian, originally generated by ChatGPT 4 in the narrative style of Roald Dahl. For each story × authorship condition × model combination, we collected 100 questionnaire completions, yielding 3600 responses in total. Across esthetic, literary, and inclusiveness dimensions, the stated authorship systematically conditioned model judgments: identical stories were consistently rated more favorably when framed as human-authored or human–AI co-authored than when labeled as AI-authored, revealing a robust negative bias toward AI authorship. Model-specific analyses further indicate distinctive evaluative profiles and inclusiveness thresholds across proprietary and open-source systems. Our findings extend research on attribution bias into the computational realm, showing that LLM-based evaluations reproduce human-like assumptions about creative agency and literary value. We publicly release all materials to facilitate transparency and future comparative work on AI-mediated literary evaluation. Full article

Atrial fibrillation (AF) management has historically relied on thermal ablation modalities—radiofrequency (RF) and cryoballoon—which have established a high benchmark for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, the inherent risk of collateral thermal injury and lesion inconsistency has driven the search for alternative energy sources. The recent clinical adoption of pulsed-field ablation (PFA), based on irreversible electroporation, represents a significant technological evolution. This narrative review provides a critical appraisal of the transition from thermal to pulsed-field technologies. We synthesized data from pivotal trials and recent health-economic analyses to evaluate the biophysical mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and safety profiles of contemporary devices. We conduct a head-to-head comparison of all modalities regarding critical safety endpoints (esophageal, neurological, and vascular), real-world procedural challenges (anesthesia, lesion assessment), and economic sustainability. While PFA offers distinct advantages in procedural speed and tissue selectivity, we highlight that thermal modalities—particularly cryoballoon and very-high-power RF—retain competitive profiles in terms of cost-effectiveness and established long-term durability. This review aims to provide a balanced roadmap for clinicians navigating the complex choice between established thermal efficacy and the promising, yet evolving, landscape of electroporation. Full article