Search Results (25,553)

Nanostructured calcium phosphate-based (CaP) biocomposites have proven to be ideal candidates for the creation of multifunctional systems with applications in biomedicine. This review presents a critical and integrative overview of recent advances in the synthesis of CaP nanocomposites with applications in bone tissue regeneration. An analysis of calcium phosphate-based nanocomposites is thus provided by correlating their composition, synthesis routes and biological properties, guiding the rational development of next-generation biomaterials for bone tissue engineering. The first section presents calcium phosphates, such as hydroxyapatite (HAp) or β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), used in the preparation of nanocomposite materials. Next, the main biocomposite materials are analyzed as a result of the functionalization of calcium phosphates by metal ion substitutions or by the addition of polymers, bioglass or metal additives. Thus, biomaterials with excellent properties in applications such as tissue engineering have been obtained. The synergistic effect of materials in the composition of biocomposites favored the improvement of properties such as bioactivity, mechanical strength, antimicrobial activity, structure and porosity. Beyond classical osteoconductivity, CaP-based nanocomposites demonstrate a broad spectrum of biological activities like immunomodulatory effects, pro-healing signaling, anti-inflammatory pathways, antibacterial and antifungal mechanisms, and capabilities for precise drug delivery or theranostic applications. Full article

The rapid emergence of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), particularly pyrrolidinophenone derivatives, poses a significant challenge for public health and forensic toxicology. While their neuropharmacological profiles as dopamine transporter inhibitors are well-documented, their cardiac toxicity remains poorly understood. This study employs a multiparametric New Approach Methodology (NAM) using zebrafish embryos to integrate neurobehavioral and cardiotoxic endpoints for comparative hazard prioritization. We evaluated nine pyrrolidine-containing cathinones, including α-PVP, MDPV, α-PiHP, MDPiHP, α-D2PV, 3-Cl-, 4-Cl-, and 3,4-Cl-α-PVP, and 4-F-3-Me-α-PVP, on locomotor activity and cardiac rhythmicity using high-speed video microscopy and dynamic pixel analysis. Across the series, compounds induced concentration-dependent negative chronotropy and, in most cases, locomotor suppression. Crucially, we identified a functional dissociation between atrial rate control and atrioventricular (AV) conduction. The 3,4-dichloro substitution (3,4-Cl-α-PVP) was the most potent inducer of negative chronotropy (EC₅₀ = 52.6 μM), whereas 4-Cl-α-PVP exhibited a distinct pro-arrhythmic liability, increasing the incidence of 2:1 AV block. Time-course locomotor profiling indicated that α-PVP and chlorinated analogs were among the most potent behavioral modifiers. Using a Functional Safety Index (AV block EC₅₀/locomotor EC₅₀-like), we show that most compounds exhibit wide separations between neurobehavioral inhibition and severe conduction impairment, while specific substitutions, particularly para-chlorination, are associated with comparatively reduced functional separation between these endpoints within the assay. Overall, these data demonstrate that subtle structural changes within the pyrrolidinophenone scaffold can shape distinct arrhythmic phenotypes and functional safety profiles, supporting zebrafish-based integrated screening as a rapid platform for prioritizing emerging synthetic cathinones with comparatively higher cardiac liability within this experimental framework. Full article

This study presents a thorough investigation of chemical outcomes during the reaction of cisplatin and 2-thiohydantoin ligands in the presence of DMSO. Aided by NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations, the influence of DMSO substitution on the reaction factors is specified, and key intermediates and products in the reaction mechanism are identified and characterized. Coordination modes, reaction orders, and important thermodynamic parameters, such as Gibbs free energies, stabilization energies, and reaction rate constants, are determined. Molecular docking was utilized to propose the binding modes of the final products to DNA and predict their anticancer properties. The results of this study represent a unique kinetic and mechanistic outlook into the influence of DMSO on platinum(II) coordination, as ligand substitution with DMSO was previously found to alter the coordination environment in a biologically relevant manner. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable materials in electrical engineering has encouraged the substitution of conventional fillers in epoxy insulation with recycled industrial by-products. This study investigates the potential use of waste tire rubber particles and zinc oxide recovered from electric arc furnace dust as eco-friendly fillers for epoxy resins in high-voltage insulation applications. Four material variants were fabricated: pure epoxy, epoxy with 10 wt% ZnO (0.7 mm thickness), epoxy with 10 wt% tire rubber (0.9 mm thickness), and epoxy with 20 wt% tire rubber (0.9 mm thickness). The breakdown voltage of each composite was measured under AC voltage. Results indicate that filler type and concentration influence breakdown behavior within each thickness group. The 10 wt% ZnO-filled epoxy exhibited a moderate enhancement in breakdown voltage compared with pure epoxy of the same thickness, consistent with interfacial modifications commonly observed in oxide-filled epoxy systems. Conversely, tire rubber fillers led to reduced breakdown performance, likely due to increased dielectric heterogeneity introduced by the elastomeric phase. No direct comparison between ZnO- and rubber-filled systems was performed due to differences in manufacturable sample thickness. The findings contribute to the evaluation of recycled fillers in dielectric composite systems within a circular-economy framework. Full article

This research explores the use of industrial waste as an alternative to natural raw materials, promoting a circular economy in the construction sector. It specifically investigates the manufacturing of paving blocks using blast furnace slag and recycled aggregates. Paving blocks were produced without altering typical industry conditions, entirely replacing cement with alkaline-activated blast furnace slag. The study replaced natural aggregate in three proportions (20%, 50%, and 100%) with three types of recycled aggregates: concrete recycled aggregate (CA), masonry recycled aggregate (MA), and recycled mixed aggregate (RMA), in both coarse and fine fractions. The experimental procedure analysed the impact of recycled aggregates in an alkaline-activated slag matrix through three phases: characterising physical properties (mechanical properties, water absorption, density, abrasion resistance, and slip resistance), evaluating leaching behaviour, and conducting a life cycle analysis. The results of physical characterisation were statistically analysed using principal component analysis (PCA). The results obtained show the feasibility of manufacturing paving blocks with blast furnace slag by completely replacing the natural aggregate with the coarse fraction of the three recycled aggregates used and replacing up to 20% in the case of using the fine fraction. The properties of the paving blocks manufactured with slag depend mainly on the degree of substitution of natural aggregate with the recycled aggregate. All paving blocks can be considered environmentally safe from leaching according to the Dutch Soil Quality Decree. Paving blocks made from alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag and recycled aggregates generate a lower carbon footprint compared to concrete paving blocks. Full article

This study investigates the incorporation of toner residue (TR), derived from post-consumer printing cartridges, as an alternative filler in styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) composites, with emphasis placed on solid waste valorization and the promotion of a circular economy. TR consists predominantly of fine particles containing thermoplastic polymers, carbon black, metal oxides, and additives, exhibiting functional potential as a partially reinforcing filler material. Composites containing 0 to 50 phr of TR were prepared and characterized in terms of rheometric properties, dispersion degree, elemental composition by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), crosslink density, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy, Shore A hardness, abrasion resistance, tensile strength, and tear resistance. Rheometric results indicated modifications in vulcanization kinetics and a reduction in maximum torque for formulations with high TR contents, suggesting a possible diluent effect or interference with elastomeric network formation. Conversely, moderate TR concentrations promoted increased hardness, improved tensile strength, and higher crosslink density, associated with adequate particle dispersion within the matrix, as confirmed by SEM analysis. However, excessive TR loading led to increased abrasion loss and an overall reduction in mechanical performance. It is concluded that TR demonstrates technical feasibility as a partial substitute for conventional fillers in SBR composites, with potential industrial application, such as in footwear sole prototypes, combining functional performance with environmental impact mitigation. Full article

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) is a large DNA capripoxvirus that causes LSD, a disease that has major economic impact. Since 1989, several sporadic outbreaks were reported in Israel, with the latest outbreaks in 2012, 2019 and 2023. Although considered genetically stable, LSDV shows a high degree of genetic recombination events and genetic variations. In particular, in-frame nonsense mutations were suggested to act as one of the main evolutionary drivers of outbreaks. Whole-genome sequencing of LSDV isolates from the 2019 and 2023 outbreaks was used for genomic analysis using various bioinformatics tools to characterize the genomic evolution, recombination events and micro-evolutionary forces shaping LSDV in Israel by comparing isolates. Comparative genomic analysis revealed substantial nucleotide substitutions in the 2019 and 2023 isolates relative to the 2012 isolate. Specifically, increased nucleotide mismatches, inter-genic deletion, enhanced APOBEC editing signatures and elevated codon usage. Additionally, numerous mutations were recognized, leading to structural disruptions in specific viral proteins and possible RNA instability. In conclusion, this analysis supports that nucleotide substitutions, codon selection pressure and APOBEC-associated editing had driven local microevolution of LSDV during the years between outbreaks despite the absence of clinical indications and major vaccination campaigns. Furthermore, genomic evidences of recombination events between the 2012 and 2019 isolates suggests that these processes may have contributed to the emergence of the variant identified during the 2023 outbreak. Full article

Radioactive contaminations in soil, which originate from nuclear power production, nuclear weapon testing, or uncontrolled release, are of great environmental concern. One of the major fission product contaminants is ⁹⁰Sr, whose high mobility demands a method to track contamination pathways and remediation processes. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a valuable tool for the required studies. As a β⁻/γ-emitter, ⁹⁰Sr is not suitable for PET, which requires β⁺-emitters. As an alternative, ⁸³Sr, with a 12% intensity of β⁺-emission and a half-life of 32.4 h, is an appropriate PET substitute for ⁹⁰Sr. We produced ⁸³Sr with an enriched target of [⁸⁵Rb]RbCl in a ⁸⁵Rb(p,3n)⁸³Sr reaction. The target material was bombarded with 36.22 MeV protons (ø 1.78 µA, 315 min), at a solid target station at the cyclotron U-120M (NPI CAS). The irradiated target (1.5 GBq) was dissolved in water, evaporated to dryness, redissolved in nitric acid, and transferred onto a Sr-selective cartridge (Sr-SpecTM, TRISKEM, France). Following target material wash out, ⁸³Sr elution with water, solvent evaporation, and reformulation (in dilute nitric acid) yielded 1.2 GBq (82% radiochemical extraction efficiency, non-decay-corrected) of an ⁸³Sr-solution. The easy and fast method is able to produce non-carrier-added ⁸³Sr with high radionuclidic purity. Full article

With the rapid development of smart devices for body area networks and smart packaging, there is a significant demand for low-waste and low-impact electronic systems in industries such as healthcare and transportation. We demonstrate that the dielectric material from capacitors in resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) wireless, chipless, resonant temperature sensors can be successfully recovered from flexible PCBs, with pristine sensors re-introduced to the tag’s sensor loading. First, we demonstrate that replacing the dielectric in a parallel plate capacitor with a pristine component, with recycled electrodes and sub-miniature-A (SMA) adaptor, results in only a 3% change in broadband capacitance. An identical substitution of the sensing element in an RLC circuit tuned to resonate at 21.0 MHz, with recycled parallel plates, a resistor, and an inductive PCB coil, results in a change of only 7.6% in the resonant frequency of the tag to 19.4 MHz. This work demonstrates the recyclability of chipless tags for temperature sensing for the first time, offering sustainability gains in smart packaging applications, with the potential to be expanded to other sensing tags for pH, humidity, and chemical analytes, towards chipless product passports. Full article

The growing demand for gold in various high-technology applications necessitates the development of efficient and selective methods for its recovery and analysis, which can be achieved using such macrocyclic ligands as crown esters and their aza-substituted derivatives. The present paper reports on the equilibrium constants for the formation of gold(III) complexes with 18-crown-6, 1-aza-18-crown-6, 1,10-diaza-18-crown-6, and the cryptand 4,7,13,16,21,24-hexaoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane (Kryptofix 222) in aqueous solution at T = 298.2 K, p = 0.1 MPa, I → 0. The equilibrium constants (log β) for the substitution of chloride ions by macrocycles were determined to be 4.52 ± 0.04, 9.15 ± 0.03, 9.08 ± 0.07, and 11.51 ± 0.08, respectively. Equilibrium constants for protonated and polyligand species are also provided. The complexation mechanism was elucidated using a combination of spectroscopic techniques. UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy confirm the substitution of chloride ligands by the nitrogen donor atoms of the aza-macrocycles within the tetrachloroaurate(III) ion. Furthermore, ¹H NMR analysis reveals that the diaza-substituted ligands can form both inclusion complexes, where the gold cation is encapsulated within the macrocyclic cavity, and exclusion complexes. These findings provide a quantitative foundation for the design of novel macrocycle-based extractants and sensors for gold(III). Full article

The management of hazardous municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) residues represents a critical challenge for sustainable development due to their increasing generation and environmental risk. At the same time, the cement industry faces urgent pressure to reduce CO₂ emissions associated with clinker production, creating a demand for alternative supplementary cementitious materials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of valorising hazardous municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) air pollution control fly ash (EWC 19 01 07*) as a constituent of Portland composite cement, in line with circular economy principles and the need to reduce CO₂ emissions associated with clinker production. The investigated fly ash, originating from flue gas cleaning processes, is characterised by high alkalinity and elevated concentrations of heavy metals, which currently necessitate controlled landfilling. To enable its safe reuse, the ash was subjected to high-temperature thermal treatment following granulation and subsequently incorporated into cement formulations under semi-industrial conditions. Two Portland composite cements were produced with different ash contents, corresponding to CEM II/A-07 and CEM II/B-07, while a Portland cement manufactured from the same clinker was used as a reference material. The chemical and phase composition of the ash before and after thermal treatment was analysed using XRF and XRD, supported by SEM/EDS observations. The results demonstrate that thermal treatment at 1150 °C induces partial phase stabilisation of APC fly ash without full vitrification, allowing its integration into cement systems under semi-industrial conditions. The incorporation of ash significantly alters hydration behaviour through increased water demand governed by particle porosity, CaO-rich phase composition, and early ionic interactions in the pore solution, leading to reduced workability and mechanical performance. While immobilisation efficiencies exceeding 99.5% were achieved for most heavy metals due to precipitation and incorporation into hydration products, barium exhibited persistent leaching controlled by its solubility under highly alkaline conditions and limited incorporation into C–S–H phases. These findings define both the technological feasibility and the key environmental constraints of APC fly ash utilisation in Portland composite cement. From a sustainability perspective, the proposed approach contributes to the reduction in hazardous waste landfilling and supports clinker substitution in cement production. The results demonstrate the potential of integrating waste management and low-carbon material design within a circular economy framework while highlighting current environmental limitations related to barium leaching. Full article

In this work, the effect of partial to complete Al substitution of Si on the microstructure, retained austenite (RA) stability, and mechanical properties of cold-rolled TRIP-aided steels was investigated. Four experimental TRIP-aided steels (Fe-0.2C-1.5Mn-1.5/1.0/0.5/0Si-0/0.5/1.0/1.5Al-0.025Nb, wt.%) were designed. The results indicate that replacing Si with Al significantly increases the volume fraction of soft polygonal ferrite (from 52% to 73%) and decreases that of bainite. Although the volume fraction of RA decreases (from 15.6% to 12.4%), its average carbon content and, consequently, its mechanical stability are enhanced, which suppresses the strain-induced martensitic transformation. In terms of mechanical properties, the substitution leads to a monotonic decrease in both yield strength (from 573 MPa to 536 MPa) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) (from 839 MPa to 648 MPa), primarily due to reduced solid-solution strengthening, coarsened ferrite grains, and a weakened TRIP effect. Conversely, the total elongation (TEL) increases from 28.3% to 32.4%, attributed to the higher fraction of ductile ferrite. Consequently, the product of tensile strength and total elongation (PSE) exhibits a slight decline. The 1.5Si-TRIP steel exhibited the most balanced mechanical properties, achieving the highest PSE of 23.7 GPa·%. Full article

The synergistic effects of glucose (Glu) concentration and clay mineral type (kaolinite [Kao], montmorillonite [Mon]) on abiotic humification via the polyphenol-Maillard reaction remain poorly understood. To address these scientific challenges, a series of controlled, sterile batch experiments was conducted. Specifically, a glucose concentration gradient (0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.12, and 0.24 mol/L) was established; Kao and Mon were separately introduced as mineral catalysts; and the Maillard reaction was facilitated in the presence of catechol and glycine under strictly abiotic conditions to preclude any potential biological interference. Comprehensive analyses were performed on the reaction products—namely, the supernatant and the dark-brown residue generated during the reaction process. These analyses included: the E₄/E₆ ratio and total organic carbon (TOC) content of the supernatant; the carbon-based ratio of humic-like acid to fulvic-like acid (C_HLA/C_FLA); and the structural characteristics of humic-like acid (HLA) isolated from the dark-brown residue. Results showed dynamic E₄/E₆ ratio and TOC changes in the supernatant were accurately described by the Logistic function. Kao favored soluble organic C accumulation and enhanced retention of early-stage, low-molecular-weight intermediates in the dark-brown residue, while Mon promoted humic-like substances (HLS) polymerization and aromatic condensation. FTIR spectroscopy analysis identified optimal Glu thresholds for maximal HLS formation—0.03 mol/L for Kao and 0.06 mol/L for Mon—indicating non-linear, rather than monotonic, dependence on Glu dosage. Comparative pre- and post-reaction Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy further demonstrated that Mon, owing to Mg–OH octahedral sites arising from isomorphic substitution, formed more stable Cat chelates than Kao. These chelates effectively stabilized surface-bound hydroxyl-associated water molecules and modulated the electron cloud distribution around Si–O bonds. Collectively, this study clarified the dual regulatory role of Glu concentration and clay mineral identity in abiotic humification pathways, advanced mechanistic understanding of clay mineral-mediated polyphenol-Maillard reactions, and established a scientific foundation for optimizing humification efficiency in both engineered and natural systems. Full article

Against the backdrop of the global energy transition toward deep electrification, the natural gas industry faces challenges, including increased load forecasting uncertainty and frequent extreme weather impacts. To enhance natural gas load forecasting accuracy and support system resilience planning, this study constructs a forecasting model based on quadratic decomposition and hybrid deep learning, incorporating an electricity substitution coefficient to characterize the coupling substitution effect between electricity and natural gas. Under the basic scenario, the VMD-WPD-TCN-BiGRU model is proposed. It employs variational mode decomposition and wavelet packet denoising for secondary signal denoising, combined with a time-series convolutional network and bidirectional gated recurrent unit to extract temporal features. Experiments demonstrate that, compared to mainstream methods such as CNN, BiLSTM, SVM, and XGBoost, this model achieves statistically significant reductions in MSE (11.11–96.21%), MAE (0.89–76.50%), and MAPE (4.10–67.94%), significantly improving forecasting accuracy. In the deep electrification scenario, the introduction of the electricity substitution coefficient further optimizes peak load forecasting for system pressure days under extreme low temperatures, elevating the overall R² to 0.9905 in the deep electrification scenario. Research indicates that the proposed model not only effectively improves the accuracy of short-term natural gas load forecasting but also provides quantitative support for enterprises to plan peak-shaving facilities, optimize pipeline networks, and respond to extreme weather emergencies in data silo environments. This contributes to strengthening the adaptability and long-term resilience of natural gas systems during the energy transition, thereby supporting the sustainable development of energy infrastructure. Full article

Station-based car-sharing has been shown to reduce resource-intensive private car ownership. However, only a small proportion of the population uses station-based car-sharing, which could be improved by redesigning the service to reduce walking distances and increase availability. We developed a method for designing an efficient and cost-effective station-based car-sharing network for smart cities that emphasizes user comfort and convenience, while reducing the number of needed cars. To quantify the placements, we created a high-resolution synthetic population for Munich, Germany as a case study. The population was based on census and OpenStreetMap data, and each person was assigned to a suitable mobility plan derived from two mobility surveys. Since car ownership and station-based car-sharing are particularly associated with trips for vacations, we supplemented the mobility plans with long-distance travel data from a one-year tracking dataset. This allowed us to perform a spatial and temporal analysis of the theoretical potential of various station placements for station-based car-sharing. The tested station networks varied in user comfort, especially in the distance to the nearest station and the group size of car-sharing users. Our findings indicate that the best trade-off between convenience and efficiency is a station design with a group size of 217–949 people. We further found that the car-sharing fleet size is strongly influenced by long-distance trips, and that a substitution rate of 1:1.25 to 3.3 with private cars is possible. Full article