Search Results (1,427)

A facile and versatile strategy to obtain NPs@ZnAlO nanocomposite materials, comprising controlled-size nanoparticles (NPs) within a ZnAlO matrix is reported. The mono-(Au, Ni) and bimetallic (Ni-Au) NPs serving as an active phase were prepared by the polyol-alkaline method, while the ZnAlO support was obtained via the thermal decomposition of its corresponding layered double hydroxide (LDH) precursors. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the successful fabrication of the nanocomposites, including the synthesis of the metallic NPs, the formation of LDH-like structure, and the subsequent transformation to ZnO phase upon LDH calcination. The obtained nanostructures confirmed the nanoplate-like morphology inherited from the original LDH precursors, which tended to aggregate after the addition of gold NPs. According to the UV-Vis spectroscopy, loading NPs onto the ZnAlO support enhanced the light absorption and reduced the band gap energy. ATR-DRIFT spectroscopy, H₂-TPR measurements, and XPS analysis provided information about the functional groups, surface composition, and reducibility of the materials. The catalytic performance of the developed nanostructures was evaluated by the photodegradation of bisphenol A (BPA), under simulated solar irradiation. The conversion of BPA over the bimetallic Ni-Au@ZnAlO reached up to 95% after 180 min of irradiation, exceeding the monometallic Ni@ZnAlO and Au@ZnAlO catalysts. Its enhanced activity was correlated with good dispersion of the bimetals, narrower band gap, and efficient charge carrier separation of the photo-induced e⁻/h⁺ pairs. Full article

To improve collision risk prediction in high-traffic coastal waters and support real-time decision-making in maritime navigation, this study proposes a regional collision risk prediction system integrating the Computed Distance at Collision (CDC) method with an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). Unlike Distance at Closest Point of Approach (DCPA), which depends on the position of Global Positioning System (GPS) antennas, Computed Distance at Collision (CDC) directly reflects the actual hull shape and potential collision point. This enables a more realistic assessment of collision risk by accounting for the hull geometry and boundary conditions specific to different ship types. The system was designed and validated using ship motion simulations involving bulk and container ships across varying speeds and crossing angles. The CDC method was used to define collision, almost-collision, and near-collision situations based on geometric and hydrodynamic criteria. Subsequently, the FIS–CDC model was constructed using the ANFIS by learning patterns in collision time and distance under each condition. A total of four input variables—ship speed, crossing angle, remaining time, and remaining distance—were used to infer the collision risk index (CRI), allowing for a more nuanced and vessel-specific assessment than traditional CPA-based indicators. Simulation results show that the time to collision decreases with higher speeds and increases with wider crossing angles. The bulk carrier exhibited a wider collision-prone angle range and a greater sensitivity to speed changes than the container ship, highlighting differences in maneuverability and risk response. The proposed system demonstrated real-time applicability and accurate risk differentiation across scenarios. This research contributes to enhancing situational awareness and proactive risk mitigation in Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) and Vessel Traffic System (VTS) environments. Future work will focus on real-time CDC optimization and extending the model to accommodate diverse ship types and encounter geometries. Full article

Accelerated industrialization and surging energy demands have led to continuously rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. Developing sustainable methods to reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality. Concurrently, the rapid development of new energy vehicles has driven a significant increase in demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which are now approaching an end-of-life peak. Efficient recycling of valuable metals from spent LIBs represents a critical challenge. This study employs conventional hydrometallurgical processing to recover valuable metals from spent LIBs. Subsequently, Ni-doped Co₃O₄ (Ni:Co₃O₄) supported on the natural mineral attapulgite (ATP) was synthesized via a sol–gel method. The incorporation of a small amount of Ni into the Co₃O₄ lattice generates oxygen vacancies, inducing a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, which significantly enhances charge carrier transport and separation efficiency. During the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂, the primary product CO generated by the Ni:Co₃O₄/ATP composite achieved a high production rate of 30.1 μmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹. Furthermore, the composite maintains robust catalytic activity even after five consecutive reaction cycles. Full article

Gene therapy is a groundbreaking strategy in regenerative medicine, enabling precise cellular behavior modulation for tissue repair. In situ nucleic acid delivery systems aim to directly deliver nucleic acids to target cells or tissues to realize localized genetic reprogramming and avoid issues like donor cell dependency and immune rejection. The key to success relies on biomaterial-engineered delivery platforms that ensure tissue-specific targeting and efficient intracellular transport. Viral vectors and non-viral carriers are strategically modified to enhance nucleic acid stability and cellular uptake, and integrate them into injectable or 3D-printed scaffolds. These scaffolds not only control nucleic acid release but also mimic native extracellular microenvironments to support stem cell recruitment and tissue regeneration. This review explores three key aspects: the mechanisms of gene editing in tissue repair; advancements in viral and non-viral vector engineering; and innovations in biomaterial scaffolds, including stimuli-responsive hydrogels and 3D-printed matrices. We evaluate scaffold fabrication methodologies, nucleic acid loading–release kinetics, and their biological impacts. Despite progress in spatiotemporal gene delivery control, challenges remain in balancing vector biocompatibility, manufacturing scalability, and long-term safety. Future research should focus on multifunctional “smart” scaffolds with CRISPR-based editing tools, multi-stimuli responsiveness, and patient-specific designs. This work systematically integrates the latest methodological advances, outlines actionable strategies for future investigations and advances clinical translation perspectives beyond the existing literature. Full article

Nanotechnology is revolutionizing medicine by enabling highly precise diagnostics, targeted therapies, and personalized healthcare solutions. This review explores the multifaceted applications of nanotechnology across medical fields such as oncology and infectious disease control. Engineered nanoparticles (NPs), such as liposomes, polymeric carriers, and carbon-based nanomaterials, enhance drug solubility, protect therapeutic agents from degradation, and enable site-specific delivery, thereby reducing toxicity to healthy tissues. In diagnostics, nanosensors and contrast agents provide ultra-sensitive detection of biomarkers, supporting early diagnosis and real-time monitoring. Nanotechnology also contributes to regenerative medicine, antimicrobial therapies, wearable devices, and theranostics, which integrate treatment and diagnosis into unified systems. Advanced innovations such as nanobots and smart nanosystems further extend these capabilities, enabling responsive drug delivery and minimally invasive interventions. Despite its immense potential, nanomedicine faces challenges, including biocompatibility, environmental safety, manufacturing scalability, and regulatory oversight. Addressing these issues is essential for clinical translation and public acceptance. In summary, nanotechnology offers transformative tools that are reshaping medical diagnostics, therapeutics, and disease prevention. Through continued research and interdisciplinary collaboration, it holds the potential to significantly enhance treatment outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and usher in a new era of precise and personalized medicine. Full article

Traditional wound and burn treatments often fall short in balancing antimicrobial efficacy, patient comfort, and ease of application. This study introduces a novel, transparent, thermoresponsive sol–gel formulation incorporating polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) for advanced topical therapy. Utilizing Poloxamer 407 as a biocompatible carrier, the formulation remains a sprayable liquid at room temperature and instantly gels upon contact with body temperature, enabling painless, pressure-free application on sensitive, injured skin. Comprehensive in vitro and in vivo evaluations confirmed the formulation’s broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy (≥5 log₁₀ reduction in 30 s), high biocompatibility (viability > 70% in fibroblasts), non-irritancy (OECD 425-compliant), and physical stability across three months. Importantly, the formulation maintained fibroblast migration capacity—crucial for wound regeneration—while exhibiting rapid sol-to-gel transition at ~34 °C. These findings highlight the system’s potential as a next-generation wound dressing with enhanced user compliance, transparent monitoring capability, and rapid healing support, particularly in disaster or emergency scenarios. Full article

Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) significantly constrains the clinical efficacy of anthracycline chemotherapy, primarily through the induction of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent, regulated cell death driven by oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. However, the upstream regulators of ferroptosis in DIC remain incompletely defined. Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRBP) exhibits cardioprotective effects in various pathological contexts, but its precise role in ferroptosis-related cardiotoxicity is unknown. This study investigated whether CIRBP mitigates DIC by modulating the ferroptosis pathway via the SLC7A11 (Solute carrier family 7 member 11)/GPX4 (Glutathione peroxidase 4) axis. We observed marked downregulation of CIRBP in cardiac tissues and cardiomyocytes following doxorubicin exposure. CIRBP knockout significantly exacerbated cardiac dysfunction, mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation, accompanied by increased mortality rates. Conversely, CIRBP overexpression alleviated these pathological changes. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations, supported by transcriptomic analyses, revealed direct binding of CIRBP to the 3′-UTR of Slc7a11 mRNA, enhancing its stability and promoting translation. Correspondingly, CIRBP deficiency markedly suppressed SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression, impairing cystine uptake, glutathione synthesis, and antioxidant defenses, thus amplifying ferroptosis. These ferroptotic alterations were partially reversed by ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1). Collectively, this study identifies CIRBP as a critical regulator of ferroptosis in DIC, elucidating a novel post-transcriptional mechanism involving Slc7a11 mRNA stabilization. These findings offer new insights into ferroptosis regulation and highlight CIRBP as a potential therapeutic target for preventing anthracycline-associated cardiac injury. Full article

In this study, we report the development of a novel magnetized coal fly ash-supported nano-silver composite (AgNPs/MCFA) for dual-functional applications in wastewater treatment: the efficient degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. The composite was synthesized via a facile impregnation–reduction–sintering route, utilizing sodium citrate as both a reducing and stabilizing agent. The AgNPs/MCFA composite was systematically characterized through multiple analytical techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The results confirmed the uniform dispersion of AgNPs (average size: 13.97 nm) on the MCFA matrix, where the formation of chemical bonds (Ag-O-Si) contributed to the enhanced stability of the material. Under optimized conditions (0.5 g·L⁻¹ AgNO₃, 250 °C sintering temperature, and 2 h sintering time), AgNPs/MCFA exhibited an exceptional catalytic performance, achieving 99.89% MO degradation within 15 min (pseudo-first-order rate constant k_a = 0.3133 min⁻¹) in the presence of NaBH₄. The composite also demonstrated potent antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli (MIC = 0.5 mg·mL⁻¹) and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 2 mg·mL⁻¹), attributed to membrane disruption, intracellular content leakage, and reactive oxygen species generation. Remarkably, AgNPs/MCFA retained >90% catalytic and antibacterial efficiency after five reuse cycles, enabled by its magnetic recoverability. By repurposing industrial waste (coal fly ash) as a low-cost carrier, this work provides a sustainable strategy to mitigate nanoparticle aggregation and environmental risks while enhancing multifunctional performance in water remediation. Full article

Poor aqueous solubility still disqualifies many promising drug candidates at late stages of development. Amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) technology solves this limitation by trapping the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in a high-energy, non-crystalline form, yet most marketed ASDs rely on synthetic carriers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), which raise concerns about long-term biocompatibility, residual solvent load, and sustainability. This study summarizes the emergence of natural polymer-based ASDs (NP-ASDs), along with the bond mechanism reactions through which these natural polymers enhance drug performance. As a result, NP-ASDs exhibit improved physical stability and significantly enhance the dissolution rate of poorly soluble drugs. The structural features of natural polymers play a critical role in stabilizing the amorphous state and modulating drug release profiles. These findings support the growing potential of NP-ASDs as sustainable and biocompatible alternatives to synthetic carriers in pharmaceutical development. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are well-known risk factors for ovarian cancer. They are also associated with response to platinum-based chemotherapy; however, their definitive impact on patient prognosis remains not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the influence of BRCA mutation status on the age of ovarian cancer onset and on treatment outcomes in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Methods: This single-center retrospective analysis included newly diagnosed FIGO stage III and IV HGSOC patients treated between June 2018 and April 2023. Patients’ age, tumor histology, CA125 levels, BRCA mutation status, type of treatment (neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy), and surgical outcomes were collected and analyzed. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test. Results: Pathogenic mutations were identified in 25 patients (15 in BRCA1, 10 in BRCA2). Patients with a BRCA mutation were diagnosed at a significantly younger age (median 58.78 years) compared to non-carriers (66.81 years; p < 0.001), with BRCA1 carriers being diagnosed the youngest (median 46.52 years). The study found no statistically significant difference in progression-free survival (PFS) between BRCA carriers and non-carriers. However, a significant improvement in overall survival (OS) was observed for patients with a BRCA1 mutation (p = 0.036). No significant OS difference was found for BRCA2 carriers. Conclusions: BRCA mutations, particularly in the BRCA1 gene, are associated with an earlier onset ovarian cancer. BRCA1 mutation appears to be a favorable prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with HGSOC. Our findings demonstrate the clinical implications of different BRCA mutations and support the need for further research in larger cohorts to confirm their influence on prognostic effects. Full article

This study developed phospholipid-based liposomes loaded with extract from wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) tea processing residues to enhance polyphenol stability and delivery. Liposomes were prepared with phospholipids alone or combined with 10–30 mol% cholesterol or β-sitosterol. The effect of different lipid compositions on encapsulation efficiency (EE), particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, stability, thermal properties, diffusion coefficient, and diffusion resistance of the liposomes was investigated. Liposomes with 10 mol% sterols (either cholesterol or β-sitosterol) exhibited the highest EE of polyphenols, while increasing sterol content to 30 mol% resulted in decreased EE. Particle size and PDI increased with sterol content, while liposomes prepared without sterols showed the smallest vesicle size. Encapsulation of the extract led to smaller liposomal diameters and slight increases in PDI values. Zeta potential measurements revealed that sterol incorporation enhanced the surface charge and stability of liposomes, with β-sitosterol showing the most pronounced effect. Stability testing demonstrated minimal changes in size, PDI, and zeta potential during storage. UV irradiation and lyophilization processes did not cause significant polyphenol leakage, although lyophilization slightly increased particle size and PDI. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that polyphenols and sterols modified the lipid membrane transitions, indicating interactions between extract components and the liposomal bilayer. FT-IR spectra confirmed successful integration of the extract into the liposomes, while UV exposure did not significantly alter the spectral features. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay demonstrated the extract’s efficacy in mitigating lipid peroxidation under UV-induced oxidative stress. In contrast, liposomes enriched with sterols showed enhanced peroxidation. Polyphenol diffusion studies showed that encapsulation significantly delayed release, particularly in sterol-containing liposomes. Release assays in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids confirmed controlled, pH-dependent polyphenol delivery, with slightly better retention in β-sitosterol-enriched systems. These findings support the use of β-sitosterol- and cholesterol-enriched liposomes as stable carriers for polyphenolic compounds from wild thyme extract, as bioactive antioxidants, for food and nutraceutical applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: The implementation of polygenic scores (PGSs) and multifactorial risk assessments (MFRAs) has the potential to enhance breast cancer risk stratification, particularly in carriers of moderate-penetrance pathogenic variants (PVs), whose risk profiles often remain unclear if testing is limited to monogenic risk factors. Methods: To enhance breast cancer risk stratification, we included the BCAC313 polygenic score, together with MFRA, for carriers of moderate-penetrance pathogenic variants (PVs) during routine diagnostics and assessed its effect on the classification of patients’ risk categories in a real-world cohort at our center in its first year of implementation. Seventeen carriers with PVs in moderate-risk breast cancer genes were included in this study. Thirteen of them qualified for analysis for a full MFRA, including PGS, according to ancestry estimation and clinical criteria. The MFRA was performed using the CanRisk tool, which incorporates clinical, lifestyle, familial, and genetic data, including the BCAC313 score. Results: PGS z-scores were significantly higher in breast cancer patients compared to the unaffected control cohort (p = 0.016). The MFRA, including PGS, increased risk estimates for contralateral breast cancer in seven of eight patients with breast cancer and for primary breast cancer in three of five healthy carriers, compared to the risk conferred by the MFRA and moderate-penetrance pathogenic variant alone. Risk estimates varied widely, demonstrating the value of MFRA in personalized care. In five cases, one with a CHEK2-PV and four with an ATM-PV, the modified risk assessment contributed to the surgical decision for a prophylactic mastectomy. Conclusions: The MFRA, including PGS, provides the clinically meaningful refinement of breast cancer risk estimates in individuals with moderate-risk PVs. Personalized risk predictions can inform clinical management and support decision-making, which highlights the utility of this approach in clinical practice. Full article

Terahertz (THz) wireless communications can support ultra-high data rates and secure wireless links with miniaturized devices for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communications. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) non-stationary geometry-based stochastic channel model (GSCM) is proposed for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication links between the UAVs in the THz band. The proposed channel model considers not only the 3D scattering and reflection scenarios (i.e., reflection and scattering fading) but also the atmospheric molecule absorption attenuation, arbitrary 3D trajectory, and antenna arrays of both terminals. In addition, the statistical properties of the proposed GSCM (i.e., the time auto-correlation function (T-ACF), space cross-correlation function (S-CCF), and Doppler power spectrum density (DPSD)) are derived and analyzed under several important UAV-related parameters and different carrier frequencies, including millimeter wave (mmWave) and THz bands. Finally, the good agreement between the simulated results and corresponding theoretical ones demonstrates the correctness of the proposed GSCM, and some useful observations are provided for the system design and performance evaluation of UAV-based air-to-air (A2A) THz-MIMO wireless communications. Full article

Underwater acoustic (UWA) communication supports many critical applications but still faces several physical-layer signal processing challenges. In response, recent advances in machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) offer promising solutions to improve signal detection, modulation adaptability, and classification accuracy. These developments highlight the need for a systematic evaluation to compare various ML/DL models and assess their performance across diverse underwater conditions. However, most existing reviews on ML/DL-based UWA communication focus on isolated approaches rather than integrated system-level perspectives, which limits cross-domain insights and reduces their relevance to practical underwater deployments. Consequently, this systematic literature review (SLR) synthesizes 43 studies (2020–2025) on ML and DL approaches for UWA communication, covering channel estimation, adaptive modulation, and modulation recognition across both single- and multi-carrier systems. The findings reveal that models such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), long short-term memory networks (LSTMs), and generative adversarial networks (GANs) enhance channel estimation performance, achieving error reductions and bit error rate (BER) gains ranging from ${10}^{-3}$ to ${10}^{-6}$. Adaptive modulation techniques incorporating support vector machines (SVMs), CNNs, and reinforcement learning (RL) attain classification accuracies exceeding 98% and throughput improvements of up to 25%. For modulation recognition, architectures like sequence CNNs, residual networks, and hybrid convolutional–recurrent models achieve up to 99.38% accuracy with latency below 10 ms. These performance metrics underscore the viability of ML/DL-based solutions in optimizing physical-layer tasks for real-world UWA deployments. Finally, the SLR identifies key challenges in UWA communication, including high complexity, limited data, fragmented performance metrics, deployment realities, energy constraints and poor scalability. It also outlines future directions like lightweight models, physics-informed learning, advanced RL strategies, intelligent resource allocation, and robust feature fusion to build reliable and intelligent underwater systems. Full article

Gasification of municipal solid waste and other biogenic residues (e.g., biomass and biowaste) is increasingly recognized as a promising thermochemical pathway for converting non-recyclable fractions into valuable energy carriers, with applications in electricity generation, district heating, hydrogen production, and synthetic fuels. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of major gasification technologies, including fixed bed, fluidized bed, entrained flow, plasma, supercritical water, microwave-assisted, high-temperature steam, and rotary kiln systems. Key aspects such as feedstock compatibility, operating parameters, technology readiness level, and integration within circular economy frameworks are critically evaluated. A comparative assessment of incineration and pyrolysis highlights the environmental and energetic advantages of gasification. The valorization pathways for main product (syngas) and by-products (syngas, ash, tar, and biochar) are also explored, emphasizing their reuse in environmental, agricultural, and industrial applications. Despite progress, large-scale adoption in Europe is constrained by economic, legislative, and technical barriers. Future research should prioritize scaling emerging systems, optimizing by-product recovery, and improving integration with carbon capture and circular energy infrastructures. Supported by recent European policy frameworks, gasification is positioned to play a key role in sustainable waste-to-energy strategies, biomass valorization, and the transition to a low-emission economy. Full article