Search Results (4,407)

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. At present, multi-agent chemotherapy and surgery provide only limited effects and the prognosis for patients with recurrent or metastatic disease remains poor, with 5-year survival rates below 30%. These challenges highlight the need for innovative therapeutic approaches targeting osteosarcoma more effectively. Fenretinide, a synthetic derivative of all-trans retinoic acid, has shown significant antitumor activity in various cancers. In a recent high-throughput drug screening study, fenretinide emerged as the most active molecule against diffuse midline glioma over more than 3500 compounds. Fenretinide also demonstrated cytotoxic activity against osteosarcoma cell lines in vitro and in preclinical models and is endowed with a favorable safety and toxicity profile. However, its poor water solubility and limited bioavailability have hindered its clinical translation. To improve fenretinide bioavailability and enhance tumor exposure, different nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have been proposed. Here we propose a tertiary complex made of fenretinide, bovine serum albumin, and hydroxypropyl-betacyclodextrin, indicated as BSAF. Methods: BSAF was evaluated for the main physico-chemical parameters such as hydrodynamic size, zeta potential, stability to drug leakage, and the biological effect on the osteosarcoma cell line MG63. Results: BSAF showed hydrodynamic size at the nanoscale, enhanced drug solubilization, high drug loading and size stability to dilution, characteristics that make this complex useful for targeted therapy. When tested on the MG63 osteosarcoma cell line, BSAF demonstrated significantly enhanced cytotoxicity, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values ~50% lower than free fenretinide. The complex was more efficient than free fenretinide in inhibiting cell migration as demonstrated by wound healing assay. Live-cell imaging analyses revealed a cytostatic effect at sub-cytotoxic concentrations. Specifically, treatment with concentrations below the IC₅₀ resulted in significantly prolonged cell doubling time, decreased cell divisions, increased cellular sphericity and thickness, and decreased cell area. These morphological changes are more consistent with cell cycle arrest rather than apoptosis. These findings were corroborated by stable dry mass measurements, an indication of a cytostatic state rather than progressive cell death. In addition, cell motility parameters (e.g., instantaneous velocity, track speed, and displacement) at the single-cell and population level were markedly reduced at sub-IC₅₀ concentrations, further supporting a cytostatic phenotype. Conclusion: Collectively, the new BSAF complex showed promise as a potential therapeutic agent for treating osteosarcoma cancer, due to the favorable physico-chemical characteristics and the cytotoxic/cytostatic effects on MG63 cells. BSAF effects may be therapeutically valuable, particularly in preventing tumor recurrence by suppressing the proliferative and migratory potential of residual drug-resistant clones. Unlike conventional anticancer agents that mainly rely on cell death, fenretinide, when complexed, demonstrates a dual capacity to induce both cytotoxic and cytostatic responses, depending on concentrations, potentially overcoming multiple resistance mechanisms that are generally associated with tumor exposure to drug sub-cytotoxic concentrations. Full article

Tsunami-induced scour around coastal embankments and nearshore structures is a primary cause of structural instability and failure. However, the hydrodynamic mechanisms by which coastal vegetation mitigates this scour remain insufficiently understood. This study employs three-dimensional numerical simulations to investigate the influence of rigid and flexible vegetation on overflow-induced scour downstream of embankments and local scour around structures under tsunami-like inundation. The simulations were conducted using Ansys Fluent 2021R2, utilizing the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method to capture the free surface and the RNG $k-\epsilon$ turbulence model within the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) framework. Computational geometries were reconstructed from laboratory experiments, and the model’s reliability was validated against measured water surface profiles. The results demonstrated that vegetation significantly alters flow dynamics, velocity distributions, vortex structures, and both the magnitude and patterns of bed shear stress within scour holes. Specifically, in overflow-induced scour, vegetation suppresses scour intensity by inducing backwater effects, enhancing momentum diffusion, attenuating flow impingement on the bed, and reducing peak bed shear stress. Conversely, for local scour around structures, vegetation increases upstream water depth while intensifying downstream wake vortices, leading to scour hole elongation—particularly under dense and tall vegetation. These findings offer novel insights into the hydrodynamics of vegetation-induced scour mitigation and provide guidelines for optimizing vegetation configurations to enhance the tsunami resilience of coastal infrastructure. Full article

The spontaneous emergence of macroscopic dissipative structures in systems driven by generalized chemical potentials is well established in non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Examples include atmospheric/oceanic currents, hurricanes and tornadoes, Rayleigh–Bénard convection cells and reaction–diffusion patterns. Less well recognized, however, are microscopic dissipative structures that form when the driving potential excites internal molecular degrees of freedom (electronic states and nuclear coordinates), typically via high-energy photons or coupling with ATP. Examples include dynamic nanoscale lipid rafts, kinesin or dynein motors along microtubules, and spatiotemporal Ca²⁺ signaling waves propagating through the cytoplasm. The thermodynamic dissipation theory of the origin of life asserts that the core biomolecules of all three domains of life originated as self-organized molecular dissipative structures—chromophores or pigments—that proliferated on the Archean ocean surface to absorb and dissipate the intense “soft” UV-C (205–280 nm) and UV-B (280–315 nm) solar flux into heat. Thermodynamic coupling to ancillary antenna and surface-anchoring molecules subsequently increased photon dissipation and enabled more complex dissipative processes, including photosynthesis, to dissipate lower-energy but higher-intensity UV-A and visible light. Further thermodynamic coupling to abiotic geophysical cycles (e.g., the water cycle, winds, and ocean currents) ultimately led to today’s biosphere, efficiently dissipating the incident solar spectrum well into the infrared. This paper reviews historical considerations of UV light in life’s origin and our proposal of UV-C molecular dissipative structuring of three classes of fundamental biomolecules: nucleobases, fatty acids, and pigments. Increases in structural complexity and assembly into larger complexes are shown to be driven by the thermodynamic imperative of enhancing solar photon dissipation. We conclude that thermodynamic selection of dissipative structures, rather than Darwinian natural selection, is the fundamental creative force in biology at all levels of hierarchy. Full article

This study investigated wetting body migration and blind area distribution variations under different height differences (Δh) using indoor experiments and numerical simulations. Results show that the Δh of the injection hole shifts the wetting body intersection backward. Due to the increase in Δh, the vertical migration of the wetting peak at the No. 1 liquid injection hole accelerates, and the horizontal migration tends to be stable, which indicates that the Δh promotes the vertical seepage by changing the hydraulic gradient, which is beneficial to accelerate the leaching process. The migration of the wetting peak presents the characteristics of ‘fast first and then slow’, and it is easy to form a blind area in the later stage of leaching. When Δh is 0 and 3 cm, the blind area is concentrated between the two holes in the upper part of the ore heap. When Δh increases to 5 and 7 cm, the blind area expands to the top of the No. 1 hole. The simulation results show that although the increase in Δh can accelerate the recovery of water pressure in the near-end injection hole, it will increase the difference in leaching efficiency between ‘near-end’: when Δh is small, the wetting body diffuses symmetrically and the blind area is easy to eliminate; the increase in Δh leads to the asymmetric migration of the wetting body, and the remote area faces a significant risk of a blind area due to a low water pressure and low concentration. Full article

In this work, thermal imaging is employed to study the opto-thermal response of apples (Malus domestica Borkh.), assessing their post-harvest evolution through the estimation of thermal diffusivity. A non-destructive experimental procedure based on mid-wave infrared (MWIR) thermal camera (3–5 µm) and localized heating with a visible laser is developed, enabling spatially and temporally resolved surface temperature measurements. Temperature fields are recorded at different time points and radial distances from the heated spot. A theoretical model based on Fourier thermal diffusion equation is formulated to describe the spatio-temporal evolution of surface temperature. After validation on a reference sample, the method is applied to Golden and Red Delicious apples over a 28-day storage period at room temperature. Red Delicious apple exhibits higher mean diffusivity values without significant temporal changes, whereas a progressive increase in diffusivity is observed for Golden Delicious apples. These results show that thermal diffusivity is sensitive to post-harvest physiological changes in apple tissue and may be associated with intrinsic properties such as tissue density and water content. By relating laser-induced temperature fields to the estimation of thermal diffusivity, this approach enables the non-destructive, quantitative assessment of thermal diffusivity, showing potential for fruit maturity and quality assessment, which are of high importance in agri-food monitoring applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance in food–animal environments threatens sustainable production and public health, yet small farms remain poorly characterized as potential reservoirs of antimicrobial resistant bacteria. To address this, we investigated the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., and Enterococcus spp. from small-scale cattle farms in Tennessee, USA. Methods: Over one year, 153 environmental samples (soil, manure, water) were collected from 17 farms. Target bacteria were isolated and confirmed using selective agar, biochemical tests, and PCR, and tested against 12 antibiotics using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion test. Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index (MARI) and multidrug resistance (MDR) profiles were summarized. A complementary farmer survey of 26 farmers captured veterinary access, antibiotic use, manure handling, record keeping, and awareness of antimicrobial resistance. Results: Prevalence was highest for Enterococcus spp. (41.8%), followed by E. coli (23.5%) and Klebsiella spp. (12.4%). Seasonal variation was significant for E. coli and Enterococcus (p < 0.05). Winter manure yielded highest detection of E. coli (55.6%) and Enterococcus (53.8%), whereas Klebsiella peaked in Fall soil (19.1%). Resistance patterns varied across species, with Enterococcus showing consistent resistance to all three. E. coli frequently resisted erythromycin, ampicillin, and azithromycin; and Klebsiella commonly resisted erythromycin, ampicillin, and cefotaxime, though some of these reflect intrinsic resistance rather than acquired clinical resistance. MARI values were 0.92 in manure and soil, identifying them as high-risk reservoirs. We identified 29 distinct MDR pattern. Bipartite network visualization highlighted “resistance hubs” around erythromycin, ampicillin, and vancomycin, particularly in Enterococcus. In our study, 76.9% of farmers consulted veterinarians before antibiotic use, 57.7% kept written antibiotic records, and 65.4% were aware of AMR as a public health issue. Small-scale cattle farms are potential reservoirs of multidrug resistant commensal bacteria. Conclusions: These findings provide an evidence-based foundation to guide targeted antimicrobial stewardship and promote sustainable management practices in small-scale food animal farms. Full article

Portland cement production is energy- and carbon-intensive. Substituting part of the clinker with natural pozzolans is a promising route to lower-impact mortars. This work evaluates mortar where Portland cement is partially replaced by a German natural pozzolan (12–56% by mass). Compressive and flexural strengths were measured at 7, 28, and 90 d. Water-accessible porosity (28 d) and 24 h water absorption were also determined. Strength development and water transport were interpreted using (i) a three-parameter strength–age model and (ii) a capillary–diffusive model. The results showed delayed reactivity typical of pozzolanic materials. At 90 d, 12% replacement slightly exceeded the control by 3.38% and 1.4% in compressive and flexural strengths respectively. Higher replacement levels caused a drop in strength at 90 d (18.3% at 36% and 42.5% at 56% in compression; 25.3% and 31.0% in flexure). Porosity and absorption increased with replacement, consistent with the mechanical trends. The compressive and flexural strengths were strongly correlated. Life cycle analysis showed a significant reduction in embodied carbon, reaching approximately 52% at 56% replacement. Overall, moderate replacement (12–21%) provides the best balance between performance and carbon reduction. Full article

Natural fibre-reinforced composites (NFCs) have attracted attention as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fibre composites. However, their hydrophilic nature and susceptibility to moisture absorption, especially in combination with process-related defects, can compromise long-term performance. This study critically examines the effects of hydrophobic fumed silica, incorporated into an epoxy matrix, on the processing, moisture uptake, and mechanical properties of flax/epoxy laminates produced via resin transfer moulding (RTM). Epoxy systems containing 0–5 wt% silica were characterised in terms of particle dispersion, rheological properties, thermal behaviour, and water absorption. Corresponding laminates were analysed for void content, Fickian diffusion behaviour, and tensile performance in dry and saturated states. Despite its hydrophobic surface treatment, silica increased resin water uptake and, at 5 wt%, led to a substantial rise in viscosity, poor fibre impregnation, and increased porosity. The resulting laminates exhibited faster and higher moisture uptake and significantly reduced wet mechanical properties, especially for highly filled systems. While thermal stability improved slightly, the overall findings revealed that the chosen silica-based matrix modification led to clear trade-offs and processing limitations under RTM conditions. This study highlights the importance of assessing such limitations early in the design process and demonstrates that the selected silica type is not a viable strategy for improving moisture resistance in NFCs. Full article

This study developed biodegradable carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) films crosslinked with citric acid (CA) and X-ray irradiation as sustainable packaging alternatives to reduce plastic use. CMC/CA films were subjected to three doses of X-ray irradiation at two energy levels. CMC/CA films exposed to 10 kGy at 350 kV exhibited a significant three-fold reduction in water solubility compared to non-irradiated films, while also lowering water vapor and oxygen permeability without affecting mechanical strength (p ≤ 0.05). FTIR analysis confirmed the esterification between CMC and CA, which reduced the film hydrophilicity. Onion peel extract (OPE) was added as a bioactive compound to provide antifungal properties. Release studies showed reduced OPE diffusion in irradiated films, with lower release rate constant (k_kp) values. The in situ test on cheese inoculated with Penicillium commune showed that the irradiated bioactive films prolonged shelf life, reducing fungal counts to log 2.3 CFU/g after 18 days compared to log 5.7 CFU/g in control samples. Cheese wrapped with irradiated bioactive films had weight loss from 1.05 to 9.37%, whereas uncovered samples exhibited the highest weight loss (2.07 to 15.07%). Overall, irradiation-assisted crosslinking and OPE incorporation improved film functionality, offering a sustainable and effective packaging solution for cheese preservation within a circular economy framework. Full article

N₂O emissions exacerbate the greenhouse effect, urgently demanding advances in abatement technologies. Catalytic decomposition of N₂O over cobalt-based oxides with alkali metal promoters remains challenging because these catalysts are used in pelletized form, limiting their activity to a narrow outer-shell region due to internal diffusion limitations. However, research efforts continue to focus on enhancing Co–alkali metal contact on unsupported powder samples under inert conditions, even though, under industrial conditions, catalysts are exposed to inhibitory components of waste gases and N₂O, and the powder form is unsuitable for practical application. This study aims at testing N₂O decomposition over catalysts with a Co₃O₄-Cs active phase supported on a ceramic foam. For this purpose, we characterized these catalysts by H₂ temperature-programmed reduction, H₂O and NO temperature-programmed desorption, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction and assessed their catalytic performance under an inert-gas atmosphere and with O₂, water vapor, and NO to simulate industrial conditions. Using a pseudo-homogeneous, one-dimensional model of an ideal plug flow reactor in an isothermal regime, the simulation calculations for a full-scale catalytic reactor for N₂O abatement in waste gas from HNO₃ production were performed. The Cs₂CO₃ precursor significantly enhanced catalyst reducibility and electron transferability, increasing N₂O decomposition efficiency in inert gas, but its high hygroscopicity decreased resistance to water vapor and NO, overriding its advantages under industrial conditions. Conversely, glycerol-assisted impregnation enhanced catalyst performance regardless of Cs precursor. These foam-supported catalysts offered several other advantages, including lower pressure drop and lower active phase loading with matching catalytic activity. Based on our findings, depositing Cs₂CO₃ on ceramic foam through glycerol-assisted impregnation may facilitate catalytic N₂O decomposition at the industrial level and, therefore, promote environmental sustainability by reducing N₂O emissions. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable active packaging necessitates the development of bio-based films with enhanced functional properties. This study aimed to functionalize a quince (Cydonia oblonga) by-product film, formulated in clove (Syzygium aromaticum) hydrosol by casting, incorporating varying concentrations (0–10% w/v) of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) by-product extract. Increasing the extract concentration led to increments in film thickness (102.2 to 120.2 µm), elongation at break (112.5 to 117.3%), tensile strength (1.5 to 4.2 MPa), opacity (20.2 to 24.0%), and water vapor permeability (2.0 to 2.3 × 10⁻⁸ g s⁻¹ m⁻¹ Pa⁻¹). The total phenolic content also increased from 17.6 to 24.3 mg GAE/g film, correlating with a decrease in transmittance. While Fourier-Transform Infrared spectra profiling revealed stable intermolecular interactions across all samples without chemical disruption; scanning electron microscopy analysis confirmed distinct morphological differences resulting from broccoli extract incorporation. Notably, while 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity remained stable across treatments, the 2.5% w/v extract concentration provided the highest antifungal efficacy against Aspergillus puulaauensis (15.7%), A. jensenii (8.2%) and Penicillium nordicum (5.8%) by the agar diffusion method. These results were comparable with a commercial natamycin-containing coating used as a positive control. The synergy of clove hydrosol and broccoli extract resulted in a quince-based film with superior mechanical and bioactive properties. Full article

Severe Dengue fever can cause Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), a life-threatening condition characterized by plasma leakage and hemoconcentration. A hematocrit (Hct) rise of ≥20% is a key indicator for medical intervention, but current monitoring is invasive and intermittent. This study aims to determine the optimal design parameters for a non-invasive optical sensor to continuously monitor hemoconcentration. We developed a high-fidelity Monte Carlo model of light transport in a multi-layered skin model, with the epidermis set to a 5% melanin volume fraction (Fitzpatrick type II/III). To ensure signal reliability, simulations were conducted with a high photon count ($1\times {10}^8$ photons), yielding a stochastic (Monte Carlo) signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 36 dB. We simulated diffuse reflectance at four characteristic wavelengths (577 nm, 660 nm, 800 nm—the isosbestic point—, and 940 nm) over source-detector separations of 0.5–8.0 mm. Sensor sensitivity was quantified as the reflectance change for a +25% relative Hct rise (e.g., 42% to 52.5%), mimicking severe hemoconcentration, and its dependence on baseline dermal blood volume fraction (BVF) was investigated. Sensor sensitivity showed a non-linear dependence on BVF, showing a direct correlation with perfusion level, reaching an optimal 6.41% for a robust 5% BVF at 8.0 mm. A dedicated sweep showed that even under low-perfusion shock conditions (1% BVF), the sensor maintains a highly significant sensitivity of 5.71% (also at 8.0 mm), indicating that sensitivity remains high across a physiologically relevant perfusion range. In the analysis, at a robust 5% BVF, the 800 nm wavelength demonstrated superior reliability, with peak sensitivity at 6.41% at 8.0 mm. Visible wavelengths (577 nm and 660 nm) exhibited high theoretical sensitivity, while 940 nm was compromised by water absorption. Based on these findings, a non-invasive optical sensor for hemoconcentration is most effective operating at 800 nm, within the evaluated spectral set, with a source-detector separation of ≥6.0 mm, targeting the deep dermis while minimizing superficial interference. This design provides an optimal balance of tissue penetration, robust sensitivity to Hct changes, and reduced sensitivity to oxygenation-related variability while maintaining signal stability. This work enables the design of a device for continuous monitoring, supporting continuous monitoring of hemoconcentration trends relevant to plasma leakage progression. Full article

Unidirectional glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (UGFT) composite tapes are promising recyclable structural materials for applications such as composite pressure pipes. However, their durability under hydrothermal environments remains a critical concern. This study emphasizes metrology-driven evaluation of aging behavior in polypropylene-based UGFT tapes. Specimens were conditioned at 95 °C in a deionized-water environment for up to 4 weeks, and multiple complementary measurement techniques were applied to quantify degradation. Mass-change metrology was performed to characterize water uptake kinetics and establish diffusion-driven aging progression. Tensile testing enabled quantitative assessment of mechanical strength retention, defining a >25% reduction in strength as a threshold for significant deterioration. Acoustic emission (AE) acted as the central non-destructive monitoring method, capturing high-fidelity waveforms generated during loading. AE waveform descriptors, such as amplitude, rise time, and frequency content, served as measurable indicators of internal damage mechanisms including matrix cracking, interfacial debonding and fiber breakage. To process large AE datasets, principal component analysis was used for dimensionality reduction, followed by k-means clustering to group signals by damage type. Optical microscopy provided microstructural verification of these classifications. The integrated metrological framework demonstrates a reliable pathway to monitor, identify, and quantify damage evolution in hydrothermally aged UGFT structures. Full article

As pore space serves as the primary migration pathway of radon in rock media, investigating the influences of pore structural characteristics on radon migration is essential. In this study, the rock pore structure was numerically reconstructed via the Quartet Structure Generation Set (QSGS) method, based on the characteristic parameters extracted from real rock pore models obtained from CT scanning. Quantitative comparison results indicate that the permeability and radon diffusion coefficient of the QSGS-reconstructed models are highly consistent with those of the CT-based model, which verifies the reliability and effectiveness of the QSGS method. A series of three-dimensional (3D) rock pore models with different porosities (η), distribution probabilities (Pd), and growth probabilities (G) were constructed using the QSGS method. The radon diffusion coefficient, tortuosity factor and permeability of these models under dry conditions were quantitatively determined. The relationship between the radon diffusion coefficient, water saturation and temperature was obtained using the tortuosity factor of the pore models and the unsaturated non-isothermal radon diffusion coefficient model. Furthermore, the relationship between the relative permeability of the air and water phases and water saturation was obtained by coupling the calculated permeability with the Brooks–Corey model. The results demonstrate that the η was positively correlated with both the radon diffusion coefficient and permeability, with a more pronounced positive correlation observed for permeability. Under low η conditions, Pd was positively correlated with both the radon diffusion coefficient and permeability; under medium-porosity conditions, Pd was positively correlated with the radon diffusion coefficient but negatively correlated with permeability; under high-porosity conditions, Pd exhibited no significant correlation with the radon diffusion coefficient, while it shows a negative correlation with permeability. G in the principal direction was positively correlated with the radon diffusion coefficient and permeability along the same direction, but negatively correlated with those along orthogonal directions. The radon diffusion coefficient was strongly negatively correlated with water saturation, and weakly positively correlated with temperature. With an increase in water saturation, the relative air permeability presented a nonlinear decrease characterized by a fast-then-slow trend, whereas the relative water permeability showed a nonlinear increase with a slow-then-fast pattern. Full article

Morocco is increasingly vulnerable to climate change, as reflected by recurrent droughts and rising soil and groundwater salinization, which threaten staple crops and rural livelihoods. In this context, the introduction of drought- and salinity-tolerant crops such as quinoa represents a strategic option for enhancing agricultural resilience and supporting sustainable rural development. This study analyzes quinoa adoption in two contrasting Moroccan regions, Rehamna and the Oriental, with the aim of determining key socio-economic, institutional, and environmental drivers. Field surveys were conducted to collect data on farmers’ personal characteristics, farm attributes, and access to resources related to quinoa cultivation, including water, information, and credit. Data analysis combined descriptive statistics, a binary logistic regression model (Logit), Factorial Analysis for Mixed Data (FAMD), and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCPC) to identify adoption determinants and explore heterogeneity among farmers. The results reveal both common factors and region-specific dynamics shaping quinoa adoption. Cooperative membership emerges as a central determinant in both regions, facilitating access to information, collective learning, and market integration, with a stronger effect observed in the Oriental region. Water scarcity appears as a critical constraint, particularly in Rehamna. Adoption pathways also differ across regions, with a higher prevalence of direct adoption among farmers in the Oriental. Interpreted through the lens of innovation diffusion and multidimensional sustainability, the findings show that quinoa adoption is not merely a technical choice but a socio-economic adaptation strategy. Quinoa should therefore be considered a complementary crop within diversified farming systems, contributing to environmental resilience, income diversification, and social inclusion. These results provide relevant insights for the design of policies aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural innovation in marginal environments. Full article