Search Results (2,159)

The targeting of environmentally conscious German car drivers through product aesthetics can foster the acceptance of sustainable cars. No guidelines are currently available to designers to create product personality based on environmentally friendly design cues (EFDCs). The aim of this paper was to explore EFDCs for car interiors through bio-based materials. To address this topic, Study 1 examined a collection of bio-based material samples and samples featuring specific colors and reactions to light to determine their potential for the creation of an environmentally friendly product personality. Study 2 built on the implications of the former to examine the contribution of blue as a color and glowing attribute on the development of EFDCs. Wood veneer, cork, and cotton fabric were perceived as sustainable, natural, and renewable by most of the subjects. Brown and white leather was also perceived as sustainable. Moreover, the perception of the naturalness of materials in direct contact with blue light was reduced. Visual texture features for EFDC design are visible fibers or a wooden look. Haptic features include soft, warm, and rough surfaces, while glare, shimmer, a shiny surface, and smoothness should be avoided. The color brown should be considered, while blue, green, and yellow should be avoided. Full article

Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes tick-borne fever (TBF) in ruminants and is considered the most widespread tick-borne pathogen in sheep in Europe. This study aimed to determine the contribution of TBF to lamb mortality in Ireland and to identify factors associated with the risk of co-infection with A. phagocytophilum. Samples from dead lambs submitted to 3 Irish Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs) in 2021 and 2022 were screened for the presence of A. phagocytophilum using real-time PCR. In total, 864 animals were sampled, of which 57 (6.6%) tested positive. The majority of the positive results originated in the northwest of the country; a region generally associated with high rainfall and a high prevalence of ticks and tick-borne infections in sheep. The most common causes of death reported in all lambs (including both TBF-positive and TBF-negative animals) were pneumonia, clostridial infection, and bacteraemia. Pneumonia accounted for 14.5% of deaths including 22.8 and 13.0% of TBF-positive and TBF-negative lambs, respectively. Bacteria from the family Pasteurellaceae were identified in 33.3 and 17.7% of TBF-positive and TBF-negative lambs, respectively. It was concluded that A. phagocytophilum is a possible concomitant infection and contributor to other infectious diseases in sheep, particularly those caused by bacteria in the Pasteurellaceae family. Understanding the prevalence and co-morbid associations of TBF is essential for improving disease surveillance and control strategies in endemic regions. Full article

Cork oak (Quercus suber) forests are threatened by emergent fungal pathogen Diplodia corticola, which causes significant economic and ecological losses. This study evaluates the efficacy of synthetic and natural fungicides, as well as Bacillus antagonistic agents, against this phytopathogen in vitro and in vivo. Eighteen fungicidal agents were tested across three concentrations, whereas the bacterial antagonistic agents Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and a mixture of B. amyloliquefaciens + Bacillus mojavensis were tested at a fixed concentration. The assayed chemicals, including penconazole, clove oil, vanillin, and belthanol, showed 100 ± 0.0% radial growth inhibition (n = 24) and conidiation (n = 24), highlighting their potential as alternatives to benomyl and methyl thiophanate (Restricted in the European Union). In vivo assays further validated the efficacy of these agents in reducing symptom incidence and seedling mortality in cork oak seedlings. Similarly, the Bacillus-based treatments showed 47.6 ± 0.9% (n = 35) in vitro antagonistic effects and in vivo application on seedlings (n = 470) significantly reduced disease symptoms and supported physiological stability (GLMs with Tukey HSD post hoc). The study aimed to evaluate chemical, natural and biological control agents against this pathogen to identify effective management alternatives for forest nurseries and cork oak. Full article

This research presents a detailed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of 26 mm Crown cork metal closures used in glass bottle packaging, with the objective of quantifying and comparing their environmental impacts across all life cycle stages. This study adheres to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards and utilizes Microsoft Excel for structuring and documenting input–output data across each phase. The LCA encompasses three primary stages: raw material production (covering iron ore extraction and steel manufacturing), manufacturing processes (including metal sheet printing, forming, and packaging of closures), and the transport phase (distribution to bottling facilities). During the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI), steel production emerged as the most environmentally burdensome phase. It accounted for the highest emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), and sulphur oxides (SO_x), while emissions of heavy metals and volatile organic compounds were found to be negligible. The Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) was carried out using the Eco-Indicator 99 methodology, which organizes emissions into impact categories related to human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion. Final weighting revealed that steel production is the dominant contributor to overall environmental impact, followed by the manufacturing stage. In contrast, transportation exhibited the lowest relative impact. The interpretation phase confirmed these findings and emphasized steel production as the critical stage for environmental optimization. This study highlights the potential for substantial environmental improvements through the adoption of low-emission steel production technologies, particularly Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) processes that incorporate high percentages of recycled steel. Implementing such technologies could reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 68%, positioning steel production as a strategic focus for sustainability initiatives within the packaging sector. Full article

Extreme climate events like droughts and floods are creating urgent challenges for sectors such as Agriculture or water management. Effective adaptation requires stakeholder collaboration, supported by stakeholder analysis (SA) methods, which are still evolving in environmental management. We briefly reviewed examples of recent existing systematic evidence syntheses on SA across different domains. This highlighted several SA challenges, including the lack of transparent, common methods—particularly for climate-induced extreme events—and weak links between SA results and policy or practice. We then present a case study that illustrates these challenges and suggests ways to address them. Cooperating with a local network organisation, the Living Lab Schouwen-Duiveland (LAB), we conducted a case study on the island of Schouwen-Duiveland (NL), which is trying to adapt to drought. Applying a novel stakeholder analysis method, the “Rings of involvement”, which enables the visualisation of stakeholders’ levels of affectedness regarding the issue, we were able to identify and categorise the stakeholder network in a systematic manner. We identified stakeholder groups, such as “Implementers”, who are not yet in the network but likely hold key practical knowledge to address local-regional climate adaptation. This calls for a better institutionalisation of and a more dynamic approach to SA in the local climate change adaptation practices. Based on our case study, we suggest that future studies could explore under which conditions a network organisation (such as the LAB) acts as a dynamic platform for facilitating stakeholder knowledge co-production. Full article

Bathing water quality (BWQ) monitoring and prediction are essential to safeguard public health by informing bathers about the risk of exposure to faecal indicator bacteria (FIBs). Traditional monitoring approaches, such as manual sampling and laboratory analysis, while effective, are often constrained by delayed reporting, limited spatial and temporal coverage, and high operational costs. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning (ML), with automated data sources such as environmental sensors and satellite imagery has offered novel predictive and real-time monitoring opportunities in BWQ assessment. This systematic literature review synthesises current research on the application of AI in BWQ assessment, focusing on predictive modelling techniques and remote sensing approaches. Following the PRISMA methodology, 63 relevant studies are reviewed. The review identifies dominant modelling techniques such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Deep Learning (DL), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Hybrid and Ensemble Boosting algorithms. The integration of AI with remote sensing platforms such as Google Earth Engine (GEE) has improved the spatial and temporal solution of BWQ monitoring systems. The performance of modelling approaches varied depending on data availability, model flexibility, and integration with alternative data sources like remote sensing. Notable research gaps include short-term faecal pollution prediction and incomplete datasets on key environmental variables, data scarcity, and model interpretability of complex AI models. Emerging trends point towards the potential of near-real-time modelling, Internet of Things (IoT) integration, standardised data protocols, global data sharing, the development of explainable AI models, and integrating remote sensing and cloud-based systems. Future research should prioritise these areas while promoting the integration of AI-driven BWQ systems into public health monitoring and environmental management through multidisciplinary collaboration. Full article

IEA Wind Task 43 seeks to “unlock the full value of wind energy through digital transformation”. One mechanism to realize value is through enhanced data-driven decision-making and, while many areas in the wind sector can benefit from improved decision support, this case study focusses on a well-defined wind energy maintenance scenario involving blade inspection and repair. The solution concentrates on the specific damage category of blade leading edge erosion (LEE) and the optimum action to be taken for a given level of damage detected during periodic inspections. The key decision is whether to initiate repairs immediately or continue operating the turbine until the next inspection—and, if so, when that next inspection should take place. Even for such a specific damage type and decision option, the overall solution draws on multiple data types, ranging from damage classifications to cost drivers, and integrates a number of components including damage propagation, performance, and cost models. The core of the solution is a risk-based decision model using heuristic strategies, and Bayesian networks for optimized decision-making. This paper outlines the overall solution, expands on the data and modelling implementations, and discusses the results and conclusions arising from the investigation. Full article

The Yamuna River, among India’s most polluted waterways, is burdened by industrial, agricultural, and domestic discharges containing complex organic and inorganic contaminants. This study introduces a novel, integrated approach combining comprehensive pollutant profiling by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with bioremediation using laboratory-validated native algal consortia. Water samples from a severely polluted Delhi stretch revealed alarming levels of heavy metals (e.g., lead: 47.33 mg/L) and over 550 organic pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, carcinogens, and neurotoxins. Two consortia, each assembled from indigenous algal strains, were evaluated under controlled conditions against both pollutant-rich water and non-polluted controls. Consortium 1 (Scenedesmus, Chlorococcum, Oocystis) outperformed Consortium 2 (Chlorella, Klebsormidium, Monoraphidium), achieving up to 87.07% reduction in lead and >95% removal of nitrate and phosphate, alongside substantial decreases in chemical and biological oxygen demand. By integrating high-resolution chemical analytics with native microbial remediation, this work provides the first demonstration of simultaneous removal of diverse pollutant classes in Yamuna water. The findings establish native algal consortia as cost-effective, sustainable bioremediation tools and underscore LC-MS as a critical method for holistic aquatic pollution assessment. Full article

MyDispense is a high-fidelity, low-stakes community pharmacy simulation, allowing students to practice dispensing skills. A systematic review was conducted to identify students’ perceptions regarding barriers and facilitators of MyDispense in pharmacy education. PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE databases were searched from 2015 to 2025 in January 2025 using combined keywords, proximity searching and Boolean operators. Studies investigating MyDispense and gathering students’ perceptions were included. Record screening was conducted by two independent reviewers (OC and LS). Any identified records from database searching and hand searching of included study reference lists were imported to Rayyan and subjected to independent review. Conflicts were resolved through a third party (RMcC), and discussions were held until consensus was reached. Fifteen studies were included in this review. Seven studies were conducted in USA, six in Asia, one in UK, and one in Australia. All studies utilised purposive sampling. Sample sizes ranged from 33 to 322 students. All studies included surveys to gather student perceptions. Other data collection methods included semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions for students to further elaborate on survey responses. Identified facilitators were mapped to four overarching themes; “Develops competency”, “User-Friendliness”, “Engaging Learning Experience” and “Safe Learning Environment.” Key barriers were encompassed to three themes: “Learning Curve”, “IT issues” and “Limited Realism and Applications”. Barriers included (i) the learning curve of the platform, (ii) technical issues, and (iii) limited realism. Facilitators included perceptions of (i) improved dispensing and counselling skills and a deeper understanding of pharmacy legislation, (ii) accessibility, interactivity of the learning environment and (iii) immediate feedback. Synthesis of the evidence in this review identified students’ perceptions of barriers and facilitators of MyDispense in pharmacy education. This may serve as a guide to educators considering the adoption of MyDispense into their curricula. Full article

Cell population and vascular vessel distribution analysis in membrane-based scaffolds for tissue engineering is crucial. Biomimetic nanostructured membranes of methyl methacrylate/hydroxyethyl methacrylate and methyl acrylate/hydroxyethyl acrylate (MMA)1-co-(HEMA)1/(MA)3-co-(HEA)2 loaded with 5% wt SiO2-nanoparticles (Si-M) were doped with zinc (Zn-M) or doxycycline (Dox-M). Critical bone defects were effectuated on six New Zealand-bred rabbit skulls and then they were covered with the membrane-based scaffolds. After six weeks, bone cell population in terms of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteocytes, fibroblasts, and M1 and M2 macrophages and vasculature was determined. The areas of interest were the space above (over) and below (under) the membrane, apart from the interior (inner) compartment. All membranes showed that vasculature and most cell types were more abundant under the membrane than in the inner or above regions. Quantitatively, osteoblast density increased by approximately 35% in Zn-M and 25% in Si-M compared with Dox-M. Osteoclast counts decreased by about 78% in Dox-M, indicating strong inhibition of bone resorption. Vascular structures were nearly twofold more frequent under the membranes, particularly in Si-M, while fibroblast presence remained moderate and evenly distributed. The M1/M2 macrophage ratio was higher in Zn-M, reflecting a transient pro-inflammatory state, whereas Dox-M favored an anti-inflammatory, pro-regenerative profile. These results indicate that the biomimetic electrospun membranes functioned as architectural templates that provided favorable microenvironments for cell colonization, angiogenesis, and early bone regeneration in a preclinical in vivo model. Zn-M membranes appear suitable for early osteogenic stimulation, while Dox-M membranes may be advantageous in clinical contexts requiring modulation of inflammation and osteoclastic activity. Full article

Probiotic enumeration in foods and beverages remains anchored in culture dependent colony-forming unit (CFU) counts, the regulatory gold standard for label compliance. However, culturability does not fully equate to viability as environmental stresses can convert probiotic cells into a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state, where they remain metabolically active but undetectable by CFU counts. Microencapsulation can provide a degree of protection to probiotics against stress; nevertheless, this blind spot in quantification forces manufacturers to overdose formulations or risk non-compliance with health benefits claims. Thus, the efficacy of probiotics may be underestimated when evaluation relies solely on CFU, creating a false dichotomy between VBNC and non-viable cells. Culture-independent methods, including flow cytometry quantification of active fluorescent units (AFUs), viability PCR/dPCR, and rRNA-targeted Flow-FISH, can aid closing this gap by detecting metabolically active cells non-detectable by culturing, providing complementary quantification data to CFU counts alone. Understanding the relationship between quantification by culture and culture-independent methods provides a more accurate measure of probiotic dose delivery in functional foods and beverages. This review covers the current understanding of VBNC state, including induction, detection, and resuscitation in probiotics, with emphasis on experimental controls that differentiate true VBNC resuscitation from population growth. Case studies in Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium illustrate triggers, molecular mechanisms, and methodological advances. Finally, guidance is provided for the development of an integrated quantification approach that reconciles culture-dependent and culture-independent data, ultimately aiming to improve CFU count accuracy through the controlled resuscitation of VBNC cells. Full article

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been increasingly recognized as promising platforms for enzyme modulation, owing to their tunable porosity, high surface area, and versatile chemical functionality. In this review, the potential of MOFs for the inhibition and modulation of protein kinases and phosphatases—key regulators of cellular signaling and disease progression—is examined. The structural fundamentals of MOFs are outlined, followed by a discussion of common synthesis strategies, including solvothermal, microwave-assisted, sonochemical, and mechanochemical methods. Emphasis is placed on how synthesis conditions influence critical features such as particle size, crystallinity, surface chemistry, and functional group accessibility, all of which impact biological performance. Four primary mechanisms of MOF–enzyme interaction are discussed: surface adsorption, active site coordination, catalytic mimicry, and allosteric modulation. Each mechanism is linked to distinct physicochemical parameters, including pore size, surface charge, and metal node identity. Special focus is given to biologically relevant metal centers such as Zr⁴⁺, Ce⁴⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, and Ti⁴⁺, which have been shown to contribute to both MOF stability and enzymatic inhibition through Lewis acid or redox-mediated mechanisms. Recent in vitro studies are reviewed, in which MOFs demonstrated selective inhibition of disease-relevant enzymes with minimal cytotoxicity. Despite these advancements, several limitations have been identified, including scalability challenges, limited physiological stability, and potential off-target effects. Strategies such as post-synthetic modification, green synthesis, and biomimetic surface functionalization are being explored to overcome these barriers. Through an integration of materials science, coordination chemistry, and molecular biology, this review aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on the rational design of MOFs for targeted enzyme inhibition in therapeutic contexts. Full article

Cases of confirmed tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) have increased dramatically over the last 30 years, highlighting growing endemicity across Eurasia. Two preventative vaccines, Encepur^® (Bavarian Nordic A/S, Hellerup, Denmark) and FSME-Immun^® (Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, Cork, Ireland), are licensed in Europe. For both vaccines, primary immunisation consists of a three-dose regimen, administered over approximately one year using “Conventional” dosing schedules. Both vaccines can also be administered using “Rapid” schedules, which shorten the interval between the first two doses but still take around a year to complete. Currently, only Encepur offers an approved “Express” schedule, whereby all three priming doses are given within 21 days. The effectiveness of TBE vaccination is markedly higher in individuals who receive ≥3 doses, compared with those who receive only one or two doses, indicating the importance of series completion. Moreover, seropositivity takes several weeks to develop after vaccination. As such, individuals are advised to initiate vaccination before peak tick season to allow sufficient time to develop protective immunity during periods of highest risk. Despite these considerations, vaccine uptake and series completion remain suboptimal in TBE-endemic regions. Furthermore, many vaccinees—including travellers with limited time before departure and residents of endemic areas—do not initiate vaccination until peak tick season, when risk is greatest. Broader use of Encepur’s Express schedule may help to address these challenges. The Express schedule’s 21-day timeframe may help to increase series completion by reducing drop-offs associated with prolonged dosing intervals. Additionally, it can support timely protection by enabling series completion, with sufficient time post-vaccination to develop protective immunity, all within a single-risk season, even among late initiators. In this narrative review, we evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of Encepur’s Express schedule and discuss its potential utility across a broader range of vaccinees. These insights may help inform TBE vaccine recommendations and support efforts towards improving vaccination strategies amid increasing TBE risk. Full article

Multidrug resistance has also been accompanied by the prolonged use of antibiotics that makes complications in treatment. Biofilm in pathogenic bacteria is the most serious challenge linked with chronic illnesses and also contributes to virulence and drug resistance. Several bacterial pathogens employ the Quorum-sensing (QS) mechanism to coordinate their collective behaviors like bioluminescence, virulence, and biofilm formation. Therefore, agents that inhibit or interfere with bacterial QS and biofilm formation are emerging as a new class of next-generation antibacterial. Recently, nanoparticles have been employed to improve the efficacy of existing antibacterial agents. In the present study, gold nanocrystals were synthesized by using Koelreuteria paniculata (KP) leaf extract. Synthesized nanocrystals were characterized by a face-centered cubic structure of ~20 nm by XRD, FTIR, Zeta sizer, and TEM. Biogenic Gold nanocrystals (BGNCs) exhibited extended QS inhibition in bio-indicator strains Chromobacterium violaceum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biosensor strains. BGNCs strongly suppressed QS-controlled violacein production in C. violaceum CV026, and elastase, protease, pyocyanin, alginate, and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa (PA01). In addition, BGNCs notably suppressed the relative expression of PA01 quorum sensing, biofilm-forming, and virulence-regulating genes, as quantified by qRT-PCR. As a result of the broad-spectrum suppression of QS and biofilm by BGNCs, it is anticipated that these nontoxic bioactive nanocrystals can be employed as surface sterilization agents in nosocomial infections. Full article

In addition to the minerals naturally present in grapes, wine can acquire additional minerals during its production and storage from materials that come into contact with it, including bottling materials. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration of a wide range of elements in white wine samples packaged in 0.75 L green glass bottles sealed with two different closure systems: natural cork stoppers and metal screw caps with a plastic liner. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two closure types for most elements (Li, Be, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Sb, Cs, Ba, and Tl). For V, Cr, Mn, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb, some differences were observed, but without a clear pattern. However, the concentration of Sn was significantly higher in wines packaged in bottles sealed with metal screw caps plus plastic liner. Elemental analysis of the original, unused liners showed negligible content of Sn and other studied elements, suggesting that the Sn in the wine comes from the Sn-plated steel screw cap, despite the presence of the plastic liner. Although the changes in the natural elemental composition under these bottling conditions are not very high and unlikely to pose a health risk to consumers, they may still influence wine stability and sensory attributes. Understanding these effects is important for both wine producers and consumers to ensure optimal wine quality and preservation. Full article