Search Results (22,844)

The rapid expansion of high-protein dairy-based powders (HPDPs), including milk protein concentrates and isolates (MPC/MPI), whey protein concentrates and isolates (WPC/WPI), and micellar casein concentrates and isolates (MCC/MCI), has intensified the need to understand instability phenomena that emerge during processing and storage. These products are governed by protein-rich amorphous matrices, in which molecular mobility, interfacial composition, and mineral interactions dictate both physical stability and functional performance. Importantly, these physical instabilities are directly coupled with functional deterioration, particularly in terms of impaired wetting, dispersion, and dissolution during rehydration. This review presents an integrated mechanistic framework linking these instability phenomena across processing, storage, and reconstitution, thereby consolidating concepts that remain fragmented across the current literature on high-protein dairy matrices. Key controlling factors include glass transition temperature (Tg), water activity-induced plasticization, protein–protein and protein–mineral interactions, and surface compositional heterogeneity established during spray drying. These factors govern the progression from surface stickiness through uncontrolled agglomeration to caking, forming a consolidation continuum. In contrast to lactose-driven matrices, caking and agglomeration in HPDPs arise primarily from protein-mediated restructuring and inter-particle bonding, with lactose crystallization acting only as a secondary mechanism in mixed-composition grades. The review further distinguishes engineered agglomeration from storage-induced consolidation and evaluates advances in molecular mobility characterization and Tg-based stability mapping. Significant gaps remain in linking localized surface evolution, mineral redistribution, and inter-particle bridge chemistry under realistic environmental conditions. The review concludes by proposing a mobility-centered “stability-by-design” framework that integrates composition, processing, particle architecture, and storage conditions to guide the development of future HPDPs with improved physical stability and functional recovery. Full article

The Ni-Al system contains five intermetallic compounds, out of which NiAl and Ni₃Al have received the vast majority of scientific and industrial interest over the past few decades. Ni₃Al is of major interest due to its unique properties, including a yield strength that increases with temperature. The combustion synthesis (CS) process for producing Ni₃Al from elemental powders of nickel and aluminum offers a low thermal budget and rapid processing, as well as purer products. This paper reviews the fundamentals of CS as applied to Ni₃Al and its composites, and focuses on research over the past 25 years, including mechanically and electrically activated combustion synthesis and combined combustion synthesis and bulk deformation processes to produce high-density products. Several new directions are suggested for future research in the field. Full article

Lime-based stabilization of clayey soils remains a cornerstone of ground improvement, yet the high carbon footprint of lime production drives the search for sustainable supplementary binders derived from industrial and quarrying wastes. Volcanic tuff waste (VTW), a fine powder by-product of wet cutting of ignimbritic tuff blocks, is an underutilized quarrying residue, already fine enough to use directly without grinding or thermal processing, yet its use as a supplementary binder in lime-stabilized clays has not been systematically investigated. This study evaluates VTW sourced from Ahlat (Bitlis, Türkiye) in kaolin clay stabilized with 6% lime, with VTW added at 0%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by dry weight. Mixtures were characterized through Atterberg limits, compaction, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) at 1–28 days, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), XRD, SEM, and FTIR. VTW reduced plasticity index, increased maximum dry density, and lowered optimum moisture content. The 15% VTW mixture achieved the highest 28-day UCS of 4296 kPa, a 17.2% improvement over the lime-only control, and the highest CBR of 80%. XRD revealed Tobermorite 9 Å formation, while SEM and FTIR confirmed cementitious gel phases consistent with pozzolanic reactions. The findings demonstrate that ignimbritic VTW, used directly without processing, is an effective supplementary binder that partially replaces carbon-intensive lime, supporting low-carbon, cost-effective stabilization and the valorization of quarrying waste within a circular economy framework. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sapropterin dihydrochloride is an established treatment option for individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) who demonstrate responsiveness, but uncertainty persists regarding dosing frequency, timing relative to meals, the influence of dietary composition, and efficacy of different formulations. Despite widespread use in the UK, real-world administration behaviours have not previously been characterised. This study aimed to characterise sapropterin administration behaviours among people with PKU in the UK. Methods: A 31-item questionnaire was developed and disseminated via the National Society for Phenylketonuria website and social media channels. The survey captured demographic information, dosing schedules, formulation use, administration techniques, co-ingestion with food, and changes in natural protein tolerance following initiation of generic sapropterin. Results: 124 current sapropterin users completed the survey. Most respondents were caregivers of children or adolescents (68.5% aged 0–18 years). Once-daily dosing was most common (66.1%, n = 82), typically administered at breakfast, followed by twice-daily (32.3%, n = 40) and three-times-daily (1.6%, n = 2). Tablets were the predominant formulation (92.7%, n = 115); 50.4% (n = 58/115) swallowed tablets whole, while the remaining (49.6%, n = 57/115) crushed or dissolved them in water or juice. Nine respondents (7.3%, n = 9/124) used powder sachets. Most participants (75%, n = 93/124) took sapropterin with food, with both low-fat (36.6%, n = 34/93) and high-fat (26.9%, n = 24/93) meals reported. Over a third of participants (33.9%, n = 42/124) tolerated a natural protein intake >30 g/day when this was measured, and a further 15.3% (n = 19) were able to maintain a fully unrestricted protein intake without protein substitute supplementation. The magnitude of protein intake improvement was significantly greater among adults (p < 0.001), those with higher baseline natural protein intake (≥30 exchanges/day) (p < 0.001), and individuals who swallowed sapropterin tablets whole (p = 0.038). Although 71.8% (n = 89/124) were pleased with their increased natural protein allowance, many expressed a desire for further improvement. Conclusions: Substantial heterogeneity in dosing schedules, formulation handling, and co-ingestion practices highlights the absence of standardised guidance. These findings emphasise the need for clearer clinical recommendations to optimise treatment effectiveness and support consistent, equitable care. Full article

Commercial V₂O₅ powders typically exhibit a lamellar morphology with limited structural stability and sluggish electron/ion transport, which restricts their discharge performance in thermal batteries. This work aims to enhance the discharge performance of V₂O₅ cathodes by constructing a robust spherical architecture via a scalable spray drying strategy combined with carbon modification. The as-prepared V₂O₅/C cathode delivers a high initial discharge voltage of 2.45 V, a specific capacity of 261.06 mAh g⁻¹, and an energy density of 591.05 Wh kg⁻¹ at 0.1 A cm⁻² and 500 °C (cut-off voltage of 1.9 V), outperforming those of commercial V₂O₅ cathodes. Pulse discharge tests and resistance evolution analyses further demonstrate enhanced voltage stability and reduced interfacial resistance. These improvements originate from the synergistic effect of the spherical architecture and conductive carbon network, which facilitates continuous electron/ion transport and reinforces structural integrity under high-temperature discharge conditions. This work provides a scalable design strategy for high-tap-density spherical V₂O₅ cathodes and offers insight into the coupling among morphology, conductivity, and stability in cathode materials for thermal battery. Full article

Lead (Pb) induces oxidative stress, inflammation, and hepatorenal injury. We evaluated whether fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed powder (200 mg/kg) protects against subchronic Pb-acetate exposure in male albino mice. Sixty mice were randomized to six groups (n = 10): control (G1), fenugreek-only (G2), Pb 150 mg/kg (G3), and three co-exposure groups receiving fenugreek with Pb at 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg (G4–G6), gavaged daily for 8 weeks. LC–DAD–ESI–MS/MS of the seed batch tentatively identified 32 metabolites, dominated by flavonoid C-glycosides, luteolin dihydrogalloyl-glucosyl-pentosyl glucoside (15.90%), vicenin-3 (14.46%), vicenin-2 (9.66%), vicenin-1 (8.80%), kaempferol 7-O-rhamnosyl-glucoside (8.71%), with additional acylated phenolic conjugates. Pb exposure (G3) significantly reduced growth and intake, elevated serum ALT, AST, ALP, urea, and creatinine, raised blood Pb, and produced hepatic necrosis, vacuolation, and inflammation. Molecularly, Pb upregulated Nrf2, HO-1, SCD-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 and suppressed SOD-3. Fenugreek co-treatment attenuated all these changes across the three Pb doses, with greatest effect at the lowest Pb load (G4). Notably, fenugreek co-treatment reduced rather than further increased Nrf2 and HO-1 expression relative to Pb alone, a pattern most consistent with lowering the upstream oxidative stimulus rather than direct induction of these pathways. The seed’s polyphenolic profile—rich in vicenin-type C-glycosides and luteolin and kaempferol derivatives—offers a plausible chemical basis for the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and modest Pb-lowering effects observed; however, because whole seed powder was administered and metabolite identifications are tentative, these structure–activity relationships are presented as hypotheses for future bioactivity-guided fractionation rather than as demonstrated mechanisms. These preclinical findings support further investigation of fenugreek as a candidate dietary adjunct against environmental Pb exposure, contingent on protein-level validation, pharmacokinetic characterization, benchmarking against a standard chelator, and bioactivity-guided fractionation. Full article

The fascinating features of nanomaterials have attracted immense interest across various fields, including nanoelectronics, magnetite-aided nanocatalysis, and nanomedicine. Herein, a 10% SiO₂/g-C₃N₄/Bi₂SiO₅@Bi₂O₃ triple nanohybrid was formulated via a simple protocol employing acacia powder as a capping/fuel agent. The XRD confirmed the presence of g-C₃N₄, Bi₂SiO₅, Bi₂O₃, and SiO₅ phases, and the TEM image shows densely packed, almost spherical nanoparticles of an average size of 9.2 nm. There was activity of the SiO₂/g-C₃N₄/Bi₂SiO₅@Bi₂O₃ in the field of hydrogen generation via NaBH₄ hydrolysis, and antitumor antiproliferation activity against HepG-2 and MCF-7 cells. The graphitized Bi₂O₃/SiO₂ exhibited HGRs of 303, 615, 785, and 1740 mL min⁻¹ g⁻¹ at 20, 30, 40, and 50 °C, respectively. Hydrolyzing NaBH₄ doses of 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 at 40 °C resulted in a dramatic evolution at HGRs of 526, 785, 1786, and 4000 mL min⁻¹ g⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, the g-C₃N₄/Bi₂O₃/SiO₂ antiproliferative effect against HepG-2 and MCF-7 cells showed a positive impact at 3.9 and 7.9 µg/mL, with IC₅₀ values of 82.4 and 59.6 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the maximum dose of 500 μg/mL of SiO₂/g-C₃N₄/Bi₂SiO₅@Bi₂O₃ resulted in 93.8% inhibition of MCF-7 cells, whereas the same dose yielded 91.7% inhibition of HepG-2 cells. It is significant to note that, given the lower cost of SiO₂/g-C₃N₄/Bi₂SiO₅@Bi₂O₃ relative to currently prescribed antitumor medications, these outcomes can be considered ideal for practical use as antitumor agents. Full article

Background/Objectives: Latent fingerprints are routinely recovered from conventional porous and non-porous substrates; however, biologically active surfaces such as plant leaves are generally regarded as unsuitable for dactyloscopic evidence. Because vegetation is frequently present at crime scenes, this study aimed to systematically evaluate whether plant leaves can retain usable friction ridge detail and to determine the durability and forensic value of such traces under laboratory and outdoor conditions. Methods: Latent fingerprints were deposited on leaves of multiple plant species (maple, ash, dandelion, bird cherry, chestnut, climbing ivy, and five-leaved ivy) under dry and hydrated conditions and at defined time intervals after deposition. Visualization was performed using several powders, with SupraNano Fluorescent Green magnetic powder providing the best performance. Developed impressions were photographed using controlled illumination and evaluated using automated quality assessment (NFIQ 2.0) and comparison software (Innovatrics IDkit 9.1.7.1004). Additional experiments examined living, growing leaves exposed to natural weather conditions for extended periods. Results: Usable ridge detail was successfully visualized on all tested species. Bottom leaf surfaces and hydrated samples generally provided better preservation and contrast. Identifiable traces persisted for up to 20 h on detached leaves and for up to 35 days on living leaves despite growth-related deformation. Under outdoor exposure, fingerprints on ivy remained visible and comparable for up to 60 days. Although overall automated quality scores were reduced by background venation, selected impressions achieved measurable comparison scores and successful matches. Conclusions: Plant leaves can serve as unconventional yet viable carriers of latent fingerprints. Magnetic fluorescent powder development combined with careful documentation enables recovery of forensically useful ridge detail even after prolonged environmental exposure. These findings expand the range of substrates that should be considered during crime scene processing and provide practical guidance for evidence collection on vegetation. Full article

As the Italian hop industry undergoes consolidation, assessing the environmental pressure of diverse cultivation and processing models is essential for sustainable growth. This study characterizes the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) of Italian hop production through a multi-case analysis of eight representative farms. A primary data collection tool was utilized to quantify resource inputs, including water management, nutritional strategies, and phytosanitary defense. Following a rigorous thermodynamic consistency screening of the field data to eliminate unrepresentative parameters, the life cycle inventory focused on two validated regional anchor cases. The findings reveal a high degree of management heterogeneity, with dry cone yields ranging from 400 to 1673 kg of dry matter per hectare. Two functional units were defined: 1 kg of fresh hop cones (FU1) to assess cultivation impacts, and 1 kg of processed products (FU2) at the brewery gate to evaluate the full supply chain. Integrating deterministic life cycle impact outputs with a probabilistic Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis, the results indicate that the environmental impact varies significantly across commercial formats: Cryogenic Powder (2.33 ± 0.34 mPt/kg) represents the most resource-intensive format, while Raw Bales and T90 Pellets from high-yield models exhibit scores as low as 1.36 and 1.55 mPt/kg, respectively. The study identifies the agricultural phase as the primary environmental hotspot, driven predominantly by water deprivation. To address these burdens, a Sustainable Italian Hop (SIH) integrated scenario was developed. By combining precision irrigation, thermal decarbonization via biomass valorization, and a direct-to-pellet processing flow, this model achieved a 70% total reduction in the environmental footprint score (0.465 ± 0.076 mPt/kg) and an 86% reduction in water use impacts. Finally, the socio-technical and financial barriers to implementing the SIH framework are qualitatively evaluated. These results provide actionable benchmarks for aligning the emerging Italian hop supply chain with European Union climate neutrality objectives. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of current study was the significant improvement of both the flowability and the compressibility of mesoporous silica microparticles (MSMs), to enable the formulation a potential drug delivery system. MSMs are of emerging interest in the pharmaceutical industry, due to their numerous advantages and versatile applicability, such as improvement in aqueous solubility and epithelial permeability, thus enhancing the oral bioavailability of drugs. However, the formulation of these types of materials has been a major challenge. This problem originates from poor powder flow characteristics due to particle properties. Methods: A binder-free high-shear wet granulation (HSWG) process was performed to improve the flowability and compressibility of the model material, meanwhile preserving its porosity. The prepared granules were characterized by particle size, size distribution, yield percentage, particle morphology, porosity, powder flowability, crushing strength, and stability. Micro-CT measurements were performed to examine the structure of the granules and to see the internal segmentation resulted by the two-step granulation process. The granules were compressed into tablets to evaluate the compressibility behavior based on the models of Kawakita and Walker. The physical parameters of the compressed tablets, such as breaking hardness, tensile strength, and thickness, were tested. Results: The prepared granules were evaluated successfully according to the mentioned properties and found to be satisfactory compared to the raw materials. The binder-free method appeared to be effective, thus the use of binders may be avoided if the process is designed well and critical process parameters (CPPs) selected carefully. The granules showed good stability over a one-year testing period. The micro-CT test also verified the success of the initial concept of preparing core–shell structured granules, and enabled the determination of macropores. Nevertheless, the results were completed with BET measurements to determine specific surface area of the granules. Conclusions: The effect of the critical process parameters of the granulation process on all the mentioned attributes was investigated and since major differences were observed between the batches, the effect of the selected CPPs were also verified. Full article

FDM-printed polylactic acid (PLA) composites containing 5 and 10 wt% obsidian powder sourced from the Kars region of Eastern Anatolia (Turkey) were produced via twin-screw masterbatch extrusion and subsequent single-screw filament dilution. Mechanical (tensile, three-point flexure, notched Charpy impact, Shore D), physical (density), thermal (simultaneous TGA/DSC) and microstructural (macroscopic fractography and SEM at 100×–1000×) characterizations were performed on FDM-printed specimens. Young’s modulus rose monotonically by +9.0% at 5 wt% and +18.2% at 10 wt%, while ultimate tensile strength decreased by 12.4% and 17.3%, respectively. The flexural modulus increased by +15.2% at 5 wt% and plateaued at 10 wt% (+16.7%), whereas the flexural strength decreased by only 3.5% at 10 wt%, indicating that flexure-mode loading is markedly more tolerant of obsidian filler than axial tension. Shore D hardness rose by +2.11 points from 0 to 5 wt% with saturation thereafter. TGA showed a dual thermal effect: T₅ and T₁₀ dropped by 5–6 °C from 5 to 10 wt%, while the main decomposition rate decreased by ~46% and the decomposition interval widened from 9.7 to 23.5 °C, indicating a barrier/heat-shielding effect of dispersed silicate particles. SEM revealed a continuous ductile → transitional → brittle progression with increasing obsidian content; extended interfacial debonding lines at 10 wt% identified weak unmodified filler/matrix coupling as the principal performance-ceiling factor. Density measurements indicated a ~3–6% residual void fraction consistent with the inter-bead voids observed by SEM. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic study of obsidian as a reinforcing filler in PLA; the 5 wt% composition is identified as a strong candidate for esthetic, flexure-dominant, and low-load structural applications. Full article

Soil acidification and base cation depletion constrain sustainable pomelo production in subtropical orchards. We hypothesized that the co-application of organic fertilizer and dolomite powder would alleviate soil acidification, improve Ca and Mg supply, and enhance pomelo yield and fruit quality more effectively than either amendment alone. A two-year field experiment was conducted in a pomelo orchard in southern Fujian Province, China. Four treatments were established: optimized fertilization alone (CK, 200 N-0 P₂O₅-200 K₂O kg ha⁻¹), optimized fertilization plus organic fertilizer (OF, 200 N-0 P₂O₅-200 K₂O kg ha⁻¹ + 7500 kg ha⁻¹ organic fertilizer), optimized fertilization plus dolomite powder (DP, 200 N-0 P₂O₅-200 K₂O kg ha⁻¹ + 2145 kg ha⁻¹ dolomite powder), and optimized fertilization plus organic fertilizer and dolomite powder (OF + DP, 200 N-0 P₂O₅-200 K₂O kg ha⁻¹ + 7500 kg ha⁻¹ organic fertilizer + 2145 kg ha⁻¹ dolomite powder). Pomelo yield, economic benefits, fruit quality, fruit mineral nutrients, and soil physicochemical properties were determined using standard procedures. Soil analysis showed that OF + DP most consistently increased soil pH and exchangeable Ca and Mg, while organic fertilizer improved soil organic matter. Compared with CK, OF + DP increased yield by 34.27% and 30.13% in 2023 and 2024, respectively, mainly by increasing fruit number per tree. OF + DP also produced the highest net profit, improved total soluble solids and TSS/TA, and increased fruit K, Ca, and Mg concentrations. These results indicate that combining organic fertilizer with dolomite powder is an effective amendment strategy for improving acidified pomelo orchard soils and productivity. Full article

Dense granular materials under low confining stress and low shear velocity—conditions relevant to low-pressure powder handling, near-surface transport, and the upper layers of stored bulk solids—remain insufficiently characterized at the microstructural level. We perform three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) simulations of annular shear of monodisperse glass spheres at σ = 1 kPa and v = 0.01 m/s, corresponding to an inertial number I ≈ 1.06 × 10⁻³ at the quasi-static limit of the dense flow regime. The steady-state friction coefficient stabilizes at μ_ss ≈ 0.78, consistent with the quasi-static limit of the μ(I) framework. The solid volume fraction decreases monotonically from φ ≈ 0.50 at the base to φ ≈ 0.35 near the top, while the tangential velocity decays exponentially with depth (decay length δ_s ≈ 10 mm). Particle trajectory tracking reveals a sharp kinematic transition near z ≈ 5–6 mm separating a quasi-rigid basal layer (z ≲ 5 mm) from an upper shear-active zone (z ≳ 6 mm). The contact force distribution follows an exponential decay P($f$/$⟨f⟩$) ∝ exp(−β·$f$/$⟨f⟩$) with β ≈ 0.45, with strong force chains selectively concentrated in the upper zone. Together, these four microstructural descriptors co-locate within a single transition band, providing quantitative benchmarks for material characterization and constitutive modelling at the lower boundary of dense flow. Full article

This study evaluated the immunomodulatory activity of live Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Yb in vitro and compared response patterns associated with practical L. paracasei Yb formulation formats in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway inflammation mouse model. In vitro, live L. paracasei Yb increased TNF-α production in RAW 264.7 macrophages at 2 × 10⁶ to 5 × 10⁷ CFU/mL, increased IL-1β only at 5 × 10⁷ CFU/mL, and increased IL-10 at 1 × 10⁷ and 5 × 10⁷ CFU/mL. In splenocytes, L. paracasei Yb increased TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10 compared with untreated controls, although these responses did not show a simple concentration-dependent pattern. In vivo, BALB/c mice received fresh L. paracasei Yb yogurt (YG), freeze-dried yogurt (YG-FD), or bacterial powder (BP) for 53 days. Compared with the OVA-sensitized Negative control group, YG and BP did not significantly reduce serum total IgE or OVA-specific IgE, and airway responsiveness and BALF eosinophils showed limited or non-significant changes. In contrast, YG and BP significantly reduced lung inflammation scores (Negative control, 6.86 ± 1.57; YG, 5.13 ± 0.83; BP, 4.50 ± 0.55) and ConA-stimulated splenocyte IL-4 secretion (Negative control, 1168.43 ± 553.34 pg/mL; YG, 589.84 ± 233.54 pg/mL; BP, 472.28 ± 186.44 pg/mL). These findings suggest that practical formulation conditions may shape selected preclinical immunological and histopathological responses to L. paracasei Yb. Further studies incorporating CFU-matched dosing, probiotic-free yogurt controls, and mechanistic validation are required before clinical relevance in asthma can be inferred. Full article

Aiming to develop high-performance flexible electrode materials for dielectric elastomer actuation systems applied to micro-crawling robots, this study proposes multi-dimensional filler composite electrode materials with a methyl vinyl silicone rubber matrix. Three types of conductive fillers—namely, zero-dimensional super-conductive carbon black, one-dimensional single-walled carbon nanotubes, and two-dimensional flaky micron-sized silver powder—were employed to construct a hierarchical multi-dimensional conductive network within the silicone rubber matrix via a three-stage fabrication strategy. The electrical conductivity and conductive stability of the as-prepared composite electrode materials were systematically investigated, where the intrinsic mechanisms and evolutionary laws of material electrical performance variations were analyzed. Furthermore, the effects of fillers with different dimensional morphologies on the comprehensive properties of the composites at each fabrication stage were explored, and the optimal filler dosage for each component was determined. Microstructural observations of the staged conductive network formation further verified the rationality of the stage-based functional design model. The optimized composite electrode delivers an initial electrical conductivity of 1.5 × 10⁴ S/m, with only a 14.9% conductivity attenuation under 50% tensile strain, demonstrating excellent electromechanical stability. Moreover, a prototype micro-crawling robot was fabricated using the optimized composite electrode, achieving a maximum linear crawling speed of 8 mm/s. These experimental results validate the feasibility and superiority of the proposed multi-dimensional filler composite strategy. This work provides a novel technical approach for the design and development of high-performance flexible electrode materials for flexible electronic and micro-robotic actuation applications. Full article