Search Results (300)

Masonry buildings have shaped construction history since about 6500 BCE. They offer durability, strength, and cost effectiveness, especially in developing countries. Yet assessing compressive strength during construction remains challenging due to the constituent materials soil, cement, and stone, complicating standardization worldwide. In the present study, an innovative model based on a machine learning algorithm is put forth to predict the compressive strengths of prisms. Some important factors considered as input to the algorithm based on traditional methods are the brick and mortar strengths, prism geometry, mortar bed thickness, and empirically derived height-to-thickness (t) (h/t) ratios. Three different ANN algorithms are coded and trained on the input data, and they are based on the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm, the resilient backpropagation algorithm, and the conjugate gradient algorithm. The optimal ANN model trained using the conjugate gradient Polak–Ribière algorithm (traincgp) achieves superior performance, with R² = 0.9881, R² = 0.9927, RMSE = 0.9914 MPa, MAE = 0.6039 MPa, MAPE = 20.9141%, VAF = 0.9881, and WI = 0.9970. Sensitivity analysis shows the height-to-thickness (h/t) ratio is the dominant influence on compressive strength, consistent with structural mechanics. The primary contributions are the systematically curated, richly parameterized dataset and its use to produce robust, physically interpretable predictions with established ANN methods. Full article

Geopropolis, a complex natural product composed of propolis, wax, plant resins, and soil produced by Meliponine (stingless) bees, has traditionally been used for its therapeutic properties. Its chemically diverse composition and broad biological activities have recently attracted growing scientific interest. In this study, we characterized the physicochemical and immunomodulatory properties of a hydroalcoholic extract of geopropolis (HEG) from Melipona quadrifasciata (Mandaçaia). Physicochemical characteristics were determined by measuring moisture, ash, and wax content, and its bioactive constituents were identified by GC–MS. THP-1-derived macrophages were exposed to increasing HEG concentrations to assess cytotoxicity, and two sublethal doses were selected for immunomodulatory assays with or without LPS stimulation. Cytokine and chemokine secretion were quantified by CBA, and the expression of key immunoregulatory and angiogenic genes was evaluated by RT-qPCR. Chemical profiling revealed a high wax content and a predominance of di- and triterpenoids, largely derived from coniferous sources. In mccrophages stimulated with LPS, HEG at 31.25 and 62.50 µg/mL significantly reduced the secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-6, CCL2, CCL5, CXCL9, and CXCL10) while preserving cell viability. In unstimulated macrophages, HEG upregulated the expression of genes VEGFA and TGFB1 as well as the protein CXCL8, all of them associated with angiogenesis and tissue repair. These findings demonstrate that M. quadrifasciata geopropolis extract modulates macrophage activity, promoting a shift toward a reparative phenotype that integrates inflammatory resolution with pro-healing effects. These results underscore its pharmacological potential as a terpenoid-rich natural product with complementary anti-inflammatory and regenerative activities. Full article

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (PCH) is traditionally recognized as both an edible and medicinal food source. Its rhizomes contain numerous bioactive compounds, notably polysaccharides and flavonoids, which serve as key constituents in functional food development. However, the cultivation of PCH is often hindered by allelopathic effects, which diminish its quality and restrict its industrial application. To mitigate these allelopathic influences, three types of biochars derived from maize straw (MB), rice husk (RB), and tea stem (TB) were applied at concentrations of 0%, 2%, and 4%. Initially, the physicochemical properties of these biochars were characterized, followed by an evaluation of their impact on (1) the synthesis of quality-related components, secondary metabolites, and allelochemicals within PCH rhizomes and (2) the fundamental physicochemical properties and bacterial community structure of the PCH rhizosphere soil. The findings indicated that the application of 4% RB significantly enhanced the content of total polysaccharides by 48.5%, total flavonoids by 30.2%, total saponins by 28.6%, and total polyphenols by 18.3%, while concurrently reducing protein (PRO) and free amino acid (FAA) concentrations in the rhizomes. Non-targeted metabolomic analyses revealed that biochar amendments (1) upregulated metabolites involved in the citrate cycle and galactose metabolism pathways, thereby facilitating energy supply and precursors for polysaccharide biosynthesis; (2) downregulated metabolites involved in the arginine biosynthesis pathway, which is unfavorable for protein and amino acid synthesis; (3) decreased the abundance of six identified allelochemicals, including 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan and andrographolide, with the most pronounced effect observed in the 4% TB treatment (T2); (4) improved soil physicochemical parameters such as pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), and available potassium (AK); and (5) altered the rhizosphere bacterial community by enriching beneficial phyla, notably Myxococcota and Gemmatimonadota. These modifications in soil properties and bacterial community composition were closely associated with enhanced rhizome quality and a reduction in allelochemical accumulation. Collectively, the results of this study elucidate the potential mechanisms linking biochar application to allelopathy mitigation, optimization of soil microbial communities, and improvement of PCH rhizome quality. This research provides a theoretical basis for the production of high-quality PCH while concurrently minimizing allelochemical accumulation in its rhizomes. Full article

The transition toward sustainable and circular bioeconomies in Agriculture 4.0 demands fertilization strategies that reduce environmental impacts while maintaining agronomic productivity. This article presents a structured narrative review of peer-reviewed literature integrating evidence across waste management, soil science, food safety, and regulatory frameworks to evaluate the potential of seafood processing byproducts including fish offal, shellfish residues, and aquaculture effluents as nutrient-rich fertilizers. These materials provide nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and essential micronutrients and may contribute to nutrient recycling within precision and resource-efficient agricultural systems. Evidence from diverse cropping contexts indicates that seafood waste-derived fertilizers can improve crop yield, nutrient use efficiency, and soil biological activity under site-specific conditions. Biological processing methods, including composting, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation, are examined for their roles in enhancing nutrient bioavailability and reducing undesirable constituents. Particular emphasis is placed on food safety considerations, including heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, antimicrobial resistance, pathogens, and microplastics, with discussion of speciation-based risk assessment and mitigation strategies such as thermal treatment, microbial screening, and compliance with international standards. Regulatory fragmentation, economic feasibility, and lifecycle environmental implications are also critically assessed. Emerging digital tools, including Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled nutrient monitoring and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted compost optimization, are discussed as enabling technologies for integrating seafood-derived biofertilizers into smart farming systems. Overall, this interdisciplinary synthesis highlights the potential contribution of seafood waste valorization to circular nutrient management, environmental stewardship, and sustainable food production. Full article

Accurate and non-destructive assessment of plant nutritional status remains a key challenge in precision agriculture, particularly under dynamic physiological conditions such as dehydration. Therefore, this study focused on developing an integrated nutritional assessment framework for avocado (Persea americana Mill.) leaves across progressive dehydration stages using spectral analysis. A novel nutritional function index (NFI) was innovatively constructed using an entropy-weighted multi-criteria decision-making approach. This unified assessment metric integrated critical physiological indicators, such as moisture content, nitrogen content, and chlorophyll content estimated from soil and plant analyzer development (SPAD) readings. To enhance the prediction accuracy and interpretability of NFI, innovative vegetation indices (VIs) specifically tailored to NFI were systematically constructed using exhaustive wavelength-combination screening. Optimal wavelengths identified from short-wave infrared regions (1446, 1455, 1465, 1865, and 1937 nm) were employed to build physiologically meaningful VIs, which were highly sensitive to moisture and biochemical constituents. Feature wavelengths selected via the successive projections algorithm and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling further reduced spectral redundancy and improved modeling efficiency. Both feature-level and algorithm-level data fusion methods effectively combined VIs and selected feature wavelengths, significantly enhancing prediction performance. The stacking algorithm demonstrated robust performance, achieving the highest predictive accuracy (R2V = 0.986, RMSEV = 0.032) for NFI estimation. This fusion-based modeling approach outperformed conventional single-model schemes in terms of accuracy and robustness. Unlike previous studies that focused on isolated spectral predictors, this work introduces an integrative framework combining entropy-weighted feature synthesis and multiscale fusion learning. The developed strategy offers a powerful tool for real-time plant health monitoring and supports precision agricultural decision-making. Full article

Sap flow serves as the primary carrier for water, nutrients, and signaling molecules, playing a crucial role in fruit development by delivering these essential constituents to the fruit. While the efflux of sap from fruit to other organs (termed reverse sap flow) has been observed in plants, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear due to a lack of effective methodologies for comprehensive studies. Here, we pioneered the integration of real-time sap flow measurements from novel plant-wearable sensors with synchronized environmental monitoring, establishing a multimodal data framework to systematically decode the endogenous causes and exogenous triggers of reverse sap flow in watermelon plants. Our experimental results reveal that plant water supply–consumption imbalance is the core endogenous cause of reverse sap flow, which is induced by two external triggers in the natural environment: rapid light intensity surges and soil drought. Furthermore, a long-term drought stress experiment illustrates that reverse sap flow from the fruit enhances the drought resistance of plants by adjusting water redistribution within the whole plant. This study challenges the unitary view of fruit solely as a “sink” in the traditional source–sink theory, further refines the understanding of the source–sink paradigm, and provides a novel mechanism and insight for plant drought tolerance strategies. Full article

Globba sirirugsae Saensouk & P.Saensouk, known in Thai as Hong Hoen Sirirugsa, is a rare Zingiberaceae species with considerable potential for ornamental horticulture and phytopharmaceutical development. Despite its promising attributes, comprehensive studies on its micropropagation, bioactivities, and phytochemical composition remain limited. This study investigated the efficiency of in vitro propagation using rhizome-derived plantlets cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations of BA, kinetin, and NAA. The highest shoot proliferation (5.67 shoots) was achieved with 4 mg/L BA and 0.5 mg/L NAA, while acclimatization in a soil–sand substrate (1:1) resulted in a 90% survival rate. Comparative analyses of wild and tissue-cultured plants revealed abundant phenolic and flavonoid contents, particularly in wild specimens, as determined by TPC and TFC assays. HPLC profiling confirmed the presence of bioactive compounds under both growth conditions. Ethanolic extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activities via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. GC-MS analysis identified 23 volatile compounds in wild plants and 51 in tissue-cultured plants, with α-pinene, β-pinene, caryophyllene, and α-bergamotene as dominant constituents. FTIR spectroscopy revealed distinct functional groups and fingerprint regions, serving as a rapid screening tool for phytochemical accumulation and biological activity. These findings provide a strategic foundation for the conservation and sustainable utilization of Globba sirirugsae as a multifunctional bioresource, with future applications in pharmaceutical innovation, product development, and ornamental landscaping. Full article

Fluoroquinolones are a major issue in aquatic ecosystems due to their persistence, potential to induce antibiotic resistance, and inability to be effectively removed using conventional treatment methods. Several advanced oxidation processes have been studied for their degradation; however, there is still a lack of knowledge about their degradation mechanisms and the precise roles played by reactive species. In this context, the study investigated the heterogeneous activation of persulfate (PS) to degrade fluoroquinolones (FQs), such as moxifloxacin (MFX), in iron-rich soil (Cat) under ultrasound irradiation (US). The analysis of the soil catalyst revealed the presence of quartz (35%), iron oxides (33%), and alumina (26%) as the predominant constituents of the sample. The mineral phase analysis indicated the presence of magnetite, hematite, and alumina. Then, the outcomes of the specific surface area, micropore volume, and total pore volume were determined to be 19 m² g⁻¹, 6 m³ g⁻¹ and 9.10 m³ g⁻¹, respectively. The MFX/PS/US/Cat system demonstrated 89% degradation and 56% mineralization after 300 min. However, the optimized concentrations of i-PrOH, t-BuOH, and CHCl₃ were 50, 100, and 50 mM, respectively, in order to trap the radicals SO₄^•−, OH^•, and O₂^•−. The study examined the individual contributions of SO₄^•−, OH^•, and O₂^•− radicals to the overall process of MFX degradation. The results indicated that SO₄^•− was the primary radical, with a contribution of 52%, followed by OH^• with 43%, and O₂^•− with 5%. Finally, the investigation revealed that laterite exhibited both good catalytic activity and reusability over several cycles. The development of this new process could stimulate the creation of cost-effective technology for water remediation through the effective removal of fluoroquinolones. Full article

Highly developed countries generate large volumes of industrial waste, the type and quantity of which are strongly linked to the characteristics of the industries that produce it. Industrial waste can adversely affect the environment, so its disposal and management are a major challenge. Understanding the characteristics of a given waste type (e.g., its chemical and phase composition, technical parameters and likelihood of releasing constituents into aquatic and soil environments) allows its potential economic applications to be determined. A simple application of mineral waste is in the production of artificial aggregates, which are increasingly used as a substitute for natural aggregates. In Poland, artificial aggregates are widely produced from metallurgical waste from steel and non-ferrous metallurgy, which may contain numerous components that are potentially environmentally damaging. Depending on their occurrence form (i.e., mineral composition), these contaminants have varying potential to be released into aquatic and soil environments. This study presents the results of mineral and chemical composition analyses and leachability tests conducted on aggregates produced from metallurgical waste, including slags from blast furnaces, steelmaking, Zn and Pb production, and Ni production. The studied aggregates are characterised by chemical and phase composition differences, resulting from the type of slag from which they originate. The chemical composition of blast furnace slag is dominated by CaO, SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, and MgO; steelmaking slag by CaO, Fe₂O₃, and SiO₂; Zn and Pb production slag by SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, SO₃, and CaO; and Ni production slag by SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, CaO, and Al₂O₃. The phase composition of all the tested aggregates is dominated by silicates resistant to leaching (weathering), which results in low levels of Al, Ca, Cr, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, As, Sr and Ni leaching, not exceeding 1.6%. Full article

Underreamed anchor bolts, as an emerging anchoring element in geotechnical engineering, operate via a fundamentally distinct load transfer mechanism compared with conventional friction type anchors. The accurate and reliable prediction of their ultimate bearing capacity constitutes a pivotal technological impediment to their broader engineering adoption. Firstly, this paper systematically elucidates the constituent mechanisms of underreamed anchor resistance and their progressive load transfer trajectory. Subsequently, in situ full-scale pull-out experiments are leveraged to decompose the load–displacement response throughout its entire evolution. The multi-stage development law and the underlying mechanisms governing the evolution of anchorage characteristics are thereby elucidated. Based on the experimental dataset, a three-dimensional elasto-plastic numerical model is rigorously established. The model delineates, at high resolution, the failure mechanism of surrounding soil mass and the spatiotemporal evolution of its three-dimensional displacement field. A definitive critical displacement criterion for the attainment of the ultimate bearing capacity of underreamed anchors is established. Consequently, analytical models for the ultimate side frictional stress and end-bearing capacity at the limit state are advanced, effectively circumventing the parametric uncertainties inherent in extant empirical formulations. Ultimately, characteristic parameters of the elasto-plastic branch of the load–displacement curve are extracted. An ultimate bearing capacity prognostic framework, founded on an optimized hyperbolic model, is established. Its superior calibration fidelity to the evolving load–displacement response and its demonstrable engineering applicability are rigorously substantiated. Full article

This research provides a comprehensive evaluation of the phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and biological properties of four plant species with longstanding use in ethnobotanical traditions: Calendula officinalis, Mentha × piperita, Urtica dioica, and Juglans regia. Plant extracts were obtained using a range of solvent systems and subsequently analyzed for their content of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) enabled the accurate identification and quantification of major polyphenolic constituents. The antioxidant capacity was assessed through a series of in vitro assays, and elemental analysis was conducted to determine microelement content. To evaluate potential ecological implications, acute toxicity was tested using Daphnia magna, while phytotoxic effects were also examined. The results demonstrate pronounced antioxidant activity along with notable biocidal and soil-enhancing properties. These findings underscore the potential of such plant-based formulations as sustainable alternatives to conventional agrochemicals and highlight the relevance of integrating traditional botanical knowledge with modern strategies for enhancing soil quality, crop performance, and environmental sustainability. Full article

The integration of leguminous cover cropping systems (LCR), particularly soybean (LC-S) and cowpea (LC-C), into tea agroecosystem provides a sustainable strategy to enhance soil ecosystem services by promoting beneficial soil microbial communities through the modulation of the rhizosphere microbiome in the tea rhizosphere soil. This study employs 16S rRNA gene sequencing to assess how these leguminous cover crops, when incorporated as green manure within the tea row spaces, influence the microbial community diversity in the rhizosphere soil of tea plants. Compared to conventional monoculture tea plantations (CK), the introduction of LC-S and LC-C significantly reshape the microbial communities in the tea rhizosphere soil. They promote the abundance of copiotrophic and specialized taxa such as Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Mycobacterium, which are crucial for nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition. Additionally, LC-S and LC-C enrich beneficial microbes including Chloroflexi, Bradyrhizobium, Acidothermus, and Cyanobacteria, supporting processes like nitrogen fixation and pathogen suppression. The metagenomic analysis confirms that leguminous cover crops consistently increase bacterial diversity and enrich beneficial phyla vital for soil nutrient dynamics, organic matter breakdown, and environmental stress resilience. Furthermore, microbial genera linked to nitrogen mobilization and complex organic matter degradation are promoted, underpinning the synthesis of nitrogenous compounds (such as theanine, amino acids), polyphenolic secondary metabolites (like flavonoids), and volatile organic compounds essential for tea quality. Functional pathway analyses revealed that LC-S enhances degradation pathways involved in carbohydrate and aromatic compound metabolism, augmenting precursors for key bioactive constituents such as theanine and catechins. Conversely, LC-C favors glycan biosynthesis and degradation pathways, likely improving root–microbe interactions and micronutrient uptake, both critical for polyphenol biosynthesis. Collectively, these microbiome-driven changes improve tea’s sensory qualities, including flavor, aroma, and antioxidant capacity, by enriching bioactive compounds. This microbiome-mediated agro-ecological approach offers a sustainable alternative to conventional monoculture, enhancing soil functionality, ecological resilience, and the economic viability of tea production systems. Full article

Particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM_2.5) and its chemical constituents—including ammonium (NH₄⁺), sulfate (SO₄²⁻), nitrate (NO₃⁻), organic carbon (OC), soil dust, and black carbon (BC)—have been increasingly recognized for their potential impact on fetal neurodevelopment. This systematic review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the relationship between prenatal exposure to PM_2.5 and its chemical components and neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates, focusing on diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed and Embase databases from April to July 2025. Twenty-five studies meeting inclusion criteria were analyzed, of which sixteen addressed PM_2.5 exposure generally, and nine assessed specific chemical constituents. The findings indicate that increased exposure to PM_2.5, particularly during the third trimester, is associated with a higher risk of ASD. Additionally, prenatal exposure may adversely affect early neurodevelopmental domains including motor skills, problem-solving, and social interactions. Certain PM_2.5 components, notably sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻), were identified as important contributors to neurological health outcomes. These results underscore the importance of reducing prenatal exposure to PM_2.5 and its harmful constituents to protect neurodevelopment. Full article

Soil moisture or moisture content is a fundamental constituent of the hydrological system of the Earth and its ecological systems, playing a pivotal role in the productivity of agricultural produce, climate modeling, and water resource management. This review comprehensively examines conventional and advanced approaches for estimation or measuring of soil moisture, including in situ methods, remote sensing technologies, UAV-based monitoring, and machine learning-driven models. Emphasis is primarily on the evolution of soil moisture measurement from destructive gravimetric techniques to non-invasive, high-resolution sensing systems. The paper emphasizes how machine learning modules like Random Forest models, support vector machines, and AI-based neural networks are becoming more and more popular for modeling intricate soil moisture dynamics with data from several sources. A bibliometric analysis further underscores the research trends and identifies key contributors, regions, and technologies in this domain. The findings advocate for the integration of physics-based understanding, sensor technologies, and data-driven approaches to enhance prediction accuracy, spatiotemporal coverage, and decision-making capabilities. Full article

Chemical fertilizers pose significant risks to both human health and the environment. To investigate the effect of substituting nitrogen fertilizer with vermicompost tea on wheat yield, shoot chemical constituents, and grain quality under clay-loam soil conditions, two field experiments were conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Egypt, during the winter seasons of 2021–2022 and 2022–2023. A split-plot design in randomized complete blocks with three replications was employed. Vermicompost tea was assigned to the main plots, while wheat cultivars were assigned to the subplots. The cultivars were evaluated under four treatments involving partial substitution of mineral nitrogen (recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN%, 190 kg N ha⁻¹): a control (90% of RDN + 25 kg vermicompost tea), 80% of RDN + 37.5 kg vermicompost tea, and 70% of RDN + 50 kg vermicompost tea. Nitrogen fertilizer (RDN%) was applied at rates of 190 (control), 170 (90%), 150 (80%), and 130 (70%) kg N ha⁻¹. The results indicated that partially substituting mineral nitrogen with vermicompost tea significantly increased grain weight/Ha, chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B, carotenoids, nitrogen, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) content in shoots, as well as ash, crude protein, crude fiber, total sugar, and N, P, and K content in wheat grains. The grain weight/Ha of the Sakha-95, Giza-171, and Sads-14 cultivars increased by 38.6%, 33.5%, and 39.3%, respectively, when treated with 70% RDN + 50 kg vermicompost tea. The combination of the Sads-14 cultivar and 70% RDN + 50 kg vermicompost tea resulted in the highest values for grain weight/ha (9.43 tons ha⁻¹), chlorophyll A (1.39 mg/g), chlorophyll B (1.04 mg/g), N (5.08%), P (1.63%), and P (2.43%) content in shoots. The same combination also improved ash (2.89%), crude fiber (2.84%), and K (6.05%) content in grains. In conclusion, the application of vermicompost tea in conjunction with chemical fertilizers offers a viable alternative to using chemical fertilizers alone, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and improving wheat production. It is recommended that mineral nitrogen fertilizer be partially replaced with vermicompost tea to enhance both the productivity and grain quality of wheat while minimizing environmental pollution. Full article