Search Results (14,036)

Polymer-based product usage in modern society is increasing day by day. Following usage, these inert products and hydrophobic materials contribute to environmental pollution, often accumulating as litter in ecosystems and contaminating water bodies. The rapid socio-economic development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has resulted in a significant increase in waste generation. This study was conducted on the utilization of recycled plastic waste (RPW) polymer along with commercial polymer (CP) for the modification of the local binder. The hot environmental conditions and increased traffic loading are the major reasons for the permanent deformation and thermal cracks on the pavements, which require improved and modified road performance materials. The Ministry of Transport and Logistical Support (MOTLS) in Saudi Arabia, along with other related agencies, spends a substantial amount of money each year on importing modifiers, including chemicals, hydrocarbons, and polymers, for modification purposes. This research was conducted to investigate and utilize available local recycled plastic materials. Comprehensive laboratory experiments were designed and carried out to enhance recycled plastic waste, including low-density polyethylene (rLDPE), high-density polyethylene (rHDPE), and polypropylene (rPP), combined with varying percentages of commercially available polymers such as Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) and Polybilt (PB). The results indicated that incorporating recycled plastic waste expanded the binder’s susceptible temperature range from 64 °C to 70 °C, 76 °C, and 82 °C. The resistance to rutting was shown to have significantly improved by the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) examination. Achieving the objectives of this research, combined with the intangible environmental benefits of utilizing plastic waste, provides a sustainable pavement development option that is also environmentally beneficial. Full article

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) play vital roles in crop growth. However, conventional fertilizers exhibit low utilization efficiency, making them prone to causing resource wastage and water eutrophication. Although metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown great potential for application in controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs), currently reported MOF-based CRFs suffer from low nutrient content, which limits their further application. To address this issue, this study synthesized a series of hierarchically porous MOFs, denoted as MIL-156(X), using sodium acetate as a modulator under hydrothermal conditions. These materials were subsequently loaded with urea and phosphate from aqueous solution to form MOFs-based CRFs (N-P-MIL-156(X)). Results indicate that MIL-156(X) retain microporous integrity while incorporating abundant mesopores. Increasing modulator content reduced particle size and average pore diameter but increased specific surface area and adsorption capacity for urea and phosphate. MIL-156-H (with a high modulator content addition) exhibited the highest adsorption capacity, conforming to Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics. The adsorption mechanisms of urea and phosphate involved hydrogen bonding and the formation of Ca intra-spherical complexes, respectively. N-P-MIL-156-H contained 10.8% N and 16.3% P₂O₅, with sustained release durations exceeding 42 days (N) and 56 days (P₂O₅) in an aqueous solution. Pot trials demonstrated significantly higher nutrient use efficiency (N-44.8%, P₂O₅-16.56%) and a 12.22% yield increase compared to conventional fertilization (N-35.6%, P₂O₅-13.32%). Thus, N-P-MIL-156-H-based fertilization significantly promotes rice growth and N/P utilization efficiency, offering a promising strategy for developing controlled-release fertilizers and improving nutrient management. Full article

The recent advancements in blockchain technology have also expanded its applications to smart agricultural fields, leading to increased research and studies in areas such as supply chain traceability systems and insurance systems. Policies and reward systems built on top of centralized systems face several problems and issues, including data integrity issues, modifications in data readings, third-party banking vulnerabilities, and central point failures. The current paper discusses how farming is becoming a leading cause of water and electricity wastage and introduces a novel idea called IncentiveChain. To keep a limit on the usage of resources in farming, we implemented an application for distributing cryptocurrency to the producers, as the farmers are responsible for the activities in farming fields. Launching incentive schemes can benefit farmers economically and attract more interest and attention. We provide a state-of-the-art architecture and design through distributed storage, which will include using edge points and various technologies affiliated with national agricultural departments and regional utility companies to make IncentiveChain practical. We successfully demonstrate the execution of the IncentiveChain application by transferring crypto-ether from utility company accounts to farmer accounts in a decentralized system application. With this system, the ether is distributed to the farmer more securely using the blockchain, which in turn removes third-party banking vulnerabilities and central, cloud, and blockchain constraints and adds data trust and authenticity. Full article

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder for which no curative therapies currently exist. Experimental models employing 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) reproduce PD features such as striatal dopaminergic dysfunction and motor deficits. Various MPTP dosing regimens are used to screen drug candidates for PD, but their validity is limited because of the predominant use of young male animals. Sex bias is another issue that is underrepresented in PD research, since females are more susceptible to this pathology. Here, we studied the model of bolus administration of MPTP (30 mg/kg) in aged female mice and assessed its sensitivity to the antioxidants fullerene C₆₀ and fullerenol C₆₀(OH)₂₄, given that oxidative stress is a key contributor to PD. Methods: 12-month-old female C57BL/6 mice received fullerene (0.1 mg/kg/day, via diet) or fullerenol (0.15 mg/kg/day, via drinking water). On day 10, mice were injected with MPTP. We studied tremor, piloerection, and behavior in the pole test, rotarod, pole test, and open field. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to study dopaminergic neurotransmission, and the expression levels of its molecular regulators and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-related targets were investigated using RT-PCR in the striatum and cortex. Results: MPTP-challenged mice displayed profound impairment in markers of dopaminergic neurotransmission and cellular distress, and showed disrupted motor behavior and vegetative functions. Antioxidant-treated animals that received a bolus injection of MPTP demonstrated partial preservation of tremor response, dopaminergic parameters, and iNOS and nNOS gene expression, although motor performance in the pole test was only modestly improved. Fullerenol appeared more effective in decreasing MPTP-induced neurochemical changes. Conclusions: The applied MPTP model showed its validity in mimicking PD features and was sensitive to low doses of antioxidants, suggesting its usefulness for screening drugs that target oxidative and nitrosative stress. The neuroprotective effects of fullerene-based compounds suggest their potential utility in the treatment of PD. Full article

Metal contamination poses serious environmental and human health risks, which results in the need for low-cost remediation approaches. The utilization of agricultural byproducts for the removal of metal contaminants is considered cost-effective and environmentally sustainable. Garlic byproducts are rich in sulfur-containing compounds, and various functional groups contribute to metal binding. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of garlic stem and peel for the removal of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) from aqueous solutions and for their immobilization in contaminated soils. Batch sorption experiments conducted at pH 7 for 24 h showed that garlic stem removed 71.5% of Cd and 70.8% of Pb, while garlic peel achieved 65.4% and 79.4% removal, respectively. The higher Pb removal by garlic peel might be attributed to its higher sulfur content. However, both byproducts were less effective in removing As(III) and showed negligible removal of As(V), as these species predominantly occur in neutral or negatively charged species at neutral pH, resulting in weak interactions with negatively charged surface functional groups. Soil incubation experiments were conducted using 1% and 5% amendments of garlic stem and peel in Pb- and As-contaminated soils. Extractable Pb concentrations significantly increased in soils treated with 1% garlic peel because of the formation of labile complexes of Pb with dissolved organic carbon. However, a column experiment to evaluate the impact on Pb mobility under saturated and unsaturated conditions showed that Pb concentration in soil pore water decreased with garlic stem. Pb concentration was lower under saturated conditions, possibly due to the precipitation of Pb as PbS. Although the short-term application of raw agricultural byproducts increased extractable metal concentrations, long-term incubation reduced Pb levels in pore water. These findings suggest that unmodified garlic stem is a promising, cost-effective amendment for Pb immobilization in soil. Nevertheless, caution is needed in its application to prevent unintended metal mobilization in soil. Full article

A portable spectral detector for water quality assessment was developed, utilizing potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride standard solutions as the subjects of investigation. By preparing solutions with differing concentrations, spectral data ranging from 254 to 1275 nm was collected and subsequently preprocessed using methods such as multiple scattering correction (MSC), Savitzky–Golay filtering (SG), and standardization (SS). Estimation models were constructed employing modeling algorithms including Support Vector Machine-Multilayer Perceptron (SVM-MLP), Support Vector Regression (SVR), random forest (RF), RF-Lasso, and partial least squares regression (PLSR). The research revealed that the primary variation bands for NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ are concentrated within the 254–550 nm and 950–1275 nm ranges, respectively. For predicting ammonium chloride, the optimal model was found to be the SVM-MLP model, which utilized spectral data reduced to 400 feature bands after SS processing, achieving R² and RMSE of 0.8876 and 0.0883, respectively. For predicting potassium nitrate, the optimal model was the 1D Convolutional Neural Network (1DCNN) model applied to the full band of spectral data after SS processing, with R² and RMSE of 0.7758 and 0.1469, respectively. This study offers both theoretical and technical support for the practical implementation of spectral technology in rapid water quality monitoring. Full article

Marine mammals are important ecological bio-indicators of marine ecosystems impacted by a plethora of anthropogenic and environmental threats. Genomics detects genetic variation, adaptation to environmental shifts, and susceptibility to diseases in marine mammal species. In this study, eDNA was utilized for the first time in the Pagasitikos Gulf over three consecutive years (2022–2024) in order to detect marine mammal species. Additionally, visual monitoring and eDNA results were compared to reveal the pros and cons of the two methodologies. The gulf was zoned into five different areas with respect to oceanographic features for sampling. DNA extraction was assessed by using a standard protocol of phenol–chloroform followed by PCR amplification using the 16S rRNA gene. A total of 5,209,613 highly filtered sequence reads were attributed to 108 species. Among these, Monachus monachus, Tursiops truncatus, and Ziphius cavirostris species were detected. This novel detection of Z. cavirostris in the relatively shallow waters of the Gulf of Pagasitikos raised the question of whether it was a random event or a new ecological trend. Z. cavirostris and M. monachus appeared to share the same marine areas within the gulf. In the era of the climate crisis, eDNA provides essential information on marine mammals’ ecological status, yields novel detections, and predicts behavioral changes essential to deep-diving species. Full article

Accurate short-term forecasting of urban water demand is a persistent challenge for utilities seeking to optimize operations, reduce energy costs, and enhance resilience in smart distribution systems. This study presents a multi-scale Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modeling approach that integrates temporal lag optimization to predict daily and hourly water consumption across heterogeneous user profiles. Using high-resolution smart metering data from the SunRise Smart City Project in Lille, France, four demand nodes were analyzed: a District Metered Area (DMA), a student residence, a university restaurant, and an engineering school. Results demonstrate that incorporating lagged consumption variables substantially improves prediction accuracy, with daily R² values increasing from 0.490 to 0.827 at the DMA and from 0.420 to 0.806 at the student residence. At the hourly scale, the 1-h lag model consistently outperformed other configurations, achieving R² up to 0.944 at the DMA, thus capturing both peak and off-peak consumption dynamics. The findings confirm that short-term autocorrelation is a dominant driver of demand variability, and that ANN-based forecasting enhanced by temporal lag features provides a robust, computationally efficient tool for real-time water network management. Beyond improving forecasting performance, the proposed methodology supports operational applications such as leakage detection, anomaly identification, and demand-responsive planning, contributing to more sustainable and resilient urban water systems. Full article

Aluminum–chromium slag (ACS), a by-product of aluminothermic reduction, which is used to produce metallic chromium and its alloys, contains toxic, carcinogenic hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). Therefore, improper ACS utilization may severely harm human health and the environment. This study analyzed the Cr(VI) contents, leaching characteristics, and surface concentrations in ACS and four industrially utilized products derived from it (fused alumina for refractories, ferrochromium, aluminum–chromium bricks, and high-chromium bricks). A risk assessment framework was established to evaluate their human health and environmental risks. Results showed 111 mg/kg Cr(VI) in the ACS, with its leaching concentration (7.8 mg/L) exceeding China’s hazardous waste standard. The Cr(VI) contents in the products were low (from <2 mg/kg to 16 mg/kg), and their maximum leaching concentration was below the detection limit (<0.004 mg/L). Furthermore, the four products were found to have acceptable levels of human health risk (<10⁻⁵ carcinogenic risk and <1 noncarcinogenic hazard quotient) under two risk assessment methods (particle-contact- and surface-contact-based methods). Additionally, the predicted concentration of leached Cr(VI) in groundwater (0.008 mg/L) was below the drinking water standard (0.05 mg/L). Cr(VI) limit standards for the products were then proposed based on the risk assessment (≤31 mg/kg content, ≤0.189 mg/m² surface concentration, and ≤0.259 mg/L leaching concentration). Overall, these results may provide a reference for the safe utilization and risk management of ACS and other solid wastes. Full article

The utilization of encapsulated biopharmaceuticals, including peptides and proteins, has grown substantially in recent years. In this study, the influence of aliphatic polyester physicochemical properties, specifically crystallinity and hydrophobicity, on the development of protein-loaded microparticles was investigated. A series of polyesters, namely amorphous PDLLA and semicrystalline PLLA, PCL, and PPDL, were synthesized via chemical and enzymatic ring-opening polymerization. Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-loaded microparticles were fabricated using a water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) double emulsion solvent evaporation method. The size of microparticles obtained was determined by scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering methods. The enzymatic degradation of the polymer microparticles was assessed through incubation in a lipase-containing buffer solution. BSA and α-chymotrypsin (ACHT) were used as model proteins for the preparation of encapsulated polymer microspheres and comparison of their characteristics and properties. Protein encapsulation efficacy, release rate, and enzyme activity retained after encapsulation were evaluated and compared for selected aliphatic polyesters. The release profiles were processed with the use of various mathematical models to reveal the possible mechanism(s) of protein release. Full article

After the original support system in the auxiliary transportation roadway of the northern wing of the Zhaoxian Mine failed, the extent of damage and deformation varied significantly across different sections of the drift. A single support method could not meet the engineering requirements. Therefore, this paper conducted research on the classification of roadway damage and zoning repair. The overall damage characteristics of the roadway are described by three indicators: roadway deformation, development of rock mass fractures, and water seepage conditions. These are further refined into nine secondary indicators. In summary, a rock mass damage combination weighting evaluation model based on the FAHP–entropy weight TOPSIS method is proposed. According to this model, the degree of damage to the roadway is divided into five grades. After analyzing the damage conditions and support requirements at each grade, corresponding zoning repair plans are formulated by adjusting the parameters of bolts, cables, channel steel beams, and grouting materials. At the same time, the reliability of partition repair is verified using FLAC3D 6.0 numerical simulation software. Field monitoring results demonstrated that this approach not only met the support requirements for the roadway but also improved the utilization rate of support materials. This provides valuable guidance for the design of support systems for roadways with similar heterogeneous damage. Full article

Vinasse a byproduct of ethanol manufacturing, is a challenge for ethanol producers which possesses a high organic content that presents a considerable environmental threat. This complicates its management and treatment utilizing standard technologies like anaerobic digestion. This residue contains a substantial quantity of dead and lysed yeast cells, which can function as a protein source for livestock’s nutritional needs. The application of multi-effect evaporation enhances the characteristics of this residue by increasing protein concentration, reducing volume, and minimizing water content. This study examines the impact of the five-effect evaporation procedure on vinasse waste, focusing on its rheological properties and the concentrations of proteins, amino acids, RNA, and DNA. This study aims to assess the thermal impacts linked to the evaporation process. The findings of the one-way statistical analysis demonstrate that the five evaporation effects are relevant in the utilization of waste as feed for livestock. The substance has a viscosity of 0.933 Pa s, comprising 6.3 g/100 g of crude protein, 4.08 g/100 g of amino acids, 0.1158 g/L of DNA, and 0.1031 g/L of RNA. Full article

The microbial community in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) is pivotal in fish health, contributing significantly to the productive performance during the growing-out phase. Classical and molecular methods using PCR for species-specific amplifications have traditionally been used for bacterial community surveillance. Unfortunately, these approaches mask the real bacterial diversity and abundance, population dynamics, and prevalence of pathogenic bacteria. In this study, we explored the use of Oxford Nanopore Technology to characterize the microbiota and functional metagenomics in a commercial freshwater RAS. Intestine samples from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar (85 ± 5.7 g)) and water samples from the inlet/outlet water, settling tank, and biofilters were collected. The full-length 16S rRNA gene was sequenced to reconstruct the microbial community, and bioinformatic tools were applied to estimate the functional potential in the RAS and fish microbiota. The analysis showed that bacteria involved in denitrification processes were found in water samples, as well as metabolic pathways related to hydrogen sulfide metabolism. Observations suggested that fish classified as sick exhibited decreased microbial diversity compared with fish without clinical symptomatology (p < 0.05). Proteobacteria were predominant in ill fish, and pathogens of the genera Aeromonas, Aliivibrio, and Vibrio were detected in all intestinal samples. Notably, Aliivibrio wodanis was detected in fish showing abnormal clinical conditions. Healthy salmon showed higher contributions of pathways related to amino acid metabolism and short-chain fatty acid fermentation (p < 0.05), which may indicate more favorable fish conditions. These findings suggest the utility of nanopore sequencing methods in assessing the microbial community in RASs for salmon aquaculture. Full article

Advances in sensor technology have significantly improved the efficiency and precision of agricultural spraying. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are widely utilized for applying plant protection products (PPPs) and fertilizers, offering enhanced spatial control and operational flexibility. This study evaluated the performance of an autonomous UAV-based precision spraying system that applies variable rates based on zone levels defined in a prescription map. The system integrates real-time kinematic global navigation satellite system positioning with a proximity-triggered spray algorithm. Field experiments on a rice field were conducted to assess spray accuracy and fertilization efficacy with liquid fertilizer. Spray deposition patterns on water-sensitive paper showed that the graded strategy distinguished among zone levels, with the highest deposition in high-spray zones, moderate in medium zones, and minimal in no-spray zones. However, entry and exit deviations—used to measure system response delays—averaged 0.878 m and 0.955 m, respectively, indicating slight lags in spray activation and deactivation. Fertilization results showed that higher application levels significantly increased the grain-filling rate and thousand-grain weight (both p < 0.001), but had no significant effect on panicle number or grain count per panicle (p > 0.05). This suggests that increased fertilization primarily enhances grain development rather than overall plant structure. Overall, the system shows strong potential to optimize inputs and yields, though UAV path tracking errors and system response delays require further refinement to enhance spray uniformity and accuracy under real-world applications. Full article

Hydrogen energy offers high energy density and carbon-free combustion, making it a promising fuel for next-generation propulsion and power generation systems. Hydrogen offers approximately three times more energy per unit mass than natural gas, and its combustion yields only water as a byproduct, making it an exceptionally clean and efficient energy source. Materials used in hydrogen-fueled combustion engines must exhibit high thermal stability as well as resistance to corrosion caused by high-temperature water vapor. This study introduces a novel ceramic matrix composite (CMC) designed for such harsh environments. The composite is made of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) fiber-reinforced silicoboron carbonitride [Si(B)CN]. CMCs were fabricated via the polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) method. Multiple PIP cycles, which help to reduce the porosity of the composite and enhance its properties, were utilized for CMC fabrication. The Si(B)CN precursor formed an amorphous ceramic matrix, where the presence of boron effectively suppressed crystallization and enhanced oxidation resistance, offering superior performance than their counter part. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed negligible mass loss (≤3%) after 30 min at 1350 °C. The real-time ablation performance of the CMC sample was assessed using a hydrogen torch test. The material withstood a constant heat flux of 185 W/cm² for 10 min, resulting in a front-surface temperature of ~1400 °C and a rear-surface temperature near 700 °C. No delamination, burn-through, or erosion was observed. A temperature gradient of more than 700 °C between the front and back surfaces confirmed the material’s effective thermal insulation performance during the hydrogen torch test. Post-hydrogen torch test X-ray diffraction indicated enhanced crystallinity, suggesting a synergistic effect of the oxidation-resistant amorphous Si(B)CN matrix and the thermally stable crystalline YSZ fibers. These results highlight the potential of YSZ/Si(B)CN composites as high-performance materials for hydrogen combustion environments and aerospace thermal protection systems. Full article