Advances in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Based Sensing and Imaging.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based sensing and imaging represent a cutting-edge approach to addressing the critical need for the real-time, accurate, and automated data collection and analysis of physical events on Earth's surface [...

Beneficial modulation of the gut microbiome by leachates of Penicillium purpurogenum in the presence of clays: A model for the preparation and efficacy of historical Lemnian Earth.

The experiments presented here are based on the reconfiguration of an ancient medicine, Lemnian Earth (LE) (terra sigillata, stamped earth, sphragis), an acclaimed therapeutic clay with a 2500-year history of use. Based on our hypothesis that LE was not a natural material but an artificially modified one involving a clay-fungus interaction, we present results from experiments involving the co-culture of a common fungus, Penicillium purpurogenum (Pp), with two separate clay slurries, smectite and kaolin, which are the principal constituents of LE. Our results show: (a) the leachate of the Pp+smectite co-culture is antibacterial in vitro, inhibiting the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; (b) in vivo, supplementation of regular mouse diet with leachates of Pp+smectite increases intestinal microbial diversity; (c) Pp+kaolin does not produce similar results; (d) untargeted metabolomics and analysis of bacterial functional pathways indicates that the Pp+smectite-induced microbiome amplifies production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and amino acid biosynthesis, known to modulate intestinal and systemic inflammation.

Water-Gas Shift over Pt Nanoparticles Dispersed on CeO and Gadolinium-Doped Ceria (GDC) Supports with Specific Nano-Configurations.

The water-gas shift (WGS) reaction is one of the most significant reactions in hydrogen technology since it can be used directly to produce hydrogen from the reaction of CO and water; it is also a side reaction taking place in the hydrocarbon reforming processes, determining their selectivity towards H production. The development of highly active WGS catalysts, especially at temperatures below ~450 °C, where the reaction is thermodynamically favored but kinetically limited, remains a challenge. From a fundamental point of view, the reaction mechanism is still unclear.

Nickel-induced multimetal uptake in two microalgal species (Chlorella sorokiniana and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) and its effect on growth and lipid unsaturation.

As the concern for Ni contamination in the aquatic environment escalates, efforts for microalgal use in environmental monitoring and bioremediation are increasing. This study aims to evaluate the potential of Chlorella sorokiniana and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for Ni bioremediation by investigating their physiological stress responses in Ni-contaminated environments. The analysis focuses on how Ni(II) uptake affects cell growth, nutrient metal homeostasis, and lipid unsaturation levels, as these parameters are critical indicators of metabolic stability and resilience essential for effective bioremediation.

The smartHEALTH European Digital Innovation Hub experiences and challenges for accelerating the transformation of public and private organizations within the innovation ecosystem.

Digital innovation can significantly enhance public health services, environmental sustainability, and social welfare. To this end, the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) initiative was funded by the European Commission and national governments aiming to facilitate the digital transformation on various domains (including health) via the setup of relevant ecosystems consisting of academic institutions, research centres, start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises, larger companies, public organizations, technology transfer offices, innovation clusters, and financial institutions. The ongoing goal of the EDIHs initiative is to bridge the gap between high-tech research taking place in universities and research centres and its deployment in real-world conditions by fostering innovation ecosystems.

Bacterial clustering amplifies the reshaping of eutrophic plumes around marine particles: A hybrid data-driven model.

Multifaceted interactions between marine bacteria and particulate matter exert a major control over the biogeochemical cycles in the oceans. At the microbial scale, free-living bacteria benefit from encountering and harnessing the plumes around nutrient-releasing particles, like phyto-plankton and organic aggregates. However, our understanding of the bacterial potential to reshape these eutrophic microhabitats remains poor, in part because of the traditional focus on fast-moving particles that generate ephemeral plumes with lifetime shorter than the uptake timescale.

Temporal trends in online searches related to COVID-19 vaccine safety: A digital infodemiology study.

Background: The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines may have raised public concerns about their safety and side effects in the United States (US). This study aimed to assess trends in online searches related to the safety and side effects of COVID-19 vaccines in the US from 2021-2022.

Methods: Google COVID-19 Vaccination Search Insights was used to analyze searches about COVID-19 vaccine safety and side effects in the US from January 4, 2021, to November 21, 2022 (98 weeks).

Vacuum-assisted headspace solid phase microextraction for monitoring ripening-induced changes in tomato volatile profile.

This work proposes, for the first time, the use of vacuum-assisted headspace solid phase microextraction (Vac-HS-SPME) for studying the free volatiles in tomato fruits. Initially, a comparative optimization between Vac-HS-SPME and regular HS-SPME was conducted, examining the effects of sampling time (15-60 min) and temperature (40 and 60°C) on the extraction of 29 target compounds from tomato puree samples. Compared to regular HS-SPME, sampling under vacuum resulted in the detection of nine additional analytes at 40°C, and an extra three at 60°C.

Aqueous Dispersion of Xenes by Liquid Phase Exfoliation of Monoelemental Crystals in Melamine Solution.

Αfter the impressive evolution of graphene and its derivatives, a large number of two dimensional (2D) materials with important optical and electrical properties have been successfully fabricated. Liquid phase exfoliation (LPE) of layered and non-layered materials has become a widely applied method for the preparation of 2D nanostructures with an extensive variety of applications. However, in most cases organic solvents are used as liquid phase which are often toxic and environmentally unfriendly and lead to low yields.

Analyzing LinkedIn data to explore the relationships between sustainable development goals, circular economy, and electoral dynamics.

In 2015, all United Nations Member States adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the 2030 agenda. Addressing the issue of employing alternative data sources for exploring aspects of utilizing said goals, this paper explores the Circular Economy dimension within the SDG12 score, focusing on responsible production and consumption and the broader SDG index. Data from LinkedIn are collected, examining profiles, companies, job postings, and services using the keywords 'Sustainable Development Goals' and 'Circular Economy'.

Assessing the effects of landcover and land use change on wildfire exposure and risk to communities and olive orchards in Mediterranean landscapes.

A growing concern in the Mediterranean region is that recent landcover and land use change is increasing wildfire risk, or the exposure and impacts of wildfire to valued resources. However, the magnitude of these effects is not well understood given the widely diverse landscapes of communities, natural vegetation, and agricultural land. In this study, we use wildfire simulation modeling to assess how landcover and land use changes in three areas of southern Greece have affected exposure of- and fire risk to- communities and economically important permanent agriculture such as Olea europaea (European olive) orchards.

Paclitaxel-Loaded, Pegylated Carboxylic Graphene Oxide with High Colloidal Stability, Sustained, pH-Responsive Release and Strong Anticancer Effects on Lung Cancer A549 Cell Line.

: Graphene Oxide (GO) has shown great potential in biomedical applications for cancer therapeutics. The biosafety and stability issues of GO in biological media have been addressed by functionalization with polyethylene glycol (PEG). : In this work, carboxylated, nanosized GO (nCGO) was evaluated as a potential carrier of paclitaxel (PCT).

Optimization of complexing membranes for platinum analysis in water at part per trillion levels by X-ray fluorescence.

Background: Platinum is a critical metal, especially in medicine and catalysis. Its concentration in aquatic ecosystems may gradually affect aquatic animals due to its ability to bioaccumulate. Additionally, the recycling of platinum has become crucial, so new extraction methods are needed.

A classification system based on improved global exploration and convergence to examine student psychological fitness.

Anxiety is an important issue that affects their academic performance, mental health, and overall educational journey. To address this issue, it is important to accurately assess anxiety levels and provide evidence-based techniques. However, due to the complexity of anxiety and individual differences, analyzing clustering algorithms to efficiently classify psychological levels is challenging.

Is in-situ burning an acceptable mitigation option after a major oil spill? Impact on marine plankton.

Major oil spills can impose a significant environmental hazard on the marine ecosystem, and a promising mitigation measure is in-situ oil burning (ISB). However, our knowledge of the impact of the burned residues and soot deposition on the marine ecosystem is still limited. We investigated the effects of burned oil residue and soot deposition on the marine plankton communities of the oligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean Sea with a mesocosm experiment.

Preparation, characterization, and applications of kaolin/kaolin-based composite membranes in oily wastewater treatment: Recent developments, challenges, and opportunities.

Rapid industrialization and the accompanying generation of significant amounts of oily wastewater pose major environmental challenges, which necessitate efficient treatment technologies. Kaolin-based membranes have emerged as a promising option due to their availability, affordability, and effective filtration performance. This review comprehensively analyzes the potential of kaolin for the treatment of oily wastewater.

Trends in racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in substance use disorders mortality in the United States, 2000-2019.

Background And Objectives: Substance use disorders (SUD) are a major public health concern in the United States. This study examined racial/ethnic and state-level disparities in SUD mortality in the United States from 2000 to 2019.

Methods: Age-standardized mortality rates for SUD were obtained for 5 racial/ethnic groups (White respondents, Black respondents, Latino, Asian-Pacific Islander [API], American Indian/Alaska Native [AIAN]) by state and sex from 2000 to 2019.

Revisiting the concept, urban practices, current advances, and future prospects of green infrastructure.

The inevitable increase in the human population's reliance on natural resources necessitates practical, and result-oriented solutions and strategies to enhance human's standard of living while minimizing its impact on essential resources. The global water resource depletion has spurred discourse among key international stakeholder in uniting efforts to achieve sustainability. For decades, the application of a combination of key strategies which relies on designing cities to promote the sustainable use of water and water resources have received global endorsement.

Distinct Communities of Bacteria and Unicellular Eukaryotes in the Different Water Masses of Cretan Passage Water Column (Eastern Mediterranean Sea).

Elucidating marine microbiota diversity and dynamics holds significant importance due to their role in maintaining vital ecosystem functions and services including climate regulation. This work aims to contribute in the understanding of microbial ecology and networking in one of the world's most understudied marine regions, the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. High-throughput 16S and 18S rRNA gene sequencing analysis was applied to study the diversity of bacteria and unicellular eukaryotes in the different water masses of the Cretan Passage during two seasonally-different sampling expeditions.

Industrial circular water use practices through the application of a conceptual water efficiency framework in the process industry.

Increased industrial water demand and resource depletion require the incorporation of sustainable and efficient water and wastewater management solutions in the industrial sector. Conventional and advanced treatment technologies, closed-water loops at different levels from an industrial process to collaborative networks among industries within the same or another sector and digital tools and services facilitate the materialization of circular water use practices. To this end, the scope of this paper is the application of the Conceptual Water Efficiency Framework (CWEF), which has been developed within the AquaSPICE project aspiring to enhance water circularity within industries in a holistic way.

Investigating the effect of hydraulic residence time, artificial aeration and plants presence on different constructed wetland designs treating oil industry effluent.

Constructed Wetlands (CW) have gained popularity over the last decades due to their cost-effectiveness, easy and simple operation and environmental compatibility in wastewater treatment. This ecological engineering technology appears particularly ideal for low-income regions. In this study, three widely used CW types (horizontal flow, vertical flow, and hybrid CW) were constructed and evaluated for their effectiveness in removing various pollution parameters (BOD, COD, TSS, NH-N, NO-N, and TP) from an industrial effluent.

The fate of airborne microfibers in the human respiratory tract in different microenvironments.

Αirborne microplastics (MPs) are considered an important exposure hazard to humans, especially in the indoor environment. Deposition and clearance of MPs in the human respiratory tract (HRT) was investigated using the ExDoM2 dosimetry model, modified to incorporate the deposition and clearance of MPs fibers. Fiber deposition was calculated via the fiber equivalent aerodynamic diameter determined using their properties such as size, density and dynamic shape factor.