Artiles
Open Access
Article
09 January 2026Corrosion Behaviors of Aluminate Coatings on Mg Alloy AE44
Chromate-based corrosion protection, such as that on aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), titanium (Ti), and other alloys, has often been used with some success. Considering the pollution problem associated with chrome, it is necessary to search for an alternative process to conventional chromate coating technology. Plasma electrolytic oxidation processing (PEO) is an emerging, environmentally friendly surface engineering technique. The study in this article was to utilize the PEO technology to deposit aluminate coatings on magnesium alloy AE44 for corrosion protection. Potentiodynamic polarization measurements and electrochemical impedance tests were performed to investigate corrosion behaviors of coated and uncoated AE44 alloy samples immersed in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The surfaces of coated and uncoated samples before and after corrosion tests were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) were used to study the effect of PEO coatings on the surface morphology change of the alloy in association to their corrosion behaviors. The differences in corrosion behaviors under different electrical parameters of aluminate-based coatings on Mg alloy AE44 were elucidated through potentiodynamic polarization measurements, complemented by SEM and EDS analysis.
Open Access
Review
09 January 2026Recent Progress in Organically Modified Silica and Self-Matting Polymers for Coating Applications
The conventional way of reducing the gloss of coating is to use matting agents such as silica, wax, and fillers. The demerits of these matting agents are sedimentation, poor compatibility, and deterioration of mechanical properties over time. Recent advances in organically modified matting agents and self-matting polymers have addressed these limitations by enabling uniform matte finishes without compromising film integrity. Organically modified silica, functionalized with silane or acrylate moieties, has been shown to deliver lower gloss values in the range of 5–14 gloss units at 60°, in contrast to the typically observed >70 gloss units for conventional high-gloss coatings. Similarly, self-matting polymers, particularly waterborne polyurethane (WBPU) and acrylate dispersions, achieve matte effects through intrinsic micro-roughness during film formation. The gloss value achieved with self-matting acrylic resin synthesized using hydrolyzable silane functionality is 6.3 units at 60°. This review emphasizes distinct techniques for organic modifications of matting agents, synthetic approaches for self-matting polymeric architectures, and their applications in the fields of decorative coatings, industrial coatings, and wood coatings.
Open Access
Review
08 January 2026Synthetic Biology-Inspired Biocontainment Strategies of Therapeutic Genetically Engineered Bacteria
With the rapid expansion of synthetic gene technologies and engineered bacteria for disease diagnosis or therapy, biosafety concerns have intensified. Substantial efforts have therefore been directed toward developing biocontainment systems that prevent the unintended release of engineered microorganisms and the horizontal transfer of synthetic genetic elements into natural ecosystems. Recent advances in synthetic biology have yielded a diverse suite of biocontainment strategies, including engineered biosafety genetic circuits, genetic isolation approaches, targeted degradation of genetic material, and physical encapsulation of microbial chassis. Furthermore, the incorporation of unnatural nucleic acids and noncanonical amino acid-based orthogonal replication, transcription, and translation systems has markedly improved the robustness and orthogonality of these containment platforms. In this review, we summarize the latest developments in biocontainment strategies for genetically engineered bacteria and discuss how these innovations may address current and emerging biosafety challenges.
Open Access
Article
08 January 2026A Large-Scale Language Model Based System for Automated Generation of Offshore Wind Power Feasibility Study Reports
Driven by global energy transition goals, the large-scale development of offshore wind power imposes rigid requirements for professionalism, standardization, and timeliness on feasibility study reports (FSR). Traditional manual compilation and existing automated methods fail to meet these requirements due to interdisciplinary complexity, poor process controllability, and insufficient domain adaptation. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a configurable and interpretable offshore wind FSR generation system built on a three-tier framework that encompasses “data support, process orchestration, and quality assurance”. The system integrates a YAML-based workflow architecture, multi-level prompt engineering, and a comprehensive evaluation system. Notably, the introduced “Cyclic Aggregation Mode” enables the iterative generation and logical summarization of multi-subproject data, effectively distinguishing this system from traditional linear text generation models. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed “Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) + Large-scale Language Model (LLM) + Workflow” system outperforms baseline models with key metrics including semantic consistency (0.6592), information coverage (0.3908), structural compliance (0.5123), and an overall score (0.5965). Ablation studies validate the independent contributions of the RAG and Workflow components, thereby establishing the “RAG + LLM + Workflow” paradigm for intelligent professional document generation. This work addresses core challenges related to controllability, accuracy, and interpretability in high-stakes decision-making scenarios while providing a reusable technical pathway for the automated feasibility demonstration of offshore wind power projects.
Open Access
Article
08 January 2026Bioaccessibility Evaluation by In Vitro Digestion of Microencapsulated Extracts of Habanero Pepper Leaves Obtained Through an Optimized Spray-Drying Process
Habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) leaves, a major by-product of pepper cultivation in the Yucatán Peninsula, are an underexploited source of phenolic compounds with relevant antioxidant potential. In this work, phenolic-rich extracts obtained with a choline chloride–glucose Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES) and ultrasound-assisted extraction were microencapsulated by spray-drying using maltodextrin and Guar gum. The microcapsules were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy, total polyphenol content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity (Ax), and were subsequently subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion to assess their bioaccessibility. Raman spectra confirmed the formation of a maltodextrin–Guar-gum matrix with broad glycosidic bands (480–1450 cm−1) and CH-stretching at ≈2900 cm−1, indicative of polymer–phenolic interactions. From de experimental design, the formulation containing 5% Guar gum at 100 °C reached the highest intestinal TPC (31.00 ± 0.30 mg GAE/100 g powder) and increased TPC bioaccessibility at the intestinal phase (283.28 ± 3.22%), evidencing efficient enzymatic release of bound phenolics. The greatest pre-digestion antioxidant capacity (19.56 ± 0.33% DPPH inhibition) corresponded to 7.5% GG at 104 °C, while intestinal antioxidant recovery peaked at 17.34 ± 0.14% (7.8% GG, 89.4 °C). The optimal TPC bioaccessibility value obtained was 358.3%, under optimal spray-drying conditions, consisting of 4% guar gum and an inlet temperature of 104 °C. Overall, the synergy between NADES-based extraction and optimized spray-drying enabled a stable, digestion-responsive encapsulation system that substantially enhanced phenolic retention and intestinal bioaccessibility, supporting its application as a sustainable strategy to valorize C. chinense leaves into antioxidant-rich functional ingredients.
Open Access
Article
07 January 2026Using a MOF of Wetted Quasi [Zn4O(bdc)3] as Both the Battery Separator and the Electrolyte to Prepare All-Solid-State Batteries of Both ASS-LTO/Li and ASS-Gr/Li
For the first time, a well-defined all-solid-state lithium battery (denoted as ASS-LTO/Li) assembled by an electrode of lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12, LTO), a metal-organic framework (MOF) of wetted quasi [Zn4O(bdc)3] and a metallic lithium foil is prepared in this work, in which the wetted quasi [Zn4O(bdc)3] is not only employed as a separator but also used as the solid-state electrolyte. The initial charge and discharge capacities of the as-prepared ASS-LTO/Li at 0.2 C are as high as 187.4 and 286.4 mAh·g−1, respectively, corresponding to a Coulombic efficiency of about 65.4%. More importantly, the discharge capacity of ASS-LTO/Li after 100 cycles at 1 C is still as high as 125 mAh·g−1. After a thorough characterization, the greatly attenuated CV peak area, the evidently increased charge transfer resistance, as well as the decomposition of the quais [Zn4O(bdc)3] during cycling, are analyzed to be the main reasons providing the ASS-LTO/Li with an evident decay of the electrochemical performance in the long-term test of 100 cycles at 1 C. An all-solid-state battery (denoted as ASS-Gr/Li) that is constructed by a pure graphite electrode (abbreviated as Gr), a wetted quasi [Zn4O(bdc)3], and a metallic lithium foil is also prepared in this work. The initial discharge capacity of ASS-Gr/Li at 0.2 A·g−1 is about 169 mAh·g−1, a value evidently lower than the theoretical value of graphite (372 mAh·g−1). The discharge capacity of ASS-Gr/Li at 1.0 A·g−1 is about 24 mAh·g−1, which decreases to about 12 mAh·g−1 after 100 cycles. Although the battery performances of the above two newly developed batteries are poor as compared to the state-of-the-art all-solid-state lithium batteries reported recently, this work sheds light on a novel approach for the further exploration of all-solid-state lithium battery.
Open Access
Article
04 January 2026Relationship between Pushing Force and Improvement in Total Active Motion in Training with Finger Extensor Facilitation Training Device “iPARKO-2”
The recovery of hand function in chronic stroke survivors is challenging because of finger complexity and post-stroke spasticity. This study developed iPARKO-2, a novel device that simulates the manual finger extensor facilitation technique while overcoming the limitations of the original device. iPARKO-2 enables the simultaneous fixation of the index through the little fingers and applies resistance from the proximal phalanges, allowing training in patients with strong fingertip spasticity. This study is a pilot study aimed at technical validation and feasibility. Five participants underwent training at three distinct target-pushing force levels. Concurrently, their active range of motion and extensor muscle activity were measured. The results show a direct correlation between the increased pushing force and the improvement in total active motion. Furthermore, the level of muscle activity exhibited a positive correlation with the extent of the observed improvement. iPARKO-2 also reduced the fixation time and enhanced usability. These findings suggest that iPARKO-2 effectively enhances voluntary hand movements and that pushing force is a key factor in determining training efficacy.
Open Access
Article
04 January 2026Valuing Family Farming in Portugal through the Family Farming Statute
Many family farmers depend on public support to maintain their activity, which highlights the need to review the challenges associated with their farming system and marketing. The importance of family farming reinforces the need to include this sector in agricultural, environmental, and social policies, identifying opportunities and promoting the necessary changes to ensure more equitable and balanced development. In Portugal, in 2018, the Family Farming Statute was established to distinguish, recognise, and value family farming through specific local support measures. In this study, farmers with the Family Farming Statute in the North of Portugal were characterised. Interviews were conducted using questionnaires, and the indicators/requirements currently provided in the statute were analysed. Based on the literature review, new indicators have been suggested to help increase the number of family farmers included in the Statute. Despite being a good policy to support family farming, the Family Farming Statute needs revision to ensure wider inclusion. Support should be more attractive and comprehensive, including economic support, technical assistance, training programmes, local marketing channels, valorisation of traditional products, and short supply chains.
Open Access
Article
31 December 2025Diversity and Community Structure of Birds in Urbanized Habitats of a City in the Arid Zone in South-Western Africa
Towns and cities may provide suitable habitats for wildlife, including birds. In Africa, ecological studies on avian communities are, however, rare. Namibia is an exception to the rule, but even here, there is still an urgent need to conduct such studies in various urban habitats. This study has been conducted on breeding bird communities in Windhoek, the largest city in the country. Bird communities were quantified in five distinguished habitats by means of the line transect method. In total, 16 transects were designed, with a total length of 82.8 km. The studies were conducted in August 2020. The avian assemblage was composed of 32–45 resident (breeding) bird species in various habitats of the city, with 4–7 dominant species distinguished in each habitat. In all distinguished habitats, granivores comprised more than half of all birds recorded. Frugivores comprised 20.4–28.0% in most habitats. In most habitats, birds nesting on trees or shrubs comprised at least 50%, except for the city centre, where they comprised only 30.6%. On the other hand, only in the city center, species nesting on/in buildings comprised as much as 68.2%; in all other habitats their contribution ranged between 39.2% and 48.5%. The Shannon’s Diversity Index ranged slightly between 1.17 and 1.26. Also the Pielou’s Evenness Index was much the same (0.31–0.36) in all habitats investigated.
Open Access
Article
31 December 2025Comparative Transcriptome Analyses Highlight Distinct Pathogenetic Mechanisms for Pleuropulmonary Blastoma and Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformations
Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) and congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM) are two rare cystic lung diseases occurring in childhood. PPB can evolve from a low-grade epithelial cyst lesion to a high-grade sarcoma with a poor prognosis, whereas CPAM usually has a favorable non-tumorous outcome. Clinical similarities complicate diagnosis and may delay appropriate care. PPB is associated with DICER1 mutations that disturb miRNA biogenesis, altering the miRNA repertoire. Conversely, KRAS mutations are detected in CPAM, but their implication remains unclear. To decipher the mechanisms underlying these diseases, we undertook a comprehensive analysis of molecular variations in CPAM and PPB lung lesions using genome-wide RNA-seq and miRNA-seq assays. Each pathology displayed a distinct expression profile revealing a unique etiology. CPAM presented misexpression of bronchial epithelial markers correlating with KRAS mutation, while changes in expression of distal lung epithelial and mesenchymal markers were PPB-specific. PPB also exhibited abnormal gain of expression of developmental transcription factors, likely due to perturbed Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) activity. Overexpression of miR-323a-3p, which targets the PRC2 subunit EED, correlated with decreased EED expression. Together, these observations propose a PPB pathogenetic mechanism connecting DICER1 mutations and altered miRNA profile to defective PRC2 activity, misexpression of developmental transcription factors, and cancer.
