Found 369 results
Open Access
Article
13 March 2026Beneficial Effects of Food Containing Lactononadecapeptide on Memory Function in Elderly Japanese Subjects—A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
With the extension of average life expectancy, diseases accompanied by cognitive and memory impairments, such as dementia, are increasing. The risk of dementia has been suggested to decrease with an increase in the intake of milk and dairy products. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of consuming test food containing lactononadecapeptide (LNDP) on memory and attention in healthy elderly Japanese subjects aged 65 years or older over 24 weeks. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial was conducted, and memory function was evaluated using the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) test and the total score of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Based on the results of the ROCF test and SDMT, the repeated intake of the test food significantly improved memory function in elderly subjects. Therefore, the repeated intake of test food containing LNDP may improve memory and attention in elderly Japanese individuals with mild cognitive decline.
Open Access
Research Highlight
12 March 2026A Novel Approach to Synthesis Alkyd Resin from Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (rPET)
Reducing carbon footprints is an essential requirement in the chemical industry. Researchers are concentrating on creating sustainable products derived from renewable resources or waste materials. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste significantly contributes to carbon footprints; the chemical recycling of PET waste possesses extensive opportunities within the chemical sector. For instance, PET waste can be transformed into valuable alkyd resin, which is utilized in the production of oil-based paints. This research work focuses on the synthesis of long oil alkyd resin using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET). As the incorporation of rPET in alkyd resin has several limitations such as two-step synthesis, inability to produce long oil alkyd, and long drying time. To overcome these limitations, a novel synthesis route has been devised to produce long oil alkyd resin. In this study, three long oil alkyd resins were synthesized, each containing varying amounts of rPET. The presence of rPET in the alkyd resins was confirmed by spectroscopic techniques. To assess the impact of rPET content on alkyd resin, physicochemical properties, performance testing, and instrumental analysis have been conducted. A comparison is made between these resins and the benchmark long oil alkyd resin, and the results are discussed. Furthermore, to synergize the coating applications, viscoelastic behavior and mechanical properties of the dried films were assessed, including exterior durability. Alkyd resin containing 8% rPET shows performance properties that are comparable to the benchmark alkyd resin. This alkyd requires 80 min for surface drying and 4 h to reach a tack-free state. It has a gloss value of 86 at 20° angle. The scratch hardness is recorded as 900 g, while the gloss retention stands at 88.34% following 240 h of QUV exposure. This novel synthesis route helps to incorporate the rPET in the alkyd backbone with reduced carbon footprint to meet the goal of sustainability and the circular economy.
Open Access
Article
11 March 2026Aerial Remote Sensing for Precision Archaeology Using RGB–Multispectral Image Fusion of UAS Data
Precision Archaeology leverages advanced technologies, such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), for documenting archaeological sites with high spatial resolution and accuracy. This paper presents a reproducible RGB–multispectral (MS) image-fusion workflow for Precision Archaeology, combining PPK-based georeferencing with quantitative assessment of product accuracy and spectral preservation. Within this framework, the repeatability of the results produced by the UAS data fusion method confirms its reliability and establishes it as a valuable documentation tool. Among the experimental applications conducted to date, this paper adds two more: the Sanctuary of Eukleia at Aigai and the funerary ensemble in the Philippi plain, where Aerial Remote Sensing was performed using a UAS equipped with a Post-Processed Kinematic (PPK)–Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver. A ground-based GNSS receiver was used to measure control points (CPs) and the base point used to correct the coordinates of the UAS image acquisition centers using the PPK method. For both archaeological sites, RGB and MS stereoscopic images were acquired from flight altitudes of 60 and 100 m, respectively, achieving an overall theoretical solution accuracy of under 2 cm. Digital surface models (DSMs) were generated with spatial resolutions of approximately 2 cm for the RGB and about 14 cm for the MS images, along with orthophotomosaics with spatial resolutions of roughly 1 cm for RGB and 7 cm for MS images. In the final stage, image fusion of the RGB and MS orthophotomosaics was applied, improving the spatial resolution of the MS orthophotomosaics from 7 cm to approximately 1 cm, while simultaneously preserving nearly all the original spectral information in the new fused images. Spectral preservation was quantified via band-wise correlation between the original MS and fused images (≈0.99 average for the Philippi dataset; ≈0.85 average for Aigai, likely influenced by a ~45 min RGB–MS acquisition gap and corresponding shadow/illumination differences). These new images can be used for classification purposes, enabling the identification of different materials and the detection of archaeological feature pathology with optimal spatial resolution and accuracy.
Open Access
Article
10 March 2026Solvent-Centric Sustainability Framework for Pharmaceutical Process Chemistry: Integrated Metrics, Circularity, and Digital Tools Demonstrated Through a Sertraline Case Study
Solvents dominate mass input, energy demand, and environmental impact in pharmaceutical manufacturing, yet solvent selection and recovery are often evaluated using fragmented or non-comparable metrics. Here, we present a solvent-centric sustainability framework that integrates mass-based indicators with life-cycle and energy metrics to enable transparent comparison of conventional and redesigned solvent systems. The framework harmonizes Process Mass Intensity (PMI), circular PMI (cPMI), Global Warming Potential (GWP), and Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) within consistent cradle-to-gate system boundaries, supported by literature-derived data, machine-learning (ML) models, and digital-twin–based sustainability assessment tools. The methodology is demonstrated using Sertraline as a representative solvent-intensive active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). A simplified, literature-based synthesis route contextualizes solvent use across key reaction and isolation steps. Targeted solvent substitutions—most notably replacement of tetrahydrofuran, chlorinated solvents, and dipolar aprotic media with 2-methyltetrahydrofuran and ethanol-based systems—are evaluated alongside enhanced solvent recovery and catalytic hydrogenation. Relative to the solvent-dominant subsequence of the synthesis (PMI ≈ 78 kg·kg−1 API), for which detailed solvent mass-balance data are available, the redesigned solvent strategy reduces PMI to approximately 45 kg·kg−1 API, achieves a cPMI of 6–10 at ≥80% solvent recovery, and consistently decreases GWP and CED. By explicitly mapping solvent redesign outcomes to the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, this study demonstrates how solvent-focused interventions, supported by predictive digital tools with excellent agreement between modelled and empirical trends, can deliver substantial sustainability improvements without modifying the underlying synthetic route or relying on proprietary process data. While not intended as an industrial benchmark, the Sertraline case study illustrates how harmonized metrics, life-cycle thinking, and AI-enabled digital assessment can support evidence-based solvent selection and sustainability-oriented process development in API manufacturing.
Open Access
Communication
09 March 2026Detailed Analyses of Light Intensity Dependence to Uncover Multielectron Oxygen-Reduction Mechanism by Platinum-Loaded Tungsten(VI) Oxide
Elucidation of the mechanism of multielectron transfer reactions, such as photocatalytic water oxidation and oxygen reduction, is essential for achieving high efficiency in the utilization of sustainable solar energy. Herein, we demonstrate that photocatalytic oxygen reduction on platinum-loaded tungsten(VI) oxide (Pt/WO3) photocatalyst proceeds predominantly by two-electron transfer pathway under conventional light-intensity conditions. Light intensity-dependence analyses of the acetic acid decomposition reaction revealed the role of the Pt co-catalyst in enhancing overall quantum efficiency. We also report for the first time that the reaction can be initiated even on bare WO3, in addition to Pt, under extremely high light-intensity conditions.
Open Access
Article
06 March 2026Bioeconomy, Green Transition and Environmental Sustainability: The Roccamonfina Area in the Campania Region (Italy)
The paper aims to contribute to planning decisions, policies, strategies, and management of inland areas affected by a protected natural area in the Campania region (Italy). Inland and rural areas, often affected by depopulation and economic decline, can and must be a crucial resource in the ecological transition. At a time when urbanisation is expected to increase, the bioeconomy offers a way to repopulate rural areas, promoting a transition to a more sustainable and inclusive production model and making the best use of the resources already present in the area. A significant example of the circular bioeconomy in action is the Campania region, which has been designated as a hub for a series of European projects currently underway that aim to integrate innovation, sustainability, and social inclusion. In this context, the area chosen is Roccamonfina, a volcanic area that has been inactive for thousands of years, with forests at the top and very fertile foothills. The area, which is part of the province of Caserta, one of the five provinces of the Campania Region (Italy), is characterised by a sparse human presence and by abandonment, in which local communities alone are unable to create conditions for sustainable development. The methodological approach starts from an analysis of the territory and gives priority to landscape, environmental, socio-economic, productive, and cultural characteristics, using a SWOT analysis. This approach aims to define policy scenarios to promote conditions for sustainable development. The results achieved in the study are designed to be scalable to similar areas.
Open Access
Article
05 March 2026Light-Guided Autonomous Drone Navigation for Indoor GPS-Denied Environments
Autonomous drones operating in indoor environments cannot rely on the global positioning system (GPS) signals for precise navigation due to severe signal attenuation and multipath interference in GPS-denied spaces. This paper presents a novel Li-Fi-based optical positioning, and combined with high-sensitivity photodiode sensor arrays, to enable robust drone guidance in challenging indoor environments where conventional radio-frequency localization fails. The proposed system uses strategically distributed ceiling-mounted Light Emitting Diode (LED) luminaires across the operational space, each transmitting unique identification codes through high-frequency light modulation at rates imperceptible to human vision, thereby maintaining dual functionality for simultaneous illumination and positioning. Unlike existing VLC positioning studies that focus on static receivers, our system integrates real-time optical localization directly into the UAV control loop at 120 Hz, achieving closed-loop autonomous navigation without GPS or RF assistance. The system demonstrates sub-decimetric positioning accuracy (<8 cm), low latency (4.2 ms), and operates successfully on resource constrained micro-UAV platforms (250 g quadcopter with STM32 microcontroller. OpenELAB Technology Ltd., Garching bei München, Germany). Experimental validation includes complex 3D trajectory tracking, multi-room scalability analysis, and quantitative comparison with existing localization technologies, confirming the viability of Li-Fi guided autonomous flight for practical indoor application.
Open Access
Review
05 March 2026Reverse Polarity Protection in Photovoltaic Systems: A Review
In photovoltaic (PV) systems, precise wiring connections are critical to ensuring safe operation. Thus, effective reverse polarity protection is the first line of defense against polarity reversal caused by wiring errors. This paper systematically reviews existing methods for protecting PV systems against reverse polarity. First, the operating principles of PV side reverse polarity protection techniques are analyzed, along with their advantages and limitations. Additionally, DC-bus side protection methods are examined, and the effectiveness of different approaches is evaluated. Overall, this review provides researchers with the latest advances in reverse polarity protection for PV systems.
Open Access
Review
04 March 2026Vena Cava Occlusion Reveals Site-Specific Preload Dynamics: Implications for Volume Management in Heart Failure
Heart failure (HF) is marked by impaired ventricular function, neurohormonal activation, and volume overload. While therapies target remodeling and neurohormonal pathways, preload management remains pivotal for symptom relief and preventing decompensation. Pressure–volume (PV) loop analysis enables precise characterization of cardiac performance during acute loading changes. To define the differential hemodynamic impact of transient inferior vena cava occlusion (IVCO) versus superior vena cava occlusion (SVCO) using PV loop analysis in a large-animal model. Controlled IVCO and SVCO were performed in healthy animals to reduce preload. PV-derived indices included stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), end-systolic elastance (Ees), volume-axis intercept (V₀), and preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW). IVCO, removing ~70% of venous return, produced a marked leftward PV loop shift, decreased SV and CO, and a near-zero V₀, consistent with near-complete ventricular unloading. The end-systolic pressure–volume relationship steepened, suggesting an acute compensatory inotropic response, though Ees remained unchanged, indicating preserved intrinsic contractility. In contrast, SVCO (~30% venous return) caused only modest PV loop shifts, with preserved end-diastolic volume and stable or slightly rightward V₀. Across both interventions, preload, not intrinsic contractility, accounted for changes in mechanical work and PRSW. IVCO and SVCO elicit distinct preload-dependent hemodynamic profiles. Interpretation of PV loop–derived metrics must account for dynamic loading conditions. These findings provide mechanistic insight into acute volume regulation and warrant validation in HF-specific models to inform decongestive management strategies.
Open Access
Article
04 March 2026Effects of Mid-Infrared Light Intervention on Mood, Executive Control and Autonomic Nervous System Activity in Young Adults with Sub-Clinical Psychological Distress: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Mid-infrared light on executive control functions and autonomic nervous system dysregulation in early adulthood in screen-positive for depression and general psychological symptoms group. The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and the Depression Screening Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were administered online to 74 adolescent participants aged 18–22 years. Functional near-infrared brain imaging (fNIRS) was used to test brain function during the Stroop task, and heart rate variability (HRV) devices were used to test the autonomic nervous system. After a two-week Mid-infrared light intervention, subjects showed significant improvement in their depressive symptoms and psychological distress. The mean strength of brain functional connectivity was much more increased in the screening positive group, and significantly decreased after intervention. HRV measure showed significant differences across several indicators: LF, HF, LF/HF, SDNN, and RMSSD between screening positive and health control, and significant improvements in several key indicators: LF/HF, RMSSD, and HF after intervention. This integration of mood, HRV, and functional brain imaging data provides a comprehensive view of Mid-infrared light interventions, which can restore autonomic balance and enhance cognitive efficiency, highlighting its potential as a non-pharmacological approach worthy of further investigation for regulating mood and cognitive function. It is important to underscore that this study is exploratory and hypothesis-generating in nature. The modest sample size from a single population limits generalizability. The lack of pre-registration and the control condition, which did not fully mimic the device’s placebo effect, are notable limitations. Consequently, all findings should be interpreted as preliminary, serving primarily to generate hypotheses and guide the design of more definitive future studies, rather than to inform direct clinical practice. Future research necessitates larger-scale, pre-registered, double-blind, sham-controlled trials to verify these initial observations.
