A risk-averse two-stage stochastic programming model for the biomass supply chain planning problem

This study addresses the problem of designing a sustainable biomass supply chain (BSC) network under uncertainty. The main challenge lies in determining how to optimally locate biomass processing facilities and manage the flow of materials, such as biomass, biogas, fertilizer, and water, while accounting for uncertain factors. A mixed-integer linear programming model is proposed. The model identifies optimal plant locations, determines the quantities of biomass to be delivered and processed for biogas production, and manages the distribution of outputs to agricultural fields. The objective is to minimize transportation and production costs across a two-echelon BSC network. A risk-neutral two-stage stochastic programming (SP) model is presented to incorporate uncertainties associated with electricity demand and transportation costs. In addition, conditional value-at-risk is used as a risk measure in the modeling and robust solutions are obtained by applying a risk-averse two-stage SP model. Sensitivity analysis is performed to support decision-making processes in BSC management. The proposed BSC models are tested in a sustainable BSC network involving two-echelon biomass supply and biorefinery sites in the municipal area of Izmir in T & uuml;rkiye. The empirical study on BSC models confirms that the risk parameters influence the objective function value. The experimental findings prove that BSC risk models provide optimal results with lower costs from a cost minimization perspective

Functional hyper-crosslinked polymers as advanced materials for hydrogen generation via sodium borohydride methanolysis

Air pollution caused by fossil fuels is the biggest problem humanity has ever created, and clean energy sources like hydrogen are seriously needed to solve it. Therefore, in this study, four phenanthrene-based hyper-crosslinked polymers (PTHCP-1–4) were synthesized via Friedel–Crafts alkylation and characterized by FTIR, BET, SEM, XPS, TGA, and zeta potential measurements. The BET surface areas ranged from 518.9 to 908.8 m2 g-1, with PTHCP-4 showing the highest value, while pore volumes varied between 0.24 and 1.60 cm3 g-1. SEM revealed uniform nanoscale particles for PTHCP-2 (mean size 54 nm) and aggregated morphologies for PTHCP-3/4. XPS confirmed incorporation of pyridinic-N (399.3 eV) and phenolic –OH groups, and TGA demonstrated high thermal stability with main degradation above 400 °C. Zeta potentials shifted from +36.3 mV (PTHCP-3) or −6.48 mV (PTHCP-1) to more negative values after reaction, indicating surface interaction with BH4- species. Catalytic tests showed hydrogen generation rates (HGR) up to 34600 mL H2 min-1 gcat-1 (PTHCP-3) with the lowest activation energy (27.22 kJ mol-1). PTHCP-4 retained 95 % of its activity after five cycles, confirming excellent reusability. These results highlight the synergy between surface area, pore structure, and heteroatom functionality in optimizing metal-free catalysts for NaBH4 methanolysis

Evaluation of a commercial ELISA IgG antibody Kit for Orthoflavivirus nilense (West Nile Virus): Screening utility and comparison with virus neutralization test

The diagnostic performance of a commercially available ELISA IgG antibody test for Orthoflavivirus nilense (ONV, formerly West Nile Virus) was evaluated using the virus neutralization (VN) test as the reference method. A total of 494 previously collected human serum samples were analyzed. Of the 40 ELISA IgG antibody positive samples, 38 were confirmed by VN, while VN detected 41 positive samples in total. The ELISA IgG antibody test demonstrated a sensitivity of 92.68 %, specificity of 99.56 %, positive predictive value of 95.00 %, and negative predictive value of 99.34 %, with an overall accuracy of 98.99 %. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed a high discriminative performance (Area Under the Curve (AUC): 0.961). These results suggested that the ELISA IgG antibody test can serve as a rapid, economical, and automation-compatible screening assay for ONV antibody detection in outbreak settings and large-scale surveillance. However, due to potential cross-reactivity with antigenically related flaviviruses, all ELISA-reactive results must be confirmed by VN or plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) in compliance with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) guidance to ensure virus-type-specific antibody identification

Mitochondrial Signaling and Regulation

Mitochondria are ubiquitous organelles that control adenosine triphosphate production, host metabolic pathways, and determine cell fate. Its initial recognized feature is being an energy source, but additional functions have been found over time. It supplies the energy requirements of all cells through oxidative phosphorylation. Additionally, it contributes to cell death apart from these roles. Cell death has been morphologically defined in three types: apoptosis, autophagic cell death, and necrosis. Apoptosis is characterized by a decrease in cell volume, reduced size of the nucleus (pyknosis), and fragmentation (karyorrhexis). Autophagic cell death takes place when the cell forms many vesicles without affecting the nucleus, ultimately leading to its digestion. Necrosis is identified by cell enlargement and the breaking of the plasma membrane, along with the absence of chromatin condensation and disruption of organelle structure.</p

Microplastic Pollution and Risk Evaluation in the Gediz River

Microplastics (MPs), particles less than 5 mm in diameter, enter the aquatic ecosystem through the degradation of larger plastics. They can accumulate in the environment for long periods due to their durability and buoyancy. In this study, a risk assessment of MPs was conducted at five different stations in the Gediz River via a Pollution Load Index (PLI) and a Polymer Hazard Index (PHI) calculated for dry and wet seasons to highlight the risks caused by seasonal variations of pollution levels for different types of MPs in an urban river discharging to Izmir Bay. The results showed that MPs were widespread in the area, with an average abundance of 13-211 units/L/L. During the dry season, the mean number of particles was 67 +/- 57; during the wet season, the mean number of particles decreased to 50 +/- 37. The most common type was polypropylene with 62.4%, followed by Polyethylene and Polyethylene Terephthalate (8.3% and 7.01%). The most abundant MP shapes are fragments and fibers, with 47.1% and 38.5%. During the dry season, PLI values ranged from 0.99 to 2.44, while in the wet period, they ranged from 1.08 to 2.11. Furthermore, PHI values for the MP species detected at each station ranged from 3.81 to 7.91. The results indicated that the Gediz River is a significant MPs source for Izmir Bay and demonstrates a major hazard for its overall ecological condition