J, Volume 7, Issue 4 (December 2024) – 8 articles

The process of siting municipal solid waste landfills in Greece faces significant challenges due to land resource limitations, the country’s mountainous and water-permeable terrain, and strong public opposition. This study introduces a novel methodology for optimizing landfill sites on Lemnos Island in the North Aegean Sea using a Fuzzy Spatial Multiple Criteria Analysis (FSMCA) approach. By combining fuzzy sets theory, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), spatial autocorrelation, spatial clustering and sensitivity analysis, this methodology addresses the uncertainties and complexities inherent in landfill siting. The decision problem is structured hierarchically into five levels to manage multiple criteria effectively. Criteria weights are determined using AHP, with discrete criteria graded according to Greek and EU guidelines, and continuous criteria evaluated through fuzzy sets theory. The region’s suitability is assessed using multiple criteria analysis, revealing that 9.7% of Lemnos Island is appropriate for landfill placement. Sensitivity analysis confirms the robustness of the methodology to changes in criteria weights. The case study demonstrates the practical application and benefits of FSMCA in a real-world scenario, underscoring its potential to improve sustainable waste management practices and inform policy making. Full article

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, presents a growing health challenge in Spain. This review examines the current understanding of IBD through the lens of genetics, epigenetics, and metabolism, offering insights into future directions for research and clinical management. Recent advancements in genetic studies have identified numerous susceptibility loci, highlighting the complex interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental triggers. Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone modification, further elucidate the pathogenesis of IBD, underscoring the role of gene–environment interactions. Metabolic alterations, particularly in the gut microbiome, emerge as crucial factors influencing disease onset and progression. The integration of multi-omics approaches has enhanced our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms underlying IBD, paving the way for personalized medicine. Looking forward, this review emphasizes the need for longitudinal studies and advanced bioinformatics tools to decode the intricate networks involved in IBD. Additionally, we discuss the potential of novel therapeutic strategies, including epigenetic drugs and microbiome modulation, as promising avenues for improved patient outcomes. This comprehensive overview provides a foundation for future research aimed at unraveling the complexities of IBD and developing innovative treatments tailored to the Spanish population. Full article

Weight regain (WR) after bariatric surgery, particularly sleeve gastrectomy, is a significant challenge, often driven by a combination of metabolic, behavioral, and lifestyle factors. Non-surgical interventions to manage WR are critical, given the increased risks and reduced efficacy of revisional surgeries. In this context, very low-calorie ketogenic diets (VLCKDs) have gained attention for their potential to promote weight loss and improve body composition in individuals struggling with WR. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of a VLCKD in 11 patients who experienced WR following sleeve gastrectomy. Over an 8-week period, patients demonstrated a significant average weight loss of 6.3% (p = 0.005), along with improvements in body composition, including reductions in body fat percentage (p = 0.003) and waist circumference (p = 0.003). Metabolic markers, such as insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), also improved significantly (p = 0.041). Although a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate was observed (p = 0.007), this finding is unlikely to be clinically relevant over the short term. Importantly, no major adverse events were reported, with only mild constipation observed. These results suggest that VLCKDs may be a promising non-surgical approach for managing WR post-bariatric surgery, though further studies are needed to assess long-term effects, especially on renal function. Full article

Air pollution contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality globally. The Niger Delta Region of Nigeria flares the second largest amount of natural gas in the world, with residents of oil-producing communities bearing the burden of outdoor pollution that may have adverse effects on their health and well-being. Our study aimed to investigate the haematological indices of residents of a selected gas-flaring site. We conducted a cross-sectional study, wherein a total of eighty adults aged 24 to 73 years were recruited from communities located within a radius of approximately 5 to 10 km from the gas-flaring facility. Blood specimens were collected from consenting participants and analysed for various haematological parameters, including Red Blood Cell (RBC) count, Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (HB), Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH), platelet count (PLT), White Blood Cell (WBC) count, neutrophil (NEU), lymphocytes (LYMs), and Monocyte + Basophil + Eosinophil (MXD). The analysis was performed using an automated Sysmex KX21N haematological analyser. Overall, there was a significant decrease in RBC counts (p < 0.001) and a significant elevation in WBCs (p < 0.001) among people residing within a 5 km radius compared to those residing within a 10 km radius. About 42.5% of males residing within a 5 Km radius exhibited low RBC counts in contrast to only 15% of males residing within a 10 km radius. The WBC levels were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.001) than the reference range among both males and females residing within a 5 km radius compared to those residing at a distance of 10 km. In the female population, 15% of individuals residing within a 5 km and 10 Km radius exhibited RBC levels below the reference category, while 7.5% showed RBC levels above the reference range. Exposure to gas flaring may alter haematological indices. It is, therefore, recommended that a comprehensive longitudinal study be conducted among residents of oil-producing communities and workers at gas-flaring facilities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria to assess the potential environmental and health implications of their exposure to chemical pollutants. Full article

Understanding natural killer (NK) cell functionality is essential in developing more effective immunotherapeutic strategies that can enhance patient outcomes, especially in the context of cancer treatment. This review provides a comprehensive overview of both traditional and novel techniques for evaluating NK cell functionality, focusing on multiparameter assays and spatial methods that illuminate NK cell interactions within their microenvironment. We discuss the significance of standardized assays for assessing NK cell function across various research and clinical settings, including cancer immunotherapy, infectious diseases, and transplantation. Key factors influencing NK cell functionality include the origin of the sample, target–effector ratios, the functional state of NK cells, and the impact of pre-treatment conditions and their natural aging effect on NK cell activity. By emphasizing the importance of selecting a suitable technique for reliable measurements, especially for longitudinal monitoring, this review aims to give an overview on techniques to measure NK cell functionality in vitro and show the interaction with their microenvironment cells by spatial imaging. Ultimately, our understanding of NK cell functionality could be critical to biomarker development, drug design, and understanding of disease progression in the field of oncology or infectious disease. Full article

The decarbonization of industrial process heat is one of the bigger challenges of the global energy transition. Process heating accounts for about 20% of final energy demand in Germany, and the situation is similar in other industrialized nations around the globe. Process heating is indispensable in the manufacturing processes of products and materials encountered every day, ranging from food, beverages, paper and textiles, to metals, ceramics, glass and cement. At the same time, process heating is also responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions, as it is heavily dependent on fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal. Thus, process heating needs to be decarbonized. This review article explores the challenges of decarbonizing industrial process heat and then discusses two of the most promising options, the use of electric heating technologies and the substitution of fossil fuels with low-carbon hydrogen, in more detail. Both energy carriers have their specific benefits and drawbacks that have to be considered in the context of industrial decarbonization, but also in terms of necessary energy infrastructures. The focus is on high-temperature process heat (>400 °C) in energy-intensive basic materials industries, with examples from the metal and glass industries. Given the heterogeneity of industrial process heating, both electricity and hydrogen will likely be the most prominent energy carriers for decarbonized high-temperature process heat, each with their respective advantages and disadvantages. Full article

Local energy networks, known as microgrids, can operate independently or in conjunction with the main grid, offering numerous benefits such as enhanced reliability, sustainability, and efficiency. This study focuses on analyzing the factors that influence energy performance in East-West microgrids, which have the unique advantage of capturing solar radiation from both directions, maximizing energy production throughout the day. A predictive pipeline was also developed to assess the performance of various machine learning models in forecasting energy output. Key input data for the models included solar radiation levels, photovoltaic (DC) energy, and the losses incurred during the conversion from DC to AC energy. One of the study’s significant findings was that the east side of the microgrid received higher radiation and experienced fewer losses compared to the west side, illustrating the importance of orientation for efficiency. Another noteworthy result was the predicted total energy supplied to the grid, valued at €15,423. This demonstrates that the optimized energy generation not only meets grid demand but also generates economic value by enabling the sale of excess energy back to the grid. The machine learning models—Random Forest, Extreme Gradient Boosting, and Recurrent Neural Networks—showed superior performance in energy prediction, with mean squared errors of 0.000318, 0.000104, and 0.000081, respectively. The research concludes that East-West microgrids have substantial potential to generate significant energy and economic benefits. The developed energy prediction pipeline can serve as a useful tool for optimizing microgrid operations and improving their integration with the main grid. Full article

Quantum-secure cryptography is a dynamic field due to its crucial role in various domains. This field aligns with the ongoing efforts in data security. Post-quantum encryption (PQE) aims to counter the threats posed by future quantum computers, highlighting the need for further improvement. Based on the learning with error (LWE) system, this paper introduces a novel asymmetric encryption technique that encrypts entire messages of n bits rather than just 1 bit. This technique offers several advantages including an additive homomorphic cryptosystem. The robustness of the proposed lightweight public key encryption method, which is based on a new version of LWE, ensures that private keys remain secure and that original data cannot be recovered by an attacker from the ciphertext. By improving encryption and decryption execution time—which achieve speeds of 0.0427 ms and 0.0320 ms, respectively—and decreasing ciphertext size to 708 bits for 128-bit security, the obtained results are very promising. Full article