This study examines the impact of silver (Ag+) and zinc (Zn2+) ions on the behavior of bioactive glass for dental applications, utilizing computational modeling and Monte Carlo simulations. Bioactive glasses are increasingly incorporated into dental restorative materials, pulp capping agents, and implant coatings due to their ability to release therapeutic ions that promote antimicrobial activity and tissue regeneration. Ion concentration profiles in simulated body fluid were modeled over time to evaluate the differences in release behavior between Ag+ and Zn2+. The results indicate that Zn2+, due to its smaller ionic radius, demonstrates higher mobility and faster diffusion through the glass matrix, whereas Ag+ exhibits slower release kinetics and partial retention within the structure. Monte Carlo simulations captured the probabilistic nature of ion transport, offering insights into temporal variations and release efficiencies. These findings underscore the critical role of ionic size and transport dynamics in designing bioactive glasses with controlled ion release profiles. In the dental context, optimized Zn2+ and Ag+ delivery may enhance remineralization, pulpal healing, and long-term antimicrobial protection, supporting the development of advanced, bioactive dental materials.

Replacing Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) with high volumes of fly ash (FA) offers a practical approach to reducing the environmental impacts associated with cement manufacturing and landfill disposal. However, high FA replacement levels, particularly up to 60%, often lead to lower early-age strength. This study developed a green cement mortar containing 60% FA and waste bottle glass nanoparticles (WBGNPs). The WBGNPs were incorporated at replacement levels of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% by volume of the OPC–FA binder. The findings showed that the addition of 4–6% WBGNPs significantly promoted the formation of dense reaction gels and enhanced compressive strength by 12.5–39.1%. Similar performance trends were observed in both the engineering and microstructural properties. The combined incorporation of FA and WBGNPs also improved drying shrinkage performance by reducing capillary stresses during water evaporation and minimizing crack development within the cement matrix. Additionally, a proposed shrinkage prediction model was validated using experimental data and demonstrated good agreement, with an average prediction error of approximately 8%. Overall, the incorporation of WBGNPs provides an effective method for producing high-volume FA cement mortars with satisfactory engineering properties suitable for concrete applications in tropical environments. This approach further supports sustainability by reducing waste generation, lowering landfill demand, and minimizing environmental pollution.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) mortality in Italy exhibits a persistent North–South macro-geographic gradient between 2003 and 2022, with significantly higher rates in northern regions. Whilst traditional risk factors partially explain this trend, the contribution of emerging dietary xenobiotics remains unexplored. This study presents an integrated ecological and ecotoxicological modelling framework combining long-term mortality rates, household dietary intake from ISTAT registries, and micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) exposure derived from the FOMIC-Py pyramid. Using robust linear models with 5,000-iteration bootstrap validation, we identified dietary fibre as a robust, independent protective factor against PC mortality. Conversely, higher regional reliance on packaged foods coupled with industrial airborne plastic deposition yields a 58.4% higher estimated annual MNP exposure in Northern Italy compared to Southern cohorts. Mechanistically, ingested plastics crossing the intestinal barrier can bioaccumulate in pancreatic tissue, inducing chronic oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular dysfunction. Although ecological limitations preclude direct causality, this predictive exposure model establishes dietary plastics as plausible environmental cofactors modulating PC geographic disparities. These key findings highlight the dual importance of promoting high-fibre diets and mitigating single-use plastic exposure within food supply chains to address these emerging environmental cancer risks across European population cohort studies.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) mortality in Italy exhibited a persistent North–South macro-geographic gradient between 2003 and 2022, with significantly higher rates in northern regions. Whilst traditional risk factors partially explain this trend, the contribution of emerging dietary xenobiotics remains unexplored. This study presents an integrated ecological and ecotoxicological modelling framework combining long-term mortality rates, household dietary intake from ISTAT registries, and micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) exposure derived from the FOMIC-Py pyramid. Using robust linear models with 5000-iteration bootstrap validation, we identified dietary fibre as a robust, independent protective factor against PC mortality. Conversely, higher regional reliance on packaged foods coupled with industrial airborne plastic deposition yields a 58.4% higher estimated annual MNP exposure in Northern Italy compared to Southern cohorts. Mechanistically, ingested plastics crossing the intestinal barrier can bioaccumulate in pancreatic tissue, inducing chronic oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular dysfunction. Although ecological limitations preclude direct causality, this predictive exposure model establishes dietary plastics as plausible environmental cofactors modulating PC geographic disparities. These key findings highlight the dual importance of promoting high-fibre diets and mitigating single-use plastic exposure within food supply chains to address these emerging environmental cancer risks across European population cohort studies.

Total shrinkage, encompassing both drying and autogenous shrinkage components under standard drying conditions, is one of the most important factors affecting the long-term durability and serviceability of concrete structures. However, accurately predicting shrinkage behavior in nanomodified concrete remains a significant challenge. This study proposes an improved predictive framework for estimating the total shrinkage strain of carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced concrete. The developed model extends the CEB MC90 shrinkage model by incorporating critical CNT-related parameters, including CNT content, aspect ratio, and type, together with the water-to-cement ratio. The proposed framework was validated using experimental results. Additionally, a Monte Carlo simulation comprising 100,000 stochastic realizations was performed to evaluate the influence of uncertainties in key input variables, namely curing time, water-to-cement (w/c) ratio, CNT content, CNT aspect ratio, and CNT type. The simulation quantifies the success probability, defined as the likelihood that the total shrinkage strain of CNT-reinforced concrete remains within acceptable design limits (i.e., achieving at least a 10% reduction compared to plain concrete). The results demonstrate that the enhanced model provides accurate predictions of total shrinkage, with overall prediction errors of approximately 2% for plain concrete and 5% for CNT-modified concrete. The findings also show that the incorporation of CNTs effectively reduces total shrinkage by refining the cementitious matrix and improving internal restraint within the composite. Consequently, the proposed probabilistic prediction model offers a practical and reliable tool for optimizing CNT-reinforced concrete mixtures, enabling shrinkage to remain within acceptable design limits while improving long-term dimensional stability and structural durability.