Search Results (31,641)

Road traffic surveys require sensing systems that can be deployed rapidly without modifying the road surface or requiring a permanent power connection. This paper presents the design, embedded implementation, and evaluation of a low-power roadside magnetic sensor that performs vehicle-event detection and classification directly at the edge. The sensing node integrates two RM3100 three-axis magnetometers (PNI Sensor, Santa Rosa, CA, USA) with an NXP MK22FN512VLH12 microcontroller (NXP Semiconductors N.V., Eindhoven, The Netherlands) based on a 120 MHz Arm Cortex-M4F core with 512 kB Flash and 128 kB SRAM. Magnetic-field data are acquired at 250 Hz and processed locally using baseline removal, low-pass filtering, signal-energy calculation, and peak-based event detection. Detected magnetic signatures are classified using an integer-quantised one-dimensional convolutional neural network implemented directly on the microcontroller. The model processes four synchronised 512-sample channels representing the three magnetic-field axes and their combined signal energy. Model development was supported by approximately 50,000 annotated events obtained from 36 h of real-world traffic measurements at eight locations. The selected model achieved an overall classification accuracy of 91.1% for the considered operational categories. The implemented network requires 288,128 multiply–accumulate operations per inference, while its quantised weights and biases occupy approximately 23 kB of Flash memory. Complete three-axis event signatures are stored locally for subsequent verification, whereas only the timestamp and predicted vehicle category are transmitted through the wireless interface. Based on the capacity of the applied LiFePO₄ battery and the estimated consumption of the implemented hardware, the expected autonomous operating period is approximately 41 days. The results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating magnetic sensing, embedded signal processing, and Edge AI on a conventional resource-constrained Cortex-M4 platform for non-invasive road traffic monitoring. Full article

Differences in the composition, microstructure, infrared spectral characteristics, and enzymatic hydrolysis properties of rice bran protein extracted by four methods were investigated, and the antioxidant and anti-photoaging activities of peptides derived from the resulting hydrolysates were further evaluated. Rice bran protein obtained via ultrasonic pretreatment combined with alkaline solublilization and acid precipitation (URP) exhibited relatively high purity (59.17%) and extraction yield (47.61%), together with increased surface porosity, enhanced hydration capacity, and improved enzymatic hydrolysis performance. The URP hydrolysate (URPP) showed a protein content of 81.00%, a degree of hydrolysis of 33.57%, and marked antioxidant activity (ABTS, 684.21; ORAC, 2016.15 μmol TE/g sample). The identified peptides were predominantly short and enriched in hydrophobic amino acids. Structural analysis suggested that the indole N-H group of tryptophan may play an important role in the antioxidant activity of these peptides. Moreover, these peptides alleviated UVB-induced photoaging in HaCaT cells by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses and downregulating the mRNA expressions of AP-1, MMP-1 and MMP-3. Overall, these findings reveal an association between the extraction method, structural characteristics, and enzymatic hydrolysis properties of rice bran protein and the biological activities of its derived peptides, providing a basis for the high-value utilization of rice bran protein and the development of antioxidant and anti-photoaging functional ingredients. Full article

Primary implant stability arises from mechanical engagement at placement, and insertion torque is not a direct measure of osseointegration. This retrospective single-centre study included 101 MultiNeO titanium implant placements in 55 adults treated between April 2023 and January 2026. Four experienced operators placed implants subcrestally using a W&H Implantmed SI-1023, a bone-resistance-adapted drilling protocol, and a programmed target of 35 N·cm. Associations with recorded torque were assessed using a patient-clustered Gaussian generalized estimating equation adjusted for sex, age, anatomical sector, implant length and diameter, hard-tissue augmentation, and placement timing. The mean torque was 31.63 ± 5.57 N·cm; the median was 35 N·cm (Q1–Q3, 30–35). Recorded torque was 3.25 N·cm higher for implants placed in women than for those placed in men (95% CI 1.20–5.31; p = 0.002). Relative to maxillary anterior/premolar sites, mandibular molar sites showed higher torque (β = 4.02; p = 0.001), whereas mandibular anterior/premolar sites showed lower torque (β = −5.41; p = 0.013). Implant length had a modest adjusted association (β = 0.93 N·cm/mm; p = 0.022); age, diameter, augmentation, and placement timing did not. The concentration of recorded values at 35 N·cm reflects a clinical target rather than the device limit. These exploratory associations do not establish an intrinsic sex effect or predict osseointegration, and residual confounding due to unmeasured bone characteristics remains possible. Full article

Introduction: PKMYT1 is a WEE-family G2/M cell cycle checkpoint kinase commonly overexpressed in a broad spectrum of human malignancies. WEE1 exclusively phosphorylates CDK1 at Tyr15, whereas PKMYT1 targets both Thr14 and Tyr15. Unlike WEE1 inhibition, PKMYT1 suppression triggers synthetic lethality with CCNE1. Nearly all disclosed PKMYT1 inhibitors so far fall into structural analogs originating from RP-6306, making the discovery of PKMYT1 inhibitors with chemotypes distinct from RP-6306 crucial. Methods: The compounds were structurally optimized using CADD, synthesized, and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HRMS, and HPLC. They were then assessed for kinase binding affinity via the LanthaScreen^TM Eu kinase binding assay, for cellular activity using the CCK-8 assay, and for cell-cycle distribution by flow cytometry, along with investigations into related mechanisms. Results: This study yielded 24 compounds of 2-aminopyrimidine through substituent derivatization of the pyrimidine scaffold. Among these derivatives, MS13 exhibited potent kinase binding affinity against PKMYT1 (IC₅₀ = 0.86 nM) and demonstrated strong anti-proliferative activity against CCNE1 high-amplification OVCAR3 cells and HCC1569 cells (IC_50-OVCAR3 = 1.52 μM, IC_50-HCC1569 = 0.66 μM). Additionally, it showed some selectivity towards A549 and HEK293T cells, with SI values of 4.31 (A549/OVCAR3), 9.92 (A549/HCC1569), 2.04 (HEK293T/OVCAR3), and 4.70 (HEK293T/HCC1569). Compound MS13 dose-dependently suppressed clonogenicity and triggered S-phase cell cycle blockade. Pharmacokinetic studies showed moderate hepatic microsomal stability (t_1/2 = 32.2 min). Molecular dynamics simulations indicated a favorable binding mode between compound MS13 and PKMYT1 (docking score: −9.322 kcal/mol). Conclusions: MS13 is a promising highly potent tool compound that provides a clear direction for the future optimization of PKMYT1 inhibitors. Full article

This study develops an analytical model for a mid-deep U-shaped borehole heat exchanger (UBHE) based on the segmented finite line source method, integrating geothermal gradient, five-layer geological stratification, and groundwater seepage within a unified framework. The injection, horizontal, and extraction sections are represented by independent local coordinates and coupled through the position- and time-dependent unit-length heat-transfer rate $q_l\left(s_n,t\right)$. Validation against the benchmark results of Bao et al. yields a mean absolute error of 0.87 °C and a mean relative error of 1.6%. Numerical-independence tests identify a 1 h time step and 100/50 m vertical/horizontal segment lengths as the adopted settings, and the iterative residual reaches 10⁻⁴ °C within eight iterations for the representative case. In a homogeneous, no-seepage limiting case, the model agrees with the classical finite line-source solution with an MAE of 0.012 °C and a maximum relative-error magnitude of 0.41%. The extraction-well fluid-temperature peak occurs at 600–800 m depth, whereas the local heat-transfer direction changes near 1600 m. For the investigated 2500–650–2500 m geometry, the highest cycle-averaged outlet temperature is obtained at an insulation length of 1600 m. Sensitivity analyses further quantify the effects of seepage velocity, equivalent thermal conductivity, geothermal gradient, and the validation insulation-length assumption. Full article

In femtosecond-laser processing of titania in water, light can induce reduction and oxidation simultaneously. We follow this redox energy partitioning, in this perspective, from colloidal titania synthesis to hot-electron devices. Femtosecond ablation/fragmentation of an aqueous anatase suspension (515 nm, 230 fs, $5\mathsf{\mu }$J, fluence $F\approx 25.5$ J cm${}^{-2}$/pulse at clamped intensity ∼${10}^{13}$ W cm${}^{-2}$) yields surface-reduced, Ti³⁺-rich bluish TiO_2-x, while the same optical breakdown generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), among them H2O2 and HO^. radicals, which compete by re-oxidising Ti³⁺. When the reduced titania is decorated with plasmonic nanoparticles (e.g., Au), an n-type plasmonic photo-electrode is realised: $sp$ hot electrons are injected over the Schottky barrier, while the deep d-band supplies oxidising holes. The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) proceeds in stages at potentials well above the formal $1.23$ V via the two-electron peroxide route (∼$1.77$ V) or, for sufficiently energetic holes, via the one-electron HO^. route (∼$2.7$ V). In a biased cell, H2 evolves on Pt through the adsorbed (H2⁺)_ad intermediate. The same Au/semiconductor physics on silicon enables sub-band-gap hot-electron photo-detection. Energy-level diagrams (flat-band and in-contact) and the $sp$- vs. d-band origin of the injected carriers are discussed. Full article

Long-term EEG measurements (over eight hours) can allow a deeper understanding of everyday life brain functioning. However, most EEG systems can only be used for short periods in controlled settings, due to limitations in comfort, signal quality of EEG electrode sensors and amplifier size. In this study, we measured brain activity during day and night on ten lab member participants using our new flex-printed trEEGrid patch electrodes and a miniaturized and modularized amplifier prototype. The patch was left on participants up to 24 h while they went about their day. EEG was recorded during several exploratory tasks and overnight. Daytime scenarios included auditory and visual oddball tasks, as well as a resting-state measurement and sudoku cognitive load task. Impedances were recorded throughout all tasks. Ag/AgCl ‘ring’ electrodes were used as comparison. Daytime tasks were performed twice (i.e., once in the afternoon and again the next morning), to assess signal quality changes over time. P3 oddball, resting state and workload-related spectral effects were observed on both days. Auditory N1 amplitudes were similar between the patch and ring electrodes. The system shows promising data quality over the nearly 24 h wearing time and allows new possibilities for daytime and sleep EEG studies. Full article

The Old City of Sana’a, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, remains morphologically unclassified at the urban block scale, with understanding still grounded in descriptive narrative rather than quantitative data—leaving conservation decisions without a measurable, reproducible spatial evidence base. This study introduces a numerical taxonomy of 115 historic urban blocks built from four standardized morphometric indicators—area, compactness, elongation, and rectangularity—together with axially encoded orientation, reduced through Principal Component Analysis (74.7% variance, three components) and partitioned by K-means into five morphologically distinct block types ($n=36,29,19,16,15$). Kruskal–Wallis tests confirmed significant differentiation across all types for every rankable indicator (all $p<0.001$; Dunn’s post-hoc: 28 of 50 pairwise contrasts significant). Qibla deviation—a culturally specific measure of angular proximity to Mecca, deliberately withheld from clustering—emerged as the strongest discriminator between types (${\eta }_H^2=0.714$), showing that shape and orientation alone recover a coherent pattern in which one type’s mean orientation axis falls within $4.5^{\circ }$ of the Qibla axis. However, this statistical discriminator reflects the distinctiveness of a single type rather than a universal cultural organizing principle across the fabric. Types are distributed across all three historic zones rather than clustering spatially, and shape regularity shows no association with distance from the Great Mosque. Building on these signatures, a percentile-based screening instrument offers a reproducible, block-level morphometric baseline to help prioritize this UNESCO-listed site’s conservation under active conflict-related threat. Full article

To evaluate how composted agricultural and forestry organic materials function as components of horticultural growing media, a pot experiment was conducted with chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) grown in a cinnamon-soil-based medium. The composted material, produced from chestnut shells, chicken manure, and spent mushroom substrate, was incorporated at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, and 50% (v/v). Water-extractable dissolved organic matter (WE-DOM) was characterized by excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC), together with the fluorescence index (FI), biological index (BIX), humification index (HIX), and fluorescence regional integration (FRI). Growing-medium physicochemical properties, chrysanthemum traits, and an entropy-weighted comprehensive evaluation were also assessed. Compost amendment increased soil organic matter (SOM), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total nitrogen, and total phosphorus, lowered pH, and was associated with improved porosity and water-retention characteristics. FI ranged from 1.810 to 2.371 and exceeded 1.9 at amendment rates of 30–35%, suggesting a greater contribution from microbially derived DOM. BIX, HIX, and P_V,n/P_Ⅲ,n were generally higher in amended treatments than in the control, although their responses were non-monotonic across amendment rates, suggesting greater contributions from recently produced DOM and stronger humification-related fluorescence signals. EEM-PARAFAC resolved five fluorescent components. C1, C2, C3, and C5 were predominantly humic-like, whereas C4 displayed both protein-like and humic-like features. With increasing amendment rate, the relative contributions of C1–C4 generally increased, whereas that of C5 declined, suggesting a shift from the native soil fluorescence profile toward a more complex DOM composition influenced by compost inputs and subsequent biological transformation. Chrysanthemum height, stem diameter, flower number, and biomass were generally more favorable at amendment rates of 30–40%. The entropy-weighted evaluation yielded the highest overall response score at 30%, while the 35% treatment also maintained a high score. Considering WE-DOM fluorescence characteristics, growing-medium properties, and plant performance together, a volumetric amendment rate of 30–35% represents a relatively favorable range for the tested composted material under the present pot-experiment conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Human carbonic anhydrase (CA) isoforms are clinically relevant zinc metalloenzymes, but their highly conserved catalytic Zn²⁺ site makes isoform-selective inhibitor design challenging. This study developed an explainable multi-isoform QSAR workflow for prioritizing selective inhibitors of human CA I, CA II, CA IX, and CA XII, integrating PubChem experimental concordance and applicability-domain (AD) analysis to distinguish model-supported candidates from exploratory extrapolative hypotheses. Methods: Curated ChEMBL K_i datasets were standardized to pK_i and modeled in KNIME using 4185 two-dimensional descriptors, Random Forest-based feature selection, and H2O.ai AutoML stacked ensembles. A matched 3200-compound four-isoform matrix supported direct selectivity profiling. Potent ChEMBL inhibitors (K_i < 10 nM) seeded 90% PubChem similarity expansion; analogues were scored across all four isoform-specific models, while PubChem records were filtered to retain only human isoform-specific K_i evidence. AD was calibrated using Morgan fingerprint similarity, descriptor-space distance, and leverage analysis. Candidates were prioritized by predicted potency, selectivity, SAR plausibility, SwissADME profile, structural alerts, and AD membership. Results: Models achieved held-out R² values of 0.727, 0.719, 0.652, and 0.607 for CA I, CA II, CA IX, and CA XII, respectively. PubChem concordance identified 1098 prioritized compounds with assay records, including 847 with direct K_i evidence and 428 with complete four-isoform coverage; same-target agreement showed Pearson r > 0.86 and linear-fit R² > 0.74. Test-set error rose from very-high-AD to low/out-of-domain classes. Conclusions: The workflow integrates QSAR prediction, PubChem concordance, explainable SAR, ADME triage, and AD-based reliability assessment. CA II and CA XII candidates showed the strongest support, CA IX showed intermediate support, and CA I candidates require cautious interpretation as low-domain exploratory hypotheses. Full article

The durability of alkali-activated materials (AAMs) in acidic environments is a key factor governing their suitability as sustainable alternatives to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). This study investigates the acid resistance of fly ash–slag alkali-activated mortars prepared with either seawater-based or distilled water-based activator solutions, thereby addressing the feasibility of substituting potable water in activator preparation. Eleven binder blends were tested, ranging from 100% fly ash (F100G0) to 100% ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS, F0G100) in 10% replacement increments, each prepared with both distilled-water (D-series) and seawater-based (M-series) activator solutions. Mortar cubes were exposed to hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) after curing for 28, 60, 90, and 180 days. Durability was assessed through mass change, compressive strength retention, and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), complemented by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis to elucidate mineralogical transformations. Results showed that acid resistance was governed primarily by binder composition: calcium-rich slag (C–A–S–H) systems deteriorated mainly by decalcification under acid exposure, whereas low-calcium fly ash (N–A–S–H) systems degraded more slowly by dealumination. Seawater activation did not significantly compromise acid resistance relative to distilled-water systems, with the two-activator series performing comparably under both HCl and H₂SO₄. Paired comparisons of the reported blend values showed small, age-dependent differences between the two-activator series: seawater activation modestly delayed strength loss under HCl at intermediate ages, while under H₂SO₄ it carried a small late-age penalty attributable to reaction of activator-derived chloride compounds with the acid; at most ages, the two series were statistically indistinguishable. X-ray diffraction showed essentially identical phase assemblages in the two series: no crystalline products formed under HCl, where an amorphous silica-rich residue accumulates on fly-ash-rich blends, whereas gypsum was the sole crystalline product under H₂SO₄, enhanced in seawater-activated fly-ash-rich blends. The findings clarify the role of marine ions in influencing acid degradation and provide guidance for designing sustainable binder systems for chloride- and sulphate-rich service environments. Overall, seawater is shown to be a viable substitute for potable water in activator preparation, retaining acid resistance comparable to distilled-water systems and supporting the development of more sustainable alkali-activated binders. Full article

Ozone (O₃) is a prevalent environmental pollutant that can induce oxidative stress and respiratory epithelial injury. Dysregulation of pulmonary microbiota homeostasis plays an important role in the progression of lung damage and inflammatory responses. However, there remains a lack of systematic research on the effects of O₃ exposure on pulmonary microecology and its potential association with pulmonary inflammation. In this study, twenty-three SPF-grade C57BL/6N male mice (aged 6–7 weeks) were randomly divided into a filtered air control group (n = 11) and an O₃ exposure group (n = 12). Mice in the O₃ group underwent whole-body inhalation exposure to 1 ppm O₃ for 4 h daily over 8 consecutive weeks, while control mice were maintained under identical conditions with filtered air exposure. The 1 ppm concentration (equivalent to 0.2–0.3 ppm in humans) and 8-week daily 4 h exposure regimen was selected to model the 2-month summer high-O₃ season with typical afternoon O₃ peaks. The results showed that the O₃-exposed group exhibited marked inflammatory infiltrates in the lung, as well as significantly elevated macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids compared with controls. Pulmonary microbiota sequencing revealed that O₃ exposure significantly elevated the Shannon index of pulmonary microbiota in mice, and four differential genera including Deinococcus, Aerococcus, Enterococcus and Proteiniphilum were identified. Correlation analysis revealed that MIP-2 was significantly correlated with Aerococcus. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that exposure to O₃ induces inflammation and significant changes in the microbial composition of the lungs, which provides an experimental basis for further investigating mechanisms linking microbiota dysbiosis to lung injury triggered by ambient air pollutants. Full article

Anthocyanins are water-soluble plant pigments. They give many plants, fruits, vegetables, and cereal kernels their red, purple, and blue colors. This research aims to reveal the biological properties of peonidin as an anthocyanin. To comprehend the antioxidant capabilities of peonidin, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical (ABTS^•+), N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride radical (DMPD^•+), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH^•) scavenging, Fe³⁺-2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine (TPTZ), and Cu²⁺ reducing assays were recorded. The IC₅₀ values for peonidin against ABTS^•+, DMPD^•+ and DPPH^• scavenging capabilities were determined to compare with standard antioxidants. ABTS^•+ radical scavenging activity of peonidin had an IC₅₀ value of 15.40 μg/mL, while the IC₅₀ values for BHA, BHT, Trolox, and α-Tocopherol were 12.82, 11.78, 12.67, and 10.83 μg/mL, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity of peonidin had an IC₅₀ value of 41.63 μg/mL, while the IC₅₀ values for BHA, BHT, Trolox, and α-Tocopherol were 8.45, 23.10, 6.30, and 18.73 μg/mL, respectively. Enzyme inhibition was studied to investigate the effects of peonidin. The K_i values of peonidin were 114.33, 63.02, 2.99, 9.76, and 15.14 nM toward hCA I, hCA II, AChE, BChE, and α-glycosidase enzymes, respectively. Furthermore, peonidin’s interactions with target enzymes BChE, hCA I, hCA II, AChE, and α-glycosidase were investigated by molecular docking. The results suggest that antioxidant-rich peonidin is a plant-based compound with potential use in the treatment of glaucoma, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. Full article

H9N2 avian influenza viruses pose a persistent zoonotic risk owing to their broad host adaptability. Between 2024 and 2025, two H9N2 isolates (ZHY1022B2 and ZHY0417A11) were recovered from quail flocks in Hebei, China. Phylogenetic analysis clustered their HA genes within the dominant B4.7.2 subclade, but diverged into two subgroups (B4.7.2.2 and B4.7.2.1). Of particular interest was ZHY0417A11, which displayed a multigenic reassortment pattern—its PB1 originated from an H3N8 virus, PA and PB2 from H3N3, NS from H10N3, and the M gene was nearly identical (99.32%) to a human H3N8 isolate, whereas the remaining HA, NA and NP segments maintained the H9N2 backbone. Despite the presence of the HA mammalian-adaptive markers (H191N, A198V and Q234L), both strains showed marked antigenic drift from the vaccine strain SS (BJ/94-like; R < 0.5), while retaining reactivity with currently circulating field strains. These findings argue for heightened vigilance in quail populations, given their role as mixing vessels, and highlight the limitations of current vaccine matching in light of ongoing H9N2 evolution. Full article

Background/Objectives: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), a pleiotropic cytokine with central and peripheral actions, has been implicated in obesity, insulin resistance, and aging, yet its role in skeletal muscle and cardiometabolic health remains unclear. This study examined skeletal muscle CNTF mRNA expression in relation to adiposity and glucose tolerance in older adults and assessed the effects of six-month weight loss (WL) and aerobic exercise training (AEX) interventions on its expression. Methods: Sixty-seven adults (age, 60.75 ± 7.58) underwent a vastus lateralis muscle biopsy, VO₂max testing, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, a resting metabolic rate (RMR) and substrate oxidation assessment, and a 3-h oral glucose tolerance test with glucose and insulin area under the curve (AUC) calculation. A subset completed 6 months of either a WL program (n = 21) or a supervised 3 times per week AEX intervention (n = 20). Results: At baseline, skeletal muscle CNTF expression was inversely associated with RMR, fat oxidation, 3-h glucose AUC, and insulin AUC, but not with BMI, percent body fat, or VO₂max. WL reduced body weight, fat mass, glucose AUC, insulin AUC, and basal muscle CNTF expression, whereas AEX increased VO₂max and reduced fat mass without altering body weight, glucose AUC, insulin AUC, or basal CNTF. Insulin-stimulated CNTF expression increased after both WL and AEX, and the intervention-induced change in glucose disposal (M) was positively associated with the change in insulin-stimulated CNTF. Conclusions: In older adults, skeletal muscle CNTF is associated with glucose intolerance but is not associated with body composition or aerobic fitness. Improvements in insulin sensitivity are associated with increases in muscle CNTF during hyperinsulinemia. Further work is needed to determine the mechanism for muscle CNTF change during hyperinsulinemia after weight loss and exercise training, and its role in glucose metabolism and obesity in older adults. Full article