Search Results (166)

To address traditional methods’ limitations in neglecting the interaction between random shock loads and progressive degradation, as well as failure correlations, this study proposes a dynamic reliability framework integrating Gamma processes, homogeneous Poisson processes (HPP), and mixed Copula functions. The framework develops a wind turbine gearbox reliability model under shock–degradation coupling while quantifying failure correlations. Gamma processes characterize continuous degradation, with parameters estimated from P-S-N curves. Based on stress–strength interference theory, random shocks within damage thresholds are integrated to form a coupled reliability model. A Gumbel–Clayton–Frank mixed Copula with a multi-layer nested algorithm quantifies failure correlations, with correlation parameters estimated via the RSS principle and genetic algorithms. Validation using a 2 MW gearbox’s planetary gear-stage system covers four scenarios: natural degradation, shock–degradation coupling, and both scenarios with failure correlations. The results show that compared to independent assumptions, the model accelerates reliability decline, increasing failure rates by >37%. Relative to natural degradation-only models, failure rates rise by >60%, validating the model’s effectiveness and alignment with real-world operational conditions. Full article

Soybeans have been cultivated in Poland for more than 140 years. However, Poland’s cold and water-deficient climatic conditions hinder soybean cultivation. Although the availability of suitable soybean varieties in Poland contributes to meeting the demand for soybean production, it is important to identify rhizobial inoculants in Polish soils suitable for soybean cultivation. In this study, we cultivated soybean varieties (Abelina, Merlin, and Sultana) grown in soils taken from four regions in Poland and isolated 330 strains from soybean root nodules. 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified 49 strains of highly stress-tolerant nodule-associated bacteria, including Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobium, Ensifer, Tardiphaga, and Ralstonia spp. Several isolates exhibited positive effects on soybean growth under cold and water-deficient conditions. In particular, the isolate Bradyrhizobium japonicum PSN49, which is phylogenetically similar to B. japonicum USDA 123, increased plant biomass and nodule formation in the soybean cultivar Abelina under abiotic stress conditions due to its high nitrogen-fixing activity. Whole-genome comparisons between PSN49 and other Bradyrhizobium strains revealed that trehalose biosynthesis genes and cold shock proteins contributed to cold stress tolerance. These findings and the strains identified in this study will enhance soybean production and deepen the understanding of the soybean–rhizobium relationship in Poland. Full article

With the increase of CO₂ emissions caused by human activities, the development of efficient CO₂ reduction technology is crucial to help address the energy crisis and mitigate climate change. In this study, a series of Cu₃P/SnS₂ composites with varying Cu/Sn molar ratios were synthesized using a hydrothermal method to improve the activity and selectivity of the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ (CO₂RR). The successful synthesis and structural advantages of the composite were verified via XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, and BET. Cu₃P/SnS₂-3 (Cu/Sn = 2:1) had the largest specific surface area (78.01 m² g⁻¹) and abundant active sites. The electrochemical performance test showed that in 0.1 M KHCO₃ electrolyte saturated with CO₂, the Faraday efficiency of Cu₃P/SnS₂-3 to CO reached 87% at −1.0 V potential, which was 29 times and 1.78 times higher than that of Cu₃P (3%) and SnS₂ (48.88%). In addition, the catalyst maintained a CO Faraday efficiency of more than 75% in a 5 h stability test. The mechanism study shows that the low Tafel slope, low charge transfer resistance, and high electrochemically active area of the composite significantly promote the CO₂RR kinetics. Full article

Activated carbons (ACs) are employed in the nuclear industry to mitigate the emission of potential radioactive iodine species. Their retention performances towards iodine are mainly dependent on the relative humidity due to the competitive effect induced by adsorbed water molecules. Thus, this work will focus on the prediction of AC behavior toward the capture of water vapor to better assess the poisoning effect on radiotoxic iodine removal. For the first time, H₂O breakthrough curves (BTCs) on nuclear grade ACs are predicted through a specific methodology based on the combination of transport phenomena with adsorption kinetics and equilibrium. Three ACs, similar to those deployed in the nuclear context, are considered within the present study. Our model is based on the Linear Driving Force Model (LDF), governed by an intraparticle diffusion mechanism, notably surface and Knudsen diffusions. In addition, the type V isotherms obtained for H₂O and the investigated carbon supports were described through the Klotz equation, taking into account the formation and progressive growth of H₂O clusters within the internal porosity. This methodology allowed us to successfully simulate the H₂O adsorption by a non-impregnated AC, where only physisorption phenomena are involved. In addition, promising results were highlighted when extrapolating to the two other impregnated ACs (AC 5KI and AC Nuclear). Full article

Heavy metal pollution and soil salinization harm human health and the environment. Phytoremediation is a widely accepted soil decontamination method, with woody plants being particularly effective due to their large biomass and extensive root systems. In this study, we identified and cloned PsnMLP328 from Populus simonii × P. nigra and demonstrated its role in mitigating salt and cadmium stress. PsnMLP328 expression was up-regulated under both stress conditions, and its overexpression in tobacco enhanced resistance to these stresses, albeit through distinct mechanisms. Transgenic plants exhibited increased Cd²⁺ uptake and a higher biomass, alleviating Cd²⁺-induced growth inhibition. Additionally, PsnMLP328 boosted proline content, chlorophyll levels, and antioxidative enzyme activities (POD, SOD) under Cd²⁺ stress, likely by protecting cells from oxidative damage. Expression analysis revealed that PsnMLP328 down-regulated the cadmium transporter Nramp2 while up-regulating YSL2 (another cadmium transporter) and potassium channels (AKT1 and AKT2/3), suggesting its role in modulating K⁺ and Cd²⁺ homeostasis. These findings indicate that PsnMLP328 enhances tobacco resistance to salt and cadmium stress, particularly the latter. This study is the first to elucidate the function of poplar MLP family genes under salt and cadmium stress, advancing our understanding of MLP gene roles in heavy metal stress and offering new insights for remediating salinized and heavy metal-contaminated soils. Full article

In this article, Pt-Sn_xO_y hybrid nanoparticles encaged in porous silica nanospheres (Pt-Sn_xO_y@PSNs) were prepared by using 1-dodecanethiol (C₁₂-SH) as a coordination agent to confine Pt and Sn ions in a microemulsion system, which is formed by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and C₁₂-SH as co-surfactants in water. Compared with Pt@PSNs, when different molar ratios of Sn_xO_y were introduced into Pt@PSNs to form Pt-Sn_xO_y@PSNs, the catalytic efficiency of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction with NaBH₄ can be significantly enhanced. At molar ratios of 4-NP/Pt of 150/1, the 4-NP conversion reached 100% over Pt-Sn_xO_y@PSNs with Pt/Sn molar ratios of 1/0.75 in 8 min. This catalytic performance showed a slight decrease after six reaction cycles. This enhanced catalytic efficiency can be ascribed to the synergistic effect between Pt and Sn_xO_y, and the protection of porous silica nanostructures can effectively improve the stability of the catalyst. Full article

The interplay between melting viscosity, amorphous forming ability (AFA), nanocrystalline structure, and soft magnetic properties (SMPs) in Fe-based multicomponent alloys remains unclear. This study systematically explores the effects of Sn doping on the viscosity, precursor structure, and nanocrystallization behavior of Fe-Si-B-Nb-Cu-Al-P alloys. Sn doping reduces melting viscosity and induces an abnormal viscosity rise during cooling, lowering the fragility parameter ratio (F) between high- and low-temperature zones, thereby enhancing the AFA of the precursor ribbons. High-temperature heat preservation treatment (HTP) of the melt further reduces the F, improves precursor disorder, and refines nanocrystals, leading to reduced average magnetocrystalline anisotropy and optimized SMPs. The HTP-treated Sn-dopped alloy shows superior SMPs, including low coercivity of 0.4 A/m and high permeability of 32,400 at 5 kHz, making it highly promising for advanced electromagnetic device applications. This work reveals the relationship between viscosity, precursor structure, nanocrystalline structure, and SMPs of Fe-based alloys, which provides an approach for the optimization of SMPs. Full article

In this paper, based on the Weibull Inverse Power Law, we present a methodology to determine the following: (1) the failure percentiles, referred to as the P–S–N field, of an S–N curve for a 42CrMo4 steel material exhibiting bilinear ($s_1 \mathrm{and} s_2)$ behavior (e.g., a competence failure mode); (2) the Weibull family that characterizes the entire bilinear behavior; and (3) the zero-vibration test plan that meets the required vibration reliability index of $R\left(t\right)=0.97$ with a reliability confidence level of $CL=0.75$. From the application, based on the formulated normal–Weibull relationship, we determine the failure percentiles for the normal (one, two, and three) sigma levels, as well as those failure percentiles corresponding to the capability ($Cp$) and ability ($Cpk$) indices. Finally, we present the formulation to determine the $R\left(t\right)$ index and the $CL$ level associated with each normal percentile, along with their numerical values. Full article

A simple short-flow thermo-mechanical treatment (TMT) named L-ITMT (consisting of three steps: solution, warm deformation, and solution) was applied to ultra-high-strength Al-10.0Zn-2.7Mg-2.3Cu alloy to study the influence of the deformation degree on the particle distribution, resolubility, microstructure evolution, recrystallization mechanism, formation and development of deformation bonds, and mechanical properties. Increasing the rolling deformation during the L-ITMT process can effectively break up the second phase at the grain boundary and promote its dissolution, which is beneficial to aging precipitation strengthening and improves the strength of the alloy. The dominant mechanism changes from recovery to recrystallization when the deformation degree reaches 80%. As the strain increases, the deformation band becomes flatter and eventually becomes nearly parallel to the RD direction, promoting the occurrence of geometric recrystallization or continuous recrystallization (CRX). Under high-strain conditions, the formation mechanisms of recrystallized grains include discontinuous recrystallization (DRX), CRX, and particle-stimulated nucleation (PSN), but the main contributions to the formation of large-area fine-grained bands are CRX and PSN. The results showed that as the deformation degree increased from 10% to 80%, the improvement of solid solubility and grain refinement in the short-flow TMT process increased the ultimate tensile strength (701 MPa), yield strength (658 MPa), and elongation (11.3%) of the alloy by 15.7%, 10.8%, and 842%, respectively. This shows that the short L-ITMT process has a synergistic effect in significantly improving the plasticity and maintaining the strength of this ultra-high strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy. Full article

Calcium ions (Ca²⁺) play a crucial role as a key messenger in various adaptive and developmental processes. In plants, the calcineurin B-like protein (CBL) family is a unique calcium sensor, which plays a key role in regulating plant growth and development as well as responding to external environmental stimuli throughout the Ca²⁺ signaling pathway. However, the CBL gene family in poplar has not been systematically described. In this study, thirteen CBL genes were identified from the Populus trichocarpa genome using bioinformatics methods. Multiple sequence alignment showed that all PtrCBLs contained four conserved EF-hand domains. Promoter cis-acting elements revealed that PtrCBL promoters contained at least one abiotic-related or hormone response element. A protein–protein interaction network revealed that PtrCBLs interacted with various CIPK proteins to participate in growth and development or respond to environmental stimuli in poplar. Transcriptome data demonstrated that numerous PsnCBLs were involved in the response to alkaline stress in Populus simonii × Populus nigra. RT-qPCR and RNA-seq analyses implied that PsnCBLs exhibited complex expression patterns in poplar under alkaline stress at different time points. These results provide comprehensive information for future research on the CBL gene function and lay a research foundation for studying alkaline stress in poplar. Full article

The PsnWRKY70 transcription factor (TF) was reported to play an important role in the salt stress response mechanism of Populus simonii × Populus nigra in our previous research, and we also produced several PsnWRKY70 overexpression (OEXs) and RNAi suppression (REXs) P. simonii × P. nigra lines. In order to further compare the photosynthetic and physiological characteristics of NT (non-transgenic line) and transgenic lines under salt stress, the dynamic phenotypic change, Na⁺ and K⁺ content in leaf and root tissues, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, chlorophyll content (Chl), photosynthesis parameters (net photosynthetic rate, P_n; stomatal conductance, Gs; intercellular CO₂ concentration, C_i; transpiration rate, T_r), chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (electron transport rate, ETR; maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII), F_v/F_m; actual efficiency of PSII, Φ_PSII; photochemical quenching coefficient, q_P; non-photochemical quenching, NPQ; the photosynthetic light-response curves of Φ_PSII and ETR) and RNA-seq of NT, OEX and REX lines were detected and analyzed. The phenotypic observation, MDA content and Chl detection results indicate that the stress damage of REXs was less severe than that of NT and OEX lines under salt stress. Photosynthesis parameter (P_n, Gs, T_r and C_i) and chlorophyll fluorescence parameter (ETR, F_v/F_m, Φ_PSII q_P and NPQ) detection results indicate that the REX lines exhibited much better photosynthetic adaptability than NT and OEX lines during salt stress. The photosynthetic light-response curves of Φ_PSII and ETR of NT, OEX and REX lines indicate that REXs exhibited better ability to activate the photosynthetic protection mechanism and adapt to a certain degree of strong light than NT and OEX lines under salt stress. RNA-seq analysis indicates that the DEGs between OEX1 vs. NT and REX1 vs. NT in different tissues (apical bud and fifth functional leaf) were all different in category and change trend. The expression of PsnWRKY70 was significantly up-regulated in both the apical bud and fifth functional leaf of OEX1, and showed no significant change (namely maintained low expression level) in both the apical bud and fifth functional leaf of REX1, thus indicating the negative regulation role of PsnWRKY70 in P. simonii × P. nigra under salt stress. Additionally, there were a lot of stress response-related TF genes (such as bHLH, WRKY, MYB, NAM and AP2/EREBP) and photosynthesis-related genes among all the DEGs. In REX1, the expression of three Photosystem I P700 chlorophyll a apoprotein A1 genes (Potri.003G065200, Potri.013G141800 and Potri.019G028100) and a Photosystem II protein D1 gene (Potri.013G138300) were significantly up-regulated after 6 days of salt stress. In OEX1, the Heterodimeric geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase small subunit gene (Potri.015G043400) and Phospho-2-dehydro-3-deoxyheptonate aldolase 1 gene (Potri.007G095700) were significantly down-regulated after 6 days of salt stress. These photosynthesis-related genes are probably regulated by PsnWRKY70 TF in response to salt stress. In conclusion, the REX lines suffered less severe salt damage and exhibited better photosynthetic adaptability than NT and OEXs under salt stress. The differences among the DEGs between OEX1 vs. NT and REX1 vs. NT in apical bud and fifth functional leaf, and the significantly differentially expressed photosynthesis-related genes are probably the key clues for discovering the photosynthesis adaptability mechanism of PsnWRKY70 transgenic P. simonii × P. nigra under salt stress. Full article

TRPA1 is a homotetrameric non-selective calcium-permeable channel. It contributes to chemical and temperature sensitivity, acute pain sensation, and development of inflammation. HCIQ2c1 is a peptide from the sea anemone Heteractis magnifica that inhibits serine proteases. Here, we showed that HCIQ2c1 significantly reduces AITC- and capsaicin-induced pain and inflammation in mice. Electrophysiology recordings in Xenopus oocytes expressing rat TRPA1 channel revealed that HCIQ2c1 binds to open TRPA1 and prevents its transition to closed and inhibitor-insensitive ‘hyperactivated’ states. NMR study of the ¹⁵N-labeled recombinant HCIQ2c1 analog described a classical Kunitz-type structure and revealed two dynamic hot-spots (loops responsible for protease binding and regions near the N- and C-termini) that exhibit simultaneous mobility on two timescales (ps–ns and μs–ms). In modelled HCIQ2c1/TRPA1 complex, the peptide interacts simultaneously with one voltage-sensing-like domain and two pore domain fragments from different channel’s subunits, and with lipid molecules. The model explains stabilization of the channel in the open conformation and the restriction of ‘hyperactivation’, which are probably responsible for the observed analgetic activity. HCIQ2c1 is the third peptide ligand of TRPA1 from sea anemones and the first Kunitz-type ligand of this channel. HCIQ2c1 is a prototype of efficient analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs. Full article

Recently, textured piezoelectric ceramics have become a hot topic in the field of piezoelectric materials. Due to their high cost-effectiveness, textured ceramics are expected to be the material of choice for the next generation of acoustic transducers. In this study, we investigated the coercive field (E_c), piezoelectric constant (d₃₃), and dielectric constant (ε₃₃) of textured PIN-PSN-PT ceramics under different torques, in response to the demand for the development of composite rod transducer technology for transmitting and receiving. Based on the obtained data, a wideband composite rod transducer was designed and fabricated using textured PIN-PSN-PT ceramics with high performance. Compared with conventional PZT piezoelectric ceramic transducers of the same size, the wideband composite rod transducer made with textured ceramics extends the frequency band to a lower frequency of 6.5 kHz, improves the emission performance by 2 dB, and enhances the reception performance by 2 dB. Compared with conventional PZT piezoelectric ceramics in the same frequency band, the acoustic performance is comparable, but there is a volume reduction of 59.23% and a weight reduction of 49.7%, solving the technical bottleneck of developing composite rod transducers that are miniaturized and lightweight. The research results of this study have important reference value for the engineering application of textured ceramic materials in acoustic transducers. Full article

Background/Objectives: Large-scale epidemiological studies have established a bidirectional association between hypertension and cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms explaining this connection remain unclear. In our study, we investigated whether serum from patients with hypertension (HT) could enhance the aggressiveness of cancer cells in vitro through alterations in endothelial cell phenotype. Methods: Experiments were performed using EAhy926 endothelial cells and ovarian (SKOV-3), colorectal (SW480), pancreatic (PSN-1), breast (MCF-7), and lung (A549) cancer cell lines. Results: This study showed that conditioned medium (CM) produced by EAhy926 cells, when exposed to serum from patients with untreated hypertension (HT-CM), promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of every cancer cell line tested. In addition, endothelial cells subjected to HT serum promote the adhesion of all cancer cell types except PSN-1. An intensified transendothelial invasion of cancer cells was accompanied by decreased expression of junctional proteins (connexin 43, E-cadherin, occluding, desmoglein) in HT serum-treated endothelial cells. Quantitative analysis of the secretome of endothelial cells subjected to HT serum showed that they secrete increased amounts of CCL2, CXCL1, CXCL8, bFGF, HGF, IL-6, PAI-1, and TGF-β1. Moreover, cancer cells exposed to HT-CM display increased mRNA expression for several pro-cancerogenic agents, including CXCL8, tPA, and VEGF. Conclusions: Our report shows that hypertension may potentiate cancer cell aggressiveness by modulating endothelial cell phenotype. Further tests with antihypertensive drugs are required to assess whether effective treatment of hypertension can mitigate its cancer-promoting potential. Full article

Existing research on image-based plant classification has demonstrated high performance using artificial intelligence algorithms. However, limited camera viewing angles can cause parts of the plant to be invisible in the acquired images, leading to an inaccurate classification. However, this issue has not been addressed by previous research. Hence, our study aims to introduce a method to improve classification performance by taking these limitations into account; specifically, we incorporated both segmentation and classification networks structured as shallow networks to expedite the processing times. The proposed shallow plant segmentation network (Shal-PSN) performs adversarial learning based on a discriminator network; and a shallow plant classification network (Shal-PCN) with applied residual connections was also implemented. Moreover, the fractal dimension estimation is used in this study for analyzing the segmentation results. Additionally, this study evaluated the performance of the proposed Shal-PSN that achieved the dice scores (DSs) of 87.43% and 85.71% with PlantVillage and open leaf image (OLID-I) open datasets, respectively, in instances where 40–60% of plant parts were missing. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the proposed method increased the classification accuracy from 41.16% to 90.51% in the same instances. Overall, our approach achieved superior performance compared to the existing state-of-the-art classification methods. Full article