Search Results (22,360)

The Draa Sfar polymetallic mine, located near Marrakech in Morocco, represents the deepest currently operating underground mine in North Africa, with workings extending beyond depths of −1200 m. At such depths, mining activities are conducted within weak, highly anisotropic foliated black pelites, where recurrent instability mechanisms, most notably rib buckling and crown deterioration, are frequently observed, especially in drifts developed parallel to the foliation planes. In this context, the present study integrates detailed structural field observations with two-dimensional finite-element modelling using RS2 in order to analyse excavation-scale stability within these schistose pelitic rocks. Both numerical simulations and field evidence indicate that increasing depth-related confinement, together with a dominant in situ stress regime, favours stress channelling and localized damage development, while the pronounced transverse weakness of the pelites exerts a primary control on failure kinematics, including schistosity-parallel spalling, asymmetric rib buckling, and shear along inclined foliation intersecting the excavation back. Instability processes are further intensified by excavation geometry and mine layout: angular, square-shaped profiles and foliation-parallel drift orientations generate steeper stress gradients and greater convergence compared to arched sections, while proximity to stopes and adjacent openings enhances mining-induced stress redistribution and associated deformation. Intersection areas emerge as the most critical configurations, where the superposition of stress perturbations and structurally controlled damage mechanisms accelerates wall convergence and roof sagging. Overall, these findings demonstrate that drift stability cannot be adequately evaluated using generic design criteria when excavation geometry, interaction effects, and structural anisotropy exert a dominant influence on mechanical behaviour. Consequently, a fully integrated approach that combines drift geometry optimisation, detailed structural mapping, site-calibrated numerical modelling, and in situ monitoring is required to achieve reliable stability assessment and control. Full article

Shooting activities offer educational and recreational value; however, their application in school physical education and recreational settings remains limited due to safety concerns, high costs, and restricted access to specialized facilities and equipment. To address these constraints, this study designed and implemented a low-cost laser shooting system suitable for school physical education and recreational use. The proposed system comprises a laser-gun module, a physical electronic target providing immediate on-site feedback using an illuminance sensor, a Fresnel lens, and RGB LEDs, and a web-based electronic target that enables real-time scoring, logging, and visualization via smartphone or tablet cameras and browser-based processing. By adopting a low-power, projectile-free laser structure with pulse-limited emission, the system enhances operational safety, while the use of general-purpose components and web standards reduces cost and lowers barriers to adoption. Technical verification conducted under controlled indoor conditions demonstrated stable single-shot operation, reliable hit detection, and accurate score calculation for both the physical and web-based targets. Expert validation involving specialists in physical education, educational technology, and sports technology yielded consistently high evaluations across safety, cost efficiency, functional completeness, and field applicability. These findings suggest that the proposed system represents a practical and scalable alternative for school physical education classes and recreational programs. Future research should examine user-level usability, learning outcomes, system robustness under diverse environmental conditions, and structured expert consensus processes. Full article

Ammopiptanthus nanus (Fabaceae) is a Class II nationally protected endangered evergreen shrub in China and is endemic to the arid regions of Central Asia. To assess how contrasting ex situ management histories are associated with sequence-variant retention at an ecologically relevant gene, we analyzed a 594 bp coding fragment of the antifreeze protein gene (AnAFP) in one wild population and two ex situ collections maintained under active versus passive management contexts. Only two variable sites were detected across 75 individuals, both represented by single-base indels near the 5′ end of the coding region. The wild population contained both rare variants, the actively managed ex situ collection retained one of them at low frequency, and the passively maintained collection was monomorphic across the analyzed fragment. Rarefaction analysis indicated that the absence of variation in the passive collection is unlikely to be explained by sample-size disparity alone at this targeted locus. Because only one locus was analyzed, these results are interpreted as locus-specific patterns rather than evidence of genome-wide diversity change. Nevertheless, the observed pattern is consistent with reduced retention of rare sequence variants in the passive ex situ collection and with the possibility that a narrow founder base, together with the absence of subsequent genetic supplementation, contributed to this outcome. These results support the view that ex situ conservation of A. nanus may benefit from maximizing founder representation, maintaining sufficiently large managed collections, and combining neutral marker approaches with targeted monitoring of ecologically relevant loci. Targeted loci such as AnAFP should, however, be regarded as complementary indicators rather than stand-alone proxies for broader genetic diversity or adaptive potential. Full article

Accurate prediction of surface rupture induced by seismogenic fault displacement is essential for the seismic safety assessment of major engineering projects. Most existing numerical simulations adopt quasi-static approaches, in which the effect of fault displacement is simplified as static loading. As a result, these methods cannot represent the dynamic characteristics of the fault rupture process, such as stress-wave propagation, soil inertial effects, and the influence of dynamic loading paths on rupture extension in soil layers. To address this issue, a full-process simulation method is established for simulating rupture of overlying soil subjected to dynamic fault displacement: Firstly, a non-uniform dynamic fault displacement loading is formulated for the two sides of the fault based on viscoelastic artificial boundaries, allowing the differential motion of the bedrock on both sides of the fault to be represented. Secondly, an improved dynamic skeleton curve constitutive model of soil is developed by introducing a minimum modulus constraint, providing an improved description of soil nonlinear dynamic behavior from small-strain hysteresis to large-strain shear failure. The reliability of the proposed method is verified through element-level tests and horizontal-site response simulation. As a benchmark, its ability to reproduce key rupture characteristics under quasi-static conditions is also assessed by comparison with classical quasi-static rupture studies. The method is then applied to simulate rupture extension and deformation response of overlying soil under strike-slip fault displacement. The results show that, compared to quasi-static analysis, dynamic fault displacement produces similar cumulative slip for surface rupture initiation and full connection, but induces transient amplification of peak surface displacement and a wider deformation zone with gentler displacement gradients. These findings demonstrate the necessity of considering dynamic fault dislocation of bedrock–overlying soil interaction in seismic assessments of engineering projects crossing active faults. Full article

Heterogeneous catalytic degradation of organic dyes can effectively achieve the goals of reducing the chromaticity of aqueous solutions and completely removing pollutants. We here present a carbon-nitride-wrapped zero-valent Fe catalyst (CNFe), which can directly degrade Acid Red G (ARG) dye without additional oxidants. CNFe exhibited a nanotube-like morphology, wherein the zero-valent Fe (Fe⁰) was wrapped by a carbon layer to effectively enhance its dispersibility and prevent its oxidative deactivation. Meanwhile, the large specific surface area (169.19 m²/g), along with abundant active sites such as Fe and O, endowed CNFe with excellent activity. Under strongly acidic conditions, even in the presence of various anions, CNFe can still remove approximately 91.6% of ARG within 30 min. In a 10 h continuous flow column experiment, the removal efficiency of ARG consistently exceeded 67.6%, indicating that CNFe had great potential for treating actual dyeing wastewater. Catalytic mechanism studies showed that, under neutral conditions, CNFe mainly removed ARG through adsorption, whereas, under acidic conditions, the Fe⁰ in CNFe can not only activate molecular oxygen to generate HO· for the oxidative degradation of ARG but also remove ARG via reduction. Furthermore, CNFe can adsorb ARG through hydrogen bonding of surface hydroxyl groups. The developmental toxicity of the generated intermediates was effectively reduced, demonstrating lower environmental risks. Therefore, this study provided a simple, high-efficiency, and economical method for removing dyes from water, which can offer guidance for the treatment of practical dye wastewater. Full article

Outdoor ecological practice is essential for cultivating ecological literacy; however, there is currently a relative lack of comprehensive outdoor practical teaching case designs for class-based teaching. This study describes the design of an experimental teaching case for ecological education involving UAV-based field data collection. For the scheme, we selected the Xinhui Tangerine Peel Germplasm Resources Conservation Center in Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province as the study area, utilizing the DJI Phantom 4 RTK drone, which serves as the equipment for experimental teaching. The experiment is structured into three phases: indoor preparation, field execution, and data processing. Students from four groups collaboratively conducted aerial surveys across 24 partitioned plots, with flight altitudes stratified between groups to ensure safety and data integrity. (1) In the indoor preparation phase, appropriate single-flight operational units were defined. QGIS software (version 3.26.2) was employed for zonal mission planning, and suitable flight altitudes were estimated using contour data. (2) Field experiment phase. This involved conducting a comprehensive survey of the on-site environment, selecting suitable takeoff and landing points, dividing students into teams to carry out UAV-image-acquisition tasks, and assigning different altitudes for flight routes among the teams. (3) After the fieldwork, students processed imagery using Agisoft Metashape (version 2.0.1) to generate orthomosaics and digital surface models, and engaged in ecological interpretation of the results. The experimental design ensured orderly execution, complete data coverage, and active student participation. The results indicate the approach effectively enhanced students’ UAV operational skills, outdoor problem-solving abilities, and teamwork capabilities, while deepening their ecological understanding through real-world inquiry. This case provides a replicable model for integrating UAV technology into ecological education, contributing to the transformation of ecological awareness into actionable practice. Full article

In this study, a drug repurposing strategy was implemented with the aim of identifying new trypanocidal agents against Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). A total of 924 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs were screened by molecular docking on three sites of trypanothione synthetase (TS), including the catalytic site, a blind docking site, and a potential allosteric site. Selected compounds were further evaluated through in vitro and in vivo assays. Tadalafil, Zafirlukast, Raltegravir, and Olmesartan had better trypanocidal activity than the reference drugs Benznidazole and Nifurtimox in the in vitro evaluation against the trypomastigote form. Additionally, these drugs were able to decrease parasitemia by 20–50% in mice in an acute treatment. Molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) at 120 ns helped link findings from in vitro/in vivo experiments to a potential mechanism of action targeting T. cruzi trypanothione synthetase (TcTS). Therefore, the results encourage the use of these drugs to develop new anti-T. cruzi agents. Full article

Transcription factors that control stem cell programs are central drivers of cancer progression, metastasis, and therapy resistance. ARID3B, a DNA-binding protein overexpressed across multiple tumor types, expands the cancer stem cell population by regulating these pathways. Yet, how ARID3B is regulated remains largely unknown. Here, we uncover phosphorylation at Serine 89 as a critical switch controlling ARID3B localization and function. We used site-directed mutagenesis to generate phospho-dead (S89A) and phospho-mimetic (S89D) ARID3B constructs, and we generated a phospho-specific antibody for S89. With these tools, we showed that phosphorylation confines ARID3B to the nucleus in ovarian cancer and glioblastoma cells, as well as in human tissues, while unphosphorylated ARID3B can localize to the nucleus, cytoplasm, and membrane. Functionally, S89D mirrors wild-type ARID3B in regulating key transcriptional programs, whereas S89A diverges, consistent with altered subcellular localization. Chromatin immunoprecipitation confirms that direct gene regulation is enhanced in WT ARID3B and S89D compared to cells expressing S89A. Collectively, these findings reveal phosphorylation as a previously unrecognized molecular switch that dictates ARID3B’s localization and transcriptional activity, providing novel insights into cancer stem cell regulation and identifying a potential targetable vulnerability in aggressive tumors. Full article

Developing sensitive and reversible CO sensors requires precise control of material–analyte interactions. Using DFT, we investigate CO sensing on bimetallic (Fe, Pt) anchored on N-doped graphene (TM₂–N₄–C), focusing on active-site density effects. Three densities are considered: low (12.7 Å), medium (8.5 Å), and high (4.2 Å). FePt–N₄–C band gaps exhibit non-monotonic tuning, approaching metallicity at high density. CO chemisorbs on Fe sites, but physisorbs on Pt sites. FePt exhibits stronger synergistic adsorption than homonuclear counterparts. While adsorption generally strengthens with density, spin-polarized calculations qualitatively reorder this trend via spin delocalization. High temperatures drastically improve recovery; low-density FePt–N₄–C reaches 65 s at 498 K. Three design principles emerge: low-density heteronuclear systems for reversible sensing, medium-density high-spin states for ultra-sensitive capture, and high-density configurations for work function sensors. This work establishes active site density as a key electronic and kinetic knob for graphene-based CO sensors. Full article

Polysilicon is widely used in the photovoltaic and semiconductor industries. The presence of trace phosphorus impurities in the trichlorosilane feedstock can severely degrade the quality of polysilicon products. To address the urgent need for complete phosphorus removal of trichlorosilane, in this work, on the basis of the reducing ability of PCl₃ and the stronger Lewis base properties of its oxidation product, POCl₃, we developed an efficient material, xMo/Al₂O₃[y], using Al₂O₃ as the support and Mo species as active substances through a simple and straightforward method. Under the optimized preparation conditions of 7.8% Mo loading and a calcination temperature of 450 °C, the adsorbent exhibited optimal performance in an organic system simulating a trichlorosilane system with a P adsorption capacity of 53.52 mg g⁻¹, achieving near-complete elimination of phosphorus impurities. A series of characterization analyses suggested the following primary removal mechanism: initial oxidation of PCl₃ to POCl₃ by Mo⁶⁺ species, followed by its complexation with Mo sites via Lewis acid-base interactions. Furthermore, surface morphology damage during the removal process and the accumulation of reaction products on the spent adsorbent are the main factors contributing to its deactivation. This work presents an effective strategy for the deep dephosphorization of trichlorosilane. Full article

Fungal contamination during postharvest storage causes significant food losses, particularly due to Penicillium expansum and Penicillium brevicompactum, highlighting the need for sustainable antifungal alternatives. This study evaluated the antifungal potential of clove essential oil (Syzygium aromaticum) against P. expansum and P. brevicompactum by integrating in vitro assays with in silico analyses. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined, and effects on fungal growth, membrane integrity, and spore germination were assessed. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to evaluate the affinity and stability of the five most abundant GC–MS compounds that met predefined ProTox-II toxicity criteria (categories 5–6; LD₅₀ ≥ 2000 mg/kg) toward chitin synthase I (CHS I), a key enzyme in chitin biosynthesis. The oil exhibited strong inhibitory activity, with MIC values of 0.156 µL/mL against P. expansum and 0.312 µL/mL against P. brevicompactum, along with significant morphological and physiological alterations. Computational analyses indicated that trans-β-caryophyllene oxide and α-humulene form stable interactions at both the active and an allosteric site of CHS I, supporting a putative dual inhibitory mechanism. These findings highlight clove essential oil as a promising ecological alternative to synthetic fungicides and underscore the value of computational approaches for elucidating antifungal mechanisms in understudied species. Full article

Cobalt disulfide (CoS₂) features highly active catalytic sites and is regarded as a promising candidate for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. In this study, molybdenum-doped cobalt disulfide (CoS₂:Mo) was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal approach. XRD analysis confirms that the obtained samples crystallize in a cubic pyrite structure, with diffraction peaks consistently shifting towards lower angles. SEM characterization reveals that the samples exhibit microrod-like morphologies with an average size of approximately 1 μm. Integrated analyses from XRD, XPS, and EDS mapping demonstrate that Mo is uniformly distributed across the surface and successfully doped into the CoS₂ lattice. Electrochemical measurements indicate that the CoS₂:Mo sample delivers a low overpotential of 122 mV and a Tafel slope of 128 mV dec⁻¹ at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² in alkaline media, significantly surpassing the performance of pure CoS₂ and MoS₂. Moreover, the CoS₂:Mo exhibits an enhanced double-layer capacitance, with a C_dl value of 2.72 mF cm⁻², superior to that of pure CoS₂ (1.63 mF cm⁻²) and MoS₂ (0.31 mF cm⁻²). Mo doping enhances conductivity and active sites, thereby boosting electrocatalysis. This work presents an effective strategy for the development of cost-efficient and high-performance non-precious metal electrocatalysts. Full article

The rise in emerging viral outbreaks has intensified the need for novel antiviral therapies and highlighted the untapped potential of natural products. Influenza viruses, particularly avian strains, continue to evolve rapidly, yet the antiviral properties of Jordan’s native plants remain largely unexplored. This study focused on avian influenza and screened twelve endemic plant species, using ethanol to selectively extract polar phytochemicals likely to interact with the hydrophilic active site of neuraminidase (NA). Among these, Arbutus andrachne leaf and fruit extracts emerged as potent in vitro inhibitors of recombinant N9 neuraminidase, a key enzyme in influenza replication, with IC₅₀ values of 31.6 µg/mL and 32.9 µg/mL, respectively. LC-MS analysis identified hyperoside as the major shared flavonoid in both extracts, which may contribute to the observed inhibitory activity. These findings support the potential of A. andrachne as a natural source for herbal preparations with antiviral activity. Full article

Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia increases susceptibility to surgical site infection (SSI) through impaired immune function, reduced oxidative killing, and altered collagen deposition. We performed a narrative review of recent clinical and translational studies evaluating active thermal management for SSI prevention, with emphasis on forced-air warming (FAW) and conductive systems, and on high-risk settings (prolonged surgery, elevated BMI, and pediatric patients). Across studies, active warming more reliably maintains intraoperative normothermia than passive insulation; however, evidence for a consistent reduction in SSI rates is strongest in vulnerable cohorts and lengthy procedures and remains heterogeneous across specialties. FAW demonstrates high warming efficiency, yet its use in implant-based operations continues to be debated because of potential airflow disruption and bacterial mobilization concerns. The literature increasingly supports precision approaches, including pre-warming protocols, improved perioperative temperature monitoring, and predictive models to identify patients at greatest risk of hypothermia. In conclusion, effective SSI prevention requires procedure- and patient-specific thermal strategies, selecting devices that balance warming performance with sterility considerations while integrating perioperative risk stratification and real-time monitoring. Full article

In the current work, the microstructural evolution and CO₂ sensing performance of tungsten trioxide (WO₃) thin films synthesized by reactive DC magnetron sputtering are investigated. Three specific thicknesses of 42, 66, and 131 nm were obtained and annealed at 500 °C, resulting in a stable monoclinic P2₁/n phase with a strong (200) preferred orientation. Gas sensing tests toward 10,000 ppm of CO₂ revealed that the 42 nm film achieves the highest sensitivity (92%) at an optimal operating temperature of 300 °C. Rietveld refinement and texture analysis (texture index, J) demonstrate that the superior performance of the thinnest film is driven by a synergy between its high surface porosity, a grain size comparable to the Debye length, and a high density of active sites on the (200) plane. While all films exhibit n-type semiconductor behavior, increasing thickness leads to microstructural densification and reduced texture, which hinders gas diffusion and operational stability. These findings establish thickness control as a critical parameter for engineering high-performance WO₃-based CO₂ sensors. Full article