Search Results (5,688)

The tree-contact single-phase-to-ground fault (TSF) in 10 kV distribution networks has high transition resistance, weak fault currents, and nonlinear steady-state waveforms. As existing high-impedance fault models cannot accurately describe its complete physical evolution, this paper proposes a novel modeling and parameter identification algorithm for TSF. First, based on recorded data from full-scale experiments, the initiation and development processes of TSF are studied, revealing the main factors affecting fault electrical characteristics—such as moisture evaporation, pyrolysis carbonization, air gap breakdown, and tree body current dissipation. Then, a dynamic resistance series model for TSF is constructed, with parameters identified and calibrated using experimental data, objective functions, and physical constraints. Finally, a 10 kV TSF simulation model is built and verified. Furthermore, a cross-condition predictive validation is performed using different voltage and geometric boundaries. Results demonstrate that the proposed physics-constrained model can effectively reproduce the RMS fault current envelope with asymmetric moisture evaporation characteristics. It also accurately predicts steady-state nonlinear waveform features without parameter re-tuning, providing more physically consistent data support for future TSF identification studies. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation and a breakdown of mitochondrial homeostasis. Vitamin K2 (VK2) has emerged as a potential neuroprotective agent, yet the specific molecular cascades linking its intervention to the restoration of mitochondrial integrity remain poorly understood. This study utilizes an AD Drosophila model to investigate the efficacy of VK2 and elucidates its multidimensional regulatory mechanisms. Behavioral analysis showed that VK2 significantly rescued locomotor impairments, improving both vertical climbing and horizontal walking performance. Crucially, VK2 intervention achieved a systemic rescue of mitochondrial health: transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the preservation of mitochondrial ultrastructure and cristae density, while biochemical assays demonstrated a robust recovery of bioenergetic markers, including ATP levels and the NAD⁺/NADH ratio. Furthermore, VK2 treatment stabilized the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and effectively attenuated the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To identify the molecular drivers of this recovery, an unbiased integration of human clinical transcriptomic data and network pharmacology prioritized the EGFR-Ras-ERK signaling axis as a central hub. In vivo validation confirmed that VK2 suppresses the pathological overactivation of this cascade. VK2 reduced EGFR phosphorylation in parallel with the effects observed for the EGFR inhibitor Gefitinib. Collectively, our findings show that VK2 ameliorates locomotor deficits and mitochondrial dysfunction in Aβ42-expressing flies and that these effects are associated with suppression of the EGFR-Ras-ERK signaling axis. Further studies are required to establish direct target engagement and pathway causality. Full article

Choking in sport is both a highly researched phenomenon and a colloquial term for performance collapse, which has been at the centre of much debate. The past four decades of study continue to present challenges with its definition that have stifled progression with both research and applied intervention. This study adopted a functional contextual approach, with the aim of exploring how conceptualising choking through this lens might better serve practitioners and researchers, to build more impactful and meaningful processes for behaviour change. A purposive sample of 12 athletes, who identified as having experienced choking, took part in one of four focus groups. Thematic analysis provided four themes that explain choking from this functional contextual perspective, as a process of creating maladaptive personal narratives, responding to symbolic cues, rule-following, and strategies to alleviate the discomfort of challenging inner experiences associated with the experience. Findings provide preliminary support for functional contextualism as a worthwhile research lens for choking, with the suggestion that returning to observable definitions of choking may offer practitioners greater insight into relational processes underpinning choking. Full article

The fractional Whitham–Broer–Kaup model governs nonlinear wave propagation in memory-dependent media, including porous structures, viscoelastic fluids, and irregular seabeds, yet the full dynamical spectrum from quasi-periodicity to deterministic chaos, the role of stochastic forcing, and reliable identification from noisy data remains insufficiently explored, particularly how the fractional order $\beta$ influences these regimes. This study addresses these gaps through a comprehensive, multi-method dynamical analysis of a representative nonlinear oscillator embodying key FWBK features. Three-dimensional attractor visualizations, return maps, and surrogate data tests demonstrate a transition from quasi-periodic toroidal attractors to fully developed chaos via torus breakdown, confirming that observed complexity originates from deterministic nonlinearity. Poincaré sections reveal multistability and KAM-type structures, where coexisting attractors depend on initial conditions, while increasing noise progressively disrupts coherent dynamics. The OGY control method effectively stabilizes unstable periodic orbits across chaotic regimes with minimal perturbation, and Lyapunov analysis indicates that stochastic forcing attenuates chaos while enhancing dissipation. The Fokker–Planck framework shows that noise reshapes probability landscapes, driving transitions from unimodal to bimodal distributions. Comparative analysis of SINDy, JMAP and VBA highlights trade-offs in interpretability, computational efficiency, and uncertainty quantification, while an integrated Bayesian–PCE–Sobol approach quantifies parametric uncertainty and reveals time-dependent sensitivity variations. Additionally, the overlapping of soliton solutions extracted via the enhanced modified Sardar sub-equation method reveals structural relationships among soliton families and their stability under interaction. Soliton branches that maintain high overlap under noise correspond to stable regimes, while those losing coherence indicate the onset of chaos. Furthermore, while the reduced dynamics in $\eta$-space are independent of $\beta$, the fractional order controls spatial compression and temporal scaling in physical coordinates, directly influencing observable wave localization. These results imply that fractional effects can modify chaos transitions, support controllability through OGY, and influence noise–instability interactions depending on $\beta$. This framework provides a robust, transferable methodology for analyzing and controlling nonlinear oscillatory systems under deterministic and stochastic conditions, with direct applications to FWBK-based models in coastal engineering, fiber optics, and quantum interference systems. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly applied to healthcare decision-making; however, many persistent patient safety risks arise from sociotechnical conditions such as communication breakdowns, coordination failures, and organisational culture rather than diagnostic or decision error alone. While simulation can engage these dimensions of care, AI-supported simulation remains limited by heterogeneity and a lack of explicit conceptual structure. This study presents a narrative and conceptual review of the healthcare simulation and AI literature to identify structural barriers to coherent AI reasoning about simulation. Drawing on this synthesis, we introduce Transformative Simulation (TfS) as an intentional framework that can be formalised as an ontology for AI-supported simulation focused on cultural and systems-level change. TfS structures simulation through explicit Simulation-Based Intentions, an aligned design–delivery–data–debrief process, and foundational considerations of purpose, perspective, power, preparation, and possibility. Framed in this way, TfS enables AI systems to interpret simulation artefacts in relation to declared intent, sociotechnical context, and ethical boundaries. We further describe an Intentionality–Simulation–Intelligence triad and a continuous learning loop that align human values, simulation structure, and AI reasoning. The findings of this review suggest that an important challenge in applying AI to healthcare simulation may be ontological as well as technical, and that explicit representation of intention and context is necessary to support coherent, context-sensitive, and system-aligned AI reasoning in healthcare. Full article

To improve the laser-induced damage resistance of 7075 aluminum alloy, a typical aerospace material, a laser-resistant coating material for the surface of 7075 aluminum alloy was prepared in this paper. The performance of 7075 aluminum alloy coated with this coating was analyzed and tested by combining numerical simulation and experimental verification. The test results show that under the same laser irradiation conditions and geometric dimensions, the breakdown time of 7075 aluminum alloy coated with the laser-resistant coating is prolonged by 541.6%, and its laser-induced damage resistance is significantly improved. Full article

Fruit color is a key quality indicator for apples and directly influences their market value. The process of fruit ripening encompasses various physiological and biochemical changes, such as the breakdown of chlorophyll and the buildup of anthocyanins and carotenoids. This study investigated the mechanism of chlorophyll degradation in apple peels using ‘Granny Smith’ varieties. The experiments involving the treatment with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) indicated that a concentration of 10 µM MeJA led to a reduction in chlorophyll degradation, while a higher concentration of 1500 µM MeJA enhanced this degradation, which aligned with the variations observed in the expression of genes associated with chlorophyll degradation. The key chlorophyll degradation gene MdSGR1 was cloned and found to be induced by methyl jasmonate. MdSGR1 encodes a 283-amino-acid protein belonging to the stay-green superfamily. The promoter possesses inducible cis-acting elements that respond to methyl jasmonate, low temperature and light, while the protein is localized to chloroplasts. Overexpression and silencing vectors were constructed. Overexpression of MdSGR1 induced chlorosis in tobacco leaves and ‘Granny Smith’ apple peels, decreased chlorophyll content, and upregulated related gene expression. Conversely, silencing MdSGR1 produced opposite effects. Arabidopsis thaliana plants overexpressing MdSGR1 exhibited low chlorophyll content, reduced photosynthetic rate, upregulated expression of genes associated with chlorophyll degradation. The results of yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase reporter assays indicated that the MdMYC2 transcription factor interacts with the promoter region of MdSGR1. In conclusion, MdSGR1 is crucial for the degradation of chlorophyll in apple peel, and it is regulated both by the MdMYC2 transcription factor and different concentrations of MeJA. This study preliminarily elucidated the regulatory mechanism of methyl jasmonate on chlorophyll degradation in fruit peel, and these findings provide an important theoretical basis for controlling degreening and color quality in apple fruit. Full article

Background/Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by diverse clinical presentations and complex immunological mechanisms. This study aimed to characterize patient serology associated with disease activity scored using the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) and investigate the molecular signature of complement activation (measured through C3dg, a complement breakdown product) in SLE patients utilizing high-throughput mass spectrometry and autoantibody profiling. Methods: Plasma samples from 39 SLE patients in four mutually exclusive groups based on either disease activity scores (high/low SLEDAI) or complement activation levels (high/low C3dg) were analyzed using rapid LC-MS/MS, followed by unsupervised and supervised protein expression analysis. Complement activation was evaluated by measuring C3dg levels, and disease activity was scored using SLEDAI. Autoantibody reactivities were profiled using global autoantibody protein microarrays. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD066214. Results: Differential proteomic analyses revealed 25 proteins associated with SLE disease activity (high vs. low SLEDAI scores) and 25 proteins linked to complement activation levels (high vs. low C3dg). Enriched pathways indicated that adaptive immune response, classical complement activation, and immunoglobulin production correlated with disease activity, while complement activation and coagulation cascades were primarily associated with complement activation levels. Autoantibody profiling highlighted distinct reactivity patterns between subgroups, suggesting varying degrees of immune-mediated tissue damage. Conclusions: In this study, disease activity and complement activation markers were associated with overlapping yet non-identical plasma proteomic patterns in SLE. These findings support the feasibility of rapid mass spectrometry-based proteomics and autoantibody profiling for generating candidate molecular signatures in SLE. These findings serve as exploratory signatures that require validation in larger independent cohorts before they can be considered for clinical stratification and decision-making. Full article

Fire is the core safety threat to the survival and development of timber-framed buildings, and passive fire prevention intervention is the core foundation of fire protection systems for timber-framed buildings. Existing reviews suffer from limitations such as incomplete scenario coverage, insufficient breakdown of intervention mechanisms, and a lack of methodological standardization. This study strictly followed the PRISMA 2020 systematic review guidelines, searching the relevant literature from January 2016 to April 2026 on the Web of Science, Scopus, and Science Direct databases. After standardized screening, 89 valid articles were finally included and a systematic study was conducted through bibliometric analysis, keyword visualization, and multi-dimensional classification coding. The results show that the number of publications in this field has been continuously increasing from 2016 to 2025, with China accounting for 31.46% of the total, ranking first globally. The study constructed a core intervention mechanism system for passive fire prevention in timber-framed buildings, covering four categories: intrinsic flame-retardant modification, isolation protection, structural optimization, and spatial control. The working principles, application effects, advantages and disadvantages, and engineering application scenarios of each mechanism were clarified. This study systematically sorts out the core intervention mechanisms of passive fire prevention in timber-framed buildings, clarifies the research status and development trends in this field, and can provide evidence-based support for the design optimization, technology development, and engineering practice of passive fire protection for timber buildings. Full article

Reliable insulation design for LNG feedthroughs requires fundamental dielectric breakdown data obtained under cryogenic LNG conditions. However, such data remain scarce owing to the explosion-proof requirements imposed by the flammable nature of LNG. Furthermore, the influence of phase differences between LNG and NG on creepage dielectric breakdown behavior along insulation surfaces has received little attention. In this study, an explosion-proof cryostat and test facility compliant with the IEC 60079 series of standards were developed, and dielectric breakdown tests were conducted over a range of electrode gap distances and pressures. Two electrode configurations were employed: rod–plate electrodes for dielectric breakdown characterization in LN₂ and LNG, and creepage electrodes for surface dielectric breakdown evaluation in NG and LNG. Experimental results show that LNG requires approximately 1–2 bar of additional operating pressure above that of LN₂ to achieve equivalent dielectric strength. Moreover, LNG exhibited higher creepage dielectric breakdown voltages than NG under all test conditions, with the difference becoming more pronounced as pressure and creepage distance increased. Post-breakdown surface analysis revealed distinct differences in carbonization patterns between the two media. The findings of this study are expected to serve as fundamental reference data for the insulation design of LNG-based cryogenic feedthroughs. Full article

Neuroinflammation is a key hallmark of both neurodegenerative and neurospecific autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), where immune dysregulation contributes to cellular stress, autophagy, and disease progression in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and MS. Emerging evidence suggests a shared mechanism behind MS, AD, and PD, driven by chronic interaction between the peripheral immune system and the central nervous system (CNS). While MS was traditionally viewed as a primary autoimmune condition, recent research indicated that all three disorders involve a breakdown of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). This structural failure enables peripheral immune cells and cytokines to enter the brain, causing sustained neuroinflammation and accelerating disease progression. Here, we propose an end-to-end framework for identification of the diagnostic and therapeutic cell-specific protein markers commonly regulated in mild–moderate AD (MMAD), early-stage PD (ESPD), and MS within peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMC markers were first identified based on shared differential protein expression, followed by filtering for BBB permeability. Subsequently, sorted cell markers were mapped to disease-specific neural cell types. Our analysis suggests that PBMC-derived cells, including astrocyte- and monocyte-like populations, share overlapping transcriptional signatures and functional similarity with macrophages and neuroglial cells, indicating potential transcriptional similarity or functional convergence. Furthermore, intra- and inter-cellular pathway analysis suggested both shared and disease-specific signaling mechanisms, with kinase–integrin interactions emerging as key regulatory factors. Selected potential seed markers, primarily kinases and immunoglobulins, were further analyzed through evolutionary sequence–structure space to identify druggable structural features. Next, protein moonlighting possibilities were tested to enhance the temporal functional trajectory of the markers for precise therapeutic impact. Hence, the framework provides a robust strategy to identify immune-based disease-specificcandidate diagnostic andpotential therapeutic targets. Full article

In recent years, the rapid expansion of low-temperature facilities—such as cold storage and indoor ice and snow venues—has underscored their pronounced vulnerability to fire, as evidenced by multiple severe incidents. Due to their distinct environmental conditions, existing theoretical frameworks, technical approaches, and standards exhibit limited applicability. Consequently, the fire risk characteristics of such facilities remain insufficiently defined, and systematic methods for hazard identification and assessment are lacking. This study conducts a detailed analysis of fire incident data from representative low-temperature facilities to identify the fire risk characteristics across all lifecycle stages, including construction, renovation and expansion, operation, maintenance, and demolition. An integrated framework combining the WBS/RBS (Work Breakdown Structure/Risk Breakdown Structure) matrix and complex network (CN) methods is then proposed to establish a structured methodology for full lifecycle fire hazard identification and classification. The results address critical gaps, including the absence of clearly defined lifecycle fire risk profiles and a robust scientific basis for hazard identification, and provide a technical foundation for lifecycle fire risk management in low-temperature facilities. Full article

The composition of the surface, optical response, and size of the carbon dots synthesized from Valencia orange peels (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) were studied. The peels used in the hydrothermal synthesis were at three ripeness stages, and the synthesis was carried out at 220 °C and 3 MPa. Infrared spectroscopy results showed that carbon dots synthesized from the peels of unripe oranges are functionalized with oxygenated groups, and the carbonization process was effective. Instead, carbon dots obtained from peels of ripe oranges exhibit a nitrogen-functionalized surface. These results were confirmed by the bond-breakdown analysis in photoelectron spectroscopy. Additionally, the self-doped surface modified the optical response of the carbon dots, exhibiting an enhancement of the absorption band located at 283 nm corresponding to the contribution from n-π* transitions in nitrogen. Also, the excitation and emission wavelengths present a red shift for the ripe peels. Based on the above and the transmission electron microscopy results, it is concluded that the emission mechanism is associated with surface states and not particle size. Statistical analysis yielded an average size of less than 10 nm, regardless of the orange peels’ ripeness stage. It was observed that the CDs-N3 sample has more crystalline nuclei, which is justified because ripe peels follow a shorter carbonization pathway. Full article

Combined Vertical–Horizontal Well Patterns (CVHWPs) have been increasingly applied in mature and complex reservoirs, such as the C5 Block. Their application is attractive because they provide extensive reservoir coverage and high development efficiency. However, close well spacing and the three-dimensional configuration of vertical and horizontal wells can induce strong stress-shadow interference. This interference makes fracture propagation difficult to control and may reduce stimulation effectiveness. To address this problem, a multi-well, multi-fracture induced-stress model for CVHWP stimulation was developed in this study. The model was validated using laboratory three-stage fracturing experiments, including two horizontal-well stages and one vertical-well stage, together with field observations. Across three stages, the calculated stress intensity factors at breakdown are closely matched, validating the induced-stress model. When the vertical well was fractured first, the horizontal principal-stress difference at the adjacent horizontal stage increased by 2.01 MPa, which was unfavorable for branched fracture development. In contrast, when the horizontal stage was fractured first, the stress difference decreased by 3.25 MPa at the subsequent horizontal stage and by 3.89 MPa at the vertical-well stage. This sequence is preferable because fractures generated from the vertical well impose a stronger stress perturbation on adjacent horizontal-well fractures than fractures generated from the horizontal well impose on the subsequent vertical-well fracture. Under the tested CVHWP conditions, the horizontal-well fractures tended to form nearly symmetric bi-wing planar fractures, whereas branched fractures were more likely to develop in the vertical well. Therefore, for CVHWP reservoirs with close vertical–horizontal well spacing and significant stress interference, fracturing the horizontal well before the vertical well is recommended to control fracture propagation and promote multiple-fracture formation. Field application of this sequence showed notable production improvement, indicating that the proposed method can provide practical guidance for unconventional well-pattern fracturing design. Full article

Ferroelectric (FE) diodes configured in the metal–ferroelectric–metal (MIFM) structure are promising candidates for non-volatile memory. While recent studies emphasized bulk FE properties, interfacial characteristics have not been carefully considered. In this work, we investigate the HfO₂/Al_0.8Sc_0.2N interface by examining its impact on switching and rectifying characteristics in MIFM FE diodes with variable HfO₂ thicknesses (2/4/6 nm). Electrical characterization reveal that the increased HfO₂ thickness raises the coercive field (E_C) due to enhanced electrostatic effects and progressive interfacial oxidation from Sc-N to Sc-O bonds. This resulting oxygen substitutional defect (O_N) which may contribute to domain-wall pinning and reduced rectifying efficiency. Cycling tests clarify operating regime-dependent phenomena, including O_N redistribution-induced wake-up and eventual breakdown. Moreover, enhanced retention is observed after pre-cycling, originating from the stabilization of the interfacial defects rather than bulk properties. These findings underscore that E_C and device reliability are likely influenced by interfacial engineering, which is critical for the reliable operation of AlScN-based FE diodes. Full article