Search Results (3,790)

Overexpression of protein phosphatase 5 (PP5) is implicated in tumor cell growth, establishing PP5 as a compelling target for small-molecule anticancer therapy. Building on prior success in achieving selectivity within the PP2A domain through scaffold functionalization that maximizes active-site interactions, we propose a parallel strategy for PP5 inhibition. Norcantharidin, the demethylated cousin of cantharidin, is a potent yet unselective phosphatase inhibitor, making its bicyclic framework an attractive platform for systematic derivatization. The approach reported herein exploits anhydride reactivity to generate a carboxylic acid derivative that is transformed into a chloromethyl ester. Chloromethyl ester functionality serves as a strategically activated intermediate enabling downstream functional-group diversification under mild, neutral conditions while preserving scaffold integrity. This modular synthetic strategy establishes a foundation for the development of PP5-selective norcantharidin derivatives with improved tumor selectivity, potency, and synthetic feasibility. Full article

This study aims to evaluate the potential of circular economy principles in earth-based construction using an experimental rammed earth building located in Pasłęk, Poland as a case study. The research focuses on end-of-life scenarios for earth materials, with particular emphasis on rammed earth, adobe, and compressed earth blocks stabilized with Portland cement. A scenario-based life-cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to compare alternative demolition and reuse strategies, including manual and mechanical deconstruction, as well as on-site and off-site material reuse. Greenhouse gas emissions associated with demolition (Module C1) and transport (Module C2) were estimated for each scenario. The results indicate that manual deconstruction combined with local, on-site reuse leads to the lowest carbon footprint, whereas off-site reuse involving long-distance transport significantly increases greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, qualitative reuse pathways were identified for wood, glass, ceramics, and insulation materials. The study reveals a lack of standardized technical procedures for the recovery and reuse of stabilized earthen materials after demolition and highlights the importance of integrating end-of-life planning into the early design phase using digital tools such as material passports and BIM. The findings demonstrate that properly designed rammed earth systems can provide a viable low-tech solution for reducing construction waste and supporting circular material flows in the built environment. Full article

Providing effective post-disaster housing remains a globally complex challenge shaped by interrelated constraints, including environmental sustainability, socio-cultural compatibility, logistical capacity, and economic feasibility. Contemporary responses therefore require housing solutions that extend beyond rapid deployment to incorporate flexibility, adaptability, and long-term spatial transformation. In this context, this study advances a design-oriented, computational framework that positions parametric design at the core of post-disaster housing production within the broader digital transformation of the construction sector. The research proposes an adaptive parametric–modular housing system in which standardized architectural units are governed by a rule-based aggregation logic capable of generating context-responsive spatial configurations across multiple scales and typologies. The methodology integrates a qualitative synthesis of global post-disaster housing literature with a quantitative computational workflow developed in Grasshopper for Rhinoceros 3D (version 8). Algorithmic scripting defines a standardized spatial grid and parametrically regulates key building components structural systems, façade assemblies, and site-specific environmental parameters, enabling real-time configuration, customization, and optimization of housing units in response to diverse user needs and varying climatic, social, and economic conditions while maintaining constructability. The applicability of the framework is examined through a case study of the Düzce Permanent Housing context, where limitations of existing post-disaster stock, such as spatial rigidity, restricted growth capacity, and fragmented public-space integration, are contrasted with alternative settlement scenarios generated by the proposed system. The findings demonstrate that the framework supports multi-scalar and multi-typological reconstruction, extending beyond individual dwellings to include public, service, and open-space components. Overall, the study contributes a transferable computational methodology that integrates modular standardization with configurational diversity and user-driven adaptability, offering a sustainable pathway for transforming temporary post-disaster shelters into permanent, resilient, and socially integrated community assets. Full article

The Japanese scholar and art critic Okakura Tenshin traveled to colonial India from January to September 1902 and made three visits to the Buddhist holy site of Bodh Gaya. There, he attempted to purchase a piece of land from the landowner, the Mahant, to build a vihāra (resthouse) for Japanese Buddhist devotees. His purchase request was rejected by the British colonial authority for his foreigner status, despite no legal prohibition against land sales to foreigners under Bodh Gaya’s land management laws at the time. The year after his journey to India, Okakura Tenshin published The Ideals of the East, wherein the renowned declaration that “Asia is one” subsequently evolved to be the intellectual cornerstone of twentieth-century Asianism (or Pan-Asianism). How did Okakura’s Indian journey and his experience of the failed attempt to purchase land in Bodh Gaya catalyze his conception of “Asia is One”? This essay first traces the Buddhist revival movements in late nineteenth-century India and Japan, elucidating how Buddhism helped forge a sense of transnational solidarity between the two nations, which Okakura also embraced. It then examines Okakura’s trip to India and his plan to purchase land at Bodh Gaya, uncovering the underlying geopolitical struggle between the British Empire and the New Asian Power Japan. In this context, the analysis will show that Okakura’s frustrating experience of failed land purchase underscored for him the necessity for the solidarity between Japan and India and the need for a unitary idea of Asia to articulate that solidarity. Finally, a comparative textual analysis between The Ideals of the East (1903) and Okakura’s “History of Japanese Art” lectures given at the Tokyo Fine Arts School before his trip to India explicates how Buddhism, which was being revived by a collective of various groups in and outside its place of origin India, served as a cohesive discursive agent in Okakura’s construction of the narrative of an Asian unity. This Buddhist framework helped Okakura to reconstruct the interlinked cultural histories of India, China, and Japan into a unified notion of Asia within which he crystallized a unique and favored cultural identity for Japan. Full article

Liquid biopsy is moving beyond mutation-centric assays to multimodal frameworks that integrate cell-free DNA (cfDNA) signals with additional analytes such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs). In this review, we summarize emerging technologies across analytes for early cancer detection, emphasizing sequencing and error-suppression strategies and the growing evidence for multi-cancer early detection (MCED), tissue-of-origin (TOO) inference, diagnostic triage, and longitudinal surveillance. At low tumor fractions, fragmentomic and methylation features preserve tissue and chromatin context; when combined with radiomics using deep learning, they support blood-first, high-specificity risk stratification, increase positive predictive value (PPV), reduce unnecessary procedures, and enhance early prediction of treatment response and relapse. Building on these findings, we propose a pathway-aware workflow: initial blood-based risk scoring, followed by organ-directed imaging, and targeted secondary testing when indicated. We further recommend that model reports include not only discrimination metrics but also calibration, decision-curve analysis, PPV/negative predictive value (NPV) at fixed specificity, and TOO accuracy, alongside multi-site external validation and blinded dataset splits to improve generalizability. Overall, liquid biopsy is transitioning from signal discovery to deployable multimodal decision systems; standardized pre-analytical and analytical workflows, robust error suppression, and prospective real-world evaluations will be pivotal for clinical implementation. Full article

Previous studies on single-polarized InSAR-based sub-canopy topography inversion have mainly relied on simplified or empirical models that only consider the volume scattering process. In a boreal forest area, the canopy layer is often discontinuous. In such a case, the radar backscattering echoes are mainly dominated by ground surface and volume scattering processes. However, interferometric scattering models like Random Volume over Ground (RVoG) have been little utilized in the case of single-polarized InSAR. In this study, we propose a novel method for retrieving sub-canopy topography by combining the RVoG model with multi-baseline InSAR data. Prior to the RVoG model inversion, a SAR-based dimidiate pixel model and a coherence-based penetration depth model are introduced to quantify the initial values of the unknown parameters, thereby minimizing the reliance on external vegetation datasets. Building on this, a nonlinear least-squares algorithm is employed. Then, we estimate the scattering phase center height and subsequently derive the sub-canopy topography. Two frames of multi-baseline TanDEM-X co-registered single-look slant-range complex (CoSSC) data (resampled to 10 m × 10 m) over the Krycklan catchment in northern Sweden are used for the inversion. Validation from airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data shows that the root-mean-square error (RMSE) for the two test sites is 3.82 m and 3.47 m, respectively, demonstrating a significant improvement over the InSAR phase-measured digital elevation model (DEM). Furthermore, diverse interferometric baseline geometries and different initial values are identified as key factors influencing retrieval performance. In summary, our work effectively addresses the limitations of the traditional RVoG model and provides an advanced and practical tool for sub-canopy topography mapping in forested areas. Full article

To improve the fatigue life of high-strength bolts, this study builds upon conventional thread rolling by introducing a localized rolling reinforcement process specifically at the thread root. Experimental specimens were prepared from 42CrMo high-strength bolts using a combined manufacturing technique that integrates thread forming and root rolling. A comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the fatigue performance of bolts with and without the root rolling reinforcement. The experimental results demonstrated that the thread root rolling treatment further refines the surface grains beyond the effects of standard thread rolling. At a rolling force of 2.5 kN, the surface microhardness increased from the original 500 HV0.2 to 540 HV0.2. The process also improved surface finish, reduced grain size, and increased dislocation density. The optimal enhancement was achieved at a rolling force of 3.5 kN, resulting in an approximately 11-fold improvement in fatigue life. Fractographic analysis via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) indicated a reduced number of crack initiation sites. This study confirms the effectiveness of the proposed rolling reinforcement process, offering a viable technical pathway for optimizing the anti-fatigue manufacturing of high-strength bolts. Full article

About 16% of typhoons making landfall in China strike Hainan Island, where near-surface extreme winds in dense urban areas exhibit a strong spatiotemporal heterogeneity that is difficult to capture with current observations and mesoscale models. Focusing on Haikou during Super Typhoon Yagi (2024)—the strongest autumn typhoon to hit China since 1949—we developed a multiscale ERA5–WRF–PALM framework to conduct 30 m resolution large-eddy simulations. PALM results are in reasonable agreement with most of the five automatic weather stations, while performance is weaker at the most sheltered park site. Mean near-surface wind speeds increased by 20–50% relative to normal conditions, showing a coastal–urban gradient: maps of weighted cumulative exposure to strong winds (≥Beaufort force 8) show much longer and more intense events along open coasts than within built-up urban cores. Urban morphology exerted nonlinear effects: wind speeds followed a U-shaped relation with both the open-space ratio and mean building height, with suppression zones at ~0.5–0.7 openness and ~20–40 m height, while clusters of super-tall buildings induced Venturi-like acceleration of 2–3 m s⁻¹. Spatiotemporal analysis revealed banded swaths of high winds, with open areas and islands sustaining longer, broader extremes, and dense street grids experiencing shorter, localized events. Methodologically, this study provides a rare, systematically evaluated application of a multiscale ERA5–WRF–PALM framework to a real typhoon case at 30 m resolution in a tropical coastal city. These findings clarify typhoon–city interactions, quantify morphological regulation of extreme winds, and support risk assessment, urban planning, and wind-resilient design in coastal megacities. Full article

Hydrogen is widely regarded as a promising clean energy carrier, and blending hydrogen into existing natural gas pipelines is considered a cost-effective and practical pathway for large-scale deployment. Supplying hydrogen-enriched natural gas to buildings requires careful consideration of the safe operation of pipelines and appliances without introducing new risks. In this study, on-site demonstrations and experimental tests were conducted in two high-rise buildings in Weifang to evaluate the impact of hydrogen addition on high-rise building natural gas distribution systems. The results indicate that hydrogen blending up to 20% by volume does not cause stratification in building risers and leads only to a relatively minor increase in additional pressure, approximately 0.56 Pa/m for every 10% increase in hydrogen addition. While hydrogen addition may increase leakage primarily in aging indoor gas systems, gas meter leakage rates under a 10% hydrogen blend remain below 3 mL/h, satisfying safety requirements. In addition, in-service domestic gas alarms remain effective under hydrogen ratios of 0–20%, with average response times of approximately 19–20 s. These findings help clarify the safety performance of hydrogen-blended natural gas in high-rise building distribution systems and provide practical adjustment measures to support future hydrogen injection projects. Full article

Health and safety concerns at construction sites have become increasingly significant, especially with the rapid technological development and the opportunities it brings. Since fall-from-height incidents are the most frequent construction accidents in the field, this paper focuses on a fall risk prevention method for building construction sites by integrating algorithm-based techniques with BIM models and introducing a smart adaptive system that automatically detects danger zones and places requiring safety equipment regardless of the layout complexity and design modifications. Moreover, the work reveals the optimal quantities and material takeoffs for the suggested safety plan over time, based on the construction sequence. It provides a 4D BIM simulation of building projects, in which the appropriate configurations, quantities, lengths, and costs of the required safety equipment can be derived at any chosen time interval within the construction stage. Full article

This study aims to explore how industrial heritage regeneration spaces influence employees’ physical and psychological health through restorative perception. With the rapid urbanization and increasing emphasis on sustainable development, the adaptive reuse of industrial heritage sites has become a vital strategy in urban renewal. However, the impact of such spaces on people’s health remains underexplored, especially in terms of how the work environment and restorative psychological mechanisms interact. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data from 486 employees in adaptive reuse projects across major cities in China were analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Employees were chosen as the target population because they represent a group with stable, repeated, and long-term exposure to the regenerated environment during daily routines. Compared with visitors, whose exposure duration, activity purposes, and spatial routes are highly variable, employees provide a more consistent context to test the proposed restorative mechanisms. The results revealed that industrial heritage attribute perception (IHAP), including scale, materiality, historical presence, and functional transformation, significantly predicted restorative perception (β = 0.546, p < 0.001), which in turn positively influenced both psychological health (β = −0.647, p < 0.001) and physical health (β = 0.688, p < 0.001). Instrumental variable analysis using “building age” and “green coverage rate” confirmed the robustness of these findings, showing that restorative perception still significantly improved mental (β = −2.295, p < 0.001) and physical health (β = 0.528, p < 0.001) after addressing endogeneity issues. Furthermore, individual differences such as work tenure (β = 0.239, p < 0.001) and environmental sensitivity (β = 0.054, p > 0.05) moderated these effects. This study extends Attention Restoration Theory (ART) by applying it to historical industrial environments, offering both theoretical insights and practical guidance for designing adaptive reuse spaces that promote employee well-being. Full article

Offshore wind energy is a key enabler of the global net-zero transition. As nearshore fixed-bottom projects reach maturity, floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are becoming the next major focus for large scale deployment. To accelerate this development and reduce construction costs, it is essential to optimize mooring systems through a systematic and performance driven framework. This study focuses on the mooring assessment of the Taiwan-developed DeltaFloat semi-submersible platform supporting a 15 MW turbine at a 70 m water depth offshore Hsinchu, Taiwan. A full-chain catenary mooring system was designed based on site specific metocean conditions. The proposed framework integrates ANSYS AQWA (version 2024 R1) and Orcina OrcaFlex (version 11.5) simulations with sensitivity analyses and performance-based fitness metrics including offset, inclination, and line tension to identify key parameters governing mooring behavior. Additionally, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to quantitatively evaluate the statistical significance of each design parameter. Results indicate that mooring line length is the most influential factor affecting system performance, followed by line angle and diameter. Optimizing these parameters significantly improves platform stability and reduces tension loads without excessive material use. Building on the optimized symmetric configuration, an asymmetric mooring concept with unequal line lengths is proposed. The asymmetric layout achieves performance comparable to traditional 3 × 1 and 3 × 2 systems under extreme environmental conditions while demonstrating potential reductions in material use and overall cost. Nevertheless, the unbalanced load distribution highlights the need for multi-scenario validation and fatigue assessment to ensure long-term reliability. Overall, the study establishes a comprehensive and sensitivity-based evaluation framework for floating wind mooring systems. The findings provide a balanced and practical reference for the cost-efficient design of floating offshore wind farms in the Taiwan Strait and other shallow-water regions. Full article

The adaptive reuse of industrial heritage is increasingly recognized as an effective low-carbon strategy that reduces resource consumption, lowers embodied carbon emissions, and supports sustainable urban transitions. Developing appropriate reuse strategies, however, requires a robust understanding of heritage value. As material evidence of China’s modern industrialization, railway-associated industrial heritage possesses the characteristics of linear cultural heritage. Yet systematic and multi-scalar value assessments from a linear heritage perspective remain limited. Focusing on the Guanzhong Section of the Longhai Railway—one of the most representative industrial development axes in Northwest China—this study establishes a two-level value assessment framework and conducts a comprehensive evaluation of fourteen textile industrial heritage units. At the individual level, five dimensions—historical significance, architectural features, structural integrity, authenticity, and rarity—were assessed through field investigation, and type-specific weights were introduced to correct structural imbalances between quantity and value across building categories. At the unit level, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to determine the weights of spatial–functional integrity, process completeness, railway connectivity, industrial landscape characteristics, and the integrated individual-level value. The results show that factory workshops and warehouses consistently exhibit the highest value, whereas structures and residential buildings, despite their numerical dominance, contribute relatively little. Spatially, a clear west–east gradient emerges: high-value units cluster in Baoji and Xi’an, medium-value units in Xianyang, and low-value units mainly in Weinan and surrounding counties. The findings indicate that textile industrial heritage along the Guanzhong Section forms a railway-linked linear cultural heritage system rather than isolated sites. The proposed evaluation framework not only supports heritage identification and conservation planning but also provides a theoretical basis for promoting low-carbon adaptive reuse of existing industrial buildings. Full article

An intrusion into the operational network (OT) of a production site can cause serious damage by affecting productivity, reliability, and quality. The presence of embedded neural networks (NNs), such as classifiers, in physical devices opens the door to new attack vectors. Due to the stochastic behavior of the classifier and the difficulty of reproducing results, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act requires the NN’s behavior to be explainable. For this purpose, the platform HistoTrust enables tracing NN behavior, thanks to secure hardware components issuing attestations registered in a blockchain ledger. This solution helps to build trust between independent actors whose devices perform tasks in cooperation. This paper proposes going further by integrating a mechanism for detecting tampering of embedded NN, and using smart contracts executed on the blockchain to propagate the alert to the peer devices in a distributed manner. The use case of a bit-flip attack, targeting the weights of the NN model, is considered. This attack can be carried out by repeatedly injecting very small messages that can be missed by the Intrusion Detection System (IDS). Experiments are being conducted on the HistoTrust platform to demonstrate the feasibility of our distributed approach and to qualify the time required to detect intrusion and propagate the alert, in relation to the time it takes for the attack to impact decisions made by the AI. As a result, the blockchain may be a relevant technology to complement traditional IDS in order to face distributed attacks. Full article

An architectural and cultural heritage analysis is performed in this study by systematically examining the social significance of historical hammams in today’s Historical Peninsula of Istanbul, which symbolize washing–cleansing–hygiene activities and also have socialization–entertainment–economic dimensions, as well as reflecting urban development and change. Within this scope, 81 historic hammams listed as cultural heritage sites were researched using a multi-layered dataset that integrates on-site morphological studies and historical maps. The physical and intangible transformations of these hammams are analyzed based on a database of 24 examples documented through in situ observations of hammams still in active use, revealing the effects of changing cultural and historical contexts on these buildings. The other 19 examples, which are not currently operating as hammams but still exist as buildings, are assessed to determine their current purpose or whether they are undergoing restoration. The findings reveal the evolution of hammams and identify dominant architectural typologies, such as double and single hammams. In this paper, a conceptual framework is presented that places the cultural heritage–tourism combination within a broader discussion while also revealing the current state of hammams in the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul, the primary source of their physical and cultural existence and development. This study demonstrates that hammams constitute an important part and provide concrete evidence of regional cultural heritage areas, human–environment interactions, and the spatial representation of urban memory regarding preservation and transmission to future generations. Full article