Search Results (1,074)

Structural failure of the lead-carbon battery casing under external loads poses a serious threat to the safety of its energy storage function. To overcome the limitations of traditional protective casings regarding specific energy absorption (SEA) and crush force efficiency (CFE), this study proposes a novel thin-walled protective structure utilizing graded aperture honeycomb sandwich panels fabricated via additive manufacturing (AM). Finite element (FE) models were established using HyperMesh and validated against experimental data. Subsequently, the impact resistance and energy absorption characteristics of four distinct cellular topologies were systematically investigated under varying pore-size gradients, impact directions, and velocities. Experimental and numerical simulation results indicate that, among the investigated configurations, the triangular honeycomb structure exhibits superior impact resistance and energy absorption capability under both axial and lateral loading conditions. Furthermore, the synergistic enhancement mechanism based on topological configuration and gradient design effectively optimizes the progressive crushing mode, thereby reducing the initial peak crushing force transmitted to the battery and resulting in a pronounced advantage in impact performance. This research provides a novel design approach for optimizing next-generation high-performance, lightweight protection systems for energy storage devices. Full article

This study investigated the effects of rubber substitution ratios (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%) on the frost resistance of rubber concrete with recycled brick–concrete aggregate (BRC). The freeze–thaw (F–T) damage model was established and improved, and the damage mechanism was revealed. The results showed that with the increase in rubber substitution ratio, the frost resistance indices of BRC did not improve or decline synchronously. An increase in rubber content could enhance one index, such as the relative compressive strength, but was often achieved at the expense of reductions in other indices, such as the relative dynamic elastic modulus (RDEM) and relative quality. Consequently, a single indicator was insufficient for evaluating the overall frost resistance. To address this limitation, an entropy weight-based evaluation system was developed. This system integrated the multiple indices into a unified damage score. When combined with defined damage grades, it enabled a holistic assessment of the damage state. For the nonlinear accelerated damage stage during freeze–thaw cycles, the Weibull distribution-based freeze–thaw damage model demonstrated higher prediction accuracy (R² > 0.85) compared to the conventional freeze–thaw fatigue model. The freeze–thaw damage in BRC originated from the competition between “pore deterioration and crack propagation at weak interfaces” and “the elastic buffering effect of rubber.” This study provided a reference for the frost-resistance design and freeze–thaw life prediction of BRC in cold regions. Full article

Traditional overburden bed-separation grouting technology often leads to issues of grout leakage and insufficient control of surface subsidence, primarily due to its poor adaptability to specific mining conditions such as isolated coal pillar recovery, the development of stratigraphic faults and fractures, or the absence of clearly identifiable key strata. To address these limitations, this study proposes an innovative multi-bed-separation precise grouting technology. The formation mechanism of multi-bed separations is analyzed, their development positions are determined, and an engineering solution for controlling surface subsidence after multi-bed-separation grouting is proposed. Key technical parameters, including grouting pressure, stability of grout-isolating layers, grouting space volume, and grout amount, are theoretically analyzed. A “three-step” precise grouting process—consisting of separation detection and verification, fracture curtain sealing, and precise grouting for subsidence reduction—was developed and applied in the 12030 isolated coal pillar panel of Xinyi Coal Mine. A total of 504,500 tons of fly ash (including cement) was grouted, of which 398,600 tons was used for precise grouting in multi-bed separations of overburden. This approach recovered 1,364,400 tons of coal resources beneath village buildings, with a grouting–extraction ratio (volume ratio) of 0.53. The technology demonstrates clear advantages: no grout leakage occurred during the process, the surface subsidence reduction rate reached approximately 75.81%, and building damage was controlled within Grade I. The results demonstrate that this technology has a significant effect on subsidence reduction and damage control, enabling safe and green mining of coal resources beneath villages under special geological and mining conditions. Full article

Obesity is a systemic metabolic disorder characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance, with growing evidence indicating that the brain represents a primary and particularly vulnerable target organ. Beyond peripheral metabolic consequences, obesity induces region-specific structural, functional, and biochemical alterations within the central nervous system, contributing to cognitive impairment, dysregulated energy homeostasis, and increased susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases. This narrative review examines key neurometabolic and neuroinflammatory mechanisms underlying obesity-related brain vulnerability, including downstream neuroinflammation, impaired insulin signaling, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, blood–brain barrier disruption, and impaired brain clearance mechanisms. These processes preferentially affect frontal and limbic networks involved in executive control, reward processing, salience detection, and appetite regulation. Advanced neuroimaging has substantially refined our understanding of these mechanisms. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy provides unique in vivo insight into early neurometabolic alterations that may precede irreversible structural damage and is complemented by diffusion imaging, volumetric MRI, functional MRI, cerebral perfusion imaging, and positron emission tomography. Together, these complementary modalities reveal microstructural, network-level, structural, hemodynamic, and molecular alterations associated with obesity-related brain vulnerability and support the concept that such brain dysfunction is dynamic and potentially modifiable. Integrating neurometabolic and multimodal neuroimaging biomarkers with metabolic and clinical profiling may improve early risk stratification and guide preventive and therapeutic strategies aimed at preserving long-term brain health in obesity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Previous studies have demonstrated that the cessation of liver damage after HCV cure can improve liver function, histological necroinflammation, and portal hypertension. However, scarce data about fibrosis stage or cirrhosis regression have been reported during follow-up. Methods: A prospective study evaluating hepatic biopsies and liver stiffness measurement by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE-LSM) after the end of treatment (EOT) in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD). Fibrosis was evaluated according to two semi-quantitative grading systems (METAVIR and Laennec) at 6 years after EOT (LB6) and compared with biopsies at 3 years (LB3). Results: Fifty-four patients with LB6 (34 with paired LB3–LB6) were included. Median (IQR) age was 53.9 (48.5–59.3), 38 (70.4%) were men, and 13 (24.1%) were HIV-coinfected. The VCTE-LSM was >15 kPa in 30 (55.6%). The LB6 (81.4 months after EOT) showed non-advanced fibrosis (F1–F2) in 12 (22.4%) patients, bridging (F3) in 26 (48.2%), and cirrhosis (F4) in 16 (29.6%): F4A in 7 (13.0%), F4B in 4 (7.4%), and F4C in 5 (9.3%). The 1-year post-EOT follow-up VCTE-LSM ≤ 8.6 kPa identifies patients without advanced fibrosis (AUROC = 0.929), with a negative predictive value of 88.9% and a positive predictive value of 95.2%. Paired biopsies showed regression in 9 (47.4%) out of 19 patients with cirrhosis: 8 (61.5%) of 13 with F4A but only 1 (16.7%) of 6 with F4B–F4C. Conclusions: Advanced fibrosis persists in most patients with advanced chronic liver disease after HCV eradication. Regression is possible in mild cirrhosis. However, it is a limited and slow event. Full article

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) involves chronic hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation, and oxidative stress that drive cardiometabolic and renal damage despite current therapies. Sodium–glucose cotransporter (SGLT) inhibitors have reshaped the treatment landscape, but residual risk and safety concerns highlight the need for new agents that combine glucose-lowering efficacy with redox–inflammatory modulation. LASSBio-1986 is a synthetic N-acylhydrazone (NAH) derivative designed as a gliflozin-like scaffold with the potential to interact with SGLT1/2 while also influencing oxidative and inflammatory pathways. Here, we integrated in silico and in vivo approaches to characterize LASSBio-1986 as a multifunctional antidiabetic lead in murine models of glucose dysregulation. PASS and target class prediction suggested a broad activity spectrum and highlighted transporter- and stress-related pathways. Molecular docking indicated high-affinity binding to both SGLT1 and SGLT2, with a modest energetic preference for SGLT2, and ADME/Tox predictions supported favorable oral drug-likeness. In vivo, intraperitoneal LASSBio-1986 improved oral glucose tolerance and reduced glycemic excursions in an acute glucose challenge model in C57BL/6 mice, while enhancing hepatic and skeletal muscle glycogen stores. In a dexamethasone-induced insulin-resistance model, LASSBio-1986 improved insulin sensitivity, favorably modulated serum lipids, attenuated thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), restored reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and rebalanced pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in metabolic tissues, with efficacy broadly comparable to dapagliflozin. These convergent findings support LASSBio-1986 as a preclinical, multimodal lead that targets SGLT-dependent glucose handling while mitigating oxidative and inflammatory stress in models relevant to T2DM. Chronic disease models, formal toxicology, and pharmacokinetic studies, particularly with oral dosing, will be essential to define its translational potential. Full article

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most prevalent valvular heart disease in Western countries and it is especially associated with older age. With its progressive course, AS leads to ventricular hypertrophy, impaired diastolic and systolic function, and symptomatic deterioration. The natural history of AS is closely linked to the extent of myocardial and extracardiac damage in association with the patients comorbidities. Diagnosis relies primarily on transthoracic echocardiography, which assesses valve morphology, quantifies stenosis severity, and evaluates cardiac remodeling. However, discordant grading is frequent, necessitating advanced imaging to clarify the severity and the mechanism of the stenosis and stratify risk. Treatment is predominantly interventional, as no medical therapy is able to stop disease progression. Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are the two treatment options. Special clinical scenarios—such as cardiogenic shock or concomitant cardiac amyloidosis—pose additional diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and require individualized, multidisciplinary management. Overall, contemporary AS care increasingly integrates multimodality imaging, refined risk stratification, and tailored interventional strategies to optimize outcomes. Full article

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that leads to demyelination of CNS neurons and is influenced by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, including diet and obesity. Methods: This review aims to analyze at the molecular level the relationship between obesity, as a chronic inflammatory condition, and the pathophysiology of MS, as a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease, in order to understand the complex links between obesity and MS through a search of the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Discussion: Chronic inflammation and OS are interconnected processes, causing a toxic state, which contributes to the development of CNS neuroinflammation and neuronal damage, resulting in neuronal demyelination and the onset of MS. Adipose tissue is a complex endocrine organ; in addition to being a lipid storage organ, it secretes cytokines and adipokines, which are involved in the regulation of hormones, metabolism, inflammation, and whole-body homeostasis. Obesity triggers chronic low-grade inflammation, disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and brain metabolism, infiltration of the CNS by immune cells, production of ROS, and generation of oxidative stress (OS). Anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory adipokines are also implicated in MS and obesity. Conclusions: Obesity affects MS through common underlying mechanisms and seems to be a modifiable risk factor. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds with multi-functional characteristics could be additional tools to slow the progression of MS and its promotion through obesity while also offering potential treatment options for both conditions via their multi-targeting characteristics. Full article

This study addresses the challenge of rapid identification and assessment of localized damage to building envelopes under resource-constrained conditions—specifically, the absence of specialized inspection equipment—with a particular focus on the detrimental effects of such damage on thermal performance and energy efficiency. An efficient detection methodology tailored to small-scale maintenance scenarios is proposed, leveraging the YOLOv11 object detection architecture to develop an intelligent system capable of recognizing common envelope defects in contemporary residential buildings, including cracks, spalling, and sealant failure. The system prioritizes the detection of anomalies that may induce thermal bridging, reduced airtightness, or insulation degradation. Defects are classified according to severity and their potential impact on thermal behavior, enabling a graded, integrated repair strategy that holistically balances structural safety, thermal restoration, and façade aesthetics. By explicitly incorporating energy performance recovery as a core objective, the proposed approach not only enhances the automation of spatial data processing but also actively supports the green operation and low-carbon retrofitting of existing urban building stock. Characterized by low cost, high efficiency, and ease of deployment, this method offers a practical and scalable technical pathway for the intelligent diagnosis of thermal anomalies and the enhancement of building energy performance. It aligns with the principles of high-quality architectural development and sustainable building governance, while concretely advancing operational energy reduction in the built environment and contributing meaningfully to energy conservation goals. Full article

Background: Traumatic injuries of the duodenum are generally rare but when they occur, they can result in serious complications. Inaccurate injury classification, delayed diagnosis, or late treatment can significantly raise morbidity and mortality. A multidisciplinary approach is often necessary. Mechanisms of injury: Isolated duodenal injuries are relatively uncommon due to the duodenum’s proximity to pancreas and major vascular structures. Duodenal injuries can result from blunt or penetrating trauma. Classification: The 2019 World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES)-American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) guidelines recommend incorporating both the AAST-OIS grading and the patient’s hemodynamic status to stratify duodenal injuries into four categories: Minor injuries WSES class I, Moderate injuries WSES class II, Severe injuries WSES class III, and WSES class IV. Diagnosis: The diagnostic approach involves a combination of clinical assessment, laboratory investigations, radiological imaging and, in particular situations, surgery. Prompt diagnosis is critical because delays exceeding 24 h are associated with a higher incidence of postoperative complications and a significant rise in mortality. Contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) represents the gold standard for diagnosis in patients who are hemodynamically stable. Management: Duodenal trauma requires a multimodal approach that considers hemodynamic stability, the severity of the injury and the presence of associated lesions. Non-operative management (NOM) is reserved for hemodynamically stable patients with minor duodenal injuries without perforation (AAST I/WSES I), as well as all duodenal hematomas (WSES I–II/AAST I–II) in the absence of associated abdominal organ injuries requiring surgical intervention. All hemodynamically unstable patients, those with peritonitis, or with CT findings consistent with duodenal perforations or AAST grade III or higher injuries are candidates for emergency surgery. If intervention is required, primary repair should be the preferred option whenever feasible, while damage control surgery is the best choice in cases of hemodynamic instability, severe associated injuries, or complex duodenal lesions. Definitive reconstructive surgery should be postponed until the patient has been adequately resuscitated. The role of endoscopic techniques in the treatment of duodenal injuries and their complications is expanding. Conclusions: Duodenal trauma is burdened by potentially high mortality. Among the possible complications, duodenal fistula is the most common, followed by duodenal obstruction, bile duct fistula, abscess, and pancreatitis. The overall mortality rate for duodenal trauma persists to be significant with an average rate of 17%. Future prospective research needed to reduce the risk of complications following duodenal trauma. Full article

To address the dual challenges of improving precast cable trench joint performance and promoting solid waste recycling for carbon neutrality, this study developed a jute fiber-reinforced recycled aggregate concrete (JFRAC) and established a complete technical chain via experiments and numerical simulations. Compressive strength tests were conducted on JFRAC with varying jute fiber volume content and recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) replacement ratio to obtain their influence on the stress–strain relationship. A modified Concrete Damaged Plasticity (CDP) model was proposed by introducing correction coefficients for compressive strength and elastic modulus, achieving over 95% agreement with experimental data. Finite element simulations of cable trench joints showed that JFRAC outperforms C30 concrete, with the same compressive strength, in ultimate bearing capacity (↑4.17%), peak displacement (↑18.78%), and ductility (↑14.66%). JFRAC provides substantial environmental and economic advantages by reducing carbon emissions by 2.29% and saving costs of CNY 62.43 per meter of precast cable trench. Parametric studies indicated bolt grade and number are the primary performance influencers. Bolt grade’s impact diminishes as it increases from 8.8 to 10.9, while bolt number linearly enhances load-bearing capacity. This study provides a feasible path for JFRAC to replace conventional concrete in cable trenches, realizing both economic and environmental benefits. Full article

While research on high-incidence tumors such as breast, prostate, and lung cancer has led to significant increases in patient survival in recent years, this has not been the case for low-incidence tumors such as high-grade gliomas, the most common and lethal brain tumors, for which the last significant therapeutic advance dates back to 2005. The high infiltration capacity of these tumors into normal brain tissue essential for both vegetative and relational life, the tumor microenvironment, with poor immunological activity, the multiple resistance mechanisms, and the unattractiveness of research investments due to the limited number of patients have made, and continue to make, the path to achieving significant improvements in the survival of patients with high-grade gliomas long and arduous. The objective of this article is to update the slow but continuous radiotherapeutic progress for adult and pediatric high-grade gliomas to the second half of 2023. We analyzed the progress of preclinical and clinical research on both adult and pediatric high-grade gliomas, with a particular focus on improvements in radiotherapy. Interactions between non-radiant new therapies and radiotherapy were also covered. A literature search was conducted in PubMed using the terms (“glioma* and radio*”) and the time limit of 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2023. The inclusion and exclusion criteria for the review were relevance to advances in radiotherapy for high-grade gliomas in adults and children. Treating patients with advanced disease progression only, using “historical” data as controls, as well as repurposing drugs developed for purposes completely different from their intended use, were the major (but not the only) methods to assess risk of bias in the included studies. The effect measures used in the synthesis or presentation of the results were tabulated and/or displayed in figures. A total of 100 relevant references were reviewed. Advances in preclinical studies and in clinical radiotherapy treatment planning, innovative fractionation, use of radioisotopes/radiopharmaceuticals, radiosensitization procedures, and radiation-induced damage were focused on. While this analysis may be limited by the relatively short publication period, high-grade glioma research remains impacted, especially at the clinical level, by potential issues with trial design, such as treating patients with advanced disease progression, using “historical” data as controls, and repurposing drugs developed for completely different purposes than intended. Addressing these aspects of high-grade glioma research could improve its efficacy, which often remains low despite the associated costs. Full article

With the gradual depletion of shallow high-grade mineral resources, global mining activities are shifting toward deeper regions with more complex geological conditions. Rocks exhibit significantly different mechanical responses under high confining pressure environments, posing new challenges to deep mining safety. To address this, this study proposes an optimized rock damage constitutive model that characterizes the influence of confining pressure on rock mechanical behavior, incorporating its peak strength enhancement effect and regulatory mechanism on post-peak softening behavior. The core innovation lies in establishing an inverse relationship between softening parameters and confining pressure, as confining pressure increases, softening parameters decrease. This inverse relationship enables the model to reasonably reflect the inhibitory effect of confining pressure on the rock softening process, meaning that under higher confining pressure, the material exhibits slower stress decay and more pronounced ductile characteristics. This model can consistently describe brittle responses under low confining pressure and ductile responses under high confining pressure. The findings provide reliable theoretical support for predicting rock mass failure and conducting stability analysis under deep mining conditions. Full article

Aging is a multifactorial process marked by a progressive decline in physiological function and increased vulnerability to diseases such as neurodegeneration, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and infections. A central feature of aging is inflammaging, a state of chronic low-grade inflammation driven by cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Recently, two regulated forms of non-apoptotic cell death—ferroptosis and cuproptosis—have emerged as critical mechanisms linking redox imbalance, mitochondrial stress, and disrupted metal homeostasis to age-related pathology. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent process characterized by lipid peroxidation and impaired glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activity, and cuproptosis, a copper-dependent mechanism associated with protein lipoylation stress, both intersect with aging-related changes in mitochondrial and metabolic function. Importantly, these two forms of cell death should not be viewed as entirely separate pathways but rather as interconnected axes within a broader metal–redox–metabolic network. Disturbances in copper or iron homeostasis, glutathione (GSH)/GPX4 dysfunction, mitochondrial and iron-sulfur (Fe–S) cluster compromise, and enhanced lipid peroxidation may converge to lower cellular survival thresholds, thereby exacerbating oxidative damage, immune dysfunction, and tissue degeneration and ultimately fueling aging and inflammaging. This review offers a unique integrated perspective that situates ferroptosis and cuproptosis within a unified framework of aging biology, emphasizing their roles in age-related diseases and the therapeutic potential of targeting these pathways through nutritional, pharmacological, and lifestyle interventions. Full article

In order to deeply understand the potential mechanisms underlying the metabolic disorders of Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus), a total of two feeding trials were conducted in the present study. For experiment I, the diets containing five graded levels of lipids at 32.8, 58.7, 87.9, 122.4, and 149.2 g/kg were formulated, respectively, and fed to juvenile A. davidianus for 90 days. The quadratic regression analysis based on growth performance results indicated that the optimal dietary lipid level is 95.16–101.02 g/kg. Meanwhile, a dietary lipid level of 149.2 g/kg was found to reduce the growth performance of A. davidianus. Based on this, in experiment II, a normal-fat diet (86.8 g/kg crude lipid), a high-fat diet (HFD, 148.4 g/kg crude lipid), and an HFD supplemented with 0.1 g/kg simvastatin were prepared, respectively, and fed to the juveniles for 90 days. The results indicated that HFD feeding resulted in hyperlipidemia, hepatic damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, while simvastatin administration alleviated these symptoms. In conclusion, simvastatin could alleviate the HFD-induced metabolic disorders in A. davidianus, as may be achieved by inhibiting ER stress and enhancing mitochondrial function. Full article