Search Results (410)

Cardiovascular–kidney–metabolic (CKM) syndrome is a systemic, interdependent disorder arising from the convergence of metabolic dysfunction, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular pathology. Anchored in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework, this review advances a “parallel hit” model, primarily based on evidence from experimental animal studies, particularly rodent models, posited that early-life environmental insults concurrently program structural and functional vulnerabilities in both renal and central nervous system hubs. These early perturbations prime susceptibility long before clinical manifestations emerge. CKM progression is conceptualized as a two-stage trajectory, with an initial phase of parallel programming affecting kidney and brain development, followed by a transition to maladaptive bidirectional crosstalk. In the later phase, heightened efferent sympathetic outflow and aberrant afferent renal signaling—potentiated by uremic toxin accumulation, neuroinflammation, and blood–brain barrier disruption—drive a self-perpetuating cycle that accelerates cardiorenal and metabolic injury. Key integrative mechanisms, including oxidative stress, chronic low-grade inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and gut microbiota dysbiosis, serve as convergent pathways linking early-life exposures to adult CKM phenotypes. These pathways not only sustain disease progression but also represent actionable therapeutic targets. Importantly, this framework underscores the translational potential of early-life “reprogramming” strategies. Interventions such as precision nutrition, antioxidant supplementation, microbiota-directed therapies (including prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics), and mechanism-based pharmacotherapies may mitigate or reverse maladaptive programming. However, much of the current mechanistic evidence remains preclinical, and further human studies are needed to validate these pathways and therapeutic approaches. Collectively, this dual-hub paradigm reframes CKM syndrome as a life-course continuum rather than a late-stage comorbidity cluster, emphasizing the necessity of early, mechanism-driven interventions to stabilize the brain–kidney axis and improve long-term cardiovascular–kidney–metabolic outcomes. Full article

The conversion of bio-waste into functional energy materials provides a robust platform for addressing both environmental and energy challenges. In this paper, discarded absorbent pads are transformed into carbon-rich frameworks, which is followed by the fabrication of composites through the incorporation of Cu₄SnS₄ (CSS) for dual electrochemical applications. Integrating CSS into the waste-derived carbon matrix induces strong synergistic effects, improving electrical conductivity, increasing active-site availability, and accelerating charge-transfer kinetics. Comprehensive physicochemical analyses confirmed the successful formation of a well-integrated heterostructure composite with favorable structural and surface characteristics. Electrochemical evaluations further demonstrated that CSS-modified carbon exhibits superior bifunctional performance. In a two-electrode configuration, the composite delivers an energy density of 12.08 Wh kg⁻¹ at a power density of 250 W kg⁻¹ along with excellent cycling stability in supercapacitor applications. As an electrocatalyst, it achieves a low overpotential of 268 mV at −10 mA cm⁻² and a small Tafel slope of 75 mV dec⁻¹, reflecting efficient reaction kinetics. The strong durability observed in both systems underscores the structural integrity and long-term operational stability of the material. Overall, this paper advances a sustainable waste-to-resource strategy for fabricating multifunctional carbon-based composites, offering a promising platform for integrated energy-storage and hydrogen-generation technologies. Full article

The Santiago River is a highly anthropogenically impaired lotic system globally, yet the mechanisms governing its contaminant transport remain poorly understood under static monitoring paradigms. This study evaluates how hydrological forcing dictates the mobilization and bioavailability of trace metals by integrating a 15-year public hydrochemical database from 10 monitoring nodes with SAR-derived discharge estimates and thermodynamic metal modeling (PHREEQC). To validate the structural integrity of the mass load estimates against hydrometric uncertainties, a deterministic boundary-sensitivity analysis was conducted. Results empirically refute the classical dilution paradigm, introducing the “Anthropogenic Pulse” to describe the non-linear acceleration of pollutant export during high-flow events (discharge Q surging from 36.62 to 286.13 m³/s). While climate-driven parameters follow seasonal cycles, industrial stressors (COD, Pb, Cd) remain in a chronic steady state, decoupling from volumetric dilution. Based on coupled × CQ × C (discharge × concentration) estimates, this dynamic induces a synchronized flushing of toxic burdens, exporting monthly peak loads exceeding 51,000 kg of Zinc, 6500 kg of Lead, and 3100 kg of Cadmium. Thermodynamic simulations reveal that this hydrological flushing functions as a chemical activator; the seasonal dilution of natural Alkalinity and Hardness suppresses the river’s theoretical buffered pH (from 8.5 to 7.0), maintaining metals in their uncomplexed free-ion states (Me²⁺). Modeling indicates that nearly 90% of the exported Cadmium remains in this highly labile, toxic form due to a dual coupling with both river Discharge (r_s = 0.87) and pH (r_s = 0.79). The identification of stochastic arsenic peaks 100 times above regulatory limits at Paso de Guadalupe (RS-08) underscores the failure of concentration-based monitoring. Our findings suggest that restoration strategies should shift toward mass-loading-based regulatory frameworks and targeted sediment management at critical nodes to mitigate the chronic export of bioavailable industrial waste. Full article

In summary, near-surface icing risk in complex alpine terrain is jointly controlled by freezing conditions, moisture supply, freeze–thaw transitions, and topographic energy processes. Traditional approaches relying on sparse station data or single temperature thresholds fail to capture spatial heterogeneity, and frequent cloud cover together with topographic errors severely limit the application of thermal infrared remote sensing. Taking the area along the Duku Highway in the Tianshan Mountains as the study region, a daily icing risk assessment framework at 250 m resolution was constructed using multi-source remote sensing, ERA5-Land reanalysis data, topographic correction, and an energy–moisture dual-constrained model. A diurnal temperature cycle model, the CAP index, and physics-constrained machine learning were integrated to reconstruct the daily minimum land surface temperature (T_s,min) at 250 m resolution under all weather conditions. A probabilistic two-tier risk assessment model was then established by incorporating moisture, topography, and freeze–thaw transitions. The results show that high-risk zones occur primarily in valleys and topographically constrained corridors rather than the coldest elevations. Validation against Landsat LST (r = 0.886) and the Bayanbulak station (bias −0.76 °C, RMSE 5.62 °C, r = 0.91) confirms spatial and seasonal accuracy. Sensitivity and Monte Carlo analyses indicate the RiskScore is mainly controlled by the low-temperature weight, while upstream parameters are less influential. The framework is best applied as a screening and early-warning product to identify sub-kilometer potential icing corridors, complementing point measurements and short-range forecasts. Full article

Lead sulfide quantum dots (PbS QDs), as a functional-layer coating, enable non-volatile integration and neuromorphic computing in memristive structures to address the von Neumann bottleneck. Herein, the dual-interface mechanism of PbS QDs in the memristor film structure is reviewed. First, the local electric field enhancement effect generates tip electrode-like structures in the coating film through QD-mediated spatial charge gradients, thereby enabling precise control over the nucleation and growth of conductive filaments (CFs). As a result, the consistency of switching voltages and the thermal stability at elevated temperatures are significantly improved. Conversely, the anion reservoir effect exploits surface dangling bonds on QDs to efficiently capture anions from the dielectric layer, thereby synergistically regulating vacancy migration kinetics. This process enables zero-initialization behavior and ultra-low-power operation. In addition, the spatial distribution design and density modulation of QDs further reinforce both mechanisms. The structural optimization of QD/dielectric interface engineering can simultaneously improve cycling endurance and resistive switching uniformity. Furthermore, modification of QD surface chemistry through ligand decoration and passivation suppresses the stochasticity of ionic diffusion while improving the linearity of synaptic weight updates. This interfacial engineering strategy utilizing QDs as coating films advances the development of high-performance photonic–electronic systems for memory–computing convergence. Full article

Fluorocarbon (FC)/Pd/Mg multilayer thin films have attracted considerable attention as hydrogen-responsive optical materials. However, their performance is strongly limited by interfacial instability and structural degradation during deposition and hydrogen cycling. In this study, Pt/FC/Pd/Mg multilayer thin films were obtained during focused ion beam (FIB) sample preparation, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to investigate the FC layer–mediated interfacial effects. The results reveal that Pt deposition on FC leads to the formation of a confined nanocrystalline interfacial region accompanied by a reduced apparent FC thickness and the development of a Pt–FC intermixing zone. This behavior indicates that the FC layer functions as a “soft landing” medium, dissipating kinetic energy and modifying nucleation and growth behavior. Motivated by this finding, the mechanical properties of FC films and their influence on hydrogen-cycling performance in FC/Pd/Mg/FC structures are further examined. The hardness of FC layers can be tuned from 3.03 MPa to 42.8 MPa by adjusting sputtering parameters. Hydrogen-cycling experiments reveal a strong and non-monotonic dependence on FC mechanical properties. When the FC buffer layer is relatively hard, the initial hydrogenation kinetics are improved; however, prolonged cycling leads to poor adhesion and interfacial degradation. In contrast, when the FC buffer layer is soft, hydrogenation kinetics degrade rapidly during cycling, while long-term interfacial adhesion and structural integrity are significantly improved. These results demonstrate a dual and competing role of FC layers in governing hydrogen transport and mechanical stability, highlighting a critical trade-off for the design of durable hydrogen-responsive multilayer thin films. Full article

In the global transition toward low-carbon power systems with high renewable energy penetration, pumped storage has emerged as a strategic cornerstone for modern power grids. However, the collaborative planning of pumped storage and backbone-grids faces critical challenges, including the lack of explicit quantification of the resilience value of pumped storage and the coarse treatment of N-1 connectivity constraints. This paper proposes a bi-objective resilient backbone-grid planning approach that integrates the pumped-storage hub effect, aiming to minimize total life-cycle costs and the system resilience mismatch index. The proposed framework incorporates network connectivity, N-1 connectivity (edge connectivity ≥ 2), and dual-scenario power flow security as rigid constraints. Furthermore, a three-stage constrained evolutionary algorithm TER-NSGA-II is developed. During the N-1 connectivity reinforcement phase, the max-flow min-cut theorem is employed to achieve precise validation and guidance for edge-connectivity enhancement. Case studies on the IEEE 118-bus system, together with extended validation on the IEEE 300-bus system, show that the proposed method can explicitly quantify the resilience value of pumped storage, obtain Pareto solutions that balance economy and resilience under strict edge-connectivity constraints, and demonstrate competitive overall performance in terms of solution-set quality, feasible-domain search stability, and scalability compared with NSGA-II and the more recent NSGA-III/NG benchmark. Full article

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains one of the most aggressive gynecological malignancies, largely due to late-stage diagnosis, therapeutic resistance, and molecular heterogeneity. This study aimed to identify biologically relevant hub genes and evaluate potential dual-target compounds against Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 1 (CDK1) and DNA Topoisomerase II Alpha (TOP2A) through an integrated computational framework. Transcriptomic datasets from GSE28799, GSE54388, and GSE14407 were analyzed to identify overlapping differentially expressed genes, followed by protein–protein interaction analysis, functional enrichment, survival assessment, molecular docking, ADMET profiling, and molecular dynamics simulations. Mechanistically, CDK1 and TOP2A participate in coordinated cell-cycle regulation associated with G2/M progression and chromosomal dynamics in ovarian cancer. Among the identified hub genes, CDK1 and TOP2A demonstrated marked overexpression and central topological importance within the interaction network. Functional enrichment analyses highlighted significant associations with mitotic cell-cycle regulation, DNA replication, and proliferative signaling pathways. Molecular docking analyses identified Naringin as a potential dual-target candidate with favorable binding affinity toward both CDK1 and TOP2A. ADMET profiling suggested acceptable pharmacokinetic and toxicity characteristics, while molecular dynamics simulations supported stable protein–ligand interactions under dynamic conditions. Although survival analyses did not demonstrate statistically significant independent prognostic associations, the findings support the biological relevance of CDK1 and TOP2A in EOC progression. Collectively, this study provides an integrated computational perspective on CDK1/TOP2A-associated oncogenic signaling and prioritizes Naringin as a preliminary candidate for future experimental investigation in epithelial ovarian cancer. Full article

Accurate and reliable groundwater-level monitoring in deep observation wells remains difficult for conventional non-contact ultrasonic systems because narrow tubular geometries intensify multipath reflections, signal attenuation, and echo ambiguity. This study proposes a dual-signal direct time-of-flight (ToF) method that combines radiofrequency (RF) synchronization with one-way airborne ultrasonic propagation to a floating receiver located at the groundwater surface. In the proposed architecture, the RF signal provides a near-instantaneous time reference, whereas the ultrasonic signal defines the propagation delay, thereby eliminating dependence on echo-based ranging. The system integrates a wellhead surface unit for synchronized transmission and control, a floating unit for ToF acquisition and embedded processing, and an optional reference channel for in situ estimation of the effective sound speed. A duty-cycled power architecture is used to support low-power long-term deployment, while a multi-shot acquisition strategy with a median-like estimator improves robustness against startup transients, timing jitters, and false detections. Field validation was conducted over a 12-month period under actual groundwater-monitoring conditions, during which the groundwater depth varied between 14 m and 30 m below the wellhead datum. Within this field-validation interval, the proposed system achieved a mean absolute error of 0.048 m, a maximum absolute error of 0.050 m, and an overall valid detection rate of 99.4% over 358 valid cycles out of 360 scheduled cycles. In addition, a separate range-dependent confined-tubular propagation test was conducted to evaluate the extended detection capability of the RF-synchronized one-way ultrasonic ToF architecture. This test demonstrated stable acoustic-link ToF detection up to 300 m inside the tested 170 mm confined plastic pipeline. Therefore, the 300 m result should be interpreted as a range-dependent valid-detection result rather than as a 12-month groundwater-depth validation over the full 300 m interval. These results demonstrate that the proposed direct-ToF method provides an RF-synchronized one-way ultrasonic ToF framework with a floating receiver for groundwater-level monitoring in deep observation wells, while remaining compatible with low-power and IoT-based environmental monitoring systems. Full article

This study develops an inventory model for deteriorating products within a dual-warehouse system under carbon tax regulation. The framework is motivated by supply chains for perishable goods where storage constraints, product deterioration, environmental costs, and financing decisions arise simultaneously. The model considers an owned warehouse and a rented warehouse with higher holding cost, where the rented facility is utilized first. To capture realistic operational conditions, the model integrates time-dependent holding costs, trend-based demand, preservation technology investment to reduce deterioration, and a two-tier trade credit scheme. Carbon tax is incorporated as an environmental cost component, while preservation technology directly influences the deterioration rate, creating a trade-off between investment and waste reduction. The proposed model is examined through numerical analysis based on parameter settings representative of perishable products such as organic dairy items. The objective is to determine the optimal replenishment cycle time, preservation investment, and order quantity that minimize the total cost within the dual-warehouse system. Numerical results indicate an average optimal cycle time of approximately 0.57 years, preservation investment of about 1.32 dollars, and order quantity near 459 units. The average total cost is around 1056 dollars, with a minimum observed cost of approximately 964 dollars. The findings highlight the significant impact of preservation technology and carbon taxation on profitability and sustainability. Full article

This review argues that protein lactylation—a lactate-driven posttranslational modification—serves as the long-sought molecular bridge that coordinates these two hallmarks in gastric cancer (GC). Far from being a passive metabolic byproduct, lactylation operates as a central molecular hub with a dual function: intracellularly, it directly drives malignant phenotypes by modifying key oncoproteins such as YAP and metabolic enzymes; extracellularly, it remodels the tumor immune microenvironment by polarizing tumor-associated macrophages toward an immunosuppressive M2 phenotype, upregulating PD-L1 expression, and impairing CD8⁺ T-cell function. We propose that these two arms constitute a self-reinforcing metabolic–epigenetic–immunological circuit, wherein lactylation both originates from and perpetuates the Warburg effect, creating a vicious cycle that sustains malignancy and immune evasion. This framework positions lactylation not merely as a mechanistic detail, but as a unifying principle that integrates metabolic reprogramming, epigenetic regulation, and immune suppression in GC. We critically evaluate the current landscape of lactylation “writers,” “erasers,” and “readers”; highlight the translational potential of targeting this pathway; and identify the conceptual and technical bottlenecks that must be overcome—including the lack of causality in current studies, the absence of specific research tools, and the unresolved heterogeneity of lactylation across cell types and disease stages. By reframing lactylation as an actionable hub rather than a downstream consequence, this review provides a roadmap for advancing lactylation-based precision medicine in GC. Full article

Main engine load varies continuously, whereas onboard carbon capture columns are installed with fixed capacities. For liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled ships, this mismatch between design and operation makes off-design robustness, rather than nominal-point performance, the governing sizing criterion. This study developed a variable-load design window for onboard monoethanolamine CO₂ capture and evaluated a dual-loop organic Rankine cycle (ORC) as a secondary thermal integration option. A verified process model was applied to a 5 × 5 design–operating matrix (D50–D90/O50–O90). The mismatch was strongly asymmetric. When operating load did not exceed design load, capture rate remained near 90%; under overload, absorber treated only the design-point-equivalent exhaust-gas flow, causing capture performance to deteriorate rapidly. The mean CO₂ avoided rate increased from 57.4% at D50 to 70.4% at D90, while absorber diameter increased from 3.23 to 4.06 m. D70 emerged as the balanced option for low- to medium-load services, D80 marked the transition before full robustness, and D90 was robustness-oriented for frequent high-load operation. The ORC recovered 104–185 kW net power and supplied 231–410 kW LNG-side heating. Results support capacity selection before ORC application; CO₂ liquefaction and storage, voyage-weighted validation, and shipboard ORC feasibility remain outside the present scope. Full article

To address the issues of poor network coverage, low data transmission efficiency, and high power consumption in traditional soybean field monitoring, this paper proposes an intelligent monitoring solution that integrates BeiDou positioning with a low-power joint data compression algorithm. The system employs a dual-mode communication architecture combining ZigBee 3.0 and LoRa, enabling round-the-clock real-time collection and transmission of key soybean growth parameters, including air temperature and humidity, light intensity, soil temperature and humidity, soil electrical conductivity, and ph. Leveraging the BeiDou satellite navigation system, monitoring nodes can obtain precise spatial coordinates, providing a reliable geographic basis for spatial data analysis and addressing the shortcomings of traditional monitoring methods regarding insufficient spatial resolution. To overcome bandwidth limitations in long-distance wireless transmission and reduce system power consumption, this paper proposes a hybrid lossless compression algorithm based on bit-field packing, LZW coding, and Huffman coding. This algorithm offers high compression efficiency while ensuring data integrity and accuracy, significantly improving transmission efficiency and reducing the long-term energy consumption of field sensor nodes. Communication performance and power consumption test results confirm that the system delivers stable long-distance transmission and demonstrates excellent low-power performance. Error analysis of the multidimensional monitoring parameters revealed that the overall measurement error for all environmental and soil indicators was kept within 5%, meeting the requirements for high-precision monitoring throughout the entire soybean growth cycle. Full article

Electric vehicles (EVs) relying solely on lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries face limitations related to range, mass, charging time, and battery downsizing. This study develops a dynamic system-level modeling framework for integrating an aluminum–air (Al–air) battery with a Li-ion traction battery within a MATLAB/Simulink electric vehicle platform. Two integration strategies were evaluated: (i) Al–air operation as a range extender activated through SOC-based control logic, and (ii) Al–air operation as an auxiliary power unit supplying non-traction loads. The Al–air subsystem was implemented using an experimentally informed polarization-based model coupled with aluminum consumption tracking and DC–DC converter integration. Vehicle performance was evaluated under UDDS, HWFET, WLTP, and FTP-75 drive cycles. Results show that coupling a 24.6 kWh Al–air pack with a downsized 20.3 kWh Li-ion pack enabled driving ranges of 379 km (UDDS), 523 km (HWFET), and 450 km (WLTP), exceeding the baseline full-capacity Li-ion configuration while reducing total battery-system mass by more than 50%. When operated as an auxiliary power unit under a constant 3 kW auxiliary load, the Al–air system increased the vehicle range by 44–96 km depending on the drive cycle. The results demonstrate the feasibility of Al–air-assisted dual-energy-storage architectures for extending the EV range while reducing dependence on large Li-ion battery packs. Full article

Conventional solar power tower (SPT) systems often suffer from significant heat transfer exergy destruction due to large temperature differences between the heat source and the working fluid during the heat exchange process. To overcome this limitation, a high–low dual-tower configuration based on segmented thermal utilization is proposed. In this arrangement, the high-temperature tower is mainly responsible for the evaporation, superheating, and reheating processes, whereas the low-temperature tower primarily handles feedwater preheating. Such a configuration improves the temperature matching characteristics during the heat exchange process. A comprehensive model integrating the heliostat field, receiver, thermal energy storage system, and power block was developed and validated against Solar Two experimental data, showing good agreement. Comparative analyses were conducted under identical solar resource and operating conditions. The results indicate that the proposed system achieves a comparable power output while reducing total heat transfer exergy destruction by approximately 24%, with a significant reduction of over 80% in the preheating section. Sensitivity analysis further reveals that optimizing the high tower outlet temperature can effectively reduce irreversibility and slightly enhance power output, although constrained by the pinch temperature difference. Dynamic simulations based on typical meteorological year data demonstrate that the system maintains stable operation and improves cycle efficiency. From an economic perspective, the proposed system reduces the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) by about 6.6% and shortens the dynamic payback period, indicating enhanced long-term competitiveness. Overall, the high and low dual-tower system effectively improves thermodynamic and economic performance, providing a promising approach for high-efficiency concentrating solar power (CSP) development. Full article