Search Results (10,369)

Proposals for the complete substitution of fossil fuels have become central to energy policy debates. However, historical data show that global primary energy consumption has grown approximately linearly since the 1950s, with changes in the energy mix occurring mainly through diversification rather than absolute substitution. This work examines the physical and operational constraints of complete substitution proposals by grounding the analysis in the observed evolution of global energy use and in a dynamical framework of system adequacy and stability. A normalized model balancing firm capacity, intermittency, and corrective power was developed and applied to four 20-year scenarios: (A) constant demand with diversification, (B) continued linear demand growth, (C1) fossil-fuel phase-out at constant demand, and (C2) phase-out with continued growth. The results show that gradual diversification remains within operationally ordered regimes, whereas rapid phase-out trajectories approach or cross stability boundaries associated with supply–demand bifurcations. Quantitative estimates indicate that full substitution over two decades requires cumulative additional energy investments on the order of ${10}^6$ TWh, corresponding to total system costs of US$50–100 trillion under conservative assumptions. These costs arise from the cumulative energetic and entropic burdens of maintaining operational order in increasingly complex and intermittent systems. Our analysis indicates that rapid fossil-fuel substitution over short time horizons is constrained not only by technology or finance but also by cumulative energy investment, entropy production, and erosion of operational stability margins. Full article

The institutional drive to deploy digital assistive technologies—from IoT monitoring to AI companions—as a solution to the aging care crisis functions as an ethical double-edged sword. This article argues that beyond isolated risks, these technologies introduce a systemic tension where gains in safety and efficiency often come at the cost of autonomy, human connection, and equity. We propose a critical framework that diagnoses four interconnected dimensions of this tension: (1) the erosion of privacy and autonomy through pervasive surveillance; (2) the risk of dehumanization in high-tech, low-touch interactions; (3) the “digital grey divide” as a social determinant of health; and (4) the perpetuation of “coded ageism” through algorithmic bias. To bridge the gap between ethical principle and practice, the framework translates this diagnosis into a practical roadmap for “Dignity-by-Design.” It operationalizes person-centered care through three actionable shifts: moving from compliance to commitment, replacing static consent with dynamic engagement, and establishing the lived experience of older adults and caregivers as a core design standard via participatory action research. Ultimately, this work provides a critical tool for researchers, developers, and policymakers to guide the ethically aligned implementation of technologies that truly enhance autonomy, foster trust, and uphold dignity in geriatric care. Full article

Background: The dissolution of oral solid dosage forms is a key determinant of drug bioavailability, yet traditional testing methods do not capture the real-time surface dynamics of drug release. This study introduces a novel framework combining surface dissolution imaging (SDi2) with an interpretable, dual-wavelength convolutional neural network (CNN) to predict and understand dissolution behavior. Methods: Eight tablet formulations containing acetylsalicylic acid, sodium salicylate, or salicylamide, combined with either lactose or methylcellulose, were analyzed under two distinct, compendial conditions (pH 1.2 and pH 6.8). Results: Our final CNN model, which synergistically processes spectral images (280 nm for API release and 520 nm for structural changes), temporal data, and formulation composition, accurately predicted dissolution profiles, achieving a coefficient of determination of 0.89 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 11.57. To overcome the “black-box” nature of deep learning, we employed Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) to interpret the model’s predictions. The analysis revealed that the model focused on tablet edges at 280 nm, consistent with surface dissolution, and on bulk regions at 520 nm, reflecting structural changes including erosion and gel-layer growth. Conclusions: These findings suggest that integrating real-time imaging with explainable AI methods can support better understanding of dissolution processes in pharmaceutical formulation development. Full article

Precipitation is a fundamental element in terrestrial water circulation and ecosystem hydrological balance. The occurrence of concentrated precipitation is closely linked to vegetation growth and soil fertility rather than accumulated or averaged precipitation. Despite its importance, the characteristics of continuous precipitation and its specific effects on vegetation cover remain uncertain. In this study, we formulated a new continuous precipitation index system, including $C{P}_d$ (continuous precipitation days); $AC{P}_t$ (annual continuous precipitation times); $C{P}_a$ (continuous precipitation amount); and $FCP$ (frequency in different ranges of $AC{P}_a$). We utilized daily precipitation data from 467 meteorological stations across China, which were divided into eight vegetation type regions. We observed that the spatial distribution of continuous precipitation differed to varying degrees from accumulated precipitation. The national average of $MAC{P}_a$ for a single event was 16.7 mm, ranging from 3.8 mm in the temperate desert region to 37.1 mm in the tropical monsoon forest and rainforest region. Similarly, the national average of $MC{P}_d$ ($MMC{P}_d$) for a single event was approximately 2.3 or 9 days. At the regional level, the tropical monsoon forest and rainforest region experienced the longest $MMC{P}_d$. Furthermore, the national average of $MAC{P}_t$ occurrences for 1 year was 57.7 times, varying from 29.8 times in the temperate desert region to 77.9 times in the tropical monsoon forest and rainforest region. Vegetation responses to precipitation regimes exhibit significant regional heterogeneity across China. Our analysis reveals that $MAC{P}_t$ and $M{P}_a$ show markedly positive correlations with vegetation growth. In subtropical monsoon climate zones, particularly the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau and Qinling Mountains, $MAC{P}_t$ demonstrates strong positive correlations (r = 0.6–1.0) with NDVI, where sustained rainfall provides stable moisture availability for vegetation. While a positive correlation between vegetation (NDVI) and mean annual consecutive precipitation is observed in some arid northern regions, in ecosystems such as the Loess Plateau (TG/TM), vegetation growth shows greater dependence on $M{P}_a$, highlighting the crucial role of total precipitation amount in water-limited ecosystems. Notably, extreme precipitation events display dual effects on vegetation dynamics. Prolonged heavy rainfall ($MMC{P}_d$/$MMC{P}_a$) exhibits significant negative impacts on NDVI (r = −1.0 to −0.6) in topographically complex regions, including the Hengduan Mountains and Yangtze River Basin (SE), likely due to induced soil erosion and waterlogging stress. Our findings underscore the importance of incorporating continuous precipitation indices to evaluate and forecast the influence of precipitation on ecosystem stability. This understanding is vital for developing informed conservation and management strategies to address current and future climate challenges. Full article

Metro Manila, one of the world’s most densely populated megacities, is highly vulnerable to sea-level rise because of its low-lying deltaic location, frequent tropical cyclones, and rapid anthropogenic subsidence caused mainly by groundwater extraction. This study brings together historical tide-gauge records from the Port of Manila (PSMSL) with the Sixth Assessment Report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC AR6) projections under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways, adding in vertical land motion (VLM) and sea-level fingerprints to work out local relative sea-level (RSL) changes. Assuming a constant subsidence rate, cumulative VLM reaches ~0.785 m by 2100 and ~1.289 m by 2150. When you factor in climatic contributions (amplified 10–20% by fingerprints, especially under high-emission scenarios thanks to far-field Antarctic ice-loss effects in the western Pacific), projected RSL ranges from 1.09–1.42 m (SSP1-2.6) to 1.51–2.00 m (SSP5-8.5) by 2100, and from 1.70–2.28 m to 2.41–3.54 m by 2150. Results show that 7.95–11.15 km² (1.2–1.8% of land area under SSP5-8.5) could face permanent inundation, mostly in Malabon (~18%), Navotas (~20%), and Manila (~7%). Our conservative estimates (permanent ocean-connected flooding, excluding existing aquaculture areas) come in much lower than earlier mid-century projections of up to a 30% area affected. All this will worsen chronic tidal flooding, erosion, saltwater intrusion, and risks to millions in low-lying districts. We urgently need integrated adaptation, better groundwater regulation, and a mix of nature-based and engineered solutions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced small bowel (SB) injuries have a variable clinical and endoscopic presentation. Limited data exists regarding their long-term outcomes, natural course, and discerning factors and differentiation from Crohn’s disease (CD). This study aims to evaluate the spectrum of presentation at capsule endoscopy (CE) and outcome in patients with documented NSAID use. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated all CEs performed at our hospital from 2014 to July 2023 in patients with documented NSAID use and with SB injury on CE. Patients’ demographics, clinical and endoscopic data, CE findings and outcome were recorded. Results: A total of 52 patients (33 females; median age 54 years, IQR 41–65) with documented NSAID use who underwent CE were included. The most prominent findings were erosions (56%) and superficial (46%) and deep ulcers (21%). Median follow-up time was 16 months (IQR 4–57). A total of 26 (50%) patients underwent repeat CE after a median interval of 12 months (IQR 10–15). In 77% (n = 20) of patients, SB injury was still present, with the majority (80%) having a Lewis score of < 790. Overall, compared to the previous CE, there were no changes in 35% of cases, worse appearance in 35%, and an improvement in 30%. SB CD was diagnosed in 7 out of 26 patients on follow-up. There were no statistically significant clinical or endoscopic differences between those with NSAID enteropathy and those diagnosed with CD. Conclusions: NSAID enteropathy presents with a wide spectrum of SB injuries, which cannot be differentiated on CE images alone. This highlights the importance of the clinical picture in the diagnostic process of these patients. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that a percentage of patients still exhibit some degree of SB damage despite cessation of NSAIDs for several months. Full article

Rapid urban expansion and the growing spatial requirements of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) deployment compete for the same category of land—flat, accessible, and high-insolation terrain—yet the scale, trajectory, and planning-sensitivity of this conflict remain poorly characterised at the regional level. This study quantifies the spatiotemporal competition between urban construction land and PV-suitable land in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) from 2000 to 2020 and projects its evolution to 2030 under three development scenarios. Built-up areas were extracted for three epochs using a Random Forest (RF) classifier on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, achieving overall accuracies of 87.7–94.5% and Kappa coefficients of 0.718–0.739. PV site suitability was evaluated through a hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework combining Boolean exclusion constraints with an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)-based Weighted Linear Combination model; the weight structure was validated by a Consistency Ratio of 0.006, and a One-At-a-Time sensitivity analysis confirmed spatial robustness across threshold scenarios. Spatial overlay analysis reveals that the cumulative area of PV-suitable land occupied by urban built-up uses grew from 15,862 km² in 2000 to 23,872 km² in 2020, representing an incremental loss of 8010 km² over two decades. Future conflict was projected using the PLUS model, calibrated on 2010–2020 observed expansion and validated against the 2020 classified map (OA = 93.99%, Kappa = 0.91). Under the Business-as-Usual (BAU) scenario, 33,368 km² of currently open PV-suitable land faces urban encroachment by 2030; the Ecological Conservation Priority (ECP) scenario reduces this figure to approximately 30,767 km², while the Economic Development (ED) scenario yields a near-identical outcome to BAU, indicating that development velocity alone does not determine the spatial extent of conflict—the allocation of growth does. These findings provide a quantitative basis for designating energy-strategic reserve zones within national spatial planning frameworks and demonstrate that targeted spatial governance, applied at high-pressure locations, can substantially slow the erosion of the region’s solar energy land base. Full article

The dominant agri-food system’s well-documented failures—biodiversity loss, deepening rural inequalities, and the erosion of small-scale farming livelihoods—have elevated SSE initiatives and social innovation in the agri-food sector and bioeconomy from a niche policy concern to a structural priority. This paper examines how SSE arrangements drive meaningful transformation in agri-food chains while advancing sustainable development at local and regional scales. Through a narrative review of interdisciplinary peer-reviewed literature and key institutional sources, the paper synthesizes evidence that SSE initiatives generate transformation through three interconnected mechanisms: (a) the reconfiguration of governance structures; (b) the deepening of producer–consumer relationships through spatial proximity and relational transparency; and (c) the more equitable redistribution of value across agri-food territories. These findings suggest that place-based SSE models occupy a central—rather than peripheral—role in sustainability transitions and local development. The paper presents a structured analytical framework linking SSE practices to agri-food chain transformation and develops nine concrete policy implications for scaling and sustaining SSE innovations through coordinated collaboration among public, private, and social economy stakeholders. The findings contribute to a sharper understanding of the conditions under which SSE-driven models can foster sustainable, socially inclusive, and community-oriented agri-food systems and of why the solidarity dimension, rather than organisational form alone, is the decisive criterion for identifying genuinely transformative initiatives. Full article

Energy gels are widely used by athletes to maintain performance during endurance activities; however, their acidic composition may pose a risk to dental health. This study aimed to evaluate the pH of four commercial energy gels at different dilutions with artificial saliva and to assess the potential neutralizing effect of casein phosphopeptide–amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP–ACP). An in vitro experimental design was conducted using four commercial gels (FullGas Hydrogel, ENA Energy Gel, UltraTech Gel, and Maverick Race Gel). Serial dilutions with artificial saliva (1:2, 1:5, 1:7, and 1:10) were prepared, and pH was measured using indicator strips at 0, 15, and 30 min at 37 °C. The effect of CPP-ACP was evaluated in the 1:2 dilution. Undiluted gels showed highly acidic pH values ranging from 2.0 to 3.0. Dilutions of 1:2 and 1:5 remained significantly more acidic than artificial saliva (p < 0.001). From 1:7 dilution onward, pH values increased and approached salivary levels (approximately 7.0), with no significant differences compared with artificial saliva. The addition of CPP-ACP significantly increased pH in the 1:2 dilution (p < 0.05), although the effect was limited in more diluted conditions. These findings suggest that commercial energy gels may represent a source of acidic exposure under in vitro conditions, which could be relevant for dental health. Adequate dilution, particularly ≥1:7, was associated with a reduction in acidity under the experimental conditions tested, although its clinical relevance cannot be directly inferred, while CPP-ACP may provide a limited buffering effect under concentrated exposure conditions. Full article

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly embedded in routine primary care, yet how the levels of integration might affect its acceptability is unknown, especially in relationship-based service models where patients expect visible human stewardship. Prior experimental studies often treat AI adoption as a binary condition, leaving the “intensity gradient” of automation and the role of model specialization under-explored. We examine whether increasing AI integration in the clinical encounter erodes patients’ intention to seek care from family doctors in China, and whether labeling the AI as a medical-specific model buffers such erosion. Methods: We conducted a nationwide online survey experiment in China (N = 2790). Participants were randomly assigned to vignettes that varied by (i) the level of AI integration (low, medium, high) and (ii) the AI type (general-purpose vs. medical-specific large language model), with a human-only care scenario as a reference. Care-seeking intention from family doctors was assessed immediately after exposure. We estimated treatment effects using OLS regression with heteroskedasticity-robust standard errors, and examined the buffering hypothesis through an interaction term between AI integration intensity and AI type. Results: Care-seeking intention declined steadily as AI integration increased (p < 0.001), with the sharpest drop under high-intensity AI integration where clinical decisions were delegated to the AI system. Across all intensity levels, framing the system as a medical-specific AI consistently resulted in higher care-seeking intention than a general-purpose model. However, the interaction between AI intensity and the AI type was not statistically significant (p = 0.508). Conclusions: Patient acceptance of AI in primary care depends not only on whether AI is involved, but on how deeply AI is positioned in the encounter. Medical-specific AI labeling may enhance acceptance across all AI integration levels. The findings underscore the need to preserve human clinical agency in AI-embedded primary care. The results contribute to research on healthcare systems, digital health, and AI–patient interaction. Full article

Sediment connectivity is a key indicator of whether eroded sediment can be efficiently transported within a catchment. Landslides are a major form of rainfall-induced erosion on the steep slopes of the Loess Plateau and contribute substantially to overall catchment sediment yield. However, evaluating the connectivity of landslide-derived sediment and its implications for sediment transport risk remains challenging. Therefore, field investigations were conducted in three watersheds (R1, R2, and R3) on the Loess Plateau to examine landslides triggered by rainstorms. We analyzed the characteristics of landslide erosion and its influencing factors, applied graph theory to investigate sediment connectivity after landslides occurred, and assessed the risk of sediment transport to the catchment outlet. The results showed that the landslide number densities in the catchments R1, R2, and R3 were 9, 155, and 214 km⁻², respectively. The average erosion intensities were 25,153, 53,074, and 172,153 t km⁻², respectively. The network analyses indicated that the locations of landslides within the catchments were primarily concentrated in areas with high transport networks and high sediment accessibility to the catchment outlets. The sediment connectivity index further showed that 59%, 43%, and 51% of landslides in the three watersheds, respectively, were at high risk of delivering sediment to the catchment outlet. Accordingly, measures such as slope drainage and gully dam construction may help reduce both landslide occurrence and sediment transport. These findings provide new insights into the transport risk of eroded sediment from a connectivity perspective, identify hotspot areas of sediment connectivity and landslide erosion, and support the targeted prevention and control of catchment erosion. Full article

Shoreline change detection from remote sensing imagery remains challenging in environments subject to water level fluctuations, as remotely sensed shoreline positions reflect instantaneous hydrodynamic states rather than true geomorphic change. In the Great Lakes, seasonal and short-term water level variations can produce apparent shoreline shifts unrelated to sediment dynamics. Reliable calibration with bathymetry and water level data can mitigate this effect, but such data are often unavailable or difficult to obtain for many coastal and lacustrine systems worldwide. To address this limitation, we proposed a morphology-based framework that quantifies geometric change between successive shoreline curves using a discrete Fréchet distance, a modified Euclidean distance and a Union distance metric. Rather than relying solely on cross-shore displacements, the approach leverages shape similarity to differentiate water-level-driven shifts from true morphological change. We evaluated the framework across three spatial scales (100 m, 500 m, and 1000 m) along 125 km of southwestern Lake Michigan coastline using 2010 and 2020 aerial imagery, benchmarking against water-level-calibrated DSAS erosion hotspots. The Fréchet distance improved monotonically with scale, achieving strong agreement at 1000 m (F1 = 0.84, Spearman $\rho$ = 0.79) but limited reliability at 100 m. While individual morphology-based metrics appeared competitive with or inferior to uncalibrated DSAS at each scale, the union of both distances substantially outperformed uncalibrated DSAS at management-relevant scales (F1 of 0.64 vs. 0.50 at 500 m and 0.79 vs. 0.42 at 1000 m), reflecting the complementary nature of shape-based and displacement-based detection. The Patient Rule Induction Method (PRIM) further identified gentle nearshore slopes and moderate separation from engineered structures as the geomorphic conditions under which the morphology-based and calibrated erosion indicators converged most closely (in-box F1 = 0.92 at 1000 m and 0.72 at 500 m). These results suggest that the proposed framework, particularly the complementary union of both metrics, provides a practical, calibration-free alternative for multiscale shoreline change screening in lacustrine and microtidal, data-limited environments, while local-scale applications still benefit from explicit water-level correction. Full article

In this study, polysiloxane-containing polyimide (si-PI) composite coatings containing hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) particles of four different sizes and at different contents were prepared, and their mechanical and tribological properties were investigated. The coatings were deposited on steel substrates via dip coating and cured at 160 °C. Their tribological properties were measured using reciprocating sliding tests under unlubricated conditions against a steel ball. The composite coatings containing nano-hBN with the smallest mean primary particle size of 0.05 μm exhibited the lowest wear. Subsequently, coatings containing 1–15 wt% nano-hBN were prepared to examine the effect of filler content. The results showed that the coatings with low nano-hBN contents (1–2 wt%) had relatively high friction coefficients and significantly reduced wear on both the coating and the counterpart. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that dispersed small hBN aggregates suppress crack propagation through dispersion strengthening. Coatings with low nano-hBN contents (1–2 wt%) also exhibited sufficient electrical insulation. However, as the hBN content increased further, hBN agglomeration was promoted, weakening the crack-propagation suppression effect and increasing wear. These findings indicate that low-content nano-hBN/si-PI composite coatings are promising electrical erosion-resistant coatings for the outer rings of the bearings used in electric vehicle motors. Full article

The ongoing warming–wetting trend is profoundly reshaping water and land resources (WLR) in alpine regions, challenging their ecological functions. Focusing on the Yellow River source region above Huangheyan Station, we developed a synergistic WLR allocation framework explicitly oriented towards ecological function enhancement. We systematically assessed the spatiotemporal evolution of WLR and key ecological functions from 2000 to 2020, and projected future dynamics for 2030–2060 under four SSP scenarios. A multi-objective optimization model was established to minimize water shortage, maximize water conservation capacity (WCC), maximize vegetation water use efficiency (WUE), and minimize soil erosion amount (SEA), solved using the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II algorithm. (NSGA-II) The results indicate significant ecological improvements over the past two decades (Net Primary Production(NPP) +14.3%, WCC +67.9%, SEA −34.1%). Critically, the optimized allocation schemes demonstrated substantial benefits across all future scenarios, enhancing WCC by 4.6–20.2%, improving WUE by 0.6–10.7%, and reducing SEA by 3.9–9.1%. This study offers a useful reference for coordinating ecological conservation and resource management in climate-sensitive and ecologically fragile alpine regions. Full article

Soil erosion in mountain environments is governed by the interaction of climatic drivers, surface conditions, and geomorphic connectivity. Recently, disturbance by large herbivores has been recognized as a potentially important but poorly quantified geomorphic driver. However, the combined effects of freeze–thaw processes and ungulate disturbance on sediment production remain unclear. This study provides quantitative field-based evidence linking deer activity to hillslope sediment flux in a montane forest catchment in central Japan. A six-year dataset (2019–2025), including climatic conditions, deer detections from camera traps, understory vegetation cover, and hillslope sediment flux (<9.5 mm) was analyzed. Multiple regression analysis was conducted using daily sediment flux as the response variable and maximum 1 h rainfall, freeze–thaw frequency, and daily deer detections as explanatory variables. The results showed that deer detections had a significant positive effect on sediment flux, whereas rainfall intensity and freeze–thaw frequency did not exhibit strong independent effects. Particle-size analysis further indicated that eroded sediment was markedly coarser than the surface soil, suggesting that short-term climatic drivers alone did not control sediment transport. These findings demonstrate that biotic disturbance by large herbivores can play a dominant role in hillslope sediment flux under cold, high-elevation conditions by modifying surface conditions and sediment connectivity. From a sustainability perspective, these results highlight the importance of managing deer populations to maintain ecosystem stability, prevent land degradation, and support sustainable forest and watershed management under changing environmental conditions. Full article