Search Results (1,904)

As a Chinese national key protected medicinal fern naturally occurring in forest understories, Cibotium barometz faces severe threats of wild population degradation, while standardized large-scale artificial breeding technology for conservation purposes remains immature. To establish an efficient spore-based conservation propagation system for this endangered forest fern, this study quantified the independent and interactive effects of spore storage temperature, storage duration and sowing density on spore germination, gametophyte growth and sporophyte seedling establishment. Spores were preserved under four gradient temperature treatments with sequential sampling at multiple storage durations, followed by sowing trials with a series of density gradients; germination rate, seedling establishment rate and gametophyte–sporophyte conversion rate were dynamically recorded and statistically analyzed. The results demonstrated that appropriately extended storage significantly shortened the germination phase and simultaneously elevated both spore germination and sporophyte seedling formation rates. Among all temperature treatments, storage at −4 °C achieved the maximum germination and seedling establishment capacity, whereas ultra-low-temperature cryopreservation at −196 °C greatly promoted gametophyte–sporophyte conversion rate. The optimal sowing density balancing growth space and survival rate was determined to be 30 spores per cm². The complete dynamic developmental traits covering the full spore propagation life cycle of C. barometz were systematically summarized in this work. Our findings supply reliable technical parameters to standardize spore breeding protocols, and offer critical support for ex situ conservation, wild forest population restoration and sustainable resource utilization of C. barometz. Full article

Quantitative structure–activity relationship and quantitative structure–property relationship (QSAR/QSPR)-based molecular toxicity prediction provides an in silico strategy for prioritizing environmental contaminants when longer-duration bioassay data are sparse. However, many Simplified Molecular-Input Line-Entry System (SMILES)-based machine learning models treat exposure duration as an unconstrained numerical covariate and provide limited information on whether predictions are supported by the observed temporal domain. Here, we evaluated an applicability-domain-aware chemoinformatics framework that combines transformer-derived molecular representations with toxicokinetic-informed temporal encoding and evidential uncertainty estimation. The approach replaces conventional ${log}_{10}$-transformed time encoding with a bounded first-order toxicokinetic saturation feature and combines this representation with Deep Evidential Regression to support a joint chemical–temporal view of the QSAR/QSPR applicability domain. Using experimentally derived U.S. EPA Ecotoxicology Knowledgebase (ECOTOX) fish EC50 mortality records, models were trained on 48,728 acute-duration observations and evaluated retrospectively on 2090 temporally separated longer-duration observations. The combined toxicokinetic and evidential model reduced temporal extrapolation error relative to conventional time encoding while maintaining comparable within-domain validation performance. The learned population-level timescale converged to 221 ± 3 h, consistent with accumulation timescales extending beyond standard acute fish test durations. Epistemic uncertainty was positively associated with absolute prediction error across all 10 folds, suggesting that the uncertainty estimates retained sample-level information relevant to applicability-domain-aware molecular toxicity screening. Cross-species analyses further showed that model behavior depended on training time coverage, with greater convergence when available assays covered a larger fraction of the learned timescale. These results suggest that toxicokinetic-informed temporal encoding can improve uncertainty-aware QSAR/QSPR modeling of environmental contaminant toxicity and support prioritization of compounds for further testing, while complementing rather than replacing chronic bioassays. Full article

In the context of rural revitalization and carbon neutrality, this study addresses energy inefficiency and thermal discomfort in existing rural housing by optimizing passive design strategies for the “SunnyInside” sunroom model. Using parametric simulation with Ladybug and Honeybee, a dynamic light-thermal coupling model was developed to evaluate climate-adaptive performance in two distinct Chinese climates: the cold climate of Datong and the hot-summer-cold-winter climate of Wuhan. Multi-objective optimization focused on orientation, overhang depth, and photovoltaic (PV) tilt angles to enhance ventilation, shading, and daylighting. Key findings include: (1) Optimal building orientations of 15° west of south (Datong) and 16° east of south (Wuhan); (2) A 1.5m overhang depth in Wuhan improved summer shading efficiency by 28.6% and extended thermal comfort duration by 15%; (3) PV tilt ranges of 29–36° (Datong) and 13–23° (Wuhan) maximized energy performance. These optimizations achieved a 19.3–24.7% improvement in comprehensive performance coefficients and reduced air conditioning energy consumption by 17.8–21.4 kWh/m² (with ≥82% photovoltaic conversion efficiency). The study demonstrates the effectiveness of parametric simulation and intelligent algorithms in refining climate-responsive rural housing renovations, providing quantitative guidelines for PV shading systems across diverse climatic zones. Full article

Background and Objectives: Pulmonary sequestration (PS) is a rare congenital lung anomaly with anomalous systemic arterial supply. Surgical resection is the standard treatment, but some children have contraindications. Endovascular embolization (EE) is an established alternative; published pediatric experience is limited, particularly in neonates. We report a two-centre experience with extended follow-up and quantitative hemodynamic data. Methods: Six pediatric patients (five male; median age 6 months, range 11 days to 4 years and 8 months) underwent EE for PS at two centres in Gdańsk, Poland, between 2020 and 2025. Contraindications to surgery were severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, high-output cardiac failure, low body weight with comorbidity, complex extralobar anatomy or refused parental consent. Procedures were performed under general anesthesia via right common femoral arterial access; device strategy was tailored to vessel anatomy. Results: Technical success was 100% with no procedural complications. Median feeding-artery diameter was 3.4 mm (range 2.1 to 5.3 mm). An Amplatzer-family vascular plug was used in five patients (83.3%), pushable platinum coils in two (33.3%) and Onyx-18 in one (16.7%); two had hybrid combinations and one underwent planned staged two-step embolization. Median procedural duration was 51 min. At median follow-up of 50 months (range 11 to 68), all patients showed sequester regression on imaging. Reverse cardiac remodelling occurred within five weeks in the patient with pre-procedural left ventricular dilation (Z-score +2.45 returning to normal); systolic pulmonary artery pressure fell from 35 to 40 to 17 mmHg within six weeks in the neonate treated at 11 days of life for high-output cardiac failure. No patient required surgical resection. Conclusions: Endovascular embolization is safe and effective in pediatric patients with pulmonary sequestration and contraindications to surgery, including neonates with comorbidity. Documented reverse cardiac remodelling and rapid hemodynamic improvement support its use in selected cases. Full article

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), chronic immune-mediated conditions of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by alternating periods of disease activity and remission with a complex multifactorial pathogenesis. Persistent intestinal inflammation in IBD is a key driver of disease progression and is strongly associated with the development of complications such as dysplasia, colorectal cancer (CRC), intestinal strictures, and fistulas. It may also result in changes in anorectal function, identifiable and classifiable using high-resolution anorectal manometry. Histologic and endoscopic assessments are essential for the evaluation of intestinal inflammation. Cumulative inflammatory burden (CIB) is an important concept that quantifies inflammatory exposure in IBD over time by integrating the severity and duration of histologic inflammation across the disease course, highlighting the importance of long-term inflammatory activity in the development of CRC. Histologic healing may be an important therapeutic target in IBD to reduce the risk of long-term complications. In parallel, emerging precision medicine approaches aim to improve risk stratification and enable early, individualized interventions to reduce disease-related outcomes. Endoscopy also plays a fundamental role in monitoring high-risk patients and guiding treatment decisions. This review aims to characterize the main intestinal complications extending beyond the mucosa that are associated with cumulative chronic inflammation in patients with IBD, including dysplasia, CRC, strictures, fistulas, and anorectal dysfunction in an era increasingly focused on achieving complete mucosal healing. Particular attention is drawn to the significant role of persistent histologic and endoscopic inflammation in disease progression and development of complications, highlighting the specific features and associated risk factors of these disease-related outcomes. Throughout, this review emphasizes the fundamental role of endoscopy in the timely detection, monitoring, and therapeutic management of IBD-related complications, thereby reinforcing its role in comprehensive patient care. Full article

Young barley, derived from the early vegetative stage of Hordeum vulgare L., constitutes a plant-based functional ingredient whose phytochemical profile differs markedly from that of mature grain. Two principal commercial forms exist—dried grass powder and juice-derived products—differing in matrix composition and bioactive compound concentration. This narrative review critically evaluates the current knowledge on the phytochemical composition, biological activity, and translational relevance of young barley preparations considered as a functional plant food. The phytochemical spectrum is dominated by C-glycosyl flavones, particularly saponarin and lutonarin, alongside phenolic acids, chlorophylls, enzymatic antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Experimental evidence implicates the modulation of redox homeostasis, inflammatory signaling, and metabolic regulators as the primary biological mechanisms. In vitro studies additionally demonstrate antiproliferative activity in human cancer cell lines and immunomodulatory properties mediated by polysaccharide-rich fractions, extending the biological profile of young barley beyond classical antioxidant activity. Although preclinical models consistently demonstrate antioxidant and metabolic effects, high experimental doses and limited preparation standardization restrict the direct extrapolation to human supplementation contexts. Available clinical trials suggest modest improvements in selected lipid, glycemic, and oxidative stress markers; yet, most are small in scale and brief in duration. Agronomic variables including fertilization strategy and soil composition represent additional, underappreciated sources of phytochemical variability and safety concern. Overall, the current evidence supports the biological plausibility of young barley as a functional plant food; yet, the clinical data remain preliminary. Future research should prioritize preparation standardization, dose–response characterization, and agronomic transparency to strengthen translational reliability. In conclusion, young barley preparations represent a biologically plausible functional plant food ingredient with preliminary clinical support, pending confirmation from adequately powered, standardised randomised controlled trials. Full article

Underground mine production scheduling under uncertainty is a complex and multi-field coupling system project. In this study, underground mine production scheduling seeks to determine the optimal start time of extraction-related projects, with the objectives of maximizing net present value, minimizing makespan, and maximizing resource utilization rate. The Copula function is adopted to formulate the correlation between uncertain project duration and cost and generate a set of stochastic scenarios. Then, the K-means algorithm classifies the scenarios into multiple scenario families, and the SBR algorithm is adopted to perform scenario reduction. Moreover, a rank choice function-based hyper-heuristic algorithm is extended to solve the multi-objective optimization model, which makes an excellent balance among the three objective functions. For determining the optimal scheduling plan, the cross-efficiency DEA algorithm is used to evaluate the archive set, sort the optimal solution, and guide the next iteration. The computational case verifies the effectiveness and efficiency of the multi-objective underground mine scheduling model, stochastic scenario and technical and hyper-heuristic algorithm. Full article

Considering that conventional heavy-duty mining trucks equipped with centralized drive systems suffer from low transmission efficiency and limited flexibility in power distribution, this study focuses on distributed independent-drive heavy-duty mining trucks and develops energy-saving control strategies from two perspectives: drive torque control and regenerative braking. For the drive torque control, based on the principle of optimal driving efficiency, the overall efficiency of the drive motors is selected as the objective function, and an adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA) is employed to optimize the torque distribution coefficients among the axles offline. For regenerative braking, a fuzzy-control-based electromechanical braking distribution strategy and a dynamic-load-based inter-axle braking force allocation strategy are proposed. Finally, a co-simulation was conducted using MATLAB/Simulink and TruckSim based on specific open-pit mining conditions. Compared with the conventional baseline without energy-saving control, the simulation results demonstrate that under the single-cycle operation, the proposed strategy increases the driving energy utilization rate by 5.69% and achieves a braking energy recovery rate of 39.41%. Furthermore, under the full-mine cyclic operation, the proposed strategy extends the vehicle’s operational duration on a single charge by 200%. These findings demonstrate the strong potential of the proposed strategy to improve overall driving efficiency and fully exploit the regenerative braking capabilities of heavy-duty mining trucks, thereby providing theoretical support for enhancing their economic efficiency and driving range. Full article

A surface tension pump, a type of passive pumping method, can generate a gentle and low-flow liquid transport in microchannels without external equipment or tubing, even under microgravity conditions. However, its applicability is limited for long-term operation with large liquid volumes due to its reliance on phenomena specific to small liquid volumes. To overcome this limitation, we developed an automatic reagent dispensing system enabling intermittent replenishment of the inlet reservoir in microfluidic devices. The system achieved high positional repeatability, with a maximum error below 781 µm, which was sufficient for operation within the inlet well used in this study. Initial flow-rate characterization demonstrated that the flow behavior could be adjusted through the dispensed droplet volume. The system was further evaluated through an 18 h automated cell-culture experiment, showing cell-retention performance comparable to that obtained by manual medium replenishment. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using automated intermittent replenishment to extend the operating duration of passive pumping systems. Full article

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a clinically relevant complication of radical prostatectomy despite advances in surgical techniques and perioperative care. Current thromboprophylaxis strategies are largely based on fixed-duration approaches and static risk models focused on the early postoperative period. However, accumulating evidence suggests that postoperative hypercoagulability is a dynamic and prolonged process that may extend beyond this timeframe. This review summarizes the pathophysiological mechanisms and temporal dynamics of postoperative hypercoagulability after radical prostatectomy, with particular emphasis on biomarker-based evidence, including thrombin generation and von Willebrand factor. Clinical and laboratory findings suggest that haemostatic activation may persist after hospital discharge, supporting the concept of a biologically relevant post-discharge period during which insufficiently captured thrombotic risk may remain despite apparent clinical recovery. Current risk assessment models do not account for the time-dependent nature of postoperative haemostatic changes and do not incorporate biomarker data. This discrepancy highlights a gap between guideline-based thromboprophylaxis strategies and the underlying biological processes. To address this, we propose a conceptual framework in which postoperative thromboprophylaxis is considered in relation to the temporal evolution of hypercoagulability. This framework is hypothesis-generating and may help inform future studies aimed at identifying patients who could benefit from extended prophylaxis while avoiding unnecessary anticoagulation in those with more rapid haemostatic recovery. Further prospective studies are required to validate biomarker-guided strategies and to define clinically actionable thresholds for individualized thromboprophylaxis in prostate cancer patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. Full article

To scientifically explore the vehicle capacity characteristics of circular earthwork transportation routes in water conservancy projects, this paper takes the second-phase project of the Huaihe River Sea Entrance Channel as the research background. Key influencing factors such as road conditions, vehicle performance parameters, safe car-following distance, and earthwork loading–unloading duration are comprehensively considered, and a cellular automaton simulation model is constructed. Horizontal comparative verification is carried out with the Intelligent Driver Model, System Dynamics model, and field measured data to verify model accuracy. The results reveal that the cellular automaton (CA) model yields a total vehicle transport trip count of 606, with a MAPE of 0.66% when compared against the field-measured average of 602 trips. The simulated average travel speed reaches 16.71 km/h, corresponding to a MAPE of 2.89% relative to the field measurement of 16.24 km/h. The error metrics of these two indicators are markedly lower than those derived from alternative models. Due to differences in modeling paradigms and applicable mechanisms, the three models exhibit distinct characteristics in simulation performance. Among them, the cellular automaton model is more suitable for the circular earthwork transportation scenario of this study, which can accurately reflect the coupling characteristics of microscopic traffic behaviors such as multi-route confluence and node queuing, and has high consistency with actual engineering operation. Sensitivity analysis indicates that improving earth loading efficiency and reasonably arranging excavator quantity can significantly enhance the overall transportation efficiency. The modeling ideas and simulation analysis method adopted in this paper are not only applicable to the specific engineering scenario, but also can be extended to similar water conservancy earthwork transportation and large-scale engineering logistics transportation fields. It can provide theoretical basis and engineering reference for earthwork scheduling optimization and quantitative calculation of traffic capacity in water conservancy projects. Full article

Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval, 1833) is one of the most destructive insect pests in Egypt and worldwide. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of exposure to a magnetic field (MF) of 180 milliTesla on the developmental phases of S. littoralis, as well as malform, reproductivity, and genomic DNA mutagenicity. The obtained results concluded that the exposure of S. littorelis to MF significantly affected the malformation and mortality rates in both larvae and pupae. The MF extended the duration of the pupal stage from approximately 0.8 to 5.9 days compared to the untreated pupae. The adult emergence percentages decreased to 68.0 and 74.0% upon exposure to a magnetic field for 60 and 40 min, respectively. The female fecundity decreased by increasing the exposure duration, yielding (7–10), (6–10), and (3–8) mass eggs per female upon exposure intervals of 20, 40, and 60 min, respectively. Meanwhile, the hatchability percentage diminished with prolonged exposure time, recording 77%, 60%, and 53% for MF exposure durations of 20, 40, and 60 min, respectively, compared to 91% hatchability in the control trial. The genetic characterization employing inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers disclosed genetic mutagenicity, exhibiting a similarity matrix range from 61.6% to 74.1% for larvae, 59.8% to 68.5% for adults, and 36.2% to 49% for pupae, indicating genetic alteration in treated insects. Hence, these findings highlight the implications and prospective application of a magnetic field of 180 milliTesla as a unique approach in integrated S. littoralis control frameworks. Full article

Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are rare congenital low-flow vascular anomalies that frequently involve the head and neck and may be managed with surgery, laser therapy, sclerotherapy, or multimodal approaches depending on lesion type, size, depth, and relationship with adjacent structures. Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy with doxycycline is an established treatment option for macrocystic lesions, whereas the practical role of high-frequency superficial ultrasound as a technical adjunct has been less specifically discussed. We report the case of a 32-year-old man presenting with a painless left submandibular swelling of approximately two years’ duration. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-encapsulated cystic lesion measuring 56 × 35 mm in the left submandibular region, extending into the internal paralaryngeal space and causing mild compression of the laryngeal wall. Previous fine-needle aspiration cytology had not conclusively established the lymphatic nature of the lesion; therefore, an incisional biopsy was performed and confirmed a macrocystic LM. The patient underwent day-surgery intralesional doxycycline sclerotherapy under real-time high-frequency ultrasound guidance using an 18 MHz hockey-stick transducer. After aspiration of the main cystic compartment through a 25-gauge needle, 100 mg of doxycycline diluted to 10 mg/mL in normal saline was slowly injected under continuous visualization. The procedure was well tolerated under topical local anesthesia, without pain, complications, or adverse effects. A partial clinical reduction was observed after the first session; the treatment was repeated after three months, resulting in apparent complete clinical resolution at one-year follow-up; no post-treatment imaging was available to confirm radiological resolution. This case highlights the potential technical value of high-frequency superficial ultrasonography, particularly for needle positioning, improved delineation of superficial locules, and real-time monitoring of sclerosant distribution. Full article

Flood hazards are intensifying across Africa due to rapid urban expansion and hydro-climatic variability. This study develops a multi-metric geospatial framework combining extreme value analysis, hydrograph-based metrics, and dependence modelling to quantify flood magnitude, frequency, timing, and joint risk dynamics. Daily precipitation and streamflow reanalysis data (1985–2025) were analyzed for two contrasting Tanzanian catchments: the large Rufiji basin (RU) and the smaller Mirongo catchment (MW). Annual maxima were modelled using the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distribution, complemented by flow duration curves, peak-over-threshold detection, and regression-copula dependence analysis. Results reveal strong hydrological contrasts. RU exhibits amplified rare-event growth (design floods from ~2850 to 11,770 m³/s), extended recession persistence (>100 days), low flashiness, and long rainfall-runoff lags (~15 days), indicating storage-dominated behavior. MW shows smaller design floods (~80 to 370 m³/s), higher flashiness, and short lags (~4 days), reflecting rapid, rainfall-driven response. Gaussian copula parameters indicate moderate dependence in both basins (0.32 and 0.34), suggesting that joint dependence alone does not distinguish flood mechanisms without complementary metrics. The proposed framework improves basin-specific flood risk profiling and supports geospatial early-warning system design in data-scarce Sub-Saharan environments. Full article

The objective of this study is to mitigate the bottom-out failure and improve the energy absorption of conventional helmet liners during high-energy impacts, thereby reducing the risk of head injuries. To this end, a locally reinforced Primitive-type triply periodic minimal surface (P-TPMS) energy-absorbing liner is proposed for the helmet forehead region, which facilitates progressive energy dissipation through layer-by-layer buckling deformation. A finite element model of a helmet–head coupling was created based on a previously verified high-fidelity head model and subsequently validated against the ECE 22.06 standard drop-test methodology. Three critical design parameters—outer protective layer thickness, triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) unit cell size, and wall thickness—were optimized employing the Box–Behnken Design (BBD) response surface methodology, resulting in quadratic regression models for the head injury criteria (HIC) and peak linear acceleration (PLA) with good fit ($R^2$ > 0.97). Optimal parameter combinations were established using multi-objective optimization, with protective efficacy carefully assessed from both head dynamic response and biomechanical response perspectives. The ideal P-TPMS liner possesses an outer protective layer thickness of 14.95 mm, a TPMS unit cell size of 12.23 mm, and a wall thickness of 3.93 mm. Compared to the traditional expanded polystyrene (EPS) liner, the optimized P-TPMS liner significantly reduces HIC (by ∼16%) and PLA (by ∼14%) while extending the impact duration. More critically, it transitions both intracranial pressure and brain tissue strain below their respective clinical injury thresholds, substantially lowering the risks of skull fracture and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The P-TPMS construction facilitates continuous energy dissipation during impacts via incremental layer-by-layer buckling deformation, hence extending impact duration and markedly improving helmet protective efficacy. These findings offer theoretical foundations and technical direction for the creation of localized heterogeneous liner designs in advanced high-performance helmets, although the results are limited to frontal flat-anvil impact conditions. Full article