Search Results (958)

The attribution of systemic financial stress to specific market sectors requires metrics that are faithful to the model’s computations, statistically consistent, and connected to a physically meaningful measure of directed information flow. This paper addresses all three requirements through information geometry, contributing to SDGs 7, 8, 9, and 17 through an entropic causal chain linking energy infrastructure failure to financial market stress. We conjecture and empirically verify the Entropy–Saliency Equivalence: Metabolic Saliency is an asymptotically unbiased estimator of the local Kullback–Leibler divergence between stressed and resting sector return distributions, with bias decaying at a parametric rate under Gaussian regularity conditions. The finite-sample bias–variance decomposition of the Kraskov–Stögbauer–Grassberger transfer entropy estimator is derived, establishing a minimax-optimal convergence rate. A novel metric, the Spatio-Temporal Information Flux (STIF), quantifies directed inter-sector stress transmission in bits per trading day, providing a bootstrap-calibrated audit trail aligned with the South African Financial Sector Regulation Act and MiFID II. Empirical validation on the JSE canonical panel (87 securities, 2857 trading days, 2015–2026) with Eskom load-shedding stages as exogenous stress injectors confirms the equivalence ($R^2=0.810$, $\widehat{\rho }=0.90$), with walk-forward $R^2=0.789$ and placebo $R^2=0.081$ ruling out estimation artefacts. The energy sector is identified as the primary stress transmitter during Stage 4+ Eskom events (STIF rising from 0.14 to 0.43 bits/day, directional asymmetry ratio 4.7). Robustness checks confirm stability across non-Gaussian securities and rolling transfer entropy windows. Full article

The increasing penetration of single-phase photovoltaic (PV) generation and electric vehicle (EV) charging has aggravated phase current asymmetry in low-voltage distribution networks. In contrast to voltage-oriented control strategies, this work focuses directly on mitigating current imbalance at the point of common coupling (PCC). A coordinated control framework based on multi-agent deep deterministic policy gradient (MADDPG) is developed to regulate distributed battery energy storage systems (BESS). The control objective is formulated in terms of the Current Unbalance Factor (IUF), derived from symmetrical component theory. A linearized DistFlow model is embedded in the learning environment to preserve physical consistency while maintaining computational tractability. Device-level constraints, including state-of-charge limits and ramp-rate bounds, are enforced through action projection, whereas network security limits are incorporated via reward penalties. Case studies on a modified residential feeder indicate that coordinated BESS control reduces the peak IUF from 2.75% to 2.50% under the studied operating condition. The maximum dominant-phase current decreases from 125 A to 110 A. The performance is close to that of centralized convex optimization while enabling decentralized real-time execution after offline training. These results suggest that multi-agent reinforcement learning can serve as a feasible alternative for phase imbalance mitigation in distribution networks with high renewable penetration. Full article

Background: Lung cancer is the top cause of cancer-related mortality globally, and chemo-immunotherapy is a core therapeutic strategy for it. The novel bacterial composite vaccine (Neo-BCV) we developed previously can activate anti-tumor immunity. This study explored its synergistic anti-tumor effect with cisplatin (CDDP), along with the underlying immunomodulatory mechanisms and molecular regulatory networks. Methods: A murine Lewis lung cancer (LLC) model was established to evaluate the efficacy of the combination therapy. Flow cytometry and multiplex cytokine assay were used to detect immune cell subsets and functional molecules in the spleen, serum and tumor tissues. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to elucidate the molecular regulatory networks following the combination therapy in the tumor tissues. Body weight, blood indexes, serum biochemistry and H&E staining were monitored to verify biosafety. Results: Neo-BCV combined with CDDP achieved an 87.77% tumor growth inhibition rate, showing the most significant anti-tumor effect. The combination promoted DC maturation, enhanced effector immune cell infiltration, reduced immunosuppressive cells, upregulated Th1-type cytokines and downregulated CD8⁺ T cell surface PD-1. RNA-seq confirmed enrichment of multiple immune effector pathways, supporting tumor immune microenvironment remodeling. The combination alleviated CDDP-induced weight loss, had no obvious adverse effects on physiological indicators, and exhibited good biosafety. Conclusions: Neo-BCV combined with CDDP achieves enhanced anti-tumor efficacy and favorable biosafety in murine lung cancer models by regulating immune cell subsets and activating immune-related molecular pathways, providing a solid preclinical basis for its clinical translation in lung cancer treatment. Full article

Although a pulse-width modulation (PWM) technique controls nozzle flow rate with minimal pressure variation, its effects on droplet size distribution and flow regulation when combined with low-drift nozzle designs are still not well documented. Therefore, the objective of this research was to investigate the effects of PWM on droplet size distribution and flow rate of low-drift nozzles used in pesticide application systems. Experiments were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions to evaluate eight flat-fan nozzles with different designs to increase spray droplet sizes. Each nozzle was coupled with a PWM valve, and tested at duty cycles (DUC) from 20% to 100% in 20% increments, and operating pressures of 276 and 414 kPa. Droplet size distribution was determined using a laser diffraction technique, and nozzle flow rate was evaluated to assess the effects of DUC on spray characteristics. PWM operation showed a strong linear relationship between DUC and flow rate (R² ≥ 0.99). In addition, measured flow rates showed good agreement with theoretical values at DUCs ≥ 60%, whereas substantial deviations were observed at lower DUCs. The effects of DUC on droplet size characteristics varied by nozzle design, pressure, and the parameter evaluated. Low DUCs tended to increase droplet size heterogeneity and the proportion of drift-prone droplets (<150 µm), although these effects were dependent on nozzle type and operating pressure and were not observed consistently across all nozzles. Overall, excessively low DUCs may compromise flow accuracy and spray quality in PWM systems. Full article

In this study, we present a novel microfluidic platform for tunable size-based particle separation within a straight microchannel using symmetrical viscoelastic sheath flows. The device incorporates two pairs of symmetrical microchannels for sheath fluid injection: the first pair facilitates particle focusing and separation, while the second pair enables dynamic regulation of the separation distance between particle streams. Experimental results demonstrate that a 50 ppm polyethylene oxide (PEO) solution focuses 1 μm polystyrene particles toward the channel centerline via elastic forces, whereas 5 μm particles migrate toward the channel sidewalls under dominant inertial forces, effectively overcoming the elastic effects. The interplay between inertial and elastic forces thus achieves size-dependent particle separation. Furthermore, by adjusting the flow rate of the PEO sheath in the second pair of microchannels, the separation distance between the two particle populations can be modulated in real time. Higher PEO concentrations (500 and 1000 ppm) exhibit enhanced capabilities to deflect particle flow streams. By contrast, the lower PEO concentrations like 50, 100 and 200 ppm are more versatile in adjusting the separation distance. The biological applicability of this platform is further demonstrated through the tunable separation of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris). This microfluidic device demonstrates significant potential for downstream particle processing applications, including real-time particle detection and targeted drug delivery. Full article

The CO₂+O₂ in-situ leaching (ISL) mining process has been widely applied in the exploitation of sandstone-type uranium deposits; however, evaluating leaching efficiency remains a challenging issue. In this study, a sandstone-type ISL uranium deposit was selected, and based on comprehensive investigations of hydrogeological conditions and mineral geochemistry, a multi-physics coupled numerical model of uranium solute reactions during CO₂+O₂ leaching was established. The model fully accounts for variations in the groundwater flow field between injection and production wells and, on this basis, couples the chemical reaction field between the ore and the leaching solution. The model simulates the evolution of uranium concentration in the leaching solution and further calculates the leaching efficiency of the ore. The results indicate that groundwater flow velocity is highest between injection and production wells, where groundwater dynamics are strongest, and gradually decreases toward the interwell zones as hydrodynamic intensity weakens. Uranium concentration in the leaching solution is closely related to the groundwater flow field. In the early stage, high-uranium-concentration zones are mainly concentrated between injection and production wells. As time progresses, ore reactions in high-flow regions become more complete, leading to a decline in uranium concentration, while residual uranium ions within the formation diffuse outward under concentration gradients, causing high-concentration zones to expand outward. Sensitivity analysis shows that increasing CO₂ and O₂ concentrations significantly enhances uranium leaching concentrations, with increases of approximately 22.1% and 11.3%, respectively. Lower injection-production flow rates reduce dilution and promote more complete reactions, but may also introduce risks such as ore layer clogging. These results provide a theoretical basis and scientific guidance for flow-field regulation in situ leaching uranium mining. Full article

The rapid increase in the penetration of renewable energy has imposed more stringent requirements on the regulation capacity and response speed of Francis turbines in modern power grids. Vortex-induced energy loss significantly constrains the energy performance and hydraulic stability of giant Francis turbines. However, the formation mechanisms of vortex-induced hydraulic loss near the operating boundary remain insufficiently understood. Based on numerical simulations and parameter validation under 30 representative operating conditions, three 50% rated load conditions located near the operating boundary were strategically selected for detailed investigation. By integrating rigid vorticity analysis with entropy production theory, the vortex dynamics and hydraulic loss characteristics were systematically quantified and visualized. The results indicate that entropy production rates caused by turbulent dissipation and wall shear constitute the primary components of hydraulic loss, among which entropy production rate caused by turbulent dissipation (EPRT) is more sensitive to variations in external operating conditions and dominates both the magnitude and spatial distribution of energy dissipation. Distinct loss evolution patterns are observed in the runner and the draft tube. Recirculation and separation flows along the blade surfaces alter the normal blade loading distribution in the runner. In the draft tube, hydraulic loss is mainly governed by the energy dissipation associated with the interaction between the main flow region and the reverse flow region, while the intensity of hydraulic loss is not directly related to the specific vortex morphology. Overall, shear vorticity remains the key mechanism responsible for the increase in EPRT. This study provides theoretical insights and practical evidence for understanding the mechanisms of vortex-induced energy loss in giant Francis turbines and for quantitatively evaluating the distribution and evolution of hydraulic loss. Full article

The inappropriate use of antibiotics in aquaculture has exacerbated antimicrobial resistance in pathogens, thereby reducing the efficiency of aquaculture production. Therefore, it is crucial to develop effective antibiotic alternatives capable of inhibiting pathogenic bacteria. Against this background, the present study investigated the efficacy and underlying mechanism of carvacrol against Vibrio harveyi in the mariculture of the marine fish Sebastes schlegelii, aiming to provide data support for the development of green fishery drugs to replace antibiotics. The results indicated that pre-treatment with carvacrol increased the survival rate of infected S. schlegelii. Meanwhile, post-infection administration of carvacrol alleviated intestinal pathological damage. Carvacrol regulated host immunity by modulating the transcription of the immune-related genes NF-κB/RelA and IL-15. Carvacrol did not significantly alter the activities of SOD, MDA, or CAT, suggesting that the oxidative defense pathway was not primarily involved. Analysis of intestinal Vibrio load confirmed that carvacrol could inhibit the growth and colonization of intestinal Vibrio, thereby maintaining microbial homeostasis. Immunohistochemistry and peripheral blood flow cytometry showed that carvacrol enhanced the adaptive immunity of fish by increasing the proportions of CD4-1⁺ T cells and CD79a/CD79b⁺ B cells in tissues and peripheral blood. In conclusion, carvacrol enhances the resistance of S. schlegelii against V. harveyi by inhibiting pathogenic bacteria, improving intestinal morphological structure, reducing pathogenic bacterial load to maintain microbial homeostasis, and enhancing the adaptive immunity of the organism. This study provides a theoretical basis and data support for the substitution of antibiotics and the development of green feed additives in aquaculture. Full article

In the ultra-high water cut stage, unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs suffer from severe reservoir property time-variation, streamline solidification, and inefficient water circulation. To tackle these problems, this study takes Chengdao Oilfield Block 1G as an example and establishes a dynamic geological model considering permeability time-varying characteristics based on logging, core, and production data. The flow field intensity index and streamline solidification rate are introduced to quantitatively characterize the preferential flow channels and high water-consumption zones. Results show that long-term water flooding increases the average permeability by 26.88% and expands the interlayer permeability ratio from 10.33 to 19.00. The streamline solidification rate reaches 75%, forming obvious “short-circuit” circulation. Three remaining oil enrichment patterns are identified, which are mainly controlled by sedimentary microfacies, structural highs, and well pattern control. A differential regulation strategy including 3D well pattern reconstruction and streamline diversion is proposed. Field prediction indicates that the cumulative incremental oil can reach 410,000 tons and the recovery factor is enhanced by 1.3%. This study not only reveals the dynamic evolution mechanism of flow field under water-rock coupling effects but also provides a practical technical system for flow field regulation and remaining oil tapping in similar offshore ultra-high water-cut unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs. Full article

Distributed fiber optic temperature sensing (DTS) monitoring technology is increasingly widely applied in oil reservoir water injection development. However, existing DTS interpretation methods for layered water injection processes have insufficiently considered the effects of multilayer injection and reservoir damage. To address this issue, this paper takes into account interlayer heterogeneity and reservoir damage and, based on the laws of conservation of mass and energy, comprehensively incorporates the effects of friction, the Joule–Thomson effect, thermal convection, and thermal expansion. By coupling wellbore pipe flow with formation seepage, a temperature profile prediction model for multilayer water absorption under steady-state water injection conditions is established. Comparative validation against classical models such as those by Babak and Nowak demonstrates that the proposed model achieves high computational accuracy. Using this model, the influence patterns of injection rate, tubing diameter, formation coefficient, and skin factor on wellbore temperature distribution are systematically analyzed: a higher injection rate leads to a smaller temperature rise in the injected water; a larger tubing diameter results in a greater temperature rise; the formation coefficient affects the temperature profile by regulating interlayer water absorption distribution, while reservoir damage (skin factor) has a relatively limited direct impact on the temperature profile. The model is applied to interpret DTS field data from Well A, and the water absorption rate of each sublayer is quantitatively obtained: the main water absorbing intervals are 1878.7–1897.5 m and 1919.5–1950.6 m, with water absorption accounting for 30.57% and 24.28% of the total injection rate, respectively, while the remaining intervals exhibit secondary water absorption. These interpretation results are in good agreement with earlier oxygen activation tests. This study provides a theoretical basis and analytical method for applying distributed fiber optic temperature measurement technology to monitor water absorption profiles in multilayer injection wells. Full article

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is characterized by high morbidity and mortality due to its localization and often locally invasive growth. Current treatment options for GBM are limited, with conventional therapies achieving a median survival of only 15 months. Mechanotherapy has been proposed as a new therapeutic strategy in oncology. Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU), a form of mechanotherapy, has demonstrated inhibitory effects on GBM. However, its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of LIFU on GBM and investigate its mechanisms of action. Methods: Cell viability and proliferation were evaluated using cell counting kit-8, EdU and colony formation assays, while the effects of LIFU on GBM cell apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry. Transcriptome sequencing, immunofluorescence, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation were used to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of LIFU on GBM. The therapeutic efficacy of LIFU was further validated in a subcutaneous xenograft tumor model, in which tumor size, survival rate and immunohistochemical changes were monitored. Results: The results of the present study demonstrated that LIFU exerts anti-GBM effects by activating Piezo1 and modulating the downstream ATF3/PPP1r15a pathway to regulate apoptosis. LIFU therapy holds promise as a new treatment strategy for GBM, with the potential to improve patient prognosis. Conclusions: LIFU suppresses GBM progression through the Piezo1/ATF3/PPP1r15a axis by activating endoplasmic reticulum stress. Full article

In sediment-laden irrigation channels, sediment deposition upstream of hydraulic measuring structures can degrade hydraulic performance, reduce measurement reliability, and increase maintenance demand. To clarify the effects of structural optimization on sediment transport and siltation resistance, physical model experiments were conducted on an airfoil weir-orifice facility under different discharges, structural angles, and sediment concentrations. The analysis focused on sediment deposition patterns, longitudinal water surface profiles, sediment concentration, suspended sediment transport rate, cross-sectional velocity distribution, vertical velocity gradient, and Froude number. The results showed that the optimized configuration produced a flatter and more uniform upstream bed morphology, and the average deposition thickness decreased from 4.83 cm to 4.31 cm, corresponding to a reduction of 10.58%. Under all tested conditions, the optimized configuration reduced upstream backwater, increased local flow velocity, and shifted the hydraulic jump closer to the facility outlet. Sediment concentration and suspended sediment transport rate were consistently higher after optimization, indicating enhanced sediment carrying capacity. In addition, the optimized configuration increased the vertical velocity gradient and Froude number, while all cases remained within the subcritical-flow regime. These findings demonstrate that structural optimization can simultaneously improve hydraulic regulation and siltation resistance, and provide an experimental basis for the application of streamlined hydraulic measuring structures in sediment-laden irrigation channels. Full article

This study develops a lifecycle economic comparison framework for shared energy storage, in which multiple users share a common storage asset through capacity leasing. A multi-service revenue structure, including capacity leasing, spot-market arbitrage, auxiliary frequency regulation, peak shaving, and capacity compensation, is established for comparative evaluation. Case studies are conducted for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and vanadium redox flow (VRF) batteries across six representative Chinese electricity markets and six standardized revenue-combination scenarios. The results show that, among the scenarios that more closely reflect current operating practices, P3 (capacity compensation + spot market + auxiliary frequency regulation) delivers the highest net present value (NPV). P6 combines all five revenue streams without explicitly modeling service-coupling dispatch constraints, and is therefore treated as a theoretical benchmark rather than an immediately deployable operating mode. Under this benchmark assumption, its calculated NPV is 21.1% and 41.7% higher than that of P3 for the two battery types, respectively. The study also shows that power-related services are more sensitive to rated power, while spot-market and peak-shaving revenues are more dependent on rated capacity. Full article

Background and purpose: Short-term external counterpulsation (ECP) noninvasively augments cerebral blood flow by elevating blood pressure in ischemic stroke. The current retrospective case–control study examined the effect of long-term ECP treatment on blood pressure and beat-to-beat blood pressure variability (BPV) in patients with recent ischemic stroke. Method: The ECP group included data from 20 recent ischemic stroke patients who received five daily 1 h sessions each week for seven weeks, for a total of 35 sessions of ECP treatment from our ECP registry. An equivalent comparative control group without ECP treatment was composed from the same pool of patients and matched with cases by sex and age. Beat-to-beat heart rate and blood pressure were monitored before and after the long-term intervention. Power spectral analysis calculated the beat-to-beat BPV oscillations at very low frequency (VLF; <0.04 Hz), low frequency (LF; 0.04–0.15 Hz), high frequency (HF; 0.15–0.40 Hz), and the total power spectral density (TP; <0.40 Hz) and LF/HF ratio. Result: There was a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) after the intervention compared with that before intervention in both groups (p < 0.05), but only the ECP group displayed a statistically significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p = 0.023). The changes in SBP and DBP (delta SBP and delta DBP) from pre-intervention to completion showed no significant differences between the two groups (all p > 0.05). The ECP group exhibited a more pronounced and significant decrease in each spectral component of BPV after the intervention than at pre-intervention, with a substantial decrease in systolic BPV at TP (p = 0.048) and in the LF/HF ratios (p = 0.021 in diastolic BPV and p = 0.004 in systolic BPV, respectively) compared to the control group. Conclusions: A standard 35-session ECP treatment decreases beat-to-beat BPV but does not change SBP and DBP in patients with recent ischemic stroke. This implies that long-term ECP treatment may enhance autonomic regulation to benefit post-stroke clinical outcomes. Full article

The rapid increase in memory power density has made memory thermal management a critical challenge in high-density servers, where extremely limited DIMM spacing significantly reduces the effectiveness of air cooling. Compared with CPUs and GPUs, memory-level liquid cooling has received less systematic study, particularly regarding the influence of cold plate structural design on thermal and hydraulic performance under realistic server conditions. In this paper, three engineering-feasible memory liquid cooling solutions (water-flowing cold plate, clamp-type cold plate and heat-pipe-based cold plate) are experimentally compared on a high-density server system. Experiments are conducted at coolant inlet temperatures of 37–50 °C with a fixed flow rate of 0.8–1.5 L/min. Memory, CPU, and voltage regulator temperatures, as well as system pressure drop, are measured. Results show that memory temperature increases with coolant inlet temperature for all configurations, while their relative performance remains unchanged. Memory temperatures range from 62.04 to 71.13 °C, 57.65 to 66.98 °C, and 66.22 to 76.07 °C, with corresponding pressure drops of 24.19–26.69 kPa, 32.73–35.98 kPa, and 27.00–29.96 kPa. These results provide insight into the role of coolant distribution and flow-path topology in memory thermal performance. Full article