Search Results (511)

Architecture has often represented itself through permanence, stability, and formal autonomy while materially existing through irreversible exchanges, dissipation, aging, maintenance, and transformation. Situated within a cumulative research program on architectural conception, thermodynamics, constructal law, environmental transfer, digital design, and spatial morphogenesis, this article isolates a more specific question: how can irreversibility and constructal law become generative principles within architectural design rather than corrective considerations applied after form has been established? The study develops a situated theoretical-methodological framework in which the building is approached as a finite open configuration traversed by thermal, material, environmental, and occupational flows. Drawing on the second law of thermodynamics, exergy degradation, finite-time processes, boundary-layer reasoning, and constructal access, the framework organizes design through the definition of the finite domain, the identification of gradients, the localization of resistance and irreversible loss, the spatial and temporal staging of differences, the organization of access, and the evaluation of geometry through dynamic persistence. The framework is applied to an unbuilt amphibious dwelling as a research-by-design case study, examining its implications for site interpretation, flood accommodation, sectional organization, envelope depth, material differentiation, circulation, and maintenance. The application is not presented as a complete numerical performance validation, but as an architectural translation of the method that establishes the basis for subsequent computational, structural, material, and life-cycle testing. The article contributes a focused account of architecture as the organization of irreversible processes under finite constraints and proposes a design methodology through which gradients, resistances, transfers, and temporal transformations may participate directly in the generation of form. Full article

Hybrid structural materials (HSMs), such as nanoparticle-treated fabrics, have been shown to enhance acoustic and ballistic performance in multifunctional protective structures. They offer a promising means for low-frequency (<~1000 Hz) noise mitigation, which remains a critical challenge in aerospace and defense applications. The measurement and modeling of their sound transmission loss (TL) behavior using a coupled acoustic–poroelastic approach is explored in this study. A colloid-based soaking and drying process is used to impregnate nanoparticles into the fabric. Previous studies using SEM imaging have established that at low (<~20 wt.%) treatment levels, the nanoparticles agglomerate in the interstitial spaces between yarn crossover points, whereas at higher levels, they begin to coat the yarn bundle tops. TL was measured experimentally using normal-incidence impedance tube tests. Further, parameters such as static flow resistivity, porosity, flexural modulus, and density required to model the neat and treat samples as fluid-filled porous solids using the Biot–Allard model were obtained from experiments for a limited set of neat and treated cases. Static flow resistivity was measured using an air permeability tester as per ISO 9237, and a modified version of the Peirce’s cantilever beam test was used to obtain the flexural modulus for neat and treated samples. Porosity was estimated using digital image analytics. The poroelastic fabric model was implemented in finite element simulations, and the predicted TL was compared with experiments including those for uncalibrated treated cases. The model shows close alignment with measured TL at low frequencies (<~600 Hz) for all cases but deviates closer towards the theoretical mass law at higher frequencies, where flanking effects and the influence of the hierarchy of pores are expected to be dominant in experiments. Further studies are underway to incorporate such higher-order effects to improve predictions at higher frequencies. The development of this model provides a means to capture the influence of nanoparticle addition on the acoustic performance of Kevlar, enabling fast and efficient virtual design iterations. The approach helps optimize HSMs for noise mitigation in multifunctional applications for the aerospace, defense, and infrastructural sectors. Full article

To explore the high-value utilization of liquid recovery products from waste wind turbine blades in road binders, a liquid-rich fraction obtained from subcritical acetic acid degradation and subsequent vacuum distillation of waste wind turbine blade epoxy composites was introduced into styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS)-modified asphalt to prepare composite-modified asphalt. Conventional property tests, dynamic shear rheological tests, bending beam rheological tests, steady shear tests, master curve analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) were conducted to systematically evaluate the influence of the liquid-rich fraction on the properties and structural characteristics of the composite-modified asphalt. The results showed that, with increasing liquid-rich fraction content, the softening point increased, while penetration and ductility decreased, and the rotational viscosity at 135 °C increased, indicating enhanced overall stiffness and high-temperature flow resistance. High-temperature rheological results showed that the liquid-rich fraction increased the storage modulus, loss modulus, and rutting factor, while decreasing the phase angle improved the high-temperature deformation resistance of the composite-modified asphalt. Low-temperature rheological results indicated that the creep stiffness S increased, the m-value decreased, and the S/m ratio increased, suggesting weakened stress relaxation capacity and reduced cracking resistance at low temperature. Fatigue factor and steady shear results revealed that the liquid-rich fraction enhanced structural stability and flow resistance but also increased fatigue damage sensitivity at intermediate temperature. Master curves, Black diagram, and Cole–Cole plots further demonstrated that the liquid-rich fraction increased the modulus level over a wide frequency domain and strengthened the structural stability of the asphalt system. FTIR and GPC results indicated that the introduction of the liquid-rich fraction increased the relative contents of aromatic structures and polar oxygen-containing groups and promoted molecular association and increased the apparent molecular weight level of the system. Overall, the liquid-rich fraction acted as a structure-enhancing modifier in SBS-modified asphalt, improving its high-temperature performance while causing a certain trade-off in low-temperature and fatigue properties. Therefore, the dosage should be selected by balancing high-temperature stability, low-temperature cracking resistance, and fatigue durability, and the practical sustainability of this recycling route still requires dedicated economic and environmental evaluation. Full article

H. pylori infection induces oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in gastric epithelial cells, which are key factors in the pathogenesis of gastritis and ulcers. Given the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance, non-antibiotic approaches that target host cell injury mechanisms are gaining considerable interest. While peptides derived from corn protein are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, whether they can alleviate H. pylori-induced gastric epithelial injury remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the preventive effects of corn protein-derived bioactive peptides (CPDP-N), prepared by neutral protease hydrolysis, against H. pylori-triggered injury in human GES-1 cells. CPDP-N exhibited no cytotoxic effects, reduced H. pylori-induced intracellular ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner, and markedly increased the activities of intracellular antioxidant enzymes. Flow cytometry and fluorescence imaging demonstrated that CPDP-N attenuated the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and relieved G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. CPDP-N markedly suppressed the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8, attenuated LDH release, and upregulated the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Moreover, CPDP-N markedly lowered the H. pylori-induced elevation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) p65 protein, a key regulator of inflammatory signaling. These protective effects were accompanied by reduced intracellular ROS levels and lower NF-κB p65 abundance, suggesting the involvement of oxidative stress and NF-κB pathways. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that corn protein-derived peptides can protect gastric epithelial cells from H. pylori-induced oxidative and inflammatory injury, highlighting their potential as a dietary intervention for H. pylori-associated gastric diseases. Full article

The growing use of PET strapping in packaging has increased plastic waste, prompting interest in its reuse in cement-based materials. This study evaluates waste PET strapping powder as a partial replacement for natural sand in cement mortar. Mortars were prepared with three water–cement ratios (0.4, 0.5, and 0.6) and four replacement levels (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%). Slump, flow, compressive strength, flexural strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), four-point resistivity, and sulphate resistance were examined at different curing ages. Increasing PET content reduced slump and flow, indicating lower workability. It also decreased compressive and flexural strengths, with flexural strength showing a greater reduction. UPV declined as PET replacement increased, which was attributed to the combined effects of acoustic-property contrast between PET and the cementitious matrix, interfacial wave scattering, and local microstructural defects. However, PET increased electrical resistivity and reduced sulphate-related weight loss, indicating lower continuity of ion-conducting pathways and potentially improved resistance to the transport of aggressive ions under the adopted test conditions. SEM observations showed limited interfacial defects at 5% PET, whereas higher contents produced a more porous interfacial transition zone. Overall, the mix with 5% PET and W/C = 0.5 showed the best balance of properties, supporting the reuse of PET strapping powder as a sustainable sand replacement. Full article

The prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM) patients remains dismal due to chemoresistance. Repurposing of natural and endogenous compounds, such as the pineal hormone melatonin (MLT) and minor phytocannabinoids like cannabinol (CBN) or cannabigerol (CBG), represents a promising strategy. This study investigates the cytotoxic potential of combining these phytocannabinoids with MLT, evaluating their efficacy both alone and synergistically with temozolomide (TMZ) to overcome drug resistance. To achieve this, cytotoxicity, synergy (Bliss model), and selectivity were evaluated in U87, T98, and U251 GBM lines and normal astrocytes. Mechanisms of damage were characterized via Western blot (γH2AX and PARP-1), flow cytometry using fluorescent dyes/probes (DCFDA, JC-1, MitoBright, BODIPY, PI, and Annexin-V), or the protein marker COX IV and confocal analysis. The results demonstrated that CBN-MLT and CBG-MLT regimens exerted synergistic cytotoxicity while sparing healthy astrocytes. Notably, combining these regimens (U87: MLT 0.3 mg/mL + CBN 25 µM; MLT 0.2 mg/mL + CBG 15 µM. T98: MLT 0.7 mg/mL + CBN 25 µM; MLT 0.6 mg/mL + CBG 30 µM. U251: MLT 0.4 mg/mL + CBN 20 µM; MLT 0.5 mg/mL + CBG 35 µM) with TMZ significantly enhanced chemotherapeutic efficacy, overcoming baseline effects of TMZ in these cell lines. The combinations induced necrotic cell death characterized by severe double-strand DNA damage. This was driven by an early accumulation of intracellular ROS, which triggered mitochondrial depolarization, loss of organelle mass, and lipid peroxidation. CBN combinations consistently triggered more robust biochemical alterations than CBG-based treatments. Taken together, this study provides a strong preclinical basis for utilizing minor cannabinoids combined with MLT in GBM management. Crucially, this co-treatment emerges as a promising approach to potentiate TMZ efficacy, offering a novel and potentially effective therapeutic strategy to counter GBM resilience. Full article

The present work examines how variations in working fluid temperature govern the hydrodynamic behavior of a space-rated micropump. Using perfluorotriethylamine as the operating medium, three-dimensional CFD simulations employing the SST k-$\omega$ turbulence closure were carried out across a broad thermal spectrum, and the resulting flow physics were interpreted through entropy generation analysis. Based on the entropy production theory, the influence laws of different inlet temperatures on the external characteristics, internal characteristics, and flow loss characteristics of the micropump were quantitatively analyzed. The results show that temperature mainly affects the micropump performance by changing the viscosity and density of the working fluid. At low temperatures, the fluid viscosity increases significantly, leading to increased flow resistance, intensified internal friction, reduced head and efficiency, and increased shaft power. As the temperature increases to 0 °C and above, the viscosity change tends to moderate, and the external characteristic parameters tend to stabilize. The internal characteristic analysis shows that under low-temperature conditions, the high-pressure region in the impeller area expands and the turbulent kinetic energy decreases, but the flow separation is to a certain extent suppressed. The region near the volute tongue and the impeller outer edge are the main areas of entropy production loss, and their entropy production rates increase significantly with decreasing temperature. Moreover, at low temperatures, the high entropy production regions expand from locally isolated distributions to continuous large-scale distributions. The impeller outer edge dominates total entropy production, driven by peak fluid linear velocity and intense shear interaction with the volute wall. The findings elucidate how working fluid temperature governs both the hydrodynamic performance and the irreversible loss characteristics of the micropump. These insights can directly inform the engineering design of thermal management loops intended for orbital applications under severe temperature swings. Full article

Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PELNs) are lipid bilayer nanostructures containing endogenous lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and phytochemicals, which have attracted increasing interest as bioinspired carriers for cancer therapy. This review evaluates how plant source, isolation, purification procedures, vesicle composition, cargo-loading strategy, and administration route shape the quality and tumor-delivery performance of PELNs. The available evidence indicates that plant source and processing are major determinants of particle size, purity, surface charge, cargo profile, and biological activity. Ultracentrifugation remains widely used but is limited by contaminant co-isolation and poor scalability, whereas density-gradient purification and size-exclusion chromatography improve purity, and ultrafiltration and tangential flow filtration offer greater potential for large-scale manufacturing. Passive incubation generally preserves vesicle integrity and is most suitable for hydrophobic small molecules, whereas electroporation, sonication, and extrusion can increase cargo loading but may cause aggregation, membrane remodeling, or loss of endogenous components. Preclinical studies suggest that PELNs can exert intrinsic antitumor effects, modulate the tumor microenvironment, improve chemotherapeutic delivery, and help overcome drug resistance. However, evidence for in vivo tumor-targeting remains less robust than evidence for cellular uptake, and direct comparisons with established nanocarriers remain scarce. Clinical translation will require standardized nomenclature and characterization, reproducible manufacturing, quantitative loading and release assays, route-specific biodistribution studies, and repeated-dose safety evaluation. These findings provide a framework for the rational development of PELNs as reproducible tumor-oriented nanocarriers. Full article

The development of biodegradable polymer composites from renewable resources is important for reducing dependence on petroleum-based plastics and improving the sustainability of short-life-cycle products. However, poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blends are generally immiscible, and the reinforcing effect of alkali-treated hemp stem fiber (HSF) on their mechanical, thermal, rheological, morphological, and biodegradation behavior remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates PBS/PLA biocomposites prepared at fixed blend ratios of 90/10 and 80/20 wt.% and reinforced with 5–20 phr alkali-treated HSF. Hemp stem fibers are treated using 5 wt.% NaOH, dried, sieved, and compounded with PBS/PLA blends in an internal mixer at 190 °C and 50 rpm for 15 min, and fabricated by hot compression molding at 190 °C for 13 min. The incorporation of HSF improves composite stiffness, with the highest Young’s modulus of 306 MPa observed for the 80/20/15 composition, representing a 71% increase over neat PBS. The maximum flexural strength reaches 48 MPa for 90/10/20, while the highest flexural modulus reaches 1377 MPa for 80/20/20, representing improvements of 21% and 77%, respectively. In contrast, tensile stress at break and elongation at break generally decrease with HSF incorporation because localized fiber agglomeration, incomplete matrix wetting, and interfacial gaps limit effective stress transfer, particularly at higher HSF loadings. The MFR exhibits composition-dependent, non-monotonic behavior. The addition of PLA initially increases the MFR relative to neat PBS, whereas higher HSF loadings generally reduce the MFR due to restricted polymer chain mobility and increased resistance to melt flow. FT-IR results indicate no strong chemical interactions among PBS, PLA, and HSF, while DSC shows nearly unchanged melting temperatures but composition-dependent changes in PBS crystallinity and crystallization behavior. FESEM confirms a phase-separated PBS/PLA morphology with embedded HSF. Soil burial tests show increased weight loss with higher HSF content and exposure time, confirming enhanced biodegradation. Full article

The demand for a versatile and portable point-of-use (POU) sensor platform has surged due to the pandemic, especially in countries with limited medical laboratory facilities. We recently unveiled a portable, non-planar, interdigitated, flow-through, porous electrode platform that automatically measures electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) signals from various biomarkers. However, the packed powder exhibited a loss of performance over time due to displacement, leaching, and poor stability. Herein, we modified the packing strategy by synthesizing the sensing material within the channel, thereby improving adhesion, structural integrity, and stability. Leveraging the exceptional thermal stability, mechanical strength, and chemical resistance of polyimide (PI), we developed a novel fabrication approach that combines liquid-phase inversion and breath-figure techniques to create a porous PI manifold with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) under varying humidity conditions. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis revealed that lower relative humidity (RH) conditions yield larger but less uniformly distributed pores, leading to increased channel pressure. The manifold demonstrated exceptional stability under rigorous flow conditions, withstanding a high flow rate of 30 µL/min while maintaining consistent pressure-EIS responses. The device produced a measurable proof-of-concept impedance response following exposure to a femtomolar concentration of complementary target ssDNA in 1× PBS within 15 min. A formal limit of detection was not determined in the present study. We developed a mechanically stable sensor design with improved durability under repeated flow conditions by systematically optimizing synthesis conditions and manifold configuration. This innovative fabrication strategy demonstrates the importance of packing methodology in sensor design and paves the way for robust, scalable, and efficient diagnostic solutions in resource-limited settings. Full article

Salt precipitation and pore clogging near CO₂ injection wells can reduce injectivity during geological storage in saline formations; yet, the combined effects of CO₂ phase state, flow rate, and humidity remain insufficiently resolved at the core scale. This study investigated CO₂-induced pore-structure alteration in brine-saturated artificial sandstone containing shale/clay interbeds and carbonate cementation. Eight CO₂ core-flooding experiments were conducted under controlled phase-state, flow-rate, and humidity conditions, and each core was imaged before and after displacement using X-ray CT. Pressure response, apparent flow resistance, CT-derived porosity change, and salt-enriched phase distribution were evaluated. CO₂ flooding caused substantial porosity loss in all tests. In the phase-state series, porosity reductions ranged from 40.75% to 50.21%, with the largest reduction under supercritical CO₂. In the flow-rate series, the largest porosity reduction was 56.52%, whereas the highest apparent flow resistance occurred at the lowest flow rate. The humidity comparison showed the strongest contrast: dry supercritical CO₂ reduced porosity by 46.45%, whereas wet supercritical CO₂ reduced it by only 15.68%. These results indicate that CO₂ humidity strongly controls pore-volume preservation and that humidified CO₂ can mitigate evaporation-driven salt-related injectivity impairment. Full article

Background: Natural products with unique mechanisms remain of great interest because targeted cancer therapies frequently fail due to toxicity or resistance. Cardiac glycosides have demonstrated antitumor activity, but whether their effects involve microRNA regulation remains largely unexplored. This study investigates whether ouabain derived from Strophanthus gratus (Wall. & Hook. ex Benth.) Baill. (SGO) exerts its antitumor effects through miR-145-5p, a known tumor suppressor, using both colorectal and breast cancer models. Methods: We performed transcriptomic profiling in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells treated with SGO, followed by in vitro assays—including cell viability, caspase 3/7 activity, flow cytometry, and colony formation—in HCT116 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In vivo efficacy was evaluated using HCT116 xenograft models in BALB/c-nu/nu mice. miR-145-5p gain- and loss-of-function approaches were employed to determine its functional requirement. Results: SGO dose-dependently suppressed proliferation, induced apoptosis, and inhibited colony formation in both colorectal (HCT116) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells, and significantly upregulated miR-145-5p levels in both cell types. Transcriptomic analysis identified miR-145-5p as a highly differentially expressed miRNA. In HCT116 xenograft models, SGO inhibited tumor growth by approximately 60% and elevated intratumoral miR-145-5p levels. Importantly, inhibition of miR-145-5p significantly attenuated these effects both in vitro and in vivo, establishing that the antitumor activity of SGO depends on the upregulation/activation of miR-145-5p in both cancer types. Conclusions: We have found that SGO inhibits colorectal and breast cancer growth through a miR-145-5p-dependent mechanism, revealing a previously unrecognized regulatory axis for cardiac glycosides. These findings position SGO as a promising candidate for further preclinical studies and suggest that pharmacologic re-expression of miR-145-5p may represent a viable therapeutic strategy in targeted therapy. Full article

Since the Kigali Amendment entered into force globally, propane (R290) has been regarded as one of the most promising next-generation alternative refrigerants for refrigeration and air conditioning. However, its flammability limits its maximum charge amount and leads to higher flow resistance loss. In this paper, a novel refrigeration cycle with an additional independent compression process was simulated and experimentally tested. The simulation error of capacity was less than 7.1%. The intermediate evaporation temperature was optimized. The results show that the new cycle delivers stable performance advantages over the conventional R290 heat pump in both cooling and heating modes, with average capacity and COP improvements of 4.8% and 7.8% for cooling, and 8.3% and 7.5% for heating. System flow resistance loss decreases by 33.0%, which raises the refrigerant mass flow rate by 12.5% and reduces the required compressor displacement by 6.6% at equivalent cooling capacity on average. Full article

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy characterized by poor prognosis and marked resistance to chemotherapy. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic and antimigratory effects of a cationic monofunctional organometallic platinum (II) complex containing 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), [Pt(1-hexyl-1H-imidazole)(η¹-C₂H₄OEt)(phen)]Cl, in comparison with cisplatin in the cisplatin-resistant YAPC pancreatic cancer cell line. The complex exhibited a rapid and potent cytotoxic effect, significantly reducing cell viability within a few hours of treatment and showing greater short-term activity than cisplatin. This enhanced efficacy was associated with a markedly higher and faster intracellular accumulation, suggesting improved cellular uptake. Mechanistically, the compound induced apoptosis more effectively than cisplatin, as demonstrated by flow cytometry, and caused an early and pronounced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_M), indicating mitochondrial involvement in cell death. In addition, the complex significantly impaired cell motility in both transwell and 3D spheroid-based assays, confirming a strong antimigratory and anti-dissemination potential. Overall, these findings indicate that [Pt(1-hexyl-1H-imidazole)(η¹-C₂H₄OEt)(phen)]Cl represents a promising candidate for targeting cisplatin-resistant PDAC cells, owing to its rapid cellular uptake, mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic signaling, and combined cytotoxic and antimigratory properties. Full article

This study examines how yarn microstructure influences isothermal water-vapor transport and the associated evaporative heat loss under ISO 11092 skin-model conditions. Sweating guarded hotplate experiments were performed on PET yarn-array specimens to measure evaporative heat flux and moisture resistance. A fiber-level two-dimensional finite element model was then developed to reproduce the same boundary conditions and simulate transport through a PET fiber/air matrix. Using a full-factorial design, denier per filament, the number of filaments, and packing factor were varied independently, with multiple random filament arrangements used for each parameter combination to account for microstructural variability. The model reproduced the main experimental trends and gave predictions consistent with measured heat flux and moisture resistance for representative yarn configurations. Over the investigated design space, packing factor had the strongest influence: higher packing reduced heat and moisture flux and increased moisture resistance. Denier per filament and the number of filaments showed smaller but systematic effects, mainly through changes in pore connectivity and tortuosity. Statistical analysis indicated that main effects accounted for most response variation, while interaction effects were limited within the studied ranges. Flow-field results further showed a shift from internal flow penetration at low packing to bypass-dominated transport at high packing. These findings provide a validated framework for linking yarn-level structural parameters with heat–moisture transport performance in fibrous assemblies. Full article