Search Results (7,592)

Background/Objectives: Early postnatal nutrition is a modifiable determinant of brain maturation in preterm infants. Exclusive human milk-based diets (EHMD) are associated with improved neurodevelopmental outcomes. The objective of this exploratory ancillary analysis of the NEOVASC randomized controlled trial was to determine whether prolonging an exclusive human milk-based diet, specifically through continued human milk-based fortification until 36 weeks postmenstrual age, is associated with differences in early brain structure and functional motor development compared with earlier introduction of bovine milk-based fortifier or formula at 32 weeks postmenstrual age. Methods: This ancillary study of the NEOVASC trial included preterm infants (<32 gestational weeks and birthweight of 500–1250 g) randomized to either prolonged EHMD until 36 weeks PMA or a diet introducing bovine milk-based fortifier or formula from 32 weeks. Quantitative brain metrics, fractional anisotropy (FA), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were analyzed at 40 weeks PMA. Functional maturation was assessed repetitively using the General Movement Optimality Score (GMOS) (34, 36, and 40 weeks PMA) and Motor Optimality Score (52 weeks PMA). Results: Fifty-four infants were included. Groups did not differ in brain growth metrics. After adjustment for imbalances in clinical characteristics, no FA or ADC differences remained statistically significant. GMOS at 40 weeks PMA was higher in the intervention group, with no differences at other time points. Conclusions: In this exploratory ancillary analysis of the NEOVASC trial, prolonging an exclusive EHMD until 36 weeks postmenstrual age was not associated with consistent differences in early brain maturation or motor performance. Given the high overall exposure to human milk in both groups, subtle effects may have been attenuated. These findings require confirmation in larger, adequately powered studies with long-term follow-up. Full article

Light hydrocarbons in shale oil readily volatilize during conventional coring, surface handling, storage, and laboratory preparation. The resulting evaporative loss causes systematic underestimation of Rock-Eval S₁ peak (free hydrocarbons measured by programmed pyrolysis), which can bias oil-bearing evaluation, sweet-spot delineation, and resource assessment. Here we investigate Chang 7₃ lacustrine shale oil in the Ordos Basin (China) using frozen cores recovered by pressure-retained coring from four wells. Time-series Rock-Eval pyrolysis and thermal desorption–gas chromatography (TD–GC) were used to quantify the magnitude, temporal evolution, and practical equilibrium time of light-hydrocarbon loss and to establish a practical restoration model. S₁ decreases with storage time and exhibits a clear two-stage behavior. Shale shows a rapid-loss stage during 0–90 days, followed by a practical equilibrium stage after 90 days (S₁ change less than 5%). Sandstone interbeds lose light hydrocarbons faster and more completely, reaching practical equilibrium after 60 days. TD–GC indicates that the lost fraction is dominated by n-alkane components lighter than C₁₃, with gaseous hydrocarbons showing the greatest depletion; medium and heavy fractions decrease modestly. Loss is coupled with progressive desorption from kerogen and clays, leading to enrichment of heavier components in the residual free hydrocarbons and a shift of the modal carbon number toward higher values. At the shale equilibrium time, total organic carbon (TOC) and vitrinite reflectance (R_o) jointly control the restoration factor K. We propose a two-parameter restoration model: K = (0.4024·ln (TOC) + 0.821)·(0.652·R_o + 0.4292). Applying the model to more than 50 conventionally cored wells reveals that the Qingyang–Zhengning area in the southwestern basin is the principal enrichment zone of original free hydrocarbons, followed by the Jiyuan area in the north and the Huachi area in the central basin, whereas the eastern basin is relatively depleted. The workflow provides a robust and transferable approach for correcting S₁ and improving shale-oil evaluation in lacustrine systems. Full article

Vascularization remains a central challenge in thick tissue engineering. Building on our prior demonstration that carbonate buffer concentration governs multi-channel collagen gel (MCCG) architecture and perfusion culture performance, this study aimed to establish non-contact, orthogonal control of pore size and density in riboflavin-sensitized Type I collagen hydrogels via UV irradiation intensity and preparation temperature. UV intensity was modulated by varying the source-to-sample distance (25–52 mm); preparation temperature was set at 5, 25, or 40 °C; gelation kinetics were quantified using a vial-tilt assay. Pore area fraction ranged from 0.9% to 8.6% and Young’s modulus from 16 to 49 kPa depending on UV dose. Higher preparation temperatures accelerated gelation and produced smaller, more densely distributed pores, consistent with kinetically arrested phase separation. NIH/3T3 fibroblasts cultured on intermediate- and low-intensity UV scaffolds achieved >80% confluency by Day 7, with three-dimensional tissue-like organization and directionally aligned cellular bundles within large pores; cell metabolic activity, assessed by CCK-8 assay, remained consistently high throughout the culture period. These results demonstrate that UV irradiation intensity and preparation temperature are independently tunable, non-contact parameters for reproducible fabrication of collagen scaffolds with tunable vascular-like pore networks, complementing and extending the chemical (buffer concentration) design space of MCCG-based perfusion culture systems. Full article

The evaluation of potentially toxic element concentrations (PTEs) in soils and plants is essential for understanding environmental quality and potential human exposure in areas affected by intense anthropogenic activity. This study addresses a research gap in the Valencian Region, focusing on soil–plant interactions of PTEs in urban and industrial environments. We assess the status of the soil–plant system in a region of the Valencian Community (eastern Spain) subjected to strong urban, industrial and agricultural pressure. A total of 55 soil samples and 47 plant samples were collected from agricultural, urban and industrial sites and analysed for soil properties, major elements (Al, Mg, Fe) and PTEs (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mn, Ni, Sr, V and Zn). Land use significantly influenced soil physicochemical characteristics, with clear differentiation among environments. Soil texture and organic matter were the main factors controlling element retention, while Al, Fe and Mg dominated the geochemical composition, consistent with Mediterranean calcareous soils. Correlation analyses revealed strong co-occurrence patterns among lithogenic elements (e.g., Fe-Al, r = 0.917 p < 0.01), soil texture and chemical properties, indicating a shared origin and preferential retention in the fine fraction and soil organic matter. Contamination indices identified potential environmental risk mainly associated with Cu, Pb, Sr and Zn, particularly in densely populated areas. Mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were, respectively, 0.63 mg kg⁻¹, 42.25 mg kg⁻¹, 31.49 mg kg⁻¹, 56.91 mg kg⁻¹ and 76.08 mg kg⁻¹. These elements exceeded Spanish regulatory reference values in several soils. Bioaccumulation indices indicated notable plant uptake of As, Sr and Zn, highlighting their potential for trophic transfer. Full article

This study analyzed the spatiotemporal dynamics of the vegetation ecological quality under climate change. Focusing on the vegetation conditions, a vegetation ecological quality index was constructed, expressing as the product of vegetation fraction cover (VFC), net primary productivity (NPP), and geographic coverage area. The results of trend and significance analysis showed that from 2000 to 2023, the VEQI in the Qinling Mountains exhibited a significant improvement, with an average slope of 4.91 gC·a⁻¹ and 96.2% of the area showing high stable improvement. Partial correlation analysis revealed that precipitation had a stronger positive influence on VEQI than temperature, with over 98% of the area showing a positive correlation with precipitation, while temperature was positively correlated in 95.0% of the area but negatively correlated in high-altitude mountain zones. Therefore, four climate-driven patterns were identified: precipitation-driven (31.2%), temperature-driven (2.3%), co-driven (54.2%), and climate-stable (12.3%), suggesting that vegetation ecological quality in most regions is co-driven by both temperature and precipitation. Based on the results of trend and significance analysis and climate-driven patterns, the Qinling Mountains were divided into three ecological risk zones: low-risk (36.1%), middle-risk (56.9%), and high-risk (7.0%), with corresponding differentiated control measures proposed. Full article

Quantum dot (QD)-based color conversion layers are key components in QD-OLED displays because they can provide high color purity and simplified pixel architectures by converting blue emission from OLEDs into red or green light. The performance of the color conversion layer strongly depends on the blue light absorption, blue leakage, and overall emission efficiency of the display. We fabricated the color conversion layers using a thermally curable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix, and their color conversion characteristics were systematically compared with those of QD-only layers. In the QD-only layers, the intensity of the converted green emission increased with increasing QD concentration due to enhanced absorption of blue light emitted from the OLED. However, a large fraction of blue light was transmitted through the layer without being absorbed by the QDs, resulting in a significant blue leakage and a relatively low output/input efficiency below 10%. In contrast, PDMS-based QD color conversion layers exhibited substantially improved color conversion characteristics. By varying the QD concentration and controlling the layer thickness, blue leakage was significantly suppressed and the green emission intensity increased. The maximum color conversion efficiency of 30.0% was obtained at a QD concentration of 8.3 wt% with a layer thickness of 35.9 µm. Full article

Growing evidence implicates neuroinflammation, gut-derived endotoxemia, and dysregulated lipid metabolism in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the relationships among circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS-handling proteins, systemic inflammatory activation, and lipid fractions remain insufficiently characterized. The aim of this study was to compare LPS levels, LPS-related inflammatory mediators, and plasma lipid parameters between PD patients and matched controls, and to explore correlations among these biomarkers. Twenty PD patients and twenty matched controls underwent fasting venous sampling. Circulating LPS, lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) were quantified via LAL assay and ELISAs. Serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), phospholipids (PLs), HDL-PLs and triacylglycerols (TAGs) were assessed using validated biochemical techniques. LPS concentrations did not differ between groups. However, PD patients showed elevated sCD14 and hsCRP levels, reduced LBP, and increased PLTP. Lipid profiling revealed lower total cholesterol and reduced HDL-associated cholesterol and phospholipids in PD, while TAG levels remained unchanged. Correlation analyses indicated coordinated associations between inflammatory markers and lipid fractions, with distinct interaction patterns in PD compared with controls. These findings support a mechanistic interplay among endotoxemia, innate immune activation, and lipid dysregulation in the pathophysiology of PD. Full article

As a core load-bearing component, the aero-engine rear cooling plate requires its design to simultaneously meet strength requirements and lightweight indicators. The topology optimization method considering stress constraints is the core technical path to achieve this goal, but it suffers from insufficient control precision in key areas, easily leading to material redundancy. To address this issue, a partitioned topology optimization method based on the multi-feature K-means algorithm is proposed. First, by integrating multi-dimensional features including element stress, physical density, and spatial position, an innovative multi-feature K-means algorithm is employed to realize dynamic adaptive partitioning during the optimization process. Secondly, combined with the p-norm method for partitioned stress aggregation, a precise prediction and control method for partitioned stress is adopted to refine stress constraints. Thirdly, a topology optimization model of the rear cooling plate with multi-feature partitioned stress constraints is constructed, and the adjoint method is used to solve the stress sensitivities under centrifugal loads. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified using the rear cooling plate model. The rear cooling plate is discretized with 0.5 mm 2D axisymmetric finite elements, the filter radius is 4 mm, and the Method of Moving Asymptotes (MMA) is employed for the solution. The mass fraction of the finally optimized rear cooling plate structure is 0.157, which is 13.7% lower than that obtained by the global stress constraint method and 11.3% lower than that obtained by the topology optimization method considering both the geometric partitioned stress constraints and global stress constraints. The proposed method provides a new approach for the lightweight design of the aero-engine rear cooling plate. Full article

A sustainable polymer-based filtration control system was developed for high-temperature, high-density water-based drilling fluids. The system’s rheological stability, filtration performance, and filter cake properties were evaluated under varying conditions of temperature, salinity, and density. The drilling fluid density ranged from 1.80 to 2.20 g/cm³, the temperature from 25 to 150 °C, and the NaCl mass fraction w(NaCl) = 5–20%. The results indicated that increasing fluid density resulted in a progressive increase in apparent and plastic viscosities (from 42.6/28.4 mPa·s to 65.1/47.9 mPa·s), while the yield point remained relatively stable (14.2–17.2 Pa), suggesting that high solid loading enhanced viscous dissipation without inducing structural stiffening. Filtration loss increased moderately with temperature (6.8–12.3 mL at 25–150 °C) and salinity (6.8–10.7 mL at w(NaCl) = 5–20%), whereas it decreased significantly with increasing density (13.1–9.4 mL at 1.80–2.20 g/cm³), °C, indicating a density-dominated filtration regime. At 120 °C, w(NaCl) = 12%, and 2.00 g/cm³, the developed system achieved a low filtration loss of 8.4 mL, outperforming three representative conventional filtration-control systems, including starch-based, sulfonated asphalt-based, and polymer-based technologies. Filter cake analysis revealed that increasing density facilitated the packing of multi-scale solids, reducing filter cake thickness from 1.62 mm to 0.98 mm and permeability from 1.34 × 10⁻¹⁵–4.05 × 10⁻¹⁶ m², while significantly improving resistance to erosion and compression. These findings demonstrate that the combination of interfacial stabilization and filter cake densification offers a robust and controllable filtration solution for high-temperature, high-density drilling environments, presenting a promising approach for drilling fluid systems in challenging conditions. Full article

The global shift toward decentralized generation has established standalone energy supply systems as a vital solution for remote regions. However, the integration of intermittent renewable sources and the inherent lack of rotational inertia in power electronic interfaces create significant challenges for frequency stability. This study addresses these issues by introducing an original Two-Tier Fractional-Order PID (TTFOPID) controller designed for robust Load Frequency Control (LFC) in a hybrid system comprising solar, diesel, biodiesel, and battery energy storage (BESS). The research utilizes the Multi-Objective Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (MOICA), enhanced with an attractive and repulsive assimilation phase, to navigate the high-dimensional parameter space. A unique framework is established to simultaneously tune controller gains and high-level system parameters, specifically BESS sizing and droop settings. Results demonstrate that the MOICA-tuned TTFOPID provides superior performance, achieving a 72% improvement in the Integral of Time-Weighted Absolute Error (ITAE) compared to NSGA-II and a 56% improvement in the Integral of the Square of Control (ISC) compared to MOPSO. Furthermore, robustness analysis validates the controller’s stability against significant parametric variations. The study concludes that the integrated TTFOPID-MOICA approach provides a superior pathway for stabilizing autonomous energy supply systems while protecting hardware longevity through optimized control effort. Full article

Bottom sediments in anthropogenically impacted freshwater systems represent a dynamic and poorly constrained source of secondary pollution, where heavy metal mobility, rather than total concentration, controls the release of contaminants into the water column under changing physicochemical conditions. This issue is particularly pronounced in small and medium-sized freshwater systems subjected to sustained anthropogenic pressure, where local hydrochemical conditions and sediment composition strongly influence metal speciation and remobilization dynamics. This study aims to quantitatively assess heavy metal speciation, mobility, and associated ecological risk in bottom sediments of anthropogenically impacted freshwater systems using complementary analytical approaches. The data obtained indicate a pronounced spatial heterogeneity in the total metal content, due to varying degrees of anthropogenic impact on the water bodies. The highest level of pollution was recorded in the bottom sediments of the Chizhovskoye reservoir, where Zn concentrations reach 755 mg/kg, Cr—379 mg/kg, Ni—106 mg/kg, and Cu—158 mg/kg, indicating intense technogenic influence. The bottom sediments of the Loshitsa River are characterized by elevated, but less extreme values: the content of Cu is up to 77 mg/kg, Zn—up to 263 mg/kg, and Mn—up to 418 mg/kg. In contrast to urbanized water bodies, the background site—Lake Sergeevskoye—is characterized by significantly lower concentrations of heavy metals, which confirms its representativeness as a control object. Analysis of the fractional composition showed that Zn and Mn have the largest share of mobile forms, with their concentrations in the mobile phase reaching 12–92 mg/kg and 60–116 mg/kg, respectively, especially under conditions of increased anthropogenic load. A significant portion of Cu and Zn (up to 60–70% of the total content) is associated with organic matter, indicating the important role of the organic matrix in retaining metals and their potential mobilization under changing environmental conditions. Calculation of the geoaccumulation index showed that most of the studied bottom sediments belong to the from uncontaminated to moderately contaminated class, while for Cr and Ni in the Chizhovskoye reservoir, I_geo values up to 1.9 are characteristic, corresponding to a moderate level of pollution. The results obtained indicate a significant impact of anthropogenic load on the forms of occurrence and mobility of heavy metals and highlight the role of bottom sediments as an active factor in the secondary pollution of freshwater ecosystems. Full article

Light-responsive hydrogel-based oscillators typically exhibit small oscillation amplitudes because solvent diffusion is intrinsically slow, and their dependence on external periodic light modulation further results in limited amplitude, poor stability, and insufficient autonomy. Inspired by the trigger and sliding mechanism of the ancient crossbow, this study introduces an innovative system that integrates a sliding-block mechanism with time-delay feedback, breaking from conventional approaches that rely on hydrogel inertia or external modulation, within a purely theoretical and simulation-based framework. By establishing a nonlinear dynamic model coupling solvent diffusion, photoisomerization, and optical attenuation, this research shows through numerical simulations that the system can exhibit two distinct modes under constant illumination: a stable state and a self-sustained oscillatory state. The model predicts that the oscillation frequency can be flexibly tuned by varying key parameters, including the crosslinking density, Flory–Huggins interaction parameters of the spiropyran and hydrophilic polymer, ring-opening reaction rate, light intensity, fraction of light-sensitive molecules, and sliding displacement, whereas the initial absorption coefficient has only a minor influence. The slider displacement is also identified as an effective means to regulate the oscillation amplitude. Furthermore, the expansion force at the container bottom is predicted to oscillate synchronously with the hydrogel’s volume change. This theoretical framework represents a paradigm shift from “static small deformation” to “dynamic large-amplitude oscillation”, significantly enhancing the mechanical responsiveness of the material. This work provides a novel and controllable strategy for the conceptual design of autonomous light-driven micromechanical systems. Full article

Mineral substrates for indoor horticulture systems critically determine plant water availability and irrigation demand. However, integrative assessments linking pore structure, water retention, and evaporation dynamics of commonly used mineral growing media remain scarce. A total of nine distinct mineral substrates were investigated: expanded clay, expanded slate, pumice, perlite, zeolite, vermiculite, lava granules, brick chips, and clay granules. To assess the impact of granulometry, pumice was tested in three different grain sizes (1–3 mm, 4–7 mm, 7–14 mm), resulting in a total of 11 experimental samples. Samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), suction experiments, and evaporation tests at 30%, 50%, and 70% relative humidity (RH) at 23 °C. Bulk density ranged from <0.12 g·cm⁻³ (perlite, vermiculite) to >0.99 g·cm⁻³ (zeolite, brick chips), while volumetric water content varied from 11.0 vol.% (expanded clay) to 46.6 vol.% (vermiculite). Plant-available water content (AWC) ranged from 2.7 vol.% (expanded clay) to 30.9 vol.% (clay granules). These results demonstrate that pore interconnectivity, rather than total porosity, is the decisive driver of hydraulic performance. Finer pumice fractions increased water retention by ~16% compared to coarser fractions. All substrates exhibited a two-phase evaporation profile, with initial rates ranging from 1.9 to 5.6 g·h⁻¹ at 30% RH. Clay granules showed the most temporally stable evaporation, with only a 37% rate reduction over 48 h, compared to 66% for perlite. While conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, these findings provide a quantitative basis for targeted substrate selection and blending to optimize root-zone hydration, irrigation efficiency, and hygrothermal performance in permanent indoor horticulture systems. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) and metals frequently co-occur in aquatic environments, yet their combined effects on gut health and antimicrobial resistance in fish remain poorly understood. This study investigated the chronic effects of polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) microplastics, alone or combined with copper (Cu), on intestinal integrity, the gut-associated Gram-negative cultivable fraction, and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Fish were exposed for 21 days to MPs (1 mg/L), Cu (25 µg/L), or their combinations. Histopathological analysis revealed that Cu-containing treatments induced more severe intestinal alterations, including edema, villus degeneration, and necrosis, whereas MPs-only exposures produced milder and heterogeneous responses. The composition of the Gram-negative cultivable fraction varied among treatments, with Cu, particularly in combination with MPs, associated with a broader occurrence of opportunistic and potentially pathogenic taxa. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed a high prevalence of multidrug resistance across treatments, with broader resistance spectra observed in Cu-containing exposures, consistent with metal-driven co-selection. In contrast, MPs alone did not systematically increase resistance and, for some antibiotics, showed resistance levels comparable to or lower than controls. Integrated multivariate analyses indicated that intestinal pathology and antimicrobial resistance co-varied along gradients of overall stress severity and stressor type, with Cu acting as the dominant driver and MPs exerting a modulatory, context-dependent influence. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of integrated assessments of gut pathology, microbial composition, and antimicrobial resistance to better understand the ecological and One Health implications of combined microplastic–metal exposure in aquatic systems. Full article

This study investigates the impacts of algogenic organic matter (AOM) distribution characteristics, specifically molecular weight (MW) and hydrophobicity, on the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) derived from Microcystis aeruginosa. This study focuses on both extracellular organic matter (EOM) and intracellular organic matter (IOM) and their contributions to DBP formation. AOM was divided into 12 fractions based on MW and hydrophobicity (transphilic, hydrophilic, and hydrophobic fractions). The results reveal that the hydrophobic fraction (HPO) contributes the most to IOM, while low-MW (<1 kDa) and high-MW (>100 kDa) organic matter are the main components of AOM. An analysis of fluorescent species indicates that humic acid-like and fulvic acid-like compounds derived from the hydrophilic fraction (HPI) of EOM and the hydrophobic fraction (HPO) of IOM are the dominant low-MW (<1 kDa) species. Additionally, aromatic proteins derived from HPO in both EOM and IOM are the dominant high-MW (>100 kDa) fluorescent species. This suggests that proteins or polysaccharides are the primary adsorbents on the membrane during ultrafiltration (UF), while the humic acid component is not significantly deposited. Furthermore, this study identifies that the >100 kDa HPO in IOM serves as the main precursor for trichloromethane (TCM), trichloroacetic acid (TCAA), and dichloroacetic acid (DCAA). In EOM, the precursor for the highest TCMFP (63.6 µg/mg-C) is the >100 kDa HPI, while the highest contribution to TCM (21%) is from the >100 kDa HPO. These findings provide crucial information for controlling DBPs derived from AOM through membrane filtration, particularly in eutrophic water environments. Full article