Search Results (4,429)

Edge cracking severely limits the rolling yield of magnesium alloy plates. A novel lattice severe deformation rolling (LSDR) process using corrugated rolls is proposed to suppress edge cracking. Numerical simulations, rolling experiments, and microstructural analyses were conducted, with results compared to conventional flat rolling (FR), to elucidate the suppression mechanism. LSDR induces a multi-peak stress distribution and restricts metal flow, thereby reducing additional stresses responsible for edge cracking. Deformation heat generated in local severe deformation zones compensates for thermal loss, alleviates the temperature gradient between the plate edge and center, and enhances overall plasticity. According to the Cockcroft–Latham fracture criterion, LSDR effectively limits damage growth and confines damage within a single lattice, suppressing crack propagation, whereas FR produces damage values far exceeding the critical value of 0.43. Furthermore, fine grains formed in severe deformation zones, together with dislocation entanglement induced by twinning, impede crack propagation. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of LSDR and provides a new approach for mitigating edge cracking in rolled metal plates. Full article

The rapid rise in atmospheric CO₂ necessitates strategies for mitigation and valorization. Microalgae offer potential through simultaneous CO₂ capture and production of high-value biomolecules. Five Chlorophyta strains (A–E: Micractinium sp., Chlamydomonas sp., Micractinium sp., Chlorococcum sp., and Chlorella vulgaris) were isolated from temperate waters and soils and tested for growth and biochemical responses under controlled nitrogen availability (low: 0.346 g L⁻¹ nitrate; high: 0.6 g L⁻¹ nitrate + ammonia), carbon supply (low: 0.04% CO₂; high: 4% CO₂), and cultivation systems (batch reactors, fermenters, and varied illumination). Over 14 days, maximum dry biomass was achieved in batch cultivation with CO₂ sparging, low nitrogen, and continuous light, ranging from 1.47 g L⁻¹ (strain A) to 2.67 g L⁻¹ (strain D). Biomass composition varied: proteins, 25–45%; carbohydrates, 20–35%; and lipids, 18–28%. Nitrogen limitation promoted lipid accumulation (e.g., strain D: +40%) with concurrent protein decline (−25%). Chlorophyll a/b displayed strain-specific plasticity; high CO₂ generally increased chlorophyll, while nitrogen stress reduced it up to 50%. Overall, this study demonstrates that locally adapted Chlorophyta strains can achieve high biomass productivity under CO₂ enrichment while allowing for flexible redirection of carbon flux toward lipids, carbohydrates, or pigments through nutrient management. Among the tested isolates, strains D and E emerged as the most promising candidates for integrated CO₂ sequestration and biomass production, while strains B, C, and D showed strong potential for biodiesel feedstock; strain A for carbohydrate valorization; and strain E for chlorophyll extraction. Future research should focus on scale-up validation in pilot photobioreactors under continuous operation, optimization of two-stage cultivation strategies for lipid production, integration with industrial CO₂ point sources, and strain improvement using modern genomics-assisted breeding and genome-editing technologies. These efforts will support the translation of regional microalgal resources into scalable carbon-capture and bioproduct platforms. Full article

This review examines how distinct gut microbial community configurations—characterized by differential enrichment of Bacteroides, Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Lachnospira—may be associated with variations in host redox homeostasis through microbiota-derived metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids, and tryptophan derivatives. These compositional patterns represent reproducible features across populations and correlate with differential disease susceptibility in metabolic disorders. While microbial communities exist along compositional continua rather than discrete clusters, stratification based on dominant patterns offers a pragmatic framework for interpreting large-scale microbiome datasets and guiding precision nutrition interventions. Observational evidence suggests Bacteroides-enriched communities may associate with pro-inflammatory signatures, whereas Prevotella- Ruminococcus, Proteobacteria, Bifidobacterium, and Lachnospira-enriched configurations may exhibit anti-inflammatory or antioxidant characteristics in certain populations. However, inter-population variability and species- and strain-level heterogeneity limit generalization. Condition-dependent effects are exemplified by Prevotella copri, which demonstrates pro-inflammatory responses in specific settings despite beneficial profiles in others. When dysbiosis compromises intestinal barrier integrity, microbial translocation may amplify chronic oxidative stress and immune activation. We evaluate therapeutic potential of beneficial genera including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium while examining the dose-dependent, context-specific, and sometimes paradoxical effects of key metabolites. Microbiota-stratified therapeutic strategies—personalizing dietary, probiotic, or prebiotic interventions to baseline community composition—show promise but remain at proof-of-concept stage. Current evidence derives predominantly from cross-sectional and preclinical studies; prospective interventional trials linking community stratification with oxidative stress biomarkers remain scarce. The community–redox relationships presented constitute a hypothesis-generating framework supported by mechanistic plausibility and observational associations, rather than established causal pathways. Future research should prioritize intervention studies assessing whether aligning therapeutic approaches with baseline microbial configurations improves outcomes in oxidative stress-related metabolic disorders. Full article

Resilience is commonly framed as a psychological trait, yet clinical and experimental evidence demonstrates that resilience failures emerge concurrently across metabolic, endocrine, immune, and cognitive domains. This review examines resilience as a bioenergetic property constrained by how organisms allocate finite metabolic resources under stress. We synthesize evidence from endocrinology, mitochondrial biology, immunometabolism, and stress physiology to propose a parsimonious, hypothesis-driven Energy Allocation System (EAS) in which the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA), thyroid (HPT), and gonadal (HPG) axes are conceptualized as a coordinated energy-governance network. Despite extensive investigation within these individual fields, the literature lacks an integrative physiological framework explaining why multisystem stress responses co-occur in predictable endocrine and metabolic patterns. Within this framework, mitochondrial reserve capacity serves as the limiting substrate through which hormonal signals regulate mobilization, metabolic pacing, immune tolerance, and recovery. The reviewed literature supports predictable patterns of endocrine reorganization during energetic strain, including prioritization of glucocorticoid-mediated mobilization, constrained thyroid hormone activation, suppression of long-term anabolic investment, and impaired recovery following stress. These configurations reflect adaptive energy-conserving strategies rather than isolated organ dysfunction. The novelty of this review lies in organizing established biological mechanisms into a unified, energy-allocation-based framework that generates falsifiable predictions linking endocrine coordination to bioenergetic capacity and recovery dynamics. We further discuss how routinely available biomarkers and validated psychometric measures can be interpreted as functional readouts of energetic allocation rather than static disease markers. Framing resilience through coordinated energy governance offers a unifying mechanistic lens for interpreting multisystem stress responses and generates testable predictions for future experimental and clinical investigation. Full article

Pinus sylvestris essential oil (PSEO) has gained increasing interest as a natural anticancer candidate due to its bioactive phytochemical composition and potential to modulate apoptosis-related pathways. In this study, the chemical profile of PSEO was characterized by GC-MS, revealing oxygenated monoterpenes and monoterpene hydrocarbons as dominant constituents. Human brain (U-87MG) and peripheral nervous system (SH-SY5Y) tumor cells were treated with PSEO to evaluate cytotoxicity and mechanistic responses. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, and 24-h IC₅₀ values were determined as 47.93 µg/100 µL for U-87MG and 71.63 µg/100 µL for SH-SY5Y, which were subsequently used for all mechanistic analyses. IC₅₀ exposure significantly increased intracellular ROS generation while reducing total antioxidant status, indicating oxidative stress-mediated cytotoxicity. Apoptosis-related ELISA assays demonstrated increased caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity, upregulated Bax, decreased Bcl-2, and a lowered Bcl-2/Bax ratio, collectively supporting the activation of the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Molecular docking provided in silico evidence of favorable binding interactions between selected PSEO-associated ligands and apoptotic targets, consistent with experimentally observed biochemical outcomes. Overall, the findings suggest that PSEO exerts dose- and time-dependent anticancer effects and promotes mitochondrial apoptosis in U-87MG and SH-SY5Y cells, supporting its potential as a natural therapeutic candidate. Full article

The intensive cultivation of greenhouse tomatoes generates massive quantities of vegetative residues often laden with potentially complex pesticide contaminants, posing a dual challenge of waste management and environmental toxicity. This study investigated the biological feasibility and system tolerance of valorizing these hazardous residues through vermicomposting with Eisenia fetida, using mixtures of cattle manure and tomato residues (TR) at varying ratios (0–60%) over a 45-day incubation period. The process was monitored through physicochemical parameters (pH, EC, C/N ratio) and sensitive biological indicators (Basal Respiration and Microbial Biomass Carbon). While TR inclusion rates exceeding 30% induced acute inhibitory effects (100% mortality within 5 days) due to acute toxicity, mixtures containing up to 30% were successfully processed. The biological monitoring revealed a distinct “biphasic response”: an initial “metabolic lag phase” (days 0–15) driven by chemical stress, followed by a robust “biological recovery” where microbial activity surged significantly after day 30. Correlation analyses confirmed that this recovery was mechanically linked to the acidification of the substrate, as indicated by strong negative correlations between pH and biological activity (r_s = −0.70). Ultimately, vermicomposting significantly reduced Electrical Conductivity (EC) and lowered the C/N ratio below 15 in all viable treatments, confirming the stabilization of waste into an agronomically mature product. The results demonstrate that the earthworm gut functions as an effective bioreactor, facilitating biological stabilization and the mitigation of toxicity in pesticide-laden biomass. This study concludes that vermicomposting is a robust strategy for converting toxic agro-wastes into a stabilized organic amendment, provided that the residue load is managed within the identified physiological tolerance threshold of 30%. Full article

Sub-internal limiting membrane (sub-ILM) hemorrhage is a distinct preretinal bleeding entity in which blood accumulates between the ILM and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), forming a sharply confined compartment. The ILM’s low permeability and lack of immune cell access create a stagnant microenvironment in which erythrocyte lysis leads to the accumulation of hemoglobin, heme, and iron, promoting the generation of reactive oxygen species. This oxidative burden poses a direct risk to retinal ganglion cells and Müller cell endfeet. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) enables precise identification of sub-ILM blood through its characteristic dome-shaped elevation and hyperreflective contents, distinguishing it from subhyaloid and vitreous hemorrhage. Management options include observation, neodymium-doped yttrium–aluminum–garnet (Nd: YAG) laser membranotomy, pneumatic displacement, and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). While small, extrafoveal hemorrhages may resolve spontaneously, prolonged blood entrapment is associated with increased retinal toxicity, tractional changes, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Early intervention generally results in faster clearance and improved visual outcomes, particularly for dense or foveal bleeding. Major gaps remain regarding cellular stress responses, biomarkers that predict irreversible damage, and the optimal timing of intervention. Standardized imaging criteria and evidence-based management algorithms are needed to guide individualized treatment. Full article

Background/Objectives: Carotenoids are pigmented phytochemicals known for their antioxidant properties, known to protect against oxidative damage, especially in the context of intense exercise. The purpose of this paper was to observe and analyze the short-term effects of running a full marathon on skin and plasma carotenoid levels in endurance runners. Methods: This study recruited 24 healthy endurance runners (12 male, 12 female; mean age 37 years) registered for a 26.2-mile marathon. Skin carotenoid (SC) measures were taken via reflection spectroscopy, and plasma carotenoid concentrations (lycopene and β-carotene) were assessed via HPLC at three time points: pre-race, immediately post-race, and 48 h post-race. Changes across time were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: Skin carotenoid levels significantly changed over time, dropping from pre-race to post-race (p < 0.001), reflecting rapid utilization. At 48 h post-race, SC levels rebounded significantly, exceeding baseline measurements (p = 0.019). Plasma lycopene concentrations increased significantly from pre-race to post-race (p = 0.018) and remained elevated at 48 h. Plasma β-carotene concentrations showed no statistically significant change. Conclusions: The significant acute depletion of SC levels immediately following the marathon reflects the rapid utilization of these dermal antioxidants in response to the high oxidative stress generated by intense exercise. The elevation in plasma lycopene may reflect hemoconcentration resulting from intense activity and possible mobilization from tissue stores. The rapid rebound and overshoot in SC levels 48 h after the race are consistent with a recovery pattern of dermal carotenoid levels following acute depletion. Full article

Urban microgrids are evolving into socially coupled energy systems in which prosumer decisions are shaped by both market incentives and peer influence. Conventional optimization approaches overlook this behavioral interdependence and offer limited adaptability under environmental disturbances. This study develops a behaviorally embedded multi-agent optimization framework that integrates social influence propagation with physical power network coordination. Each prosumer’s decision process incorporates economic, comfort, and behavioral components, while a community operator enforces system-wide feasibility. The resulting bilevel structure is formulated as an equilibrium problem with equilibrium constraints (EPEC) and solved using an iterative hierarchical algorithm. A modified 33-bus urban microgrid with 40 socially connected agents is assessed under stochastic wildfire ignition and propagation scenarios to evaluate resilience under hazard-driven uncertainty. Incorporating behavioral responses increases welfare by 11.8%, reduces cost variance by 9.1%, and improves voltage stability by 23% compared with conventional models. Under wildfire stress, socially cohesive agents converge more rapidly and maintain more stable dispatch patterns. The findings highlight the critical role of social topology in shaping both equilibrium behavior and resilience. The framework provides a foundation for socially responsive and hazard-adaptive optimization in next-generation human-centric energy systems. Full article

This review proposes mechanical crosstalk between stromal tension and vascular shear/flow as a unifying principle for integrating fibroblast-populated collagen lattices (FPCLs) with perfusable micro-physiological systems (MPSs). We argue that current in vitro platforms either emphasize fibroblast-driven matrix contraction (as with FPCLs) or flow-mediated vascular dynamics (as with MPSs) but rarely consider the reciprocity between these forces. By defining a mechanobiological framework that couples cellular contractility, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and shear-dependent endothelial responses, we reframe FPCL–MPS hybrids as “living devices” capable of capturing mechano-transduction across stromal and vascular compartments. This review (1) delineates the mechanobiology of FPCLs, highlighting their tension generation, matrix remodeling, and disease relevance; (2) surveys perfusable MPS design principles, focusing on shear stress, barrier function, and multicellular integration; (3) formulates a crosstalk paradigm in which stromal tension and vascular shear coregulate tissue physiology; (4) synthesizes engineering strategies for integrating FPCLs into MPSs; and (5) outlines challenges and future directions involving multiscale measurements, multi-omics, artificial intelligence, and regulatory standardization. To our knowledge, this review is among the first to explicitly frame stromal tension and vascular shear as a unified mechanobiological axis. Full article

Cryopreservation is a critical strategy for the long-term conservation of plant germplasm, particularly for clonally propagated crops, endangered species, and plants producing recalcitrant seeds. Hydrogel-based encapsulation systems can improve survival during ultra-low-temperature storage by providing mechanical protection, moderating dehydration, and regulating cryoprotectant uptake. Although calcium–alginate beads remain the traditional matrix for encapsulation–dehydration and encapsulation–vitrification, recent advances in biomaterials science have enabled the development of composite polysaccharide blends, protein-based matrices, synthetic polymer networks, macroporous cryogels, and functionalized hybrid hydrogels incorporating surfactants, antioxidants, or nanomaterials. These engineered systems provide improved control over water state, pore architecture, diffusion kinetics, and thermal behavior, thereby reducing cryoinjury and enhancing post-thaw recovery across diverse plant explants. This review synthesizes current knowledge on hydrogel platforms used in plant cryopreservation, with emphasis on how physicochemical properties influence dehydration dynamics, cryoprotectant transport, vitrification stability, and rewarming responses. Performance across major explant types is assessed, key limitations in existing materials and protocols are identified, and design principles for next-generation hydrogel systems are outlined. Future progress will depend on material standardization, integration with automated cryopreservation workflows, and the development of responsive hydrogel matrices capable of mitigating cryogenic stresses. Full article

Insulin resistance (IR) is a central driver of cardiometabolic disease and an increasingly recognized modifier of inflammatory and vascular pathology. Beyond impaired glucose homeostasis, IR emerges from chronic, metabolically induced inflammation (“meta-inflammation”) and convergent cellular stress programs that propagate across tissues and organ systems, ultimately shaping endothelial dysfunction, atherogenesis, and cardiometabolic complications. Here, we synthesize multilevel links between insulin receptor signaling, intracellular stress modules (oxidative, endoplasmic reticulum, inflammatory, and fibrotic pathways), tissue-level dysfunction, and systemic inflammatory amplification. This work is a conceptual narrative review informed by targeted database searches and citation tracking, with explicit separation of mechanistic/experimental evidence from human observational and interventional data; causal inferences are framed primarily on mechanistic and interventional findings, whereas associative statements are reserved for observational evidence. We propose an integrative framework in which stress-response pathways are context-dependent and become maladaptive when chronically activated under nutrient excess and persistent inflammatory cues, generating self-reinforcing loops between IR and inflammation that accelerate vascular injury. This framework highlights points of convergence that can guide mechanistic prioritization and translational hypothesis testing. Full article

Hot-forming, as a typical representative forming technology of high-strength steel (HSS), is one of the most effective ways to manufacture structural components for achieving automotive lightweighting goal. In this paper, a newly-developed commercial microalloyed hot-formed steel is selected and its hot-forming is studied by experiments and simulations. The new steel has a wide undercooled austenite region, providing more suitable condition for the manufacturing of one-piece large-sized integrated parts. The high-temperature mechanical behaviors of the investigated steel show that the flow stress obviously decreases with the increase in deformation temperature, and it increases with the increasing strain rate. An integrated component assembly of the rear floor and longitudinal beam is selected as a typical one-piece integrated part when performing the hot-forming simulation to evaluate the formability. The influences of the key process parameters, namely forming velocity and frictional coefficient, on formability are further analyzed. Finally, the Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) method is used to generate the parameter combination and the Response Surface Method (RSM) is adopted in optimization. As a result, an optimal process parameter combination is obtained and its predicted result matches the simulated one very well, with a relative error of only 2.57%. The research results of this paper are favorable for understanding the mechanical behaviors of the hot-formed steel at elevated temperatures, improving the formability and providing a reference for the development of large-sized integrated hot-formed parts. Full article

The fastest growth in electricity demand in the industrialized world will likely come from the broad adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)—accelerated by the rise of generative AI models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The global “data center arms race” is driving up power demand and grid stress, which creates local and regional challenges because people in the area understand that the additional data center-related electricity demand is coming from faraway places, and they will have to support the additional infrastructure while not directly benefiting from it. So, there is an incentive for the data center operators to manage the fast and unpredictable power surges internally so that their loads appear like a constant baseload to the electricity grid. Such high-intensity and short-duration loads can be served by hybrid energy storage systems (HESSs) that combine multiple storage technologies operating across different timescales. This review presents an overview of energy storage technologies, their classifications, and recent performance data, with a focus on their applicability to AI-driven computing. Technical requirements of storage systems, such as fast response, long cycle life, low degradation under frequent micro-cycling, and high ramping capability—which are critical for sustainable and reliable data center operations—are discussed. Based on these requirements, this review identifies lithium titanate oxide (LTO) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries paired with supercapacitors, flywheels, or superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) as the most suitable HESS configurations for AI data centers. This review also proposes AI-specific evaluation criteria, defines key performance metrics, and provides semi-quantitative guidance on power–energy partitioning for HESSs in AI data centers. This review concludes by identifying key challenges, AI-specific research gaps, and future directions for integrating HESSs with on-site generation to optimally manage the high variability in the data center load and build sustainable, low-carbon, and intelligent AI data centers. Full article

Brain diseases such as ischaemic stroke, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and glioma were characterized by high mortality and disability rate, and oxidative stress remains a major obstacle in treatment. Plasma–nanomedicine synergistic treatment technology provides a very attractive treatment strategy based on complementarity. This technology integrates cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) with nanomedicine. CAP produces active substances that regulate oxidative stress, while nanomedicine is specially designed for targeted delivery, controlled release, and microenvironmentally responsive activation of therapeutic agents. This integration generates new therapeutic functions and significantly improves the overall therapeutic effect. Despite the broad prospects of this emerging technology, researchers in the fields of medicine, physics, or pharmacy have not yet paid much attention to it. To fill this research gap, this review describes the physicochemical properties and biological effects of CAP and summarizes the latest advances in plasma nanomedicine strategies in the field of brain disease intervention, and reviews the four major nanomedical categories—metal-based, inorganic non-metallic, polymer-based and hydrogel systems—and their clinical applications in the treatment of brain tumors, strokes and neurodegenerative diseases in conjunction with CAP. Finally, we highlight a number of key challenges—limited resources of special CAP equipment, incomplete understanding of the mechanism, obstacles to transformation application—and put forward the future research direction to promote the development of accurate, safe, and clinical transformation value plasma–nanomedicine therapy for brain diseases. Full article