Search Results (34)

Inland lakes across the United States are increasingly impacted by nutrient pollution, sedimentation, and algal blooms, with significant ecological and economic consequences. While satellite-based monitoring has advanced our ability to assess water quality at scale, many lakes remain analytically underserved due to their spatial heterogeneity and the multivariate nature of pollution dynamics. This study presents an integrated framework for detecting spatiotemporal pollution patterns using satellite remote sensing, trend segmentation, hierarchical clustering and dimensionality reduction. Taking Horseshoe Lake (Illinois), a shallow eutrophic–turbid system, as a case study, we analyzed Sentinel-2 imagery from 2020–2024 to derive chlorophyll-a (NDCI), turbidity (NDTI), and total phosphorus (TP) across five hydrologically distinct zones. Breakpoint detection and modified Mann–Kendall tests revealed both abrupt and seasonal trend shifts, while correlation and hierarchical clustering uncovered inter-zone relationships. To identify lake-wide pollution windows, we applied Kernel PCA to generate a composite pollution index, aligned with the count of increasing trend segments. Two peak pollution periods, late 2022 and late 2023, were identified, with Regions 1 and 5 consistently showing high values across all indicators. Spatial maps linked these hotspots to urban runoff and legacy impacts. The framework captures both acute and chronic stress zones and enables targeted seasonal diagnostics. The approach demonstrates a scalable and transferable method for pollution monitoring in morphologically complex lakes and supports more targeted, region-specific water management strategies. Full article

Elevated chloride (Cl⁻) concentrations in surface water and groundwater are an increasing concern in cold region urban environments, largely due to long-term road salt application. This study investigates the Cl⁻ distribution across southern Ontario, Canada, using geospatial methods to identify contamination hot spots and assess groundwater vulnerability at both regional and watershed scales. Chloride data from 2001 to 2010 and 2011 to 2020 were compiled from public sources and interpolated using inverse distance weighting. A regional-scale vulnerability index was developed using slope (SL), surficial geology (SG), and land use (LU) (SL-SG-LU), and compared it to a more detailed DRASTIC-LU index within the Credit River watershed. Results show that Cl⁻ hot spots are concentrated in urbanized areas, including the Greater Toronto Area and Golden Horseshoe, with some rural zones also exhibiting elevated concentrations. Vulnerability mapping corresponded well with the observed Cl⁻ patterns and highlighted areas at risk for groundwater discharge to surface waters. While the DRASTIC-LU method offered finer resolution, the simplified SL-SG-LU index effectively captured broad vulnerability trends and is suitable for data-limited regions. This work provides a transferable framework for identifying Cl⁻ risk areas and supports long-term monitoring and management strategies in cold climate watersheds. Full article

The prediction of ground deformation during ultra-shallow-buried pilot tunnel construction is critical for urban rail transit projects in complex geological settings, yet existing cross-section models often lack accuracy. This study proposes an enhanced non-uniform convergence model based on stochastic medium theory, which decomposes surface settlement into uniform soil shrinkage and non-uniform initial support deformation. A computational formula for horseshoe-shaped sections is derived and validated through field data from Kunming Rail Transit Phase I, demonstrating a 59% improvement in maximum settlement prediction accuracy (reducing error from 7.5 mm to 3.1 mm) compared to traditional methods. Its application to Beijing Metro Line 13 reveals two distinct deformation patterns: significant ground heave occurs at 2.5 times the tunnel width from the centerline, while maximum settlement concentrates above the excavation center and diminishes radially. To mitigate heave, early strengthening of the secondary lining is recommended to control initial horizontal deformation. These findings enhance prediction reliability and provide actionable insights for deformation control in similar urban tunneling projects, particularly under ultra-shallow burial conditions. Full article

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are a major cause of pediatric renal failure, but the molecular mechanisms driving these conditions are not yet fully understood. Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23) and its co-receptor α-KLOTHO play crucial roles in regulating calcium and phosphate homeostasis in adult kidneys, but their roles in kidney development and the pathogenesis of CAKUT remain unclear. Because of that, we analyzed the spatial and temporal expression of FGF23 and α-KLOTHO in normal fetal kidney development and CAKUT using an immunofluorescence technique. Our results demonstrate a dynamic pattern of FGF23 and α-KLOTHO expression in healthy kidney development, with FGF23 levels decreasing and α-KLOTHO levels increasing with gestational age. Also, we showed that FGF23 expression was significantly reduced in horseshoe (HKs) and duplex kidneys (DKs), while α-KLOTHO expression remained unchanged across all CAKUT conditions. Based on our results, we suggest that altered FGF23 expression in CAKUT contributes to disease pathogenesis and may represent a potential therapeutic target. Full article

Background/Objectives: The human kallikrein-related peptidase 6 (KLK6), a serine protease with trypsin-like properties, belongs to the 15-member kallikrein (KLK) gene family and is predominantly recognized for its role in oncogenesis, neurodegenerative disorders, and skin conditions. Aquaporins (AQPs) are integral membrane proteins that facilitate water transport across cell membranes. AQP1 is constitutively active in the kidneys and plays a crucial role in reabsorbing filtered water, while AQP2 is regulated by vasopressin and is essential for maintaining body fluid homeostasis. The primary objective of the present study is to investigate the spatio-temporal expression patterns of KLK6, AQP1, and AQP2 throughout normal human nephrogenesis and congenital kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) abnormalities: duplex kidneys, horseshoe kidneys, and dysplastic kidneys. Methods: An immunofluorescence analysis of KLK6, AQP1, and AQP2 was performed on 37 paraffin-embedded fetal kidney samples. The area percentage of KLK6 in the kidney cortex was calculated in normal developing samples during developmental phases 2, 3, and 4 and compared with CAKUT samples. Results: KLK6 exhibits distinct spatiotemporal expression patterns during human kidney development, with consistent localization in proximal tubules. Its subcellular positioning shifts from the basolateral cytoplasm in early phases to the apical cytoplasm in later stages, which may be strategically positioned to act on its substrate in either the peritubular space or the tubular fluid. KLK6 expression followed a quadratic trajectory, peaking at Ph4. This marked increase in the final developmental phase aligns with its strong expression in mature kidneys, suggesting a potential role in proximal tubule differentiation and functional maturation through facilitating extracellular matrix remodeling and activating proteinase-activated receptors, modulating the signaling pathways that are essential for tubular development. In duplex kidneys, structural abnormalities such as ureteral obstruction and hydronephrosis may upregulate KLK6 as part of a reparative response, while its downregulation could impair epithelial remodeling and cytoskeletal integrity, exacerbating dysplastic phenotypes. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of KLK6 involvement in normal kidney development and the pathology of CAKUT. Full article

This paper proposes an underwater image enhancement technology based on an artificial lateral inhibition network (ALIN) generated in the compound eye of a bionic horseshoe crab robot (BHCR). The concept of a horizontal suppression network is applied to underwater image processing with the aim of achieving low energy consumption, high efficiency processing, and adaptability to limited computing resources. The lateral inhibition network has the effect of “enhancing the center and suppressing the surroundings”. In this paper, a pattern recognition algorithm is used to compare and analyze the images obtained by an artificial lateral inhibition network and eight main underwater enhancement algorithms (white balance, histogram equalization, multi-scale Retinex, and dark channel). Therefore, we can evaluate the application of the artificial lateral inhibition network in underwater image enhancement and the deficiency of the algorithm. The experimental results show that the ALIN plays an obvious role in enhancing the important information in underwater image processing technology. Compared with other algorithms, this algorithm can effectively improve the contrast between the highlight area and the shadow area in underwater image processing, solve the problem that the information of the characteristic points of the collected image is not prominent, and achieve the unique effect of suppressing the intensity of other pixel points without information. Finally, we conduct target recognition verification experiments to assess the ALIN’s performance in identifying targets underwater with the BHCR in static water environments. The experiments confirm that the BHCR can maneuver underwater using multiple degrees of freedom (MDOF) and successfully acquire underwater targets. Full article

Mammals may experience physical changes from birth, and their diet varies at different stages of life. This study investigates the impact of development on the diet composition of three horseshoe bats: Rhinolophus euryale, R. hipposideros, and R. ferrumequinum in the Basque Country, north of the Iberian Peninsula. The diets of juvenile and adult individuals of each species were obtained by analysing their droppings using metabarcoding and then compared at (1) the taxonomic and (2) prey trait levels (size, flying speed, hardness). The diets of juvenile and adult individuals of R. euryale and R. hipposideros showed significant differences at the taxonomic level and regarding prey traits. In contrast, in the case of R. ferrumequinum, we could only observe discernible diet patterns through the trait analysis. Additionally, we discovered a shared pattern: younger individuals tend to feed on easier-to-hunt and/or handle smaller and smoother prey. The varying degrees of dissimilarity between juvenile and adult diets observed in this study suggest that the relative importance of psychomotor development, foraging strategies, prey discrimination, and/or spatial learning may differ among species. These findings contribute to conservation efforts, especially by recognising the dietary needs of juveniles for their survival and successful development. Full article

Investigating different pier shapes and debris Finteractions in scour patterns is vital for understanding the risks to bridge stability. This study investigates the impact of different shapes of pier and debris interactions on scour patterns using numerical simulations with flow-3D and controlled laboratory experiments. The model setup is rigorously calibrated against a physical flume experiment, incorporating a steady-state flow as the initial condition for sediment transport simulations. The Fractional Area/Volume Obstacle Representation (FAVOR) technique and the renormalized group (RNG) turbulence model enhance the simulation’s precision. The numerical results indicate that pier geometry is a critical factor influencing the scour depth. Among the tested shapes, square piers exhibit the most severe scour, with depths reaching 5.8 cm, while lenticular piers show the least scour, with a maximum depth of 2.5 cm. The study also highlights the role of horseshoe, wake, and shear layer vortices in determining scour locations, with varying impacts across different pier shapes. The Q-criterion study identified debris-induced vortex generation and intensification. The debris amount, thickness, and pier diameter (T/Y) significantly affect the scouring patterns. When dealing with high wedge (HW) debris, square piers have the largest scour depth at T/Y = 0.25, while lenticular piers exhibit a lower scour. When debris is present, the scour depth rises at T/Y = 0.5. Depending on the form of the debris, a significant fluctuation of up to 5 cm was reported. There are difficulties in precisely estimating the scour depth under complicated circumstances because of the disparity between numerical simulations and actual data, which varies from 6% for square piers with a debris relative thickness T/Y = 0.25 to 32% for cylindrical piers with T/Y = 0.5. The study demonstrates that while flow-3D simulations align reasonably well with the experimental data under a low debris impact, discrepancies increase with more complex debris interactions and higher submersion depths, particularly for cylindrical piers. The novelty of this work lies in its comprehensive approach to evaluating the effects of different pier shapes and debris interactions on scour patterns, offering new insights into the effectiveness of flow-3D simulations in predicting the scour patterns under varying conditions. Full article

The Late Cretaceous of Western North America (Laramidia) supported a diverse dinosaur fauna, with duckbilled dinosaurs (Hadrosauridae) being among the most speciose and abundant members of this assemblage. Historically, collecting and preservational biases have meant that dinosaurs from Mexico and the American Southwest are poorly known compared to those of the northern Great Plains. However, evidence increasingly suggests that distinct species and clades inhabited southern Laramidia. Here, a new kritosaurin hadrosaurid, represented by the anterior part of a skull, is reported from the late Campanian of the Cerro del Pueblo Formation, ~72.5 Ma, in Coahuila, Mexico. The Cerro del Pueblo Formation kritosaur was originally considered to represent the same species as a saurolophine from the Olmos Formation of Sabinas, but the Sabinas hadrosaur is now considered a distinct taxon. More recently, the Cerro del Pueblo Formation kritosaur has been referred to Kritosaurus navajovius. We show it represents a new species related to Gryposaurus. The new species is distinguished by its large size, the shape of the premaxillary nasal process, the strongly downturned dentary, and massive denticles on the premaxilla’s palatal surface, supporting recognition of a new taxon, Coahuilasaurus lipani. The dinosaur assemblage of the Cerro del Pueblo Formation shows higher diversity than the contemporaneous fauna of the Horseshoe Canyon Formation in Alberta. Furthermore, Kritosaurini, Lambeosaurini, and Parasaurolophini all persist into the latest Campanian in southern Laramidia after disappearing from northern Laramidia. These patterns suggest declining herbivore diversity seen at high latitudes may be a local, rather than global phenomenon, perhaps driven by cooling at high latitudes in the Late Campanian and Maastrichtian. Full article

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spatiotemporal immunoexpression pattern of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta (LC3B), glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2A (LAMP2A) in normal human fetal kidney development (CTRL) and kidneys affected with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). Human fetal kidneys (control, horseshoe, dysplastic, duplex, and hypoplastic) from the 18th to the 38th developmental week underwent epifluorescence microscopy analysis after being stained with antibodies. Immunoreactivity was quantified in various kidney structures, and expression dynamics were examined using linear and nonlinear regression modeling. The punctate expression of LC3B was observed mainly in tubules and glomerular cells, with dysplastic kidneys displaying distinct staining patterns. In the control group’s glomeruli, LAMP2A showed a sporadic, punctate signal; in contrast to other phenotypes, duplex kidneys showed significantly stronger expression in convoluted tubules. GRP78 had a weaker expression in CAKUT kidneys, especially hypoplastic ones, while normal kidneys exhibited punctate staining of convoluted tubules and glomeruli. HSP70 staining varied among phenotypes, with dysplastic and hypoplastic kidneys exhibiting stronger staining compared to controls. Expression dynamics varied among observed autophagy markers and phenotypes, indicating their potential roles in normal and dysfunctional kidney development. Full article

Bio-inspired flexible pillar-like wind-hairs show promise for the future of flying by feel by detecting critical flow events on an aerofoil during flight. To be able to characterise specific flow disturbances from the response of such sensors, quantitative PIV measurements of such flow-disturbance patterns were compared with sensor outputs under controlled conditions. Experiments were performed in a flow channel with an aerofoil equipped with a 2D array of such sensors when in uniform inflow conditions compared to when a well-defined gust was introduced upstream and was passing by. The gust was generated through the sudden deployment of a row of flaps on the suction side of a symmetric wing that was placed upstream of the aerofoil with the sensors. The resulting flow disturbance generated a starting vortex with two legs, which resembled a horseshoe-type vortex shed into the wake. Under the same tunnel conditions, PIV measurements were taken downstream of the gust generator to characterise the starting vortex, while further measurements were taken with the sensing pillars on the aerofoil in the same location. The disturbance pattern was compared to the pillar response to demonstrate the potential of flow-sensing pillars. It was found that the pillars could detect the arrival time and structural pattern of the flow disturbance, showing the characteristics of the induced flow field of the starting vortex when passing by. Therefore, such sensor arrays can detect the “footprint” of disturbances as temporal and spatial signatures, allowing us to distinguish those from others or noise. Full article

To protect turbine endwall from heat damage of hot exhaust gas, film cooling is the most significant method. The complex vortex structures on the endwall, such as the development of horseshoe vortices and transverse flow, affects cooling coverage on the endwall. In this study, the effects of gas thermophysical properties on full-range endwall film cooling of a turbine vane are investigated. Three kinds of gas thermophysical properties models are considered, i.e., the constant property gas model, ideal gas model, and real gas model, with six full-range endwall film cooling holes patterns based on different distribution principles. From the results, when gas thermophysical properties are considered, the coolant coverage in the pressure side (PS)-vane junction region is improved in Pattern B, Pattern D, Pattern E, and Pattern F, which are respectively designed based on the passage middle gap, limiting streamlines, heat transfer coefficients (HTCs), and four-holes pattern. Endwall η distribution is mainly determined by relative ratio of ejecting velocity and density of the hot gas and the coolant. For the cooling holes on the endwall with an injection angle of 30°, the density ratio is more dominant in determining the coolant coverage. At the injection angle of 45°, i.e., the slot region, the ejecting velocity is more dominant in determining the coolant coverage. When the ejecting velocity Is large enough from the slot, the coolant coverage on the downstream endwall region is also improved. Full article

As a major mediator of cellular response to viral infection in mammals, Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) was proved to respond to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). However, the molecular mechanism by which TLR3 functions in the viral infection response in teleosts remains to be investigated. In this study, the Toll-like receptor 3 gene of the hybrid yellow catfish was identified and characterized by comparative genomics. Furthermore, multiple sequence alignment, genomic synteny and phylogenetic analysis suggested that the homologous TLR3 genes were unique to teleosts. Gene structure analysis showed that five exons and four introns were common components of TLR3s in the 12 examined species, and interestingly the third exon in teleosts was the same length of 194 bp. Genomic synteny analysis indicated that TLR3s were highly conserved in various teleosts, with similar organizations of gene arrangement. De novo predictions showed that TLR3s were horseshoe-shaped in multiple taxa except for avian (with a round-shaped structure). Phylogenetic topology showed that the evolution of TLR3 was consistent with the evolution of the studied species. Selection analysis showed that the evolution rates of TLR3 proteins were usually higher than those of TLR3-TIR domains, indicating that the latter were more conserved. Tissue distribution analysis showed that TLR3s were widely distributed in the 12 tested tissues, with the highest transcriptions in liver and intestine. In addition, the transcription levels of TLR3 were significantly increased in immune-related tissues after infection of exogenous Aeromonas hydrophila and poly (I:C). Molecular docking showed that TLR3 in teleosts forms a complex with poly (I:C). In summary, our present results suggest that TLR3 is a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) gene in the immune response to pathogen infections in hybrid yellow catfish. Full article

The athletic performance and safety of racehorses is influenced by hoof–surface interactions. This intervention study assessed the effect of eight horseshoe–surface combinations on hoof acceleration patterns at impact and foot-off in 13 galloping Thoroughbred racehorses retired from racing. Aluminium, barefoot, GluShu (aluminium–rubber composite) and steel shoeing conditions were trialled on turf and artificial (Martin Collins Activ-Track) surfaces. Shod conditions were applied across all four hooves. Tri-axial accelerometers (SlamStickX, range ±500 g, sampling rate 5000 Hz) were attached to the dorsal hoof wall (x: medio-lateral, medial = positive; y: along dorsal hoof wall, proximal = positive; and z: perpendicular to hoof wall, dorsal = positive). Linear mixed models assessed whether surface, shoeing condition or stride time influenced maximum (most positive) or minimum (most negative) accelerations in x, y and z directions, using ≥40,691 strides (significance at p < 0.05). Day and horse–rider pair were included as random factors, and stride time was included as a covariate. Collective mean accelerations across x, y and z axes were 22–98 g at impact and 17–89 g at foot-off. The mean stride time was 0.48 ± 0.07 s (mean ±2 SD). Impact accelerations were larger on turf in all directions for forelimbs and hindlimbs (p ≤ 0.015), with the exception of the forelimb z-minimum, and in absolute terms, maximum values were typically double the minimum values. The surface type affected all foot-off accelerations (p ≤ 0.022), with the exception of the hindlimb x-maximum; for example, there was an average increase of 17% in z-maximum across limbs on the artificial track. The shoeing condition influenced all impact and foot-off accelerations in the forelimb and hindlimb datasets (p ≤ 0.024), with the exception of the hindlimb impact y-maximum. Barefoot hooves generally experienced the lowest accelerations. The stride time affected all impact and foot-off accelerations (p < 0.001). Identifying factors influencing hoof vibrations upon landing and hoof motion during propulsion bears implication for injury risk and racing outcomes. Full article

Finned tubes increase the convective heat transfer in heat exchangers, reducing the total energy consumption of integrated industrial processes. Due to its stability and robustness, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) commercial software is generally utilized for analyzing complex systems; however, its licensing is expensive. Nowadays, open-source software is a viable substitute for proprietary software. This work presents a CFD analysis of the hydrodynamics of a finned tube using the OpenFOAM and SALOME Meca platforms. The results are compared with experimental data and CFD using the commercial software Fluent, both previously reported in the open literature. This work studies the fluid flow pattern around a tube with six 45-degree-angled fins, and the working fluid, air, is considered as an incompressible fluid. Special attention is paid to calculating the pressure coefficient distribution for the internal and external surfaces of the inclined fins. Open-source platforms allow researchers to visualize how the airflow interacts with the cylinder and the fin surfaces to form a fluid structure, formerly known as a horseshoe vortex system. The findings of the analysis of flow dynamics in the channel between inclined fins and in the wake help explain the results obtained in experimental tests and are relevant for the configuration of a bank of tubes with inclined fins. Full article