Search Results (3,439)

In response to the significant challenges posed by ice accumulation and contamination from various fluids in complex operating conditions for metallic materials, this study utilises picosecond laser precision machining to develop a ‘slippery surface’ featuring a micro-channel network structure. The core innovation of this study lies in the use of laser-machined micrometre-scale array textures to overcome the limitations of traditional isolated pores. These globally interconnected micro-channels serve as highly efficient reservoirs and dynamic transport channels for lubricants, significantly enhancing the interfacial capillary locking force of the lubricant. Experimental results demonstrate that this unique network geometry endows the surface with exceptional fluid replenishment and self-healing properties, enabling it to exhibit outstanding broad-spectrum hydrophobicity towards various fluids—including water, crude oil and ethanol (surface tension range: 17.9–72.0 mN m⁻¹)—with sliding angles consistently below 12°, whilst effectively slowing the dehydration and solidification processes of biological fluids. At a low temperature of −15 °C, the surface achieved an ice formation delay of up to 286 s, with an ice adhesion strength of only 33.9 kPa, ensuring that accumulated ice could be spontaneously detached under minimal external force. Furthermore, the micro-channel network structure serves as a key protective mechanism against mechanical wear, maintaining robust slippery properties even after three hours of high-pressure water jet scouring (Weber number of 300). This reliable interface, achieved through structural management, provides an efficient and scalable platform for addressing the all-weather anti-icing and antifouling requirements of outdoor infrastructure. Full article

Viruses are abundant and widespread in extreme marine environments, such as sea ice, hydrothermal vents, and ocean trenches. They occur at temperatures up to 122 °C and down to −30 °C and pressures exceeding 100 MPa. Their distribution in these environments is closely correlated with that of their extremophile hosts, which are mostly bacteria, archaea, and microeukaryotes. Viruses have been shown to be capable of long-term survival in conditions simulating interstellar conditions. However, for them to reproduce, they would still need a host. Many recent astro-biological investigations have focused on habitability, specifically the ability of a planet to support the activity of at least one lifeform. The most likely candidates for extraterrestrial habitability in our solar system are the sea ice moons of Jupiter and Saturn, namely Europa and Enceladus. These are both thought to contain subsurface oceans of liquid water and potentially access to the necessary elements for microbial growth. If microorganisms were to be detected in these extraterrestrial environments, viruses might also be found coexisting with their host cells. Full article

Irreversible covalent enzyme inhibitors, including targeted covalent inhibitors (TCIs) and mechanism-based enzyme inhibitors (MBEIs), play an increasingly important role in drug discovery. Their pharmacological behavior is governed by intrinsic inactivation parameters, typically described by the inactivation constant K_I, the maximal inactivation rate constant k_inact, and their ratio k_inact/K_I. However, no consensus exists regarding how these parameters should be experimentally determined and interpreted, particularly in high-throughput screening environments where IC₅₀ values are often used as primary descriptors. This article presents a critical survey of the kinetic methodologies employed to characterize irreversible enzyme inhibition. Continuous progress-curve analysis, discontinuous end-point assays, IC₅₀-based estimation strategies, direct mass-spectrometric monitoring of covalent modification, and numerical approaches required by pre-incubation protocols are examined and compared. Attention is given to the statistical robustness of parameter estimation under realistic experimental error, including bootstrap-based uncertainty analysis. For mechanism-based enzyme inhibitors, the kinetic consequences of branching between productive turnover and irreversible inactivation are analyzed, and limitations of classical half-life-based linearization methods are discussed. Intrinsic inactivation parameters are distinguished from protocol-dependent observables, and experimental conditions that may compromise reliable parameter extraction are identified. The objective is to clarify how irreversible inhibitors should be kinetically characterized when the goal is mechanistic understanding and rational drug design. By bridging classical enzymology with current discovery practices, this review provides practical guidance on what experimental data can legitimately support and where caution is required. Full article

Background: Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a debilitating lower urinary tract condition characterised by chronic inflammation of the bladder. As the aetiology remains unknown, current treatments are symptomatic, aiming to reduce inflammation and pain. Cannabidiol (CBD), the most common cannabinoid in industrial Cannabis sativa (hemp), is one of the most important pharmacologically active cannabinoids used in medicine due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects without psychoactive properties. While other cannabinoids have shown beneficial effects in animal models of IC, the impact of CBD on the urinary bladder and overall animal well-being has not been elucidated. Methods: Using a cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced mouse model of IC, we investigated the effects of intraperitoneally administered CBD on bladder structure, function, inflammation, and animal behaviour. A multimodal approach was applied, including light and electron microscopy, immunolabeling, qPCR, transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements, behavioural testing, and monitoring of animals. Results: CBD treatment promoted the restoration of damaged urothelial structure and improved the integrity of the blood–urine barrier. Additionally, CBD exerted an anti-inflammatory effect, reducing oedema and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the bladder wall with chronic cystitis. Finally, the increased burrowing activity of CBD-treated mice suggests a benefit of CBD on overall well-being. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that CBD has a beneficial effect on the inflamed urinary bladder and could potentially serve as an adjunct treatment for patients with IC in the future. Full article

Lippia origanoides Kunth (Verbenaceae family), popularly known in northern Brazil as “Salva-de-Marajó”, is a native plant widely used in traditional medicine and cooking. While previous studies have addressed its antimicrobial and insecticidal properties, its ability to inhibit disease-related enzymes has received limited attention. This study investigated the essential oil (EO) of L. origanoides as a source of enzyme inhibitors relevant to Alzheimer’s disease, metabolic disorders and skin pigmentation disorders. The EO showed strong inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (IC₅₀: 22.9 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀: 14.6 μg/mL), indicating potential for managing neurodegenerative conditions and diabetes, respectively. Moderate inhibition was observed for lipase, butyrylcholinesterase and tyrosinase. Although carvacrol, the major EO constituent, contributed significantly to these effects, it did not fully explain the observed bioactivity. Bio-guided fractionation revealed that oxygenated compounds were mainly responsible for inhibiting cholinesterases and lipase, whereas α-glucosidase inhibition was associated with hydrocarbon compounds. Both fractions contributed to tyrosinase inhibition, reinforcing the EO’s relevance for treating hyperpigmentation. Furthermore, the EO demonstrated strong antioxidant activity, largely linked to carvacrol and oxygenated constituents. Chemical characterization by GC-MS, GC-FID and enantiomeric analysis strengthened the relationship between composition and bioactivity. Overall, L. origanoides EO emerged as a promising multifunctional natural product for therapeutic and cosmetic applications. Full article

Micro-meteorological monitoring systems have been widely deployed in power grids, providing essential data to support the prevention and mitigation of ice- and wind-related disasters. However, understanding of the associated error mechanisms and quantitative evaluations under freezing rain and snow remains limited, particularly in complex field environments. This study presents a field-based quantitative assessment of two key variables, air temperature and wind speed, based on comparative observations collected over multiple winter icing cycles. We analyze the coupled effects of low temperature, ice accretion, and solar radiation on temperature measurements through multi-configuration sensor comparison, and characterize the dynamic response of cup anemometers under icing conditions using cross-correlation lag analysis. Results show that temperature error is dominated by sensor installation configuration and solar radiation. Under weak solar radiation, unshielded sensors tend to record lower temperatures than a standard Stevenson screen, but once radiation exceeds 200 W/m², they warm rapidly and exhibit maximum positive biases of ~8–10 °C. Ice accretion further induces a cold bias of ~1 °C and a response lag of 5–18 min, while suppressing the rapid warming driven by shortwave radiation. For wind measurements, cup anemometers show clear underestimation during ice accretion, with the error increasing nonlinearly with ice thickness to ~20% before freezing-induced failure occurs. These findings provide a basis for improved sensor deployment and interpretation of field monitoring data in cold, humid, and icing-prone environments, although the quantitative results are site-dependent. Full article

Lake ice monitoring is critical for assessing climate change, but in-situ observations are often limited. Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data is a strong method for ice detection because it is not restricted by cloud cover and it is readily available. However, SAR-based classification can be affected by atmospheric and surface-related noise. This study examines the impact of noise on machine learning-based lake ice detection over Lake Śniardwy, Poland, using Sentinel-1 Vertical-Vertical (VV) and Vertical-Horizontal (VH) backscatter data. Binary logistic regression models were trained on scenes with strong class separability between ice and water and then validated on separate low- and high-noise datasets. The models achieved high accuracy under low-noise scenes, reaching up to 96.9%, but performed poorly on high-noise scenes. The results show that wind-related surface roughness and associated atmospheric conditions can significantly reduce classification reliability. Comparison with backscatter from a nearby coniferous forest confirmed that the main disturbances were concentrated over the lake surface. The study highlights the importance of careful scene selection and noise assessment in SAR-based lake ice classification. Full article

The snow module of the HYDROTEL (version 2.8.x-078-00-4.1.15.5551) hydrological model was modified to incorporate a multilayer structure composed of ice and air layers within the snowpack, as well as to account for the impact of freezing rain on snow cover. This study examines whether this enhanced physical representation of snow processes improves the accuracy of streamflow simulations. The analysis was conducted across ten watersheds in Quebec, Canada. The multilayer snow model consistently improved low-flow simulations during both calibration and validation periods and enhanced the representation of the falling limb during the calibration period. However, the monolayer snow model performs slightly better during the rising limb of the freshet season for the calibration phase. In addition, the multilayer configuration reduced the bias of the cumulative freshet volumes and annual maximum freshet discharge. Overall, the multilayer snow model achieved comparable performance to the monolayer model for high-flow simulations while outperforming it for low-flow conditions, leading to a more accurate representation of freshet volumes and falling limb dynamics. Full article

This study presents a pilot methodological investigation of the thermal performance of a Najdi mudbrick dwelling in Ushaiger, Saudi Arabia, using short-term field monitoring and a preliminary digital-twin inspired workflow. Two field campaigns in August and September 2025 measured indoor and outdoor conditions with a portable weather station under severe site constraints, including lack of electrical infrastructure, restricted access, and the use of consumer-grade sensors. The monitored results indicate that the massive earthen walls attenuated part of the outdoor daily temperature swing, but indoor conditions remained very hot: in August, indoor temperatures averaged 38.1 °C, compared with 40.2 °C outdoors, and in September, indoor temperatures averaged 36.3 °C, compared with 36.1 °C outdoors. A simplified IDA ICE model was compared with the monitored indoor temperature over the available windows, and a post-processing affine bias adjustment was tested only as a diagnostic short-window correction rather than as a transferable calibration. Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis was used in an exploratory way. It examined how passive envelope and boundary-related parameters influenced simulated indoor relative humidity, with infiltration emerging as the dominant factor affecting relative humidity dynamics; peak indoor relative humidity increased from about 67% at 0.15 air changes per hour (ACH) to more than 74% at 0.60 ACH, whereas wall thickness had a modest buffering effect. Given the short monitoring duration and field limitations, the study is not presented as a fully validated digital twin but as a feasibility-oriented workflow that combines constrained in situ monitoring with exploratory simulation to support future, longer-term conservation and adaptive reuse research on earthen heritage in hot–arid climates. Full article

Ginkgolic acids (GAs), the principal toxic constituents in Ginkgo biloba, pose health risks including cytotoxicity, allergenicity, and pro-inflammatory effects, limiting the application of Ginkgo resources in the food and health product industries. Developing efficient and environmentally friendly removal methods is essential. The endophytic fungus Fusarium sp. DLT-118, isolated from Ginkgo biloba, degraded 96.47% of GAs in Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GE) at an initial concentration of 1 mg/mL within 7 days at 28 °C, while concurrently enhancing the antioxidant activity of GE, as indicated by a reduction in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging IC₅₀ from 755.7 μg/mL to 544.6 μg/mL. Morphological and oxidative stress analyses showed critical cellular adaptations and stress responses under degradation conditions. Integrated multi-omics analysis indicated that GE stress induced the remodeling of fungal amino acid, lipid, and energy metabolism, as well as the adjustment of membrane and transport functions, to facilitate GAs detoxification. Cytotoxicity assays indicated no significant cytotoxicity of the degradation products towards human normal lung epithelial cells (Beas-2B) and gastric mucosal epithelial cells (GES-1). These findings highlight Fusarium sp. DLT-118 as a promising agent for the efficient removal of GAs, offering a potential strategy for the production of GA-reduced Ginkgo-based food and health products. Full article

To address the issues of suboptimal recovery performance, low timeliness, and poor economic efficiency associated with traditional fault recovery methods following large-scale power outages in active distribution networks (ADNs) caused by extreme weather, this paper proposes a dynamic fault recovery strategy for ADNs based on a two-layer hybrid algorithm under extreme ice and snow conditions. First, a line fault rate model considering the thermal effect of current under extreme ice and snow conditions is constructed, and an information entropy-based typical scenario screening method is introduced to filter the fault scenarios. Second, a photovoltaic (PV) output model and a time-varying load model under the influence of extreme ice and snow conditions are established. Subsequently, a multi-objective dynamic fault recovery model is formulated, incorporating island partitioning and integration constraints based on the concept of single-commodity flow, alongside tightened relaxation constraints. To achieve an accurate and rapid solution for the fault recovery model, a two-layer hybrid algorithm is proposed. This algorithm combines an outer-layer improved binary grey wolf optimizer (IBGWO) and an inner-layer second-order cone relaxation (SOCR) algorithm to solve the discrete and continuous decision variables within the model, respectively. Finally, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method are verified using the PG&E 69-bus and IEEE 123-bus systems. Full article

This study presents a comparative analysis of batch and continuous lubricant supply strategies in internal combustion engines (ICEs), focusing on precursor consumption and material efficiency. A phenomenological model based on mass balance equations was developed to describe the dynamics of lubricant precursor depletion, film formation, and film removal under both supply strategies. The results demonstrate that the continuous supply strategy achieves a steady-state condition that ensures stable film thickness and a significant reduction in precursor consumption compared with the batch strategy. Sensitivity analyses reveal that both the kinetic constant and the film removal rate strongly influence lubricant make-up requirements, defining a feasibility region for system operation. Under supercritical conditions, the batch strategy exhibits rapid precursor overconsumption; in contrast, the continuous strategy maintains minimal excess. The proposed framework provides a system-level tool for evaluating lubrication strategies based on precursor utilization efficiency. The findings suggest that continuous lubrication strategies can improve material efficiency and environmental performance, with associated economic benefits, when properly designed and operated within feasible kinetic and mechanical limits. Full article

Photothermal superhydrophobic surfaces represent a promising solution for passive anti-icing; however, the persistent high solar absorption of static black coatings often leads to undesirable overheating under non-icing conditions. To address this limitation, we developed a smart superhydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface embedded with thermochromic capsules (TC) (S-PDMS/TC) featuring reversible thermochromic capability via a facile combination of spin-coating and femtosecond laser ablation. The resulting hierarchical micro-grid structure acts as a sacrificial layer, shielding fragile nanostructures against mechanical abrasion, while endowing the surface with robust superhydrophobicity (contact angle > 155°). Uniquely, S-PDMS/TC exhibits an adaptive color transition from pale yellow to deep black when the temperature drops below 5 °C. This response enables on-demand photothermal enhancement, significantly boosting solar absorption in freezing environments while minimizing heat absorption at room temperature. Consequently, S-PDMS/TC demonstrates superior anti-icing performance, extending the freezing time to 310 s and reducing ice adhesion strength to 40.4 kPa. Notably, during photothermal de-icing, the meltwater exhibits spontaneous dewetting behavior driven by the replenishment of the air cushion, effectively preventing secondary icing. This work presents a mechanically durable and intelligent strategy for ice protection, successfully balancing efficient de-icing with thermal management. Full article

In this study, we compared the bacterial diversity of two independent snow and ice sampling campaigns conducted in 2015–2016 and 2018–2019 at Dome C, Concordia Station, Antarctica. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we analysed 81 samples and, after quality filtering and rarefaction, obtained approximately 3.8 million high-quality reads. Alpha diversity analyses revealed comparable richness between the two sampling periods, while community evenness was higher in 2018–2019. In contrast, all beta diversity metrics consistently showed significant differences in community composition between years, while beta dispersion analyses indicated distinct levels of heterogeneity within the year. The results of the Raup-Crick null model (R0) analyses showed that the observed differences did not deviate from random expectations under the applied null hypothesis. Overall, these results indicate pronounced interannual variability in bacterial assemblages at Concordia Station and suggest that temporal changes in community composition are consistent with assembly processes dominated by episodic inputs and limited persistence under extreme environmental conditions. This study implements previous investigations by providing a comparative temporal perspective and contributes to a better understanding of microbial dynamics in one of the most isolated and low-biomass environments on Earth. Full article

In the present work, the blackening process of Panax quinquefolius L. (PQ) was systematically investigated at temperatures of 70–90 °C, relative humidities (RHs) of 70–85%, and treatment times of 0–14 days. Ginsenoside compositions and transformation pathways were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography coupled with ion trap time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-IT-TOF-MS/MS). The results demonstrated that blackening treatment significantly increased total saponin content from 2.72% to 5.73% after being treated at 80 °C and 70% RH for 12 days, accompanied by the highest conversion efficiencies for newly generated ginsenosides Rk1 (8.89 mg/g) and Rg5 (17.69 mg/g). Furthermore, compared with untreated PQ saponins (PQS), the blackened PQ saponins treated under optimal conditions (BPQS) exhibited superior 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) cation (ABTS⁺) radical scavenging activities, with IC₅₀ values of 0.2999 mg/mL and 0.2640 mg/mL, respectively, as well as stronger reducing power. Meanwhile, BPQS exhibited higher cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells and effectively inhibited cell survival and proliferation by promoting the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, including caspase 3 and caspase 9. Our findings indicate that BPQS may be a functional ingredient suitable for use in dietary supplements and disease chemoprevention. Full article