Search Results (742)

Nanosecond electric pulses (nsEPs) are an emerging pulsed-power technology with unique bioelectric characteristics distinct from conventional long-pulse electroporation. As a tunable physical modality, nsEPs can modulate intracellular structures, membrane dynamics, and signaling pathways. Increasing evidence supports nsEPs as a promising non-thermal tumor ablation approach due to their high spatial precision, preservation of critical tissue structures, and minimal adverse effects. One of the most significant discoveries associated with nsEP tumor ablation is the induction of potent systemic antitumor immunity, particularly in situ vaccination (ISV) effects and, in some cases, abscopal effects against distant untreated tumors. Substantial evidence demonstrates that nsEPs can function as authentic immunogenic cell death (ICD) inducers by promoting the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), including calreticulin (CRT), ATP, and HMGB1. These events facilitate dendritic cell activation, antigen presentation, and the generation of long-term antitumor T-cell immunity. In addition to enhancing tumor immunogenicity, nsEPs profoundly remodel the tumor microenvironment (TME), including disruption of tumor vasculature, reduction in immunosuppressive cell populations, and alteration of stromal components. Emerging studies further suggest that nsEPs act as electric metabolic modulators capable of influencing mitochondrial function, calcium signaling, and metabolism-associated signaling pathways. Current evidence indicates that the immunological outcomes induced by nsEPs are highly dependent on pulse parameters, waveform characteristics, and tumor type. Despite its considerable therapeutic promise, the development of nsEP-induced ISV immunotherapy faces several important challenges, including standardization and optimization of pulse protocols, identification of critical molecular and cellular targets, and clarification of tumor- and cell-type-specific responses. Addressing these challenges through multidisciplinary collaboration and advanced technologies, including multi-omics, spatial analysis, and computational modeling, may accelerate the development of next-generation bioelectric immunotherapies for cancer treatment. Full article

The brain is a spatially organized tissue where the molecular characteristics of each cell are closely linked to its anatomical location. However, conventional bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing lose this spatial context during the tissue separation process. Spatial transcriptomics (ST) overcomes these limitations by measuring gene expression while preserving the positional information of cells within intact tissues, making it a powerful approach for elucidating the cellular and molecular heterogeneity that defines brain structure and disease. This review summarizes the two main types of ST technology: next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based platforms (Visium, Stereo-Seq, Slide-Seq) and in situ platforms (MERFISH, seqFISH+, Xenium). NGS-based platforms provide unbiased whole-transcriptome profiling across extensive tissue regions, while in situ platforms offer subcellular resolution within individual cells. We aim to assist in platform selection by comparing the principles, advantages, and limitations of each platform. Next, we focus on how spatial sequencing (ST) has been utilized to analyze the spatial heterogeneity of aging and diseased brains, and examine region- and cell-type changes observed in brain aging, the lesion-related microenvironments of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and the spatially isolated tumor cell states and immunosuppressive environments of glioblastoma. We also introduce the key brain ST data resources that underpin these studies. Collectively, ST is emerging as an essential tool for understanding the spatial logic of brain function and pathology, demonstrating increasingly greater potential in the field of precision medicine. Full article

Urban parks are widely regarded as healthy and sustainable urban infrastructures, yet their respiratory benefits depend on the coupling of design, behaviour, and perception rather than ambient PM concentrations alone. A multi-season daytime fair-weather panel study across five urban park space types integrated in situ PM monitoring, SOPARC-based behavior mapping (9173 users), dwell-time surveys, and inhalation-rate libraries to estimate per capita inhaled doses, while an on-site survey (n = 837) assessed perceived PM and its influence on space choice. Understory and water spaces exhibited the highest PM₁₀ and TSP concentrations, whereas waterfront areas were the cleanest; winter concentrations were elevated but preserved the same space-type ranking. Sports spaces had the most intense activity profiles (61.9% moderate-to-extreme), and understory and sports spaces supported the longest stays, with little seasonal change in either intensity or duration. Consequently, per capita PM exposure was highest in sports and understory spaces and lowest in water and waterfront spaces. Spaces that attracted more users also delivered higher per capita doses, indicating an overlap between popularity and high-dose micro-environments. Perceptually, 94.9% of users rated PM as low or relatively low in water spaces, whereas squares had the highest share of “moderate or worse” ratings (26.4%); 78.1% chose locations based on perceived air quality, despite weak or even negative correlations with measured PM. These findings reveal a design-driven exposure architecture in which space configuration organizes both PM concentrations and user behavior, while misperception can steer visitors, especially in winter, toward the very park micro-environments that deliver the highest inhaled doses. This study provides evidence for exposure-aware park design and management that can reduce respiratory risk while supporting sustainable outdoor recreation and healthier urban living. Full article

The removal of spray paint vandalism from contemporary mural paintings and Street and Urban Art represents one of the most challenging operations in conservation practice, particularly when the unwanted layers are chemically similar to the original pictorial materials. Conventional cleaning methodologies often show limitations on rough and heterogeneous surfaces, where the risk of irreversible alteration of the original paint film increases. This study proposes tunable cleaning systems based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)–borax double-network hydrogels modified with biopolymers and loaded with nanostructured fluids for controlled and sustainable removal of spray-paint vandalism. Laboratory investigations, including solubility tests, qualitative assessment of mechanical properties and cleaning trials on representative mock-ups, were carried out to evaluate the stability, adaptability and cleaning performance of the most promising systems, including laboratory-prepared PVA-based formulations and commercial Peggy Nanorestore gels©. The optimized cleaning systems were successfully applied in situ on the mural Nido di Vespe in Rome, achieving a controlled reduction of the vandalism layer while preserving the integrity of the original surface and confirming the applicability of these systems under real conservation conditions. Full article

Background: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is an established minimally invasive approach for selected aortic arch pathologies; however, it is associated with risks including stroke and spinal cord ischemia. Revascularization techniques, such as in situ fenestration (ISF), play a critical role in preserving supra-aortic branch perfusion and reducing neurological complications. Methods: This prospective, single-center observational cohort study enrolled 74 consecutive patients undergoing TEVAR with ISF between October 2017 and September 2023. Data collected included demographics, lesion morphology, procedural details, and clinical outcomes. The primary endpoint was procedural technical success; secondary endpoints included 30-day complications, reintervention rate, and all-cause mortality. Results: Technical success was achieved in 100% of cases (74/74; 95% CI: 95.2–100.0%), defined as successful fenestration creation, patent bridging stent graft without kinking or embolization, absence of Type I or III endoleak on completion angiography, and restored antegrade branch flow. Physician-modified fenestration was combined with ISF-thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in 28.4% (21/74) of cases. At 30-day follow-up, 30-day clinical success (freedom from mortality, reintervention, and procedure-related complications) was achieved in 87.8% (65/74) of patients. No mortality was recorded at 30 days. Treatment-related complications included subclavian branch thrombosis (n = 1, 1.4%), transient ischemic attack (n = 1, 1.4%), and endoleaks (n = 7, 9.5%; including Type Ia, Type II, and Type III), with reintervention required in 6 patients (8.1%) during the follow-up period. Beyond 30 days, three late deaths were documented: one aorta-related death (aneurysm rupture at 9 months), one neurological death (ischemic stroke at 13 months), and one cardiovascular death (myocardial infarction at 60 days post-procedure), yielding a late all-cause mortality rate of 4.1% (3/74). Conclusions: ISF-TEVAR demonstrated a high procedural technical success rate and a low 30-day complication and mortality profile in this single-center prospective series of selected patients treated at an experienced center. These early and mid-term results are encouraging; however, given the single-center, non-comparative design and limited standardized follow-up, broader conclusions regarding durability and comparative effectiveness remain premature. Larger multicenter prospective studies with standardized long-term imaging follow-up are warranted. Full article

Refracturing is an important stimulation technique for improving the productivity of mature shale gas wells. However, for low-productivity horizontal wells, the controlling effects of production history and pre-refracturing energy replenishment on fracture re-initiation and repropagation remain insufficiently quantified. This study focuses on mature wells in the H Block of the Fuling shale gas field. The Jiaoshiba area in the Fuling shale gas field, located on the eastern margin of the Sichuan Basin, is characterized by organic-rich marine shales of the Wufeng–Longmaxi Formation, where gas enrichment is jointly controlled by the Jiaoshiba anticline, fault distribution, and favorable preservation conditions. A three-dimensional geological model was constructed using seismic interpretation, well logging, core analysis, ant-tracking fracture attributes, and field fracturing data. A one-way coupled finite-element workflow was then applied to simulate the evolution of pore pressure and in situ stress during primary production, water-injection energy replenishment, and refracturing. The model was calibrated against historical bottomhole flowing pressure data, with a pressure-response matching accuracy greater than 85%. The results show that a lower initial production (4 × 10⁴ m³/d) allocation can mitigate reservoir pressure depletion and maintain a more favorable stress environment for fracture branching during refracturing. Compared with refracturing after 10 or 20 years of production, refracturing after 5 years produced a stronger post-treatment response in the simulated cases. For water-injection energy replenishment, an injection rate of 700 m³/d restored reservoir pressure and regulated the local stress field more effectively than 500 m³/d, whereas increasing the rate to 1000 m³/d provided only limited additional pressure recovery. Overall, under the simulated reservoir conditions, a technically favorable parameter combination for the target well is an initial production allocation of 4 × 10⁴ m³/d, refracturing after approximately 5 years of production, and one year of pre-refracturing water-injection energy replenishment at about 700 m³/d. These findings provide a reference for refracturing timing and pre-treatment energy-replenishment design in depleted shale gas reservoirs. Full article

xAl₃Zr/Al-5Cu-0.6Mn-0.15Ti composites were fabricated via an in situ reaction method, and the influence of Al₃Zr content on the microstructure and mechanical properties in both as-cast and T6-treated conditions was systematically investigated. The results reveal that the D0₂₃-Al₃Zr content increases in proportion to the K₂ZrF₆ addition level. Following T6 heat treatment, finely dispersed θ′-Al₂Cu precipitates were formed within the matrix, and the α-Al + θ-Al₂Cu eutectic network dissolved. The blocky Al₃Zr particles underwent spheroidization and could continuously exert a grain boundary pinning effect to suppress grain coarsening. After T6 heat treatment, the 4.5 wt.% Al₃Zr composite exhibited average ultimate tensile strengths of 324.44 MPa at room temperature and 123.38 MPa at 350 °C, corresponding to improvements of 8.56% and 23.31%, respectively, relative to the unreinforced base alloy. Following thermal exposure at 350 °C for 24 h, the composite exhibited less pronounced coarsening of the θ′-Al₂Cu precipitates compared with the base alloy, while the Al₃Zr particles retained their morphological and dimensional stability. Consequently, the reductions in both tensile strength and hardness were smaller than those observed for the base alloy. Analysis indicates that Al₃Zr particles significantly refine the α-Al grains and enhance the alloy’s thermal stability. The superior property retention is attributed primarily to the high thermal stability of the Al₃Zr particles, which preserve their dispersion-strengthening contribution at 350 °C, with the reduced θ′ coarsening as a contributing factor. The overall strengthening of the composite arises from the combined and largely independent contributions of Al₃Zr particle strengthening and θ′-Al₂Cu precipitation strengthening. Full article

Cell therapies for gastric disorders lack minimally invasive delivery platforms that preserve cell viability during storage and enable effective tissue penetration, owing to the high toughness and harsh environment of the gastric wall. Herein, we developed a mechanically reinforced, porous silk-based cryogenic microneedle (silk-cryoMN) platform for in situ cell delivery to the gastric wall. The optimized 1.5% (w/v) silk scaffolds exhibited interconnected pores (24.4 ± 7.9 μm, ~81% porosity), a compressive strength (422.8 ± 73.4 MPa), and a 3.4-fold increase in β-sheet content. The silk-cryoMNs showed greater thermal stability than H₂O-cryoMNs, maintaining structural integrity for over 60 s at room temperature. With a cryopreservation medium containing 100 mM sucrose and 2% DMSO, post-thaw cell viability exceeded 80% after 11 days of freezing, and most cells were released within 1 h. Furthermore, ex vivo studies confirmed penetration of porcine gastric tissue to depths of 422–448 μm within 30 s. These results suggest that the platform may address several translational barriers, including tissue penetration, handling stability, and cell viability preservation. Further in vivo studies and long-term safety evaluations are needed before clinical translation can be considered. Full article

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) incorporating solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) promise high energy density and safety, yet their practical deployment is hindered by poor interfacial stability between SSEs and lithium metal anodes. Here we show that a simple incorporation of LiBF₄ into the sulfohalide (Li₃SCl) framework forms a mixture Li₃SCl@LiBF₄ (LSC@BF) SSE via a two-step solid-state synthesis, preserving a high room-temperature ionic conductivity of 4.32 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ with a low activation energy of 0.22 eV while fundamentally altering the interface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron microscopy reveal that LiBF₄ promotes the in situ formation of a mechanically robust, LiF-rich solid-electrolyte interphase at the SSE|Li interface. This LiF-rich layer effectively suppresses lithium dendrite growth and stabilizes the interface, enabling symmetric Li|LSC@BF|Li cells to achieve stable lithium plating/stripping for over 800 h at 0.2 mA cm⁻². Cross-sectional post-mortem imaging confirms a dense, void-free interface without dendrite penetration. Our work demonstrates that LiBF₄ incorporation offers a simple, scalable strategy to simultaneously maintain high ionic conductivity and resolve interfacial instability in sulfohalide SSEs for high-performance LMBs. Full article

Accurate prediction of significant wave height (SWH) is essential for fisheries management, coastal socioeconomic activities, and marine ecological conservation. In recent years, deep learning-based bias correction has shown considerable potential for improving numerical wave forecasts. However, many existing approaches are still constrained by limited receptive fields and often struggle to capture long-range spatiotemporal dependencies in wave forecast errors. To deal with this issue, we adapt and improve a video prediction framework, namely the Vision Mamba Recurrent Neural Network (VMRNN), to model and correct the spatiotemporal patterns of SWH prediction biases. Comprehensive evaluations show that the multi-channel VMRNN achieves consistently high predictive accuracy across different forecast lead times and sea-state conditions. When validated against reanalysis data, the proposed model reduces the root mean square error (RMSE) of WAVEWATCH III forecasts by 28.2%, 26.1%, and 24.7% at lead times of 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. It also preserves the spatial structure of SWH fields quite well, with the spatial structural similarity index remaining as high as 0.945 even at the 72 h lead time. Regional assessments over high-wave areas further indicate that VMRNN can effectively reduce both the mean error and the systematic overestimation commonly found in numerical wave models. Additional validation using in situ buoys observations confirms that the model has a robust ability to correct systematic positive biases, especially for wave heights ranging from 0.5 m to 2 m. Taken together, these results suggest that VMRNN has strong spatiotemporal modeling capability and can serve as a promising post-processing framework for improving operational physics-based wave forecasting systems. Full article

Prolificacy and coat color are key economic traits influencing sheep production. This study evaluated a reduced panel of 48 SNPs previously associated with these traits and assessed its applicability to locally adapted Brazilian sheep breeds. A total of 1152 samples from 15 breeds, conserved in situ at conservation nuclei and ex situ in the Brazilian Animal Germplasm Bank, were genotyped. Allelic, genotypic, and haplotypic frequencies were estimated to compare genetic variability between in situ and ex situ populations. Additionally, linkage disequilibrium (LD) among SNPs within GDF9, a key gene associated with prolificacy, was evaluated across local breeds, revealing strong LD among specific markers. The results highlight the importance of the FecG^E (GDF9) variant for prolificacy in hair sheep, confirming the presence of mutant allele E in prolific breeds, such as Santa Inês and Morada Nova, and identifying, for the first time, a high frequency of such allele in the Brazilian Blackbelly, which provides new insights into the genetic basis of this prolific hair breed. Other prolificacy-related genes, BMP15 and BMPR1B, appear to have no functional role in locally adapted breeds, as initially hypothesized, considering genetic differences among European and tropical sheep. Allelic and genotypic variation in ASIP, MC1R, TYRP1, and MITF genes reflected differences between wool and hair sheep and between local and commercial breeds. Overall, the results indicate that the germplasm bank effectively preserves in situ diversity. In conclusion, the reduced SNP panel efficiently genotyped Brazilian sheep for prolificacy and coat color SNPs, confirming which markers are present and segregating in these breeds. However, its utility could be improved by removing markers of limited relevance in the targeted breeds. Full article

The direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from methanol and CO₂ requires the use of a dehydrating agent such as 2-cyanopyridine (2-CP) to overcome thermodynamic limitations, alongside controlled catalyst surfaces to limit competing side reactions. In this study, mesostructured CeO₂ catalysts were synthesized via a nanocasting approach using SBA-15 as a hard template. The specific impact of the precursor infiltration method and the final thermal treatment on catalytic performance were evaluated. While a one-step precursor infiltration route yielded the most ordered mesostructure after template removal, the final calcination step emerged as the dominant variable governing catalyst activity and selectivity. Textural analysis confirmed that calcination preserved the interconnected nanorod morphology with only a minor decrease in specific surface area. Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) revealed that the thermal treatment induced a redistribution of surface acid-base sites, specifically increasing the ratio of medium-strength basic to acidic sites. In situ DRIFTS demonstrated that this tailored surface chemistry facilitated CO₂ activation, promoted the formation of bidentate carbonates, and favored the monomethyl carbonate (MMC) intermediate formation. Consequently, the calcined CeO₂-OS catalyst achieved 74% methanol conversion and 91% DMC yield at 120 °C and 5 MPa, outperforming its uncalcined counterpart by suppressing 2-CP-related secondary reactions. Full article

Root phenotypic analysis is closely related to crop yield and stress resistance. Although deep learning can improve the efficiency of root phenotype recognition, existing methods suffer from insufficient segmentation accuracy under complex soil backgrounds and focus on a single target. To address the issues of limited accuracy and operational complexity in existing root segmentation models, this paper proposes a novel wavelet-enhanced full-scale segmentation network. The WaveUNet+ model is based on U-Net3plus, replaces traditional downsampling with the Haar wavelet transform, and introduces the EMA module. The impact of the wavelet transform is validated using Grad-CAM, and HD95 is employed to evaluate the improvement in segmentation quality brought by the attention mechanism from the perspective of boundary accuracy. Transfer learning is used to improve model generalization, and the test results on diverse roots and various soils are compared. A Docker containerized root image segmentation method is designed to achieve convenient and practical operation, and the deployment feasibility of the model on edge devices is also verified. Our model effectively enhances the recognition of fine roots in soil backgrounds, leading to improvements across various metrics, achieving an Accuracy of 99.2%, while improving model accuracy with relatively low parameter count and model size. Compared with the original U-Net model, mIoU is increased by 1.52% and Recall by 2.93%. The results show that the model not only performs excellently on the original dataset but also maintains good generalization ability across different imaging modalities, crop species, and soil conditions. With Docker, users can achieve root image segmentation on their own computers without tedious program installation and environment configuration. In the future, we will attempt methods such as pruning and quantization to reduce model size, so as to better adapt to the deployment requirements of edge devices. Full article

The Ediacaran Dengying Formation 2nd Member (hereafter 2nd Member) in the Sichuan Basin is influenced by major tectonic events including the Caledonian, Indosinian, and Himalayan orogenies and this strata has experienced a complex hydrocarbon accumulation history, resulting in inconsistent gas–water contacts. To elucidate this complex history, this study investigates the diagenetic mineral filling sequence within the Dengying 2nd Member in the Penglai area. We integrated data from analytical techniques such as cathodoluminescence (CL), in situ trace element analysis, U–Pb geochronology, and fluid-inclusion microthermometry. Based on these analyses, this study established the paragenetic sequence, incorporating both diagenesis and hydrocarbon accumulation, for the Dengying 2nd Member. This sequence comprises eight distinct phases of mineral precipitation and hydrocarbon emplacement: fibrous dolomite, granular dolomite, fine crystalline dolomite, first-phase bitumen, medium crystalline dolomite, saddle dolomite, second-phase bitumen, and quartz. From this sequence, we propose a four-stage hydrocarbon accumulation model for the Dengying Formation: (1) primary migration and accumulation during the Indosinian period; (2) oil cracking to gas during the Yanshanian period; and (3) and (4) two distinct stages of gas pool adjustment during the Himalayan period. Corresponding to these stages, this study developed distinct accumulation models and simulated migration and accumulation processes during key stages. The results indicate that the distribution of paleo-oil pools exerts significant control over the location of present-day gas accumulations. Initial oil charge was controlled by the distribution of carrier beds and hydrocarbon charging pathways, with water zones observed more frequently in the lower intervals of the Dengying 2nd Member. Subsequently, gas generated from oil-cracking filled these carrier beds, with areas of gas enrichment correlating with zones of high paleo-oil saturation. Finally, during the later adjustment stages, fault activity induced gas remigration and leakage, significantly impacting the final trapping configuration and preservation of gas accumulations. Full article

Excess phosphate in aquatic environments can trigger eutrophication and pose risks to ecosystem integrity and public health, even though phosphate is indispensable for plant growth. Herein, we report the fabrication of Zr-LDHs-PS hydrogel microspheres by in situ cross-linking zirconium–magnesium–iron layered double hydroxides (ZrMgFe-LDHs) with Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and sodium alginate (SA). The resulting bead-type adsorbent was designed to enable efficient phosphate capture from water while facilitating subsequent, controlled phosphate release. Benefiting from the cross-linking granulation strategy, the microspheres mitigate typical limitations of powdered adsorbents, including compaction, aggregation, and poor separability. General characterization (SEM, FT-IR, XPS, XRD, BET, TG, and zeta potential) elucidated the microstructure and surface chemical composition. The Zr-LDHs-PS microspheres exhibited a maximum experimental adsorption capacity of 51.313 mg/g. Kinetics data were best fitted by the pseudo-second-order model, and adsorption isotherms were subjected to the Freundlich model, pointing to heterogeneous, multilayer adsorption. Importantly, high phosphate selectivity was preserved despite the coexistence of competing anions (Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, and CO₃²⁻). After adsorption, the spent beads released phosphate gradually in water, highlighting their potential for dual functionality. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Zr-LDHs-PS hydrogel microspheres are promising candidates for extraction-based phosphate removal and resource recovery, with prospects for repurposing slow-release phosphate fertilizers to support sustainable plant nutrition. Full article