Search Results (630)

Increasing pressure on surface water resources in intensive agricultural regions has driven the search for sustainable alternatives for irrigation supply, especially in areas where water quality limits crop safety and export opportunities. In this context, riverbank filtration (RBF) systems offer a nature-based solution by utilizing physical, chemical, and biological processes associated with river–aquifer exchange. However, their implementation depends on suitable site selection supported by hydrogeological, geomorphological, and hydraulic criteria. This study developed an integrated methodology to identify zones with potential for implementing RBF systems in the Roldanillo–Unión–Toro irrigation district, located in northern Valle del Cauca, Colombia. This region requires irrigation water over 10,256 ha of agricultural land (mainly sugarcane, maize, grapes, and guava). We combined geophysical methods (vertical electrical soundings, 2D electrical resistivity tomography, and passive seismic), geotechnical methods (CPTu tests), and hydraulic characterization of the river reach to evaluate subsurface stratigraphy, preliminary hydrogeological suitability, inferred river–aquifer connectivity conditions, and channel stability. The evaluation covered four sectors along an approximately 21 km stretch of the Cauca River’s left-bank alluvial valley. The results revealed pronounced lateral and vertical heterogeneity of alluvial materials. However, the “El Palmar” sector was identified as the best-supported priority sector for future RBF validation, due to the presence of profile-scale evidence of potentially permeable sandy and gravelly units with intermediate resistivity values (52–61 Ω·m), favorable stratigraphic organization, and stable river-reach conditions during the field campaign. In contrast, the other three sectors (La Esperanza, Candelaria, and Cayetana) showed more fine-grained sediments with deeper permeable strata. River-flow measurements during the July 2025 field campaign indicated high discharge conditions at the evaluated reach, while river-channel observations showed active fine-sediment transport; these findings provide hydraulic and sedimentary context for the future evaluation of induced infiltration and potential clogging, but do not constitute direct evidence of river–aquifer exchange. This study highlights the value of integrated screening approaches for prioritizing candidate RBF sites in agricultural alluvial settings, while indicating that pumping tests, piezometric monitoring, hydraulic-gradient analysis, and water-quality validation remain necessary before engineering implementation. Full article

Rainfall-induced delayed instability of fractured rock slopes is strongly affected by fracture preferential flow, hydro-mechanical coupling, and spatial matrix heterogeneity. However, the coupled influence of stress-dependent fracture aperture evolution and heterogeneous matrix properties on delayed slope deformation remains insufficiently quantified. In this study, a two-dimensional discrete fracture network (DFN)–equivalent continuum coupled model was established using spectral random field theory and a representative Monte Carlo-generated fracture geometry. The spectral exponent β = 1.0–2.5 was adopted to characterize different degrees of matrix heterogeneity, and rainfall infiltration–stress coupling simulations were conducted under an extreme rainfall scenario followed by drainage. The results indicate that the wetting front advances irregularly in the heterogeneous matrix, while fracture preferential flow accelerates rainwater infiltration and promotes local pore-pressure accumulation near the phreatic surface. After rainfall cessation, water stored in fractures continues to recharge the deep matrix, leading to delayed pore-pressure increase and post-rainfall deformation. The simulated fracture aperture shows an initial closure followed by gradual dilation, which is controlled by the competition between saturation-induced stress redistribution and pore-pressure-driven effective stress reduction. Under a common strength reduction factor of FOS = 1.4, stronger matrix heterogeneity results in more pronounced plastic strain concentration and larger displacement amplitude along the potential slip zone. These findings suggest that fracture aperture evolution and matrix heterogeneity jointly influence delayed deformation and potential failure-zone development in rainfall-affected fractured rock slopes. The conclusions should be interpreted within the scope of a two-dimensional DFN–equivalent continuum numerical framework with prescribed rainfall conditions and representative fracture/random-field realizations. Full article

Particulate-reinforced polymer composites (PRPCs) are susceptible to cracking under tensile loading, severely limiting their service life. Here, we propose a pressure-gradient-driven infiltration method that rapidly repairs narrow (<10 μm) cracks in a highly filled PRPC (95 wt.% BaSO₄/5 wt.% fluororubber). Microstructural evidence confirms that the adhesive completely fills the tortuous crack and forms a continuous adhesive–matrix interface capable of supporting load transfer. Semi-circular bend (SCB) testing demonstrates a substantially higher peak load and increased apparent structural stiffness after repair under the present semi-circular bend configuration, indicating apparent mechanical enhancement beyond simple load-bearing recovery. Digital image correlation (DIC) and fracture morphology show that repair suppresses notch-tip strain localization, reduces the strain concentration factor, shifts the failure-controlling zone away from the original notch tip, and deflects the crack propagation path. Phase-field simulations further show that the post-repair load-bearing capacity is governed by the adhesive–matrix interfacial strength; once this strength approaches or exceeds the tensile strength of the intact PRPC (~8.3 MPa), the repaired crack path is stabilized, enabling peak-load enhancement while suppressing damage localization along the original crack path and shifting failure to adjacent weaker regions. Overall, this work establishes a promising crack repair approach for highly filled PRPCs, while the underlying interface-controlled mechanism provides guidance for adhesive selection and repair design. Full article

To reveal the overtopping dam-break mechanism under extreme rainfall conditions and assess downstream flood risk, a series of dam-break flume tests, flood routing simulations and inundation risk assessments were conducted. Using the Hubuling Reservoir in Rizhao City, Shandong Province as a case study, a circulating extreme rainfall dam-break flume system with a controllable reservoir water level was constructed at a geometric similarity scale of 1:70. Four test conditions were designed: no rainfall and 50-year, 100-year and 2000-year rainfall return periods. Pore water pressure, earth pressure and water content sensors were embedded in critical dam sections to monitor real-time internal dynamic responses. The results show that, due to the combined effect of the highest rainfall intensity, rapid reservoir water-level rise, progressive infiltration-induced weakening and concentrated surface erosion, a dam-break occurs only under the 2000-year rainfall return period. The failure process is divided into four stages: initial infiltration, slope surface scour, overtopping initiation and rapid breach development. Based on dam-break parameters obtained by physical model tests, a two-dimensional numerical using HEC-RAS was conducted. The results show that, under the 2000-year rainfall return period, the flood reaches the downstream area at 80 min after dam failure. The maximum inundation area reaches 15.20 km² at 200 min, with a maximum inundation depth of 11.80 m and a maximum inundation duration of 144 h. By integrating the maximum inundation depth, inundation duration and land use conditions, the expected economic loss is estimated to be 690 million yuan. The results provide important support for dam-break early warnings, emergency management and disaster mitigation of similar small- and medium-sized reservoirs. Full article

Concentrated rear runoff is an important hydraulic factor that promotes slope instability and flow-like transport characteristics in mountainous landslides; however, the deformation–failure process of slopes and their response relationships under different runoff intensities remain unclear. In this study, the Shaziba landslide in Enshi, Hubei Province, China, was selected as the research object. Two-dimensional flume model tests were conducted under four runoff discharge conditions of 7, 15, 27, and 35 mL/s to investigate the effects of runoff intensity on the hydraulic response and failure mode of the slope. The results show that, as the runoff discharge increased from 7 to 35 mL/s, the initial response times of water content, pore water pressure, and earth pressure at the rear edge decreased from 1205, 1488, and 888 s to 160, 248, and 112 s, respectively. Meanwhile, the gully formation time shortened from 6810 to 336 s, and the time of the first evident collapse decreased from 5758 to 650 s. Under low-runoff conditions, slope deformation was dominated by infiltration-induced softening and progressive creep. Under moderate to high runoff conditions, gully incision and gully-wall collapse accelerated slope disintegration, resulting in soil–water mixed transport and enhanced mobility of failed materials. Concentrated rear runoff drives the slope through successive stages of initial deformation, structural disintegration of the slope, flow-like failure, and toe deposition. These findings provide experimental evidence for the identification and prevention of landslides controlled by rear runoff. Full article

Conventional liquid springs enable storage of energy in the form of interfacial tension at forcibly wetted lyophobic surfaces. The pressure–volume work performed to compress the liquid into a poorly wettable porous medium is recovered during spontaneous expulsion when pressure falls below the capillary pressure characteristic of a given system. Our study explores generalizations to easily wettable materials where liquid infiltration is opposed solely by steric hindrance exerted on liquid molecules in micro-sized pores. The concept is exemplified in molecular simulations of prototypical model systems with methanol intruding narrow slits between hydrocarbon or graphene surfaces. While these materials show significant wetting propensities at macroscopic interfaces with liquid methanol, substantial compression is required to wet molecular-sized pores barely accommodating a monolayer of liquid molecules. The observed O(10³) bar intrusion pressures secure stored energy densities competitive with supercapacitors and amenable to improvement. Wall–liquid attraction and small pore diameters lead to intrusion–expulsion pathways along cooperative-adsorption isotherms. The process avoids abrupt liquid/vapor transitions and associated nucleation barriers, responsible for cycle hysteresis in experiments with water in hydrophobic capillaries. Using open ensemble (Grand Canonical) Monte Carlo sampling, we identify the range of porosities supporting reversible energy storage/recovery operation in lyophilic media; the results can assist with the design of molecular spring devices with competitive storage and power capacities in pragmatic contexts. Full article

Rainfall contributes to slope instability when infiltrating water reduces matric suction and elevates pore water pressure beyond critical thresholds. Empirical rainfall intensity–duration (I-D) thresholds define the minimum rainfall conditions necessary to initiate landslides and are widely adopted in regional early warning systems. This study derives I-D thresholds for shallow landslide initiation in South-East Queensland (SEQ), Australia, using quantile regression applied to 104 rainfall-induced shallow landslide events recorded between 1974 and 2018. Thresholds at the 2nd, 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles were derived over a duration range of 0.3 to 383 h and intensity range of 0.15 to 13.7 mm h⁻¹. The 2nd percentile, adopted as the conservative regional early warning threshold, is expressed as I = 0.719 × D^−0.220, where I is rainfall intensity (mm h⁻¹) and D is event duration (h). To facilitate inter-regional comparability, normalised thresholds expressed in terms of mean annual precipitation (MAP) were also derived, yielding a 2nd percentile threshold of I_MAP = 6.070 × 10⁻⁴ × D^−0.207. Both I-D and I_MAP -D thresholds fall substantially below existing global benchmarks, reflecting the pronounced susceptibility of SEQ’s deeply weathered residual soils to infiltration-driven failure. Independent validation against real-time tilt sensor and volumetric water content monitoring data from five kinematic failure events recorded at Maleny, Queensland (2016–2020), confirmed that all events plotted above the 2nd percentile threshold, with zero false negatives. The results provide a quantitative, operationally validated framework for regional shallow landslide early warning in subtropical Australia. Full article

Rainfall-induced instability of gravelly silt slopes is strongly affected by infiltration, runoff erosion, pore water pressure evolution, and particle-scale degradation. In this study, laboratory rainfall model tests were conducted on gravelly silt slopes under three extreme rainfall intensities of 80, 120, and 160 mm/h, and an FVM-DEM coupled model was developed to investigate the associated hydromechanical response and failure mechanism. The tested soil was obtained from the Shanghai East Railway Station project, and the 30% gravel content was selected to represent the typical field condition. Pore water pressure gauges and laser displacement sensors were used to monitor the infiltration response and slope deformation. The results show that all three slopes developed shallow instability, but the deformation rate and failure mode changed with rainfall intensity. Under the tested infiltration-excess conditions, the additional rainfall mainly increased surface runoff, toe erosion, and failed mass mobility rather than proportionally increasing the infiltration depth. The numerical results further indicate that failure evolved through equivalent fine matrix mobilization, gravel destabilization, skeleton collapse, and matrix-entrained gravel movement. These findings clarify the progressive instability mechanism of gravelly silt model slopes under extreme rainfall and provide experimental evidence for slope protection under short-duration, high-intensity rainfall. Full article

Background: Differentiation therapy is a cornerstone in treating hematologic malignancies, particularly acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Differentiation agents target molecular defects blocking myeloid differentiation. However, rapid differentiation can precipitate a life-threatening complication, differentiation syndrome (DS). DS manifests with fever, pulmonary infiltrates, pleural or pericardial effusions, hypotension, and organ dysfunction, often mimicking sepsis or infection. Early recognition in the emergency department (ED) is critical to mitigate morbidity and mortality. This review aims to provide emergency clinicians with practical strategies for the timely identification and management of DS in patients undergoing differentiation therapy. Discussion: Suspicion for DS should be heightened in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3 AML) who recently started induction chemotherapy, including all-trans retinoic acid or arsenic trioxide, and in those with non-M3 AML receiving differentiation agents (i.e., isocitrate dehydrogenase inhibitors, menin inhibitors, FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 inhibitors). Imaging can identify pulmonary infiltrates, effusions, and other cardiopulmonary manifestations. Laboratory workups should include complete blood counts with differentials, serum chemistries, cardiac biomarkers, and sepsis panels to exclude infection. Electrocardiography is advised for patients on QT-prolonging agents. Management emphasizes prompt initiation of high-dose corticosteroids and supportive measures such as blood pressure support, intravascular volume optimization, and oxygen therapy or ventilatory support. Multidisciplinary coordination with oncology, hematology, and critical care teams is important to tailor plans and monitor complications. Conclusions: DS represents a diagnostic challenge in the ED due to its nonspecific presentation and mimicry of infection. A high index of suspicion, combined with targeted imaging, laboratory evaluation, and early corticosteroid therapy, can improve outcomes. Full article

Reaction-bonded SiC (RBSC) ceramics exhibit limited hydrothermal corrosion resistance due to the presence of residual silicon. This study presents a strategy to enhance the corrosion resistance of RBSC through homogeneous incorporation of MoSi₂ and concurrent reduction in residual silicon content. Three material systems were fabricated via reactive melt infiltration: conventional RBSC with a SiC/C preform (SC), a SiC–MoSi₂ composite incorporating commercial Mo₂C powder via physical mixing (MC), and a SiC–MoSi₂ composite derived from a Mo₂C/C precursor synthesized by a molten salt method (MS). The Mo₂C/C composite synthesized at 1150 °C exhibited fine, uniformly distributed Mo₂C particles coated on carbon black, contrasting with the agglomerated distribution in commercial Mo₂C mixtures. During reactive sintering at 1600 °C, Mo₂C reacted with molten Si to form MoSi₂, reducing residual Si content. Sample MS achieved the lowest residual Si (8.77 ± 0.45 vol.%), followed by MC (12.43 ± 0.86 vol.%) and SC (19.17 ± 1.01 vol.%). All samples achieved near-full densification (open porosity < 0.1%), with bulk densities of 2.96 ± 0.05, 3.03 ± 0.03, and 3.07 ± 0.03 g/cm³ for SC, MC, and MS, respectively. Microstructurally, MS displayed homogeneous MoSi₂ dispersion, while MC showed partial MoSi₂ aggregation, and SC contained continuous residual Si regions. Hydrothermal corrosion tests at 345 °C and 15 MPa for 9 days demonstrated that corrosion resistance followed the order MS > MC > SC. After 9 days, weight loss was 22.3970 ± 1.2059 mg/cm² (SC), 17.6370 ± 0.8266 mg/cm² (MC), and 15.4347 ± 0.7807 mg/cm² (MS), with corrosion depths of 393.17 ± 27.46, 267.40 ± 24.44, and 224.60 ± 25.13 μm, respectively. The enhanced performance of MS arises from two synergistic factors: reduced residual Si minimizes large corrosion pores, while uniform distribution of MoSi₂ facilitates the formation of a stable, dissolution-resistant composite oxide layer composed of MoO₃ and SiO₂, in which MoO₃ restrains excessive dissolution of SiO₂ through a pinning effect. These findings demonstrate that combining residual Si reduction with homogeneous MoSi₂ incorporation via molten salt-synthesized precursors offers an effective strategy for improving hydrothermal corrosion resistance of reaction-bonded SiC-based materials for applications in high-temperature and high-pressure aqueous environments such as nuclear water reactors. Full article

Plasma-sprayed yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings are critical to enhancing the performance of thermal barrier coatings in gas turbines and aero-engines; however, their service life is significantly constrained by microstructural evolution and multi-mechanism coupling effects. Focusing on plasma spraying process routes (atmospheric plasma spraying, APS; suspension plasma spraying/solution precursor plasma spraying, SPS/SPPS; low-pressure plasma spraying, LPPS) and key process parameters as primary input variables, this review systematically analyzes their regulatory roles in microstructural characteristics such as porosity and crack density. Available studies indicate that distinct process routes give rise to pronounced structural differences: the porosity of APS coatings is 10%–20%, that of SPS/SPPS coatings is 15%–30%, and that of LPPS coatings is 1%–8%. After thermal exposure above 1100 °C, the porosity decreases to 6%–12%, 8%–18%, and 0.5%–3%, respectively, while the thermal conductivity increases to a maximum of approximately 2.5 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ and the Young’s modulus rises to 60–220 GPa. Further analysis reveals that mechanisms such as sintering densification, phase destabilization, thermally grown oxide (TGO) interfacial stress accumulation, and calcium–magnesium–alumino-silicate (CMAS) infiltration exert coupled amplification effects through microstructural evolution, thereby accelerating coating failure. On this basis, emerging regulation strategies are evaluated: the CMAS penetration depth of high-entropy oxides at 1300 °C for 5 h is only about 1/7 that of conventional YSZ, the thermal cycling life of self-healing coatings is enhanced by up to 4.2 times, and the crack density is reduced by approximately 35%. Finally, it is proposed that a quantitative prediction model integrating “structural parameters–evolution kinetics–service life” should be established, and that anti-sintering design, gradient structures, and functionalized systems be combined to enable the transition of YSZ coatings from empirical optimization to predictable design. Full article

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains one of the most challenging forms of cancer to treat, despite that extensive molecular profiling is now available. Indeed, intratumoral cellular heterogeneity, receptor redundancy, and adaptive resistance through compensatory signaling limit the impact of targeted therapies. Moreover, immunotherapies also underperform: checkpoint blockade and vaccine strategies did not obtain consistent benefits in a low mutational burden, poorly immunogenic tumor microenvironment (TME) dominated by immunosuppressive myeloid cells. In this article, we provide evidence that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), a form of CNS resident microglia and infiltrating macrophage, derived from bone marrow, adopt a spatially and transcriptionally distinct, non-binary continuum, shaped by tumor-derived signals and niche constraints, allowing glioma cells to resist to immune and pharmaceutical therapeutics. Metabolic rewiring, including hypoxia-linked glycolytic pressure, lactate signaling, and lipid-associated programs, determine immunosuppressive outputs and restrict plasticity, while epigenetic imprinting (DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin regulators) stabilizes these programs and limits access to inflammatory loci. We discuss how stem cell secretome, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargo may act as tunable autocrine/paracrine inputs that may bias microglial regulatory control. Finally, we highlight major translational confounders, including EV operational definitions, blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability and regional exposure, inconsistent dosing units, mixed myeloid compartments, and manufacturing dependent variability. Therefore, an exposure-aware framework that integrates product identity, delivery evidence, state-sensitive potency assays, and functional endpoints would be highly desirable. Full article

This study evaluated permeable pavements through field tests on pedestrian and vehicular sites. Infiltration rates were measured before and after vacuum cleaning and pressure washing, supported by sediment analysis. Results show that pedestrian pavements maintained high performance, while vehicular pavements experienced severe clogging. Pressure washing restored infiltration more effectively, whereas vacuum cleaning is more practical for routine maintenance. Timely interventions are essential to ensure long-term functionality. Full article

A male castrated Shih Tzu was evaluated for recurrent nocturnal episodes of acute respiratory distress accompanied by hemoptysis and transient erythrocytosis. The dog was clinically normal between episodes, but each nighttime event was severe and prompted repeated emergency visits. During each emergency presentation, thoracic radiographs revealed severe diffuse interstitial-to-alveolar pulmonary infiltrates, and packed cell volume showed marked but reversible increases. A stepwise diagnostic evaluation, including serial indirect blood pressure measurement, coagulation assessment, echocardiography, and bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage, progressively excluded typical infectious, cardiac, structural, and coagulopathic causes of hemoptysis and acute respiratory distress. Given the stereotyped pattern of near-acute crises with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and hemoptysis, mechanisms analogous to noncardiogenic pulmonary edema or exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage were considered. Therapeutic trials with sildenafil and furosemide failed to prevent further nocturnal recurrences. Considering concurrent transient PCV surges and the proposed role of catecholamine-driven splenic contraction as a rapidly mobilizable erythrocyte reservoir, a sympathetically mediated process was suspected, and α₁-adrenergic blockade with prazosin was initiated. Following prazosin therapy, sustained clinical remission was achieved, with no further emergency episodes over a 17.5-month follow-up period. The response may have reflected multiple pharmacological effects of prazosin, including attenuation of sympathetically mediated splenic α₁-adrenergic activity, systemic vasodilation, and reduction in venous return. This unique case suggests that dysregulation of the sympathetic nervous system may have contributed to the recurrent hemoptysis and acute respiratory distress and highlights adrenergic modulation as a potential therapeutic consideration in similar cases. Full article

Serpentinites and associated chromitites of the Neoproterozoic Bou Azzer ophiolite (Central Anti-Atlas, Morocco) provide key constraints on mantle depletion, melt–rock interaction, and the tectono-metamorphic evolution of a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) system. This study integrates field observations, petrography, Raman spectroscopy, and whole-rock/mineral chemistry to decipher the history of this highly dismembered ultramafic suite. The mantle sequence is dominated by antigorite-bearing serpentinites derived primarily from refractory harzburgitic and dunitic protoliths. Whole-rock geochemistry and highly depleted chromite compositions (Cr# = 0.50–0.68; Mg# = 0.43–0.77; TiO₂ ≤ 0.18 wt.%) demonstrate that these peridotites represent refractory residues formed after high degrees of partial melting (~15–25%). The data delineate a clear evolutionary trend from abyssal to fore-arc and back-arc environments, where infiltrating boninitic melts drove localized podiform chromitite formation through intense melt–rock interaction. Crucially, thermodynamic and mineral–chemical constraints challenge previous models of simple greenschist-facies obduction. Equilibration temperatures exceeding 600 °C and chromite stability within the lower amphibolite to near-granulite facies indicate that the oceanic lithosphere underwent deep subduction prior to its exhumation. This high-temperature, high-pressure metamorphism was followed by multistage retrogressive serpentinization and intense CO₂-rich metasomatism (talc-magnesite alteration) during Pan-African transpressional tectonics. Ultimately, the Bou Azzer ophiolite represents a mature SSZ mantle wedge, recording a complete geodynamic cycle from deep subduction-zone metamorphism to final tectonic emplacement along the northern margin of the West African Craton. Full article