Search Results (177)

The strategic choice of training system is essential for adapting viticulture to current climate change, ensuring a balance of physiological efficiency and the sustainability of productivity and oenological quality. This study evaluated the effects of vertical shoot positioning and foldable lyre systems (set at angles of 20°, 30° and 40°) on the physiological performance and yield of ‘Merlot’ grapevines. The experiment was conducted in a humid temperate region in Brazil over two consecutive seasons. The experiment followed a randomized block design. The variables evaluated included: the number of clusters per shoot, cluster weight, pruning weight, Ravaz Index, leaf area and yield; gas exchange parameters such as net CO₂ assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, rubisco carboxylation efficiency, intercellular CO₂ concentration and photosynthetic photon flux density; and chemical composition of berries such as pH, Total Soluble Solids and Titratable Acidity. The data were subjected to an analysis of variance, and the means were compared using Tukey’s test at a 5% probability level. The results indicated that canopy architecture significantly influenced solar radiation interception, with the 30° and 40° foldable lyre systems achieving the highest mean daily radiation levels, exceeding the vertical positioning system by 73.7% and 76.6%, respectively. Although gas exchange at the leaf level remained comparable across all systems, agronomic performance varied considerably. The 40° foldable lyre system achieved the highest yield (22.99 t ha⁻¹), representing a 63.1% increase over the vertical positioning system (14.10 t ha⁻¹). The number of buds in the foldable lyre systems increased by around 70%, which is closely in line with the observed increase in yield. In addition, the foldable lyre systems provided about 40% more leaf area than the vertical positioning system. These findings suggest that divided canopy systems, such as foldable lyre systems, particularly at 30° and 40°, optimize bud load, fruitfulness per shoot, light interception and significantly increase yield without compromising individual physiological efficiency and berry chemical composition, with a balance between vegetation and fruit load preserved and with positive effects on the ripeness and quality of the grapes. Full article

Historic cities face a dual challenge of managing waterlogging risks while adhering to strict preservation constraints. Traditional drainage upgrades often require extensive excavation, threatening cultural heritage. This study establishes a quantitative assessment framework for the historic urban district of City B using a 1D-2D-coupled hydrodynamic model (InfoWorks ICM). The model was calibrated using continuous monitoring data, achieving a Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) of 0.91. Its spatial accuracy was subsequently validated against historical waterlogging records, showing a strong consistency between simulated flood-prone areas and observed flood locations. We simulated waterlogging distribution under rainfall events with return periods of 0.5 to 5 years. Results reveal two key deficiencies in the current drainage system under a 0.5-year return period storm event. Firstly, 75.3% of the pipe segments are hydraulically overloaded, failing to meet the design standard. Secondly, this widespread network overload contributes to surface waterlogging, with 9.58 ha (1.80% of the total area) being waterlogged. We evaluated three strategies: Low Impact Development (LID), underground storage tanks, and intercepting sewers. A hybrid grey-green infrastructure (HGGI) system was proposed, integrating source reduction and terminal storage. The HGGI system reduced waterlogged areas by 83.58% (0.5-year event) and 64.87% (5-year event), outperforming single measures. Crucially, this hybrid system achieves minimal intervention in historic street patterns through trenchless construction for intercepting sewers, decentralized LID layout and underground storage tanks, avoiding large-scale road excavation while enhancing flood resilience. This study demonstrates that hybrid strategies can effectively balance flood resilience with environmental and cultural preservation in high-density historic districts. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) persist in wastewater treatment systems owing to their durability and mobility. As critical interception points, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) receive MPs from diverse domestic and industrial sources. This review synthesizes peer-reviewed studies (2009–2026) to evaluate MP mass flux, in-plant transformation, and elimination across primary, secondary, and tertiary stages. While conventional processes typically remove 60–90% of MPs, advanced tertiary technologies, such as membrane bioreactors and rapid sand filtration, can achieve efficiencies exceeding 95%. The fate of MPs is governed by density-driven settling and biological aggregation; however, the significant accumulation of MPs in sewage sludge represents a critical pathway for environmental re-entry. This review highlights key knowledge gaps, including inconsistent analytical methodologies, evidence of in-plant fragmentation generating nanoplastics (NPs), and uncertainties regarding full-scale mass flows. Furthermore, the review synthesizes mass flux data to clarify the partitioning of MPs between the effluent and sludge, identifying biosolids as a primary sink. The review concludes by proposing a transition from physical separation to elimination technologies (e.g., AOPs), alongside standardized monitoring and regulatory frameworks, to achieve sustainable reductions in MP emissions. Full article

Modern multi-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) attacks pose significant challenges to existing counter-UAV frameworks due to their agility, irregular spatial formations, and increasing reliance on intelligent evasive behaviors. This paper proposes a unified interception architecture that integrates Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) for multi-target grouping, a deceptive waypoint sequencing (DWS) mechanism for adversarial evasion, and a robust sliding-mode backstepping controller augmented with extended state observers (ESOs) for precise tracking under disturbances. DBSCAN enables real-time clustering of attacking UAVs without prior knowledge of the number of formations, producing dynamic centroids that serve as tactical interception references. To counter risky attackers capable of predicting defender trajectories, a novel DWS strategy introduces centroid-relative waypoints that preserve mission objectives while reducing trajectory predictability. Lyapunov-based analysis is developed for stability, guaranteeing uniform ultimate boundedness of the tracking errors. The proposed approach achieves successful interception in both scenarios, with an interception time of 7 s and final interception error of $0.023$ m in the single-UAV case, and an interception time of 8 s with final interception error of $0.050$ m in the multiple-UAV case, whereas the PID baseline fails to achieve interception under the same conditions. Extensive simulations involving single and multi-cluster engagements demonstrate that the proposed strategy achieves fast, accurate, and deception-resilient interception, outperforming the conventional PID approach in the presence of disturbances, nonlinearities, and dynamic swarm configurations. The obtained results show the effectiveness of integrating adaptive clustering, deceptive planning, and robust nonlinear control for modern UAV–UAV defensive operations. Full article

Fusion energy represents humanity’s most promising solution for achieving limitless, carbon-free power. The superconducting Tokamak has emerged as the primary pathway to realize this goal. China’s systematic multi-phase strategy, progressing from the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) partnership, and now advancing the China Fusion Engineering Demonstration Reactor (CFEDR), has catalyzed transformative innovations in fusion magnet technology, including the development of high-current-density Cable-in-Conduit Conductors (CICC) using both low-temperature superconductors (LTSs) and high temperature superconductors (HTSs), radiation-resistant ultra-low-resistance joints enabling efficient power transfer, multi-sensor quench detection systems with millisecond-level response for magnet integrity preservation, and cryogenic thermal management via multi-stage heat interception zones. This accumulated expertise in superconducting magnet technologies will accelerate the commercialization of fusion energy. Full article

Adult obesity rates have risen steadily across the United States over the past decade, with more than 40% of adults affected. Persistent geographic and demographic disparities exist in obesity prevalence across the nation. While prior research has examined individual or environmental associated factors of obesity, limited studies have addressed both physical activity and food environments across the nation using multilevel approaches. This cross-sectional ecological study (2014–2024) used a two-level random intercept model to assess the association between county- and state-level factors and adult obesity prevalence across over 3000 U.S. counties nested within 51 states. County-level associated factors included food insecurity, poverty, unemployment, median household income, limited access to stores, and the density of various food outlets (grocery stores, convenience stores, supercenters, fast-food restaurants, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-authorized retailers, and farmers’ markets), along with access to recreational facilities. State-level factors included SNAP benefits per capita and the presence of soda and chip taxes. Variables were group-mean- or grand-mean-centered to distinguish within- and between-state effects. Results showed that food insecurity, poverty, unemployment, limited access to stores, and a higher density of fast-food and convenience stores were positively associated with adult obesity prevalence. While higher recreational facility access, supercenter availability, median household income, SNAP benefits per capita were associated with lower adult obesity prevalence, these associations varied in strength across counties and states. These results emphasize the need for place-based strategies that address both the physical activity and food environment in shaping obesity disparities. Full article

Objectives: The Eight-chop technique is a mechanically based nuclear segmentation method designed to improve surgical efficiency and reduce intraocular tissue stress during phacoemulsification. Early postoperative aqueous flare serves as an objective indicator of surgical invasiveness, whereas corneal endothelial cell density (CECD) loss represents a structural measure of endothelial injury. Although both parameters are clinically important, their relationship has not been systematically investigated in the context of this newer mechanical fragmentation approach. Methods: This prospective observational study included 118 eyes from 70 non-diabetic patients undergoing uncomplicated Eight-chop phacoemulsification. Aqueous flare was measured preoperatively and at postoperative Day 1, Day 7, Week 7, and Week 19 using laser flare photometry. CECD was evaluated preoperatively and at Weeks 7 and 19. Changes over time were analyzed using paired t-tests. Linear mixed-effects models (random intercept = patient ID) were constructed to assess predictors of CECD loss and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction. Explanatory variables included Day 1 flare, age, preoperative CECD, nucleus hardness (Emery-Little grade), cumulative dissipated energy (CDE), and irrigation fluid volume. Results: Postoperative flare increased significantly at all time points (all p < 0.001), peaking on Day 7 (16.7 ± 9.21 photon counts/ms). CECD loss was extremely small, averaging 1.38% at Week 7 and 1.46% at Week 19. In mixed-effects models, Day 1 flare was not associated with CECD loss at Week 7 (p = 0.35) or Week 19 (p = 0.85). Significant predictors of CECD loss included Emery-Little grade (p = 0.004 at Week 7; p = 0.025 at Week 19), with borderline contributions from CDE and irrigation volume. IOP decreased significantly at Weeks 7 and 19; however, Day 1 flare did not predict IOP reduction. Conclusions: Eight-chop phacoemulsification produced uniformly low postoperative inflammation and exceptionally small corneal endothelial cell loss. Early postoperative flare did not predict CECD loss, suggesting that the Eight-chop technique provides a highly standardized, low-invasiveness surgical environment. These findings suggest that the Eight-chop technique lowers ultrasound energy requirements and may help reduce corneal endothelial stress relative to standard phacoemulsification. Full article

Context: Optimizing nitrogen application and planting density is critical for achieving high yields and increasing lodging resistance in crops. However, the agronomic mechanisms underlying these benefits remain unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate the relationships among light distribution within the canopy, photosynthetic capacity, root architecture, yield, and lodging resistance in sweet corn. Methods: A two-year field experiment (2024–2025) was conducted using a split-plot design with two factors: nitrogen application levels as main plots (namely, N150 and N200; 150 kg/ha and 200 kg/ha, respectively) and three planting densities as sub-plots (D20, D25, and D30, representing plant spacing of 20 cm, 25 cm, and 30 cm, respectively, with a fixed row spacing of 80 cm). Results: At a given planting density, N150-treated plants exhibited significantly enhanced basal stem node strength and root architecture compared to those treated with N200. These improvements were closely associated with the increase in light interception rate (IR) into the lower canopy under N150. Consequently, root-lodging resistance increased, reducing the root lodging rate by 80.82% (7.32% vs. 13.21% under N200). Due to these advantages, the average yield of N150-treated plants was higher than that of N200-treated plants (+3.16%). Notably, increasing planting density emerged as the primary factor driving ear yield improvement, with the highest yield observed under the N150D20 group plants, which can reach ~29 t/ha. Conclusion: Coordinating nitrogen input with appropriate planting density improves vertical light distribution, particularly in the middle and lower canopy, thereby strengthening the basal stem and root systems and enhancing root lodging resistance and yield. Implication: These findings offer practical guidance for achieving high sweet corn yields by integrating canopy light management with optimized nitrogen application and planting density, and provide scientific guidance on “smart canopy” selection for sweet corn breeding. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance of eight maize hybrids under different plant densities for grain yield in the North and Northwest regions of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Maize productivity is strongly influenced by planting density, which affects light interception, resource competition, and grain yield. Understanding the optimal density for specific hybrids is essential to maximizing production under varying environmental conditions. The hybrids were evaluated in two locations (Campos dos Goytacazes and Itaocara) using four plant densities (50,000; 66,667; 83,333; and 100,000 plants ha⁻¹). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications in a split-plot arrangement. Traits evaluated included plant height, ear height, ear length and diameter, 100-grain weight, and grain yield. Planting density significantly affected ear length, ear diameter, 100-grain weight, and grain yield, with higher densities generally reducing morphological traits but increasing overall yield. No significant genotype × density interaction was detected, but some hybrids, such as UENF 506-16 and UENF 506-11, performed better at specific densities, standing out for productivity and economic return. These results indicate that increasing plant density can be an effective strategy for maximizing maize yield in the studied environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Evidence regarding the associations between coffee and tea consumption and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women remains inconclusive. Prior studies have not examined these relationships using repeated measures of both beverage intake and BMD over an extended follow-up. This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal associations of coffee and tea consumption with BMD in older women. Methods: Data were drawn from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF), a prospective cohort of 9704 women aged ≥65 years. Coffee and tea intake were repeatedly assessed via self-administered questionnaires at visits 2, 4, 5, and 6, spanning approximately 10 years. Femoral neck and total hip BMD were repeatedly measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Linear mixed-effects models with random intercepts were used to estimate associations, adjusting for demographic, physical activity, comorbidities, and medication use. Nonlinear relationships were assessed using natural splines, and subgroup analyses were conducted using exposure-by-covariate interaction terms. Results: During the 10-year follow-up, tea consumption was positively associated with total hip BMD (least squares mean: 0.718 vs. 0.715 g/cm²; mean difference: 0.003; 95% CI: 0.000–0.005; p = 0.026). No significant overall association was observed on coffee consumption with femoral neck or total hip BMD. However, spline analyses suggested that consuming more than five cups of coffee per day may be associated with lower BMD. Interaction analyses indicated significant interactions between coffee and alcohol intake (p = 0.0147) and between tea consumption and BMI (p = 0.0175). Conclusions: Tea consumption was associated with higher total hip BMD in postmenopausal women, whereas excessive coffee intake (>5 cups/day) may adversely affect BMD. Coffee consumption was negatively associated with femoral neck BMD in women with higher alcohol intake, while tea consumption appeared particularly beneficial for those with obesity. Full article

The factors influencing urban pluvial flooding in cities with complex topography, such as hill–basin systems, are highly nonlinear and spatially heterogeneous due to the interplay between rugged terrain and intensive human activities. However, previous research has predominantly focused on plain, mountainous, and coastal cities. As a result, the waterlogging mechanisms in hill–basin areas remain notably understudied. In this study, we developed a geographically explainable artificial intelligence (GeoXAI) framework integrating Geographical Machine Learning Regression (GeoMLR) and Geographical Shapley (GeoShapley) values to analyze nonlinear impacts of flooding factors in Changsha, a typical hill–basin city. The XGBoost model was employed to predict flooding risk (validation AUC = 0.8597, R² = 0.8973), while the GeoMLR model verified stable nonlinear driving relationships between factors and flooding susceptibility (test set R² = 0.7546)—both supporting the proposal of targeted zonal regulation strategies. Results indicated that impervious surface density (ISD), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and slope are the dominant drivers of flooding, with each exhibiting distinct nonlinear threshold effects (ISD > 0.35, NDVI < 0.70, Slope < 5°) that differ significantly from those identified in plain, mountainous, or coastal regions. Spatial analysis further revealed that topography regulates flooding by controlling convergence pathways and flow velocity, while vegetation mitigates flooding through enhanced interception and infiltration, showing complementary effects across zones. Based on these findings, we proposed tailored zonal management strategies. This study not only advances the mechanistic understanding of urban waterlogging in hill–basin regions but also provides a transferable GeoXAI framework offering a robust methodological foundation for flood resilience planning in topographically complex cities. Full article

This work presents and evaluates two threshold-based detection methods for the Six-State quantum key distribution protocol, considering a realistic scenario involving partial intercept–resend attack and channel noise. The statistical properties of the shared quantum bit error rate (QBER) are analyzed and used to estimate the attacker interception density from observed data. Building on this foundation, the work derives two optimal QBER detection thresholds designed to minimize both false positive and false negative rates, following, respectively, upper theoretical bounds and limit probability density function approach. A developed Qiskit simulation environment enables the evaluation and comparison of the two detection methods on simulated and real-inspired quantum systems with differing noise characteristics. This framework moves beyond theoretical analysis, allowing practical investigation of system noise effects on detection accuracy. Simulation results confirm that both methods are robust and effective, achieving high detection accuracy across all the tested configurations, thereby validating their applicability to real-world quantum communication systems. Full article

Accurate forecasts of the U.S. renewable energy consumption mix are essential for planning transmission upgrades, sizing storage, and setting balancing market rules. We introduce a Bayesian Dirichlet ARMA model (BDARMA) tailored to monthly shares of hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, wood, municipal waste, and biofuels from January 2010 through January 2025. The mean vector is modeled with a parsimonious VAR(2) in additive log ratio space, while the Dirichlet concentration parameter follows an intercept plus five Fourier harmonics, allowing for seasonal widening and narrowing of predictive dispersion. Forecast performance is assessed with a 61-split rolling origin experiment that issues twelve month density forecasts from January 2019 to January 2024. Compared with three alternatives (a Gaussian VAR(2) fitted in transform space, a seasonal naive approach that repeats last year’s proportions, and a drift-free ALR random walk), BDARMA lowers the mean continuous ranked probability score by 15 to 60 percent, achieves componentwise 90 percent interval coverage near nominal, and maintains point accuracy (Aitchison RMSE) on par with the Gaussian VAR through eight months and within 0.02 units afterward. These results highlight BDARMA’s ability to deliver sharp and well-calibrated probabilistic forecasts for multivariate renewable energy shares without sacrificing point precision. Full article

After water gushing occurs in a coal mine roadway, abundant aggregate needs to be perfused into the water gush roadway to establish a water interception section and reduce the current velocity. Clarifying the water-intercepting aggregate motion path and quantitatively calculating the displacement distance are critical for determining perfusion hole spacing. This paper employs the CFD-DEM coupling approach, which is capable of accurately characterizing the water gush continuous flow properties and the aggregate discrete motion behavior. This can be used to simulate and analyze the water-intercepting aggregate motion in a water gush roadway, categorizing it into three phases: free fall, curvilinear projectile, and sliding. The theoretical motion model aggregate can be developed, and the calculation formulas for aggregate motion distances in each phase derived. A parameter test scheme was designed and combined with numerical simulation methods to verify the accuracy of the formulas. Finally, based on this research, it is proposed that the theoretical model can be used to dynamically optimize the design of perfusion hole spacing, maximizing the synergistic effect of multi-hole perfusion. The selection of aggregate density and size should ensure the vector sum of the aggregate motion distance in phase II and III approaches zero, thereby improving the water-intercepting efficiency. Full article

To address low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) derived from excessive fertilization in cotton production in the Yellow River Basin, a field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of two planting densities and six nitrogen (N) rate levels. Key results show that a N rate of 225 kg ha⁻¹ optimized root length density and root biomass density. High planting density (105,000 plants ha⁻¹) improved the population-level root traits, photosynthetic radiation interception, and boll number per unit area, though it reduced individual plant root development. Total dry matter peaked at 225 kg ha⁻¹ N, and density increased reproductive dry matter by 7.5–11.9%. Higher N rates reduced reproductive partitioning and root–shoot ratio. While the maximum seed cotton yield (SCY) was 225 kg ha⁻¹, near-maximum yield was achieved at 150 kg ha⁻¹. NUE declined with increasing N, but densification improved agronomic NUE and partial factor productivity by 1.5–6.6% and 3.3–39.3%, respectively. Under the “densification with N reduction” mode, combining a planting density of 105,000 plants·ha⁻¹ with an N rate of 150 kg·ha⁻¹ achieved conventional yield. At the same density, an N rate of 225 kg·ha⁻¹ not only enabled high yield and maintained relatively high NUE but also showed better adaptability to the simplified cultivation mode in Yellow River Basin cotton-growing regions. Full article