Search Results (2,359)

Though many food systems on Earth offer benefits to space travelers, their ability to meet the demands of spaceflight remains unestablished. This study examines the application of magnesium oxide-coated halloysite nanotubes (MgO-HNTs), synthesized via electrodeposition, to enhance seed germination and early plant development under Earth, lunar, and Martian soil conditions. Successful surface modification was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Growth experiments with Heirloom Cherry Tomato and Golden Tomato seeds were conducted under hydroponic and soil-based conditions and subsequently extended to lunar and Martian regolith simulants. A Response Surface Methodology approach, based on a Box-Behnken Design, evaluated the effects of temperature, MgO-HNT concentration, and light duration on multiple growth responses, identifying seedling length and the root length stress tolerance index (RLSI) as the most responsive indicators of treatment. Optimal conditions (25 °C, 12 h photoperiod, 100 mg/mL MgO-HNTs) produced the greatest increases in root and shoot length in Earth soil. In lunar regolith, optimal root development occurred at 100 mg/mL (root length: 17.7 mm, shoot length: 5.08 mm, RLSI: 141.1%, germination: 80%), whereas Martian regolith peaked at 10 mg/mL (root length: 12.3 mm, shoot length: 4.28 mm, RLSI: 167.9%, germination: 100%), which may be associated with differences in the physicochemical properties of the two substrates. These findings offer preliminary evidence that MgO-HNTs can enhance early plant development across terrestrial and extraterrestrial substrates. As this study was limited to a single crop species under short-term, controlled laboratory conditions without direct physiological or biochemical biomarker measurements, further validation will be required to support broader agricultural or in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) applications. Full article

The development of sensitive, low–cost, and visually readable dosimeters for low gamma–ray exposures is important for occupational and environmental radiation monitoring and for other low–dose applications. This work investigates a colorimetric and optical thin–film dosimeter based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) containing silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and hafnium oxide (HfO₂). The film was fabricated using a solution–casting technique. The dosimetric response was evaluated over an absorbed–dose range of 22.2–65.2 mGy using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Kubelka–Munk (K/S) analysis, CIELAB colorimetry, CMYK image–based analysis, and X–ray diffraction (XRD). Irradiation produced a dose–dependent decrease in visible reflectance and a corresponding increase in optical absorption. The K/S response increased with dose, while CIELAB analysis showed a systematic decrease in lightness and an increase in total color difference (${\Delta \mathrm{E}}_{ab}^{\ast }$), reaching approximately 25 at 65.2 mGy. Linear regression of ${\Delta \mathrm{E}}_{ab}^{\ast }$ over 0–65.2 mGy gave y = 0.399x − 1.0029 with R² = 0.9845. CMYK analysis also showed a clear dose response, with the yellow channel (ΔY) exhibiting the largest relative change among the chromatic channels. XRD identified monoclinic HfO₂ as the dominant crystalline filler phase and showed dose–associated changes in peak intensity, peak position, and the relative prominence of the broad PVA–related feature. At the highest XRD dose, several HfO₂ reflections weakened while the broad contribution near 2θ ≈ 19.9–20° became more prominent. These changes are interpreted as dose–dependent structural modification and partial loss of resolved crystalline order rather than definitive evidence of a newly formed crystalline phase. A surface morphology and microstructure analysis was performed on control and γ–ray–irradiated PVA/HfO₂/AgNO₃ nanocomposite films using scanning electron microscopy (SEM–EDX). The morphological transition to fibrous, tree trunk–like structures seen by SEM is well correlated with the dose–dependent change in composition to higher surface Ag content, supporting the idea that radiation–induced Ag nanoparticle nucleation and growth is the primary degradation mechanism in the irradiated films. The combined optical and colorimetric results demonstrate a measurable response of the PVA/HfO₂/AgNO₃ formulation in the investigated low–mGy gamma–ray range. Full article

Digital visual marketing increasingly relies on aesthetically modified social media content to attract consumers, yet such practices may also create authenticity risks when online representations are compared with actual experiences. This study examines how four visual modification cues in destination photos—light–shadow atmosphere, tone enhancement, framing angle, and focus prominence—shape post-visit destination trust, value co-destruction, and revisit intention, and whether persuasion knowledge moderates these effects. Survey data from 572 tourists who viewed Chongqing-related social media photos before visiting the city were analyzed using structural equation modeling, bootstrap mediation analysis, and hierarchical regression. Tone enhancement, framing angle, and focus prominence increased destination trust, whereas light–shadow atmosphere did not. Light–shadow atmosphere, tone enhancement, and framing angle increased value co-destruction, whereas focus prominence did not. Destination trust positively affected revisit intention, while value co-destruction had a negative effect. The two mediators operated as largely independent evaluative paths, with the trust pathway exerting the stronger effect. Persuasion knowledge weakened trust gains and amplified value co-destruction. These findings show that digital visual marketing produces asymmetric post-experience outcomes and highlight the need to balance aesthetic optimization with authentic representation when designing social media marketing content. Full article

The Buyeo Royal Tombs in Neungsan-ri represent a royal funerary complex of the Baekje Sabi period (A.D. 538–660) and form an important cultural landscape reflecting the spatial organization of the Sabi capital. As part of the Baekje Historic Areas inscribed on the World Heritage List, the site holds significant historical and spatial value. However, the present terrain differs substantially from its historical configuration due to extensive maintenance works conducted in 1966, including ground leveling, artificial embankment construction, and partial relocation of burial mounds. These modifications have obscured the original topographic context of the royal cemetery. In this study, we reconstruct the former terrain of the Buyeo Royal Tombs through the integration of historical maps, aerial photographs, archeological excavation data, and contemporary spatial datasets. To overcome methodological limitations regarding historical map accuracy, a rigorous three-stage backward georeferencing procedure utilizing Helmert and Thin-Plate Spline (TPS) transformations was applied. Airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based photogrammetry were newly acquired primarily to permanently archive the current state of the heritage site and provide an absolute geometric baseline. The reconstructed terrain approximates the landscape prior to modern interventions and enables analysis of the spatial organization of the royal cemetery. The results indicate that the Neungsan-ri royal tombs were strategically located on visually prominent south-facing slopes outside the Sabi capital, reflecting deliberate spatial planning and funerary ideology. This study provides a methodological reference for digital cultural landscape research and supports future heritage conservation and reconstruction planning. Full article

Abrupt changes in the lighting environment at highway tunnel entrances, transition zones, and exits can impose substantial visual adaptation demands on drivers. This real-vehicle study evaluated a modified LED tunnel lighting environment designed to enlarge the effective luminous area, improve road surface lighting uniformity, and reduce direct glare, compared with the original lighting system. The field experiment was conducted using 24 licensed drivers in a 610 m highway tunnel. Pupil area, mean fixation duration, and heart rate growth rate (HRG) were recorded in six longitudinal zones under the original and modified lighting conditions. The measured interior zone illuminance uniformity increased from 0.71 to 0.87 after modification. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant lighting-by-zone interactions for all three outcomes (p ≤ 0.001). Bonferroni-adjusted comparisons localized significant reductions in pupil area and HRG in the threshold, transition, and interior zones, while fixation duration increased significantly in those zones and in the exit zone. Across the averages for the six zones, pupil area decreased by 8.39%, HRG decreased by 13.78%, and mean fixation duration increased by 6.63%. The findings suggest that the modified lighting environment reduced visual adaptation demand and physiological arousal, especially in the threshold and transition zones. Fixation duration changes are interpreted as altered visual information processing rather than direct evidence of improved safety, and no inference about crash reduction can be made without direct driving performance or safety outcome data. Full article

Microalgae biomanufacturing is a promising technology that converts carbon dioxide into valuable products. However, it faces limitations in scaling, online monitoring, and controlling biological variables. In photobioreactors, light intensity influences growth and operational efficiency. This study presents Alg-flex, a low-cost, open-source monitoring and control platform based on a Raspberry Pi 4. Alg-flex integrates sensors for light intensity regulation and real-time monitoring of pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen, enabling data visualization and logging, while providing full portability without hardware modifications. These features offer broader applicability than conventional single-variable loggers. The hardware was obtained for under $1834 USD, approximately 4% of the average cost of similar commercial units. Its performance was evaluated during the cultivation of Haematococcus lacustris in a bubble column photobioreactor. The pH and temperature sensors were validated against certified benchtop probes over the operating range used in this study, yielding median errors below 1.5%. Under the tested conditions, bioreactor cultures showed approximately two-fold higher final optical density that was significantly different than flask cultures (p = 0.0333). These results confirm that growth dynamics in small-volume microalgal cultures may differ substantially from controlled photobioreactor systems. The affordability, reliability, and multi-reactor compatibility of Alg-flex support broader biomanufacturing applications beyond microalgae cultivation. Full article

Floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems deployed in saltwater environments represent a promising renewable energy solution for remote regions, like coral reef islands, but their environmental effects remain poorly documented. Here, we conducted a year-long empirical assessment of FPV impacts on underwater light regimes and water temperature in a coral reef lagoon using four platforms with contrasting shading and UV-filtering configurations. FPV installations substantially reduced direct light reaching the seafloor. Platforms engineered to provide similar shading exhibited comparable direct light attenuation at a given position, although spatial heterogeneity beneath most of the structures resulted in additional attenuation. In contrast, reflected light was more homogeneous across platforms and appeared primarily influenced by local substrate topography, with differences between shading levels smaller than those observed for direct light. UV attenuation followed a clear gradient among platforms, whereas spectral modifications within the photosynthetically active radiation range were minor and limited to wavelengths above 600 nm. No effect of FPV installations on water temperature was detected. Overall, FPV systems induce multiple interacting modifications of the underwater light environment. While this complexity constrains the isolation of individual ecological drivers under in situ conditions, our results provide a robust physical framework for assessing the potential ecological impacts of FPV installations in coral reef ecosystems. Full article

Over the past several decades, intravenously administered anesthetics such as propofol have gained widespread recognition for their use in inducing and maintaining general anesthesia. As a fast-acting, short-acting anesthetic, propofol exhibits rapid onset, brief duration, excellent induction efficacy, minimal accumulation, and promotes clear-headedness and swift recovery post-anesthesia. However, its poor water solubility necessitates formulation as an emulsion, which may cause injection site pain during administration and potentially lead to allergic reactions and lipid metabolism disorders. In light of this, pharmacologists aim to optimize propofol through structural modification, seeking to develop a systemic intravenous anesthetic that mitigates or improves these side effects. Full article

The electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is a key approach for synthesizing green ammonia under mild conditions. However, the high bond energy of the N≡N triple bond makes N₂ difficult to activate, limiting the Faradaic efficiency. MoS₂ offers advantages such as low cost and abundant reserves as a non-precious-metal NRR electrocatalyst. Nevertheless, pure MoS₂ suffers from insufficient conductivity and a limited number of active sites, resulting in suboptimal catalytic performance. Herein, we develop a solvent-regulated one-step hydrothermal strategy using ethylene glycol as the sole reaction medium to fabricate an oxygen-substituted amorphous MoS₂ (O-MoS₂) electrocatalyst. XRD, SEM, and HRTEM characterization revealed that, as the ethylene glycol ratio increased, the product gradually transformed from a layered crystalline structure to a completely amorphous structure. XPS confirmed that oxygen atoms were uniformly incorporated into the MoS₂ lattice via substitution doping. Electrochemical testing showed that O-MoS₂ achieved an ammonia yield of 97.16 μg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹ and a Faradaic efficiency of 46.44% in a 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ electrolyte at −0.70 V vs. RHE, significantly outperforming undoped MoS₂ and semi-doped S-MoS₂. DFT calculations indicate that O doping reduces the N₂ adsorption energy, thereby synergistically promoting N₂ adsorption and activation. This dual-modification strategy provides a facile and universal guidance for electronic structure regulation of MoS₂-based catalysts and sheds new light on the design of high-efficiency ambient nitrogen fixation electrocatalysts toward practical green ammonia synthesis. Full article

Water-level fluctuation (WLF) is a key factor disturbing aquatic ecosystems, particularly aquatic plants (macrophytes in this review). These organisms are exceptionally sensitive to WLF as it profoundly governs their spatial distribution, productivity, species richness, community composition and successional trajectories. In this review, we synthesized recent advances regarding the impacts of WLF on the growth environment, survival strategies, and the integrated morphological, physiological, and reproductive responses of aquatic macrophytes. While existing research has predominantly focused on flooding-related WLF responses and freshwater macrophytes, the ecological consequences of drawdown and the responses of marine macrophytes remain comparatively underexplored. Despite the adverse alterations in sediment dynamics, light availability, hydrostatic pressure, pollutant concentrations, wind and wave exposure, dissolved oxygen levels and nutrient concentration conditions under WLF, aquatic macrophytes can demonstrate remarkable adaptive plasticity. This resilience was mediated through rapid adjustments in survival strategies, coupled with morphological traits, physiological processes and reproductive modifications. While their adaptive capacities were limited, and varied depending on life-forms, species or the WLF amplitudes, fluctuations in water level often precipitated rapid shifts in dominant species or even community succession over short timeframes. Consequently, while moderate WLF might confer ecological benefits, prolonged or extreme WLF posed substantial threats to aquatic vegetation. Synthesizing these findings, we developed a conceptual model diagram integrating the multifaceted responses of aquatic macrophytes to flooding-induced WLF. Future research should prioritize investigating the ecological consequences of drawdown-induced WLF and the responses of marine macrophytes—areas that remain comparatively underexplored. Furthermore, implementing refined water-level-management regimes could help optimize the good functions and services delivered by aquatic ecosystems. Full article

To enhance the high-temperature rutting resistance, fatigue performance and low-temperature cracking resistance of base asphalt, and promote the resource utilization of industrial solid waste, this study took 70# asphalt as the base asphalt and selected nano-montmorillonite (MMT) and fly ash (FA) as composite modified fillers. A series of composite modified asphalt samples was prepared with MMT:FA mass ratios of 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 and total filler contents of 3%, 5% and 7%, respectively. Conventional physical tests, dynamic shear rheometry (DSR), multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR), linear amplitude sweep (LAS) and bending beam rheometry (BBR) were adopted to systematically evaluate the pavement rheological properties. The microscopic modification mechanism was revealed by thin-layer chromatography with flame ionization detection (TLC-FID) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The results show that MMT-FA composite filler can significantly reduce the penetration, increase the softening point, and greatly enhance the high-temperature rutting factor, creep-recovery rate and fatigue life of asphalt, while its influence on low-temperature performance is controllable. For the optimal group, S5, the rutting factor rises by 42.6% at 64 °C, and the fatigue life increases by 58.3% under 5.0% strain compared with the base asphalt. With the increase in filler content, the high-temperature and fatigue performance of asphalt increases first and then slows down, while the low-temperature stiffness rises gradually. Microscopic analysis indicates that the intercalation and strong adsorption of MMT restrict the light components of asphalt and increase the proportion of macromolecules, and FA plays the roles of particle filling and skeleton support. The two fillers synergistically optimize the colloid structure and molecular distribution of asphalt. Based on rheological properties and microscopic mechanism, the optimal ratio is 1:3 for MMT:FA with a total content of 5%, under which the composite modified asphalt achieves the best comprehensive pavement performance and can meet the requirements of heavy-load traffic and areas with large temperature differences. The research results can provide experimental and theoretical support for the material design, performance optimization and engineering application of MMT-FA composite modified asphalt. Full article

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) impose a significant global burden, yet clinical practice varies substantially between regions. This study investigated international trends in DED diagnosis and management among eye care practitioners (ECPs), with regional focus on South Africa (SA), the United Kingdom (UK) and the rest of the world (RoW; heterogeneous international respondents). Methods: An anonymised cross-sectional online survey was distributed to ECPs globally (May 2023–September 2024). In total, 383 participants from 31 countries were included in the analysis (SA n = 137; UK n = 112; RoW n = 134). Mann–Whitney U tests with Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate correction, chi-square tests and Kendall’s tau concordance were applied. Results: SA practitioners reported significantly lower confidence across all four DED domains than their UK and RoW counterparts (all q < 0.05; Cliff’s delta small-to-medium). Core diagnostic practices—case history (88.7%), fluorescein staining (79.4%) and tear break-up time (77.3%)—were globally consistent. UK practitioners showed greater recognition of blepharitis and higher uptake of lid massage, dietary modification and intense pulsed light. Advanced diagnostics received low reported importance globally. Conclusions: Significant regional disparities exist in practitioner confidence, diagnostic emphasis and therapeutic access. A tiered diagnostic framework is proposed to support equitable care, applying a universal core of assessments supplemented by advanced tools where resources permit. Full article

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a crucial role throughout the plant life cycle and in adaptive responses to environmental stresses. The pyrabactin resistance 1-like (PYR/PYL/RCAR) proteins act as key regulators in the ABA signal transduction pathway by functioning as direct receptors for ABA. Although PYL genes have been identified in a variety of plant species, their evolutionary and structural characteristics in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) remain elusive. To address this gap, we identified nine SlPYL genes, which were classified into three subfamilies: I (two genes), II (three genes), and III (four genes), and their encoded proteins were predicted to be primarily localized in the cytosol and chloroplast. Structural analysis revealed diverse exon–intron organizations along with five conserved motifs. All identified SlPYLs contained the START domain (PF10604), validating their identity as actual PYL proteins. Prediction of cis-acting regulatory elements in SlPYL’s promoter regions was found to be associated with light responsiveness, hormone signaling, stress responses, and plant growth and development. Prediction of post-translational modification sites indicated that SlPYLs are predominantly phosphorylated and acetylated at serine and lysine residues, respectively. Tertiary structure modeling demonstrated conserved three-dimensional architectures among SlPYL proteins, supporting their functional conservation. Expression profiling revealed that specific SlPYL genes exhibit distinct expression patterns across different tissues (root, leaf, and bud) following ABA treatment, indicating functional diversification. Considering the well-established negative correlation between ABA accumulation and bud outgrowth, the ABA-induced differential expression (3~5-fold) of some SlPYL genes (SlPYL3, SlPYL4, SlPYL7, and SlPYL8), particularly in bud tissues after 24 hpt, suggests a potential role in ABA-mediated suppression of bud outgrowth. However, these functional inferences are primarily based on genome-wide computational analyses and expression profiling and therefore require further experimental validation. Full article

Bamboo contains abundant hydrophilic components such as hemicellulose which result in poor interfacial compatibility with epoxy resin and, consequently, limit its application in bamboo–epoxy composite packaging materials. In this study, we subjected bamboo (aged 3–4 years) to vacuum heat treatment to investigate the effects of treatment temperature (140, 160, and 180 °C) and holding time (4 and 6 h) and systematically evaluated the resulting changes in density, surface color, microstructure, mechanical behavior, and thermal stability. It was found that temperature serves as the dominant factor regulating bamboo color. With the increase in the heat treatment intensity, the lightness and yellowness of bamboo decrease, and the redness rises first and then falls, while the total color difference increases continuously. The optimal flexural strength and modulus of the treated bamboo are obtained at 140 °C, while its maximum tensile strength appears at 160 °C for 4 h. However, prolonged exposure at 180 °C causes marked mechanical degradation of the treated bamboo, which is attributed to the damaged fibrous structure. As for thermal stability, heat treatment removes heat-sensitive components, thereby increasing the 5% mass loss temperature and thermal degradation activation energy. Among all conditions, the sample treated at 160 °C for 6 h exhibits the best overall thermal stability, whereas excessive treatment at 180 °C destroys cellulose microcrystals and reduces the activation energy at high conversion rates. Considering the surface appearance, mechanical performance and thermal resistance comprehensively, the heat treatment at 140–160 °C with a 4 h holding time is the optimal modification process, which can provide theoretical and data support for the pretreatment of bamboo-based eco-friendly packaging composite materials. Full article

Vision-based traffic accident anticipation is critical for active vehicle safety systems, yet existing architectures frequently conflate performance gains with heavy parameter scaling optimized from scratch on compact domains. Consequently, during real-time inference, these frameworks suffer from severe prediction volatility and early triggering biases that induce dangerous control instability. To address these limitations, this paper shifts the research focus away from network modifications toward a highly controlled, strategy-driven training pipeline executed under a completely invariant spatial–temporal neural backbone. Our proposed paradigm establishes a robust framework through three decoupled milestones. First, an out-of-domain initialization strategy transferred generalized driving kinetics from a large-scale sequence domain (Mapillary) to serve as a stable temporal anchor. Second, a target-domain generative enrichment step injected synthetic nighttime scenes to decouple hazard features from low-light ambient noise. Third, progressive temporal supervision paradigm scaling targeted labels monotonically to align with continuous kinetic risk accumulation. Overall evaluations on the Car Crash Dataset (CCD) benchmark demonstrate that the fully integrated configuration (C4) pipeline achieves 69.89% in frame-level Mean Average Precision (mAP), which is an improvement of +22.81 percentage points over the baseline configuration. Continuous temporal measurements prove that our framework can adapt to tracking volatility, compressing Temporal Confidence Variance to 0.00328, and dropping the Prediction Instability Count to 0.66. While hyper-sensitive baselines report early raw latency averages driven by premature trigger noise, our model purposefully filters this early-frame variability to deliver a secure warning profile, achieving an absolute zero false alarm rate (FAR = 0.00%) across evaluated non-hazardous driving sequences, establishing the sequence-level trustworthiness required for practical autonomous deployment. Full article