Search Results (6,153)

Climate change is intensifying extreme climatic events such as warming and drought. This study investigated the physiological and growth responses of Quercus variabilis, a major broadleaf plantation species in South Korea, to warming and drought under open-field conditions. From July to August 2024, one-year-old seedlings were exposed to factorial treatments of temperature (ambient: TC; +3 °C: T3; +5 °C: T5) and precipitation (ambient: PC; drought: DR). Gas exchange was measured twice (early: 12 July; late: 16 August) during the treatment period. In the early phase of the experiment, net photosynthetic rate (P_n) was 11.4% lower in DR than in PC, whereas differences were no longer significant in the late phase. Stomatal conductance (g_s) was significantly affected by the interaction between temperature and precipitation. These results suggest that the decline in photosynthesis was driven by non-stomatal limitations such as photosystem II impairment or reduced Rubisco activity, despite maintained or enhanced stomatal conductance. Consequently, intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) during the late phase was 24.3% lower in T5 than in TC. Root collar diameter (RCD) was more sensitive to drought than height growth. Shoot (stem + leaf) biomass was 23.7% higher in T5 than in T3, and root biomass was 20.5% higher in T5 than in TC. However, the root-to-shoot (R/S) ratio did not differ significantly among temperature and precipitation treatments. These findings suggest that Q. variabilis seedlings exhibit physiological plasticity and maintain relatively stable biomass allocation under short-term warming and drought conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: The minimally invasive posterior deltoid-sparing (MIPDS) approach has been described for glenoid fractures; however, its outcomes for Ideberg type Ib, II, III, IV, and V fractures and the influence of concomitant injuries on functional recovery remain poorly understood. This study aimed to report minimum 2-year functional outcomes of these fracture types treated with the MIPDS approach using mini-plates, and to investigate the effect of concomitant thoracic trauma on clinical outcomes. Methods: Thirty-one patients with operatively treated glenoid fossa fractures were stratified into three groups: isolated glenoid fracture, concomitant thoracic trauma, and concomitant ipsilateral upper extremity fracture. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Constant, UCLA, and DASH scores at a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Results: No postoperative infection or nonunion occurred. Mean union time was 9.4 ± 2.4 weeks. Patients with thoracic trauma demonstrated significantly worse functional outcomes across all three scores compared to both other groups: lower Constant scores (70.9 ± 7.5 vs. 85.5 ± 5.9 and 82.6 ± 11.7; p = 0.012 and p = 0.042), lower UCLA scores (24.6 ± 7.9 vs. 32.5 ± 3.0 and 31.1 ± 3.2; p = 0.010 and p = 0.012), and higher DASH scores (29.3 ± 14.2 vs. 7.9 ± 9.2 and 9.5 ± 9.9; p = 0.003 and p = 0.006). Multivariate linear regression confirmed thoracic trauma as an independent predictor of higher DASH scores (β = 12.75, 95% CI: 2.00–23.50, p = 0.031, R² = 0.344). Conclusions: The MIPDS approach provides safe and effective fixation for Ideberg type Ib, II, III, IV, and V glenoid fractures with satisfactory functional outcomes at minimum 2-year follow-up. Concomitant thoracic trauma is a significant negative predictor of functional recovery, and the possibility of inferior functional outcomes in this patient group should be considered. Full article

In response to the influence of extreme disasters, damage to distribution lines and user outages, a parallel implementation strategy is proposed for emergency repair of disaster-damaged distribution networks and rapid restoration of power supply for users, considering the collaboration of “human–vehicle–road–pile” resources. This strategy constructs a hierarchical optimization framework, with the upper-level model aiming to minimize the repair time for disaster damage. It adopts a collaborative optimization approach between repair resources and transportation routes to quickly repair the connection between the distribution network and the main power network. In the lower-level model, a model predictive control mechanism is adopted to schedule electric vehicles (EVs) in Real-time as mobile energy storage systems, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) service technology is used to provide an emergency power supply for key loads during the repair period, achieving parallel optimization of “repair–restoration”. Considering constraints such as emergency repair resources, time-varying transportation, electric vehicle scheduling and power management, charging pile capacity, power flow safety of the distribution network, and topology of the distribution network, second-order cone relaxation technology is adopted to improve solving efficiency. The simulation results show that compared with the traditional serial restoration strategy, the proposed strategy delivers a dual benefit: it significantly eliminates the power supply vacuum period without compromising the efficiency of emergency repair operations. Specifically, it increases weighted load restoration by 57.2% compared with traditional sequential methods and reduces the average outage time for key loads from 3.22 h to 0.5 h, effectively enhancing the resilience and restoration ability of the power supply guarantee of the distribution network. Full article

Hydrodynamic efficiency in wetland systems is governed by the complex interaction between fluid flow and vegetation density. This study quantifies the impact of seasonal emergent vegetation growth on solute transport in a V-shaped flume. Using high-resolution tracer data from high-density (January) and low-density (November) conditions, we characterized hydraulic parameters, longitudinal velocity (v), and dispersion (D), across an upstream conduit (Reach 1) and a downstream retention zone (Reach 2). Results revealed that in January, Reach 2 exhibited massive hydraulic retardation (v ≈ 1.8 cm s⁻¹) and extensive non-Fickian tailing (variance > 30,000 s²), maintaining an idealized retentive state (Pe ≈ 20). Conversely, seasonal biomass reduction in November resulted in lower variance (≈16,500 s²) and drastically increased the risk of extreme advective bypass (Pe > 500). These findings provide critical empirical validation for macro-scale models like the Dynamic Model for Stormwater Treatment Areas (DMSTAs). Specifically, the massive temporal variance observed during the retentive state yielded an empirical Tanks-in-Series value of N ≈ 5.7, directly validating standard DMSTA defaults for dense emergent marshes. Furthermore, the Transient Storage Model (TSM) storage ratio (As/A) offers a quantitative mechanism to penalize modeled void fractions, accounting for vegetative “dead zones.” By integrating these flume-derived metrics, wetland managers can optimize hydraulic designs and improve the prediction of treatment efficiency across seasonal variations. Full article

Desiccation tolerance is a critical adaptive trait that enables plants to survive extreme water loss, yet its physiological basis in tomato and its wild relatives remains poorly understood. In this study, chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging was used as a reliable tool to evaluate photosystem II (PSII) response to progressive desiccation. The analysis was conducted in cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and five wild relatives (Solanum chilense, Solanum habrochaites, Solanum peruvianum, Solanum pimpinellifolium, and Solanum pennellii). Detached leaves were subjected to controlled desiccation for up to 50 h. During this period, tissue moisture content (TMC), relative water content (RWC), PSII photochemical efficiency [Fv/Fm; maximum quantum yield (QY_max)], minimal fluorescence (F0), maximal fluorescence (Fm), and variable fluorescence (Fv) were monitored to assess changes in photosynthetic performance. Desiccation caused a significant, moisture-dependent decline in PSII efficiency across all species, with QY_max showing a strong linear relationship with RWC (R² = 0.80–0.90). Interspecific variation was evident as S. chilense, S. habrochaites, S. peruvianum, and S. pimpinellifolium exhibited rapid PSII impairment, while S. lycopersicum showed moderate tolerance. In contrast, S. pennellii maintained higher PSII stability, with 50% loss of efficiency occurring only at lower RWC (30–35%). Overall, chlorophyll fluorescence imaging effectively captured functional diversity in desiccation tolerance, highlighting S. pennellii as a valuable genetic resource for improving drought resilience in tomato. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the structure of anthropometric characteristics, motor skills and specific motor skills in young football players. Methods: Study participants (427 male football players) were divided into pre-pioneers (11–13 y), n = 133; pioneers (13–15 y), n = 160; and cadets (15–17 y), n = 134. The entire sample of subjects was evaluated using 13 anthropometric and seven motor variables. The factor structure for each chronological age group was determined using Hotelling’s method. Results: Anthropometric characteristics showed three extracted factors in the pre-pioneers group, four factors in the pioneer group and two factors in the cadet group. Motor skills displayed three factors for the youngest group, two factors for the pioneers and three factors for the cadet group. Four factors were determined for specific motor skills in pre-pioneers, four in pioneers and three in cadet age. Conclusions: This study revealed structural variability and non-uniformity in the latent dimensions across age groups, with the total number of factors fluctuating between two and four. This study revealed two consistent latent dimensions in anthropometric data across all age groups: general morphological parameters and subcutaneous fat tissue. In motor skills, an initial universal factor is separated into central and energetic regulation of movements. Finally, specific motor skills demonstrated a transition from a highly differentiated four-factor structure in younger players toward a more integrated functional system in the oldest cohort, comprising intermuscular coordination, running speed with and without a ball; segmental speed of the lower extremities with a ball; and explosive force in hitting a ball with the foot and head. Full article

Offshore industries depend solely on diesel-based power generation systems or mainland grids, which are expensive and carbon-intensive. The demand for renewable energy-based offshore DC microgrids (MGs) has significantly increased due to rising fuel prices, high costs of fuel transportation and storage, extreme operation and maintenance expenses, and associated carbon emissions. This research study optimises the size of an offshore DC MG that integrates wave, solar, energy storage, and diesel, utilising real-world data from a specific geographical location (latitude −33.525587 and longitude 114.772211), thereby accurately representing the availability of renewable energy sources. An algorithm is designed to optimise the utilisation of highly variable renewable sources via battery-based energy management, resulting in optimal energy dispatch. Utilising economic performance metrics, such as levelised cost of energy (LCoE) and net present value (NPV), this research aims to minimise the energy, operating, and greenhouse gas emission costs while maximising the economic feasibility of the system. A sensitivity analysis is performed to determine the impact of fuel prices, discount rates, and system lifespans on the feasibility of the system. The findings demonstrate that the proposed renewable-based offshore DC MG can substantially reduce fuel consumption (93%), operational expenses (77.56%), and carbon emissions (89.50%) compared with a diesel-only system for offshore platforms, while improving the sustainability and reliability of power supply for aquaculture and marine activities. In addition, the proposed renewable-energy-based offshore DC MG achieves a lower LCoE (0.5649 $/kWh) and a higher NPV (2.987 × ${10}^4$ $) than a conventional diesel-based power generation system for offshore industries. The results provide a decision-making framework for the design and implementation of renewable energy-based offshore DC MGs. Full article

This study explored the differences in slaughter performance, blood biochemical indices, and ruminal and colonic microbiota between 6-month-old male and female Small-tailed Han sheep, a typical meat-wool dual-purpose breed in China. Twenty weaned lambs (10 males and 10 females) with uniform body condition were reared under unified feeding management until 6 months of age, followed by slaughter sampling and microbial sequencing detection. Results showed that male lambs had significantly higher pre-slaughter live weight, carcass weight and serum ALP content than females (p < 0.05), with lower BUN and β-BHBA levels (p < 0.05). High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene in rumen fluid and colon contents revealed that microbial alpha diversity in the rumen was extremely significantly higher than that in the colon (p < 0.01), and their microbial community structures were distinctly separated (p = 0.001). Sex had no significant effect on overall microbial diversity, but altered specific flora and functional pathways: male rumen had higher Actinobacteriota abundance, while female colon had enriched galactose metabolism and male colon had enhanced folate-mediated one-carbon pool pathway. These findings clarify the tissue specificity of gastrointestinal microbiota and sex-related phenotypic differences, providing a theoretical basis for sex-specific feeding of Small-tailed Han sheep. Full article

Background: Flatfoot deformity is associated with altered lower extremity biomechanics and functional impairment during gait. However, evidence describing spatio-temporal gait alterations remains heterogeneous and has not been consistently synthesized across studies. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE (via PubMed) and Scopus were searched through 24 March 2025 for studies evaluating gait characteristics in individuals with flatfoot or progressive collapsing foot deformity. Studies reporting spatio-temporal parameters in both flatfoot and healthy control cohorts were included in quantitative synthesis. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to evaluate gait velocity, stance duration, stride length, and cadence. Results: Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria, of which five provided sufficient data for meta-analysis. Compared with healthy controls, individuals with flatfoot demonstrated longer stance duration and shorter stride length. No differences were observed in gait velocity or cadence. Substantial heterogeneity was present across all pooled outcomes (I² > 80%), reflecting variability in study populations, disease characteristics, and gait analysis methodologies. Conclusions: Flatfoot is associated with consistent spatio-temporal gait adaptations characterized by longer stance duration and reduced stride length. Despite heterogeneity among included studies, these findings suggest consistent spatio-temporal gait adaptations that may serve as clinically relevant markers of altered gait mechanics and functional impairment. Further studies with standardized protocols are needed to refine the role of gait analysis in the assessment and management of flatfoot. Full article

Background/Objectives: Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease. Maintaining a high level of measles immunity in the population is essential due to the extremely high transmissibility of the measles virus (MV). We analyzed the MV seroprevalence in the Croatian population. Methods: A total of 1998 individuals tested consecutively for MV antibodies from 2015 to 2025 inclusive were included. MV IgG antibodies were detected using a commercial ELISA. Results: The overall seroprevalence rate was 75.1%, with significant yearly differences, ranging from 50.0 to 86.5%, and a declining trend since 2023. No differences were observed between sexes (males 71.6%, females 71.9%). The seroprevalence increased with age, from 60.9% in the 1–10 age group to 91.1% in the 61+ age group. Significant geographic differences were found, with higher seropositivity rates in coastal regions compared to continental regions (81.3 and 71.0%, respectively). Settlement type (urban, suburban/rural) was not associated with the MV seroprevalence. The results of the multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that year, age, and region were significantly associated with IgG seropositivity. Each additional calendar year was associated with lower odds of IgG positivity (OR = 0.82), while each additional year of age was associated with higher odds (OR = 1.04). Region was also a significant predictor (OR = 1.65), while settlement was not significantly associated with seropositivity after adjustment for other variables. Conclusions: Croatia has historically maintained high measles coverage, but lower uptake in some regions and age groups may be creating immunity gaps. The lower post-2022 seropositivity underscores significant immunity gaps, particularly among highly susceptible groups that were exposed to outbreaks and tested during that period. Full article

Background/Objectives: A floating hip injury, defined as an ipsilateral fracture of the pelvis or acetabulum combined with a femoral fracture, represents a rare and devastating musculoskeletal injury resulting from high-energy trauma. Although Müller type A floating hip injuries comprising an acetabular fracture with an ipsilateral femoral fracture are recognized for their clinical complexity, the long-term prognostic factors influencing functional outcomes remain poorly elucidated. This study aimed to identify independent prognostic factors associated with unsatisfactory long-term functional outcomes in patients with Müller type A floating hip injuries. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 68 consecutive patients with Müller type A floating hip injuries who underwent surgical fixation at a single tertiary trauma center, with a minimum follow-up period of 5 years. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Majeed score, and patients were dichotomized into satisfactory (n = 48; 70.6%) and unsatisfactory (n = 20; 29.4%) outcome groups. Acetabular fractures were classified according to the Judet–Letournel system, and femoral fractures were classified by fracture level (proximal, shaft, or distal). Radiological outcomes were evaluated using Matta’s radiological grading system. Demographic, injury-specific, and treatment-related variables were compared between groups using the Mann–Whitney U test and chi-square test with Bonferroni correction. A multivariate binary logistic regression model was constructed to determine independent predictors of unsatisfactory outcomes. Results: The mean age was 37.15 ± 12.07 years, with a male predominance (67.6%). The predominant mechanism of injury was pedestrian struck by vehicle (54.4%), followed by motor vehicle collision (27.9%) and fall from height (17.6%); collectively, high-energy vehicular trauma accounted for 82.3% of cases. In the univariate analysis, transverse with posterior wall acetabular fracture pattern (p = 0.001), proximal femur fracture level (p = 0.001), associated lower extremity fractures (p = 0.001), nerve damage (p = 0.001), higher body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.001), and lower Matta’s radiological scores (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with unsatisfactory outcomes. Three independent predictors emerged in the multivariate logistic regression: BMI (OR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.05–2.15; p = 0.025), the presence of associated lower extremity fractures (OR = 29.02; 95% CI: 2.83–297.67; p = 0.005), and Matta’s radiological score (OR = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.01–0.56; p = 0.014). The model yielded internal discriminatory metrics within the acceptable range (overall accuracy 89.7%, sensitivity 95.8%, specificity 75.0%, Nagelkerke R² = 0.757); however, given the limited events-per-variable ratio (~6.7) and the wide confidence intervals observed for some predictors, these internal performance estimates are likely optimistic due to potential overfitting, and the findings should be interpreted as exploratory pending external validation. Conclusions: Elevated BMI, the presence of associated ipsilateral lower extremity fractures, and poor quality of acetabular reduction, assessed via Matta’s radiological criteria, are independent determinants of unsatisfactory long-term functional outcomes in Müller type A floating hip injuries. These findings underscore the critical importance of achieving anatomical reduction in the acetabulum and highlight the compounding effect of additional ipsilateral limb injuries on patient prognosis. Full article

A coordinated optimization method for emergency repair scheduling and system operation restoration is proposed to address large-scale transmission line outages caused by extreme weather events such as ice and snow disasters. First, an active outage scenario for transmission lines is constructed based on the Jones icing thickness model and an exponential failure probability model, while incorporating the spatial distribution characteristics of ice disasters. Subsequently, a bi-level optimization model with repair resource constraints is developed. The upper-level model determines the transmission line repair schedule with the objective of minimizing the total repair time while taking system power supply restoration efficiency into account. Based on the completion times of line repairs, the lower-level model optimizes the system restoration process by considering power flow constraints, generator start-up processes, and load restoration characteristics. To address the challenges posed by discrete operational states and strongly coupled bi-level constraints that are difficult to solve using conventional approaches, a logic-based Integer L-shaped coordinated solution method is proposed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through case studies based on the IEEE New England 10-unit 39-bus system. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can significantly improve system load restoration levels while maintaining high repair efficiency. Full article

Background: This study synthesizes findings on precariously employed workers’ self-reported feelings of severe or extreme anxiety and depression, along with their experiences accessing mental health services. Methods: This mixed-methods research included surveys (N = 259) and interviews (N = 40) with precariously employed workers in Ontario, Canada, conducted from November 2020 to July 2021. Inclusion criteria included: (i) not being directly employed, being self-employed, or a gig worker; (ii) not working full-time; (iii) not holding a permanent or open-ended contract; (iv) performing informal work; or (v) being recently unemployed. Results: The adjusted, statistically significant odds of reporting severe or extreme anxiety or depression were higher among workers with greater precarity (2.28), self-employed workers with no employees (3.61), gig or platform workers (3.08), workers earning less than 60% of the median income (2.75), and those unsure whether their hours would vary in the next three months (2.59). The odds were lower (0.22) for workers with some or little income variation in the previous three months. Interview participants described chronic stress, worry, anxiety, depression, and overall negative wellbeing linked to their precarious employment. Despite an increased need for mental health services, participants reported similar difficulties accessing them. Interpretation: To improve access to mental health services, sustainable intersectoral solutions with demonstrated potential are required, including increasing social and health expenditures, revising labor market legislation, and reorganizing the delivery of employer-dependent health services. Recommendations are made for solutions at various levels, including those that could be adopted by medical practitioners. Full article

Rare earth hafnates (RE₂Hf₂O₇; RE = La, Gd, Nd, Eu, etc.) with low thermal conductivity and excellent high-temperature stability are indispensable key materials in extreme environments and high-tech fields. In this work, a dense molten salt method (DMS) was developed for mass preparation of hafnate powders including La₂Hf₂O₇, Nd₂Hf₂O₇, Gd₂Hf₂O₇, Eu₂Hf₂O₇, and even (La_0.2Nd_0.2Sm_0.2Eu_0.2Gd_0.2)₂Hf₂O₇, which only allowed the trace salt volatilization, while the internal salt “micro-pools” significantly promoted the in-situ formation of target products at relatively lower temperatures. Using La₂Hf₂O₇ as an example, it could be successfully prepared at 1100 °C with 1:1 mass ratio of salt to reactant, both of which are much lower than those of traditional “powdery” molten salt method. Furthermore, only ~6 wt.% of salt loss was detected in current dense route, while it was as high as ~80 wt.% in the traditional one. A large-scale synthesis of RE₂Hf₂O₇ powder by DMS may be achievable by stacking these dense blocks in a tunnel kiln, suggesting its potential applicability and scalability toward industrial production. Full article

The Lower Permian M Formation marine carbonate gas reservoir in Block X of the Sichuan Chongqing exploration area has extreme working conditions with moderate H₂S content (0.57–0.97%), moderate CO₂ content (2.59–5.59%), and high formation pressure (70–80 MPa). Gas wells face challenges such as multi medium synergistic corrosion, large productivity differences, and limited economic viability. This article addresses the above issues for the first time by analyzing the dual corrosion mechanism, selecting corrosion-resistant pipes (nickel-based alloys/nickel–tungsten alloy coatings), evaluating the adaptability of corrosion inhibitor processes, and real-time monitoring and warning of corrosion risks. A collaborative anti-corrosion technology system of “mechanism material process monitoring” is constructed, and the first successful field implementation was carried out in this block. The experiment shows that the uniform corrosion rate of nickel–tungsten alloy coating under extreme working conditions (122 °C/85 MPa) is only 0.004 mm/a, which is more economical than traditional nickel-based alloys (cost reduction of 69%); CT2 series corrosion inhibitors can selectively inhibit the corrosion rate of gas wells with different water contents (efficiency > 82%). The combination of electromagnetic flaw detection and multi arm wellbore logging technology has achieved dynamic monitoring of downhole pipe corrosion. This system has been successfully applied in seven gas wells in Block X, achieving controllable corrosion risks, cost reduction and efficiency improvement, and providing a replicable technical paradigm for the safe and economic development of marine high-sulfur gas reservoirs. Full article