Search Results (988)

Background: Colorectal cancer is a common malignancy and 5-fluorouracil (FU) remains a mainstay of chemotherapy despite its toxicity. As an important part of comprehensive tumor treatment, dual-protein (DP) nutritional intervention is attracting more and more attention. Methods: This study preliminarily evaluated the regulatory effects of DP intervention on colorectal cells of CT26 tumor-bearing mice, examining the dosage and administration methods of DP, as well as the anti-tumor effects of FU alone or in combination with DP. Results: The results showed that low- and medium-dose DP numerically increased spleen index and showed trends toward alleviating FU-induced thymic atrophy, splenic damage, nephrotoxicity, and myocardial injury. It also partly mitigated muscle wasting, prevented FU-induced shortening of the colorectal tract, and reduced intestinal injury. In addition, DP was associated with increased lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet counts and decreased granulocytes, suggesting possible alleviation of chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression and a potential effect on hematopoietic function. Flow cytometry results indicated possible effects of DP on CD4⁺ T and CD8⁺ T cell proliferation or apoptosis, modulation of effector and memory phenotypes, reduced splenic neutrophil levels, balanced B cell function, and maintained natural killer cell activity. In addition, DP intervention also showed trends toward regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and partially alleviating FU-induced dyslipidemia and muscle damage. In addition, DP and FU could increase IL-2, IL-10, GM-CSF and IFN-γ and decrease IL-6 and TNF-α. Conclusion: In conclusion, a moderate dose (0.67 g/kg) of DP had the most favorable trends, and the pre-intervention mode was more effective. This study also provided exploratory data on the potential of DP in reducing chemotherapy-related toxicity. These findings will provide preliminary scientific support for nutritional therapy in colorectal cancer patients, as well as for the research, development, and application of dual-protein foods for special medical purposes. Full article

Background: A lean crystal engineering study was performed on the early pre-clinical POLθ inhibitor MSC178 to enable sufficient exposure for high-dose PK studies. Methods: COSMOquick-derived excess enthalpies in combination with a toxicological assessment of co-formers were used for the selection of four co-formers. Experimental crystallization trials were performed in a staged approach from a 15 mg scale, over a 50 mg upscale, to a final g-scale upscale of the most promising co-crystal form with 2,4-DHBA. Results: The 2,4-DHBA co-crystal form revealed more enhanced and sustained supersaturation plateaus in FaSSIF compared to the amorphous free base form, the 3,4-DHBA co-crystal form, and the 1,2-EDSA salt form. Moreover, the 2,4-DHBA co-crystal form was shown to be physically stable in the suspension vehicle for the PK study. The high physical stability toward physical-form conversion in the suspension vehicle as well as the more sustained supersaturation plateau in the non-sink dissolution profile could be attributed to the intrinsic features of the crystal structure as well as the assessed surface hydrophilicity of the co-crystal particles, both suggesting that rather hydrophobic surfaces are present that help preferentially attract stabilizing surfactants from the dissolution medium (taurocholate) and from the suspension vehicle (polysorbate, methocel), respectively. Successful upscale of the 2,4-DHBA co-crystal form was achieved in the small g-scale, revealing mainly isotropic crystal growth in primary particles as well as a pronounced tendency toward isotropically shaped dendrite-like secondary particles, both favored by a multi-dimensional hydrogen bonding network being present. Excellent agreement was shown for the extent of in vitro supersaturation behavior and in vivo exposure gain in the high-dose PK study for the 2,4-DHBA co-crystal form versus the amorphous free form. Conclusions: The co-crystal strategy can be successfully developed in early pre-clinical industrial research with lean methodologies to optimize sub-optimal phys.-chem. properties of a free base compound to achieve improved and less variable in vivo exposure between animals in high-dose PK studies. Full article

Since the first successful synthesis of borophene in 2015, this atomically thin boron allotrope has attracted extensive attention due to its polymorphic structures, metallic conductivity, and outstanding mechanical flexibility. As a new member of the two-dimensional (2D) materials family, borophene exhibits a unique triangular lattice with tunable hexagonal vacancies, leading to rich structural diversity and anisotropic physical properties. Recent breakthroughs in synthesis—particularly molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and solvothermal-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation (S-LPE)—have significantly expanded the accessible structural phases and improved control over film quality and stability. Meanwhile, borophene’s distinctive combination of structural and electronic characteristics has enabled its rapid development in both energy and biomedical applications. In energy storage, borophene serves as a promising anode material for lithium/sodium-ion batteries and a lightweight medium for hydrogen storage and supercapacitors, owing to its metallic conductivity, high surface charge density, and large adsorption capacity. In biomedicine, borophene-based nanoplatforms exhibit excellent photothermal conversion efficiency, enabling multifunctional roles in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Despite these advances, several challenges—such as environmental instability, oxidation susceptibility, and limited scalable synthesis—continue to restrict practical implementation. Future progress will depend on chemical functionalization, surface passivation, and machine-learning-assisted materials design to achieve oxidation-resistant, large-area, and biocompatible borophene derivatives. This review summarizes recent advances in borophene synthesis, structural engineering, and multifunctional applications, while outlining key scientific challenges and future opportunities for the realization of borophene-based materials in next-generation energy and biomedical systems. Full article

Textile-based flexible pressure sensors have attracted considerable attention in wearable sensing applications due to their good comfort and mechanical compatibility. However, their sensitivity usually exhibits a nonlinear dependence on pressure, while a compact analytical framework with interpretable physical parameters is still lacking. In this work, a simplified physical model based on lumped effective parameters was established based on the evolution of fiber–conductive particle contacts, and an expression describing the sensitivity–pressure relationship was derived. The model indicates that the sensitivity is mainly governed by an electrical parameter α and a mechanical parameter ratio $E_b/E_x$, and captures the dominant nonlinear decrease in sensitivity with increasing pressure. To verify the applicability of the model, the effects of conductive particle loading, filler type, surface treatment, sensing-layer area, weave structure, and layer number on the sensor response were systematically investigated. In addition, comparison between model-based calculation and experiment in the low- and medium-pressure range gave RMSE values of 0.0040 and 0.0056, and MRE values of 27.6% and 13.4% for the single-layer and four-layer structures, respectively. These results show that the proposed framework captures the main trends of the sensitivity–pressure behavior and provides a physically interpretable basis for discussing how structural and material factors regulate sensor response. This work offers a useful framework for understanding the structure–property relationship of textile-based piezoresistive pressure sensors and may provide preliminary guidance for the design of customized sensors in wearable healthcare and soft robotics applications. Full article

Maglev trains, as an emerging transportation modality, have attracted significant attention with respect to their safety and ride comfort. In this study, the improved R index and τ-distance index are incorporated into the evaluation framework, and a data-driven comprehensive evaluation method for the suspension system of medium- and low-speed maglev trains is developed based on a Gaussian mixture model, enabling a comprehensive assessment of suspension gap stability and operational smoothness. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately identify various motion modes of the suspension system and provide effective early warnings of abnormal operational states. Compared with conventional error integral performance indices, this method exhibits superior anomaly detection sensitivity and enhanced interpretability of the results. Computational efficiency analysis indicates that the proposed method meets the requirements for online real-time monitoring. Under different operating conditions, the GMM trained on normal operational data maintains stable evaluation performance, demonstrating favorable robustness. Full article

Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), a class of secondary metabolites characterized by a cyclohexenone or cyclohexenimine ring structure bound to amino acid residues, are widely distributed in algae. These compounds exhibit strong ultraviolet-absorbing and antioxidant activities, making them attractive candidates for natural sunscreen formulations. However, the low productivity of MAAs in microalgae severely hampers commercial viability. Asterarcys sp., a fast-growing, heat- and light-tolerant microalga, has recently been demonstrated to produce high levels of MAAs under UV irradiation. In this study, phosphorus limitation was found to stimulate rapid MAAs accumulation in Asterarcys sp. SCSIO-46548. After eight days of cultivation, microalgal cells grown in phosphorus-free medium (0 mg L⁻¹) showed a sixfold higher MAAs content (1.08% DW) compared to the group supplied with 5.60 mg L⁻¹ phosphorus (0.18% DW). However, the accumulation of MAAs began to plateau under phosphorus deprivation. Based on integrated homology alignment with cyanobacteria and functional domain validation, a putative biosynthetic pathway for mycosporine-serine in Asterarcys sp. SCSIO-46548 was proposed. Importantly, the gene expression of desmethyl-4-deoxygadusol synthase (DDGS) exhibited a 2.75-fold upregulation under phosphorus limitation. Complementary bioinformatic analyses further characterized the subcellular localization and major physicochemical properties of the candidate enzymes involved. In conclusion, phosphorus limitation is an effective strategy to enhance MAAs production in Asterarcys sp. SCSIO-46548 by upregulating the expression of key biosynthetic genes, such as DDGS. This finding provides an effective solution to the low MAAs productivity in microalgae cultivation. Full article

As a key figure among Japanese American artists, Yasuo Kuniyoshi attracted scholarly attention for his melancholic paintings produced during and shortly after the Second World War. Many of his works from this period portrayed somber figures in masks painted in muted color palettes. Kuniyoshi also placed his figures in bleak circus or carnival settings, imbuing these traditionally festive settings with an air of sadness. As many scholars argued, Yasuo’s solemn postwar paintings reflected the artist’s disillusionment with American society after he was labeled an “enemy alien” as a Japanese artist living in the U.S. during the Pacific War. While his postwar paintings have been extensively studied, his lithographic works remained overlooked due to their scarcity. This paper examines Kuniyoshi’s two postwar lithographs, Carnival and Mask, which follow the same carnival motifs as his late-life works, but represent a departure from his earlier artistic principles. Through the close analysis of the artist’s two lithographs and comparison to contemporary paintings, this paper argues that Kuniyoshi’s lithographs function as reflexive records of his paintings, serving as platforms for him to experiment with new artistic techniques and themes. Furthermore, examining the lithographs in the context of the artist’s full oeuvre, this paper will highlight how Kuniyoshi blurred the boundaries between artistic mediums, mirroring his broader efforts to navigate the challenges of postwar identity and artistic expression. Full article

Free-space optical (FSO) communication is an attractive high-capacity wireless technology for terrestrial, aerial, and satellite links. However, FSO performance is strongly affected by multiple impairments, including path loss, turbulence attenuation, pointing errors, and equipment loss. Therefore, accurate performance evaluation requires channel modelling that accounts for both deterministic power losses and stochastic channel effects. This paper presents a comprehensive and structured review of FSO channel modelling, covering the transmission, propagation medium, and receiver sections. The composite channel response is represented using a mathematical formulation. Commonly used FSO models are reviewed and organised, including Beer–Lambert and geometrical loss, Kim and Kruse path loss models, Lognormal, Gamma–Gamma, K, and Málaga distributions, along with pointing-error and angle-of-arrival models. Each model is explained in terms of its physical meaning, assumptions, and applicable operating conditions. Lastly, a numerical example is presented to demonstrate how deterministic losses and stochastic channel effects can be combined in FSO performance evaluation. Full article

In the 21st century, the desire for improved fuel efficiency of engines, lower fuel prices, and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_2$ and ${\mathrm{N}\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{x}}$ are leading the aviation industry to seek hybrid-electric jet engines for commercial aircraft. These aircraft will have greater maintenance challenges due to additional components requiring more reliable materials for the engine’s parts, such as turbine blades. Turbine blades must be composed of materials that have enhanced fatigue performance. Resistance to dynamic loads and high strength will be needed to ensure modern gas turbine blades are as reliable as possible. This review paper examines hybrid-electric engine turbine blades and subsequently introduces additive manufacturing (AM) and multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) with a focus on laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), high-entropy alloys (HEAs), and medium-entropy alloys (MEAs). The tensile properties of LPBF HEAs range from 5 to 47% elongation and a UTS of 572–1640 MPa, while LPBF MEAs range from 8 to 73.9% and a UTS of 573–1382 MPa. This study focused on dynamic and fatigue properties while acknowledging gaps in high-temperature testing. The combination of mechanical properties with the ability to control internal geometry makes these AM alloys an attractive option for the next generation of gas turbine blades. Full article

The increasing demand for electric, direct-drive propulsion systems with high torque density and high efficiency is driving the development of novel topologies in aviation. Conventional surface-mounted permanent magnet machines offer high efficiency with medium gravimetric shear force density. Flux-switching machines have a significantly higher specific force density and offer attractive advantages such as structural robustness, favorable permanent magnet utilization and simplified cooling options. In this work, two FSM variants and an SPM benchmark are investigated. A metamodel-based optimization framework is employed to efficiently explore a parameterized design space, allowing the identification of pareto-optimal solutions. Selected designs are analyzed in detail and compared with each other. The results show that high-pole FSM configurations are particularly suitable for torque-dense electric machines in aviation due to their high shear force density and scalability. Full article

Under the deformation potential model, the superconducting phenomenon in ABC-stacked multilayer graphene under a vertical electric field is investigated using linear combination operators and unitary transformation methods. Through the deformation potential model applied to a linear continuous medium, the effect of the external electric field is converted into the deformation potential energy of the crystal. Deformation potential phonons (LA phonons) act as propagators, generating electron–electron interactions. As the electric field increases, the ratio of the electric displacement vector to the dielectric function ($D/\epsilon$) rises, leading to an increase in the electron ground-state energy, the opening of the band gap, and an enhancement of the attractive electron–electron interaction. With further increases in the external electric field, the deformation potential constant of the crystal ($D_l$) increases. When the phonon vibration frequency ($\omega$) is around 8.5 THz, and the conditions are satisfied—where the wave vectors of different LA phonons are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, and the electron spins are opposite—the attractive electron–electron interaction reaches its maximum ($H_{eff}$), resulting in the emergence of superconductivity. Our study also provides a new perspective for understanding the unique quantum properties—such as strong correlations, superconductivity, and ferromagnetism—in different stacking configurations like AB, ABC, and ABCA. Full article

Polarimetric descattering imaging has attracted growing interest due to its fundamental physical significance and potential applications. While deep learning has accelerated its development through powerful feature extraction and inference capabilities, existing methods still face limitations in practical scenarios, particularly under dynamic non-uniform scattering conditions such as cement dust environments. To address this, we propose a deep neural network based on the Mueller matrix model that effectively integrates polarization evolution information with deep learning. Specifically, local concentrations of the scattering medium in non-uniform cement dust are characterized by the evolution of the degree of linear polarization (DoLP), which is converted into pixel-wise weight biases to generate customized Mueller matrices adaptable to varying concentrations. The network predicts a pixel-wise dust concentration map and applies the corresponding concentration-specific Mueller matrix to each pixel for polarization-aware dehazing, ensuring physical consistency with Mueller matrix calculus throughout inference. This framework is further enhanced by a physics-constrained optimization loss and multi-scale feature fusion. Experimental results demonstrate the method’s effectiveness and superiority in diverse dynamic non-uniform cement dust environments. Full article

Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are one of the prevalent pests infesting wine grapes in the eastern United States. Their close association with ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) provides them with protection against natural enemies. Although sugar-based dispensers have been proposed as a strategy to disrupt this trophobiotic interaction, their field performance and indirect effects on mealybug infestation remain poorly understood. This study addresses this gap by identifying mealybug species present in Virginia vineyards, characterizing dominant ant genera associated with mealybugs, and evaluating the impact of sugar dispensers (with and without insecticide) on ant activity, mealybug density, and fruit cluster infestation. Field trials were conducted in two commercial vineyards in Virginia, USA, both with a history of mealybug infestations. Sampling plots with or without sugar dispensers were compared to assess differences in mealybug and ant population densities and fruit cluster infestation levels. Two mealybug species, Pseudococcus maritimus (Ehrhorn) and Ferrisia gilli Gullan, were detected at both sites. Some dominant ant genera, including Tetramorium Mayr, Lasius Fabricius, Solenopsis molesta (Say), Crematogaster Lund, and Pheidole Westwood, were found in close association with mealybugs. Ant activity remained low in untreated plots, whereas insecticide-treated dispensers initially attracted high ant numbers, which declined over time. Fruit cluster infestation was highest in plots lacking dispensers, indicating that dispenser deployment reduced mealybug impact. These findings demonstrate that sugar dispensers, particularly those containing insecticide, can suppress ant activity and reduce mealybug-related fruit damage, offering a practical non-disruptive tool for integrated pest management in small- and medium-sized vineyards. Full article

Proteases are key biocatalysts widely applied in the food, pharmaceutical, detergent, and environmental industries. One of the most costly steps in large-scale enzyme production is the preparation of the culture medium, making agro-industrial wastes attractive as low-cost nutrient sources and potential inducers. The non-conventional yeast Yarrowia lipolytica stands out in bioprocess engineering due to its high secretion capacity, GRAS status, and ability to metabolize diverse industrial residues. In this study, Brazilian agro-industrial by-products, namely Corn steep liquor (CSL), brewer’s yeast residue (BYR), and okara, were evaluated as alternative nitrogen sources for protease production by Y. lipolytica IMUFRJ 50678. Enzyme activity was quantified by the azocasein method at optimized conditions (40 °C, 40 min, pH 5 and 8). After an initial exploratory screening (n = 1), brewer’s yeast residue (BYR) and okara were identified as promising candidates for protease production. These preliminary findings guided subsequent experiments performed in biological triplicate (n = 3), which confirmed the reproducibility and comparative performance of these substrates, showing higher acid protease (AXP) activity in the BYR medium ((5.4 ± 0.3) U/mL), whereas alkaline protease (AEP) activities were comparable between the BYR ((8.4 ± 0.6) U/mL) and okara ((7.5 ± 0.9) U/mL) media. CSL was associated with higher lipase activity ((11.7 ± 0.9) × 10³ U/L), while esterase activity was higher in the BYR medium. These findings indicate that agro-industrial residues, particularly BYR and okara, can serve as effective nitrogen sources for protease production by Y. lipolytica IMUFRJ 50678, supporting their use in waste valorization and sustainable bioprocesses. Full article

We study the decomposition of large-scale Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization Problems (QUBO) formulations for quantum and quantum-inspired annealers and propose two decomposition mechanisms. The first is one-way-one-hot (1W1H), which replaces a linear inequality with exactly one indicator bank and naturally decomposes the model into many small, parallel subproblems. The second is slack variable range search (SVRS), which introduces a binary-encoded slack and scans restricted windows to balance the number of subproblems and the per-subproblem variable count. Evaluation results using the P08 knapsack problem instance on the Compal Graphic Processing Unit Annealer (CGA) show that SVRS provides a favorable scalability–quality trade-off, while 1W1H remains attractive when the admissible range is small to medium and massive parallelism is available. These results motivate integrating both mechanisms into the National Central University Annealer (NCUA). Full article