Search Results (6,944)

The advancement of 5G/6G infrastructure requires specifications that are challenging from an engineering point of view. Some of the advanced field-manipulation techniques rely on High Impedance Surfaces (HISs), including modulated appearances. However, their intense near-field energy localization for some frequencies poses challenges for bioelectromagnetic safety. Measurements of such hot spots require special attention; traditional metallic probes are often invasive and locally distort fields. This paper proposes and validates a non-invasive methodology using Transient Infrared (IR) Thermography for high-resolution mapping of a substantial area (in terms of wavelength). By capturing the initial thermal gradient (dT/dt) on a HIS built on an Arlon AD430 substrate, we estimate the local specific absorption rate (SAR) of energy deposition before heat diffusion occurs. Cross-validation with electric (E)-field measurements at two different distances from the HIS in the sub-6 GHz 5G frequency spectrum, namely at 2 mm and at 22 mm, reveals a remarkable spatial correlation between thermal hot-spots and peak intensities, which decrease by ~83% across these distances. This study demonstrates that transient IR thermography is a rapid, non-perturbing tool for auditing electromagnetic safety compliance, providing a robust framework for determining SAR in human tissues exposed to radiation from future 5G devices. Full article

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are promising electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), but their coordinatively saturated basal planes are intrinsically inert. Using density functional theory with the PBEsol functional and DFT-D3 dispersion corrections, this study examines monolayers, homobilayers, and six vertical van der Waals heterostructures assembled from MoS₂, MoSe₂, WS₂, and WSe₂, together with chalcogen and transition metal vacancies introduced at the reaction surface. Pristine surfaces bind hydrogen weakly and require more than 2.2 eV to dissociate water; neither an increase in layer number nor heterojunction formation relieves this limitation. Phonon dispersions and quasi-harmonic free energies confirm that all six heterostructures are dynamically stable. Surface chalcogen vacancies expose undercoordinated metal centres and reduce the water dissociation free energy by up to approximately 2 eV, while the composition of the adjacent layer—in particular its Se content—further modulates adsorption at the exposed site. Introducing an additional metal vacancy reveals a marked spatial dependence: intralayer vacancies overbind hydrogen ($\Delta G_{{\mathrm{H}}^{*}}$ from $-0.40$ to $-1.37$ eV), whereas vacancies in the adjacent layer shift $\Delta G_{{\mathrm{H}}^{*}}$ into a near-thermoneutral window of $-0.33$ to 0.25 eV, despite their higher formation energies (≈6.45 eV versus ≈4.2 eV). Interlayer defect–interface synergy, therefore, constitutes a transferable design principle for activating TMD basal planes. Full article

Wound healing is a dynamic and highly coordinated process that involves inflammation, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, re-epithelialization, extracellular matrix remodeling, and tissue maturation. The altered expression of important signaling pathways, such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and Wnt/β-catenin, may be responsible for slower wound healing, chronic inflammation, excessive fibrosis, and impaired tissue regeneration. Multifunctional nanomaterials are a promising strategy for tuning these highly coordinated processes due to their tunable physicochemical properties, high surface area, and the ability to deliver cargo, as well as the integration of antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-angiogenic properties. The aim of current review is to summarize the potential of multifunctional nanomaterials to promote wound healing, with a focus on mechanisms of action and modulation of key cellular signaling pathways. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, searching for publications from 1996 to June 2026, and representative experimental, mechanistic, preclinical, and translational studies were critically evaluated. In this review, the authors discuss the role of nanomaterial properties, therapeutic payload, molecular targets, modulation of cellular signaling pathways, and regenerative effects. These platforms have been shown in in vitro and animal studies to influence inflammatory signaling, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, collagen remodeling, re-epithelialization, cellular proliferation, and migration. However, the modulation of these pathways are dose-responsive, time-dependent, and cell- and wound-stage-specific. Despite the promising therapeutic potential of nanomaterial-based wound care strategies, the available evidence remains predominantly preclinical, with relatively limited clinical data supporting their use in humans. Concerns regarding long-term toxicity, biodistribution, batch-to-batch reproducibility, sterilization, scalable manufacturing, regulatory approval, and commercial feasibility further challenge translation into clinical practice. Multifunctional nanomaterials may offer a promising approach for pathway-specific and multimodal wound management; however, comprehensive mechanistic studies, long-term safety and biodistribution assessments, and well-designed clinically relevant investigations are required to establish their efficacy, safety, and true translational potential. Full article

Nanocomposite-structured sensing interfaces were developed on fibrous substrates for chemiresistive detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by integrating graphene (GE), cellulose derivatives hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and molecularly linked gold nanoparticles into composition-programmable thin films. Raman and infrared spectroscopy confirm that graphene incorporation occurs through physical integration without chemical modification of the polymer matrix, preserving cellulose integrity while enabling graphene loading to govern electrical percolation and charge-transport pathways. Systematic variation in nanocomposite composition reveals clear design rules linking interfacial polarity to VOC class sensitivity: hydrophilic GE/CMC and amphiphilic GE/HEC interfaces exhibit enhanced responses to polar and hydrogen-bonding VOCs, whereas hydrophobic gold thiolate assemblies preferentially respond to nonpolar aromatic and aliphatic VOCs. Incorporation of ligand-functionalized gold nanoparticles introduces an additional tunability dimension, modulating both VOC affinity and sensor stability through combined electronic and surface-chemical effects. Sensor arrays constructed from complementary nanocomposite interfaces achieve reliable VOC discrimination, as demonstrated by sensitivity patterns, spider-chart analysis, and principal component analysis, with effective separations retained even in reduced-sensor configurations. Across multiple nanocomposite architectures, enhanced response sensitivity is observed at low VOC concentrations, highlighting the role of interfacial adsorption dynamics and underscoring the potential of paper-based nanocomposite chemiresistive platforms for sub-ppm VOC detection. Full article

The scientific problem addressed in this study is how a continuous mechanical architecture can maintain stable lettuce handling while improving treatment-medium access to irregular, overlapping leaf surfaces. We formulate this problem as a morphology-informed design and evaluation task. The proposed machine integrates soil removal, a reserved vision-based yellow-leaf detection and root-trimming station, multi-angle disinfection, water–air washing, combined airflow drying, film wrapping, weighing, and boxing modules on a chain-conveyor platform with bowl-shaped fixtures. The evaluation follows a design-to-evidence workflow: lettuce morphology and process requirements are mapped to module geometry; chain, lead-screw, gear, and motor parameters are checked analytically; an application-oriented geometric spray-coverage model tests fixed versus swinging bilateral nozzles; static finite element analysis screens the frame under defined design loads; and prototype assembly verifies spatial compatibility. The covered-surface proxy increased from 7.24% for fixed bilateral spraying to 13.58% for a ±35° swinging case under explicit screening assumptions, while the frame analysis gave 0.0224 mm maximum deformation and 7.30 MPa maximum von Mises stress. These outputs support a preliminary, mechanically feasible platform and a testable explanation for why adjustable spray orientation may improve access to complex lettuce surfaces. They do not constitute measured cleaning, microbial, trimming, drying, packaging, throughput, or reliability performance. Full article

Objective: Self-assembling peptide nanomaterials are increasingly investigated as modular platforms for vaccine delivery and immune modulation. However, their structure-dependent interactions with immune cells remain insufficiently defined, limiting their early evaluation as peptide nanomaterial. This study evaluated the physicochemical properties and immunological effects of three Sup35 G7-derived self-assembling peptide nanomaterials, G7, G7d, and G7d(PEG)HER2, with particular attention to innate immune compatibility and macrophage responses. Methods: The morphology and surface charge of the peptides were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and zeta-potential analysis. Their cytocompatibility was assessed in THP-1 macrophages, Jurkat T cells, and IM-9 B cells. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were integrated to identify immune-cell-specific molecular responses. Cellular uptake, apoptosis, cytokine secretion, and intracellular reactive oxygen species production were further examined in macrophages. In vivo immunization in BALB/c mice was conducted to assess systemic immunoglobulin responses. Results: G7 and G7d assembled into large crystalline aggregates with limited dispersibility, whereas PEGylated G7d(PEG)HER2 formed more uniform nanofibers. All three materials showed positive zeta potentials and relatively low cytotoxicity across the tested immune cell models. Among these cells, macrophages displayed the strongest molecular responses. Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed coordinated alterations mainly involving metabolic remodeling, redox homeostasis, proteasome activity, and mitochondrial-associated pathways, rather than predominant activation of classical pro-inflammatory signaling. Ultrastructural analysis confirmed intracellular uptake of assembled peptides and mitochondrial morphological changes without detectable apoptosis. Cytokine profiling showed reduced secretion of multiple cytokines and chemokines, while G7 induced higher intracellular reactive oxygen species than G7d and G7d(PEG)HER2. In vivo, G7d administration was associated with increased serum IgG levels, whereas G7 showed a moderate effect and G7d(PEG)HER2 exhibited minimal changes; IgM levels remained unchanged. Conclusions: Sup35 G7 based self-assembling peptides exhibit low acute toxicity but induce structure-dependent modulation of macrophage function. Differences in assembly morphology and surface modification may influence systemic humoral responses. These findings support the importance of physicochemical design in evaluating immune compatibility of peptide nanomaterial scaffolds. Full article

Root hairs are tubular protrusions of root epidermal cells that expand the root surface area to facilitate water and nutrient uptake. The target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase has been identified as a positive regulator of root hair elongation, and the RHD6-RSL4 bHLH transcriptional cascade is well established as a core module that governs root hair morphogenesis. However, whether TOR signaling acts upstream of the RHD6-RSL4 pathway and how glucose signals are integrated into this transcriptional regulatory network during root hair development remain incompletely understood. In this study, transcriptome profiling combined with pharmacological and genetic functional assays was performed to elucidate the TOR-mediated transcriptional regulatory pathway of root hair elongation in Arabidopsis. Chemical inhibition of TOR triggered genome-wide transcriptional reprogramming in seedling roots, including disruption of auxin and ethylene signal transduction and pronounced downregulation of hundreds of genes related to root hair development. Glucose-activated TOR signaling modulates the expression of root hair-specific (RHS) genes mainly through the core RHD6-RSL4 transcriptional cascade. The transcription of RSL1–RSL5 was strongly dependent on functional TOR activity, whereas RHD6 transcript abundance was specifically induced by glucose–TOR signaling under carbon-starvation recovery conditions. Genetic overexpression of either RHD6 or RSL4 partially rescued root hair elongation defects caused by TOR suppression, confirming that the RHD6-RSL4 cascade functions as a critical downstream transcriptional module of glucose–TOR signaling. Collectively, this work establishes a transcriptional framework in which glucose–TOR signals modulate root hair elongation via transcriptional activation of the master bHLH regulators RHD6 and RSL4. Full article

Reliable unmanned surface vehicle (USV) recovery requires near-field maritime remote sensing outputs that remain stable during the final approach. Planar fiducial geometry provides metric pose estimates, but its depth channel is sensitive to corner-localization noise, apparent marker shrinkage, glare, reflection, and vessel vibration. We present VARE (Visual-Adaptive Ranging and Estimation), a geometry-anchored perception pipeline that combines ArUco-based Perspective-n-Point pose recovery, dual-path bearing fusion, MiDaS-assisted range stabilization, depth-consistency confidence weighting, and innovation-adaptive temporal filtering. VARE is a system-level integration rather than a new neural architecture, PnP solver, or end-to-end docking controller. The pipeline explicitly separates image-centroid bearing, translation-vector bearing, marker-normal heading, camera-frame horizontal approach range, and lateral offset. Independent RTK-synchronized external references, with measured lever-arm corrections between the RTK antenna, camera optical center, and marker reference point, are used for pool and near-shore evaluation. In controlled land tests, VARE reduced independent-reference angular RMSE by 34.0–49.3% relative to the pixel-only baseline and by 22.0–36.4% relative to a static-filter PnP variant. Across 15 pool-based approach trials, the full vision-only configuration achieved a horizontal bearing RMSE of 0.46 degrees, a range MAE of 0.82 m, and a range RMSE of 0.90 m. Relative to the matched IPPE-square geometry baseline with One-Euro filtering, the corresponding descriptive reductions were 14.8%, 4.7%, and 5.3%; the modest range differences are not presented as universally significant. Trial-level summaries, confidence intervals, and data-availability provisions are added to support reproducibility. The results support VARE as a candidate perception module for RTK-referenced USV recovery guidance, while full six-degree-of-freedom validation, session-level dropout survival, and closed-loop capture success remain future work. Full article

The development of sustainable, biocompatible scaffolds with enhanced structural stability remains a primary challenge in bone tissue engineering. In this study, structurally reinforced nanocomposite scaffolds were successfully fabricated by integrating green-synthesized carbon quantum dots (CQDs) into a gelatin (G) matrix, offering an innovative platform that mimics the organic–inorganic interfaces of natural bone tissue. The CQDs were derived from oatmeal via a sustainable, green hydrothermal route, serving simultaneously as zero-dimensional reinforcing fillers and bioactive agents within the biopolymer network. To ensure an additive-free fabrication process that avoids toxic chemical cross-linkers, dehydrothermal (DHT) treatment was employed, successfully modulating the interfacial and chemical cross-linking interactions between the gelatin chains and the oxygen-rich surface groups of the CQDs. Structural characterization confirmed the uniform dispersion of CQDs (average diameter 7–8 nm) within the porous gelatin framework. The incorporation of CQDs significantly improved the physicochemical properties of the scaffolds; the G/CQD 5% formulation emerged as the optimal composition, exhibiting a 118% increase in compression modulus compared to pristine gelatin. The composite demonstrated tuned swelling kinetics and a significantly reduced degradation rate, restricting mass loss after 14 days of incubation to approximately 24% compared to 40% for pristine gelatin, which is essential for maintaining a structural template during the initial stages of tissue formation. Bioactivity assays in simulated body fluid (SBF) confirmed the rapid, biomimetic induction of a crystalline hydroxyapatite layer with a natural Ca/P ratio of 1.61 within 14 days. Furthermore, preliminary in vitro assessments using Human Skin Fibroblasts (HSFs) confirmed excellent general cytocompatibility, with cell viability exceeding 90%. This study highlights the unique potential of utilizing biomass-derived carbon nanostructures and clean manufacturing processing to engineer multifunctional scaffolds with enhanced structural stability and intrinsic bioactivity for potential bone defect repairs. Full article

Podocytes and their foot processes form a functional layer of the glomerular filtration barrier. Due to their unique morphology and function, podocytes employ distinct nutrient pathways to maintain the bioenergetic balance, with lactate being one of several available energy substrates. Enhanced lactate intake modulates the redox state of the cell by increasing mitochondrial respiration and reactive oxygen species production. Monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) is the primary lactate transporter, and alterations in its surface expression may contribute to the regulation of lactate uptake in podocytes. Beyond its metabolic role, lactate also acts as a crucial signaling molecule by binding to G-protein-coupled receptor 81 (GPR81), mediating a wide range of physiological effects through the inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA). The present study investigated novel regulatory mechanisms of MCT1 internalization, which depend on GPR81 signaling and PKA activity in primary rat podocytes, through the biotinylation assay. Surprisingly, both PKA inhibition (with H89 and PKI 14–22) and activation (with 8-bromo-cAMP and H₂O₂) increased MCT1 internalization. GPR81 was also found to regulate MCT1 membrane trafficking, likely through the modulation of PKA activity but also potentially through PKA-independent mechanism. Additionally, general dynamic changes in endocytic activity were detected under the present conditions with pHrodo-dextran fluorescence analysis. These results suggest that the modulation of PKA activity and GPR81 signaling may regulate lactate transport via MCT1, thereby ensuring its proper metabolic function in podocytes. Full article

Vanadium dioxide (VO₂)-based thermochromic films are highly attractive for smart window applications due to their ability to dynamically modulate solar radiation in response to ambient temperature. However, their practical deployment is significantly hindered by poor long-term stability in outdoor environments, vulnerability to surface contamination, and insufficient mechanical durability. Herein, we propose a novel strategy to obtain self-cleaning and durable VO₂ composite films, consisting of a VO₂ thermochromic layer covered by either a SiO₂ or TiO₂ overcoat and further modified by a transparent and matter-repellent surface. Multifunctional VO₂ composite films are rationally designed to exhibit superior repellence towards various liquids, thereby imparting excellent anti-fouling property. Crucially, the VO₂ composite film is engineered for high optical transparency to ensure it does not compromise the solar modulation ability of the underlying VO₂ layer. Furthermore, the robust mechanical properties of the SiO₂ or TiO₂ overcoat with matter-repellent modification provide effective protection against abrasion and scratch damages. The resulting VO₂-based composite films demonstrate significantly enhanced environmental stability and operational reliability while maintaining desirable thermochromic performance. This work presents a promising strategy to overcome the stability and durability challenges facing VO₂ smart windows, paving the way for their real-world application in energy-efficient buildings. Full article

Underwater acoustic target recognition (UATR) is challenging due to the complex, multi-scale physical characteristics of marine targets and the strict computational limits of edge platforms like unmanned surface vehicles. To navigate the severe interference of underwater environments, existing methods increasingly rely on heavyweight architectures to achieve high recognition accuracy. However, the massive computational overhead of these models is fundamentally at odds with the restricted power and processing capabilities of practical deployment platforms. To resolve this conflict between performance and deployability, we propose LHK-Net, a lightweight Heterogeneous Kernel Network. By integrating a Heterogeneous Kernel Pyramid with Residual Depthwise Separable Convolutions, LHK-Net dynamically captures multi-scale acoustic features, from macroscopic steady-state harmonics to localized transient impulses, while compressing the model size to merely 0.82 M parameters. Additionally, a dual-domain Time–Frequency Attention module and an Adaptive SK-Fusion mechanism are incorporated for robust noise suppression. Experiments on the DeepShip dataset demonstrate that LHK-Net achieves state-of-the-art accuracy, outperforming heavyweight models at real-time speeds. Extensive visual analyses further validate that the network possesses strong physical interpretability, effectively aligning its internal feature representations with the intrinsic acoustic properties of the targets. Full article

In this paper, we report a metal-driven structural tuning strategy with the L-histidine (His) ligand to modulate peroxidase-like nanozyme performance. Although the His coordinates with gold(III) ions to form an extended helical coordination polymer, its interaction with Cu(II) ions results in quantum-confined, ultrasmall nanoclusters. Based on the optical, structural, and surface analysis, the blue-emitting cores are stabilized by His ligands through imidazole nitrogen coordination, consistent with a Cu-centered coordination environment involved in the observed catalytic activity. According to the catalytic measurements, the His-Cu clusters outperformed the His-Au coordination polymer reference system. Steady-state kinetic modeling and 3D profiling revealed a pronounced shift in the pH optimum: low-valent Cu-containing His-Cu NCs enable efficient peroxide-dependent catalysis under nearly neutral conditions (pH 7.4), whereas His-Au CP exhibits its maximum activity under acidic conditions. Based on these findings, this work highlights nanoscale engineering for tailor-made biomimetic applications. Full article

Sudden tailings dam breaches trigger large-scale heavy metal compound pollution in coupled surface water–groundwater systems, requiring systematic full-cycle ecological damage quantification tools applicable to diverse contamination types. This study constructs an integrated full-cycle ecological damage assessment framework for sudden water pollution accidents, integrating three core modules: multi-model pollutant migration prediction, multi-scale aquatic biological damage diagnosis, and three-dimensional ecological-economic loss accounting. The framework adopts a modular design that can potentially accommodate heavy metals (Cd, Cr, As, Pb) and organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), with standardized molecular, individual, and population-level biological endpoints and corresponding pollutant dose–response templates reserved as reference calculation modules. However, applicability beyond this case has not been validated and requires case-specific calibration. To verify the operability and accuracy of the proposed integrated system, a typical tailings dam leakage incident dominated by hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and arsenic (As) pollution was selected as the practical validation case; all field monitoring, pollutant simulation, and final economic loss quantification in this case exclusively rely on on-site measured Cr(VI) and As data, while Cd and PAH-related biological response curves and remediation cost formulas retained in the manuscript only serve as illustrative universal template components of the framework rather than case-measured results. For the Cr(VI)/As pollution case, the advection–diffusion model simulation revealed that the Cr(VI) contamination plume horizontally spread 250 m within 48 h and extended to 560 m after seven days, and anaerobic groundwater environments drove the transformation of toxic mobile trivalent arsenic (As(III)) from primary pentavalent arsenic. The calibrated SWAT model achieved Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) coefficients of 0.75 for dissolved Cr(VI) and 0.68 for particulate As. The graph theory-based rapid prediction model cut computation duration down to minutes; when validated against independent field monitoring data, it yielded an average relative error of 14.2%, and its consistency with the SWAT model reached 10.5% relative deviation, satisfying the accuracy requirement for emergency early warning. Field biological monitoring demonstrated substantial ecological impairment: metallothionein (MT) expression in fish tissues was markedly elevated (the reported 6.2-fold induction value derives from standard Cd exposure template tests within the framework, with analogous MT upregulation also observed for field Cr(VI)/As co-stress), and benthic community Shannon diversity declined by over 50% in polluted river reaches. The standardized Ecological Damage Index (EDI) of the case was calculated as 480.2, indicating severe aquatic ecosystem damage, with total comprehensive ecological and economic losses reaching 17.25 million CNY. This study innovatively couples high-precision physical transport models with fast emergency prediction algorithms and establishes a complete multi-tier biological indicator chain linking molecular biomarkers to community integrity metrics; the three-dimensional loss accounting system integrating ecosystem service impairment, restoration expenditure, and post-pollution recovery loss realizes closed-loop full-cycle damage evaluation. The proposed framework, demonstrated for Cr(VI) and As pollution, has a modular design that may potentially be extended to other pollutants such as Cd and PAHs by adjusting model parameters, providing a quantitative reference for emergency disposal, pollution remediation, and ecological compensation of water contamination accidents, although further validation across different pollutants and hydrological settings is required. Full article

Background: Cell migration is a biological process influenced by biochemical signals and mechanical stimuli from the microenvironment. In this context, the accurate characterization of the mechanical microenvironment generated within microfluidic platforms represents an essential step for the design and interpretation of cell migration studies. Understanding how hydrodynamic forces influence the mechanical microenvironment experienced by cells remains a challenge, especially in confined and biomimetic systems. Methods: In this study, a three-dimensional microfluidic device was developed in silico to characterize the effects of flow variation on mechanofluidic parameters and to provide a quantitative basis for designing future cell-migration experiments. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed to characterize the velocity, pressure, and wall shear stress (WSS) distributions under different inlet flow rates (0.5, 1, and 5 µL/min) and three distinct inlet/outlet configurations within the same three-dimensional geometry. Rigid hemispherical probe structures were incorporated into the model to quantify the local shear stress acting on cell-sized surfaces. Results: The results demonstrated a direct and linear relationship between the applied flow rate and the WSS, modulated by the channel geometry and the inlet and outlet configuration. Regions near micropores and lateral channels showed high WSS values, while central regions experienced less mechanical stimulation, depending on flow conditions. Comparison with WSS values and ranges associated with cellular responses reported in the literature indicated that certain operational configurations generated mechanical conditions comparable to those previously investigated in cell-based studies, including cell migration applications. Conclusions: Overall, the study highlights the importance of controlling flow conditions in microfluidic platforms and provides a quantitative basis for the development and optimization of three-dimensional microfluidic devices intended for designing future cell-migration experiments. The systematic comparison of three inlet/outlet configurations across three flow rates within the same three-dimensional geometry provides a comparative framework for identifying configuration-dependent changes in the local mechanofluidic environment, supporting the selection of operational conditions for future mechanobiological and cell-migration studies. Full article