Search Results (62)

In response to problems inherent in conventional hydraulic engineering education including compartmentalized courses, fragmented knowledge delivery, overlapping and omitted content, and insufficient development of students’ integrated practical competencies this study develops an instructional model for a coordinated curriculum group based on the OBE-BOPPPS teaching theory. The curriculum cluster model aims to integrate interdisciplinary course content, restructure curriculum structure hierarchy, eliminate disciplinary barriers, and establish clear stratified and interrelated knowledge relationships. The model centers on competency development, constructing a three-dimensional “agent–objective” system that connects “teacher–student–curriculum” with “knowledge–competency–literacy.” It further establishes a multi-indicator evaluation system encompassing teachers, students, and courses. The comprehensive evaluation employing Principal Component Analysis, Entropy Weight Method, and CRITIC method demonstrates that the curriculum group teaching model significantly outperforms traditional course-based instruction in transcending disciplinary boundaries, enhancing knowledge systematicity, improving teaching precision, and strengthening knowledge acquisition as well as students’ comprehensive competencies. This approach achieves dynamic optimization and precision feedback in the teaching process, effectively facilitating the systematic transfer of knowledge and the holistic development of students’ innovative practical abilities. It thereby provides a scientific pathway and empirical support for the reform of hydraulic engineering education and the cultivation of high-quality talent. Full article

Introduction: Muscle function is influenced by hydroelectrolytic mechanisms that regulate cellular volume beyond isolated plasma electrolyte concentrations. However, the role of integrated hydration and electrolyte regulation profiles in muscle function among older adults remains insufficiently understood. Objective: To identify which physiological domains of hydroelectrolytic regulation are most strongly associated with muscle strength and functional performance in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 96 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥ 70 years. Markers of cellular hydration and membrane integrity were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis, together with first-morning fasting plasma and urinary sodium and chloride concentrations. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied as a data-driven approach to identify latent domains of coordinated hydroelectrolytic regulation. Associations between component scores and handgrip strength and Timed Up and Go (TUG) were examined using two sequential multivariable regression models: Model 1 adjusted for sex and fat-free mass index (FFMI); Model 2 additionally adjusted for age, hypertension, and diuretic use. Results: Three principal components were retained, explaining 77.5% of total variance: PC1 (renal–cellular domain), PC2 (plasma electrolyte domain), and PC3 (cellular volume domain). For handgrip strength, Model 1 showed significant associations for PC3 (β = 0.152; p = 0.025) and PC1 (β = 0.180; p = 0.050). In Model 2, only PC3 remained independently associated (β = 0.146; p = 0.036). For TUG, Model 1 showed associations for PC1 (β = −0.262; p = 0.049) and PC3 (β = −0.238; p = 0.015). In Model 2, PC1 (β = −0.308; p = 0.019) and PC2 (β = −0.190; p = 0.046) remained independently associated, whereas PC3 was not. Conclusions: Maximal force production appears primarily associated with cellular volume regulation, whereas functional performance reflects broader multi-compartmental hydroelectrolytic integration involving renal and plasma domains. These findings suggest that multidimensional hydration profiling may complement isolated biochemical markers in the functional assessment of older adults, warranting validation in longitudinal studies. Full article

This study develops a conceptual framework for characterizing reservoir architecture in multi-component, discrete systems using pressure transient analysis (PTA), aimed at calibrating inflow geometry prior to full-field dynamic simulation for subsurface gas storage applications such as CO₂ and hydrogen. A secondary objective is to identify variations in permeability over time by analyzing flow capacity trends and evaluating the dynamic influence of faults and fractures. The analysis is based on a gas-condensate field comprising seven wells and four zones (A, B, C, D), using integrated dynamic datasets including extended well tests (EWTs), mud loss, production logs, and production data. Detailed interpretation of PX-1’s EWT indicated delayed re-pressurization and persistent under-pressure, suggesting a compartmentalized or transient system with limited gas-in-place connectivity. Four reservoir architecture concepts were developed: (1) lithology-dominated inflow, (2) structurally controlled inflow, (3) discrete, weakly connected compartments, and (4) transient-dominated systems with tight matrix GIIP. These concepts informed four reservoir models: matrix-only (M), areal heterogeneity (A), sparse bodies (B), and sparse networks (S). Application of these models across other wells revealed consistent localized KH (permeability–thickness product) behavior, with all models fitting short-duration data comparably. However, only sparse drainage models (B/S) adequately matched PX-1’s EWT response. PTA results confirm that well tests constrain KH locally but provide limited insight into large-scale reservoir architecture. EWTs may reach ~1 km, while shorter tests are confined to ~200–400 m, typically within one to two simulation grid blocks. This study demonstrates how integrating PTA with multi-scale data improves characterization of naturally fractured, tight carbonate reservoirs and supports reservoir simulation and history matching for hydrogen storage evaluation. Based on reservoir simulations, this study concluded that naturally fractured carbonate gas reservoirs can provide significant storage and injection capacities for underground hydrogen storage. This study exemplifies how to characterize the naturally fractured tight carbonate reservoirs by integrating multi-scale and multi-dimensional data such as PTA. Furthermore, this study assists in gridding for full-field reservoir models, for history matching and quantifying the potential of hydrogen storage in these complex reservoirs. The proposed workflow provides an uncertainty-bounded reservoir characterization framework and should not be interpreted as a complete field-design methodology for hydrogen storage. The modeling does not explicitly couple geomechanical fracture growth, hydrogen diffusion, long-term geochemical reactions, or caprock integrity degradation. Therefore, the presented storage scenarios represent technically feasible cases under defined assumptions. Comprehensive site-specific geomechanical and containment assessments are required prior to field-scale implementation. Full article

Soil salinization, as a key constraint to global agricultural sustainable development, has threatened over one billion hectares of farmland, posing severe challenges to staple crop production. Therefore, this review summarizes important advances in the molecular mechanisms of salt–alkali tolerance from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to staple crops (rice, maize, and wheat) and compares the commonalities and differences in physiological structure and molecular regulatory networks among these species. Studies have shown that plants respond to saline–alkali stress mainly through conserved mechanisms, including salt overly sensitive (SOS) signaling pathway-mediated ion homeostasis, accumulation of osmoprotectants, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and coordination of multiple hormone signals. However, different species have evolved unique adaptive strategies: Arabidopsis has revealed core regulatory pathways, but its simple root system limits direct application in crops; rice employs root barriers and a stem node “ion filter” to precisely regulate Na⁺ transport; maize utilizes the C4 photosynthetic pathway along with efficient osmotic adjustment and tissue compartmentalization to enhance tolerance; and wheat achieves ion detoxification through TaHKT allele variation and vacuolar sequestration. Looking forward, future breeding for salt–alkali tolerance should adopt a “crop-centric” approach, focusing on the mining and molecular design of superior alleles, combined with gene editing and multi-trait integration, to provide a theoretical basis and strategic support for developing high-yield and stable crop varieties adapted to saline–alkali lands. Full article

This paper presents a comprehensive mathematical analysis of a novel compartmental model describing the dynamics of dispersed water pollutants and their interaction with two distinct host populations. The model is formulated as a system of integro-differential equations that incorporates multiple distributed delays to realistically account for time lags in the infection process and pollutant transport. We rigorously establish the biological well-posedness of the model by proving the non-negativity and ultimate boundedness of solutions, confirming the existence of a positively invariant feasible region. The analysis characterizes the long-term behavior of the system through the derivation of the basic reproduction number ${\mathcal{R}}_0^d$, which serves as a sharp threshold determining the system’s fate. For the model without delays, we prove the global asymptotic stability of the infection-free equilibrium (IFE) when ${\mathcal{R}}_0\le 1$ and of the endemic equilibrium (EE) when ${\mathcal{R}}_0>1$. These stability results are extended to the distributed-delay model by using sophisticated Lyapunov functionals, demonstrating that ${\mathcal{R}}_0^d$ universally governs the global dynamics: the IFE (${\mathcal{E}}_0^d$) is globally asymptotically stable (GAS) if ${\mathcal{R}}_0^d\le 1$, while the EE (${\mathcal{E}}_d^{\ast }$) is GAS if ${\mathcal{R}}_0^d>1$. Numerical simulations validate the theoretical findings and provide further insights. Sensitivity analysis identifies the most influential parameters on ${\mathcal{R}}_0^d$, highlighting the recruitment rate of susceptible individuals, exposure rate, and pollutant shedding rate as key intervention targets. Furthermore, we investigate the impact of control measures, showing that treatment efficacy exceeding a critical value is sufficient for disease eradication. The analysis also reveals the inherent mitigating effect of the maturation delay, demonstrating that a delay longer than a critical duration can naturally suppress the outbreak. This work provides a robust mathematical framework for understanding and managing dispersed water pollution, emphasizing the critical roles of multi-source contributions, time delays, and targeted interventions for environmental sustainability. Full article

Socio-ecological systems (SESs) exhibit nonlinear feedback across environmental, social, and economic processes, requiring integrative analytical tools capable of representing such coupled dynamics. This study presents a quantitative framework that integrates a compartmental model of a global human–ecosystem with two complementary optimization approaches (Fisher Information (FI) and Multi-Objective Optimization (MOO)) to evaluate policy strategies for sustainability. The model represents biophysical and socio-economic interactions across 15 compartments, incorporating feedback loops between greenhouse gas (GHG) accumulation, temperature anomalies, and trophic–economic dynamics. Six policy-relevant decision variables were selected (wild plant mortality, sectoral prices (agriculture, livestock, and industry), base wages, and resource productivity) and optimized under temporal (25-year) and magnitude (±10%) constraints to ensure policy realism. FI-based optimization enhances system stability, whereas the MOO framework balances environmental, social, and economic objectives using the Ideal Point Method. Both approaches prevent the systemic collapse observed in the baseline scenario. The FI and MOO strategies reduce terminal global temperature by 11.4% and 15.0%, respectively, relative to the baseline (35 °C → 31.0 °C under FI; 35 °C → 29.7 °C under MOO). Resource-use efficiency, measured through the resource requirement coefficient (λ), improves by 8–10% under MOO (0.6767 → 0.6090) and by 6–7% under FI (0.6668 → 0.6262). These outcomes offer actionable guidance for long-term climate policy at national and international scales. The MOO framework provided the most balanced outcomes, enhancing environmental and social performance while maintaining economic viability. Overall, the integration of optimization and information-theoretic approaches within SES models can support evidence-based public policy design, offering actionable pathways toward resilient, efficient, and equitable sustainability transitions. Full article

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement is the most frequent visceral complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc), affecting up to 90% of patients, yet it remains poorly understood compared to pulmonary or cutaneous manifestations. The aim of this review is to integrate current knowledge on the cellular mechanisms underlying GI disease in SSc and to identify research priorities. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted through a systematic PubMed search up to September 2025, complemented by manual reference screening. Results: Histopathological and functional evidence consistently demonstrates that neuromuscular alterations, including degeneration of enteric neurons, loss of interstitial cells of Cajal, and smooth muscle atrophy, can precede fibrosis, challenging the traditional “fibrosis-first” paradigm. Fibroblast and myofibroblast activation are present in gastric and colonic samples, sustained by profibrotic mediators such as TGF-β, CTGF, and endothelin-1, although the cellular origins of these stromal cells remain uncertain. Additional pathogenic contributions include autonomic dysfunction, barrier dysfunction with dysbiosis, impaired vascular reserve of vessels perfusing the gut, and functional autoantibodies targeting interneural and neuromuscular function and communication. Compared with skin and lung, the GI tract displays less fibrosis and fewer inflammatory infiltrates, but immune-derived mediators and autoantibodies suggest distinct immunopathogenic pathways are activated. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings depict GI involvement in SSc as a multi-compartmental process integrating neural, epithelial, endothelial, stromal, and immune alterations. Addressing the lack of validated biomarkers, mechanistic models, and biomarker-stratified trials will be essential to move beyond symptomatic care and toward precision medicine approaches for SSc-related GI disease. Full article

Antarctica harbors some of the most extreme ecosystems on earth, where only two vascular plants persist. The native grass Deschampsia antarctica provides a model for plant–microbe interactions under intense abiotic stress. We present the first multi-compartmental and multi-kingdom characterization of bacterial and fungal communities associated with D. antarctica across three South Shetland Islands. Metabarcoding revealed strong compartmentalization: the rhizosphere displayed the highest richness and complex bacterial–fungal networks; the root endosphere showed intermediate diversity with keystone taxa such as Rhizobiales and Streptomyces; and the leaf endosphere was simplified, dominated by stress-tolerant taxa including Pseudomonas and Helotiales. Despite marked soil heterogeneity, phosphorus enrichment at Admiralty Bay, base cations at Coppermine Cove, and iron at Byers Peninsula, a conserved core (20 bacterial and 5 fungal genera) persisted, mainly cold-adapted saprotrophs and plant-associated taxa. Fungal assemblages were more responsive to soil chemistry, with site-specific enrichments such as Zymoseptoria and Herpotrichia. Overall, D. antarctica holobionts exhibited a dual strategy: conserved microbial backbones confer stability, while localized assemblages shaped by soil chemistry and geography enhance adaptability. Together, these findings provide one of the most integrative characterizations of the D. antarctica holobiont to date, revealing how conserved and adaptive microbial components support plant resilience under extreme Antarctic conditions and offering valuable insights for predicting biological responses to ongoing climate change. Full article

Background: Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have ushered in a new era of precision oncology by combining the targeting specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the potent cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying their dose-limiting ocular toxicity remain unclear. Elahere™, the first FDA-approved ADC targeting folate receptor α (FRα), demonstrates remarkable efficacy in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer but causes keratitis and other ocular toxicities in some patients. Notably, FRα is not expressed in the corneal epithelium—the primary site of damage—highlighting the urgent need to elucidate its underlying mechanisms. The aim of this study was to identify the cell-type-specific molecular mechanisms underlying Elahere-induced ocular toxicity. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with intravenous Elahere (20 mg/kg) or vehicle weekly for five weeks. Ocular toxicity was determined by clinical examination and histopathology. Corneal single-cell suspensions were analyzed using the BD Rhapsody single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) platform. Bioinformatic analyses to characterize changes in corneal cell populations, gene expression, and signaling pathways included cell clustering, differential gene expression, pseudotime trajectory inference, and cell-cell interaction modeling. Results: scRNA-seq profiling of 47,606 corneal cells revealed significant damage to the ocular surface and corneal epithelia in the Elahere group. Twenty distinct cell types were identified. Elahere depleted myeloid immune cells; in particular, homeostatic gene expression was suppressed in phagocytic macrophages. Progenitor populations (limbal stem cells and basal cells) accumulated (e.g., a ~2.6-fold expansion of limbal stem cells), while terminally differentiated cells decreased in corneal epithelium, indicating differentiation blockade. Endothelial cells exhibited signs of injury and inflammation, including reduced angiogenic subtypes and heightened stress responses. Folate receptor alpha, the target of Elahere, was expressed in endothelial and stromal cells, potentially driving stromal cells toward a pro-fibrotic phenotype. Fc receptor genes were predominantly expressed in myeloid cells, suggesting a potential mechanism underlying their depletion. Conclusions: Elahere induces complex, multi-compartmental ocular toxicity characterized by initial perturbations in vascular endothelial and immune cell populations followed by the arrest of epithelial differentiation and stromal remodeling. These findings reveal a cascade of cellular disruptions and provide mechanistic insights into mitigating Elahere-associated ocular side effects. Full article

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) is an essential metabolite, and abnormal NAD⁺ metabolism has been linked to numerous human diseases. The nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyl transferases (NMNATs) catalyze NAD⁺ production through both de novo and salvage pathways. NMNATs are multi-functional enzymes with NAD⁺ synthesis activity and chaperone activity. Interestingly, NMNATs are involved in neuroprotection, and whether these neuroprotective effects require NAD⁺ synthesis activity appears to vary depending on the context. Nevertheless, NMNATs can modulate cellular processes primarily through supporting NAD⁺ homeostasis. In this review, we discuss the roles of NMNATs in NAD⁺ homeostasis, their functional domains, and how their subcellular localizations influence the compartmentalized NAD⁺ pools. We present an integrative framework to help understand the diverse impacts of NMNATs in human diseases, with a focus on neurological disorders caused by different insults. To address knowledge gaps, we integrate the regulation of NMNATs in both human and model organisms. We also discuss the current understanding and limitations of NMNAT activators and inhibitors to help evaluate their translational significance as therapeutic targets for NAD⁺ modulation. Full article

Background: Citrinin (CIT) is a mycotoxin produced by various fungi contaminating stored cereals and fruits. While biomonitoring and food occurrence data indicate widespread exposure, its public health risks remain unclear due to the lack of human toxicokinetic (TK) data. Methods: A UHPLC-MS/MS method was validated for CIT quantification in capillary blood (VAMS Mitra^® tips), feces, and urine obtaining LLOQs ≤ 0.05 ng/mL. A human TK study was conducted following a single oral bolus of 200 ng/kg bw CIT. Individual capillary blood (VAMS Mitra^® tips), feces, and urine samples were collected for 48 h after exposure. Samples were analyzed to determine CIT’s TK profile. Results: TK modeling was performed using a multi-compartmental structure with a hierarchical Bayesian population approach, allowing robust parameter estimation despite the lack of standards for CIT metabolites. Conclusions: The derived TK parameters align with preliminary human data and significantly advance CIT exposure assessment via biomonitoring. A human inter-individual toxicokinetic variability (HK_AF) of 1.92 was calculated based on the derived AUC, indicating that EFSA’s current default uncertainty factor for TK variability is adequately protective for at least 95% of the population. Full article

Face recognition systems often falter when deployed in uncontrolled settings, grappling with low light, unexpected occlusions, motion blur, and the degradation of sensor signals. Most contemporary algorithms chase raw accuracy yet overlook the pragmatic need for uncertainty estimation and multispectral reasoning rolled into a single framework. This study introduces HUE-Net—a Human-centric, Uncertainty-aware, Event-fused Network—designed specifically to thrive under severe environmental stress. HUE-Net marries the visible RGB band with near-infrared (NIR) imagery and high-temporal-event data through an early-fusion pipeline, proven more responsive than serial approaches. A custom hybrid backbone that couples convolutional networks with transformers keeps the model nimble enough for edge devices. Central to the architecture is the perturbed multi-branch variational module, which distills probabilistic identity embeddings while delivering calibrated confidence scores. Complementing this, an Adaptive Spectral Attention mechanism dynamically reweights each stream to amplify the most reliable facial features in real time. Unlike previous efforts that compartmentalize uncertainty handling, spectral blending, or computational thrift, HUE-Net unites all three in a lightweight package. Benchmarks on the IJB-C and N-SpectralFace datasets illustrate that the system not only secures state-of-the-art accuracy but also exhibits unmatched spectral robustness and reliable probability calibration. The results indicate that HUE-Net is well-positioned for forensic missions and humanitarian scenarios where trustworthy identification cannot be deferred. Full article

Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models are widely used to provide a more physiologically relevant microenvironment in which to host and study desired cell types. These models vary in complexity and cost, ranging from simple and inexpensive to highly sophisticated and costly systems. In this study, we introduce a novel translucent multi-compartmentalized stacked multilayered nanocellulose scaffold and describe its fabrication, characterization, and potential application for co-culturing multiple cell types. The scaffold consists of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) layers separated by interlayers of a lower density of nanocellulose fibers. Using this system, we co-cultured the MDA-MB-231 cell line with two tumor-associated cell types, namely BC-CAFs and M2 macrophages, to simulate the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cells remained viable and metabolically active for up to 15 days. Confocal microscopy showed no signs of cell invasion. However, BC-CAFs and MDA-MB-231 cells were frequently observed within the same layer. The expression of breast cancer-related genes was analyzed to assess the downstream functionality of the cells. We found that the E-cadherin expression was 20% lower in cancer cells co-cultured in the multi-compartmentalized scaffold than in those cultured in 2D plates. Since E-cadherin plays a critical role in preventing the initial dissociation of epithelial cells from the primary tumor mass and is often downregulated in the tumor microenvironment in vivo, this finding suggests that our scaffold more effectively recapitulates the complexity of a tumor microenvironment. Full article

The objective of this study was to develop a multicompartmental physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model that allows for the reproduction of the function of the gastrointestinal system in silico. Based on the typical tools of chemical engineering, transport phenomena, and human physiological and anatomical knowledge, the developed model is not limited to representing the transport of drugs and their interactions with ingested foods but also describes several physiological aspects that quantitatively regulate the distribution, absorption, and elimination of drugs. Nevertheless, the model only contains a limited number of parameters: the permeability constants of jejunum, ileum, and colon membranes and the drug removal rates in both the blood and cellular compartments. Therefore, it can be used for a preliminary drug bioavailability assessment in the early stages of drug development when limited experimental data are available. The model was tested on two drugs, Ketoprofen and Ibuprofen, which yielded satisfactory results in accordance with the existing literature. Full article

Infectious disease epidemics have played a crucial role in shaping public health responses, particularly in global health crises. This study emerges as part of the efforts to prepare effective responses to potential future pandemics, leveraging lessons learned during the COVID-19 crisis. The research uses an adapted compartmental epidemiological model and a synthetic multi-agent community to investigate how social variables influence epidemic forecasts in socioeconomically vulnerable regions. Focusing on the simulation of epidemic dynamics in the socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhood of Ilha Joana Bezerra in Recife, this study examines the impacts of social distancing strategies and other control measures, such as face masks and moderate social isolation. Through the adapted SEPAI3R3O model, which includes compartments for pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic states, this study provides a detailed analysis of disease dynamics in contexts characterised by high social vulnerability. The results underscore the importance of public health policies adapted to socio-economic factors, emphasising the need for continuous preparedness to manage future epidemic threats in vulnerable communities effectively. Full article