Search Results (1,566)

This study explores the transformative potential of blockchain technology in overhauling conventional housing rental systems. It specifically addresses persistent issues, such as information asymmetry, fraudulent listings, weak Rental Agreements, and data breaches. A comprehensive review of ten academic publications highlights the architectural frameworks, underlying technologies, and myriad benefits of decentralized rental platforms. The intrinsic characteristics of blockchain—immutability, transparency, and decentralization—are pivotal in enhancing the credibility of rental information and proactively preventing fraudulent activities. Smart contracts emerge as a key innovation, enabling the automated execution of Rental Agreements, thereby significantly boosting efficiency and minimizing reliance on intermediaries. Furthermore, Decentralized Identity (DID) solutions offer a robust mechanism for securely managing identities, effectively mitigating risks associated with data leakage, and fostering a more trustworthy environment. The suitability of platforms such as Hyperledger Fabric for developing such sophisticated rental systems is also critically evaluated. Blockchain-based systems promise to dramatically increase market transparency, bolster transaction security, and enhance fraud prevention. They also offer streamlined processes for dispute resolution. Despite these significant advantages, the widespread adoption of blockchain in the rental sector faces several challenges. These include inherent technological complexity, adoption barriers, the need for extensive legal and regulatory adaptation, and critical privacy concerns (e.g., ensuring compliance with GDPR). Furthermore, blockchain scalability limitations and the intricate balance between data immutability and the necessity for occasional data corrections present considerable hurdles. Future research should focus on developing user-friendly DID solutions, enhancing blockchain performance and cost-efficiency, strengthening smart contract security, optimizing the overall user experience, and exploring seamless integration with emerging technologies. While current challenges are undeniable, blockchain technology offers a powerful suite of tools for fundamentally improving the rental market’s efficiency, transparency, and security, exhibiting significant potential to reshape the entire rental ecosystem. Full article

In this study, we propose a bidirectional chemical sensor platform based on a reconfigurable ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (R-ISFET) architecture. The device incorporates Ni-silicide Schottky barrier source/drain (S/D) contacts, enabling ambipolar conduction and bidirectional turn-on behavior for both p-type and n-type configurations. Channel polarity is dynamically controlled via the program gate (PG), while the control gate (CG) suppresses leakage current, enhancing operational stability and energy efficiency. A dual-control-gate (DCG) structure enhances capacitive coupling, enabling sensitivity beyond the Nernst limit without external amplification. The extended-gate (EG) architecture physically separates the transistor and sensing regions, improving durability and long-term reliability. Electrical characteristics were evaluated through transfer and output curves, and carrier transport mechanisms were analyzed using band diagrams. Sensor performance—including sensitivity, hysteresis, and drift—was assessed under various pH conditions and external noise up to 5 V_pp (i.e., peak-to-peak voltage). The n-type configuration exhibited high mobility and fast response, while the p-type configuration demonstrated excellent noise immunity and low drift. Both modes showed consistent sensitivity trends, confirming the feasibility of complementary sensing. These results indicate that the proposed R-ISFET sensor enables selective mode switching for high sensitivity and robust operation, offering strong potential for next-generation biosensing and chemical detection. Full article

The incorporation of phase change material (PCM) can enhance wall thermal performance and indoor thermal comfort, but practical applications still face challenges related to high costs and potential leakage issues. In this study, a novel dual-biomass-based shape-stabilized PCM (Bio-SSPCM) was proposed, wherein waste cooking fat and waste reed straw were, respectively, incorporated as the PCM substance and supporting material. The waste fat (lard) consisted of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acid glycerides, exhibiting a melting point about 21.2–41.1 °C and a melting enthalpy value of 40 J/g. Reed straw was carbonized to form a sustainable porous biochar supporting matrix, which was used for the vacuum adsorption of waste fat. The results demonstrate that the as-prepared dual-Bio-SSPCM exhibited excellent thermal performance, characterized by a latent heat capacity of 25.4 J/g. With the addition of 4 wt% of expanded graphite (EG), the thermal conductivity of the composite PCM reached 1.132 W/(m·K), which was 5.4 times higher than that of the primary lard. The thermal properties of the Bio-SSPCM were characterized using an analog T-history method. The results demonstrated that the dual-Bio-SSPCM exhibited exceptional and rapid heat storage and exothermic capabilities. The dual-Bio-SSPCM, prepared from waste cooking fat and reed straw, can be considered as environmentally friendly construction material for energy storage in line with the principles of the circular economy. Full article

Low-temperature stress severely limits plant growth and reduces agricultural productivity. Calmodulin-like (CML) proteins are crucial calcium sensors in plant cold responses. Transcriptome analysis of cold-stressed Saussurea involucrata identified seven differentially expressed CML genes. qRT-PCR confirmed that SiCML6 was strongly induced at 4 °C and −2 °C. Bioinformatics analysis showed that SiCML6 encodes a transmembrane protein containing an EF-hand domain. This protein carries a signal peptide and shows the closest phylogenetic relationship to Helianthus annuus CML3. Its promoter contains ABA, methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and cold-response elements. Arabidopsis plants overexpressing SiCML6 showed significantly higher survival rates at −2 °C than wild-type plants. Under freezing stress, SiCML6-overexpressing lines exhibited reduced malondialdehyde content, relative electrolyte leakage, and ROS accumulation (H₂O₂ and O₂⁻), along with increased proline, soluble sugars, soluble proteins, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). SiCML6 elevated the expression of cold-responsive genes CBF3 and COR15a under normal conditions and further upregulated CBF1/2/3 and COR15a at 4 °C. Thus, low temperatures induced SiCML6 expression, which was potentially regulated by ABA/MeJA. SiCML6 enhances freezing tolerance by mitigating oxidative damage through boosted T-AOC and osmoprotectant accumulation while activating the CBF-COR signaling pathway. This gene is a novel target for improving crop cold resistance. Full article

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is widely applied in various scenarios, including logistics tracking, supply chain management, and target monitoring. In these contexts, the malicious cloning of legitimate tag information can lead to sensitive data leakage and disrupt the normal acquisition of tag information by readers, thereby threatening personal privacy and corporate security and incurring significant economic losses. Although some efforts have been made to detect cloning attacks, the presence of missing tags in RFID systems can obscure cloned ones, resulting in a significant reduction in identification efficiency and accuracy. To address these problems, we propose the block-based cloned tag identification (BCTI) protocol for identifying cloning attacks in the presence of missing tags. First, we introduce a block indicator to sort all tags systematically and design a block mechanism that enables tags to respond repeatedly within a block with minimal time overhead. Then, we design a superposition strategy to further reduce the number of verification times, thereby decreasing the execution overhead. Through an in-depth analysis of potential tag response patterns, we develop a precise method to identify cloning attacks and mitigate interference from missing tags in probabilistic cloning attack scenarios. Moreover, we perform parameter optimization of the BCTI protocol and validate its performance across diverse operational scenarios. Extensive simulation results demonstrate that the BCTI protocol meets the required identification reliability threshold and achieves an average improvement of $24.01\%$ in identification efficiency compared to state-of-the-art solutions. Full article

This work presents an innovative hydrothermal approach for fabricating flexible piezoelectric PZT thin films on 20 μm titanium foil substrates using TiO₂ and SrTiO₃ (STO) interlayers. Three heterostructures (Ti/PZT, Ti/TiO₂/PZT, and Ti/TiO₂/STO/PZT) were synthesized to enable low-temperature growth and improve ferroelectric performance for advanced flexible MEMS. Characterizations including XRD, PFM, and P–E loop analysis evaluated crystallinity, piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃, and polarization behavior. The results demonstrate that the multilayered Ti/TiO₂/STO/PZT structure significantly enhances performance. XRD confirmed the STO buffer layer effectively reduces lattice mismatch with PZT to ~0.76%, promoting stable morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) composition formation. This optimized film exhibited superior piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties, with a high d₃₃ of 113.42 pm/V, representing an ~8.65% increase over unbuffered Ti/PZT samples, and displayed more uniform domain behavior in PFM imaging. Impedance spectroscopy showed the lowest minimum impedance of 8.96 Ω at 10.19 MHz, indicating strong electromechanical coupling. Furthermore, I–V measurements demonstrated significantly suppressed leakage currents in the STO-buffered samples, with current levels ranging from 10⁻¹² A to 10⁻⁹ A over ±3 V. This structure also showed excellent fatigue endurance through one million electrical cycles, confirming its mechanical and electrical stability. These findings highlight the potential of this hydrothermally engineered flexible heterostructure for high-performance actuators and sensors in advanced MEMS applications. Full article

Geological storage is an integral element of the green energy transition. Geological formations, such as aquifers, depleted reservoirs, and hard rock caverns, are used mainly for the storage of hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and increasingly hydrogen. However, potential adverse effects such as ground movements, leakage, seismic activity, and environmental pollution are observed. Existing research focuses on monitoring subsurface elements of the storage, while on the surface it is limited to ground movement observations. The review was carried out based on 191 research contributions related to geological storage. It emphasizes the importance of monitoring underground gas storage (UGS) sites and their surroundings to ensure sustainable and safe operation. It details surface monitoring methods, distinguishing geodetic surveys and remote sensing techniques. Remote sensing, including active methods such as InSAR and LiDAR, and passive methods of multispectral and hyperspectral imaging, provide valuable spatiotemporal information on UGS sites on a large scale. The review covers modelling and prediction methods used to analyze the environmental impacts of UGS, with data-driven models employing geostatistical tools and machine learning algorithms. The limited number of contributions treating geological storage sites holistically opens perspectives for the development of complex approaches capable of monitoring and modelling its environmental impacts. Full article

Hydrogen is a potential key component of a carbon-neutral energy carrier and an input to marine industrial processes. This study examines the consequences of coupled hydrogen release and marine environmental factors during floating photovoltaic hydrogen production (FPHP) system failures. A validated three-dimensional numerical model of FPHP comprehensively characterizes hydrogen leakage dynamics under varied rupture diameters (25, 50, 100 mm), transient release duration, dispersion patterns, and wind intensity effects (0–20 m/s sea-level velocities) on hydrogen–air vapor clouds. FLACS-generated data establish the concentration–dispersion distance relationship, with numerical validation confirming predictive accuracy for hydrogen storage tank failures. The results indicate that the wind velocity and rupture size significantly influence the explosion risk; 100 mm ruptures elevate the explosion risk, producing vapor clouds that are 40–65% larger than 25 mm and 50 mm cases. Meanwhile, increased wind velocities (>10 m/s) accelerate hydrogen dilution, reducing the high-concentration cloud volume by 70–84%. Hydrogen jet orientation governs the spatial overpressure distribution in unconfined spaces, leading to considerable shockwave consequence variability. Photovoltaic modules and inverters of FPHP demonstrate maximum vulnerability to overpressure effects; these key findings can be used in the design of offshore platform safety. This study reveals fundamental accident characteristics for FPHP reliability assessment and provides critical insights for safety reinforcement strategies in maritime hydrogen applications. Full article

Alkaline electrolytic water hydrogen generation, a key driver in the growth of hydrogen energy, heavily relies on high-efficiency and high-purity ion exchange membranes. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) wrinkled reduced graphene oxide (WG) nanosheets obtained through a simple thermal reduction process and two-dimensional (2D) graphene oxide act as building blocks, with ethylenediamine as a crosslinking stabilizer, to construct a unique 3D/2D 2 nm-tunneling structure between the GO and WG sheets through via an amide connection at a WG/GO ratio of 1:1. Here, the wrinkled graphene (WG) undergoes a transition from two-dimensional (2D) graphene oxide (GO) into three-dimensional (3D) through the adjustment of surface energy. By increasing the interlayer spacing and the number of ion fluid channels within the membranes, the E-W/G membrane has achieved the rapid passage of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) and simultaneous isolation of produced gas molecules. Moreover, the dense 2 nm nano-tunneling structure in the electrolytic water process enables the E-W/G membrane to attain current densities >99.9% and an extremely low gas crossover rate of hydrogen and oxygen. This result suggests that the as-prepared membrane effectively restricts the unwanted crossover of gases between the anode and cathode compartments, leading to improved efficiency and reduced gas leakage during electrolysis. By enhancing the purity of the hydrogen production industry and facilitating the energy transition, our strategy holds great potential for realizing the widespread utilization of hydrogen energy. Full article

Carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNTFETs) are becoming a strong competitor for the next generation of high-performance, energy-efficient integrated circuits due to their near-ballistic carrier transport characteristics and excellent suppression of short-channel effects. However, CNT FETs with large diameters and small band gaps exhibit obvious bipolarity, and gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) contributes significantly to the off-state leakage current. Although the asymmetric gate strategy and feedback gate (FBG) structures proposed so far have shown the potential to suppress CNT FET leakage currents, the devices still lack scalability. Based on the analysis of the conduction mechanism of existing self-aligned gate structures, this study innovatively proposed a design strategy to extend the length of the source–drain epitaxial region (L_ext) under a vertically stacked architecture. While maintaining a high drive current, this structure effectively suppresses the quantum tunneling effect on the drain side, thereby reducing the off-state leakage current (I_off = 10⁻¹⁰ A), and has good scaling characteristics and leakage current suppression characteristics between gate lengths of 200 nm and 25 nm. For the sidewall gate architecture, this work also uses single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as the channel material and uses metal source and drain electrodes with good work function matching to achieve low-resistance ohmic contact. This solution has significant advantages in structural adjustability and contact quality and can significantly reduce the off-state current (I_off = 10⁻¹⁴ A). At the same time, it can solve the problem of off-state current suppression failure when the gate length of the vertical stacking structure is 10 nm (the total channel length is 30 nm) and has good scalability. Full article

With the rapid development of vehicular network technology, data sharing and collaborative training among vehicles have become key to enhancing the efficiency of intelligent transportation systems. However, the heterogeneity of data and potential Byzantine attacks cause the model to update in different directions during the iterative process, causing the boundary between benign and malicious gradients to shift continuously. To address these issues, this paper proposes a privacy-preserving Byzantine-tolerant federated learning scheme. Specifically, we design a gradient detection method based on median absolute deviation (MAD), which calculates MAD in each round to set a gradient anomaly detection threshold, thereby achieving precise identification and dynamic filtering of malicious gradients. Additionally, to protect vehicle privacy, we obfuscate uploaded parameters to prevent leakage during transmission. Finally, during the aggregation phase, malicious gradients are eliminated, and only benign gradients are selected to participate in the global model update, which improves the model accuracy. Experimental results on three datasets demonstrate that the proposed scheme effectively mitigates the impact of non-independent and identically distributed (non-IID) heterogeneity and Byzantine behaviors while maintaining low computational cost. Full article

This study developed phospholipid-based liposomes loaded with extract from wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) tea processing residues to enhance polyphenol stability and delivery. Liposomes were prepared with phospholipids alone or combined with 10–30 mol% cholesterol or β-sitosterol. The effect of different lipid compositions on encapsulation efficiency (EE), particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, stability, thermal properties, diffusion coefficient, and diffusion resistance of the liposomes was investigated. Liposomes with 10 mol% sterols (either cholesterol or β-sitosterol) exhibited the highest EE of polyphenols, while increasing sterol content to 30 mol% resulted in decreased EE. Particle size and PDI increased with sterol content, while liposomes prepared without sterols showed the smallest vesicle size. Encapsulation of the extract led to smaller liposomal diameters and slight increases in PDI values. Zeta potential measurements revealed that sterol incorporation enhanced the surface charge and stability of liposomes, with β-sitosterol showing the most pronounced effect. Stability testing demonstrated minimal changes in size, PDI, and zeta potential during storage. UV irradiation and lyophilization processes did not cause significant polyphenol leakage, although lyophilization slightly increased particle size and PDI. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that polyphenols and sterols modified the lipid membrane transitions, indicating interactions between extract components and the liposomal bilayer. FT-IR spectra confirmed successful integration of the extract into the liposomes, while UV exposure did not significantly alter the spectral features. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay demonstrated the extract’s efficacy in mitigating lipid peroxidation under UV-induced oxidative stress. In contrast, liposomes enriched with sterols showed enhanced peroxidation. Polyphenol diffusion studies showed that encapsulation significantly delayed release, particularly in sterol-containing liposomes. Release assays in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids confirmed controlled, pH-dependent polyphenol delivery, with slightly better retention in β-sitosterol-enriched systems. These findings support the use of β-sitosterol- and cholesterol-enriched liposomes as stable carriers for polyphenolic compounds from wild thyme extract, as bioactive antioxidants, for food and nutraceutical applications. Full article

Blockchain provides the opportunity for organizations to execute trustable collaborations through smart contract automations. However, linkability problems exist in blockchain-based collaboration platforms due to privacy leakages, which, when exploited, will result in tracing transaction patterns to users and exposing collaborating organizations and parties. Some privacy-preserving mechanisms have been adopted to reduce linkability problems through the integration of access control systems to smart contracts, off-chain data storage, usage of permissioned blockchain, etc. Still, linkability problems persist in applications deployed in both private and public blockchain networks. Zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) systems provide mechanisms for verifying the correctness of transactions and actions executed on the blockchain without revealing complete information about the transaction. Hence, ZKP systems provide a potential solution to eliminating linkability problems in blockchain-based collaboration systems. The objective of this paper is to identify various linkability problems that exist in blockchain-enabled collaboration systems and understand how ZKP algorithms and smart contract frameworks can be used in addressing the linkability problems. Furthermore, a proof of concept (PoC) is implemented and simulated to demonstrate a ZKP system for a privacy-preserving feedback mechanism that mitigates linkability problems in collaboration systems. The scenario-based results from the PoC evaluation show that a feedback system that includes project participants’ verification through membership proofs, verification of on-time submission of feedback through range proofs, and encrypted calculation of feedback scores through homomorphic arithmetic provides a privacy-aware system for executing collaborations on the blockchain without linking project participants. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Nintedanib and its potential role in reversing epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF-β2) in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, along with its therapeutic potential using a mouse model of subretinal fibrosis. We hypothesized that the blockade of angiogenesis promoting and fibrosis inducing signaling using the receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor Nintedanib (OfevTM) can prevent or reverse EMT both in vitro and in our in vivo model of subretinal fibrosis. Primary human retinal pigment epithelial cells (phRPE) and adult retinal pigment epithelial cell line (ARPE-19) cells were treated with TGF-β210 ng/mL for two days followed by four days of Nintedanib (1 µM) incubation. Epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes were assessed by morphological examination, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) (ZO-1, Acta2, FN, and Vim), and immunocytochemistry (ZO-1, vimentin, fibronectin, and αSMA). Metabolites were measured using luciferase-based assays. Extracellular acidification and oxygen consumption rates were measured using the Seahorse XF system. Metabolic-related genes (GLUT1, HK2, PFKFB3, CS, LDHA, LDHB) were evaluated by qPCR. A model of subretinal fibrosis using the two-stage laser-induced method in C57BL/6J mice assessed Nintedanib’s therapeutic potential. Fibro-vascular lesions were examined 10 days later via fluorescence angiography and immunohistochemistry. Both primary and ARPE-19 RPE stimulated with TGF-β2 upregulated expression of fibronectin, αSMA, and vimentin, and downregulation of ZO-1, consistent with morphological changes (i.e., elongation). Glucose consumption, lactate production, and glycolytic reserve were significantly increased in TGF-β2-treated cells, with upregulation of glycolysis-related genes (GLUT1, HK2, PFKFB3, CS). Nintedanib treatment reversed TGF-β2-induced EMT signatures, down-regulated glycolytic-related genes, and normalized glycolysis. Nintedanib intravitreal injection significantly reduced collagen-1+ fibrotic lesion size and Isolectin B4+ neovascularization and reduced vascular leakage in the two-stage laser-induced model of subretinal fibrosis. Nintedanib can induce Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition (MET) in RPE cells and reduce subretinal fibrosis through metabolic reprogramming. Nintedanib can therefore potentially be repurposed to treat retinal fibrosis. Full article

Pasteurella multocida (Pm) is a zoonotic pathogen that poses a significant threat to animal health and causes substantial economic losses, further aggravated by rising tetracycline resistance. To restore the efficacy of tetracyclines to Pm, we evaluated the synergistic antibacterial activity of doxycycline combined with metformin, an FDA-approved antidiabetic agent. Among several non-antibiotic adjuvant candidates, metformin exhibited the most potent in vitro synergy with doxycycline, especially against capsular serogroup A strain (PmA). The combination demonstrated minimal cytotoxicity and hemolysis in both mammalian and avian cells and effectively inhibited resistance development under doxycycline pressure. At 50 mg/kg each, the combination of metformin and doxycycline significantly reduced mortality in mice and ducks acutely infected with PmA (from 100% to 60%), decreased pulmonary bacterial burdens, and alleviated tissue inflammation and damage. Mechanistic validation confirmed that metformin enhances membrane permeability in Pm without compromising membrane integrity, dissipates membrane potential, increases intracellular doxycycline accumulation, and downregulates the transcription of the tetracycline efflux gene tet(B). Morphological analyses further revealed pronounced membrane deformation and possible leakage of intracellular contents. These findings highlight metformin as a potent, low-toxicity tetracycline adjuvant with cross-species efficacy, offering a promising therapeutic approach for managing tetracycline-resistant Pm infections. Full article