Search Results (12,727)

Extremely low-frequency (ELF, 3–30 Hz) signals are effective for cross-medium transmission, yet conventional implementations are hindered by their large size and low efficiency. To address these limitations, a compact electromechanical–magnetic antenna (EMA) was developed and experimentally validated for ELF magnetic communication. The basic unit of the antenna, a single-EMA, consists of a stacked magnetostrictive composite beam, piezoelectric ceramic plates, and tip-mounted permanent magnets. The total envelope volume of a single EMA is only 3.3 cm³ with a maximum length of 12 cm, representing a substantial reduction compared with conventional ELF antennas. Building on this compact architecture, two EMAs were operated in parallel to form a parallel-EMA system, which significantly enhanced magnetic radiation through constructive magnetic coupling. Moreover, the optimal separation distance between the two EMAs was identified, ensuring efficient cooperative radiation. When driven at 50.2 mW, the parallel-EMA configuration generated a magnetic flux density of 114 pT at a transmission distance of 20 m in seawater. This performance demonstrates nearly a twofold improvement over a single-EMA unit, validating the scalability of parallel operation for stronger magnetic radiation. The compact form factor of the single EMA combined with the enhanced radiation performance of the parallel-EMA system enables portable ELF magnetic communication across diverse cross-medium scenarios, including air-to-sea and underground-to-air links. Full article

The fragile karst ecosystem in Southwest China faces severe water scarcity. Since 2000, large-scale ecological restoration programs (e.g., the “Grain for Green” Program) have substantially increased vegetation coverage. Concurrently, climate change has manifested as a distinct warming trend and heightened drought risk in recent decades. Therefore, understanding the synergistic and competing effects of climate change and vegetation restoration on regional evapotranspiration (ET) is critical for projecting water budgets and ensuring the sustainability of ecosystems and water resources within this vital ecological barrier region. This study employs a dual-scenario PT-JPL model (simulating natural vegetation dynamics versus constant coverage) integrated with Sen + MK trend analysis to quantify the spatiotemporal patterns of ET and its components—canopy transpiration (ETc), interception evaporation (ETi), and soil evaporation (ETs)—in Southwest China’s karst region (2000–2018). Furthermore, multiple regression analysis and SEM were utilized to investigate the driving mechanisms of vegetation and climatic factors (temperature, precipitation, radiation, and relative humidity) on changes in ET and its components. The key results demonstrate the following: (1) Vegetation restoration exerted a net positive effect on total ET (+0.44 mm/a) through enhanced ETi (+0.22 mm/a) and ETs (+0.37 mm/a), despite reducing ETc (−0.08 mm/a), revealing trade-offs in water allocation. (2) Radiation dominated ET variability (66.45% of the area exhibiting >50% contribution), while temperature exhibited the most extensive spatial dominance (44.02% of the region), and relative humidity exhibited drought-mediated dual effects (promoting ETi while suppressing ETc). (3) Precipitation exhibited minimal direct influence. Vegetation restoration and climate change collectively drive ET dynamics, with ETc declines indicating potential water stress. These findings elucidate the synergistic regulation of vegetation restoration and climate change on karst ecohydrology, providing critical insights for water resource management in fragile ecosystems globally. Full article

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that affects women more frequently than men. This sex gap has widened over the past century, and appears to be shaped by lifestyle factors more than biological factors. This narrative review examines the evidence for sex-specific differences in lifestyle risk factors and their impact on both MS susceptibility and disease progression, with implications for diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. Smoking, obesity, vitamin D deficiency, ultraviolet radiation exposure, and Epstein–Barr virus infection all interact with sex-related biological pathways to influence MS risk. Women appear to be more vulnerable to the pathogenic effects of smoking and obesity, both independently and in synergy with genetic risk alleles, while vitamin D and UV exposure confer stronger protective effects in females than in males. EBV infection also exhibits sex-dependent immune responses, shaped by hormonal regulation and host–virus genetic interactions. Sex-related lifestyle factors also modulate MS progression. Women experience more inflammatory activity and relapses, whereas men more often develop a progressive phenotype with greater neurodegeneration. Hormonal changes during female reproductive phases, such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, and hormone-based therapies, critically influence disease activity and progression in MS. Obesity, smoking, vitamin D status, diet, and gut microbiota further interact with sex hormones and genetic background, contributing to variable disease trajectories, also modulated by social determinants such as education level. These findings underscore the need to integrate into clinical practice the evaluation of lifestyle factors in a sex-specific way for diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of MS. Full article

The electrical arcs generated by high-speed dynamic separation between pantograph and catenary systems pose a significant threat to the operational safety of high-speed railways. Environmental factors, particularly relative humidity and airflow, critically influence arc characteristics. This study establishes a two-dimensional pantograph–catenary arc model based on magnetohydrodynamic theory, validated through a self-developed experimental platform. Research findings demonstrate that as relative humidity increases from 25% to 100%, the core arc temperature decreases from 10,500 K to 9000 K due to enhanced heat dissipation in humid air and electron capture by water molecules; the peak arc voltage rises from 37.25 V to 48.17 V resulting from accelerated deionization processes under high humidity conditions; the average arc energy in polar regions increases from 2.5 × 10⁻⁴ J/m³ to 3.5 × 10⁻⁴ J/m³, exhibiting a saddle-shaped distribution; and the maximum arc pressure declines from 5.3 Pa to 3.7 Pa. Under airflow conditions of 10–30 m/s, synergistic effects between airflow and humidity further modify arc behavior. The most pronounced temperature fluctuations and most frequent arc root migration occur at 100% humidity with 30 m/s airflow, while the shortest travel distance and longest persistence are observed at 25% humidity with 10 m/s airflow, as airflow accelerates heat dissipation and promotes arc root alternation. Experimental measurements of arc radiation intensity and temperature distribution show excellent agreement with simulation results, verifying the model’s reliability. This study quantitatively elucidates the influence patterns of humidity and airflow on arc characteristics, providing a theoretical foundation for enhancing pantograph–catenary system reliability. Full article

UV-C radiation has emerged as a germicidal agent against pathogens, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. While UV-C effectively reduces cross-contamination in hospitals, it induces photodegradation in polymer devices, potentially damaging and posing risks to patient safety. Therefore, it is crucial to detect the effects of UV-C photodegradation on early stages, as well as the effects of prolonged UV-C exposure. In this study, we investigated the UV-C photodegradation (254 nm, 471 kJ/mol) of isotactic polypropylene homopolymer (PP), commonly used in medication packaging. The impact of UV-C on PP was evaluated through rheology and infrared spectroscopy. Surface energy was measured by the contact angles formed by drops of water and diiodomethane. The effects of photodegradation on the polymer’s morphology were examined using scanning electron microscopy, and the melting temperature and crystallinity by differential scanning calorimetry. Lastly, the effect of UV-C on molecular mobility was studied using ¹H Time Domain Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H TD-NMR). These techniques proved to be valuable tools for identifying the early stages of UV-C photodegradation, and ¹H TD-NMR was a sensitive method to identify the chain branching as a photodegradation product. This study highlights the impact of UV-C on PP photodegradation and hence the importance of understanding UV-C-induced degradation. Full article

This paper reports a novel effort to estimate and evaluate the coefficients of Hg transfer across the water/air interface in lakes such as Cane Creek Lake (CCL, Cookeville, TN, USA). This was accomplished by calculating the coefficients (k_w) using the Two-Thin Film (TTF) Model for Hg transfer together with the field-measured data of Hg emission flux (F), dissolved gaseous mercury concentration (DGM), air Hg concentration (C_a), and water temperature for Henry’s coefficient (K_H) obtained from a separate field study at the CCL. The daily mean k_w values range from 0.045 to 0.21 m h⁻¹, with the min. at 0.0025–0.14 and the max. at 0.079–0.41 m h⁻¹, generally higher for the summer, and from 0.0092 to 0.15, with the min. at 0.0032–0.033 and the max. at 0.017–0.31 m h⁻¹, generally lower for the fall and winter, exhibiting an apparent seasonal trend. The highest k_w values occur in August (mean: 0.21, max.: 0.41 m h⁻¹). Our k_w results add to and enrich the aquatic interfacial Hg transfer coefficient database and provide an alternative avenue to evaluate and select the coefficients for the TTF Model’s application. The k_w results are of value in gaining insights into the Hg transfer actually occurring across the water/air interface under environmental influences (e.g., wind/wave, solar radiation). Our k_w results do not show a clear, consistent correlation of k_w with wind/wave effect, nor sunlight effect, in spite of some correlations in sporadic cases. Generally, the k_w values do not exbibit the trends prescribed by the model sensitivity study. The comparisons of our k_w results with those obtained using wind-based transfer models (the Liss/Merlivat Model, the Wanninkhof Model, and the modified linear model) show that they depart from each other. The findings of this study indicate that the TTF Model has limitations and weaknesses. One major assumption of the TTF Model is the equilibrium of the Hg distribution between the air and water films across the water/air interface. The predominant oversaturation of DGM shown by our DGM data evidently challenges this assumption. This study suggests that aquatic interfacial Hg transfer is considerably more complicated, involving a group of factors, more than just wind and wave. Full article

Transpiration and canopy shading are the main ways that trees cool urban environments; this is crucial to human survival and improving urban livability in the context of global warming and rapid urbanization. So far, most studies focus on the combined cooling effect of transpiration and canopy shading, but their individual contributions have not been widely explored. Therefore, a quantitative framework was developed by carrying out a long-term field experiment and microenvironment simulations to investigate the cooling effect of a single Ficus concinna. The results show that the annual mean cooling effects of shading and transpiration are 0.17 ± 0.27 °C and 0.30 ± 0.13 °C, accounting for 21.2 ± 51.6% and 44.7 ± 26.3% of total cooling, respectively. Shade cooling demonstrates strong radiative dependence, reaching a peak of 0.63 °C with a cooling contribution of 77.1% during summer at noon due to solar radiation interception. In contrast, nighttime and winter conditions revealed shading-induced temperature increases up to 0.52 °C via longwave radiation reflection. By contrast, transpiration cooling demonstrated temperature dependence, which increased with air temperature and peaked at 1.03 °C (contributing 70.0% to the total cooling) before stomata closing. This mechanistic analysis quantitatively reveals that F. concinna provides cooling effects through a dynamic complementarity between transpiration and shading. These findings could offer a biophysically grounded basis for optimizing urban greening strategies and contribute to the theoretical advancement of nature-based urban climate solutions. Full article

Background: Carbon-fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) vertebral-body replacements (VBRs) aim to mitigate subsidence, minimize imaging artifacts, and facilitate radiation planning while preserving fusion potential. We assessed the safety and efficacy of a novel modular, titanium-coated CFR-PEEK VBR (Kong^®) for anterior column reconstruction (ACR) in the thoracolumbar spine. Primary question: Does the implant safely and effectively achieve and maintain kyphosis correction after ACR for trauma and neoplasms? Methods: A single-center retrospective case series was performed on 28 patients who underwent thoracolumbar ACR with the Kong^® VBR for fractures or tumors (2020–2021). The primary outcome was the bi-segmental kyphotic angle (BKA). Secondary outcomes were screw loosening, cage height loss, fusion rate, subsidence, and tilting. Clinical status was recorded with Odom criteria, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and AOSpine PROST. Results: Twenty-eight patients (mean age, 61 yr; 33% female; mean follow-up, 17.7 mts) were studied. Mean postoperative BKA correction was 16.5° (p = 0.006) and remained 14.5° at final follow-up (p = 0.008); loss of correction was 2.0° (p = 0.568). Subsidence, cage height, and sagittal tilt were unchanged. Fusion (Bridwell grade I/II) was observed in 95% on CT. One deep surgical-site infection occurred. At final follow-up, 91% of patients were graded “excellent” or “good” by Odom. KPS improved by 20 points (p = 0.031), and mean AOSpine PROST was 56.9. Conclusions: Single-center early results indicate that the modular titanium-coated CFR-PEEK VBR is a safe, effective adjunct for thoracolumbar ACR in trauma and neoplasm, providing durable kyphosis correction, mechanical stability and high fusion rates and grants for improved follow-up imaging quality. Full article

Background/Objectives: The lack of canonical biomarkers and strategies to target radioresistance contribute to poor patient outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Identifying and targeting novel radioresistance genes will benefit in enhancing radiotherapy response and treatment outcomes in TNBC patients. Methods: A genome-wide CRISPR screen was performed to identify radioresistance genes in the TNBC cell line. An in vitro clonogenic assay was used to assess the antiproliferative effects of Artemis knockout or pharmacologic inhibition of Artemis, either alone or in combination with RT. Tumor doubling time and animal survival were assessed using an in vivo xenograft model. RNA-seq analysis was performed to identify genes and pathways deregulated under Artemis knockout conditions, both alone and in combination with RT. Cellular senescence was evaluated using a β-galactosidase assay. Results: Our CRISPR screen identified Artemis as a top hit in RT-treated TNBC cells, whose depletion led to radiosensitization in TNBC. Artemis knockout significantly reduced cell proliferation and enhanced the antiproliferative effects of RT in vitro. Compared to mice-bearing control MDA-MB-231 xenografts, Artemis knockout exhibited prolonged survival that was further enhanced with RT. Bulk RNA-sequencing indicated that the antiproliferative and radiosensitization effects of Artemis depletion were mediated by the activation of cellular senescence which was confirmed with a β-galactosidase assay. Conclusions: Taken together, our results highlight the critical role of Artemis in TNBC cell proliferation and response to radiation. Our findings identify Artemis as a potential biomarker indicative of sensitivity to radiation and a putative target that could be inhibited to enhance the efficacy of RT in TNBC. Full article

Background and Objectives: Primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a common pediatric urological disorder that can lead to significant renal morbidity if undetected or improperly managed. Ultrasound (US) plays a pivotal role in its assessment, providing a radiation-free tool to prenatal assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term follow-up. This study aims to systematically review the literature on the use of US in pediatric primary VUR, emphasizing its applications in prenatal and postnatal diagnosis, intraoperative guidance, and follow-up monitoring. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed on PubMed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The research strategy used the following keywords: Ultrasound Vesicoureteral reflux, VUR Ultrasound, and VUR Sonography. A total of 2222 records were initially identified. After screening titles and abstracts for relevance, 2165 studies were excluded because they did not focus on ultrasound procedures, did not specify age limits, were redundant, involved non-homogeneous populations, or were unavailable in full text. Results: Prenatal US enables early identification of urinary tract anomalies suggestive of VUR, facilitating targeted postnatal evaluation. Postnatally, contrast-enhanced voiding ultrasound (CEVUS) offers a non-ionizing method for VUR confirmation or exclusion. Intraoperatively, US improves the accuracy and efficacy of bulking agent placement, potentially enhancing surgical outcomes. In follow-up, US remains essential for both conservatively managed and surgically treated patients, enabling timely detection of complications or recurrence. Conclusions: Ultrasound represents a useful tool in the management of pediatric primary VUR, applicable across all clinical stages, avoiding radiation exposure, and improving surgical effectiveness and follow-up management. Full article

Objective: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer. Although immunotherapy has transformed MCC management, published data remain limited. This comprehensive review evaluates current evidence on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in MCC, in relation to other treatment modalities such as surgery and radiotherapy. Methods: Peer-reviewed articles published between January 2000 and August 2025 were searched manually in four databases: Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed and MEDLINE, using the keywords “Merkel cell carcinoma” AND “immunotherapy” AND “immune checkpoint inhibitors”. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was employed. Results: ICIs can be given in different settings: (A) Neoadjuvant: The CheckMate 358 trial reported a 54.5% response rate among 33 radiologically evaluable patients treated with nivolumab, each showing over 30% tumor reduction. (B) Adjuvant: (1) The ADMEC-O phase II trial demonstrated improved disease-free survival with adjuvant nivolumab. (2) The ADAM phase III trial evaluates adjuvant avelumab in node-positive patients post-surgery/radiation, with common side effects including nausea, fatigue, and itching. (3) STAMP, a phase III trial, investigates pembrolizumab in stage I–III MCC. Both ADAM and STAMP have completed accrual and results are pending. (C) Primary therapy: KEYNOTE-017 and JAVELIN trials reported a 60% overall response rate and ~40% 3-year progression-free survival with first-line pembrolizumab or avelumab. Both agents also show promise as salvage therapies. Conclusions: ICIs demonstrate encouraging outcomes in MCC across various treatment stages. Continued research is essential to optimize treatment timing and integrate multimodal therapies. Full article

Very-high-energy electron (VHEE) beams, ranging from 50 to 300 or 400 MeV, are the subject of intense research investigation, with considerable interest concerning applications in radiation therapy due to their accurate energy deposition into large and deep-seated tissues, sharp beam edges, high sparing properties, and minimal radiation effects on normal tissues. The very-high-energy electron beam, which ranges from 50 to 400 MeV, and Ultra-High-Energy Electron beams up to 1–2 GeV, are considered extremely effective for human tumor therapy while avoiding the spatial requirements and cost of proton and heavy ion facilities. Many research laboratories have developed advanced testing infrastructures with VHEE beams in Europe, the USA, Japan, and other countries. These facilities aim to accelerate the transition to clinical application, following extensive simulations for beam transport that support preclinical trials and imminent clinical deployment. However, the clinical implementation of VHEE for FLASH radiation therapy requires advances in several areas, including the development of compact, stable, and efficient accelerators; the definition of sophisticated treatment plans; and the establishment of clinically validated protocols. In addition, the perspective of VHEE for accessing ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) dosimetry presents a promising procedure for the practical integration of FLASH radiotherapy for deep tumors, enhancing normal tissue sparing while maintaining the inherent dosimetry advantages. However, it has been proven that a strong effort is necessary to improve the main operational accelerator conditions, ensuring a stable beam over time and across space, as well as compact infrastructure to support the clinical implementation of VHEE for FLASH cancer treatment. VHEE-accessing ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) perspective dosimetry is integrated with FLASH radiotherapy and well-prepared cancer treatment tools that provide an advantage in modern oncology regimes. This study explores technological progress and the evolution of electron accelerator beam energy technology, as simulated by the ASTRA code, for developing VHEE and UHEE beams aimed at medical applications. FLUKA code simulations of electron beam provide dose distribution plots and the range for various energies inside the phantom of PMMA. Full article

Microwave-induced oxidation has emerged as an effective approach for water purification. In this study, bismuth ferrite-supporting carbon nanotubes with strong microwave absorption and magnetism were successfully fabricated for the degradation of brilliant green. The reactivity of bismuth ferrite in microwave fields and the role of carbon nanotubes was revealed by systematic characterization methods. Our results demonstrated that the addition of bismuth ferrite in microwave-induced system can enhance the ability of microwave-induced absorption and further induce the degradation and mineralization of brilliant green within 10 min, significantly surpassing conventional heating methods. The brilliant green decomposition by bismuth ferrite in microwave-induced process is a heterogeneous process. Its excellent performance achieved by active species-trap experiments can be attributed to microwave-induced holes. Overall, this study presented a promising material for microwave-induced elimination of brilliant green and other dyes in aqueous media, which can provide the basis for the environmental application of microwave radiation to water purification and wastewater treatment. Full article

Advances in machine learning have improved the ability to predict critical environmental conditions, including solar radiation levels that, while essential for life, can pose serious risks to human health. In Ecuador, due to its geographical location and altitude, UV radiation reaches extreme levels. This study presents the development of a chatbot system driven by a hybrid artificial intelligence model, combining Random Forest, CatBoost, Gradient Boosting, and a 1D Convolutional Neural Network. The model was trained with meteorological data, optimized using hyperparameters (iterations: 500–1500, depth: 4–8, learning rate: 0.01–0.3), and evaluated through MAE, MSE, R², and F1-Score. The hybrid model achieved superior accuracy (MAE = 13.77 W/m², MSE = 849.96, R² = 0.98), outperforming traditional methods. A 15% error margin was observed without significantly affecting classification. The chatbot, implemented via Telegram and hosted on Heroku, provided real-time personalized alerts, demonstrating an effective, accessible, and scalable solution for health safety and environmental awareness. Furthermore, it facilitates decision-making in the efficient generation of renewable energy and supports a more sustainable energy transition. It offers a tool that strengthens the relationship between artificial intelligence and sustainability by providing a practical instrument for integrating clean energy and mitigating climate change. Full article

Purpose: The liver is susceptible to adverse effects from radiation therapy (RT) and systemic therapy (ST) for breast cancer, given its anatomical proximity. Thus, we evaluated hepatotoxicity after RT and ST for breast cancer. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included breast cancer patients treated with RT in 2021 and underwent a liver function test (LFT) before and after RT. Patients with bilateral breast cancer or a history of thoracic or abdominal RT and liver disease were excluded. Changes in Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grading of liver enzyme elevation (LEE) of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and its associations with Dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters and other clinical factors were analyzed. Results: In total, 529 patients were included in the analysis. Median values of mean liver dose, V5Gy, V10Gy, and V20Gy dose to the liver were 1.37 Gy, 4.3%, 2.1%, and 0.9%, respectively. In the post-RT LFT, 6 (1.1%), 9 (1.7%), and 25 (4.7%) patients showed CTCAE grade elevation of AST, ALT and ALP, respectively, with most cases being grade 1. Three patients (0.6%) met the diagnostic criteria for radiation-induced liver disease (RILD). In multivariate logistic regressions including various DVH parameters, neoadjuvant therapy was associated with LEE. Conclusions: The incidences of LEE and RILD after multimodal therapy for breast cancer were limited, suggesting that RT and ST can be considered safe in terms of hepatotoxicity. Nevertheless, caution in treating patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy, especially to those with underlying liver disease, might help minimize LEE. Full article