Search Results (18,293)

With the rapid advancement of autonomous driving technology and the commercialization of Human–Machine Interface (HMI) services, camera-based systems for external environment perception are being extensively deployed. While comprehensive camera systems enhance safety and convenience, they simultaneously raise serious privacy concerns by collecting facial and biometric information of Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) and passengers. Although facial anonymization technology has emerged as a key solution, the field currently faces a fundamental challenge: the absence of unified performance evaluation criteria. Existing studies employ disparate evaluation metrics, making objective inter-model comparison and performance verification difficult. This study proposes quantitative evaluation metrics and corresponding evaluation criteria that enable systematic and objective assessment of facial anonymization model performance. Through large-scale experiments, we developed quantitative evaluation metrics encompassing facial landmark variations, visual similarity, and re-identification prevention capability, and derived specific threshold values based on statistical methodologies. Furthermore, to validate the proposed evaluation criteria, we conducted systematic empirical assessments using models that adopt different technical approaches. The validation experiments showed that the evaluation criteria proposed in this study can be applied across models with distinct technical characteristics. This research is expected to contribute to resolving the heterogeneous evaluation criteria issues in existing studies by providing unified evaluation criteria. It may also support the development of privacy protection technologies in autonomous driving environments. Full article

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management faces increasing pressure due to rapid urbanization and the need for low-emission energy systems. This study investigates the thermogravimetric gasification behavior of Chinese MSW under CO₂, mixed air-CO₂, and SrMnO₃ (SMO) oxygen-carrier atmospheres to identify pathways for producing clean and higher-quality syngas. Using TGA-QMS, the gasification stages were monitored qualitatively and quantitatively over the temperature range of 750–1000 °C, while complementary FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDS, and ICP-OES analyses were employed to characterize the fresh waste and ash samples. Results show that CO₂ gasification is strongly dependent on temperature and concentration, producing CO via Boudouard reaction, resulting in a gas composition of 73% CO and 27% CO₂. An air-CO₂ mixture as a gasification agent shifted conversion toward combustion, producing high CO during oxidation but suppressing gasification, yielding syngas dominated by 90% CO and 10% CO₂. Introducing SMO significantly altered the reaction pathway via lattice-oxygen transfer: 7–56.75 mg SMO produced up to 97% CO and 3% CO₂, without external oxidants, demonstrating superior per-unit oxidizing capacity compared to CO₂. A mild synergistic effect was observed in the mixed CO₂-SMO investigation, where CO formation exceeded that obtained with CO₂ alone but remained lower than that in SMO-only gasification. In general, SMO-enabled oxygen donation provides a promising low-dilution, high-selectivity route for MSW gasification within thermogravimetric regimes. Full article

For decades, the pharmacological identity of Panax ginseng has been primarily attributed to triterpenoid saponins known as ginsenosides. However, accumulating evidence indicates that ginseng also contains a structurally distinct lipid–protein complex, termed gintonin, enriched in lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) species. Unlike ginsenosides, which predominantly exert modulatory effects on membrane dynamics and intracellular kinase pathways, gintonin directly activates LPA G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), thereby inducing rapid phospholipase C (PLC) activation and intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization. Biochemical analyses have identified major LPA species within the gintonin fraction, including C16:0, C18:0, and C18:1, stabilized within a proteinaceous matrix that may influence receptor engagement kinetics. Pharmacological studies demonstrate that gintonin preferentially activates LPA₁ and LPA₃ receptor subtypes, triggering downstream signaling cascades involving MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and Rho pathways. These receptor-mediated effects occur on a rapid temporal scale, distinguishing gintonin from the slower transcriptional and kinase-modulating actions of ginsenosides. In this review, we synthesize current evidence regarding the chemical architecture, receptor pharmacology, and signaling dynamics of gintonin and propose a dual signaling framework in which steroid-like saponins and lipid GPCR ligands represent complementary molecular axes within P. ginseng. Recognition of this layered signaling organization refines the molecular understanding of ginseng biology and highlights gintonin as a unique plant-derived GPCR ligand system. Full article

High-ash coal slime water, characterized by its stable colloidal suspension of fine kaolinite particles, poses a significant challenge in the coal preparation industry because it is hard to achieve efficient solid–liquid separation. While traditional coagulants and flocculants often suffer from limited bridging capabilities and distinct pH sensitivity, novel molecular architectures offer potential solutions. In this study, a star-shaped inorganic–organic hybrid flocculant (Al-PAM) was synthesized via in situ polymerization. Its flocculation performance and interfacial adsorption mechanism on the specifically targeted aluminol basal plane of kaolinite were systematically investigated and compared with Polyaluminum Chloride (PAC), Non-ionic Polyacrylamide (NPAM), and their combination (PAC + NPAM). Settling tests revealed that Al-PAM exhibited superior performance at a significantly lower dosage (10 mg∙L⁻¹) compared to the PAC + NPAM binary reagent system. It achieved a rapid initial settling velocity and reduced the supernatant turbidity to 48.45 NTU, while maintaining a near-neutral pH favorable for water recycling. Furthermore, Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) monitoring confirmed that Al-PAM forms a thick, viscoelastic, and irreversible adsorption layer on the Al₂O₃ substrate. The dissipation shifts (ΔD) revealed that the star-shaped architecture promotes distinct bridging and electrostatic adsorption, overcoming the limitation of linear polymers. This work elucidates the specific contribution of the alumina-surface interaction with flocculants and proposes an efficient strategy for treating refractory coal slime water. Full article

Noninvasive blood glucose monitoring has long been a critical research focus in diabetes management. Among emerging technologies, photoacoustic sensing, combining the molecular specificity with deep penetration, has garnered significant attention. It offers rapid response and pain-free operation, making it a strong candidate for next-generation portable blood glucose monitoring devices. This review systematically traces the development and current state of photoacoustic glucose sensing, with a particular focus on the selection and optimization of core system components. It also summarizes common interference in glucose detection and outlines strategies for their mitigation, along with signal processing and signal-to-noise ratio enhancement techniques suitable for real-world applications. Addressing the growing demand for wearable continuous glucose monitors, this work analyzes the key challenges in system integration and outlines recent advances in enabling technologies. It proposes multi-technology integration approaches to bridge the gap between photoacoustic sensing and microsystem design, offering theoretical foundations and practical guidance for future research on wearable photoacoustic systems. Full article

In the face of the dual challenges of global climate change and rapid urbanization, optimizing the ecosystem services of urban green spaces has become a key strategy for building resilient and sustainable cities. This is particularly crucial in ecologically fragile arid and semi-arid regions. To accurately assess the thermal regulation function of urban green spaces, this study selected 20 parks in Xi’an, China. Combining remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, we adopted four established cooling indicators—Park Cooling Area (PCA), Park Cooling Efficiency (PCE), Park Cooling Intensity (PCI), and Park Cooling Gradient (PCG)—to systematically evaluate the thermal regulation functions of urban parks and their landscape-driving mechanisms. The results indicated that the average cooling amplitude of the parks was 2.53 °C, with an effective influence distance reaching 323.9 m, exhibiting a significant spatial gradient decay. We found a non-linear trade-off between green space scale and efficiency: while large parks provided a wider absolute cooling range, small and medium-sized parks demonstrated higher efficiency per unit area. Furthermore, a blue-green synergistic configuration significantly enhanced the mitigation of the urban heat island effect. The study confirmed that Park Area (PA), Park Perimeter (PP), and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) significantly promoted cooling effects, whereas landscape fragmentation inhibited ecological benefits. This study elucidates the comprehensive regulation mechanism of urban parks on the urban microclimate, providing planning guidance for implementing Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and achieving climate-adaptive development in arid and semi-arid cities within the context of urban renewal. Full article

The global transition towards sustainable and resilient energy systems has emphasized the need for efficient utilization of renewable energy sources (RESs) and rapid electrification of transportation. However, smart grids must address the intermittency of solar and wind power while accommodating the growing demand from electric vehicles (EVs). Hence, in this paper, a data-driven energy management system (EMS) is proposed that combines multivariable forecasting, generation scheduling, and EV charging coordination in a dual-level decentralized framework to increase the efficiency, reliability, and scalability of modern power grids. First, short-term forecasts of solar irradiance, wind speed, and load demand are addressed via five machine learning models ranging from nonlinear to ensemble models. Accordingly, a unified CatBoost-based platform for forecasting these three variables is selected because of its better performance and accuracy. These forecasts are subsequently utilized in a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) framework for optimal generation scheduling in the considered network, fulfilling load demand at reduced electricity and emission costs while maintaining grid stability. Finally, a priority-based scheme is proposed for charging/discharging coordination of the aggregated EVs, minimizing demand variability while fulfilling vehicles’ charging needs and maintaining their batteries’ lifetime. The superiority of the proposed method lies in integrating a multivariable forecasting pipeline, linear MILP generation scheduling, and battery-health-aware V2G coordination in a unified decoupled framework, unlike many recent frontier works that treat these capabilities independently. Simulation results, under different scenarios, confirm that the proposed intelligent EMS can significantly reduce operational fluctuations, satisfy load and EV demands, optimize RES utilization, and support system cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and resilience. Full article

This study investigates an eco-friendly rapid-setting concrete developed for emergency repair and accelerated post-disaster reconstruction. The proposed material concept combines a low-emission multicomponent cement, CEM V/A (S-V) 42.5 N-LH/HSR/NA, with a hybrid aggregate skeleton composed of crushed granite and waste soda–lime glass, as well as a waste-derived silicate additive system based on aqueous sodium silicate, glass dust and glass powder. One reference mixture (R) and five modified mixtures (M1–M5) were designed to assess the effects of partial replacement of natural aggregate by glass aggregate and of the dosage of the silicate-based additive system on concrete performance. The experimental programme included setting time, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, water absorption, freeze–thaw resistance and microstructural observations. Among the modified concretes, the mixture containing 5 vol.% glass aggregate (M1) showed the most favourable mechanical performance after 28 days, reaching a compressive strength of 95.1 ± 2.4 MPa and a splitting tensile strength of 4.82 ± 0.29 MPa, compared with 45.5 ± 0.8 MPa and 2.18 ± 0.11 MPa, respectively, for the reference concrete. Higher glass contents reduced strength relative to M1, but the modified mixtures still maintained satisfactory performance. The silicate-based system significantly affected setting behaviour; in mixture M5, the initial and final setting times were reduced from 380 ± 5 min and 497 ± 5 min to 213 ± 5 min and 307 ± 5 min, respectively. The results show that the combined use of CEM V cement, waste glass and silicate-based waste-derived additives can produce concretes with rapid-setting, high strength and satisfactory durability-related properties. The developed material may therefore be considered a promising solution for selected rapid-repair and reconstruction applications, particularly in lightly reinforced or unreinforced concrete elements requiring fast restoration of functionality. Full article

Robotic manipulators were initially introduced to replace repetitive human labor and have since evolved to perform complex tasks in dynamic environments. In such systems, imitation learning and reinforcement learning models capable of real-time trajectory generation are widely applied. Among these approaches, imitation learning enables rapid training when high-quality datasets are available. However, it suffers from high costs associated with collecting expert demonstration data and significant performance variability depending on data quality. Recently, learning approaches utilizing large-scale datasets have been explored, but they often struggle to guarantee reliable performance in tasks requiring precise control and incur substantial computational costs for model construction, limiting their applicability as a general-purpose learning strategy. To address these limitations, this paper proposes an imitation learning framework that integrates sampling-based motion planning with a hybrid data curation strategy. The proposed method employs a sampling-based planner (e.g., RRT*) to generate diverse physically feasible trajectories, thereby reducing the cost of acquiring expert demonstration data. The generated trajectories are then curated through clustering-based grouping and rule-based filtering to select high-quality training samples from large-scale datasets. The proposed framework automatically generates physically feasible trajectories while selecting high-quality data from large trajectory pools, thereby improving training stability and reducing data-related costs. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves an average success rate of 79.1% (95% CI: 74.3–83.2%) and produces trajectories with shorter trajectories, lower final distances, and reduced joint movements compared to conventional filtering methods. Full article

Background/Objectives: Individuals with diabetes often experience difficulties in the healing of their alveolar sockets. Furthermore, obesity is strongly associated with the development and progression of type 2 diabetes through complex metabolic and inflammatory mechanisms. The current study provides new insights into the use of Luteolin (LU) and/or chitosan vesicles (CHV) to accelerate bone regeneration, highlighting a biologically and clinically relevant approach that leverages implants as a clinical solution. Methods: Sixty rats were randomly categorized into five groups: Group I (negative control); Group II (positive control), diabetic and obese rats; Group III (LU-treated), diabetic and obese rats with an extraction socket loaded with LU; Group IV (CHV-treated), diabetic and obese rats with an extraction socket loaded with CHV; and Group V (LU-CHV), diabetic and obese rats with an extraction socket loaded with LU-CHV. After 2 and 6 weeks, rats’ mandibles underwent histological, histomorphometric, biochemical, and statistical analyses. Results: The results demonstrated significant differences among the experimental groups. The LU-CHV formulation showed superior therapeutic performance compared with free luteolin and the untreated control group. In vitro release studies revealed sustained, controlled release from LU-CHV, whereas free luteolin exhibited rapid drug release. Additionally, LU-CHV significantly enhanced biological activity, as evidenced by improved anti-inflammatory and/or therapeutic markers compared to the other groups. These findings indicate that encapsulation within chitosan vesicles improved drug stability, bioavailability, and overall therapeutic efficiency. Conclusions: LU-CHV demonstrated superior efficacy compared to free luteolin, highlighting the advantage of chitosan-based vesicular delivery systems. LU-CHV not only enhanced controlled drug release and therapeutic outcomes but also presents a promising platform that could significantly advance targeted drug delivery strategies in inflammatory and metabolic disorders. The findings suggest that LU-CHV represents a transformative approach in improving treatment effectiveness and patient outcomes. Full article

Reliable and efficient low-voltage distribution networks are critical for scaling mini-grid deployment and advancing universal electricity access, yet prevailing design practices remain manual, heuristic, and difficult to scale. This study presents a fully automated workflow that integrates geospatial feature extraction, distribution network layout, conductor sizing, mixed-integer linear programming-based phase balancing, nonlinear AC power flow validation, and system costing to generate rapid, standard-compliant techno-economic designs for greenfield mini-grid sites. The methodology is demonstrated across 62 rural sites to confirm practicality for large-scale rural electrification planning. Designs were evaluated for single-phase, three-phase, and hybrid low-voltage configurations. When design constraints were relaxed, single-phase networks achieved the lowest median voltage drop (~0.8%) and technical losses (~0.6%); however, under realistic voltage-drop and ampacity limits, compliance relied on conductor oversizing, resulting in low utilization (median loading <20%) and substantially higher costs. Fewer than half of the sites met construction feasibility limits for parallel conductors, and single-phase designs were typically 3–4× more expensive than multi-phase alternatives. Multi-phase layouts delivered comparable technical performance at significantly lower cost. Phase-balancing optimization reduced voltage drop by 15–20% and current unbalance by ~50%, enabling loss reduction and increased load accommodation. Overall, the results demonstrate that automated low-voltage network design can replace manual drafting with scalable, data-driven workflows that reduce soft costs while improving technical performance, constructability, and investment readiness. Full article

Background/Objectives: Microbiological confirmation of suspected complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) is challenging, particularly in patients previously exposed to antibiotics or when fastidious organisms are involved. Molecular assays detect microbial nucleic acids independently of bacterial viability and may therefore yield results that differ from conventional culture. This study compared microorganism detection patterns and inter-method agreement between multiplex real-time PCR (mPCR), standard urine culture SUC, and rapid nephelometric screening (Uroquattro HB&L). Methods: In a prospective single-centre study, urine samples from 72 hospitalized patients with clinical suspicion of cUTIs were analyzed using SUC, mPCR (Novaplex™ UTI panel), and the Uroquattro system. Detection rates were calculated for each method. Agreement between paired methods was evaluated using Cohen’s kappa, and paired differences in detection were assessed using McNemar’s and Cochran’s Q tests. Results: mPCR detected microorganisms in 83.3% of samples, compared with 47.2% for SUC and 42.6% for Uroquattro. Agreement between mPCR and SUC was fair (κ = 0.26), whereas SUC and Uroquattro demonstrated high concordance. mPCR identified a broader spectrum of organisms, including fastidious and polymicrobial findings that were not recovered by culture. Correlation between PCR cycle threshold values and colony counts was weak and not statistically significant. Conclusions: mPCR demonstrated a substantially higher microorganism detection frequency than culture-based methods; however, the assays target different biological characteristics, highlight bacterial nucleic acid versus viable growth, and should be interpreted as complementary rather than interchangeable. Conventional culture remains necessary for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and clinical decision-making. Further studies incorporating clinical outcome-based reference standards are required to determine the clinical relevance of molecular detection in cUTIs. Full article

A robust and unified reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of pitavastatin calcium and fenofibrate in dual-layer tablet formulations. Although individual analytical methods for each active pharmaceutical ingredient have been reported, a single analytical procedure applicable to both assay and dissolution testing of this fixed-dose combination has not been sufficiently established. In this study, a single RP-HPLC method was optimized to support both quality control purposes, thereby improving analytical efficiency and reducing method-related variability. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a C18 column (4.6 × 150 mm, 5 µm) under isocratic conditions, with a flow rate of 1.1 mL/min, an injection volume of 40 µL, and UV detection at 245 nm. The total run time was 10 min. The method was validated in accordance with ICH guideline Q2(R1) for system suitability, specificity, linearity and range, accuracy, precision (repeatability and intermediate precision), limits of detection and quantitation, and solution stability. Validation was conducted for both assay and dissolution samples using the same chromatographic conditions. The method demonstrated excellent linearity over the validated concentration ranges for both assay and dissolution analyses (r² ≥ 0.99). Accuracy and precision results satisfied the predefined acceptance criteria for assay (98.0–102.0%) and dissolution-related quantification (95.0–105%), with relative standard deviation values not exceeding 2.0%. The method showed adequate sensitivity, specificity, and solution stability, confirming its suitability for routine analysis. Application of the validated method to finished dual-layer tablets demonstrated reliable assay results and clearly distinguished the rapid dissolution of pitavastatin calcium from the delayed dissolution behavior of fenofibrate. Overall, the developed RP-HPLC method provides a validated analytical platform capable of supporting both assay and dissolution testing of pitavastatin–fenofibrate dual-layer tablets. Beyond routine validation, the proposed analytical framework demonstrates how a single chromatographic condition can support multiple quality attributes, offering an analytically integrated approach for supporting multiple quality attributes in complex combination drug products. Full article

Background: Co-delivery of two drugs with diverse physicochemical properties and a specific administration sequence holds great importance in cancer theranostics to overcome drug resistance and reduce side effects. Paclitaxel (PTX) and hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) have long been used clinically as chemotherapeutic agents for Nasopharyn-geal carcinoma (NPC). However, their clinical application is severely restricted by low water solubility, poor stability, and systemic adverse reactions. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems provide a promising platform for combination cancer therapy. Methods: In this study, folic acid-modified and dual drug-loaded self-assembled HCPT/PTX@FA@p-PS-SPIONs were successfully fabricated via the emulsification–solvent evaporation method using amphiphilic phosphorylated polystyrene (p-PS). The characterization, cellular uptake, and in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles of the nanoparticles in NPC models were systematically investigated. Result: HCPT/PTX@FA@p-PS-SPIONs were successfully prepared with p-PS as the copolymer backbone. The nanoparticles exhibited a uniform particle size of 196.9 ± 5.5 nm and a zeta potential of −7.3 ± 0.7 mV. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) was 81.4 ± 2.5% for PTX and 67.6 ± 4.1% for HCPT. The drug loading (DL) efficiency was 18.4 ± 1.5% for PTX and 12.2 ± 1.0% for HCPT. HCPT/PTX@FA@p-PS-SPIONs showed favorable biocompatibility. Sustained and sequential release of the two drugs contributed to an enhanced therapeutic effect. Moreover, under magnetic field (MF) guidance, HCPT/PTX@FA@p-PS-SPIONs exhibited stronger inhibitory effects on NPC cells than single-drug, cocktail, or dual-drug groups, demonstrating the superiority of the combined therapy. Pharmacokinetic studies in rats revealed that the half-lives of PTX and HCPT were 3.9 ± 1.2 h and 4.7 ± 1.1 h, respectively, confirming that HCPT/PTX@FA@p-PS-SPIONs could resist rapid metabolism and clearance in vivo. Conclusions: The long-circulating, folic acid-targeted nanoparticles HCPT/PTX@FA@p-PS-SPIONs show great potential for the targeted therapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Full article

Colic is a leading cause of mortality in horses, particularly when associated with systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction. In human medicine, these complications are associated with sepsis, defined as organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated, life-threatening host response to infection. However, no consensus sepsis score exists for adult horses. This retrospective study aimed to develop a diagnostic sepsis score for adult horses. Medical records from 295 horses admitted for colic to the Oniris equine emergency department (Nantes, France) between July 2011 and November 2021 were analyzed. Horses were classified as having sepsis or colic based on their final diagnosis. Clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses yielded a predictive score. The optimal threshold was determined by maximizing sensitivity and specificity. Sepsis was diagnosed in 89 horses (30.2%). Six parameters—temperature, heart rate, leukocyte count, red blood cells, creatine kinase, and lactate—were included in the model. The score showed 79% accuracy, with 59% sensitivity and 88% specificity. At a threshold of 3, sensitivity was 52.7%, specificity was 91.6%, and the Youden index was 0.44. This study proposes a rapid, practical sepsis diagnostic score for adult horses with acute gastrointestinal disease, serving as a highly specific tool for confirming sepsis. Full article