Search Results (11,248)

The southeastern coastal region of China is extensively influenced by the circum-Pacific geothermal activity, particularly during the excavation of deep-buried tunnels, where the confined space leads to the accumulation of heat flow, resulting in high-temperature and high-humidity environments. These conditions are detrimental to both the physical and mental health of workers and the safe operation of equipment. Based on this, the Lijiashan deep-buried high-temperature tunnel along the Wen-Yu High-Speed Railway (Wenling-Yuhuan) was selected as a case study. Field monitoring was conducted to assess the surrounding rock stress, temperature distribution characteristics of the surrounding rock and structure, and the humid and high-temperature environment within the tunnel during construction. A comprehensive evaluation index considering both temperature and humidity was employed to evaluate the tunnel construction environment. The results indicate the following: (1) During tunnel excavation, the maximum surrounding rock pressure occurs at the arched shoulder, and the fractures induced by blasting effectively relieve stress, mitigating the risk of rockburst. (2) The seepage paths of the surrounding rock are redistributed during excavation, converging towards the invert, with the osmotic pressure being approximately 10 times that of the upper structure. (3) The temperature at the tunnel face, secondary lining, and surrounding rock is significantly influenced by the heat released from concrete hydration. The closer the surrounding rock is to the support structure, the higher the temperature, with the secondary lining reaching up to 58.6 °C and the working area up to 35.2 °C. (4) Water spraying can reduce the temperature in the construction area by approximately 0.65% at the Kelvin temperature conditions, but it increases humidity by about 16%. The average humidity levels within the tunnel are 75.3% during the day and 87.5% at night. (5) Evaluation of workers’ physiological parameters reveals that the humid and high-temperature environment during tunnel construction is consistently unfavorable for workers’ health. Full article

This study presents an integrated framework for agricultural drought monitoring in data-scarce regions, utilizing the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to analyze multisource Earth observation data over the South Wollo highlands, Ethiopia, from 2001 to 2024. The analysis was complemented by Mann–Kendall trend testing, Sen’s slope estimation, and Pettitt change-point detection to identify and quantify long-term trends and abrupt shifts in drought dynamics. The methodology integrates climatic and satellite-derived indicators within a hybrid analytical framework. It incorporates the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), vegetation condition index (VCI), vegetation health index (VHI), temperature condition index (TCI), and land surface temperature (LST), which are derived from MODIS (NDVI, LST, PET) and CHIRPS precipitation datasets. The analysis focused on the main growing season (June–September) to capture critical crop growth and moisture-sensitive periods for agricultural production in the study area. The findings reveal pronounced interannual variability in drought occurrence and intensity across the study period. Severe agricultural drought conditions were most extensive in 2009 and 2014, with VHIs indicating 15% and 4% of the area under severe and extreme drought in 2009, respectively, and 2.6% and 2% in 2014, respectively. In contrast, 2001, 2005, 2020, and particularly 2024 were characterized by predominantly no-drought to mild-drought conditions, with no-drought coverage increasing from 86.7% (2009) to 98.0% (2024). Vegetation-based indices demonstrate that drought impacts are episodic rather than persistent and strongly controlled by rainfall timing and early-season moisture availability. The LST exhibited marked year-to-year variability (28.8 °C to 33.8 °C), with elevated temperatures coinciding with drought periods and suppressed evaporative cooling. Correlation analysis confirmed a strong positive relationship between the SPEI and VHI (r = 0.77), with moderate correlations for the VCI (r = 0.40) and TCI (r = 0.36), underscoring the sensitivity of integrated vegetation health to the climatic water balance. The study concludes that combining the SPEI with satellite-derived vegetation and thermal indices provides a robust, scalable approach for agricultural drought assessment in regions with limited ground-based observations. The integrated framework effectively captures both moisture deficits and thermal stress components, offering a scientific basis for improving drought early warning systems and climate-resilient agricultural planning in Ethiopia and similar environments. Full article

Particulate emerging contaminants (PECs) pose increasing ecological risks due to their widespread occurrence and complex environmental behaviors, yet their heterogeneous toxic mechanisms remain poorly understood, especially under environmentally relevant conditions and concentration gradients. Here, Chlorella vulgaris was used as a model organism to systematically compare the effects of polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) across environmentally relevant and elevated concentrations (100 μg/L and 10 mg/L). Distinct toxicity pathways were identified among PEC types. PSNPs primarily induced chronic interference via particle–cell interactions, heteroaggregation, sedimentation-driven shading, and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) regulation, rather than ROS-dominated toxicity. In contrast, AgNPs exhibited transformation-driven toxicity, undergoing intracellular speciation into Ag₂S, AgCl, and Ag⁺, which triggered oxidative stress, membrane damage, and lipid peroxidation. TiO₂NPs showed relatively high bioavailability and persistent oxidative stress effects. These results demonstrate that PEC toxicity evolves with particle type and concentration. Importantly, oxidative stress alone is insufficient to capture PEC ecotoxicity, which also involves the long-term impacts on algal behavior, sedimentation dynamics, and energy metabolism. This study provides mechanistic insights into PEC-induced algal toxicity and supports the source-oriented management of particulate pollutants in aquatic environments, particularly in hotspot scenarios such as wastewater discharge and sediment resuspension. Full article

Global food production systems are increasingly challenged by population growth, climate change, water scarcity, and environmental degradation, necessitating the adoption of sustainable, resource-efficient food production strategies. Aquaponic systems integrate recirculating aquaculture with hydroponic crop cultivation, enabling nutrient recycling and improved water-use efficiency. Simultaneously, CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing technology has emerged as a powerful tool for precise genetic improvement of economically important aquaculture traits. This review critically evaluates current progress in CRISPR/Cas9 applications in aquaculture, with emphasis on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Evidence from peer-reviewed studies indicates that targeted modification of genes associated with growth regulation, disease resistance, nutrient metabolism, feed efficiency, and stress tolerance can significantly enhance fish productivity and physiological resilience. Genes involved in hypoxia adaptation and nitrogen metabolism may further improve environmental performance in intensive recirculating systems by reducing ammonia accumulation and enhancing nutrient utilization. However, most genome-editing studies have been conducted under laboratory or conventional aquaculture conditions, with limited information available regarding the long-term performance, ecological interactions, microbial dynamics, and biosafety of genome-edited fish in aquaponic environments. Technical limitations including off-target effects, mosaicism, delivery efficiency, regulatory uncertainty, and public acceptance continue to constrain large-scale implementation. In the short term, CRISPR/Cas9 applications are likely to focus on practical trait enhancement under controlled aquaculture systems, whereas longer-term research may explore fish lines specifically optimized for nutrient cycling, environmental resilience, and integrated aquaponic sustainability. Overall, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing represents a promising but still emerging strategy for improving sustainable aquaculture and aquaponic food production systems. Full article

Aquatic environments that support tourism, including coasts, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries, are experiencing accelerating eutrophication worldwide. This trend increases the frequency and intensity of algal blooms. These blooms undermine ecosystem services and weaken the socio-economic performance of destination areas. Despite these challenges, existing research remains fragmented. Aquatic sciences mainly examine nutrient enrichment and bloom dynamics. In contrast, tourism studies often treat blooms as episodic disturbances and rarely integrate exposure pathways, risk communication, or feedback to destination governance. This review synthesizes evidence across freshwater and marine systems to develop a coupled tourism–water ecosystem perspective. We link eutrophication drivers and bloom typologies to three dimensions. These are the degradation of tourism-supporting ecosystem services, compound health stressors, and communication filters. The first includes losses of water clarity and aesthetic value. The second involves multi-route exposure through contact, inhalation, and seafood ingestion. The third shapes perceived safety, trust, and behavioral adaptation. We further connect perceived health risks to observable tourist behaviors, including cancellation, destination substitution, and activity avoidance. These micro-level responses can aggregate into market-level demand contractions and consumption reallocation. They can also trigger regional economic cascades, including public management costs, employment impacts, and long-term reputational damage. Crucially, tourism is not merely a victim of blooms. It can also act as a reinforcing anthropogenic driver through wastewater burdens, infrastructure expansion, and pulse pressures. These pressures lower ecological resilience, especially under warming and hydrological stabilization. Finally, we identify governance leverage points. These include early-warning systems, threshold-based graded interventions, transparent risk communication, and integrated social–ecological modeling. These strategies can reduce uncertainty-driven losses and support adaptive destination management. Overall, this review reframes algal blooms as systemic social–ecological risks. It provides a structured basis for future empirical attribution and policy design in tourism-dependent waters under climate stress. Full article

Salivary aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs), particularly ALDH3A1, are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to oral defense against aldehyde-associated stress at the oral–environment interface. Unlike freely secreted salivary enzymes, measurable salivary ALDH activity primarily reflects intracellular and vesicle-associated enzymes derived from salivary gland epithelial cells, oral mucosal cells, immune cells, and exfoliated cellular components. Within the oral exposome, ALDHs expressed in oral epithelial and salivary gland tissues participate in the detoxification of reactive aldehydes, while salivary ALDH activity may serve as an indicator of local aldehyde-detoxification capacity and tissue redox status. Beyond aldehyde metabolism, emerging evidence suggests that ALDH-associated pathways are linked to redox regulation, epithelial stress adaptation, inflammatory signaling, and tissue repair through NAD(P)⁺-dependent processes and stress-responsive networks such as Nrf2 and SIRT1. This review provides a saliva-focused synthesis of ALDH biology, emphasizing isoform-specific functions and the potential importance of ALDH3A1 in oral epithelial defense. Altered salivary ALDH activity has been reported in association with oral conditions including periodontitis, oral lichen planus, radiation-induced salivary dysfunction, and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Genetic factors, particularly ALDH2 polymorphisms, together with environmental exposures and microbial dysbiosis, may further influence aldehyde burden and oral disease susceptibility. Although current evidence supports the biological relevance of salivary ALDHs, their utility as clinical biomarkers or therapeutic targets remains investigational and requires further mechanistic and clinical validation. Full article

Listeria monocytogenes is a persistent foodborne pathogen capable of forming biofilms and surviving in food-processing environments. This study investigated the impact of high-pressure processing (HPP) at 200 and 400 MPa/5 min on biofilm viability, biomass, and expression of nine virulence-associated genes in L. monocytogenes strains (n = 6) belonging to the serogroups IIa (LM8, LM40, LM41) and IVb (LM14, LM47, LM48). The pressure levels applied were selected to represent sublethal HPP conditions (below 600 MPa) that allowed the survival of the strains and thus enabled the investigation of adaptive responses in cells that escape complete inactivation. Biofilms were cultivated on stainless-steel 304, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene coupons under static conditions at 25 °C for 72 h and 168 h. Biofilm viability [log₁₀(CFU/cm²)] was assessed by plate count method and biomass quantified via the biofilm production index (BPI). The cultures were subjected to HPP treatment and their ability to form biofilms was re-evaluated. HPP significantly (p < 0.05) reduced biofilm viability and biomass on all types of surfaces tested. Gene expression analysis revealed a pressure-dependent (p < 0.05) modulation of flaA and sigB, while other virulence genes (agrA, agrC, actA, prfA, hly, inlB, and degU) were generally downregulated (gene expression ratio values below 1). Serogroup IVb strains exhibited enhanced stress responses and lower biofilm survival on polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene surfaces. These findings demonstrate that HPP modulates both phenotypic and genotypic traits linked to L. monocytogenes persistence, emphasizing the need to optimize pressure parameters and surface materials to prevent biofilm formation in HPP-treated food systems. Full article

Diabetic neuropathy is typically diagnosed with distal sensory and nerve conduction abnormalities. These symptoms may reflect earlier disturbances of axonal maintenance. This review examines axonal transport and cytoskeletal failure as convergent cellular mechanisms of diabetic axonopathy. Long peripheral axons are particularly vulnerable to damage because their integrity depends on continuous communication between the neuronal soma and distal terminals. This process involves the continuous renewal of cytoskeletal and functional proteins and the involvement of organelles such as mitochondria. Diabetes in experimental models disrupts this system at several levels. It slows cargo transport. The supply of neurofilaments, tubulin and retrograde signaling is reduced, and regenerative growth after injury is weakened. Carbonyl stress and AGEs cause modifications of neural proteins, the extracellular matrix, vascular barriers, and the excitability of sensory neurons. RAGE ligands, including AGEs and the proteins HMGB1 and S100, link the diabetic tissue environment to redox and inflammatory signaling. This occurs in neural and glial compartments, as well as in vascular tissue and the immune system. RAGE interacts with DIAPH1 to activate GTPase signaling and remodel the cytoskeleton. The RAGE–DIAPH1 interaction provides a plausible route from diabetic ligand accumulation to cytoskeletal remodeling. These observations provide a mechanistic context for axonal transport, although not all represent direct measurements of cargo movement. Direct evidence for transport impairment comes mainly from experimental studies showing altered slow cytoskeletal transport, impaired retrograde signaling, and weakened regenerative responses. This work highlights the possibility of developing therapies that go beyond symptomatic relief. Verifying the effectiveness of interventions in protecting axonal transport and nerve fiber integrity in diabetic neuropathy may be therapeutically beneficial. Full article

Two bio-based insulating oils (BHOs) with average carbon chain lengths of approximately 18 and 22 were investigated as short- and long-chain BHOs. By constructing an oil-paper composite insulation system, the generation law of characteristic gases in the two systems was studied by partial discharge experiments. Based on the ReaxFF reaction molecular dynamics simulation under electrothermal coupling stress, the cracking path, cracking rate, evolution of oxygen-containing small molecules, and generation path of characteristic gases of cellulose polymer were revealed. Both systems produced H₂, CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, CO, and CO₂, with CO₂ dominant and C₂H₆ least abundant. The short-chain BHO generated markedly higher amounts of H₂, CO, C₂H₂, and C₂H₄ than the long-chain BHO; after 15 min, its H₂ and CO concentrations were about 3.4- and 2.1-times those in the long-chain system, respectively. ReaxFF simulations showed that cellulose degradation in the short-chain BHO followed stepwise chain scission and continuous decarbonylation, favoring CO and unsaturated gas precursors. In contrast, cellulose chains disappeared faster in the long-chain BHO, producing more oxygen-containing organic fragments and C₁-C₅ oxygenated molecules and a higher small-molecule conversion ratio. Characteristic gas pathway analysis revealed that all seven gases could be generated from cellulose pyrolysis intermediates, and different oil environments primarily influenced gas generation behavior by altering the evolution pathways of these intermediates. These findings, at the molecular scale, elucidate the impact of BHO environments on the degradation mechanism of cellulose polymers, providing a theoretical basis for the condition assessment and design of environmentally friendly oil-paper insulation systems. Full article

In order to study the optimal size and sealing performance of the foot-shaped slip ring for reciprocating seal, the loading method of fluid pressure penetration is used to simulate the effect of fluid medium pressure on the seal, and the multi-objective optimization of the geometry of the slip ring is carried out based on optimization software to obtain the best combination of parameters for the foot-shaped slip ring. The effects of slip ring geometry, pre-compression and working pressure on Von Mises stress and contact pressure were investigated using the finite element method. The results show that the optimized geometry of the foot-shaped slip ring can reduce the maximum contact stress on the main sealing surface from 108.5 MPa to 75.22 MPa (a reduction of 30.7%) and decrease the maximum Von Mises stress of the slip ring from 62.84 MPa to 41.57 MPa (a reduction of 33.8%), thereby greatly reducing the wear of the slip ring while ensuring reliable sealing. In the static sealing condition, a smaller pre-compression (1.2–1.3 mm) leads to stress concentration in the O-ring, and the recommended pre-compression range is 1.4–1.6 mm. In the dynamic sealing condition, the effect of pre-compression on the sealing performance is greater than that of reciprocating motion speed on the sealing performance, and the foot-shaped slip ring seal is found to be more suitable for low-speed operation at 0.1–0.2 m/s. The optimized design provides a data-driven methodology for enhancing the reliability and service life of reciprocating seals in high-pressure environments. Full article

Chemical agents have long been used to control plant diseases, but their effects on the environment and lack of alignment with sustainable development goals are making them gradually unsuitable. One trend in green agriculture is the use of Bacillus species for the biocontrol of plant diseases. Due to their vast metabolic and genetic diversity, Bacillus spp. can contribute significantly to the soil ecosystem, while also enhancing plant resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. Bacillus spp. are widely used in the agrobiotech industry due to their multi-functional versatility and are well-known for protecting plants from numerous plant diseases. In this review, we discussed the diversity and functions of antimicrobial compounds (AMCs) produced by Bacillus spp., along with their roles in plant growth promotion (PGP), and immunity. Furthermore, we highlighted the potential of Bacillus spp. as biopesticides in host plants, ways to enhance their biocontrol efficacy, and also addressed their possibility to cause disease in host plants. Considering the beneficial impacts of Bacillus spp. on PGP and pathogen biocontrol and their disease-causing capability, we discussed the possible solutions for a safe development of Bacillus-based biocontrol agent (BCA). Collectively, these insights can guide the selection of Bacillus strains with broad-spectrum or target-specific activity against pathogens, ensuring minimal adverse effects on the host. Full article

This study investigates the nonlinear dynamic response and chaos evolution of a shape memory alloy hybrid composite (SMAHC) actuator beam under coupled thermal, harmonic, and aerodynamic excitations. A reduced-order nonlinear dynamic model was developed by combining Euler–Bernoulli beam theory, von Karman geometric nonlinearity, the Brinson SMA constitutive relation, and first-order piston-theory aerodynamics. The governing equations were derived from Hamilton’s principle, discretized by the weighted residual method, and solved using the Newmark-beta algorithm. Chaotic evolution was quantified using a largest Lyapunov exponent-based chaos intensity indicator rather than the exact Kolmogorov–Sinai entropy. The reduced-order model was compared with ABAQUS finite element simulations under representative coupled aerodynamic and harmonic loading. The MATLAB prediction and ABAQUS response gave a dominant frequency of approximately 9.50 Hz, close to the prescribed excitation frequency of 9.55 Hz, with peak displacement amplitudes of approximately 0.0285 mm and 0.0324 mm, respectively. A supplementary ABAQUS modal-frequency separation check supported the use of the two-mode reduced-order model for the dominant low-frequency response, while also clarifying its limitation for high-dimensional chaotic modal interactions. The parametric results showed that an increasing excitation amplitude and aerodynamic load promoted frequency broadening and chaotic transitions. The Lyapunov-based indicator rose near γ = 65 under λ* = 100 and near λ* = 328 under γ = 30. Temperature-dependent SMA recovery stress further shifted the transition threshold by modifying the effective stiffness and internal restoring action of the beam. These results provide a reduced-order framework for interpreting nonlinear response transitions in SMAHC actuator beams in thermo-aeroelastic environments. Full article

This paper focuses on the significant potential of specific optical non-invasive methods, such as digital holographic microscopy, digital speckle pattern interferometry, and digital holographic interferometry, as scientific and technological tools for retrieving physical and biomechanical parameters embedded in the optical phase of laser-illuminated biomedical samples. These techniques take advantage of the laser speckle phenomena observed when non-specular surfaces are illuminated, enabling whole-field measurements and reconstruction of 3D images. Their versatility in implementation and application has led to advances in various fields of research and has broadened our understanding in both the basic and applied sciences. In clinical environments, the aforementioned quantitative optical studies are particularly valuable for understanding the behavior of biological samples, as they allow precise characterization of deformations, displacements, stress, strain, refractive index, and morphological features. Applications presented span from soft to hard tissues at both micro- and macro-scales, with results obtained from vocal cords, skin tissues, melanoma cells, and teeth. Furthermore, this overview provides a general perspective of some current speckle-based approaches and their growing relevance in biomedical research. Full article

The increasing power density of modern electronic systems intensifies challenges related to heat dissipation and long-term reliability. Insulated metal substrates (IMS), particularly three-dimensional (3D), are increasingly used as integrated thermal–mechanical solutions in high-power electronics. However, their complex geometry and material interfaces introduce new reliability concerns, especially at solder joints. This study investigates the evolution of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) in solder joints formed on 3D aluminum IMSs with ENIG metallization, focusing on SAC305 and Sn42Bi57Ag1 solder alloys. Solder joints were subjected to environmental aging under high-temperature, high-humidity, and thermal-shock conditions to simulate realistic service environments. Microstructural and compositional analyses of the interfacial IMC layers were performed, together with measurements of IMC thickness evolution. The results show that aging significantly modifies the chemical composition and morphology of IMC layers in both solder systems. In SAC305 joints, progressive development of (Cu,Ni)₆Sn₅ phases with increasing Cu participation was observed. In Sn42Bi57Ag1 joints, Bi affected reaction kinetics but did not alter the diffusion-controlled nature of IMC growth. Thickness measurements indicate higher sensitivity of SAC305 joints to environment-assisted interfacial degradation, while Sn42Bi57Ag1 joints exhibit greater susceptibility to stress-assisted IMC growth during severe thermal cycling. These findings highlight the distinct reliability behaviors of tested solders on 3D IMSs and provide insight into their suitability for high-power electronic applications. Full article

Necrotic enteritis (NE), primarily associated with Clostridium perfringens, remains a major enteric disease in poultry production, particularly under reduced-antibiotic and antibiotic-free systems. Natural adsorbents, including biochar, clay minerals, and graphite-based materials, have attracted interest because of their capacity to interact with toxins, microbial metabolites, pathogens, and the intestinal environment. This conceptual review synthesizes current evidence on the physicochemical and biological properties of these materials and evaluates their potential relevance to NE mitigation. Biochar and clay minerals have stronger poultry-related evidence, particularly for mycotoxin adsorption, gut microbial modulation, and performance responses, whereas graphite remains an emerging candidate supported mainly by in vitro, non-poultry, and graphite-derivative literature. Across all three adsorbent classes, direct evidence for NetB-specific adsorption is currently absent, making this a central research gap rather than an established mechanism. Therefore, this review proposes a structured evaluation pipeline integrating material characterization, in vitro toxin-binding and epithelial response assays, and in vivo poultry NE outcomes such as lesion scores, CP burden, barrier integrity, inflammation, oxidative stress, microbiome shifts, and growth performance. Overall, natural adsorbents should be viewed as promising but incompletely validated candidates requiring standardized, NE-specific testing before therapeutic or commercial application. Full article