Search Results (2,421)

This paper presents the design and experimental validation of a self-contained rotating Halbach array—based demonstrator for electrodynamic suspension (EDS) systems. The proposed platform was developed to bridge the gap between conventional externally powered laboratory testbeds and large-scale EDS vehicles by enabling investigation of levitation behavior under realistic onboard mass and subsystem integration constraints. The system integrates rotating circular Halbach arrays, onboard power supply, sensing, motor control, and structural support within a single levitated architecture. Experimental validation was conducted under a constrained one-degree-of-freedom configuration allowing vertical motion only. The system achieved stable levitation of a 35 kg platform and supported additional payloads approaching a 1:2 ratio relative to the baseline mass, while maintaining air-gap stability within approximately ±0.1 mm. The experimental results further reveal that the operational limit of the system is governed by actuation power and current constraints rather than electromagnetic levitation capability, highlighting a key distinction between self-contained and externally powered EDS systems. The proposed demonstrator provides a compact and practical experimental platform for the validation and performance evaluation of Halbach-array-based EDS systems. In addition, the study presents practical engineering insights regarding payload distribution, actuator saturation, structural integration, and system-level design constraints relevant to future self-contained EDS platforms and control-oriented levitation systems. Full article

Amaranthin is a major red-violet betacyanin of Amaranthaceae and an increasingly relevant natural pigment for food, cosmetic, nutraceutical, and biotechnological applications. This review integrates knowledge from over 100 studies, addressing amaranthin as a chemically defined betalain, distinguishing it from other scientific uses of the term, and evaluates its natural sources, analytical methods, extraction strategies, in vitro production systems, biosynthetic regulation, and biological activity. Cultivated Amaranthus species are among the richest plant sources, with total betacyanins of 46.1–199 mg/100 g fresh weight and amaranthin constituting up to 80.9% of the pigment fraction. Reliable identification and quantification rely on high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrophotometry, while microwave-, ultrasound-, and green solvent-assisted extraction markedly improve pigment recovery and stability. While plant in vitro cultures, including callus, suspension, and shoot systems, have clarified biosynthetic regulation and offer controlled production platforms, engineered Yarrowia lipolytica CcAmaSy1 currently provides the highest reported yield, reaching 2.97 ± 0.029 g L⁻¹ in fed-batch fermentation. Amaranthin-rich extracts and purified pigments demonstrate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral potential; however, mechanistic, bioavailability, and in vivo evidence remain limited. Standardized analytical protocols, further investigation of stable high-yield sources, physicochemical stability assessment, and structure–activity studies are identified as priorities for advancing future application-oriented research on this multipotential pigment. Full article

In inland river basins, the coupling relationship among water, sediment, and phosphorus is essentially the redistribution of phosphorus carried in the river system, and the presence of plants affects its transport and distribution. Meanwhile, fish are the most important component in river ecosystems, and the transport patterns of water, sediment, and phosphorus directly affect the living environment of fish. This study focuses on the coupling relationship among water–sediment–phosphorus and the suitability of fish habitats. By developing a sediment transport program and constructing a coupled movement model through numerical simulation, combined with the fuzzy mathematical theory, an evaluation model for fish habitat suitability is established to explore the coupling transport patterns of water–sediment–phosphorus near the riverbank plant areas and the distribution characteristics of fish habitats. The study found that the flow velocity near arbor is low and vortex structures exist, and the flow velocity values between the plants in the spanwise direction are high, leading to significant bank erosion. Among them, the erosion near arbor is severe, and the depth of erosion pits on the shallow water side is large. The transport of suspended sediment and phosphorus is closely related to water flow movement. In the spanwise direction between plants, sediment and phosphorus high-concentration areas are layered in a “strip” shape along the flow direction. Turbulent water flow drives the suspension of riverbed sediment and releases high phosphorus flux. Arbors have a significant impact on phosphorus transport, and the diffusion of dissolved phosphorus in pore water in some areas is prone to increase the concentration of phosphorus in the water body. The nitrogen–phosphorus ratio is regularly distributed, and the ratio between plants in the spanwise direction is close to the Redfield value, which is suitable for the growth of phytoplankton. In terms of fish habitats, areas near bank plants are not suitable for the survival of juvenile fish. The suitable areas for fish spawning are mainly distributed between plants in the spanwise direction, and the area is relatively small, but plants can provide emergency shelter. The innovation of this study lies in constructing a coupled movement model of water–sediment–phosphorus and an evaluation model for fish habitat suitability, clarifying the mechanism of plant influence on phosphorus migration in nearshore sediment and the distribution pattern of fish habitat suitability. The research results can provide important theoretical support and practical reference for the management of water environment and aquatic ecosystems in inland river basins. Full article

This research investigates atmospheric neutron-induced single event effects (SEEs) on advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips during natural environment operation. The RK3588 neural processing unit (NPU) is the evaluated target chip, and its SEE is assessed through a combination of irradiation testing and software fault injection. During the irradiation test, the chip was exposed to a spectrum neutron at the China Spallation Neutron Source. Upon reaching a cumulative fluence of 8.25 × 10⁹ n·cm², a total of 14,018 soft errors were detected, of which 99.97% manifested as variations in target recognition accuracy and network inference latency. Among these variations, both detrimental effects (reduced target recognition accuracy or prolonged network inference time) and beneficial effects (enhanced target recognition accuracy or shortened network inference time) caused by single event effects were observed. In addition, atmospheric neutron single event effects were found to cause NPU operation suspension and system crashes. Based on the irradiation test results, failure predictions for neural processing units in real-world environments were estimated, and mitigation recommendations were proposed. Furthermore, software fault injections were employed to conduct in-depth analysis of detected soft errors during irradiation testing. This research provides support and references for the reliable application of artificial intelligence chips in natural environments. Full article

Lymph nodes are central hubs of immune regulation and coordination, serving as primary sites for antigen presentation, lymphocyte activation, and the orchestration of adaptive immune responses. The composition and activation state of lymph node-resident immune cells critically shape both local and systemic immunity. Comprehensive immunophenotyping of these populations is therefore essential for understanding immune organization and functional heterogeneity. Here, we present an optimized protocol for the characterization of mouse lymph node-associated immune populations using 14-color multiparametric flow cytometry. The method combines lymph node isolation based on anatomical landmarks with mechanical dissociation and enzymatic digestion to generate high-quality single-cell suspensions suitable for downstream analysis. Furthermore, the described flow cytometry panel and gating strategy enable reliable identification and quantification of major lymphoid subsets, including helper CD4⁺ and cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells with their differentiation states, as well as natural killer (NK) cells across distinct maturation stages. Although optimized for assessing lymphocyte maturation after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, the protocol serves as a reproducible platform for broad immunophenotyping of T and NK cell subsets in mouse lymphoid tissues under experimental conditions. Full article

The oral cavity harbors a complex microbial community where pathogens implicated in dental caries and periodontitis can heavily colonize toothbrushes, transforming them into persistent sources of contamination that threaten both oral and systemic health. Consequently, this study evaluated the bactericidal efficacy of 275 nm ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV-LED) irradiation against common oral bacteria in vitro and its practical utility for extraoral toothbrush sanitization. Suspensions of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum were irradiated for 3 min, 6 min, and 9 min. Bacterial growth and bactericidal effects were measured using growth curve and colony-forming unit assays, respectively. LIVE/DEAD staining and crystal violet staining were used to evaluate the bacterial viability and multispecies biofilm formation after irradiation. Additionally, the sanitization effects of a 275 nm UVC-based portable device on used toothbrushes were investigated. Direct UVC irradiation at 275 nm exhibited strong bactericidal effects against common oral bacteria in vitro. UVC irradiation also showed great sanitization effects on used toothbrushes. In summary, the vulnerability of common oral bacteria to 275 nm UVC, combined with its sanitizing efficacy on used toothbrushes, establishes a solid basis for extraoral sanitization, offering a reliable strategy to mitigate the risk of oral pathogen transmission from contaminated toothbrushes. Full article

This study presents the nonlinear seismic analysis of a large-scale suspension bridge under multiple sequential earthquake records. A detailed 3D finite element model is developed in SAP2000, incorporating CFST pylons, a composite deck, and a main cable suspension system. The novelty of this work lies in the combined treatment of two critical and often independently studied factors: nonlinear pile foundation behavior and sequential seismic loading. A Winkler-based nonlinear pile foundation model is established through depth-dependent p-y, t-z, and Q-z nonlinear spring curves implemented as Multi-Linear Plastic Link elements, capturing the full nonlinear lateral and axial response of the 1.8 m diameter, 60 m long pile group. Simultaneously, the structural response is evaluated under real seismic sequences rather than single events, addressing the cumulative damage that conventional analyses systematically underestimate. The results demonstrate that the combination of foundation nonlinearity and repeated seismic loading significantly amplifies internal forces and deformation demands on critical structural components, highlighting the inadequacy of standard single-event, fixed-base design assumptions for long-span bridges. Full article

This paper presents an integrated optimal preview control strategy where an active suspension system (AAS) collaborates with an active aerodynamic control surface (AACS), utilizing the information of incoming road disturbance. The optimal preview controller utilizes a feedforward and feedback controller to anticipate future road disturbances while addressing the conflicting objectives of passenger comfort and road-holding attributes. The active aerodynamic surface generates a desired lift or downward force to change the sprung mass vertical load distribution, further improving the ultimate target indices. The preview-based optimal controller was synthesized by optimizing and tuning two sets of weighting factors, each based on passenger comfort and road-holding preferences. A numerical simulation study was performed for a 2-DOF quarter-of-vehicle (QoV) model in MATLAB^® (R2025b). Detailed time- and frequency-domain analyses were performed to validate the performance of the proposed scheme. The mean squared values of the total performance measure, vertical sprung mass acceleration, suspension travel, and road-holding indices were calculated and compared with the passive, active, active suspension with preview controller, and active suspension with an active aerodynamic surface (AAS). From the numerical results, it can be concluded that the proposed control strategy extraordinarily improves both ride comfort and road-holding capabilities of the vehicle model while maintaining the suspension rattle space requirements within the bounds and ensuring the dynamic stability of the vehicle. Full article

From the perspective of human vibration perception, reducing vibration stimuli transmitted to occupants is essential for improving ride comfort and reducing fatigue. Intelligent dampers, as key actuators in semi-active suspension systems, provide adjustable damping capabilities for vibration control. This article combines them with biomimetic control principles to study the vibration control of semi-active suspension. The effects of damper forward and inverse models, damping force ranges, and time delays on suspension performance were analyzed. The results show that a function prediction-based damper model, a damping force range below 0.2 times and above 1.4 times the passive curve, and a 10 ms delay could balance vibration reduction and economy. Particle swarm optimization is used to optimize LQR control parameters for different road grades and typical speeds. Inspired by the adaptive behavior of chameleons, graded weights are assigned according to road characteristics, with greater emphasis on comfort on Grade A and B roads and driving stability on Grade C and D roads. The results show that proper matching of damper models and parameter constraints can fully exploit the adjustable damping capability of smart dampers. These findings provide a theoretical basis for designing and optimizing semi-active suspension control strategies. Full article

Melanoma is a highly aggressive and invasive form of skin cancer that arises from the uncontrolled growth of melanocytes. It is characterized by early spread through the lymphatic system and metastasis. The success of metastasis is linked to the ability of melanoma and other cancer cells to resist anoikis, a type of cell death that occurs when cells lose their adhesion to the extracellular matrix. Redox signaling plays an essential role in anoikis resistance. The balance between intracellular levels of nitric oxide (NO) and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) O₂⁻ and H₂O₂ stimulate signaling pathways related to proliferation and survival or cell death. A375 and SK-MEL-28 human melanomas cell lines, representing primary melanoma and lymph node metastatic melanoma cells, respectively, under suspension and adherent culture conditions were used to investigate the redox regulation of anoikis resistance. Both cell lines express the three isoforms of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) as endogenous sources of NO and ROS, respectively. When A375 cells in suspension were treated with the pan-NOS inhibitor L-NAME, their viability decreased. The treatment resulted in a decrease in FAK phosphorylation at Tyr397 and in ERK 1/2 phosphorylation. The expression of FAK, ERK 1/2, β-actin, and α-tubulin were significantly reduced. Treatment with L-NAME led to an increase in the expression of the metalloprotease MMP-9. SK-MEL-28 cells in suspension and treated with the NOX4 inhibitor, GKT36901, exhibited reduced viability. This was accompanied by the inhibition of FAK phosphorylation at Tyr397, ERK 1/2 phosphorylation, and a reduction in the expression of FAK, ERK 1/2, β-actin, and α-tubulin, with a slight elevation in the expression of MMP-9. Migration and invasion were strongly inhibited in A375 cells upon treatment with L-NAME, while treatment with GKT36901 had a marginal effect on the migration and invasion capacities of SK-MEL-28 cells. In summary, melanoma cells employ nitrosative and oxidative stress to shield themselves from anoikis. Nitric oxide was essential for melanoma cells at the primary site for resisting anoikis, while H₂O₂ contributed to anoikis resistance in metastatic melanoma cells. Full article

The biofuel supply chain is a complex value chain spanning from production to consumption. Manipulating information such as geographical origin, raw material type, and quantity at the production stage can disrupt refinery production plans and cause supply–demand imbalances. Therefore, a transparent traceability system is essential. The existing centralized database architecture poses a high risk of supply chain service suspension due to even a temporary fault in the central server, and it lacks resilience. Furthermore, it is vulnerable to data forgery, making it urgent to secure information integrity. To resolve these issues, this study proposes a blockchain-based biofuel supply chain information protection system. This system utilizes Shamir’s Secret Sharing algorithm to distribute data location information across all nodes and introduces the R-snowball consensus algorithm, which combines the reputation score of nodes with the random sampling of Snowball. The system aims to secure resilience in the event of a failure, achieve reputation-based security, and provide preliminary evidence of robustness against internal and external threats under the tested conditions. Experimental results demonstrated that the proposed system achieved an average recovery time of within 0.03 s, regardless of the load volume. Furthermore, preliminary evidence under the tested conditions suggests that the security and robustness of the system were supported through the exclusion of internal malicious nodes via a reputation-based penalty logic, the defense against main chain takeover attempts in external attack scenarios involving multiple fake nodes (Sybil nodes), and the maintenance of consistent consensus times. Full article

Palladium catalysts modified with chitosan (CS) and supported on MgO, SiO₂, TiO₂, and Al₂O₃ were prepared by a precipitation method and evaluated in the low-temperature hydrogenation of 2-propen-1-ol. Chitosan was first deposited onto the oxide supports by adjusting the suspension pH to 7.5, followed by immobilization of palladium via reductive deposition using NaBH₄. For comparison, analogous non-modified catalysts were synthesized. Physicochemical characterization (TGA, XPS, HAADF-STEM, SEM, viscosimetry, and elemental analysis) confirmed successful incorporation of Pd (1 wt.%) and CS (10 wt.%). HAADF-STEM revealed that Pd particle size and aggregation strongly depended on the support nature, with the most uniform distribution observed for Al₂O₃-supported catalysts. Chitosan modification reduced Pd nanoparticle size from 4–11 to 3–4 nm and improved dispersion. XPS showed a pronounced increase in the fraction of oxidized Pd species for the Al₂O₃- and TiO₂-supported catalysts, whereas only minor changes were observed for the SiO₂-based system. For unmodified catalysts, the nature of the oxide support strongly influenced their performance, resulting in a wide variation in catalytic activity (TOF = 1650–13,100 h⁻¹) and selectivity toward propanol (65–75%). Chitosan modification resulted in a support-dependent convergence of catalytic activity (TOF = 3130–8840 h⁻¹) and selectivity (76–81%). Stability tests were performed for Pd–CS(10%)/MgO and Pd–CS(10%)/Al₂O₃, which showed stable performance over 20 cycles without significant loss in catalytic activity. Overall, chitosan modification significantly influences Pd dispersion, oxidation state, and catalytic performance, with effects strongly dependent on the oxide support. Full article

Glycosylation is a critical structural modification that shapes the pharmacological properties of bioactive ingredients from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are the core rate-limiting biocatalysts mediating this process. Traditional plant extraction methods are constrained by resource scarcity, long growth cycles, low target content and high environmental costs, which cannot meet the large-scale industrial demand for high-value medicinal glycosides. This review systematically outlines the latest global advances in medicinal plant UGT research, covering family classification and physiological functions, multi-omics and AI-assisted gene mining, molecular basis of substrate recognition and catalytic specificity, protein engineering for performance optimization, and the construction of full-spectrum biomanufacturing systems including in vitro multi-enzyme cascades, microbial cell factories and plant suspension cell cultures. We further discuss the core challenges of industrial scale-up, regulatory compliance and clinical translation, as well as the significant economic and technical advantages of synthetic biology-based UGT biomanufacturing platforms. This work provides a complete technical framework for the engineering application of medicinal plant UGTs, to support the green and scalable production of rare natural therapeutic glycosides. Full article

The Shuttleworth and Lippman equations are well-known equations used to link surface tension and stress (Shuttleworth) and surface tension and electric surface potentials (Lippmann). We show that the Shuttleworth and Lippman equations have a common thermodynamic basis, common to systems that possess a relatively large interfacial energy. This is relevant for problems of droplet stability, colloidal suspensions, electrode surfaces and more. Both equations are derived for systems that are not Euler homogeneous in the manner classical systems are. Hill’s thermodynamics for small systems is used to address this problem. Small in this context refers to systems with interfacial energies that are size- or shape-dependent. The resulting Hill–Gibbs–Duhem equation, an extension of the classical Gibbs–Duhem’s equation, gives the common basis for the Shuttleworth and Lippman equations. Hill’s thermodynamics enables us to rigorously define two types of surface tension, the differential surface tension and the integral surface tension. These surface tensions are linked by the system’s subdivision potential. From Helfrich’s equation we obtain a scaling law for the subdivision potential as function of the interfacial curvature. The dependence of the resulting subdivision potential on the system curvature is predicted. A critical analysis of the literature about the Shuttleworth and Lippman equations is given. Full article

This paper presents a novel approach to design an attitude motion control strategy of a vehicle to mitigate lateral or longitudinal inertial forces acting on the passenger during cornering, braking, and acceleration maneuvers. The collaboration of active suspension system and active airfoil substantially enhances the attitude motion of a vehicle. By incorporating integral control action for both the desired body attitude roll or pitch angle and zero dynamic tire deflection within the performance index, the optimal controller maintains the ideal roll or pitch angle while preserving the road holding capability. The computer simulations were conducted to evaluate the dynamic performance of the proposed system in comparison with various other suspension systems based on a 4-degree-of-freedom half-car model. Four scenarios for rolling and pitching motions were simulated as follows: the first case examines the rolling response to a one-sided bump input applied to a lateral half-car model during straight-line driving. The second case investigates the rolling performance during a cornering maneuver. The third and fourth cases analyze the pitching responses to braking and acceleration using a longitudinal half-car model. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed system maintains the ideal body attitude, attenuates the effect of the lateral or longitudinal inertial forces and keeps an ideal road holding capability. As a result, the proposed control system substantially improves ride comfort while enhancing the dynamic safety of the vehicle. Full article