Search Results (24,045)

Bird feathers possess functions such as water resistance, thermal insulation, and air permeability, providing inspiration for the design of functional fabrics. Based on the functional differentiation of different feather regions and the structural constraints associated with these functions, this study selected down feathers, feather vanes, hooklets, and fluffy feather filament node structures as biomimetic prototypes. Four biomimetic knitted structures were designed for outdoor environments with significant temperature fluctuations and for the thermo-moisture comfort needs of older adults. Through macro- and micro-structural feature extraction, three-dimensional modeling, and experimental testing, a multi-parameter evaluation system covering water resistance, thermal resistance, thermal insulation rate, air permeability, moisture vapor transmission, and moisture management was established to systematically evaluate the thermo-moisture regulation performance of the fabrics. The results showed that each structure exhibited distinct performance advantages: Structure 1 demonstrated the best thermal insulation performance; Structure 2 showed relatively superior water resistance and outstanding air permeability; Structure 4 exhibited relatively superior moisture vapor transmission and moisture management performance; and Structure 3 achieved the highest gray relational optimality value, indicating a relatively balanced thermo-moisture regulation capability. Among all performance indicators, air permeability showed the highest correlation with the knitted structures. Based on these results, and considering regional differences in heat generation and sweating across different body parts of older adults, this study further explored zonal application strategies for elderly outdoor clothing to improve wearing comfort and functionality under environments with fluctuating thermal conditions. Full article

Stealthy sensor deception attacks in process industries are difficult to detect because they often exhibit weak anomalies, strong persistence, and can be obscured by normal process fluctuations. To address these challenges, this study proposes an attack-mechanism-informed Informer (AMI-Informer) detection framework that uses an Informer encoder as the detection backbone and incorporates an attack-mechanism-informed loss constructed from four mechanism-informed features into joint optimization with the data-driven loss. Experiments were conducted on the Tennessee Eastman Process benchmark, with reactor pressure under the min–max attack as the primary scenario, and were further extended to different attacked variables, surge attacks, and an additional Secure Water Treatment (SWaT) benchmark under the LIT101 min–max attack. In the XMEAS7 min–max attack scenario, AMI-Informer achieved an accuracy of 0.9782, a recall of 0.9627, and an F1-score of 0.9579, outperforming Informer, recurrent neural network (RNN), gated recurrent unit (GRU), and long short-term memory (LSTM); the standard Informer achieved a recall of 0.8702 and an F1-score of 0.9188. Across the five attacked-variable scenarios considered in this study, the average number of missed detections was reduced by 69.1% compared with Informer, and the framework also maintained higher recall and F1-score under surge attacks. On the SWaT benchmark, AMI-Informer achieved an F1-score of 0.8313, outperforming Informer, Anomaly Transformer, and cumulative sum (CUSUM). These results indicate that embedding attack evolution patterns into the loss function improves the detection of stealthy sensor deception attacks and enhances model stability in complex attack scenarios. Full article

Thermal pollution in underground spaces is one of the current challenges faced by subway tunnels. Energy tunnel technology based on heat pumps can not only solve the problem of thermal pollution but also realize the resource utilization of waste heat. However, the influence mechanisms of the tunnel air environment on the heat transfer characteristics of energy segments are still insufficiently studied. Taking the shield energy tunnel as the research object, this study proposed an energy segment model based on a capillary heat exchanger and established a fluid-thermal coupled numerical model on the COMSOL 6.4 simulation platform. Then, the effects of tunnel air temperature and speed on the heat transfer performance of the energy segment were systematically investigated. The results indicate that an increase in the temperature differential between the tunnel air and the inlet water of the capillary heat exchanger significantly enhances the heat transfer rate of the energy segments. Specifically, a 5 °C rise in air temperature corresponds to a 60.7% increase in the heat extraction rate of the CHE during the heating season, whereas it results in a 58.8% decrease in the heat release rate of the CHE during the cooling season. An increase in tunnel air speed enhances the overall heat transfer coefficient by strengthening convective heat transfer between the tunnel air and the energy segment. Although the enhancement of convective heat transfer is limited, the system already demonstrates relatively optimal heat transfer performance at a wind speed of 4.61 m/s. The study further reveals that increasing these two parameters not only enhances heat exchange but also exacerbates the non-uniformity of temperature distribution across the segment. This study conducts an in-depth analysis of how tunnel environmental parameters impact the thermal performance of energy segments, thereby offering a theoretical foundation for the optimized design of these energy segments in shield tunnels. Full article

The aim of this study was to valorize by-products of blue poppy (Papaver somniferum), a widely used ingredient in the food industry. This study focused on the isolation of bioactive compounds from leaves, stems, roots, capsules and cold-pressed cake. All samples were subjected to conventional solid–liquid extraction (SLE) using ethanol–water solutions of varying concentrations (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 96%) as the extraction solvent. The obtained extracts were analyzed for total phenolic content (TP), hydroxycinnamic acids (HCA), flavonols (FL), total flavonoids (TF), condensed tannins (CT) and antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the extracts were subjected to untargeted LC-MS analysis for qualitative characterization. Ethanol concentration significantly influenced the extraction efficiency of bioactive compounds, with the optimal solvent varying depending on the plant part and the specific class of compounds analyzed. Based on TP and TF content, capsule extracts exhibited the highest polyphenol levels. HCAs were detected in extracts from leaves, capsules, and cold-pressed cake. In total, 62 compounds were identified, belonging to various biochemical classes, including organic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, alkaloids, flavonoids, and fatty acids. Overall, the results indicate that poppy by-products are a valuable source of bioactive components, with promising applications across different industrial sectors. Full article

Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles is an effective approach to create biocompatible nanomaterials. In this study, gold nanoparticles (BC-AuNPs) were prepared by reducing chloroauric acid with black corncob (BC) extract at relatively low temperatures. The optimal preparation conditions were obtained through a single-factor experiment, which included 5 mL of black corncob extract and 0.12 mL of 3% HAuCl₄ solution at a pH of 5.0, and the reaction was carried out at 50 °C in a water bath for 3 h. The prepared BC-AuNPs were characterized by ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Zeta-potential measurement, which showed that they were dispersed spherical particles with an average size of approximately 23.0 nm and their surfaces were covered with various black corncob active components. The photothermal performance test indicated a good photothermal effect with a conversion efficiency of 41.3%. Antibacterial experiments revealed that BC-AuNPs had excellent antibacterial activity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for E. coli and Salmonella were 25.00 and 50.00 µg/mL, respectively. Overall, this study proved a potential application for gold nanoparticles in photothermal antibacterial fields. Full article

This paper proposes an experimental, intelligent optimization approach to improve the thermal cooling performance of an overclocked graphics processing unit (GPU). A closed-loop liquid-cooling system was built and tested utilizing deionized water and a silver (Ag) nanofluid coolant (0.015% vol.) across a variety of microchannel heat sink topologies with varying fin spacing. Key thermal performance indicators, including GPU temperature, coolant outlet temperature, and thermal resistance, were measured at different coolant flow rates. Experiments revealed that raising the flow velocity and decreasing the fin gap considerably enhanced cooling performance, while the Ag nanofluid consistently lowered GPU temperature by 1–3 °C compared to water. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) surrogate model was constructed and trained using experimental data to support predictive analysis and system optimization, achieving excellent predictive accuracy with low RMSE. The trained ANN model was combined with the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) to perform multi-objective optimization, aiming to minimize GPU temperature and thermal resistance while improving heat removal. The Pareto-optimal solutions revealed that nanofluid-based cooling offered the best trade-off circumstances, with optimal designs occurring at moderate flow rates and small fin spacing. The ANN-NSGA-II multi-objective optimization results indicated that the best thermal performance of the GPU cooling system was achieved when using Ag nanofluid (0.015 vol.%) as the coolant, with an optimal coolant flow rate in the range of 1.30–1.84 LPM and an optimal fin/channel spacing of 0.57–0.71 mm, producing GPU temperatures of 29.18–29.66 °C, coolant outlet temperatures of 29.06–29.41 °C, and a minimized thermal resistance of 0.0106–0.0152 °C/W; thus, overall, the suggested ANN-NSGA-II framework works well as a practical design tool for improving GPU cooling systems and may be used to other high-heat-flux electronic thermal management applications. Full article

Typical saline lacustrine mixed sedimentary strata are developed in the Middle Permian Lucaogou Formation (P₂l) in the Jimsar Sag, with frequent interbedding of mudstone, dolomitic mudstone, and argillaceous dolomite. The widespread development of dolomite is a key factor controlling the quality of shale oil reservoirs. To reveal the formation mechanism of dolomite in mixed sedimentary rocks and its constraint on lithological assemblages, this study focuses on comparing the differences in mineralogy, geochemistry, and sedimentary environment of the three types of lithologies based on systematic tests such as thin-section observation, X-ray diffraction, major and trace element analysis, organic petrology, and biomarker analysis. The results indicate that dolomite formation in the study area is not controlled by a single factor, but instead results from the combined control of hydrothermal activity, microbial metabolism, and paleoclimatic fluctuations. Hydrothermal activity provided a source of Mg²⁺, and together with evaporation driven by an arid climate, elevated the Mg/Ca ratio of the lake water, establishing the hydrochemical basis favorable for dolomite development. Metabolic activities of lower aquatic organisms, such as bacteria and algae, promoted the formation of a sustained alkaline environment, creating favorable conditions for dolomite precipitation. Against a background of a relatively arid climate, the alternation of extreme arid and extreme precipitation events caused frequent fluctuations in lake water saturation, potentially providing ideal dynamic conditions for rapid and abundant dolomite formation. This combined control governed dolomite development and produced the interbedded lithological succession in the P₂l mixed sedimentary strata. This study integrates the dominant controlling factors and synergistic mechanisms of dolomite development in mixed sedimentary strata of continental saline lacustrine basins, which helps predict the occurrence and distribution of high-quality reservoir lithologies within such strata and has important implications for the optimization of “sweet spots” in shale oil exploration. Full article

The recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is gaining increasing importance, as it enables the conversion of plastic waste into valuable raw materials and contributes to a circular economy. Recent research has primarily focused on optimizing the depolymerization step of PET glycolysis, while downstream processes often overlook what are at least equally critical downstream steps in recovering the monomer bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET). The implementation of a water-free PET glycolysis process eliminates challenges related to internal solvent and homogeneous catalyst recycling that commonly occur in conventional processes. This study, therefore, focuses on BHET crystallization and filtration as key downstream unit operations. Two nucleation strategies, gassing and seeding, were investigated and compared with experiments without a nucleation strategy. The aim was to achieve reproducible process control during crystallization and to obtain crystals with good filterability, which can be critical for subsequent steps in the product purification process. Experiments without a nucleation strategy showed poor reproducibility. In contrast, gassing and seeding improved crystallization control, particularly regarding nucleation temperature and relative crystallization yield. However, these strategies also resulted in significantly prolonged filtration times due to differences in filter cake properties. The anisotropic crystals exhibited a broad particle size distribution with a high fraction of fine particles, leading to small and heterogeneous pores in the filter cake. Limited crystal growth was identified as the main cause of the unfavorable filtration behavior. Full article

A Ti-Al-Si composite coating was prepared on Ti65 titanium alloy using a two-step hot-dipping + pre-oxidation method to improve its tribological performance and high-temperature oxidation resistance. The second-step dipping time strongly affected the coating microstructure and wear behavior. The optimal coating, prepared with a dipping time of 5 min in each step, exhibited negligible wear after oxidation at 800 °C for 1000 h and 2500 h, with slight adhesive wear and oxidative wear as the dominant mechanisms. Longer dipping times led to mixed wear modes and reduced wear resistance. Under high-temperature corrosion conditions, the coating showed good long-term stability in water vapor, with its mass gain following a sub-parabolic law, Δm = 0.39·t^0.47, because the internal multilayered structure effectively blocked inward oxygen diffusion. However, in environments containing NaCl or 75 wt.% Na₂SO₄ + 25 wt.% NaCl, catastrophic hot corrosion occurred, regardless of the presence of water vapor, through a chlorine-driven oxidation–chlorination–reoxidation autocatalytic cycle. In the mixed salt environment, Na₂SO₄ decomposition supplied additional oxygen and alkaline species, accelerating the degradation and spallation of the Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ scales. Water vapor further intensified this cycle by generating HCl, which promoted rapid consumption of Al and Ti in the coating. This study reveals the wear behavior and hot corrosion failure mechanisms of Ti-Al-Si coatings under complex conditions, providing guidance for process optimization and applications in marine atmospheres. Full article

Ecosystem service assessment provides a critical basis for optimizing regional ecological management and promoting sustainable development. From the water–land–carbon coupling perspective, this study established a technical framework for quantifying individual services, coupling a composite index, and analyzing multidimensional driving mechanisms. The InVEST model was applied to quantify three core ecosystem services: water yield, habitat quality, and carbon storage. A Composite Ecosystem Service Index (CESI) was constructed through normalization and weighted summation. Multidimensional driving factors were identified using the Optimal Parameter-Based Geographical Detector. Taking Ningxia during 2004–2024 as the study area, the results showed that the CESI exhibited a fluctuating upward trend with significant spatial heterogeneity, characterized by a south–high and north–low pattern. Land use transitions were dominated by bidirectional conversions between cropland and grassland, while impervious area expanded rapidly and barren land decreased overall. The spatial differentiation of CESI was jointly controlled by natural and anthropogenic factors, with land use type, precipitation, and digital elevation model showing the strongest explanatory power, and all two-factor interactions displaying pronounced enhancement effects. This study provides a reproducible framework for ecosystem service assessment in arid and semi-arid regions, supporting ecological restoration, land use optimization, and the coordinated development of ecology and economy under water–land–carbon synergy. Full article

Background: Oral delivery of chemotherapeutic agents remains challenging due to gastrointestinal degradation, poor intestinal permeability, and extensive first-pass metabolism, which collectively limit bioavailability. Lipid-based drug delivery systems offer a promising strategy to overcome these barriers. This study aimed to develop a freeze-dried, solid-dispersible self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) using a water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) double emulsion approach for the co-encapsulation of hydrophilic (doxorubicin) and lipophilic (ellipticine) agents to enhance oral delivery. Methods: Double-emulsion SEDDS were prepared via a two-stage emulsification process to enable compartmentalized drug loading within aqueous and oil phases. The formulations were freeze-dried to improve stability and storage. Physicochemical properties were characterized using dynamic light scattering for droplet size and polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential analysis for colloidal stability, and differential scanning calorimetry for thermal behavior. Drug encapsulation efficiency was determined, and cellular uptake was evaluated in breast cancer cells using fluorescence microscopy. Results: Optimized SEDDS exhibited droplet sizes of 90–347 nm with low PDI values (0.005–0.336), indicating uniform and stable dispersions. Zeta potential values (−10.64 to 2.38 mV) supported colloidal stability, while freeze-dried formulations retained dispersion characteristics upon reconstitution over extended storage. Both drugs demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency (>97%), and thermal analysis confirmed the formation of stable amorphous systems. Fluorescence imaging revealed enhanced intracellular uptake of both agents. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that freeze-dried double-emulsion SEDDS enable efficient co-delivery of hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, improving stability and cellular uptake. This platform shows strong potential for overcoming key barriers in oral chemotherapy and provides a promising strategy for combination drug delivery. Full article

Water pollution caused by antibiotics is a growing problem. Therefore, photodegradation by efficient catalysts is an environmentally friendly technology that can effectively degrade organic pollutants in water. In this work, a method was innovatively used to prepare a ternary heterostructure of plasmon-enhanced Ag-CuO/TiO₂. The composite was synthesized through a facile stepwise strategy involving the formation of CuO nanorods, TiO₂ coating, and subsequent deposition of Ag nanoparticles on their surface using AgNO₃, enabling intimate interfacial contact among the different components. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, HRTEM, XPS, and UV-Vis. The chemical composition of the composite Ag-CuO/TiO₂ showed a Cu/Ti atomic ratio of 2.58, as well as a Ag/Cu ratio of 0.91. The UV-Vis spectrum reveals the largest absorption peak at 550 nm for the composite Ag-CuO/TiO₂. The prepared Ag-CuO/TiO₂ composites were applied to the visible-light degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride, with the photocatalytic degradation rate reaching 80.7% under the optimal conditions within 60 min, which is significantly better than CuO and CuO/TiO₂ without silver nanoparticles. Capture experiments indicated that h⁺ are involved during the course of the photodegradation and that h⁺ are the main active substances. Furthermore, the proposed mechanism for the photodegradation of the Ag-CuO/TiO₂ composites is given. It has potential applications in the treatment of organic pollutants in water. Full article

Containerized ornamental plant production requires efficient irrigation strategies to balance plant quality with water and nutrient conservation. This study evaluated four leaching fraction (LF) levels (0%, 20%, 40%, and 60%) in a completely randomized design with three replications, each consisting of three pots, to determine their effects on plant growth, ornamental quality, gas exchange, water use efficiency (WUE), and macronutrient leaching in off-season potted Curcuma cv. ‘Jasmine Pink’. Irrigation volumes were determined using crop coefficient (Kc)-based estimates derived from evaporation pan measurements. The results showed that the highest LF level (60%) significantly improved several ornamental quality traits, including flower number per cluster, leaf greenness, specific leaf area, and compactness index, while also increasing aerial dry weight and improving gas exchange parameters during the flowering stage. These improvements were associated with reduced substrate electrical conductivity, indicating lower soluble salt accumulation in the root zone under higher LF treatments and more favorable conditions for plant growth. Leaching fraction is commonly used in containerized crop production to prevent excessive salt accumulation in the root zone by allowing excess irrigation water to drain from the substrate. However, increasing LF also resulted in greater irrigation water consumption and higher macronutrient losses through leachate, particularly potassium. In contrast, lower LF treatments (0–20%) improved water use efficiency and reduced nutrient losses but were associated with higher substrate electrical conductivity, suggesting greater soluble salt accumulation in the root zone. Overall, the results indicate that a higher LF (60%) provided the greatest improvement in plant growth and ornamental quality under the conditions of the present study for off-season potted Curcuma alismatifolia production, although integrated strategies may be required to reduce water and nutrient losses. These findings provide practical insights for optimizing irrigation management in container-grown ornamental crops. Full article

Natural ecosystems are facing threats from natural and anthropogenic stressors. Wetlands are among the most delicate natural ecosystems and are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of urbanization. One of the intended purposes of the wetlands is to mitigate the impact of urbanization (e.g., stormwater), but we often lack a comprehensive understanding of their capacity in doing so. Determination of water balance is essential in understanding the efficacy of a wetland when it comes to treating excess stormwater. This study therefore considers the Sparrovale Wetland in Victoria, Australia, to assess its performance in mitigating the impacts of urbanization in the surrounding catchment areas. A 1D model (HYDRUS-1D) was previously developed by the authors based on extensive field and laboratory measurements on one side (north) of the wetland. It was crucial to understand the two-dimensional water balance dynamics in the Sparrovale Wetland to utilize its full potential for managing excessive stormwater. This study therefore employed the HYDRUS-2D model (based on HYDRUS-1D) supported by extended, spatially explicit in situ measurements. The model was run (with additional input of inflow added to the rainfall) on the average Van Genuchten parameters obtained from the previously developed HYDRUS-1D model and the extended determination of the parameters. The model performance in simulating measured water content was good for both the south (average RMSE = 0.013 m³/m³) and the north side (average RMSE = 0.028 m³/m³). The model was also used to simulate surface water levels in the wetland and showed a good agreement (RMSE = 0.1 m AHD and R² = 0.72) with in situ surface water level measurements. This developed model was used to determine the water balance dynamics (infiltration, evapotranspiration, soil water storage, surface and bottom boundary flux) in the Sparrovale Wetland. Our results indicate that evapotranspiration is the major factor controlling the water flux losses in the Sparrovale Wetland, while the role of infiltration was minimal, which might be attributed to the dominant soil type (clay) and shallow groundwater levels in the Sparrovale Wetland. Insights provided by this study might be helpful in optimizing the performance of the Sparrovale Wetland in managing the excess stormwater arising from the surrounding catchments. Full article

Paraneoplastic endocrine syndromes (PESs) are hormonal disturbances associated with malignancies that result from tumor-related production of hormone-like substances, immune-mediated mechanisms, or dysregulated signaling pathways. While they are well recognized in lung and neuroendocrine cancers, their relevance in gastrointestinal tumors remains less clearly defined. This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on paraneoplastic endocrine manifestations in gastrointestinal malignancies, based on a structured search of the literature in major databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The analysis focuses on clinically relevant syndromes such as hypercalcemia, Cushing-like manifestations, disorders of water balance, hypoglycemia, and acromegaly, with emphasis on underlying mechanisms, associated tumor types, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic considerations. Available evidence indicates that gastrointestinal tumors can produce a range of biologically active substances, leading to diverse endocrine manifestations that may precede tumor detection and influence disease course. Among these, hypercalcemia and Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH) are among the most frequently reported, while other syndromes, such as ectopic Cushing syndrome or tumor-related hypoglycemia, are less common but often associated with more severe clinical outcomes. Recognition of these manifestations has direct clinical implications, as they may support earlier diagnosis, contribute to prognostic assessment, and guide therapeutic management. Improved awareness and a multidisciplinary approach remain essential for optimizing outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. Full article