Search Results (16,178)

The acceleration of the green energy transition has reinforced the importance of reliable, cost-effective hydrogen production technologies. Alkaline water electrolyzers (AWEs) have become a critical option due to their lack of requirement of platinum group metals, as well as their scalability; however, the materials, geometry, and operating conditions used must be comprehensively evaluated alongside electricity costs. This study presents an approach that directly integrates a COMSOL-based electrochemical polarization model with a techno-economic module and validates the results against published U–J curves and 2024 public LCOH ranges. The scans across the 25 kW–10 MW range show that temperature and separator porosity are the most powerful factors affecting performance; narrow cell gaps significantly reduce ohmic losses, and the electrolyte concentration provides limited additional benefit beyond a certain threshold. KOH outperforms NaOH under most conditions, but the difference between the two electrolytes narrows as temperature increases. Economic analyses confirm that electricity price is the dominant determinant of LCOH; levels of 4–5 $·kg⁻¹ are achievable at the MW scale, while high-cost scenarios reach 7–10 $·kg⁻¹. In conclusion, the study provides a validated and scalable framework for the joint optimization of AWE design and operation. Full article

Quality inspection is a crucial step in ensuring product conformity and avoiding rework waste, while job priority constraints are prevalent in the production of complex products with assembly structures. This paper presents a modeling and solution framework for the multi-objective flexible job shop scheduling problem that incorporates both quality inspection activities and job priority constraints. An optimization model is constructed with the objectives of minimizing the makespan, minimizing the total energy consumption, and maximizing the processing quality. To solve this model, an improved multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition is developed, which integrates several well-established mechanisms into a unified framework. The algorithm integrates multi-product assembly structures via virtual nodes, employs a two-vector encoding scheme, and incorporates a product—group repair mechanism based on binary sorting tree to handle job priority constraints. To maintain diversity among non-dominated solutions, a niching-based elite archive strategy is adopted. Furthermore, a quality enhancement strategy and a memory vector-based local search mechanism are embedded to strengthen the algorithm’s search capability. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the compared algorithms in terms of both convergence and diversity. Full article

Bladder cancer (BC) is a biologically heterogeneous tumor affected by genetic, metabolic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Recent research indicates that nutrition can change the way urothelial cancer forms by affecting inflammation, oxidative stress, cellular energy, and the epigenome. It can also change the risk of BC and how well treatment works. Simultaneous progress in precision nutrition (PN) and nutriomic profiling—encompassing nutrigenomics, nutrigenetics, nutriepigenetics, metabolomics, and microbiome science—presents novel options to tailor dietary regimens beyond universal guidelines. In this review, we consolidate existing knowledge regarding the nutritional factors influencing BC, outline pertinent principles of PN for BC prevention and survival, and explore how urine proteomics and molecular subtyping facilitate the integration of PN into precision oncology. Our review examines the methodological, bioinformatic, biomarker, and clinical translation challenges that impede the implementation of PN in BC management; these challenges include the need for validated nutritional biomarkers with mechanistic endpoints, interoperable data platforms, and rigorously designed clinical trials. Finally, we emphasize future prospects for PN-guided medical nutrition therapy and dietary models during and after systemic treatment recovery. We propose research priorities that will facilitate the integration of PN-informed individualized dietary plans with medical and surgical approaches in BC treatment, aiming to decrease the costs associated with expensive or excessively aggressive treatment methods, thereby supporting long-term survival care. This review seeks to establish a conceptual framework for the integration of PN into BC management by delineating the opportunities and challenges, hence promoting hypothesis-driven research in a promising yet underexplored domain. Full article

This paper provides a systematic review of urushiol-based antibacterial coatings for lacquer art applications, focusing on three key dimensions: molecular mechanisms, durability, and safety. Natural lacquer films form a dense three-dimensional network through laccase-catalyzed oxidative cross-linking, endowing them with excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, while the catechol structure in urushiol confers broad-spectrum antibacterial potential. The article elaborates on the synergistic antibacterial mechanisms of urushiol, including covalent reactions with bacterial proteins via quinone intermediates, induction of oxidative stress, and metal ion chelation. It also reveals the dynamic change pattern of coating antibacterial activity over time, characterized by “high initial efficiency- gradual mid-term decline—long-term stabilization,” a process influenced collectively by side-chain unsaturation, degree of curing, and environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and light exposure. From an application perspective, this review examines modification approaches such as silver/titanium dioxide composite systems, structurally regulated sustained-release strategies, and anti-adhesion surface designs, while pointing out current limitations in artistic compatibility, long-term durability, and safety assessment. Particularly in scenarios involving food contact and cultural heritage preservation, migration risks from unreacted urushiol monomers and metal nanoparticles, as well as the inherent sensitization potential of urushiol, remain critical challenges for safe application. Accordingly, this paper proposes the establishment of a holistic research framework covering “material design–process control–performance evaluation” and advocates for the development of functional coating systems with low migration, high biocompatibility, and preserved aesthetic value. Such advances are essential to promote the sustainable development and safe application of urushiol-based antibacterial coatings in fields such as cultural heritage conservation, daily-use utensils, and high-end decorative arts. Full article

Masonry retaining walls constitute an essential component of historic and urban infrastructure in seismic regions; however, their seismic performance remains insufficiently quantified due to material heterogeneity, limited tensile capacity, and complex soil–structure interaction. This study investigates the seismic response of historic stone masonry retaining walls using a finite element-based anisotropic macro-modeling approach. The analysis focuses on the perimeter retaining walls of Emirgan Grove in Istanbul, which represent culturally significant heritage structures constructed from natural limestone and cement–lime mortar. Material properties were defined based on experimental test results and representative values reported in the literature, while composite anisotropic behavior was incorporated into the numerical models. Static loads, earth pressures, and seismic actions were applied in accordance with the Turkish Building Earthquake Code (TBEC-2018) using the equivalent static earthquake load method. Representative wall segments with heights of 2.5 m, 3.5 m, 4.0 m, and 6.30 m were analyzed. The numerical results show that maximum compressive stresses reached approximately 0.48 MPa, remaining well below the allowable limit of 4.50 MPa, while maximum tensile stresses of about 0.28 MPa did not exceed the allowable tensile limit of 1.00 MPa. In contrast, shear stresses locally reached approximately 0.25 MPa, exceeding the allowable shear limit of 0.10 MPa, particularly along the soil–wall interface in taller walls. Sliding stability was satisfied in all cases, whereas overturning and shear behavior governed seismic vulnerability. These findings confirm that wall height is the primary parameter controlling seismic response and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework for preservation-oriented seismic safety assessment of historic masonry retaining walls. Full article

As social media becomes increasingly embedded in daily life, understanding the psychological mechanisms that shape users’ digital experiences is essential for promoting healthy, sustainable digital behavior. This study examines two motivational life-orientation strategies—prioritizing meaning and prioritizing positivity—and investigates how they are differentially associated with patterns of social media use, digital flourishing, and psychological well-being. A sample of 414 adults completed validated measures of digital and psychological outcomes, including a Hebrew adaptation of the Digital Flourishing Scale (DFS), and measures of prioritizing meaning and prioritizing positivity. Across seven regression models, prioritizing meaning was consistently associated with more adaptive digital outcomes, including lower screen time, reduced FoMO, higher digital flourishing, greater self-compassion, and lower psychopathology. In contrast, prioritizing positivity was associated with greater social media engagement and elevated social comparison but showed no associations with digital flourishing or psychological well-being. These findings support a dual-pathway framework, suggesting that meaning-oriented individuals tend to interact with digital platforms more intentionally and resiliently, whereas positivity-oriented individuals engage in more affect-driven and evaluative patterns that do not translate into well-being benefits. The study advances current understanding of digital behavior by identifying motivational factors that shape how users navigate online environments and highlights implications for designing digital well-being interventions and platform features. Full article

KANECS is a 3D multigroup neutronics code based on the Simplified Spherical Harmonics (SP_N) approximation and the Continuous Galerkin Finite Element Method (CGFEM). In this work, the code is extended to solve the time-dependent neutron kinetics by implementing a fully implicit backward Euler scheme for the neutron transport equation and an implicit exponential integration for delayed neutron precursors. These schemes ensure unconditional stability and minimize temporal discretization errors, making the method suitable for fast transients. The new formulation transforms each time step into a transient fixed-source problem, which is solved efficiently using the GMRES solver with ILU preconditioning. The kinetics module is validated against established benchmark problems, including TWIGL, the C5G2 MOX benchmark, and both 2D and 3D mini-core rod-ejection transients. KANECS shows close agreement with the reference solutions from well-known neutron transport codes, with consistent accuracy in normalized power evolution, spatial power distributions, and steady-state eigenvalues. The results confirm that KANECS provides a reliable and accurate framework for solving neutron kinetics problems. Full article

Within the framework of the carbon market mechanism, corporate investments to secure forestry carbon credits play a pivotal role in mobilizing social capital for ecological construction and realizing the value of ecosystem services. This study integrates information decision theory and Bayesian network analysis to simulate corporate investment decision-making for forestry carbon sequestration within China’s carbon market. Through this approach, we explore the decision-making mechanisms behind corporate investments in forestry carbon sequestration and conduct decision simulations. The findings reveal several key insights: (1) External factors, including tax incentives, consumer preference for low-carbon products, and societal environmental awareness, exert a significant impact on the valuation of forestry carbon sequestration investments. Internally, the challenge posed by technological costs in achieving emission reductions significantly influences the evaluation of forestry carbon sequestration investments. (2) Investment value judgments are shaped by the nature of the decision-making problem, which inherently involves a synergistic relationship. (3) Corporations recognize the importance of forestry carbon sequestration in reducing the costs of emission reduction, formulating low-carbon development plans, expanding investment opportunities, and enhancing the quality of forestry carbon sequestration. (4) The collective value judgment of corporates regarding forestry carbon sequestration in terms of cost reduction for emission reduction, low-carbon development planning, investment opportunity expansion, and corporate image enhancement significantly influences their investment decisions in forestry carbon sequestration. (5) Corporate investment decisions exhibit a strong preference for market-based pricing and risk-sharing mechanisms. Consequently, enhancing the carbon information disclosure system and the carbon market trading mechanism, as well as establishing price protection and income stabilization expectations for forestry carbon sequestration, can encourage corporates to make investments in this area. This not only aids in the green, low-carbon transformation of businesses but also addresses the challenge of positive externalities associated with forestry carbon sequestration through market-oriented solutions. Full article

Prostate cancer (PCa) progression involves dynamic interactions between neoplastic cells and the reactive stroma (RS). Although myofibroblasts are established components of the RS, the role of other stromal populations, such as telocytes, remains poorly understood. This study investigated the presence and distribution of a telocytic stromal phenotype (CD34⁺/Vimentin⁺) in PCa across different histological grades and acinar patterns. We used digital image analysis and standardized immunohistochemistry to assess biopsy samples from 120 patients with confirmed PCa. The telocytic phenotype showed a heterogeneous distribution and was significantly enriched in high-grade tumors and specific acinar architectures, particularly Patterns B and D. In contrast, well-differentiated regions exhibited lower telocyte density, resembling non-neoplastic prostate tissue. Although the myofibroblastic phenotype (α-SMA⁺/Vimentin⁺/CD34⁻) also increased overall with tumor grade and varied across acinar patterns, this association was comparatively weaker and less statistically robust than that observed for telocytes. These results suggest that stromal remodeling encompasses a spectrum of cellular phenotypes influenced by local architectural constraints. It is proposed that telocytes serve as key mediators of tissue organization and biomechanical signaling, contributing to a feedback loop that promotes tumor progression. Combining acinar architecture with stromal phenotyping provides a refined framework for understanding epithelial–stromal co-evolution in PCa. Full article

High-Definition (HD) Maps have become a cornerstone of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, enabling precise localization, perception, and decision-making. Despite their increasing prominence in the automotive and geospatial industries, HD Maps remain underexplored in the field of cartography. There are many studies and publications on HD Maps, but only a few of them directly address their links with cartography. Therefore, the research presented in this article focuses on this issue, filling an existing research gap. This paper examines the origins, technical characteristics, and conceptual frameworks of HD Maps, drawing on both the established literature and conceptual reflections. The results highlight that an extension of traditional cartographic definitions needs to be considered in order to encompass the concept of HD Maps as dynamic, machine-oriented infrastructures. By placing HD Maps as an important element in the development of cartography, the authors note both the prospect of a broader application of cartographic theory and the potential contribution of cartographers to the further development of HD Maps, as well as a potential paradigm shift toward the era of “maps for machines”. Full article

Background: Depression is a common mental disorder, and early and objective diagnosis of depression is challenging. New advances in deep learning show promise for processing audio and video content when screening for depression. Nevertheless, the majority of current methods rely on raw video processing or multimodal pipelines, which are computationally costly and challenging to understand and create privacy issues, restricting their use in actual clinical settings. Methods: Based solely on spatiotemporal 3D face landmark representations, we describe a unique, totally visual, and lightweight deep learning approach to overcome these constraints. In this paper we introduce, for the first time, a pure visual deep learning framework, based on spatiotemporal 3D facial landmarks extracted from clinical interview videos contained in the DAIC-WOZ and Extended DAIC-WOZ (E-DAIC) datasets. Our method does not use raw video or any type of semi-automated multimodal fusion. Whereas raw video streaming can be computationally expensive and is not well suited to investigating specific variables, we first take a temporal series of 3D landmarks, convert them to pseudo-images (224 × 224 × 3), and then use them within a CNN-LSTM framework. Importantly, CNN-LSTM provides the ability to analyze the spatial configuration and temporal dimensions of facial behavior. Results: The experimental results indicate macro-average F1 scores of 0.74 on DAIC-WOZ and 0.762 on E-DAIC, demonstrating robust performance under heavy class imbalances, with a variability of ±0.03 across folds. Conclusion: These results indicate that landmark-based spatiotemporal modeling represents the future of lightweight, interpretable, and scalable automatic depression detection. Second, our results suggest exciting opportunities for completely embedding ADI systems within the framework of real-world MHA. Full article

Urban green is a key component of municipal natural resources management (MNRM) in metropolitan areas, providing ecosystem services (ESs) related to climate regulation, environmental quality, and citizens’ well-being. However, these ESs are often weakly integrated into municipal management practices, and this may be due to the absence of structured accountability and reporting mechanisms. This study examines whether a topic-specific Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting framework for urban green could support the integration of ecosystem services into MNRM. The research is based on semi-structured interviews with representatives from 23 municipalities across Greece, exploring awareness of ESG concepts, views on accountability and stakeholder engagement, and perceptions of urban green as a managed natural resource. The findings indicate broad recognition of the multifunctional role of urban green and strong agreement on the value of systematic reporting and accountability. At the same time, municipalities identify the lack of an appropriate reporting framework as a key constraint, alongside organizational and staffing limitations. Drawing on stakeholder and impression management theory, the study shows the respondents support that urban green ESG reporting can function as a governance tool, enhancing transparency and stakeholder involvement. A municipal ESG reporting framework is perceived as a tool that could support operationalizing ESs within local governance structures, contributing to a more effective MNRM. Full article

Mycobacterial diseases, including tuberculosis (TB), remain the major health and economic challenges in livestock, underscoring the need to characterise the innate immune mechanisms involved in early bacterial containment. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are the first line of defence against inhaled mycobacteria, yet the functional links between activation, polarisation, and phagocytic capacity in caprine AMs remain poorly defined. In this study, we compared a pH-dependent live-cell fluorescence assay with a culture-based method to evaluate phagocytosis and clearance of Mycobacterium fortuitum under different immunostimulatory conditions. AMs were stimulated in vitro with LPS or Heat-inactivated Mycobacterium bovis (HIMB), and phagocytosis was assessed alongside activation and pro-inflammatory markers. Both approaches showed that LPS stimulation significantly enhanced mycobacterial clearance, despite reduced initial bacterial uptake. Moreover, this improved phagocytic capacity was associated with increased expression of the inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS), MHCII, CD80, and CD86, as well as an elevated production of some pro-inflammatory cytokines. In contrast, HIMB induced cytokine secretion but failed to enhance activation markers or bacterial clearance. Collectively, these results establish the first association between pro-inflammatory activation and functional mycobacterial phagocytosis in caprine AMs and validate a robust methodological framework for studying innate immune responses relevant to TB and vaccine development in goats. Full article

Neighborhood living streets are key everyday public spaces in mixed residential–commercial districts and are an important setting for residents’ mental well-being. Yet many neighborhood evaluations still rely on coarse spatial indicators and provide limited guidance for fine-grained renewal. This study develops a comprehensive, mental-health-relevant, perception-based framework for assessing living-street quality and applies it to Xuesong Road, an aging community street in Wuhan. Five perception dimensions—walkability, safety, comfort, sociability, and pleasure—are operationalized into 18 micro-spatial indicators. Indicator weights are derived from expert judgments using the Analytic Hierarchy Process, and 178 residents’ Likert-scale ratings are synthesized using Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation to obtain dimension-level and composite scores. On a five-point scale, the overall score of 3.08 indicates a mid-range level of perceived street quality in relation to mental health. Sociability performs best, followed by walkability, pleasure, and comfort, while safety is the weakest dimension, mainly due to conflicts with non-motorized traffic and inadequate nighttime lighting. The proposed AHP–FCE framework links micro-scale street attributes to perception-based outcomes and provides actionable evidence to inform micro-renewal, with safety-oriented interventions being prioritized to support social sustainability and age-friendly communities. Full article

Objective: To synthesize current evidence on the relationships between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), stress-related mechanisms, neuroanatomical asymmetry, and mental disorders, and to propose an integrative conceptual framework describing their interaction. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Search terms targeted the etiology and pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, hemispheric lateralization, stress responses, body schema disturbances, and associated mental disorders. The review was reported in accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) recommendations. A structured qualitative synthesis of 225 relevant publications was performed. Results: The analyzed studies revealed several complementary conceptual approaches to AIS pathogenesis. Emerging evidence suggests that atypical hemispheric lateralization, potentially associated with right-hemisphere (RH) dysfunction, may contribute to susceptibility to AIS. Such patterns of lateralization have been linked to specific stress-related coping strategies, including harm avoidance, as well as to disturbances of body schema and an increased prevalence of certain mental disorders. Gender-related differences in stress responses and in the development and progression of AIS were consistently reported across studies. Collectively, these findings support the hypothesis that neuropsychological and stress-related mechanisms, including phenomena described as the “distorting mirror effect”, may contribute to the persistence and progression of spinal deformity in vulnerable individuals. Conclusions: AIS appears to be a multifactorial condition in which atypical neuroanatomical asymmetry, stress-related processes, and altered body representation interact. This integrative perspective generates hypotheses suggesting that prevention and treatment strategies for AIS could benefit from incorporating approaches aimed at modulating stress responses and enhancing brain neuroplasticity. Further interdisciplinary studies integrating clinical, neuroimaging, and neurobiological methods are warranted to clarify underlying mechanisms. Full article