Browse Articles

Experimental evaluation of sustainable jute–basalt hybrid FRP systems for flexural strengthening of RC beams with variable wrapping and light-weight aggregate replacement

Multidimensional control of surface acoustic wave generation via programmable interdigital transducer arrays

Research on fire scenario analysis and emergency response strategies for L-shaped buildings using FDS

With the rapid development of information and communication technologies, modern fire rescue models are evolving towards informatization, proactivity, and spatialization. Existing fire simulation models primarily focus on the impact of individual building parameters, lacking a systematic analysis of the multi-factor coupling effects on fire spread. As a result, it is difficult to accurately predict the trend of fire spread and meet the demands of dynamic escape routes for three-dimensional rescue systems. In this study, a typical L-shaped building was used as the research object, and a parameterized fire scenario database was constructed using the FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator) fire simulation software, combined with experimental data for multi-factor coupling analysis. By simulating various factors such as initial fire locations (stairwell or corridor corner), floor height of ignition (low/mid/high area), and wind direction, this study systematically reveals the dynamic evolution process of smoke diffusion and the spatial distribution characteristics and interaction mechanisms of fire smoke in indoor and outdoor three-dimensional spaces. It also focuses on the time-dependent variations of smoke propagation in indoor escape routes, staircases, and external walls. The results indicate that the L-shaped building causes asymmetric smoke diffusion. The fire spread mode is a result of multi-factor coupling effects at the fire scene. Safe evacuation decisions are directly related to fire spread characteristics, smoke diffusion paths, the location of trapped individuals, fire alarm occurrence time, and rescue methods. Minor changes in each parameter can lead to significant differences in evacuation outcomes. Based on the situation at the site, generating real-time, dynamic escape paths is a crucial guarantee for improving rescue efficiency and success rates. The findings provide scientific support for the design and optimization of human-machine collaborative rescue systems and offer a data foundation for fire risk assessment and emergency response planning.

Supportive care needs and associated factors among reproductive age women with breast cancer

Hydroxylation of the HIV-1 antisense protein promotes immune evasion of HIV-1 via modulation of TBK1

Discovery of a Roman Quarry for Pozzolanic aggregates in the Euganean Hills Magmatic District, Northeast Italy: A stepwise archaeometric approach

This study investigates the provenance of volcanic aggregates used in Roman lime-based mortars from the theatre–bath complex at Via Scavi in Montegrotto Terme (ancient Fons Aponi , northeastern Italy), dated to the Early Imperial period. An integrated stepwise archaeometric approach combining petrographic observations via Transmitted Polarized Light-Optical Microscopy (TPL-OM), mineralogical analyses via Quantitative Phase Analysis-X-Ray Powder Diffraction (QPA-XRPD), bulk geochemical data via X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), microchemical analyses via Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and µ-Raman Spectroscopy were applied to characterize the volcanic components of the mortars and assess their hydraulic behaviour. The results show that the mortars incorporate angular trachytic to trachyandesitic volcanic breccias displaying well-developed reaction rims and extensive pozzolanic reactivity, leading to the formation of calcium–aluminosilicate hydrate phases typical of pozzolanic lime mortars. Comparison with a comprehensive reference database of volcanic rocks from the Euganean Hills Magmatic District (Veneto, Italy) indicates that these aggregates are consistent with explosive diatreme breccias exposed in the eastern sector of the district, most likely corresponding to quarry sites near Villa Draghi (Montegrotto Terme). The identification of these volcanic materials in mortars from Aquileia (northeastern Italy, approximately 150 km north-east of the Euganean Hills) further suggests that such “Euganean pozzolans” were not used exclusively at a local scale but were traded over longer distances. These findings provide new archaeometric evidence for the exploitation of non-Vitruvian volcanic pozzolans in Roman construction and illustrate the potential of integrated petrographic and geochemical approaches for provenance studies of these mortar aggregates.

Alkaline-earth-promoted Pd–Ag/Al2O3 for selective acetylene hydrogenation: green-oil mitigation, ethylene selectivity, and implications for hydrogen spillover

Bifunctional ligand-bridged electrolyte enables high-capacity and high-energy 600 Wh kg−1 lithium-metal battery pouch cells

From visual attention to behavioural intention: A relational framework of culturally creative desserts in museum communication

This study examines how the visual presentation of culturally creative desserts (CCDs), modelled after Chinese museum artefacts, relates to potential visitors’ visit-related behavioural intention under first-exposure, image-mediated conditions. Drawing on the AIDA model, this study develops a four-stage framework (VCVB: perceived Visual Attention, Curiosity, Visit Motivation, Behavioural Intention) to examine whether visual attention is directly associated with visit motivation in visually mediated museum contexts. A survey using image-based stimuli was conducted with 205 respondents and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results reveal an indirect-only pattern: perceived visual attention is positively related to curiosity, curiosity to visit motivation, and visit motivation to behavioural intention, whereas the direct association between visual attention and visit motivation is not significant. These findings indicate that the commonly assumed direct association between visual attention and motivational orientation does not hold under first-exposure, image-mediated conditions. Instead, visual attention operates indirectly through epistemic curiosity and visit motivation, suggesting that visually driven attention alone is insufficient to generate visit-related intention.

Evaluating the restoration of Egypt’s Mediterranean Manzala Lagoon: a multi-index assessment of water quality and heavy metals

Abstract Lake Manzala, the largest coastal lagoon along Egypt’s Mediterranean delta, represents an ecosystem of exceptional ecological and socioeconomic significance, yet it has endured decades of severe environmental degradation. This study presents a comprehensive post‑restoration assessment of its water quality during 2021–2022 to evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing dredging and wastewater‑treatment initiatives. Twelve monitoring stations were systematically surveyed seasonally across the lake’s four sectors, and a wide array of physicochemical variables, nutrient salts, and heavy‑metal concentrations were determined. Integrated indices, including the Canadian Water Quality Index (CWQI), Aquatic Toxicity Index (ATI), Trophic State Index (TSI), Pollution Index (PI), and Heavy-Metal Pollution Index (HPI), were applied, alongside multivariate statistical analysis (Principal Component Analysis, PCA) to interpret spatial patterns and dominant controlling factors. Results revealed a persistent north–south gradient of deterioration, with the southern and southeastern sites receiving heavy loads of organic and inorganic pollutants from the Bahr El‑Baqar, Hadous, and Serw drains. The lake remains markedly hypereutrophic; mean BOD 5 and COD values exceeded international thresholds, and high concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr indicate serious ecological risk. CWQI values (39–64) classified most areas as poor to marginal, while HPI values (> 180) indicate heavy‑metal pollution stress. PCA distinguished two principal drivers: (1) anthropogenic organic and metal loading, explaining about 52% of the total variance, and (2) natural oxygenation and self‑purification processes with a minor influence. Despite improved circulation from dredging and the commissioning of the Bahr El-Baqar wastewater treatment plant, overall chemical restoration remains incomplete. Long-term recovery requires catchment-wide nutrient control, sediment remediation, and continuous monitoring to restore the ecological balance and sustain the environmental and economic value of this vital wetland.

Dissecting origin factors of lymph node metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer via multimodal omics

Retraction: Fishing grounds footprint and economic freedom indexes: Evidence from Asia-Pacific

Analysis of hyperparameter optimization effects on lightweight deep models for real-time image classification

Blood flow patterns in mice are regulated by interpericyte tunneling nanotubes connecting functionally-opposite neuronal areas

Abstract Functioning of the central nervous system is critically dependent on precise blood delivery achieved through the formation of blood flow patterns or differences in flux between vessels. Nevertheless, how these blood flow patterns are generated is a fundamental question that is incompletely understood. Here, we show, in live imaging experiments on mice, that specialized pericytes connected via tunneling nanotubes regulate flux patterns by modulating the response of different capillaries in opposing ways, homogenizing blood flow, which is vital to supply functionally-opposite neuronal areas of the retina. We also identify that this capacity for stimulus-induced flow homogenization is lost after the ablation of interpericyte tunneling nanotubes via laser or during ischemia-reperfusion injury, a pathological condition that leads to widespread disruption of interpericyte tunneling nanotubes. These findings contribute to understanding neurovascular coupling and blood delivery in the retina.

Effect of intravenous vitamin C administration on chemotherapy-induced adverse events in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is prevalent in Thailand, with a substantial proportion of cases diagnosed at advanced stages. The standard treatment, concurrent chemoradiotherapy, is associated with considerable adverse effects, which may compromise therapeutic efficacy and diminish patients’ quality of life. While vitamin C has shown potential in reducing chemotherapy-induced toxicities in some cancers, its effects in nasopharyngeal carcinoma remain unclear. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy were assigned to receive either 2 g of intravenous vitamin C or placebo prior to chemotherapy. The incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects—including nausea, anorexia, mucositis, diarrhea, and dysphagia—did not differ significantly between groups. However, longitudinal analysis demonstrated a significantly attenuated decline in platelet counts in the vitamin C group compared with placebo. Although intravenous vitamin C did not reduce gastrointestinal toxicities, the observed platelet preservation suggests a potential supportive effect that warrants further investigation. Trial registration The study was registered with the Thai Clinical Trial Registry (TCTR20190316003) on March 16, 2019.

Multiple dimension equity assessment of walking for visual and physical access to central parks across 27 Yangtze River Delta cities

Abstract The Yangtze River Delta (YRD), as a globally significant megacity region, faces intense land constraints and growing demands for equitable access to high-quality urban parks. However, traditional planning often prioritizes physical proximity while overlooking the sensory experience, leading to a disconnect between where residents can “reach” and what they can “see.” To bridge this gap, this study develops an integrated framework that couples pedestrian potential with visual perception. By integrating GIS-based pedestrian network analysis and FCN-driven semantic segmentation of street-view image, we evaluated the central parks of 27 cities across the YRD. The results demonstrate that: (1) Urban scale is closely linked to service equity, with 37% of cities exhibiting a distinct accessibility disadvantage relative to the regional average. (2) Large cities tend to dominate in green perception (GVI), whereas small and medium-sized cities are characterized by stronger blue perception (BVI). (3) A significant spatial divergence exists between physical walkability and blue-green perception, manifesting into four distinct spatial typologies at the urban scale. (4) Areas theoretically expected to have high accessibility and perception—such as waterfronts or park edges—underperform in reality. These findings suggest that theoretical attractiveness does not naturally translate into functional accessibility without intentional street-level integration. Achieving park equity requires a dual focus on both sensory experience and physical access. Consequently, this study proposes a targeted urban renewal framework to assist managers in implementing type-specific micro-interventions, providing a scalable model for achieving sensory-physical synergy in land-constrained megacity regions.

A group 1 hemagglutinin stem vaccine elicits broad humoral responses against influenza in phase 1/2a study

Correction: Detection, transport, and retention of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in saturated sandy porous media: Influence of electrolytes and natural organic matter in flow-through systems

rbpCNN: a biophysics-informed deep learning model for predicting piRNA and mRNA interactions

Abstract Predicting the interactions between piRNA sequences and mRNA sequences is central to understanding post-transcriptional regulation in the germline and to the design of perturbations that modulate PIWI (P-element-induced wimpy testis) guided silencing. Any improvement in the accuracy of predictions about RNA sequence interactions is vital to the enhancements that can be made in many critical medical fields. This paper proposes rbpCNN, a lightweight convolutional neural network (CNN) that augments nucleotide-pair encoding with biophysically motivated interaction channels prior to learning. By adding one compatibility channel, two helix-run channels, one positional channel, and one structural channel, we aimed to support the predictions of the CNN layer and improve prediction accuracy. The resulting network is lightweight and achieves strong performance relative to existing solutions on this benchmark. Experimental results showed that rbpCNN achieves an AUC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) of 96.55% and an accuracy of 90.66% in fivefold validation, and an AUC of 94.19% and an accuracy of 86.74% on a separate, fully independent external dataset, with performance competitive with and, in several metrics, exceeding previously reported results on the same benchmark.

Fuel availability versus flammability: divergent fire controls across Eurasian drylands