Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
Influence of microcrack types on macroscopic cracking of sandstone under freeze-thaw erosion
Freeze-thaw erosion is a common hazard in cold region engineering, which is capable of generating a large number of microcracks inside the rock mass. However, the effect of different forms of microcracking on the macrocracking characteristics of sandstones under freeze-thaw erosion conditions has not been elucidated. Hence, the effect of microcracking on macrocracking under freeze-thaw cycling conditions is analysed by means of a combination of acoustic emission tests and numerical simulations. The results show that the peak strength, modulus of elasticity and longitudinal wave velocity of the sandstone produced a decrease with the increasing degree of freeze-thaw erosion. When the freeze-thaw cycle reached 80 times, the ringing counts changes significantly, showing a continuous accumulation trend. The trend of b value shows that microcracking of rock samples with high degree of freeze-thaw erosion is a continuous process of accumulation. The percentage of RA and AF indicates a shift in the cracking pattern from shear to tensile as the rock specimens are subjected to an increasing number of freeze-thaw cycles. Based on a model of sandstone after freeze-thaw erosion, it is concluded that inhomogeneous variations in the displacement and force chain fields of the particles lead to different modes of fracture extension. Finally, the mechanism of the influence of along-crystal microcracking and through-crystal microcracking on the macroscopic fracture of sandstone is discussed.
Flexible Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy for Esophageal Foreign Body Removal in Children
Author Correction: SRF SUMOylation modulates smooth muscle phenotypic switch and vascular remodeling
Publisher Correction: A science-based approach to classifying light vehicles in Europe: methodology and case studies
Complete chloroplast genome sequencing of Pseudocodon convolvulaceus, a medicinal herb from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China
As a medicinal plant on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Pseudocodon convolvulaceus has garnered significant attention due to its rich medicinal value, demonstrating notable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. To elucidate the characteristics of the chloroplast genome and the phylogenetic position of Pseudocodon convolvulaceus, as well as to explore its genetic structure and evolutionary significance, the complete chloroplast genome was sequenced, assembled, annotated, and compared with the published genomes of the Campanulaceae family. This analysis provides insights into gene content, structural variation, and phylogenetic relationships. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the chloroplast genomes of 19 published Campanulaceae species, utilizing two Asteraceae species as outgroups. The results indicated the following: (1) The chloroplast genome of Pseudocodon convolvulaceus is 183,616 bp in length, featuring a typical tetrad structure with a GC content of 38.7%. A total of 134 genes were annotated, comprising 89 protein-coding genes, eight rRNA genes, and 37 tRNA genes, with 12 genes containing one intron and three genes containing two introns. (2) The chloroplast genome includes 67 SSR loci, predominantly single nucleotide repeats, which account for 40% of the total. (3) The genome comprises 64 synonymous codons, including 30 high-frequency codons (RSCU > 1), with 29 of these high-frequency codons ending in A/T, representing 96.7%. This suggests a tendency for high-frequency codons in the chloroplast genome of Pseudocodon convolvulaceus to terminate with A/T. (4) Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Codonopsis minima, Codonopsis lanceolata, Codonopsis pilosula, and Codonopsis tsinlingensis are closely related to Pseudocodon convolvulaceus. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of this species and its potential applications in drug research, thereby facilitating the use of this genomic resource for conservation strategies and phylogenetic analysis.
Performance of Five Prognostic Scores in Predicting Short-term Mortality in Patients with Acute-on-chronic Liver Failure
Noncollinear harmonic spectroscopy reveals crossover of strong-field effects
Abstract The ability to control electron motion with light fields represents a transformative frontier in modern physics, enabling dynamic manipulation of material properties at ultrafast timescales. Yet, the complex interplay between light and excited carriers—via mechanisms such as the AC Stark effect, field-induced coupling of excitonic and Bloch states, the dynamical Franz-Keldysh effect, and the ponderomotive effect—continues to challenge our understanding of quantum systems driven far from equilibrium. Here, we establish non-collinear harmonic spectroscopy as a powerful technique for initiating, tracking, and steering femtosecond carrier dynamics across the energy landscape in the dielectric SiO2 crystal. Combining rigorous numerical simulations with analytical theory, we identify the main mechanisms responsible for the crossover of different strong-field phenomena, which leads to the delay-dependent energy shift of excitonic and Bloch states. This control over the electronic and excitonic states opens new opportunities for tailoring carrier dynamics in quantum materials, paving the way for next-generation optoelectronic and nanophotonic technologies.
Polymer-free β-cyclodextrins and mefenamic acid inclusion complex nanofibers for enhanced drug solubility and biomedical applications
Curcumin inhibits ferroptosis through dessuccinylation of SIRT5-associated ACSL4 protein, and plays a chondroprotective role in osteoarthritis
Background Ferroptosis of chondrocytes plays a crucial role in the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). This study aimed to explore the role of curcumin (Cur) in interfering with chondrocyte ferroptosis in OA. Methods Rat chondrocytes were treated with 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β (IL-1β) for 48 hours to mimic the OA microenvironment. The protective effects of Cur were evaluated in vitro by assessing cell viability and ferroptosis. Molecular docking was performed to validate the structural interaction between Cur and the SIRT5 protein. Co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP) confirmed the binding relationship between SIRT5 and ACSL4. Additionally, the efficacy of Cur in alleviating OA progression was assessed in an in vivo OA rat model. Results Cur treatment significantly attenuated IL-1β-induced chondrocyte injury by enhancing cell viability and inhibiting ferroptosis. Cur also markedly reduced global protein lysine succinylation levels. IL-1β suppressed SIRT5 expression, while Cur treatment upregulated SIRT5 expression. The molecular structure of Cur exhibits strong complementarity with the SIRT5 protein, forming a stable complex with high binding affinity. Inhibition of SIRT5 attenuated the protective effects of Cur on chondrocytes and increased ACSL4 succinylation levels. SIRT5 physically interacted with ACSL4, and SIRT5-mediated desuccinylation of ACSL4 repressed its function, thereby mitigating ferroptosis. Cur alleviates OA progression in vivo by inhibiting cartilage destruction, bone erosion, and chondrocyte injury, and by smoothing subchondral bone surfaces. Conclusion Cur protects chondrocytes in vitro by inhibiting ferroptosis and suppresses cartilage degeneration and bone erosion in vivo, demonstrating a chondroprotective role in OA. These effects are mediated through SIRT5-dependent desuccinylation of ACSL4, which regulates ferroptosis pathways.
Clinical Considerations in Validating Global Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Definition: Addressing Temporal Dynamics and Confounding Variables
Exploiting vacant urban residential buildings to promote carbon neutrality in China
Optimize multi-objective transformation rules of water-sediment regulation for cascade reservoirs in the Lower Yellow River of China
Genome-driven insights into Bacillus safensis strain B7 as a seed coating agent for plant growth promotion and alleviation of biotic and abiotic stresses
Despite the significant increase in the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) in agriculture, there is a dearth of studies addressing the impact of seed coating with PGPB on plant productivity. The main objective of this research is to evaluate the potential of Bacillus safensis strain B7 as a seed coating agent to confer plant growth promotion and tolerance against biotic and abiotic stress. The whole-genome sequencing of strain B7 was also performed to study its genomic features. The effect of seed coating with strain B7 was assessed on seed water uptake, germination and seedling dry weight under controlled conditions. Besides, the direct and indirect effect against biotic stress was evaluated through antifungal activity and potential in stimulating the induced systemic resistance (ISR) under controlled conditions. Afterwards, the effect was evaluated in the field under drought stress conditions, based on the traits of grain yield (GY), straw yield, number of spikes/m2, and thousand kernel weight (TKW). It is noticeable that seed coating with strain B7 resulted in greater and faster water uptake. Germination and plant growth similarly boosted. Strain B7 was able to hamper the mycelial growth of F. culmorum and S. sclerotiorum and to induce ISR, after B. cinerea infection, in melon leaves taken from root-treated plants. In the field, seed coating with strain B7 improved wheat performance under the different environments and mitigated the effect of drought on spikes/m2, GY and TKW. The observed impact on wheat plants is supported by genomic analysis of strain B7 showing the presence of genes related to beneficial plant–bacteria interactions involved in plant colonization, growth promotion and alleviation of stress. Therefore, B. safensis strain B7 has promising applications in the seed treatment industry to increase plant yield and alleviate the impact of stress.
Author Response: Clinical Considerations in Validating Global Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Definition – Addressing Temporal Dynamics and Confounding Variables
Leveraging biogenic resources to achieve global plastic decarbonization by 2050
Abstract There is a rising urgency to decarbonize plastic production given its high carbon footprint and rapid growth in demand. Here, we highlight pathways for carbon uptake and temporary storage (i.e., net-negative greenhouse gas emissions) for plastics on a global scale by 2050. We focus on bio-based plastics and consider potential market replacement, renewable energy integration, and waste management practices. Our analysis reveals that achieving net-negative emissions requires high levels of all three strategies. For example, reaching 60% bio-based plastics still requires 100% renewable energy and 90% recycling, while 40% recycling requires 90% bio-based plastics with 100% renewable energy. Maximizing all three variables could store up to 270 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents by 2050. By 2030, annual emissions from plastics could be reduced by 58% compared to current levels by substituting 41% of petroleum-based plastics with bio-based alternatives, transitioning to 100% renewable energy, and recycling 27% of plastics at end-of-life.
Stepwise Acetylene Insertion and Ammonia Activation at a Digallene and Diindene
Abstract Sequential [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions between acetylene and the digallene and diindene compounds (ETer) 2 (E = Ga, In; Ter = 2,6‐Dipp 2 ‐C 6 H 3 ; Dipp = 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl) are described. Careful control of the reaction conditions leads to selective formation of four‐ and six‐membered rings with 2π E 2 C 2 and 4π E 2 C 4 cores, respectively. A structural analysis of the heterocycles by single crystal X‐ray diffraction suggests limited electronic delocalization within the rings, which is borne out in their reactivity. For example, the six‐membered cyclohexadiene analogues exhibit Lewis‐acidic behavior and can form stable, isolable adducts with ammonia. Upon heating, these adducts transform into the corresponding bimetallic triel amides with concomitant generation of ethene.
Low-cost fabrication and comparative evaluation of machine learning algorithms for flexible PDMS-based hexagonal patch antenna
Mapping network structures and dynamics of decentralised cryptocurrencies: The evolution of Bitcoin (2009–2023)
At the beginning of July 2025, the global cryptocurrency market capitalisation reached more than $2.8 trillion, with 1 Bitcoin exchanging for more than $105,000. As cryptocurrencies are becoming part of the global financial infrastructure, monitoring their evolution is crucial for determining whether they can be considered a sustainable long-term financial exchange system. In this paper, we have reconstructed the network structures and dynamics of Bitcoin from its launch in January 2009 to December 2023 and identified its key evolutionary phases. Our results show that network centralisation and wealth concentration increased from the very early years, following a richer-get-richer mechanism. This trend was endogenous to the system, beyond any subsequent institutional or exogenous influence. The evolution of Bitcoin is characterised by three periods, Exploration, Adaptation, and Maturity, with substantial coherent network patterns. Our findings suggest that Bitcoin is a highly centralised structure, with high levels of wealth inequality and internally crystallised power dynamics, which may have negative implications for its long-term sustainability.