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While increasingly popular for their aesthetic appeal and energy efficiency, reflective materials may also create harsh glare, disorientation, and psychological strain. Despite their prevalence in modern architectural design, the impact of these facades on mental well-being remains underexplored. Drawing from environmental psychology and perceptual science, this study assesses how different reflective materials influence both visual perception and psychological response, particularly among residents and students in Leicester. Two contrasting case studies, the reflective metal Highcross centre facade and the reflective glass Mattioli Woods PLC facade, served as focal points. Using a structured online questionnaire incorporating visual stimuli and Likert-scale questions, responses from 30 participants were analysed using descriptive and statistical analysis (i.e., one-way ANOVA) to determine differences in visual discomfort (due to brightness, glare, or shine), visual attractiveness, visual disorientation, and perception of the surroundings, as well as the associated physiological responses such as stress, tension, and mood. Results show that the Highcross Centre facade was consistently perceived as more visually discomforting and disorienting than the Mattioli Woods facade, with statistically significant differences. However, both facades were rated similarly high for visual interest, suggesting that aesthetic value can coexist with discomfort. Finally, the analysis shows that buildings’ reflective facades evoke only low levels of perceived stress, tension, or unease, with median scores remaining low overall. These findings highlight the importance of human-centred facade design, suggesting that, as cities adapt to climate change, architects and urban planners consider not only environmental performance but also perceptual and psychological effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Architectural Responses to Climate Change)

24 pages, 1779 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unraveling Elevation-Driven Variations in Forest Structure and Composition in Western Nepal

by Sagar Acharya, Rajeev Joshi, Tek Narayan Marasaeni and Prakash Bhattarai

Diversity 2025, 17(8), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17080588 (registering DOI) - 20 Aug 2025

Abstract

Understanding how elevation influences forest structure and species composition is crucial for effective conservation in mountainous regions like Nepal, where ecosystems change dramatically over short distances. This study assessed forest dynamics along an elevational gradient (600–3200 m) in Nepal’s mid-hills, incorporating elevational zonation (Tropical, Subtropical, Lower Temperate, and Upper Temperate) and aspect-driven variations. We established 27 square plots (20 × 20 m) at 100 m elevation intervals along a trekking route from Tallo Dungeshwor near the Karnali River to Mahabu Lek, recording all tree species with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm. Tree density across the elevational gradient ranged from 250 to 800 trees/ha. Basal area varied between 7.46 and 82.43 m²/ha, while mean tree height ranged from 6.89 to 16.62 m. Species diversity was assessed using the Shannon diversity index, and species dominance was evaluated through the Importance Value Index (IVI). Diversity peaked at mid-elevations, with Shorea robusta and Quercus semicarpifolia identified as dominant species. While minor variations occurred across topographic aspects, statistical analysis confirmed elevation as the dominant driver of forest structure and composition. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between elevation and Simpson’s diversity index (r = 0.45, p < 0.05), indicating increased dominance diversity at higher elevations. These findings highlight the critical role of elevation and aspect in shaping forest ecosystems and offer valuable baseline data for climate-resilient management. We recommend conservation planning that is sensitive to topographic gradients, integrates long-term, climate-adaptive monitoring, and engages local communities to anticipate ecological shifts and address mounting anthropogenic pressures in vulnerable montane zones. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Canopy Ecology—Biodiversity, Functions, and Conservation)

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18 pages, 5933 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Toxicological Mechanisms of Uranium-Induced Apoptosis in HK-2 Cells: A Proteomics and Metabolomics Study

by Zihuan Wang, Yongxiang Huang, Yue Zhang, Xuejuan Wu, Yuanyuan Yang, Jiayu Song, Kunling Guo, Mingyuan Wang, Junjie Chen and Shirong Qiang

Toxics 2025, 13(8), 699; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13080699 - 20 Aug 2025

Abstract

The rapid development of the nuclear industry and mining has increased environmental radioactive contamination, posing potentially ecological risks and health threats to humans. Uranium compounds are known to exhibit selective nephrotoxicity, but their toxicological processes and mechanisms still remain poorly understood and controversial. In this study, the uranyl-induced toxicity in human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were explored using flow cytometry, DAPI staining, and comet assays. Our results demonstrate that uranium exposure primarily triggers apoptosis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment and protein–protein interaction (PPI) analyses revealed significant associations with DNA damage. Moreover, aberrant expression of ABC transporters (e.g., ABCB7) and mitochondrial-related proteins confirms uranium-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Gene Ontology functional annotation implicated extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways in uranium-induced cell death. The downregulation of the UBL5 protein also pointed to endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis. In summary, uranium exposure can induce the apoptosis of HK-2 cells through intrinsic pathways by damaging DNA and mitochondria and disrupting protein synthesis, with secondary contributions from endoplasmic reticulum stress and extrinsic apoptotic signaling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Metals and Radioactive Substances)

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16 pages, 25315 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Deep Learning Framework for Multi-Object Tracking in Space Animal Behavior Studies

by Zhuang Zhou, Shengyang Li, Yixuan Lv, Kang Liu, Yuxuan Cao and Shicheng Guo

Animals 2025, 15(16), 2448; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15162448 - 20 Aug 2025

Abstract

In space environments, microgravity, high radiation, and weak magnetic fields induce behavioral alterations in animals, resulting in erratic movement patterns that complicate tracking. These challenges impede accurate behavioral analysis, especially in multi-object scenarios. To address this issue, this study proposes a deep learning-based multi-object tracking (MOT) framework specifically designed for space animals. The proposed method decouples appearance and motion features through dual-stream inputs and employs modality-specific encoders (MSEs), which are fused via a heterogeneous graph network to model cross-modal spatio-temporal relationships. Additionally, an object re-detection module is integrated to maintain identity continuity during occlusions or rapid movements. This approach is validated using public datasets of space-observed Drosophila and zebrafish, with experimental results demonstrating superior performance compared with existing tracking methods. This work highlights the potential of artificial intelligence as a valuable tool in behavioral studies, enabling reliable animal tracking and analysis under extreme space conditions and supporting future research in space life sciences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence as a Useful Tool in Behavioural Studies)

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20 pages, 2531 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental and Economic Sustainability of Urban Agglomeration Under Resource-Conserving and Environmentally Friendly Policy: Evidence from China

by Meiyu Jing, Hailong Ju, Yu Wang and Chen Li

Sustainability 2025, 17(16), 7537; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167537 (registering DOI) - 20 Aug 2025

Abstract

Environmental policy helps policymakers and researchers understand the process and expected effects of policy before the policies are fully implemented. This study aims to estimate the effects of resource-conserving and environmentally friendly policy implemented in the Wuhan metropolitan area and Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan urban agglomeration. The synthetic control method is employed as an estimation method. The results show that policy has positive impacts on economic development and SO₂ emission reduction in the pilot regions but cannot improve wastewater treatment. Compared to large cities, medium-sized and small cities are more sensitive to policies since the large cities have transferred a large number of enterprises with high energy consumption and high emissions to the surrounding medium-sized and small cities. The study also finds that the Wuhan metropolitan area reduces pollution emissions through increasing environmental investment and the efficiency of resource allocation. In the Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan urban agglomeration, policy triggers green technology innovation to improve the environment and boost the economy. Full article

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19 pages, 577 KiB

Open AccessArticle

When Expertise Goes Undercover: Exploring the Impact of Perceived Overqualification on Knowledge Hiding and the Mediating Role of Future Work Self-Salience

by Xiaoyun Ren, Di Wu, Qian Zhang and Haitianyu Lin

Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(8), 1134; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15081134 - 20 Aug 2025

Abstract

Grounded in the person–environment fit theory and an identity-based perspective, this study investigated the relationship between perceived overqualification and knowledge hiding, focusing on the mediating role of future work self-salience and the moderating role of the growth mindset. We suggest that perceived overqualification as a person–job misfit would negatively impact employees’ salient hoped-for work identities, representing a low level of future work self-salience. The diminished salience of a future work self leads employees to hide their knowledge. Furthermore, the growth mindset exacerbates the negative impact of perceived overqualification. We conducted a three-wave survey with 482 employees from knowledge-intensive industries. The results revealed that perceived overqualification boosted knowledge hiding by decreasing employees’ future work self-salience. The growth mindset enhanced the negative relationship between perceived overqualification and future work self-salience. Thus, the indirect effect of perceived overqualification on knowledge hiding via future work self-salience was more significant for those with a stronger growth mindset. Our findings contribute to the literature on person–job fit and knowledge behavior while providing practical insights for managing and guiding talented employees in knowledge management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Organizational Behaviors)

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11 pages, 4015 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Generation of Airy Beam Utilizing the Full-Space Programmable Metasurface

by Rui Feng, Yaokai Yu, Liangliang Wu, Jiayun Wang, Zhi Li and Qiulin Tan

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(16), 9177; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15169177 (registering DOI) - 20 Aug 2025

Abstract

Airy beams exhibit enormous application potential in the field of optics and microwave owing to their unique self-bending, self-accelerating, and non-diffracting characteristics. In this paper, the Airy beams are dynamically generated and manipulated in both reflection and transmission spaces utilizing a full space programmable metasurface, which can achieve an approximately 360° phase coverage in the reflection space and a nearly 180° phase coverage in the transmission space in the operating frequency band from 6 GHz to 7 GHz. The direct current (DC) bias voltage is applied to the varactor diodes integrated on the metasurface by precise control of the external feeding system, allowing dynamic generation and regulation of Airy beams. Numerical simulations and experimental measurements are performed at 6.5 GHz. The Airy beams with parameters a = 56 and 61 are generated in the transmission space, while the Airy beams with parameters a = 71 and 81 are achieved in the reflection space. The parabolic propagation trajectory of the main beams and acceleration in the transverse planes can be observed. The good agreement between the simulated and measured results demonstrates that the metasurface can dynamically generate and manipulate the Airy beams in full space. The suggested Airy beam manipulation system has a wide range of applications, including optical particle manipulation, imaging, and difficult terrain exploration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering)

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20 pages, 2496 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mine-DW-Fusion: BEV Multiscale-Enhanced Fusion Object-Detection Model for Underground Coal Mine Based on Dynamic Weight Adjustment

by Wanzi Yan, Yidong Zhang, Minti Xue, Zhencai Zhu, Hao Lu, Xin Zhang, Wei Tang and Keke Xing

Sensors 2025, 25(16), 5185; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25165185 - 20 Aug 2025

Abstract

Environmental perception is crucial for achieving autonomous driving of auxiliary haulage vehicles in underground coal mines. The complex underground environment and working conditions, such as dust pollution, uneven lighting, and sensor data abnormalities, pose challenges to multimodal fusion perception. These challenges include: (1) the lack of a reasonable and effective method for evaluating the reliability of different modality data; (2) the absence of in-depth fusion methods for different modality data that can handle sensor failures; and (3) the lack of a multimodal dataset for underground coal mines to support model training. To address these issues, this paper proposes a coal mine underground BEV multiscale-enhanced fusion perception model based on dynamic weight adjustment. First, camera and LiDAR modality data are uniformly mapped into BEV space to achieve multimodal feature alignment. Then, a Mixture of Experts-Fuzzy Logic Inference Module (MoE-FLIM) is designed to infer weights for different modality data based on BEV feature dimensions. Next, a Pyramid Multiscale Feature Enhancement and Fusion Module (PMS-FFEM) is introduced to ensure the model’s perception performance in the event of sensor data abnormalities. Lastly, a multimodal dataset for underground coal mines is constructed to provide support for model training and testing in real-world scenarios. Experimental results show that the proposed method demonstrates good accuracy and stability in object-detection tasks in coal mine underground environments, maintaining high detection performance, especially in typical complex scenes such as low light and dust fog. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Remote Sensors)

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10 pages, 191 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reflecting on Uncertainty Tolerance in Student Pharmacists Following an Inpatient Rounding Simulation: A Pilot Mixed-Methods Study

by Nicole E. Cieri-Hutcherson and Collin M. Clark

Pharmacy 2025, 13(4), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy13040111 - 20 Aug 2025

Abstract

Background: With increasing involvement of pharmacists in clinical situations and expanding scope of practice, the expectation and management of uncertainty is a desirable component of pharmacy education, leading to improved uncertainty tolerance (UT) as pharmacists. Methods: The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether an inpatient rounding simulation (IRS) that exposes student pharmacists to a level of uncertainty leads to changes in tolerance of ambiguity scale (TAS) scores and self-reflection comments. A pre-/post-observational, pilot survey study was conducted, including student pharmacists in their second professional year at the United States School of Pharmacy who were enrolled in an associated lab-based course in Spring 2024. Student teams completed a mock IRS and responded to clinical questions in a timed environment. Students completed pre-/post-simulation TAS and self-reflection on uncertainty/UT within the simulation. Pre-/post-simulation TAS scores were analyzed with a paired t-test. Qualitative analysis was used to identify themes in self-reflection. Results: 59 students responded (48% response rate). TAS was not different pre-/post-IRS (63.2 vs. 62.6, p = 0.63). When individual subscales were compared, a statistically significant difference was found in the insolubility subscale (10.5 vs. 9.5; p = 0.02). Themes of uncertainty that emerged during qualitative analysis of pre-simulation included the clinical question posed to the team. Student pharmacists overcame uncertainty pre-simulation by working with their team and relying on the availability of resources. Themes of uncertainty emerging during qualitative analysis of post-simulation included discerning the best answer. Student pharmacists overcame uncertainty post-simulation by working with their team and cited working with their team as a positive aspect of the IRS experience. Conclusions: In this pilot study, student pharmacists had high TAS scores both pre- and post-simulation. Students utilized their teams and cited this as a positive in an uncertain environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pharmacy Education and Student/Practitioner Training)

18 pages, 1808 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Holmium Metal Nanoparticle PbO₂ Anode Formed by Electrodeposition for Efficient Removal of Insecticide Acetamiprid and Improved Oxygen Evolution Reaction

by Milica Kaludjerović, Sladjana Savić, Danica Bajuk-Bogdanović, Aleksandar Jovanović, Lazar Rakočević, Goran Roglić, Jadranka Milikić and Dalibor Stanković

Micromachines 2025, 16(8), 960; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16080960 (registering DOI) - 20 Aug 2025

Abstract

This work examines the possibility of using a PbO₂-based electrode doped with the rare-earth metal holmium in the field of oxygen evolution and the development of an efficient method for the degradation of acetamiprid. Acetamiprid is a widely used insecticide and, as such, it very often reaches waterways, where it can cause many problems for wildlife and the environment. X-ray powder diffraction analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results confirmed the structure of Ti/SnO₂-Sb₂O₃/Ho-PbO₂, while the morphology of its surface was investigated by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Ti/SnO₂-Sb₂O₃/Ho-PbO₂ showed good OER activity in alkaline media with a Tafel slope of 138 mV dec⁻¹. The Ti/SnO₂-Sb₂O₃/Ho-PbO₂ electrode shows very good efficiency in removing acetamiprid. By optimizing the degradation procedure, the following operating conditions were obtained: a current density of 20 mA cm⁻², a pH value of the supporting electrolyte (sodium sulfate) of 2, and a concentration of the supporting electrolyte of 0.035 M. After optimization, the maximum efficiency of removing acetamiprid (10 mg L⁻¹, 4.5 × 10⁻⁵ mol) from water was achieved, 96.8%, after only 90 min of treatment, which represents an efficiency of 1.125 mol cm⁻² of the electrode. Additionally, it was shown that the degradation efficiency is strictly related to the concentration of the treated substance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticle-Based (Bio)Sensors for Biomedical and Environmental Monitoring)

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45 pages, 1479 KiB

Open AccessReview

Insects as Sentinels of Oxidative Stress Induced by Environmental Contaminants: Biomarkers and Analytical Approaches

by Marcello Messi, Roberta Giorgione and Maria Luisa Astolfi

Toxics 2025, 13(8), 698; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13080698 - 20 Aug 2025

Abstract

Despite their crucial biological role as metabolites, reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) can have a negative effect on organisms when their cellular contents overwhelm the normal equilibrium provided by antioxidant defenses. Important biomolecules, such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids (i.e., DNA), can be damaged by their oxidative effects, resulting in malfunction or a shorter lifespan of cells and, eventually, of the whole organism. Oxidative stress can be defined as the consequence of an imbalance of pro-oxidants and antioxidants due to external stress sources (e.g., exposure to xenobiotics, UV radiation, or thermic stress). It can be evaluated by monitoring specific biomarkers to determine the state of health of breathing organisms. Assessments of ROS, RNS, specific degenerative oxidative reaction products, and antioxidant system efficiency (antioxidant enzyme activities and antioxidant compound contents) have been extensively performed for this purpose. A wide variety of analytical methods for measuring these biomarkers exist in the literature; most of these methods involve indirect determination via spectrophotometric and spectrofluorometric techniques. This review reports a collection of studies from the last decade regarding contaminant-induced oxidative stress in insects, with a brief description of the analytical methods utilized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Ecotoxicology)

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27 pages, 2307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microbiome Diversity and Dynamics in Lotus–Fish Co-Culture Versus Intensive Pond Systems: Implications for Sustainable Aquaculture

by Qianqian Zeng, Ziyi Wang, Zhongyuan Shen, Wuhui Li, Kaikun Luo, Qinbo Qin, Shengnan Li and Qianhong Gu

Biology 2025, 14(8), 1092; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14081092 - 20 Aug 2025

Abstract

The lotus–fish co-culture (LFC) system leverages plant–fish symbiosis to optimize aqua-culture environments, enhancing both economic and ecological yields. However, the eco-logical mechanisms of microbial communities in LFC systems remain poorly understood, particularly regarding the functional roles of fungi, archaea, and viruses. This study compared microbiota (viruses, archaea, fungi) in water, sediment, and fish (crucian carp) gut of LFC and intensive pond culture (IPC) systems using integrated metagenomic and environmental analyses. Results demonstrated that LFC significantly reduced concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and nitrite nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand in water, and organic matter and total nitrogen in sediment compared to IPC. Community diversity analysis, LefSe, and KEGG annotation revealed suppressed viral diversity in LFC, yet increased complexity and stability of intestinal virus communities compared to IPC. Archaeal and functional analyses revealed significantly enhanced ammonia oxidation and OM decomposition in LFC versus IPC, promoting methane metabolism equilibrium and sediment organic matter decomposition. Moreover, crucian carp intestines in LFC harbored abundant Methanobacteria, which contributed to maintaining a low hydrogen partial pressure, suppressing facultative anaerobes and reducing intestinal infection risk. The abundance of fungi in sediment and crucian carp intestine in LFC was significantly higher than that in IPC, showing higher ecological self-purification ability and sustainability potential in LFC. Collectively, LFC's optimized archaeal–fungal networks strengthened host immunity and environmental resilience, while viral community suppression reduced pathogen risks. These findings elucidate microbiome-driven mechanisms underlying LFC’s ecological advantages, providing a framework for designing sustainable aquaculture systems through microbial community modulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Microbial Biology)

24 pages, 1443 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization Study of Regional Digital Innovation Capability Driven by the Synergy of Information Ecology and Digital Transformation: Dynamic QCA Analysis Based on Provincial Panel Data

by Lei Lei, Shuhong Guo and Bo Qi

Sustainability 2025, 17(16), 7534; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167534 (registering DOI) - 20 Aug 2025

Abstract

Digital transformation is gradually emerging as a core driver of high-quality economic development and the achievement of sustainable development goals. As the core engine of the digitalization process, digital innovation is becoming a key supporting force for activating the value of digital elements and fostering a new development pattern. Based on panel data from 31 provincial-level administrative regions in China spanning from 2019 to 2023, we undertook an in-depth exploration of how information ecosystems and digital transformation drivers synergistically enhance regional digital innovation capabilities and their substitutive relationships. The results show the following: Firstly, technological, subject, information, and environmental conditions cannot individually constitute the necessary conditions for a high level of regional digital innovation capacity. Secondly, three types of conditional configurations, namely technology–environment-driven, subject–environment-driven, and balance-driven, are its main driving paths, with significant substitution effects among these conditions. This study provides theoretical and empirical evidence for formulating region-specific strategies to optimize digital innovation capacity and helps formulate differentiated digital development strategies based on regional resource endowments and institutional characteristics, ultimately promoting the construction of a more balanced and resilient digital innovation ecosystem. Full article

30 pages, 21184 KiB

Open AccessArticle

FSTC-DiMP: Advanced Feature Processing and Spatio-Temporal Consistency for Anti-UAV Tracking

by Desen Bu, Bing Ding, Xiaozhong Tong, Bei Sun, Xiaoyong Sun, Runze Guo and Shaojing Su

Remote Sens. 2025, 17(16), 2902; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17162902 - 20 Aug 2025

Abstract

The widespread application of UAV technology has brought significant security concerns that cannot be ignored, driving considerable attention to anti-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) tracking technologies. Anti-UAV tracking faces challenges, including target entry into and exit from the field of view, thermal crossover, and interference from similar objects, where Siamese network trackers exhibit notable limitations in anti-UAV tracking. To address these issues, we propose FSTC-DiMP, an anti-UAV tracking algorithm. To better handle feature extraction in low-Signal-to-Clutter-Ratio (SCR) images and expand receptive fields, we introduce the Large Selective Kernel (LSK) attention mechanism, achieving a balance between local feature focus and global information integration. A spatio-temporal consistency-guided re-detection mechanism is designed to mitigate tracking failures caused by target entry into and exit from the field of view or similar-object interference through spatio-temporal relationship analysis. Additionally, a background augmentation module has been developed to more efficiently utilise initial frame information, effectively capturing the semantic features of both targets and their surrounding environments. Experimental results on the AntiUAV410 and AntiUAV600 datasets demonstrate that FSTC-DiMP achieves significant performance improvements in anti-UAV tracking tasks, validating the algorithm’s strong robustness and adaptability to complex environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Infrared Target Detection)

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18 pages, 2969 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synergistic Epichlorohydrin-Crosslinked Carboxymethyl Xylan for Enhanced Thermal Stability and Filtration Control in Water-Based Drilling Fluids

by Yutong Li, Fan Zhang, Bo Wang, Jiaming Liu, Yu Wang, Zhengli Shi, Leyao Du, Kaiwen Wang, Wangyuan Zhang, Zonglun Wang and Liangbin Dou

Gels 2025, 11(8), 666; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11080666 - 20 Aug 2025

Abstract

Polymers derived from renewable polysaccharides offer promising avenues for the development of high-temperature, environmentally friendly drilling fluids. However, their industrial application remains limited by inadequate thermal stability and poor colloidal compatibility in complex mud systems. In this study, we report the rational design and synthesis of epichlorohydrin-crosslinked carboxymethyl xylan (ECX), developed through a synergistic strategy combining covalent crosslinking with hydrophilic functionalization. When incorporated into water-based drilling fluid base slurries, ECX facilitates the formation of a robust gel suspension. Comprehensive structural analyses (FT-IR, XRD, TGA/DSC) reveal that dual carboxymethylation and ether crosslinking impart a 10 °C increase in glass transition temperature and a 15% boost in crystallinity, forming a rigid–flexible three-dimensional network. ECX-modified drilling fluids demonstrate excellent colloidal stability, as evidenced by an enhancement in zeta potential from −25 mV to −52 mV, which significantly improves dispersion and interparticle electrostatic repulsion. In practical formulation (1.0 wt%), ECX achieves a 620% rise in yield point and a 71.6% reduction in fluid loss at room temperature, maintaining 70% of rheological performance and 57.5% of filtration control following dynamic aging at 150 °C. Tribological tests show friction reduction up to 68.2%, efficiently retained after thermal treatment. SEM analysis further confirms the formation of dense and uniform polymer–clay composite filter cakes, elucidating the mechanism behind its high-temperature resilience and effective sealing performance. Furthermore, ECX demonstrates high biodegradability (BOD₅/COD = 21.3%) and low aquatic toxicity (EC₅₀ = 14 mg/L), aligning with sustainable development goals. This work elucidates the correlation between molecular engineering, gel microstructure, and macroscopic function, underscoring the great potential of eco-friendly polysaccharide-based crosslinked polymers for industrial gel-based fluid design in harsh environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Gel Chemistry and Physics)

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