Search Results (161)

The design of photocatalysts capable of generating localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects represents a promising strategy for enhancing photocatalytic activity. However, the mechanistic role of plasmonic nanoparticles-induced interfacial electric fields in driving photocatalytic processes remains poorly understood. To produce a Schottky junction, varying amounts of Au nanoparticles widely utilized to broaden the light absorption were loaded onto ultrathin carbon nitride sheets (Au/UCN). The Au/UCN-20 Schottky junction exhibits exceptional photocatalytic activity, achieving a hydrogen evolution rate (14.2 mmol·g⁻¹ over a 4 h period) while maintaining robust stability through five consecutive photocatalytic cycles. The LSPR activity of Au nanoparticles are responsible for the broadened light absorption spectrum of Au/UCN nanocomposites. The interfacial electric field generated at the Au /UCN heterojunction is proposed to enhance charge-transfer efficiency through Schottky barrier penetration of photocarriers, mediated by electric field-driven carrier migration, according to surface potential and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD). These findings uncover a previously obscured photocatalytic mechanism driven by LSPR-induced interfacial electric fields, pioneering a quantum-dot-directed strategy to precisely engineer charge dynamics in advanced photocatalysts via targeted manipulation of nanoscale electric field effects. Full article

This study examines how Multi-Scalar Nature-Based Regenerative Solutions (M-NbRS) can realign urban–industrial systems with planetary boundaries to mitigate Earth system destabilization. Using integrated systems analysis, we document three key findings: (1) global material flows show only 9% circularity amid annual extraction of 100 billion tons of resources; (2) Earth system diagnostics reveal 28 trillion tons of cryosphere loss since 1994 and 372 Zettajoules of oceanic heat accumulation; and (3) meta-analysis identifies accelerating biosphere integrity loss (61.56 million hectares deforested since 2001) and atmospheric CO₂ concentrations reaching 424.61 ppm (2024). Our Vicious Cycle Atlas of Fragility framework maps three synergistic disintegration pathways: metabolic overload from linear resource flows exceeding sink capacity, entropic degradation through high-entropy waste driving cryospheric collapse, and planetary boundary transgression. The M-NbRS framework counters these through spatially nested interventions: hyper-local urban tree canopy expansion (demonstrating 0.4–12 °C cooling), regional initiatives like the Heart of Borneo’s 24 million-hectare conservation, and global industrial controls maintaining aragonite saturation (Ωarag > 2.75) for marine resilience. Implementation requires policy innovations including deforestation-free supply chains, sustainability-linked financing, and ecological reciprocity legislation. These findings provide an evidence base for transitioning industrial–urban systems from drivers of Earth system fragility to architects of regeneration within safe operating spaces. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that M-NbRS offer a scientifically grounded, policy-actionable framework for breaking the vicious cycles of Earth system destabilization. By operationalizing nature-based regeneration across spatial scales—from street trees to transboundary conservation—this approach provides measurable pathways to realign human systems with planetary boundaries, offering a timely blueprint for industrial–urban transformation within ecological limits. Full article

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) restructure collagen hydrogels via actomyosin-driven fibril bundling and crosslinking, increasing polymer density to generate mechanical stress that accelerates tumor proliferation. Conventional hydrogel models lack spatial heterogeneity, thus obscuring how localized stiffness gradients regulate cell cycle progression. To address this, we developed a collagen hydrogel-based microtissue platform integrated with programmable microstrings (single/double tethering), enabling real-time quantification of gel densification mechanics and force transmission efficiency. Using this system combined with FUCCI cell cycle biosensors and molecular perturbations, we demonstrate that CAF-polarized contraction increases hydrogel stiffness (350 → 775 Pa) and reduces pore diameter (5.0 → 1.9 μm), activating YAP/TAZ nuclear translocation via collagen–integrin–actomyosin cascades. This drives a 2.4-fold proliferation increase and accelerates G1/S transition in breast cancer cells. Pharmacological inhibition of YAP (verteporfin), actomyosin (blebbistatin), or collagen disruption (collagenase) reversed mechanotransduction and proliferation. Partial rescue upon CYR61 knockdown revealed compensatory effector networks. Our work establishes CAF-remodeled hydrogels as biomechanical regulators of tumor growth and positions gel-based mechanotherapeutics as promising anti-cancer strategies. Full article

Gas well production prediction is an important means to determine the economic benefits of gas field development, and it is the key to realize the optimization of gas well production. However, with the continuous development of gas fields, the increasing number of low-yield and low-efficiency wells disrupted the original symmetry in the overall well distribution and production structure. Traditional production capacity prediction methods are difficult to adapt to complex geological conditions and dynamic production characteristics and cannot meet the requirements of refined management of gas fields. In this paper, a CNN-LSTM-attention hybrid prediction model incorporating physical constraints (P-C-L-A) is proposed to predict production per well. The P-C-L-A model integrates CNN’s local feature capture capability, LSTM’s time-dependent modeling, and the attention mechanism’s critical state focusing function. Moreover, the gas well decline law is embedded into the loss function to realize the joint drive of physical constraints and data of the decline curve. Compared with the traditional BP neural network, the model in this paper has higher accuracy, and the root mean square error of the proposed method is reduced by 24.41%. Furthermore, this paper proposes a full life cycle intelligent optimization production strategy of “initial static similar production + historical data-driven rolling production”. For wells in the early stage of production, static production allocation is carried out by matching wells with similar geological engineering parameters based on the symmetry of the characteristic parameters of similar production wells through the k-nearest neighbor value algorithm. For stable production wells, a machine learning model is built to predict short-term production and dynamic production optimization is achieved by rolling updates of production data. The proposed method can be extended to the production prediction of other tight gas wells using similar technical processes. Full article

Soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition is a critical biogeochemical process that regulates the carbon cycle, nutrient availability, and agricultural sustainability of cropland systems. Recent progress in multi-omics and microbial network analyses has provided us with a better understanding of the decomposition process at different spatial and temporal scales. Climate factors, such as temperature and seasonal variations in moisture, play a critical role in microbial activity and enzyme kinetics, and their impacts are mediated by soil physical and chemical properties. Soil mineralogy, texture, and structure create different soil microenvironments, affecting the connectivity of microbial habitats, substrate availability, and protective mechanisms of organic matter. Moreover, different microbial groups (bacteria, fungi, and archaea) contribute differently to the decomposition of plant residues and SOM. Recent findings suggest the paramount importance of living microbial communities as well as necromass in forming soil organic carbon pools. Microbial functional traits such as carbon use efficiency, dormancy, and stress tolerance are essential drivers of decomposition in the soil. Furthermore, the role of microbial necromass, alongside live microbial communities, in the formation and stabilization of persistent SOM fractions is increasingly recognized. Based on this microbial perspective, feedback between local microbial processes and landscape-scale carbon dynamics illustrates the cross-scale interactions that drive agricultural productivity and regulate soil climate. Understanding these dynamics also highlights the potential for incorporating microbial functioning into sustainable agricultural management, which offers promising avenues for increasing carbon sequestration without jeopardizing soil nutrient cycling. This review explores current developments in intricate relationships between climate, soil characteristics, and microbial communities determining SOM decomposition, serving as a promising resource in organic fertilization and regenerative agriculture. Specifically, we examine how nutrient availability, pH, and oxygen levels critically influence these microbial contributions to SOM stability and turnover. Full article

The ongoing degradation of global forests has severely weakened ecosystem service functions, and traditional judicial remedies have struggled to quantify intangible ecological losses. China has become an important testing ground for restorative justice through the establishment of specialized environmental courts and the practice of environmental public interest litigation. Since 2015, China has actively explored and institutionalized the application of the concept of restorative justice in its environmental justice reform. This concept emphasizes compensating environmental damages through actual ecological restoration acts rather than relying solely on financial compensation. This shift reflects a deep understanding of the limitations of traditional environmental justice and an institutional response to China’s ecological civilization construction, providing critical support for forest ecosystem restoration and enabling ecological restoration activities, such as replanting and re-greening, habitat reconstruction, etc., to be enforced through judicial decisions. This study conducts a qualitative analysis of judicial rulings in forest restoration cases to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of restorative justice in compensating for losses in forest ecosystem service functions. The findings reveal the following: (1) restoration measures in judicial practice are disconnected from the types of ecosystem services available; (2) non-market values and long-term cumulative damages are systematically underestimated, with monitoring mechanisms exhibiting fragmented implementation and insufficient effectiveness; (3) management cycles are set in violation of ecological restoration principles, and acceptance standards lack function-oriented indicators; (4) participation of key stakeholders is severely lacking, and local knowledge and professional expertise have not been integrated. In response, this study proposes a restorative judicial framework oriented toward forest ecosystem services, utilizing four mechanisms: independent recognition of legal interests, function-matched restoration, application of scientific assessment tools, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. This framework aims to drive a paradigm shift from formal restoration to substantive functional recovery, providing theoretical support and practical pathways for environmental judicial reform and global forest governance. Full article

In recent years, China has experienced growing impacts from extreme weather events, emphasizing the importance of understanding regional atmospheric moisture dynamics, particularly Precipitable Water Vapor (PWV), to support sustainable environmental and urban planning. This study utilizes ten years (2013–2022) of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations in typical cities in eastern China and proposes a comprehensive multiscale frequency-domain analysis framework that integrates the Fourier transform, Bayesian spectral estimation, and wavelet decomposition to extract the dominant PWV periodicities. Time-series analysis reveals an overall increasing trend in PWV across most regions, with notably declining trends in Beijing, Wuhan, and southern Taiwan, primarily attributed to groundwater depletion, rapid urban expansion, and ENSO-related anomalies, respectively. Frequency-domain results indicate distinct latitudinal and coastal–inland differences in the PWV periodicities. Inland stations (Beijing, Changchun, and Wuhan) display annual signals alongside weaker semi-annual components, while coastal stations (Shanghai, Kinmen County, Hong Kong, and Taiwan) mainly exhibit annual cycles. High-latitude stations show stronger seasonal and monthly fluctuations, mid-latitude stations present moderate-scale changes, and low-latitude regions display more diverse medium- and short-term fluctuations. In the short-term frequency domain, GNSS stations in most regions demonstrate significant PWV periodic variations over 0.5 days, 1 day, or both timescales, except for Changchun, where weak diurnal patterns are attributed to local topography and reduced solar radiation. Furthermore, ERA5-derived vertical temperature profiles are incorporated to reveal the thermodynamic mechanisms driving these variations, underscoring region-specific controls on surface evaporation and atmospheric moisture capacity. These findings offer novel insights into how human-induced environmental changes modulate the behavior of atmospheric water vapor. Full article

Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems account for 40–60% of the energy consumed in commercial buildings, and much of this load originates from sub-optimal piping layouts in chiller-plant rooms. This study presents an automated routing framework that couples Building Information Modeling (BIM) with an enhanced A* search to produce collision-free, low-resistance pipelines while simultaneously guiding component selection. The algorithm embeds protective buffer zones around equipment, reserves maintenance corridors through an attention-based cost term, and prioritizes 135° elbows to cut local losses. Generated paths are exported as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) objects for validation in a BIM digital twin, where hydraulic feedback drives iterative reselection of high-efficiency devices—including magnetic-bearing chillers, cartridge filters and tilted-disc valves—until global pressure drop and life-cycle cost are minimized. In a full-scale shopping-mall retrofit, the method significantly reduces pipeline resistance and operating costs, confirming its effectiveness and replicability for sustainable chiller-plant design. Full article

Based on ascending and descending orbit SAR data from 2017–2025, this study analyzes the long time-series deformation monitoring and slip pattern of an active-layer detachment thaw slump, a typical active-layer detachment thaw slump in the permafrost zone of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, by using the small baseline subset InSAR (SBAS-InSAR) technique. In addition, a three-dimensional displacement deformation field was constructed with the help of ascending and descending orbit data fusion technology to reveal the transportation characteristics of the thaw slump. The results show that the thaw slump shows an overall trend of “south to north” movement, and that the cumulative surface deformation is mainly characterized by subsidence, with deformation ranging from −199.5 mm to 55.9 mm. The deformation shows significant spatial heterogeneity, with its magnitudes generally decreasing from the headwall area (southern part) towards the depositional toe (northern part). In addition, the multifactorial driving mechanism of the thaw slump was further explored by combining geological investigation and geotechnical tests. The analysis reveals that the thaw slump’s evolution is primarily driven by temperature, with precipitation acting as a conditional co-factor, its influence being modulated by the slump’s developmental stage and local soil properties. The active layer thickness constitutes the basic geological condition of instability, and its spatial heterogeneity contributes to differential settlement patterns. Freeze–thaw cycles affect the shear strength of soils in the permafrost zone through multiple pathways, and thus trigger the occurrence of thaw slumps. Unlike single sudden landslides in non-permafrost zones, thaw slump is a continuous development process that occurs until the ice content is obviously reduced or disappears in the lower part. This study systematically elucidates the spatiotemporal deformation patterns and driving mechanisms of an active-layer detachment thaw slump by integrating multi-temporal InSAR remote sensing with geological and geotechnical data, offering valuable insights for understanding and monitoring thaw-induced hazards in permafrost regions. Full article

Abnormal deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) is a core pathological feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Syndecan-3 (SDC3), a type I transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), is abnormally overexpressed in the brains of AD patients and model animals, specifically accumulating in the peri-plaque region of amyloid plaques. However, its regulatory mechanism in the process of Aβ deposition remains unclear. This study aims to clearly define the role of SDC3 in Aβ aggregation and neuroinflammation, two critical processes in AD pathogenesis. Specifically, we investigate how SDC3 modulates Aβ aggregation and its interaction with neuroinflammatory pathways, which may contribute to the progression of AD. By elucidating the mechanisms underlying SDC3’s involvement in these processes, we seek to provide new insights into potential therapeutic targets for AD. In this study, a 5×FAD mouse model with downregulated SDC3 expression was constructed. Behavioral assessments and synaptic function tests were performed to explore the effects of SDC3 on cognition in 5×FAD mice. Immunofluorescence co-localization technology was utilized to analyze the pathological co-deposition of SDC3 and Aβ in the hippocampus, cortex, and meningeal blood vessels. Quantitative assessments of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Tnf-α and Cxcl10 in the brain were performed through histopathological analysis combined with qPCR. Western blotting was used to examine the phosphorylation status of STAT1/STAT3 and the expression changes of IBA1/GFAP to systematically analyze the molecular mechanisms through which SDC3 regulates AD pathology. This study revealed that SDC3 expression was significantly upregulated in the brain regions of the 5×FAD model mice and co-localized pathologically with Aβ. Cell lineage tracing analysis showed that the elevated SDC3 expression primarily originated from glial cells. Behavioral and pathological results demonstrated that downregulation of SDC3 significantly improved cognitive dysfunction in the model mice and effectively reduced the Aβ burden in the brain. Molecular mechanism studies showed that downregulation of SDC3 reduced the phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3, thereby inhibiting the activation of the JAK-STAT and cGAS-STING signaling pathways, reducing the activation of microglia/astrocytes and suppressing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Tnf-α and Cxcl10. This study reveals that SDC3 co-localizes with Aβ pathology and synergistically exacerbates neuroinflammation. Knockdown of SDC3 can simultaneously reduce both Aβ deposition and the release of inflammatory factors from glial cells. Mechanistic research indicates that SDC3 drives a “glial activation–cytokine release” vicious cycle through the JAK-STAT and cGAS-STING signaling pathways. These findings suggest that SDC3 may serve as a key hub coordinating amyloid pathology and neuroinflammation in AD, providing new insights for the development of combination therapies targeting the HSPG network. Full article

The exploitation of the Amazon biome in search of net profit, specifically in the production of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and açaí (Euterpe oleracea), has caused deforestation, degradation of natural resources, and high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, highlighting the urgency of improving the environmental, economic and social sustainability of these crops. These species were selected for their rapid expansion in the Amazon, driven by global demand, their local economic relevance, and their potential to either promote conservation or drive deforestation, depending on the production system. This study analyzes the pillars of environmental, social, and economic sustainability of cocoa and açaí production systems in the Amazon, comparing monoculture, agroforestry, and extractivism to support forest conservation strategies in the biome. Analysis of the environmental life cycle, social life cycle, and economic performance were used to determine the carbon footprint, the final point of workers, and the net profit of the activities. According to the results found in this study, cocoa monoculture had the largest carbon footprint (1.35 tCO₂eq/ha), followed by agroforestry (1.20 tCO₂eq/ha), açaí monoculture (0.84 tCO₂eq/ha) and extractivism (0.25 tCO₂eq/ha). In the carbon balance, only the areas outside indigenous lands presented positive carbon. Regarding the economic aspect, the net profit of açaí monoculture was USD 6783.44/ha, extractivism USD 6059.42/ha, agroforestry USD 4505.55/ha, and cocoa monoculture USD 3937.32/ha. In the social sphere, in cocoa and açaí production, the most relevant negative impacts are the subcategories of child labor and gender discrimination, and the positive impacts are related to the sub-category of forced labor. These results suggest that açaí and cocoa extractivism, under responsible management plans, offer a promising balance between profitability and environmental conservation. Furthermore, agroforestry systems have also demonstrated favorable outcomes, providing additional benefits such as biodiversity conservation and system resilience, which make them a promising sustainable alternative. Full article

Malting is one of the most energy-intensive stages in beer brewing, yet its environmental impacts remain under-characterized despite recent efficiency gains. Barley and malt transport drive significant greenhouse gas emissions in import-dependent countries, while local, small-scale production can offset those savings through lower process efficiencies or higher resource use. This study conducted a cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of three Italian malthouses—small, medium, and large—using SimaPro 10.2.0.0 and a functional unit of 1 kg of malted barley delivered by bulk truck to local breweries. Primary data on barley, water, methane, and electricity consumption, as well as waste generation, were collected via questionnaires; secondary data were sourced from Ecoinvent and Agri-Footprint. Impact categories were evaluated using the Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) and Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodologies. Barley cultivation dominates the footprint (84–92% of total impacts when using local grain). Drying and transport contribute 3.7–4.4% and 0–8.4% of impacts, respectively, depending on facility scale and import share. Smaller malthouses exhibit higher per-kilogram impacts due to lower energy efficiency and transportation modes. Mitigation strategies —including sustainable agriculture, renewable energy adoption, logistics optimization, and process improvements—can substantially reduce impacts. Notably, sourcing barley from low-impact suppliers alone lowers the carbon footprint from 0.80 to 0.66 kg CO_2e/kg, freshwater eutrophication from 227 to 32 CTU_e/kg, land use from 196 to 136 Pt/kg, and overall PEF from 192 to 81 µPt/kg. These results underscore the critical role of feedstock sourcing and process efficiency in decarbonizing malt production and provide a quantitative baseline for targeted sustainability interventions. Full article

Electric vehicles are transforming urban and metropolitan transportation, providing significant benefits to both the environment and society. However, the integration of electric vehicles necessitates a well-planned infrastructure, including a sufficient number of charging stations distributed at the local level, policies that encourage the purchase and operation of electric vehicles, and the active participation of local governments and the automotive industry. Investments in improved car technologies, as well as renewable energy sources, will be critical in the shift to more sustainable metropolitan regions that have reduced pollution. Computer simulation based on virtual models performs an important role in the optimization of urban and metropolitan traffic by allowing for the rapid prototyping of real vehicle models, as well as the implementation of a wide range of test scenarios in real time. Assisted driving functions are critical in adjusting optimal driving behaviors to each of the particular scenarios of urban and metropolitan traffic. The situations discussed in this study were derived from real-world traffic and implemented and simulated on virtual models in the CarMaker version 12 application. To calibrate electricity consumption in each of the metropolitan area’s sectors, driving cycles were embedded in the virtual model. These were allocated to component sectors based on the average travel speed and its variation. Full article

T-type three-level inverters have been extensively utilized in renewable energy generation, motor drive systems, and other power conversion applications. However, failures in semiconductor devices critically reduce the operational reliability of power conversion systems. While significant progress has been made in the diagnosis of single-switch open-circuit (OC) faults, the precise location and detection of simultaneous double-switch OC faults remain challenging. Therefore, this paper proposes a fault diagnosis method, integrating an improved adaptive sliding mode observer (IASMO) and dynamic current threshold detection. First, the IASMO is constructed through the hybrid logic dynamic model, achieving accurate and rapid estimation of phase currents. Then, integrating estimated with actual currents accomplishes the design of detection variables and adaptive thresholds. Subsequently, fault location variables are formulated to achieve accurate localization of both single-switch and double-switch faults. Finally, Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively identifies 18 types of OC faults within 75% of the current cycle, with high efficiency and robustness. Full article

The photochemical production of tropospheric ozone (O₃) is very closely linked to seasonal cycles and peaks in solar radiation occurring during warm seasons. In the Mediterranean Basin, which is a hotspot for climate and air mass transport mechanisms, boreal warm seasons cause a notable increase in tropospheric O₃, which unlike stratospheric O₃ is not beneficial for the environment. At the Lamezia Terme (code: LMT) World Meteorological Organization—Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO/GAW) station located in Calabria, Southern Italy, peaks of tropospheric O₃ were observed during boreal summer and spring seasons, and were consequently linked to specific wind patterns compatible with increased photochemical activity in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The finding resulted in the introduction of a correction factor for O₃ in the O₃/NO_x (ozone to nitrogen oxides) ratio “Proximity” methodology for the assessment of air mass aging. However, some of the mechanisms driving O₃ patterns and their correlation with other parameters at the LMT site remain unknown, despite the environmental and health hazards posed by tropospheric O₃ in the area. In general, the issue of ozone photochemical pollution in the region of Calabria, Italy, is understudied. In this study, the behavior of O₃ at the site is assessed with remarkable detail using nine years (2015–2023) of data and correlations with surface temperature and solar radiation. The evaluations demonstrate non-negligible correlations between environmental factors, such as temperature and solar radiation, and O₃ concentrations, driven by peculiar patterns in local wind circulation. The northeastern sector of LMT, partly neglected in previous works, yielded higher statistical correlations with O₃ than expected. The findings of this study also indicate, for central Calabria, the possibility of heterogeneities in O₃ exposure due to local geomorphology and wind patterns. A case study of very high O₃ concentrations reported during the 2015 summer season is also reported by analyzing the tendencies observed during the period with additional methodologies and highlighting drivers of photochemical pollution on larger scales, also demonstrating that near-surface concentrations result from specific combinations of multiple factors. Full article