Search Results (10,074)

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a multimodal trust assessment approach that integrated electroencephalography (EEG) and self-report questionnaires compared with unimodal methods within the context of lower-limb rehabilitation training. Twenty-one mobility-impaired participants performed tasks using handrails, walkers, and stairs. Synchronized EEG, questionnaire, and behavioral data were collected. EEG trust scores were derived from the alpha-beta power ratio, while subjective trust was assessed via questionnaire. An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system was used to fuse these into a composite score. Analyses included variance, correlation, and classification consistency against behavioral ground. Results showed that EEG-based scores had higher dynamic sensitivity (Spearman’s ρ = 0.55) but greater dispersion (Kruskal–Wallis H-test: p = 0.001). Questionnaires were more stable but less temporally precise (ρ = 0.40). The fused method achieved stronger behavioral correlation (ρ = 0.59) and higher classification consistency (κ = 0.69). Cases with discordant unimodal results revealed complementary strengths: EEG captured real-time neural states despite motion artifacts, while questionnaires offered contextual insight prone to bias. Multimodal fusion through fuzzy logic mitigated the limitations of isolated assessment methods. These preliminary findings support integrated measures for adaptive rehabilitation monitoring, though further research with a larger cohort is needed due to the small sample size. Full article

Secure authentication in smart device ecosystems remains a critical challenge, particularly due to the irrevocability of compromised biometric templates in server-based systems. This paper presents a post-quantum secure multi-factor authentication protocol that combines templateless 2D and 3D facial biometrics, liveness detection, and Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) to achieve robust identity assurance. The protocol exhibits zero-knowledge properties, preventing adversaries from identifying whether authentication failure is due to the biometric, password, PUF, or liveness factor. The proposed protocol utilizes advanced facial landmark detection via dlib or mediapipe, capturing multi-angle facial data and mapping it. By applying a double-masking technique and measuring distances between randomized points, stabilized facial landmarks are selected through multiple images captured during enrollment to ensure template stability. The protocol creates high-entropy cryptographic keys, securely erasing all raw biometric data and sensitive keys immediately after processing. All key cryptographic operations and challenge-response exchanges employ post-quantum algorithms, providing resistance to both classical and quantum adversaries. To further enhance reliability, advanced error-correction methods mitigate noise in biometric and PUF responses, resulting in minimal FAR and FRR that meets industrial standards and resilience against spoofing. Our experimental results demonstrate this protocol’s suitability for smart devices and IoT deployments requiring high-assurance, scalable, and quantum-resistant authentication. Full article

Morels are a rare edible and medicinal fungus. A major factor contributing to difficulties with their continuous cropping is alteration in soil microbial communities. Pseudomonas putida is a key microorganism in morel cultivation soils; it has garnered significant attention due to its ability to degrade 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), a precursor of ethylene. However, the interaction between Pseudomonas putida and morels remains unclear. This study evaluated the growth-promoting potential of P. putida KT2440 by measuring the casing soil ACC content and assessing its ACC utilization capacity. Metagenomic sequencing was performed to assess the changes in soil microbial composition and function. The results indicated that ACC accumulated in the soil following morel cultivation and that P. putida KT2440 was capable of utilizing ACC as its sole nitrogen source for growth on plates. Inoculation enhanced the depletion of available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; increased bacterial diversity; improved the stability of the soil microbial community; and caused the mycelium of morels to grow earlier. These processes occurred along with a decline in the abundance of the Streptomyces genus. Furthermore, a positive correlation was identified between the abundance of P. putida and ACC deaminase activity in the soil. Overall, this study examined the role of Pseudomonas putida inoculation in modulating the soil microbial community and metabolic processes within casing soil during Morchella sextelata cultivation. The findings indicate that P. putida inoculation promotes Morchella growth through ACC decomposition and microbial restructuring, offering a potential strategy for mitigating ethylene-related suppression in continuous cropping systems. Full article

Selective depression of serpentine remains a major challenge in the flotation of low-grade nickel sulphide ores because serpentine slimes impair concentrate grade and recovery. In this study, four structurally related micromolecular depressants bearing amino and phosphonic functionalities were designed, synthesized and systematically evaluated. Micro-flotation screening (depressant range: 0–20 mg·L⁻¹) and bench-scale tests identified an operational optimum near pH 9 and a reagent dosage of ≈18 mg·L⁻¹; potassium butyl xanthate (PBX) was used as a collector and methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) as a frother. Phosphonate-containing molecules (PMIDA and GLY) delivered the largest gains in pentlandite recovery and concentrate selectivity compared with carboxylate analogues and a benchmark depressant. Mechanistic studies (zeta potential, adsorption isotherms, FT-IR, and XPS) indicated that selective adsorption of amino and phosphonate groups on serpentine occurs via coordination with surface Mg sites and by altering the electrical double layer. The DLVO modelling showed that these reagents generate an increased repulsive barrier, mitigating slime coating and entrainment. Contact-angle measurements confirmed selective hydrophilization of serpentine while pentlandite remained hydrophobic. These findings demonstrate that incorporating targeted phosphonate chelation into small-molecule depressants is an effective strategy to control serpentine interference and to enhance flotation performance. Full article

The rapid global expansion of photovoltaic (PV) generation has increased the prevalence of PV-dominated weak-grid systems, where wideband oscillations (WBOs) pose a significant challenge to secure and reliable operation. Unlike conventional electromechanical oscillations, WBOs originate from inverter control loops and multi-inverter interactions, spanning sub-Hz to kHz ranges. This review provides a PV-focused and mitigation-oriented analysis that addresses this gap. First, it clarifies the mechanisms of WBOs by mapping oscillatory drivers such as phase-locked loop dynamics, constant power control, converter–grid impedance resonance, and high-frequency switching effects to their corresponding frequency bands, alongside their engineering implications. Second, analysis methods are systematically evaluated, including eigenvalue and impedance-based models, electromagnetic transient simulations, and measurement- and data-driven techniques, with a comparative assessment of their strengths, limitations, and practical applications. Third, mitigation strategies are classified across converter-, plant-, and system-levels, ranging from adaptive control and virtual impedance to coordinated PV-battery energy storage systems (BESS) operation and grid-forming inverters. The review concludes by identifying future directions in grid-forming operation, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven adaptive stability, hybrid PV-BESS-hydrogen integration, and the establishment of standardized compliance frameworks. By integrating mechanisms, methods, and mitigation strategies, this work provides a comprehensive roadmap for addressing oscillatory stability in PV-dominated weak grids. Full article

Against the backdrop of safety becoming a key objective in the restructuring of industrial chains, the impact of China’s outbound foreign direct investment (OFDI) on industrial chain risks warrants further exploration. Based on the Asian Development Bank’s Multi-Regional Input-Output Data (ADB-MRIOD) from 2007 to 2023, this study measures the external risk exposure of industrial chains from both supply-side and demand-side perspectives across 41 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) economies. Utilizing a two-way fixed effects panel model with lagged variables and instrumental techniques to mitigate endogeneity, we empirically investigate the mechanisms through which China’s OFDI influences the external risk exposure of industrial chains. The findings reveal that (1) China’s OFDI significantly reduces such risk exposure, and (2) effect heterogeneity observed across country groups and sectors—showing stronger mitigation in high-innovation and developing countries, as well as in capital-intensive industries. (3) Mechanism analysis identifies three transmission channels: enhancing the host country’s trade network status, rationalizing its industrial structure, and strengthening Sino-host country industrial linkages. The study provides empirical support for formulating targeted investment policies to enhance supply chain resilience under the BRI framework. Full article

Ammonia, due to its favorable physicochemical properties, is considered an effective hydrogen carrier, enabling the storage of surplus energy generated from renewable sources. Large-scale implementation of this concept requires the safe transport of ammonia over long distances, commonly achieved through pipeline systems—a practice with global experience dating back to the 1960s. However, operational history demonstrates that failures in such infrastructures remain inevitable, often leading to severe environmental consequences. This article reviews both passive and active methods for preventing and mitigating incidents in ammonia pipeline systems. Passive measures include the assessment of material compatibility with ammonia and the designation of adequate buffer zones. Active methods focus on leak detection techniques, such as balance-based systems, acoustic monitoring, and ammonia-specific sensors. Additionally, the article highlights the potential environmental risks associated with ammonia release, emphasizing its contribution to the greenhouse effect, as well as its adverse impacts on soil, surface and groundwater, and human health. By integrating historical lessons with modern safety technologies, the article contributes to the development of reliable ammonia transport infrastructure for the hydrogen economy. Full article

Background: Lupus nephritis (LN), a severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), necessitates effective therapeutic strategies. Polysaccharides derived from Irpex lacteus have demonstrated beneficial biological activities in MRL/lpr mice; however, their precise mechanisms of intervention in LN require further elucidation. Methods: MRL/lpr mice were administered low-dose and high-dose Irpex lacteus polysaccharide (PCP) continuously for 8 weeks. The therapeutic efficacy of PCP was systematically assessed by measuring autoantibody levels, inflammatory cytokine expression, and renal function markers. The underlying pharmacological mechanisms were investigated through integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses. Results: PCP treatment significantly improved renal function in MRL/lpr mice, normalizing serum levels of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies (anti-dsDNA), anti-Sm antibody (Sm), creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and proteinuria. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that the therapeutic action of PCP involves modulation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. This inhibition was further confirmed by Western blot analysis. Conclusions: PCP exerts renal protective effects in MRL/lpr mice by mitigating inflammation, modulating immune responses, and preserving renal function. The combined application of transcriptomics, metabolomics, and Western blotting elucidates that this protection is mediated through inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway. Full article

The vibrations induced by urban rail transit are exerting an increasingly prominent influence on the surrounding buildings and human health. As a prevalent track defect, rail corrugation can exacerbate the vibrations generated during train operation. In this study, on-site measurements were carried out to investigate the characteristics of rail corrugation in the small-radius curve segments of subways. The differences in rail corrugation with and without vibration mitigation measures were analyzed. Additionally, the vibration responses of adjacent buildings in the steel spring floating slab track segments with rail corrugation were examined. The findings of this study indicate that in the small-radius curve segments of the steel spring floating slab track, there exists a rail corrugation phenomenon with a wavelength of 200 mm. This leads to inadequate vibration attenuation in the 80 Hz frequency band, allowing some vibration energy to still be transmitted to adjacent buildings. Nevertheless, the vibration responses of buildings are predominantly governed by their own structural vibration modes. Full article

To mitigate potential interference in a coexisting system, an ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna with triple-band-notched characteristics is proposed. Based on transmission line theory, three notched bands are achieved by utilizing the open- or short-circuited properties of microstrip line resonators and slot resonators. Each antenna element consists of a patch etched with three half-wavelength slots and a one-wavelength strip. Measurement results demonstrate that the antenna exhibits excellent rejection performance at the three designated frequency bands. Furthermore, the effects of array configuration and element deflection angle on mutual coupling are investigated using a 2 × 1 face-to-face multiple-in, multiple-out (MIMO) array. Finally, a two-element MIMO array with high isolation was fabricated and measured. Experimental results show that an isolation level better than 24.6 dB is maintained across the operating band. Full article

In the context of large-scale renewable integration and increasing demand for power-system flexibility, energy-storage systems are indispensable components of modern grids, and their safe, reliable operation is a decisive factor in investment decisions. To mitigate lifecycle degradation and cost increases caused by frequent charge–discharge cycles, this study puts forward a two-layer energy storage capacity configuration optimization approach with explicit integration of cycle life restrictions. The upper-level model uses time-of-use pricing to economically dispatch storage, balancing power shortfalls while maximizing daily operational revenue. Based on the upper-level dispatch schedule, the lower-level model computes storage degradation and optimizes storage capacity as the decision variable to minimize degradation costs. Joint optimization of the two levels thus enhances overall storage operating efficiency. To overcome limitations of the conventional Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA)—notably slow convergence, limited accuracy, and susceptibility to local optima—an Improved WOA (IWOA) is developed. IWOA integrates circular chaotic mapping for population initialization, a golden-sine search mechanism to improve the exploration–exploitation trade-off, and a Cauchy-mutation strategy to increase population diversity. Comparative tests against WOA, Gray Wolf Optimizer (GWO), and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) show IWOA’s superior convergence speed and solution quality. A case study using measured load data from an industrial park in Zhuzhou City validates that the proposed approach significantly improves economic returns and alleviates capacity degradation. Full article

Sesame seed oil is a bioactive-rich lipid source, notable for lignans, tocopherols, and unsaturated fatty acids that underpin its antioxidant and cardioprotective properties. This study optimized two innovative, non-thermal extraction techniques—pulsed electric field (PEF) and ultrasound bath-assisted extraction (UBAE)—to maximize yield and preserve oil quality for functional food applications. A blocked definitive screening design combined with response surface methodology modeled the effects of energy power (X₁, 60–100%), liquid-to-solid ratio (X₂, 10–20 mL/g), and extraction time (X₃, 10–30 min) on fat content, DPPH antiradical activity, and oxidative stability indices (Conjugated Dienes, CDs/Conjugated Trienes, CTs). UBAE achieved the highest fat yield—59.0% at low energy (60%), high X₂ (20 mL/g), and short X₃ (10 min)—while PEF maximized DPPH to 36.0 μmol TEAC/kg oil at high energy (100%), moderate X₂ (17 mL/g), and short X₃ (10 min). CDs were minimized to 19.78 mmol/kg (UBAE, 60%, 10 mL/g, 10 min) and CTs to 3.34 mmol/kg (UBAE, 60%, 12 mL/g, 10 min). Partial least squares analysis identified X₂ and X₃ as the most influential variables (VIP > 0.8), with energy–time interplay (X₁ × X₃) being critical for antioxidant capacity. Compared to cold-pressing and Soxhlet extraction, PEF and cold-pressing retained higher antioxidant activity (~19 μmol TEAC/kg) and oxidative stability (TBARS ≤ 0.30 mmol MDAE/kg), while Soxhlet—though yielding 55.65% fat—showed the poorest quality profile (Totox value > 560). Both non-thermal techniques can deliver bioactive-rich sesame oil with lower oxidative degradation, supporting their application in functional foods aimed at improving dietary antioxidant intake and mitigating lipid oxidation burden. PEF at high energy/short time and UBAE at low energy/short time present complementary, scalable options for producing high-value edible oils aligned with human health priorities. As a limitation, we did not directly quantify lignans or tocopherols in this study, and future work will address their measurement and bioaccessibility. Full article

Generation expansion planning is critical for the sustainable development of power systems, particularly with the increasing integration of renewable energy sources like wind power. This paper presents an innovative generation expansion model identifying the optimal strategy for constructing new wind power plants. The model determines the ideal size of wind power generation and strategically allocates wind resources across multi-area power systems to maximize their capacity credit. A novel fuzzy set approach addresses wind power’s inherent uncertainty and variability, which models wind data uncertainty through membership functions for each stochastic parameter. This method enhances the accuracy of capacity credit calculations by effectively capturing the unpredictable nature of wind power. The model uses the Effective Load Carrying Capability (ELCC) as the objective function to measure the additional load that can be reliably supported by wind generation. Additionally, integrating a compressed-air energy storage system (CAESS) is introduced as a novel solution to mitigate the intermittency of wind power, further boosting the wind power plants’ capacity credit. By incorporating an energy storage system (ESS), the model ensures greater resource availability and flexibility. The study evaluates a multi-area power network, where each area has distinct conventional generation capacity, reliability metrics, load profiles, and wind data. A three-interconnected power system case study demonstrates the model’s effectiveness in increasing the load carrying capability of intermittent renewable resources, improving system reliability, and enhancing resilience. This study provides new insights into optimizing renewable energy integration by leveraging advanced uncertainty modeling and energy storage, contributing to the long-term sustainability of power systems. Full article

Agriculture significantly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yet fluxes from irrigated semi-arid systems remain poorly quantified. This study investigates CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, and NH₃ fluxes in a short-term lettuce experiment under semi-arid conditions. The objective was to quantify flux variability and identify key environmental and management drivers. High-frequency soil gas flux measurements were conducted under three treatments: irrigated soil (I), irrigated soil with plants (IP), and irrigated soil with plants plus NH₄NO₃ fertilizer (IPF). Environmental factors, including solar radiation, soil temperature, water-filled pore space, and relative projected leaf area, were monitored. A Random Forest model identified main flux determinants. Fluxes varied with plant function, growth, and fertilization. IP exhibited net CO₂ uptake through photosynthesis, whereas I and IPF showed net CO₂ emissions from soil respiration and fertilizer-induced disruption of plant function, respectively. CH₄ uptake occurred across treatments but decreased with plant presence. Fertilization in IPF triggered episodic N₂O (EF = 0.1%) and NH₃ emissions (EF = 0.97%) linked to nitrogen input. Vegetated semi-arid soils can act as CO₂ sinks when nitrogen is optimally managed. Excess or poorly timed nitrogen delays CO₂ uptake and increases reactive nitrogen losses. Methanotrophic activity drives CH₄ dynamics and is influenced by plants and fertilization. Maintaining crop vigor and applying precision nitrogen management are essential to optimize productivity while mitigating GHG and NH₃ emissions in semi-arid lettuce cultivation. Full article

Lakes, as key freshwater reserves and ecosystem cores, supply human water, regulate climate, sustain biodiversity, and are vital for global ecological balance and human sustainability. Lake Chaohu, as a crucial ecological barrier in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, faces significant environmental challenges to regional sustainable development due to water quality deterioration and consequent eutrophication issues. To address the limitations of conventional monitoring techniques, including insufficient spatiotemporal coverage and high operational costs in lake water quality assessment, this study proposes an enhanced Informer model optimized by the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) for predictive analysis of concentration trends of key water quality parameters—dissolved oxygen (DO), permanganate index (CODMn), total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN)—across multiple time horizons (4 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h). The results demonstrate that the WOA-optimized Informer model (WOA-Informer) significantly improves long-term water quality prediction performance. Comparative evaluation shows that the WOA-Informer model achieves average reductions of 9.45%, 8.76%, 7.79%, 8.54%, and 11.80% in RMSE metrics for 4 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h prediction windows, respectively, along with average improvements of 3.80%, 5.99%, 11.23%, 17.37%, and 23.26% in R² values. The performance advantages become increasingly pronounced with extended prediction durations, conclusively validating the model’s superior capability in mitigating error accumulation effects and enhancing long-term prediction stability. Spatial visualization through Kriging interpolation confirms strong consistency between predicted and measured values for all parameters (DO, CODMn, TP, and TN) across all time horizons, both in concentration levels and spatial distribution patterns, thereby verifying the accuracy and reliability of the WOA-Informer model. This study successfully enhances water quality prediction precision through model optimization, providing robust technical support for water environment management and decision-making processes. Full article