Search Results (71,592)

Rapid urbanization has intensified public housing development and building density, posing significant challenges to residents’ well-being and urban sustainability. With the population of the Greater Bay Area on the rise, enhancing the spatial quality of public housing is now essential. The study proposed a quantitative framework to evaluate the relationship between the residential design elements and perceived density in high-density public housing neighborhoods. It employed a virtual reality perception experiment to analyze the relationship between significant spatial indicators and perceived density by investigating 16 high-density residential layout models in 3 configurations: Tower-Enclosed, Balanced Slab-Enclosed, and Staggered Slab-Enclosed. The results indicate that: (1) greater building height intensifies perceived density, leading to sensations of overcrowding and discomfort; (2) an increased sky ratio mitigates perceived density, fostering a more open and pleasant environment; (3) recessed residential facades enhance residents’ density perception; and (4) Staggered Slab-Enclosed Layout configurations receive the most favorable evaluations regarding perceived density. The authors attempt to go beyond current regulations to propose tailored solutions for Shenzhen’s high-density context, improving spatial efficiency and residential comfort in future public housing designs. The finding provides scientific evidence to support urban planners and policymakers in developing more resilient and sustainable high-density neighborhoods. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aims to investigate whether Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 4 (STAT4) influences the anti-tumor immune response and is possibly involved in the initiation or relapse of pituitary adenomas (PAs) by examining STAT4 polymorphisms and serum levels. This research seeks to uncover potential connections that could inform future therapeutic strategies and improve our understanding of PA pathogenesis. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at the Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood samples, and the genotyping of four STAT4 SNPs (rs7574865, rs10181656, rs7601754, and rs10168266) was performed using real-time PCR with TaqMan^® Genotyping assays. The serum STAT4 levels were measured via ELISA, and the optical density was read at 450 nm. Genotype frequencies, allele distributions, and serum STAT4 levels were statistically analyzed to assess associations with pituitary adenoma occurrence. Results: A binary logistic regression revealed that the STAT4 rs7574865 GT + GG genotypes vs. TT were associated with 1.7-fold increased odds of PA occurrence under the dominant genetic model (p = 0.012). The stratification by gender showed no significant associations in females; however, in males, the STAT4 rs10168266 CC + CT genotypes compared to TT were linked to 2.5-fold increased odds of PA under the dominant genetic model (p = 0.005). STAT4 rs10181656, rs7574865, rs7601754, and rs10168266 were analyzed to evaluate the associations with the pituitary adenoma size. We found that the STAT4 rs7574865 GG genotype was statistically significantly less frequent in the macro PA group compared to in the reference group (p = 0.012). For PA relapse, the rs7574865 G allele was less frequent in the PA group without relapse (p = 0.012), and the GT + GG genotypes were associated with a 1.8-fold increase in the PA group without relapse occurrence (p = 0.008). The serum STAT4 levels were higher in the PA patients compared to those of the reference group (p < 0.001). Elevated STAT4 serum levels were observed in PA patients with the STAT4 rs10181656 CC or CG genotypes (CC: p = 0.004; CG: p = 0.023), and with the rs7574865 GG or GT genotypes (GG: p = 0.003; GT: p = 0.021). The PA patients with the STAT4 rs7601754 AA genotype exhibited higher serum levels compared to those of the reference group (p < 0.001). Similarly, higher serum levels were found in the PA patients with the STAT4 rs10168266 CC or CT genotypes (CC: p = 0.004; CT: p = 0.027). A haplotype frequency analysis revealed no statistically significant results. Conclusions: The STAT4 genotypes were significantly associated with the PA occurrence, size, and relapse. Elevated serum STAT4 levels were observed in the PA patients, highlighting its potential role in PA pathogenesis. Full article

This study aimed to assess the impact of titanium surface patterning used in combination with photobiomodulation therapy on enhancing osseointegration in osteoporotic bone fractures. C.p. titanium implants were employed, half with an unmodified surface and half with a modified one, showing a nanostructured cellular surface. Surface patterning aimed to obtain a complex morphology designed for better osseointegration, using a selective anodization process after photoresist coating. A total of 52 rats were used, of which 4 were sacrificed 12 weeks after ovariectomy to evaluate bone density. A total of 48 rats received titanium implants in both tibiae and underwent surgery for implant placement and bone fracture. Half of the rats were subjected to photobiomodulation. The times of sacrifice were 2, 4, and 6 weeks after finalizing LASER therapy. The evaluation methods were micro-CT scanning, the mechanical pull-force test, and morphology. Mechanical tests revealed a significant difference in the surface-patterned titanium with the LASER group at 2 weeks, but not at 4 and 6 weeks. This group outperformed regular titanium and titanium/LASER groups. Micro-CT showed no significant differences, while the morphology indicated better bone quality at 4 weeks in all LASER-treated groups. The effect of surface patterning and photobiomodulation leads to better osseointegration, especially in the earlier stages. Full article

Obtaining precise estimates of population size and trends through time is important for the effective management and conservation of threatened species. For parrots (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), obtaining such estimates can be challenging, particularly for cryptic species that occur in low densities in complex and/or fragmented habitats. We used a statistical resampling approach with the aim to compare the reliability and precision of counts for the critically endangered Tasman parakeet (Cyanoramphus cookii) that were taken using two methods on Norfolk Island (Pacific Ocean), namely, fixed-point counts and line transect counts. The detections obtained during fixed-point counts had better estimated precision (0.274) than line transect counts (0.476). The fixed-point method was also more efficient, yielding 1.338 parakeet detections per count compared to the 0.642 parakeet detections per count obtained by the line transect method. Although Tasman parakeets can be detected by either of these methods, our research demonstrates that the fixed-point method is more precise and reliable. These findings can help prioritise resources for the long-term monitoring of recovering populations of this species and similar island species. Full article

Solid-state electrolytes are widely anticipated to revitalize lithium-ion batteries with high energy density and safety. However, low ionic conductivity and high interfacial resistance at room temperature pose challenges for practical applications. This study combines the rigid oxide electrolyte LLZTO with the flexible polymer electrolyte poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) to achieve effective coupling of rigidity and flexibility. The semi-interpenetrating network structure endows the PEL composite solid electrolyte with excellent lithium-ion transport capabilities, resulting in an ionic conductivity of up to 5.1 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ and lithium-ion transference number of 0.41. The assembled LiFePO₄/PEL/Li solid-state battery demonstrates an initial discharge capacity of 132 mAh g⁻¹ at a rate of 0.1 C. After 100 charge–discharge cycles, the capacity retention is 81%. This research provides a promising strategy for preparing composite solid electrolytes in solid-state lithium-ion batteries. Full article

Postsurgical infections are an important cause of implant failure, and biomaterials such as Chitosan can be used as an antimicrobial coating to address this important problem. Characterization of silver distribution was performed by several methods, including Electron scanning microscopy (SEM), Inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and Infrared spectrometry (IR). Antimicrobial activity was tested against Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa BAA-1744 ATCC 109246. The inhibition assays showed that Chitosan films inhibited 68% of C. albicans growth and 23.5% of E. coli growth; the rest of the microorganisms did not have any statistically relevant inhibition. E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans were completely inhibited in films with 0.25 mg/mL of AgNO₃ and inhibited 82.5% of S. aureus. The mechanism of integration and release of silver in the films was analyzed by the Density Functional Theory (DFT), considering this analysis of geometry optimization as well as infrared spectroscopy. DFT analysis showed that AgNO₃ is not trapped by covalence in chitosan, being a more stable system when it is closer to an OH group. Chitosan films functionalized with antimicrobial compounds are a promising antimicrobial coating for use in biomaterials to prevent postsurgical complications. Full article

This paper addresses key challenges in the static and dynamic reliability analysis of engineering structures, particularly the difficulty in accurately estimating large reliability indices and small failure probabilities. For static reliability problems, a dual power transformation is employed to transform the performance function into a form approaching a normal distribution. The high-order unscented transformation is then applied to compute the first four moments of the transformed performance function. Subsequently, the fourth-moment method is used to calculate large reliability indices, offering a novel improvement over traditional methods such as FORM and SORM. For dynamic reliability problems, the low-discrepancy sampling technique is integrated to efficiently compute structural responses under random seismic excitation, improving computational efficiency for complex dynamic systems. The Yeo–Johnson transformation is introduced to normalize the extreme values of dynamic responses, and the first four moments of the transformed extreme values are statistically evaluated. Additionally, a third-order polynomial transformation (TPT) is applied to approximate the probability density function, leading to the derivation of the probability of exceedance (POE) curve. The optimal transformation parameters for both the dual power and Yeo–Johnson transformations are determined using the Jarque–Bera (JB) test. Four numerical examples, coupled with Monte Carlo simulation, validate the proposed framework’s accuracy and efficiency, providing a robust tool for static and dynamic reliability analysis. This unified approach represents a significant advancement by integrating novel transformations and fourth-moment method, providing a powerful and efficient tool for static and dynamic reliability analysis of engineering structures. Full article

Climate change control requires more land to increase ecosystem carbon sequestration. With the high-intensity development of mineral resources in past decades, massive mining areas have been generated worldwide. However, few studies have evaluated the carbon sequestration of these mining areas. In this study, we analyzed the net ecosystem productivity (NEP) changes and calculated the NEP losses in global terrestrial mining areas. We adopted the random forest model to evaluate the NEP recovery potential and its driving factors. The key findings are that (1) the NEP of global mining areas exhibited a relatively obvious decreasing trend from 2000 to 2020, with an overall reduction of 29.1% and a maximum decline of 35.7%. By 2020, the NEP loss in mining areas was 11.9 g C m⁻² year⁻¹, and the total loss reached 576.9 Gg C year⁻¹. (2) Global mining areas demonstrate significant NEP recovery potential, with an average of 12.0 g C m⁻² year⁻¹. Notably, Oceania and South America have significantly higher recovery potentials, with average mine site NEP recovery potentials of 15.9 g C m⁻² year⁻¹ and 16.1 g C m⁻² year⁻¹. In contrast, European mines have considerably lower recovery potentials of less than 10 g C m⁻² year⁻¹. In Asia, North America and Africa, the NEP recovery potential varies widely from mine to mine, but generally meets the global average. (3) The annual precipitation, population density, organic soil carbon, and average slope are important drivers of NEP recovery in mining areas and exhibit positive correlations with the NEP recovery potential. In contrast, mine area and minimum temperature exhibit a negative correlation. The dependency curves of the three drivers, standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index, average elevation, and annual maximum temperature, are U-shaped, indicating that the recovery potential was poorer in the tropical and frigid zones with less precipitation. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for ecological restoration and sustainable development of mining areas worldwide. Full article

This study presents the theoretical design and evaluation of a triple-junction polymer solar cell architecture, incorporating oligomers of PDCBT, PPDT2FBT, and PDPP3T as donor materials and PC₇₁BM as the electron acceptor. Using density functional theory (DFT) simulations and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) methods, the investigation covers essential photovoltaic parameters, including molecular geometries, UV-Vis spectra, and charge transport properties. The device is structured to maximize solar energy absorption across the spectrum, featuring front, middle, and back junctions with band gaps of 1.9 eV, 1.63 eV, and 1.33 eV, respectively. Each layer targets different regions of the solar spectrum, optimizing light harvesting and charge separation. This innovative multi-junction design offers a promising pathway to enhanced power conversion efficiencies in polymer solar cells, advancing the integration of renewable energy technologies. Full article

The arrangement and design of urban streets have a profound impact on the thermal conditions within cities, including the mitigation of excessive street land surface temperatures (LSTs). However, previous research has mainly addressed the linear relationships between the physical spatial elements of streets and LST. There has been limited exploration of potential nonlinear relationships and the influence of population density variations. This study explores multi-dimensional street composition indicators obtained from street-view imagery and applies generalized additive models (GAMs) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) to evaluate the indicators’ impact on LST in areas with various population densities. The results indicate the following: (1) The six indicators—green space index (GSI), tree canopy index (TCI), sky open index (SOI), spatial enclosure index (SEI), road width index (RWI), and street walking index (SWI)—all have significant nonlinear effects on summer daytime LST. (2) Among all categories, the GSI negatively affects LST. Moreover, the TCI’s impact on LST shifts from negative to positive as its value increases. The SOI and SWI positively affect LST in all categories. The SEI’s effect on LST changes from negative to positive in the total and high-population (HP) categories, and it remains negative in the low-population (LP) category. The RWI positively affects LST in the total category, shifts from negative to positive in the LP category, and remains negative in the HP category. (3) The influence ranking is GSI > SEI > SWI > SOI > TCI > RWI, with GSI being the most significant factor. These findings provide key insights for mitigating street LSTs through design interventions, contributing to sustainable urban development. Full article

In this paper, we proposed the development of stackable 3D ferroelectric random-access memory (FeRAM), with two select transistors and n capacitors (2TnC), to address scaling limitations for bit density growth and the complicated manufacturing of 3D dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). The proposed 3D FeRAM has a 3D NAND-like architecture, with stacked metal–ferroelectric–metal (MFM) capacitors serving as memory cells in a unit string. A similar manufacturing process is used to achieve a cost-effective process and high bit density for next-generation DRAM applications. The two access transistors, string–select–line (SSL) and ground–select–line (GSL), are perfect string selections. We confirmed that the grounded back gate (GBG) of the proposed architecture can significantly improve the worst disturbance case compared to a floating back gate (FBG) like the 1TnC structure. Also, we confirmed the feasibility of performing the random-access operation during the read operation regardless of the data pattern of the selected string. Full article

Dnah5 is associated with primary ciliary dyskinesia in humans. Dnah5-knockout (Dnah5−/− mice develop acute hydrocephalus shortly after birth owing to impaired ciliary motility and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) stagnation. In contrast to chronic adult-onset hydrocephalus observed in other models, this rapid ventricular enlargement indicates additional factors beyond CSF stagnation. Herein, we investigated the contributors to rapid ventricular enlargement in congenital hydrocephalus. Dnah5−/− mice were generated using CRISPR/Cas9. The expression of dynein, N-cadherin, and nestin in the cerebral cortex was assessed using microarrays and immunostaining. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed for gene and protein quantification, respectively. All Dnah5−/− mice developed hydrocephalus, confirmed by electron microscopy, indicating the absence of axonemal outer dynein arms. Ventricular enlargement occurred rapidly, with a 25% reduction in the number of mature neurons in the motor cortex. Dync1h1 expression was decreased, while cytoplasmic dynein levels were 56.3% lower. Levels of nestin and N-cadherin in the lateral ventricular walls decreased by 31.7% and 33.3%, respectively. Reduced cytoplasmic dynein disrupts neurogenesis and axonal growth and reduces neuron cortical density. Hydrocephalus in Dnah5−/− mice may result from cortical maldevelopment due to cytoplasmic dynein deficiency, further exacerbating ventricular enlargement due to CSF stagnation caused by impaired motile ciliary function. Full article

Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have not only enhanced traditional sensing methods, such as pixel detection (CCD and CMOS), but also enabled the development of innovative approaches with significant potential for particle detection. This is particularly relevant in terahertz (THz) ray detection, where microbolometer-based focal plane arrays (FPAs) using microelectromechanical (MEMS) resonators are among the most promising solutions. Designing high-performance, high-pixel-density sensors is challenging without FPGAs, which are crucial for deterministic parallel processing, fast ADC/DAC control, and handling large data throughput. This paper presents a MEMS-resonator detector, fully managed via an FPGA, capable of controlling pixel excitation and tracking resonance-frequency shifts due to radiation using parallel digital lock-in amplifiers. The innovative FPGA architecture, based on a lock-in matrix, enhances the open-loop readout technique by a factor of 32. Measurements were performed on a frequency-multiplexed, 256-pixel sensor designed for imaging applications. Full article

Meteorological factors, specifically wind direction and magnitude, influence the dispersion of atmospheric pollutants due to road traffic by affecting their spatial and temporal distribution. In this study, we are interested in the effect of the evolution of horizontal wind components, i.e., in the plane perpendicular to the altitude axis. A two-dimensional numerical model for solving the coupled traffic flow/pollution problem, whose pollutants are generated by vehicles, is developed. The numerical solution of this model is computed via an algorithm combining the characteristics method for temporal discretization with the finite-element method for spatial discretization. The numerical model is validated through a sensitivity study on the diffusion coefficient of road traffic and its impact on traffic density. The distribution of pollutant concentration, computed based on a source generated by traffic density, is presented for a single direction and different magnitudes of the wind velocity (stationary, Gaussian, linearly increasing and decreasing, sudden change over time), taking into account the stretching and tilting of plumes and patterns. The temporal evolution of pollutant concentration at various relevant locations in the domain is studied for two wind velocities (stationary and sudden change). Three regimes were observed for transport pollution depending on time and velocity: nonlinear growth, saturation, and decrease. Full article

The Caspian region represents a complex and unique system of terrestrial, coastal, and aquatic environments, marked by an exceptional landscape and biological diversity. This diversity, however, is increasingly threatened by substantial anthropogenic pressures. One notable impact of this human influence is the rising concentration of pollutants atypical for the atmosphere. Advances in science and technology now make it possible to detect certain atmospheric pollutants using remote Earth observation techniques, specifically through data from the Sentinel-5 satellite, which provides continuous insights into atmospheric contamination. This article investigates the dynamics of atmospheric pollution in the southwestern part of the Caspian Sea basin using Sentinel-5P satellite data and the cloud-computing capabilities of the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The study encompasses an analysis of concentrations of seven key pollutants: nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), formaldehyde (HCHO), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), methane (CH₄), and the Aerosol Index (AI). Spatial and temporal variations in pollution fields were examined for the Caspian region and the basins of the seven rivers (key areas) flowing into the Caspian Sea: Sunzha, Sulak, Ulluchay, Karachay, Atachay, Haraz, and Gorgan. The research methodology is based on the use of data from the Sentinel-5 satellite, SRTM DEM data on absolute elevations, surface temperature data, and population density data. Data processing is performed using the Google Earth Engine cloud-computing platform and the ArcGIS software suite. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the spatiotemporal variability of pollutant concentration fields in these regions from 2018 to 2023 and to identify the primary factors influencing pollution distribution. The study’s findings reveal that the Heraz and Gorgan River basins have the highest concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and Aerosol Index levels, marking these basins as the most vulnerable to atmospheric pollution among those assessed. Additionally, the Gorgan basin exhibited elevated carbon monoxide levels, while the highest ozone concentrations were detected in the Sunzha basin. Our temporal analysis demonstrated a substantial influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on pollutant dispersion patterns. Our correlation analysis identified absolute elevation as a key factor affecting pollutant distribution, particularly for carbon monoxide, ozone, and aerosol indices. Population density showed the strongest correlation with nitrogen dioxide distribution. Other pollutants exhibited more complex distribution patterns, influenced by diverse mechanisms associated with local emission sources and atmospheric dynamics. Full article