Science Progress最新文献

The cut flower business has been growing rapidly worldwide, with a positive and significant impact on the economies of many countries. Maintaining quality and extending the vase life of cut flowers are crucial aspects of the floral industry. Synthetic preservatives (silver nitrate, silver thiosulfate, nano-silver, hydroxy quinoline, thiabendazole, and aluminum compounds) have been commercially used in the vase to maintain the quality and longevity of cut flowers for a long time. However, these preservatives may persist in the environment, causing severe health hazards and environmental pollution, and are also expensive. Therefore, cut flower industries seek low-cost, eco-friendly, and safer alternatives. In this context, natural preservatives (NPs), including plant extracts (PEs) and essential oils (EOs), offer a promising and sustainable alternative to synthetic preservatives in the vase. This review highlights the potential NPs and their role in enhancing the quality and vase life of cut flowers. We discussed how these preservatives exert their beneficial effects, such as inhibiting microbial growth, reducing ethylene production, and enhancing water uptake, and also explored the potential issues associated with them. We conducted a structured literature review and summarized the most commonly used EOs and PEs, their optimal dosages, efficacy, and combinations, and concluded with future directions to enhance the vase life of cut flowers sustainably.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate how Internet of Things (IoT) technologies can enhance nutrient efficiency, water management and sustainability in agriculture through real-time control and monitoring systems. Specifically, it compared IoT-managed greenhouse systems with traditional farming to determine their effectiveness in macro and micronutrient delivery, soil water control and plant growth performance.MethodsA comparative experimental design was implemented in Chinsali District, Zambia, using an IoT-managed greenhouse and a traditional control plot. The IoT setup included sensors for soil moisture, temperature and humidity, all controlled by an Arduino microcontroller. Data were collected over 120 days, and paired-sample t-tests were used to assess statistical differences in plant height, nutrient retention from controlled efficient water use.ResultsThe IoT-managed system maintained stable gravimetric water content and improved nutrient balance in the soil, with higher retention of Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg and Zn compared to traditional methods. Tomato plants in the IoT greenhouse exhibited significantly greater height (mean difference = 0.356 m; p = 0.001) and improved pH stability, demonstrating more efficient nutrient uptake and growth.ConclusionsThe IoT-driven precision agriculture enhances macro and micronutrient efficiency, soil water control and crop performance, while minimising resource wastage and environmental degradation. These findings highlight IoT's potential for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture, particularly in developing regions. The study aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (2 and 12) by promoting responsible resource use and food security innovation.

ObjectiveLean mass preservation does not guarantee sustained muscle strength in aging populations. Aggregate physical activity metrics obscure temporal movement patterns and fail to explain this mass-function dissociation. Unsupervised machine learning is required to identify multidimensional activity phenotypes and clarify their specific neuromuscular impacts. This study examined the associations of accelerometer-derived activity phenotypes with lean mass versus function, comparing phenotypic models against aggregate volume metrics.MethodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014 data from United States adults aged analyzed. K-Means clustering derived activity phenotypes from wrist-accelerometry features representing rhythm and fragmentation. Survey-weighted linear regression assessed independent associations with appendicular lean mass (n = 1756) and grip strength (n = 3890), adjusting for covariates. The Akaike information criterion compared the explanatory power of phenotype-based versus traditional volume-based models.ResultsTwo phenotypes emerged: high-volume/consolidated (HVC: higher MIMS volume, longer sedentary bouts) and low-volume/fragmented (LVF: lower MIMS volume, shorter sedentary bouts). Compared to LVF, HVC exhibited significantly higher appendicular lean mass index (β = 0.11; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.18), equivalent to offsetting five years of age-related decline. It demonstrated no significant advantage in grip strength (β = -0.07; 95% CI, -0.70 to 0.56). Phenotype-based models demonstrated statistical equivalence to traditional volume-based models (ΔAIC < 1.0) for both outcomes.ConclusionsHigh activity volume accumulated via structured patterns is associated with preserved appendicular lean mass. However, this structural advantage does not translate to improved grip strength. This dissociation implies that total activity volume is insufficient to ensure generalized neuromuscular performance in the presence of prolonged sedentary time. This decoupling implies that consolidated sedentary behavior compromises neuromuscular performance despite adequate total movement. Consequently, sarcopenia guidelines must integrate sedentary fragmentation targets rather than relying solely on aggregate volume.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to further investigate the diagnostic value and precise localization of ⁶⁸Gallium prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography (⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT) for preoperative pelvic invasion in prostate cancer (PCa) patients in comparison with multiparametric MRI (mpMRI), in order to explore the better clinical diagnostic recommendations.Patients and methodsThe clinical data of 118 PCa patients who underwent ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI, including the patients with Pelvic invasion (n = 46) and No pelvic invasion (n = 72), was collected from May 2019 to June 2024. The correlation between the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT, Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) of mpMRI and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and Gleason score was analyzed and explored. Thereafter, both modalities were directly compared for every patient and PCa lesion in the terms of pelvic invasion by all collected and analyzed data. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI were verified by postoperative hematoxylin-eosin staining and PSMA immunohistochemistry of intraoperative localized microcarcinoma.ResultsAnalyzing the clinical and imaging data of PCa patients, it was found that the SUVmax of ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and PI-RADS of mpMRI had a positive correlation with the PCa patients' serum PSA and Gleason score. In addition, SUVmax, PI-RADS and PSA, Gleason score of PCa patients with pelvic invasion were significantly higher than those without pelvic invasion. After further data analysis, ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT presented the sensitivity and specificity of 95.56% and 95.89%, respectively. Moreover, mpMRI demonstrated the sensitivity and specificity of 93.18% and 93.24%, respectively. There was no significant statistical difference between them. Meanwhile, the comparison between ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis was similar.ConclusionsBoth ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI have high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of primary PCa lesions with pelvic invasion. Despite the excellent performance of ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT in the diagnosis of small PCa lesions, it cannot replace the diagnostic value of mpMRI in localization and staging of PCa.

ObjectivePeripancreatic arterial aneurysms (PAAs) are rare but associated with a high risk of rupture and significant mortality. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular management for PAAs, focusing on technical strategies and midterm outcomes.MethodsA single-center retrospective analysis was conducted on a study cohort of 26 patients with PAAs treated consecutively between June 2014 and March 2025. Endovascular therapy was prioritized, with open repair reserved for anatomically complex cases. Technical success, procedural details, and follow-up outcomes were analyzed.ResultsAmong 29 aneurysms in 26 patients, 15 were located at the gastroduodenal artery-superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (GDA-SPDA) and 14 were at the superior mesenteric artery-inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (SMA-IPDA). Endovascular therapy achieved primary technical success in 88.5% of cases. Two patients failed endovascular access via both the CA and SMA. Another had a vascular variant creating a high risk of splenic ischemia upon embolization, and a fourth had an aneurysm involving critical duodenal branches. Three of these four patients underwent successful open surgical repair. Sac-only embolization was performed in 63.6% of cases to preserve collateral flow. Access routes were largely determined by aneurysm location, with SMA for SMA-IPDA aneurysms and celiac artery (CA) for GDA-SPDA aneurysms (p < 0.001). Concomitant celiac revascularization was avoided in most cases. At a median follow-up of 48 months, aneurysm recurrence and restenosis rates were 4.0% each, with no coil migrations or ischemic complications.ConclusionTailored endovascular strategies guided by aneurysm anatomy and collateral circulation yield high technical success and favorable midterm outcomes without routine celiac revascularization. Endovascular therapy is a safe and effective first-line approach for PAAs, with open repair reserved for complex anatomies.

Odontogenic cysts are well-known maxillofacial pathologies with variable biological behaviour. Decompression has been widely used as a conservative, structure-preserving management strategy. This report presents a radiographic comparison of reduction patterns following decompression in two individual cases, one dentigerous cyst and one odontogenic keratocyst. Two patients presenting with cystic jaw lesions - one detected during radiographic investigation and the other presenting with progressive swelling - were managed using decompression as the initial treatment. Standardised radiographic measurements were performed, and the Standard Lesion Area Index and Percentage of Reduction were calculated at serial follow-up intervals. The dentigerous cyst demonstrated gradual reduction, achieving 94.4% shrinkage at 12 months and complete radiographic resolution by 44 months, with no radiographic evidence of recurrence. In contrast, the odontogenic keratocyst showed a more rapid initial reduction, with 58% shrinkage at 5 months, followed by a plateau at approximately 90% shrinkage by 24 months and radiographic evidence of recurrence at 44 months. Direct long-term radiographic comparison of dentigerous cyst and odontogenic keratocyst reduction following the same decompression protocol remains limited in the published literature. The literature synthesis indicated that decompression typically requires 8 to 24 months, with dentigerous cysts generally demonstrating more favourable radiographic responses than odontogenic keratocysts. Decompression and marsupialisation are non-definitive approaches, as definitive management requires subsequent enucleation of the lesions. These case-based observations suggest that decompression may be sufficient for selected dentigerous cysts, whereas odontogenic keratocysts require prolonged monitoring and are more likely to necessitate secondary surgical intervention. The findings should be interpreted cautiously in view of the very small number of cases.

The increasing demand for sustainable energy production necessitates the development of innovative technologies for converting municipal waste into valuable energy offering a viable alternative to fossil fuels. This study presents a flexible, portable, and expandable waste-to-energy concept that integrates gasification and pyrolysis processes production of combustible gases and liquid fuels. Particular emphasis is placed on the use of transparent and interpretable modelling approaches to support system optimization and future scalability. The proposed methodology is demonstrated on two experimental systems currently operated at CEET Explorer, VSB - Technical University of Ostrava, Czech Republic: (i) A primary gasification facility equipped with a plasma torch, reactor, hydrogen separator and tank, fuel cells, and renewable grid connections; and (ii) a secondary pyrolysis unit designed to maximize pyrolysis oil production. Both systems are modelled and simulated using in-house software developed in Python, employing stoichiometric balances, symbolic regression, and polynomial regression to represent chemical reactions and energy flows. The findings demonstrate that transparent models - such as stoichiometric modelling combined with interpretable machine learning - can accurately reproduce the operational behaviour of waste-to-energy processes. Gasification is optimized for hydrogen generation and electricity production via fuel cells, whereas pyrolysis favours liquid fuel yield with syngas as a by-product. Molar mass relations are applied to ensure consistent conversion between mass and volume across gasification, pyrolysis, and combustion pathways, maintaining the conservation of mass. Overall, the integration of stoichiometric balance models with symbolic and polynomial regression provides a reliable and interpretable framework for simulating real waste-to-energy systems. The current results, based on bio-wood waste from the Czech Republic, validate the proposed methodology, which is made openly available to promote transparency, reproducibility, and further advancement of sustainable waste-to-energy technologies.

BackgroundThe lack of a systematic selection framework for the selection of linear feed mechanisms in precision machine tools results in a mismatch between the performance of the mechanism and the specific application requirements in terms of accuracy, stiffness and load capacity, which restricts the optimization design of high-performance machining systems.ObjectivesWe are committed to establishing a systematic classification system to categorize existing technologies and define their quantified performance boundaries, in order to guide the optimal choices of institutions and future innovation directions.MethodsThis review establishes a structured classification system, dividing mechanisms into four clear categories: typical linear drive mechanisms, linear linkage mechanisms, high-precision feed mechanisms and novel linear mechanisms. We compared and analyzed their working principles based on key parameters such as positioning accuracy, structural stiffness and load capacity; quantified their performance boundaries; and provided their applications. At the end of each section, a table is listed to summarize the content for easy reference.DiscussionsThe analysis reveals that a typical linear feed mechanism, as the basic unit of machine tool linear motion, is widely used but has low accuracy. A linear linkage mechanism may not have high accuracy, but it can help machine tools complete specific structures. A high-precision linear feed mechanism has high precision, usually reaching the micrometer level, and is applied in scenarios with high precision requirements. The new linear feed mechanism represents the direction of technological development and guides the optimization design of machine tools.ResultsThe performance-oriented classification framework developed in this study effectively resolves the selection challenge for precision linear feed mechanisms in machine tools. Its theoretical contribution lies in proposing a systematic performance spectrum, while its practical significance is to provide engineers with a clear decision-making tool for mechanism selection and to illuminate directed pathways for future innovation in precision motion systems.

Wellbore instability in deep hard-brittle shale formations, primarily induced by hydration-driven strength degradation upon interaction with water-based fluids, poses a critical challenge to hydrocarbon extraction. Conventional triaxial testing for assessing shale hydration behavior is often constrained by substantial sample requirements, extended duration, and high operational costs. In response, this study develops an efficient alternative approach centered on the indentation hardness method. While standard indentation tests are typically limited to hardness and plasticity coefficients, this work establishes theoretical models-based on contact mechanics, elasticity theory, and the Mohr-Coulomb criterion-to derive elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, and uniaxial compressive strength from indentation data. Experimental analysis of homogenized Longmaxi shale revealed a dense, low-porosity microstructure dominated by non-expansive clay minerals and quartz. Freshwater immersion tests displayed a three-stage absorption trend-rapid, slow, and stable-reaching near-saturation after 72 hours. Pronounced mechanical degradation was observed within the initial 300 hours of immersion, characterized by marked reductions in compressive strength, elastic modulus, and indentation hardness, alongside a stepwise increase in Poisson's ratio; this degradation trend decelerated thereafter. Validation experiments confirmed that single-point indentation hardness measurements provide mechanical equivalence to uniaxial compression responses. As a result, indentation testing on shale chips following fluid immersion offers an efficient and reliable means of evaluating time-dependent fluid-rock interactions. The proposed methodology minimizes core material requirements, enhances operational efficiency, and mitigates the influence of heterogeneity, thereby offering considerable practical value for shale hydration assessment and wellbore stability forecasting.

ObjectiveQuantify recruitment of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) participants from 22 Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical trials over 5 years and utilize choropleth maps as a visual tool to identify where in the Hawaiian community recruited participants are located in order to better inform future recruitment efforts and improve equity and population diversity for future AD clinical trials.MethodsA retrospective chart review was conducted at a dual-site origin clinical trial center in Hawai'i. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment and participation in one or more AD clinical trials conducted between 2020 and 2024. Demographic information of clinical trial participants was collected via chart review and included self-identified race/ethnicity, age, residence, and number of clinical trials the patient has participated in. Clinical trial participants were categorized by ZIP codes established by the US Census Bureau. Differences across race/ethnicity groups were assessed using either Pearson's Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test.ResultsA total of 244 patients participated across the state of Hawai'i in 22 AD clinical trials between 2020 and 2024. Of this total, 169 (69%) patients provided their race/ethnicity, and 75 (31%) did not provide their race/ethnicity. White patients had the highest percentage of participation (44%), followed by Asian patients (34%) and NHPI patients (15%). The population distribution visualized in this study's choropleth maps suggests that NHPI were under-recruited from the west side of O'ahu.ConclusionsOur retrospective study applied choropleth maps to visualize the recruitment data and patterns of AD clinical trials. By utilizing choropleth maps to analyze recruitment areas, the NHPI community and other underrepresented populations may benefit from targeted, culturally informed recruitment strategies.