Three-dimensional numerical analysis of plant-soil hydraulic interactions on pore water pressure of vegetated slope under different rainfall patterns

Understanding the pore water pressure distribution in unsaturated soil is crucial in predicting shallow landslides triggered by rainfall,mainly when dealing with different temporal patterns of rainfall intensity.However,the hydrological response of vegetated slopes,especially three-dimensional(3D)slopes covered with shrubs,under different rainfall patterns remains unclear and requires further investigation.To address this issue,this study adopts a novel 3D numerical model for simulating hydraulic interactions between the root system of the shrub and the surrounding soil.Three series of numerical parametric studies are conducted to investigate the influences of slope inclination,rainfall pattern and rainfall duration.Four rainfall patterns(advanced,bimodal,delayed,and uniform)and two rainfall durations(4-h intense and 168-h mild rainfall)are considered to study the hydrological response of the slope.The computed results show that 17%higher transpiration-induced suction is found for a steeper slope,which remains even after a short,intense rainfall with a 100-year return period.The extreme rainfalls with advanced(PA),bimodal(PB)and uniform(PU)rainfall patterns need to be considered for the short rainfall duration(4 h),while the delayed(PD)and uniform(PU)rainfall patterns are highly recommended for long rainfall durations(168 h).The presence of plants can improve slope stability markedly under extreme rainfall with a short duration(4 h).For the long duration(168 h),the benefit of the plant in preserving pore-water pressure(PWP)and slope stability may not be sufficient.

Understanding the spatial interaction of ultrasounds based on three-dimensional dual-frequency ultrasonic field numerical simulation

A transient 3D model was established to investigate the effect of spatial interaction of ultrasounds on the dual-frequency ultrasonic field in magnesium alloy melt.The effects of insertion depth and tip shape of the ultrasonic rods,input pressures and their ratio on the acoustic field distribution were discussed in detail.Additionally,the spacing,angle,and insertion depth of two ultrasonic rods significantly affect the interaction between distinct ultrasounds.As a result,various acoustic pressure distributions and cavitation regions are obtained.The spherical rods mitigate the longitudinal and transversal attenuation of acoustic pressure and expand the cavitation volume by 53.7%and 31.7%,respectively,compared to the plate and conical rods.Increasing the input pressure will enlarge the cavitation region but has no effect on the acoustic pressure distribution pattern.The acoustic pressure ratio significantly affects the pressure distribution and the cavitation region,and the best cavitation effect is obtained at the ratio of 2:1(P15:P20).

A theory for three-dimensional response of micropolar plates

Through combined applications of the transfer-matrix method and asymptotic expansion technique,we formulate a theory to predict the three-dimensional response of micropolar plates.No ad hoc assumptions regarding through-thickness assumptions of the field variables are made,and the governing equations are two-dimensional,with the displacements and microrotations of the mid-plane as the unknowns.Once the deformation of the mid-plane is solved,a three-dimensional micropolar elastic field within the plate is generated,which is exact up to the second order except in the boundary region close to the plate edge.As an illustrative example,the bending of a clamped infinitely long plate caused by a uniformly distributed transverse force is analyzed and discussed in detail.

Oxygen tension modulates cell function in an in vitro three-dimensional glioblastoma tumor model

Hypoxia is a typical feature of the tumor microenvironment,one of the most critical factors affecting cell behavior and tumor progression.However,the lack of tumor models able to precisely emulate natural brain tumor tissue has impeded the study of the effects of hypoxia on the progression and growth of tumor cells.This study reports a three-dimensional(3D)brain tumor model obtained by encapsulating U87MG(U87)cells in a hydrogel containing type I collagen.It also documents the effect of various oxygen concentrations(1%,7%,and 21%)in the culture environment on U87 cell morphology,proliferation,viability,cell cycle,apoptosis rate,and migration.Finally,it compares two-dimensional(2D)and 3D cultures.For comparison purposes,cells cultured in flat culture dishes were used as the control(2D model).Cells cultured in the 3D model proliferated more slowly but had a higher apoptosis rate and proportion of cells in the resting phase(G0 phase)/gap I phase(G1 phase)than those cultured in the 2D model.Besides,the two models yielded significantly different cell morphologies.Finally,hypoxia(e.g.,1%O2)affected cell morphology,slowed cell growth,reduced cell viability,and increased the apoptosis rate in the 3D model.These results indicate that the constructed 3D model is effective for investigating the effects of biological and chemical factors on cell morphology and function,and can be more representative of the tumor microenvironment than 2D culture systems.The developed 3D glioblastoma tumor model is equally applicable to other studies in pharmacology and pathology.

Three-dimensional cell-based strategies for liver regeneration

Liver regeneration and the development of effective therapies for liver failure remain formidable challenges in modern medicine.In recent years,the utilization of 3D cell-based strategies has emerged as a promising approach for addressing these urgent clinical requirements.This review provides a thorough analysis of the application of 3D cell-based approaches to liver regeneration and their potential impact on patients with end-stage liver failure.Here,we discuss various 3D culture models that incorporate hepatocytes and stem cells to restore liver function and ameliorate the consequences of liver failure.Furthermore,we explored the challenges in transitioning these innovative strategies from preclinical studies to clinical applications.The collective insights presented herein highlight the significance of 3D cell-based strategies as a transformative paradigm for liver regeneration and improved patient care.

Machine learning with active pharmaceutical ingredient/polymer interaction mechanism:Prediction for complex phase behaviors of pharmaceuticals and formulations

The high throughput prediction of the thermodynamic phase behavior of active pharmaceutical ingredients(APIs)with pharmaceutically relevant excipients remains a major scientific challenge in the screening of pharmaceutical formulations.In this work,a developed machine-learning model efficiently predicts the solubility of APIs in polymers by learning the phase equilibrium principle and using a few molecular descriptors.Under the few-shot learning framework,thermodynamic theory(perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory)was used for data augmentation,and computational chemistry was applied for molecular descriptors'screening.The results showed that the developed machine-learning model can predict the API-polymer phase diagram accurately,broaden the solubility data of APIs in polymers,and reproduce the relationship between API solubility and the interaction mechanisms between API and polymer successfully,which provided efficient guidance for the development of pharmaceutical formulations.

The combined application of stem cells and three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds for the repair of spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury is considered one of the most difficult injuries to repair and has one of the worst prognoses for injuries to the nervous system.Following surgery,the poor regenerative capacity of nerve cells and the generation of new scars can make it very difficult for the impaired nervous system to restore its neural functionality.Traditional treatments can only alleviate secondary injuries but cannot fundamentally repair the spinal cord.Consequently,there is a critical need to develop new treatments to promote functional repair after spinal cord injury.Over recent years,there have been seve ral developments in the use of stem cell therapy for the treatment of spinal cord injury.Alongside significant developments in the field of tissue engineering,three-dimensional bioprinting technology has become a hot research topic due to its ability to accurately print complex structures.This led to the loading of three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds which provided precise cell localization.These three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds co uld repair damaged neural circuits and had the potential to repair the damaged spinal cord.In this review,we discuss the mechanisms underlying simple stem cell therapy,the application of different types of stem cells for the treatment of spinal cord injury,and the different manufa cturing methods for three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds.In particular,we focus on the development of three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds for the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Strong metal–support interaction boosts the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution capability of Ru nanoparticles supported on titanium nitride

Ruthenium(Ru)has been regarded as one of the most promising alternatives to substitute Pt for catalyzing alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER),owing to its inherent high activity and being the cheapest platinum-group metal.Herein,based on the idea of strong metal–support interaction(SMSI)regulation,Ru/TiN catalysts with different degrees of TiN overlayer over Ru nanoparticles were fabricated,which were applied to the alkaline electrolytic water.Characterizations reveal that the TiN overlayer would gradually encapsulate the Ru nanoparticles and induce more electron transfer from Ru nanoparticles to TiN support by the Ru–N–Ti bond as the SMSI degree increased.Further study shows that the exposed Ru–TiN interfaces greatly promote the H_(2) desorption capacity.Thus,the Ru/TiN-300 with a moderate SMSI degree exhibits excellent HER performance,with an overpotential of 38 mV at 10 mA cm^(−2).Also,due to the encapsulation role of TiN overlayer on Ru nanoparticles,it displays super long-term stability with a very slight potential change after 24 h.This study provides a deep insight into the influence of the SMSI effect between Ru and TiN on HER and offers a novel approach for preparing efficient and stable HER electrocatalysts through SMSI engineering.

Electrostatic Interaction-directed Construction of Hierarchical Nanostructured Carbon Composite with Dual Electrical Conductive Networks for Zinc-ion Hybrid Capacitors with Ultrastability

Metal-organic framework(MOF)-derived carbon composites have been considered as the promising materials for energy storage.However,the construction of MOF-based composites with highly controllable mode via the liquid-liquid synthesis method has a great challenge because of the simultaneous heterogeneous nucleation on substrates and the self-nucleation of individual MOF nanocrystals in the liquid phase.Herein,we report a bidirectional electrostatic generated self-assembly strategy to achieve the precisely controlled coatings of single-layer nanoscale MOFs on a range of substrates,including carbon nanotubes(CNTs),graphene oxide(GO),MXene,layered double hydroxides(LDHs),MOFs,and SiO_(2).The obtained MOF-based nanostructured carbon composite exhibits the hierarchical porosity(V_(meso)/V_(micro)∶2.4),ultrahigh N content of 12.4 at.%and"dual electrical conductive networks."The assembled aqueous zinc-ion hybrid capacitor(ZIC)with the prepared nanocarbon composite as a cathode shows a high specific capacitance of 236 F g^(-1)at 0.5 A g^(-1),great rate performance of 98 F g^(-1)at 100 A g^(-1),and especially,an ultralong cycling stability up to 230000 cycles with the capacitance retention of 90.1%.This work develops a repeatable and general method for the controlled construction of MOF coatings on various functional substrates and further fabricates carbon composites for ZICs with ultrastability.

Biological Interaction and Imaging of Ultrasmall Gold Nanoparticles

Ultrasmall gold nanoparticles(AuNPs)typically includes atomically precise gold nanoclusters(AuNCs)and AuNPs with a core size below 3 nm.Serving as a bridge between small molecules and traditional inorganic nanoparticles,the ultrasmall AuNPs show the unique advantages of both small molecules(e.g.,rapid distribution,renal clearance,low non-specific organ accumulation)and nanoparticles(e.g.,long blood circulation and enhanced permeability and retention effect).The emergence of ultrasmall AuNPs creates significant opportunities to address many challenges in the health field including disease diagnosis,monitoring and treatment.Since the nano–bio interaction dictates the overall biological applications of the ultrasmall AuNPs,this review elucidates the recent advances in the biological interactions and imaging of ultrasmall AuNPs.We begin with the introduction of the factors that influence the cellular interactions of ultrasmall AuNPs.We then discuss the organ interactions,especially focus on the interactions of the liver and kidneys.We further present the recent advances in the tumor interactions of ultrasmall AuNPs.In addition,the imaging performance of the ultrasmall AuNPs is summarized and discussed.Finally,we summarize this review and provide some perspective on the future research direction of the ultrasmall AuNPs,aiming to accelerate their clinical translation.

Ecological network analysis reveals complex responses of tree species life stage interactions to stand variables

Tree interactions are essential for the structure,dynamics,and function of forest ecosystems,but variations in the architecture of life-stage interaction networks(LSINs)across forests is unclear.Here,we constructed 16 LSINs in the mountainous forests of northwest Hebei,China based on crown overlap from four mixed forests with two dominant tree species.Our results show that LSINs decrease the complexity of stand densities and basal areas due to the interaction cluster differentiation.In addition,we found that mature trees and saplings play different roles,the first acting as“hub”life stages with high connectivity and the second,as“bridges”controlling information flow with high centrality.Across the forests,life stages with higher importance showed better parameter stability within LSINs.These results reveal that the structure of tree interactions among life stages is highly related to stand variables.Our efforts contribute to the understanding of LSIN complexity and provide a basis for further research on tree interactions in complex forest communities.

Development of a toroidal soft x-ray imaging system and application for investigating three-dimensional plasma on J-TEXT

A toroidal soft x-ray imaging(T-SXRI)system has been developed to investigate threedimensional(3D)plasma physics on J-TEXT.This T-SXRI system consists of three sets of SXR arrays.Two sets are newly developed and located on the vacuum chamber wall at toroidal positionsφof 126.4°and 272.6°,respectively,while one set was established previously atφ=65.50.Each set of SXR arrays consists of three arrays viewing the plasma poloidally,and hence can be used separately to obtain SXR images via the tomographic method.The sawtooth precursor oscillations are measured by T-SXRI,and the corresponding images of perturbative SXR signals are successfully reconstructed at these three toroidal positions,hence providing measurement of the 3D structure of precursor oscillations.The observed 3D structure is consistent with the helical structure of the m/n=1/1 mode.The experimental observation confirms that the T-SXRI system is able to observe 3D structures in the J-TEXT plasma.

Study of the Relationship Between New Ionic Interaction Parameters and Salt Solubility in Electrolyte Solutions Based on Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Studying the relationship between ionic interactions and salt solubility in seawater has implications for seawater desalination and mineral extraction.In this paper,a new method of expressing ion-to-ion interaction is proposed by using molecular dynamics simulation,and the relationship between ion-to-ion interaction and salt solubility in a simulated seawater water-salt system is investigated.By analyzing the variation of distance and contact time between ions in an electrolyte solution,from both spatial and temporal perspectives,new parameters were proposed to describe the interaction between ions:interaction distance(ID),and interaction time ratio(ITR).The best correlation between characteristic time ratio and solubility was found for a molar ratio of salt-to-water of 10:100 with a correlation coefficient of 0.96.For the same salt,a positive correlation was found between CTR and the molar ratio of salt and water.For type 1-1,type 2-1,type 1-2,and type 2-2 salts,the correlation coefficients between CTR and solubility were 0.93,0.96,0.92,and 0.98 for a salt-to-water molar ratio of 10:100,respectively.The solubility of multiple salts was predicted by simulations and compared with experimental values,yielding an average relative deviation of 12.4%.The new ion-interaction parameters offer significant advantages in describing strongly correlated and strongly hydrated electrolyte solutions.

Intraoperative application of three-dimensional printed guides in total hip arthroplasty: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Acetabular component positioning in total hip arthroplasty(THA)is of key importance to ensure satisfactory post-operative outcomes and to minimize the risk of complications.The majority of acetabular components are aligned freehand,without the use of navigation methods.Patient specific instruments(PSI)and three-dimensional(3D)printing of THA placement guides are increasingly used in primary THA to ensure optimal positioning.AIM To summarize the literature on 3D printing in THA and how they improve acetabular component alignment.METHODS PubMed was used to identify and access scientific studies reporting on different 3D printing methods used in THA.Eight studies with 236 hips in 228 patients were included.The studies could be divided into two main categories;3D printed models and 3D printed guides.RESULTS 3D printing in THA helped improve preoperative cup size planning and post-operative Harris hip scores between intervention and control groups(P=0.019,P=0.009).Otherwise,outcome measures were heterogeneous and thus difficult to compare.The overarching consensus between the studies is that the use of 3D guidance tools can assist in improving THA cup positioning and reduce the need for revision THA and the associated costs.CONCLUSION The implementation of 3D printing and PSI for primary THA can significantly improve the positioning accuracy of the acetabular cup component and reduce the number of complications caused by malpositioning.

Interatomic Interaction Models for Magnetic Materials:Recent Advances

Atomistic modeling is a widely employed theoretical method of computational materials science.It has found particular utility in the study of magnetic materials.Initially,magnetic empirical interatomic potentials or spinpolarized density functional theory(DFT)served as the primary models for describing interatomic interactions in atomistic simulations of magnetic systems.Furthermore,in recent years,a new class of interatomic potentials known as magnetic machine-learning interatomic potentials(magnetic MLIPs)has emerged.These MLIPs combine the computational efficiency,in terms of CPU time,of empirical potentials with the accuracy of DFT calculations.In this review,our focus lies on providing a comprehensive summary of the interatomic interaction models developed specifically for investigating magnetic materials.We also delve into the various problem classes to which these models can be applied.Finally,we offer insights into the future prospects of interatomic interaction model development for the exploration of magnetic materials.

Resistive field generation in intense proton beam interaction with solid targets

The Brown-Preston-Singleton(BPS)stopping power model is added to our previously developed hybrid code to model ion beam-plasma interaction.Hybrid simulations show that both resistive field and ion scattering effects are important for proton beam transport in a solid target,in which they compete with each other.When the target is not completely ionized,the self-generated resistive field effect dominates over the ion scattering effect.However,when the target is completely ionized,this situation is reversed.Moreover,it is found that Ohmic heating is important for higher current densities and materials with high resistivity.The energy fraction deposited as Ohmic heating can be as high as 20%-30%.Typical ion divergences with half-angles of about 5°-10°will modify the proton energy deposition substantially and should be taken into account.

Isotope Tracking of Surface Water Groundwater Interaction in the Beninese Part of the Iullemeden Aquifer System

The Kandi basin is located in northeast Benin (West Africa). This study is focused on the estimation of water fluxes exchanged between the river Niger (and its tributaries) and the transboundary Iullemeden Aquifer System. In that framework, an innovative approach based on the application of the Bayesian Mixing Model (MixSIAR) analysis on water isotopes (oxygen-18, deuterium and tritium) was performed. Moreover, to assess the relevance of the model outputs, Pearson’s correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) have been done. A complex relationship between surface water and groundwater has been found. Sixty percent (60%) of groundwater samples are made of more than 70% river water and rainwater;while 31.25% of surface water samples are made of about 84% groundwater. To safeguard sustainable water resources for the well-being of the local communities, surface water and groundwater must be managed as a unique component in the Kandi basin.

Computer-assisted three-dimensional individualized extreme liver resection for hepatoblastoma in proximity to the major liver vasculature

BACKGROUND The management of hepatoblastoma(HB)becomes challenging when the tumor remains in close proximity to the major liver vasculature(PMV)even after a full course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC).In such cases,extreme liver resection can be considered a potential option.AIM To explore whether computer-assisted three-dimensional individualized extreme liver resection is safe and feasible for children with HB who still have PMV after a full course of NAC.METHODS We retrospectively collected data from children with HB who underwent surgical resection at our center from June 2013 to June 2023.We then analyzed the detailed clinical and three-dimensional characteristics of children with HB who still had PMV after a full course of NAC.RESULTS Sixty-seven children diagnosed with HB underwent surgical resection.The age at diagnosis was 21.4±18.8 months,and 40 boys and 27 girls were included.Fifty-nine(88.1%)patients had a single tumor,39(58.2%)of which was located in the right lobe of the liver.A total of 47 patients(70.1%)had PRE-TEXT III or IV.Thirty-nine patients(58.2%)underwent delayed resection.After a full course of NAC,16 patients still had close PMV(within 1 cm in two patients,touching in 11 patients,compressing in four patients,and showing tumor thrombus in three patients).There were 6 patients of tumors in the middle lobe of the liver,and four of those patients exhibited liver anatomy variations.These 16 children underwent extreme liver resection after comprehensive preoperative evaluation.Intraoperative procedures were performed according to the preoperative plan,and the operations were successfully performed.Currently,the 3-year event-free survival of 67 children with HB is 88%.Among the 16 children who underwent extreme liver resection,three experienced recurrence,and one died due to multiple metastases.CONCLUSION Extreme liver resection for HB that is still in close PMV after a full course of NAC is both safe and feasible.This approach not only reduces the necessity for liver transplantation but also results in a favorable prognosis.Individualized three-dimensional surgical planning is beneficial for accurate and complete resection of HB,particularly for assessing vascular involvement,remnant liver volume and anatomical variations.

Numerical investigation of the effects of soil-structure and granular material-structure interaction on the seismic response of a flat-bottom reinforced concrete silo

In this work,a numerical study of the effects of soil-structure interaction(SSI)and granular material-structure interaction(GSI)on the nonlinear response and seismic capacity of flat-bottomed storage silos is conducted.A series of incremental dynamic analyses(IDA)are performed on a case of large reinforced concrete silo using 10 seismic recordings.The IDA results are given by two average IDA capacity curves,which are represented,as well as the seismic capacity of the studied structure,with and without a consideration of the SSI while accounting for the effect of GSI.These curves are used to quantify and evaluate the damage of the studied silo by utilizing two damage indices,one based on dissipated energy and the other on displacement and dissipated energy.The cumulative energy dissipation curves obtained by the average IDA capacity curves with and without SSI are presented as a function of the base shear,and these curves allow one to obtain the two critical points and the different limit states of the structure.It is observed that the SSI and GSI significantly influence the seismic response and capacity of the studied structure,particularly at higher levels of PGA.Moreover,the effect of the SSI reduces the damage index of the studied structure by 4%.

Temporal trends and cohort variations of gender-specific major depressive disorders incidence in China:analysis based on the age-period-cohortinteraction model

Background Major depressive disorders(MDDs)impose substantial burdens on individuals and society;however,further detailed analysis is still needed for its long-term trends.Aims This study aimed to analyse the gender-specific temporal trends and cohort variations of MDD incidence among Chinese residents over the past three decades.Methods Employing the age-period-cohort-interaction model and leveraging data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019,this research identified and analysed incidence trends of MDD among Chinese males and females aged 5-94 years from 1990 to 2019 across three dimensions,encompassing age,period and birth cohort.Results The analysis reveals age-related effects,indicating heightened MDD risk among adolescents and older adults.Specifically,individuals entering the older adulthood at the age of 65-69 significantly increased the risk of MDD by 64.9%.People aged 90-94 years witnesseda 105.4%increase in MDD risk for the overall population,with females and males in this age group experiencing a 75.1%and 103.4%increase,respectively.In terms of period effects,the risk of MDD displayed a decline from 1990 to 1994,followed by a rebound in 2008.Cohort effects demonstrated diverse generational patterns,with generationⅠand generationⅢmanifesting opposing‘age-as-level'trends.GenerationⅡand generationⅣexhibited'cumulative disadvantage'and'cumulative advantage'patterns,respectively.Age effects indicated an overall higher risk of MDD incidence in females,while cohort effects showed greater variations of MDD incidence among females.Conclusions The study underscores the substantial effects of age,period and cohort on MDD across genders in China.Priority interventions targeting vulnerable populations,including children,adolescents,older adults,females and the post-millennium birth cohort,are crucial to mitigate the impact of MDD.