A Stochastic Model for Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Outbreak with Staged Progression.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) is one of the most common causes of community-acquired pneumonia in children. To uncover the effective interventions during an epidemic in crowded settings, we first develop a novel staged progression ordinary differential equation model for the transmission of Mp, incorporating the effects of isolation measures and correct diagnosis rate. The basic reproduction number is obtained by the next generation matrix approach.

Stress-strain and fracture acoustic emission dataset of high-strength concrete for metro tunnel lining under different stress states.

The maintenance of metro tunnel support structures is crucial for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of urban rail transit. Under complex stress conditions (including tension, compression, shear, torsion), metro tunnel linings are susceptible to various forms of damage, such as cracking, spalling, segment misalignment, and water leakage. These issues pose substantial challenges to tunnel safety and service life.

Temporal heterogeneity in traffic crash delays: causal inference from multi-scale time factors and sample-wise structural decomposition.

Traffic crashes remain a critical global public safety concern, exhibiting complex heterogeneity across multiple temporal scales that limits the timeliness and precision of current traffic safety management strategies. Modeling the underlying causation mechanisms across temporal scales presents several challenges, including weak sequential patterns and nonlinear interactions among temporal features. To address these issues, this research categorizes crash data into a macro-scale (annual seasonality) and micro-scale (daily peak intervals and daytime/nighttime variation), and proposes a Multi-Channel Feature Correlation Transformer (MCFformer) to systematically model the influence of multi-scale temporal factors on crash-induced delay.

An improved elastic net clustering algorithm with dynamic parameter strategy.

Clustering is a typical and important method to discover new structures and knowledge from data sets. However, due to the difficulty of achieving high-quality clustering solutions for diverse types of data sets especially for large-scale data sets, and the high computational complexity, how to conduct effective data mining has become a challenge. In order to tackle these issues, we propose an improved elastic net clustering algorithm with dynamic parameter strategy (IENDP).

Prediction of Tl(I) adsorption onto metal oxides and identification of critical factors using a machine learning-based model.

Thallium is a highly toxic element, which is widely found all over the world. Adsorption is one of the most common techniques for thallium removal. Traditional adsorption studies face several limitations, such as a limited ability to predict adsorption results, inability to concurrently deal with the effects of multiple factors on adsorption outcomes, and fail to quantify the importance of these factors.

Precise synthesis of Fe single-atom catalysts on montmorillonite/g-CN heterostructures for highly efficient fenton-like degradation of organic pollutants.

Single-atom Fenton-like catalysts supported on graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) show great potential for aqueous organic pollutant degradation but are hindered by structural heterogeneity and inefficient metal anchoring. Herein, a precise synthesis strategy that can balance metal precursor supply and anchoring site formation is proposed to construct iron single-atom catalysts (Fe-SACs) on a g-CN/montmorillonite (MMT) heterostructure. Directional electron transfer from MMT to g-CN was found to strengthen metal-support interactions, optimizing interfacial electron redistribution and significantly enhancing both catalytic activity and stability.

Sound field characteristics and influencing factors of traditional Chinese interlocked timber-arched covered bridges.

As an important type of traditional architecture in China, Chinese interlocked timber-arched covered (CITAC) bridges provide transportation functions, while interior spaces are also utilized for ritual activities. The unique spatial form of the CITAC bridge considerably influences the internal sound field. In this study, field measurements and acoustic simulations were conducted to determine the sound field characteristics of CITAC bridges and analyze the influencing factors.

Micromechanical Finite Element Model Investigation of Cracking Behavior and Construction-Related Deficiencies in Asphalt Mixtures.

This study investigated the fracture behavior of asphalt mixtures under indirect tensile loading by comparing the performance of homogenized and micromechanical finite element (FEMs) models based on the cohesive zone model (CZM). Five asphalt mixture types were tested experimentally, and both models were calibrated and validated using load-displacement curves from indirect tensile tests (IDTs). The micromechanical model, incorporating random aggregate generation and three-phase material definition, exhibited significantly higher predictive accuracy (R = 0.

Innovative hybrid anaerobic ammonium oxidation system enhances nitrogen and sulfur elimination in landfill leachate treatment.

Under anaerobic conditions, ammonia nitrogen (NH) reacts with nitrite (NO) and sulfate (SO), i.e., nitrite-ammonia oxidation (Nir Anammox) and sulfate-ammonia oxidation (Sulfammox).

Impact of carbon emission trading on carbon transfers in China's inter-provincial and international trade.

This study evaluates the impact of national Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in China on inter-provincial and international carbon emission transfers using a multi-regional Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model, incorporating production- and consumption-based accounting, regional trade linkages, and carbon market mechanisms. Significant regional disparities in emissions reductions and economic impacts are identified, particularly between northern and southern provinces divided by the Qinling-Huaihe Line. Northern provinces achieve greater production-side emission reductions and experience lower marginal abatement costs than southern provinces, reflecting industrial structural differences.

Planar Conjugation Engineering in Triazine-Based Donor-Acceptor Porous Organic Polymers for Boosting Photo-Self-Fenton Antibiotic Degradation.

To combat antibiotic pollution in aquatic systems, this work designed dimension-controlled porous organic polymers (POPs) with ordered porosity via a molecular-dimensional control strategy. The 2D POP utilizes highly planar triazine groups as electron acceptors, which are linked to thiophene electron donors via imine bonds to form a donor-acceptor structure. The strong coplanarity of triazine groups significantly enlarges molecular dihedral angles, facilitating ordered π-π stacked lamellar architecture with enhanced interlayer conjugation.

Strength Enhancement of Clay Through Lime-Sand Stabilization at Various Remolding Water Contents.

During the construction of subgrade, the remolding water content of lime-sand-stabilized clay usually varies in a wide range, leading to inconsistent effectiveness in strength enhancement. Until now, this aspect has not been investigated. In this study, an unconfined compression test and microscopic observation were carried out on clay and stabilized clay (adding 4% lime by mass and 50% sand by volume).

Scenario based land use simulation for climate adaptability in coastal urban agglomerations of Guangdong Hong Kong and Macao Bay area.

In the context of global climate change, coastal urban agglomerations encounter numerous challenges, especially under the condition of rapid urbanization, which consistently threatens human life, property, and well-being. This paper presents the Ecological-Risk Constrained Land Expansion Modeling Framework to explore the land expansion patterns of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) coastal urban agglomeration from a climate adaptation perspective. We utilized InVEST and GIS to quantify the ecosystem services and coastal vulnerability index (CVI) of urban agglomerations, delimiting the ecological resilience regions and risk resilience regions as constraints for land expansion simulation.

Stability and reactivity of food webs with trophic interactions.

Ecosystems are increasingly vulnerable to species extinctions and functional disruptions driven by climate change and anthropogenic pressures. Although significant progress has been made in understanding the stability and reactivity of ecosystems, the influence of functionally distinct species groups remains underexplored. Here, we develop a food web model that incorporates producers, consumers, decomposers, and detritus, effectively capturing key characteristics of real food webs.

Enhanced nitrate removal by ternary electron donors of solid carbon source, pyrite, and iron-scrap in stormwater bioretention systems: Impact of natural and synthetic carbon sources.

Insufficient availability of electron donors is challenging for nitrate removal in bioretention systems when treating carbon-limited stormwater runoff. This study constructed two ternary electron-donor systems incorporating solid carbon source, pyrite, and iron-scrap to enhance mixotrophic denitrification, and investigated the impacts of natural carbon source (woodchip) and synthetic carbon source (polycaprolactone) on denitrification performance and by-product generation. Results showed that both systems exhibited stable and efficient nitrate removal (85.

Iron electrolysis inhibits filamentous overgrowth in polymer-fed aerobic granular sludge system: Iron-electricity synergistic effect and mechanism.

Polymers comprise a significant fraction of organics in domestic wastewater, yet their slow hydrolysis seriously limits intracellular substrate storage, leading to excessive filamentous growth and destabilization of aerobic granular sludge (AGS). This study investigated the application of iron electrolysis to inhibit filamentous overgrowth in polymer-fed AGS reactor. Results showed that the AGS developed in the control reactors exhibited fluffy structure with excessive filament growth on the granule surface.

Polarity-based fractionation and identification of high-toxicity disinfection by-product precursors in drinking water.

Formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) raises significant concerns about the chemical safety of drinking water. Although DBP toxicity drivers have been identified, their precursors remain poorly understood. In this study, dissolved organic matter (DOM) in drinking water sources was fractionated using optimized polarity rapid assessment method (PRAM), the fraction enriched with the precursors of DBP toxicity drivers was identified, and the formation mechanisms were explored at the molecular level.

Decoding impact of antibiotics stress to nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands: Overestimated?

Antibiotics and nitrogen presented in aquatic environments posing significant ecological risks, which could be addressed through constructed wetlands (CWs). However, the complex removal mechanisms of antibiotics and nitrogen influenced by various factors, had remained difficult to elucidate with traditional univariate experiments. To overcome these limitations, machine learning models were employed to decoding a database comprising 4218 data points covering diverse input features such as wetland characteristics, influent water quality, antibiotics categories, and microbial community composition.

Pressure-Induced Structural Stabilities and Superconductivity in Rhodium Borides.

Transition metal borides have garnered significant research interest due to their versatile properties, including superconductivity and exceptional hardness. This study examines the stable crystal structures of Rhodium-Boron (Rh-B) compounds under high pressure using first-principles structural searching. Beyond the previously known RhB, RhB, and RhB phases, three new boron-rich phases-C2/m-RhB, Amm2-RhB, and Cmca-RhB-are identified, each characterized by three-dimensional covalent bonding networks.

Comprehensive Assessment and Freeze-Thaw Durability Prediction of Wet-Sprayed Concrete for Cold-Region Tunnels.

This study examines freeze-thaw deterioration patterns and predicts the service life of wet-sprayed concrete with composite cementitious materials in cold-region tunnels. The microstructure and particle size distribution of four materials (cement, fly ash, silica fume, and mineral powder) were analyzed. Subsequent tests evaluated the rebound rate, mechanical properties, and durability of wet-sprayed concrete with various compositions and proportions of cementitious materials, emphasizing freeze-thaw resistance under cyclic freezing and thawing.

Multifunctional Graphite Nanosheet-Hydrophilic Epoxy Anticorrosion Coatings via Size Confinement of Exfoliated Graphite.

To assess how the graphite nanosheet size affects the performance of hydrophilic coatings, graphite nanosheets of various sizes were added to a mullite/kaolin epoxy (EP) coating. The experimental results indicated that the mullite/kaolin EP coating enriched with graphite nanosheets (1.01 ± 0.

A new alignment-free method: K-mer Subsequence Natural Vector (K-mer SNV) for classification of fungi.

As eukaryotic organisms, fungi play a pivotal role within ecosystems and exert profound influences on agriculture, the pharmaceutical industry, and human health. The classification of fungi in databases has emerged as a crucial and complex issue in the field of biology. In this study, by leveraging the local distribution of k-mer in nucleotide sequences, we introduce a novel alignment-free method, denoted as k-mer SNV, to address this challenge.

Porous Ca-doped AlO with abundant basic sites for enhanced hydrolysis of fermentative antibiotics.

Efficient elimination of antibiotics from wastewater is crucial for the stability of biological treatment systems and the safety of effluent. This study presents a heterogeneous catalytic hydrolysis system using porous calcium-doped alumina (P-Ca-Al), synthesized with ammonium chloride as a green gas template. Characterization reveals that calcium species are highly dispersed in the tetrahedral sites of alumina, forming Ca-O-Al bonds.

Assessing rural energy poverty in China and exploring its nexus with carbon emissions: A comparative urban-rural perspective.

In the context of China's carbon emission reduction goals for achieving carbon peaking and neutrality, the relationship between carbon emissions and rural energy relative poverty (RERP) has become a critical issue. Using an urban-rural relative poverty framework, this study measured China's RERP across three dimensions: accessibility, cleanliness, and affordability. Panel data from 30 provinces, spanning 2007 to 2021, were analyzed using a panel quantile regression model to assess the impact of carbon emissions from rural household energy consumption on RERP across these three dimensions.

Carbon black induced fluorination enables robust membrane distillation for landfill leachate treatment.

Membrane wetting and fouling pose significant challenges for membrane distillation (MD), particularly in hypersaline wastewater treatment. To address these issues, a robust low-surface-energy polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based membrane was developed through carbon black-induced fluorination with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane (FDTS). Carbon black nanoparticles were deposited on a pristine PVDF membrane via vacuum filtration, forming loosely packed structures that served as anchoring sites for FDTS grafting.