Deeper Depths Research Articles

Soil Moisture Content Prediction in Loam Soil with RFR Model

Soil moisture content (SMC) is an important factor in agricultural productivity; it has an impact on crop growth, water use efficiency, and soil health. However, accurately predicting SMC, especially at deeper soil layers, remains challenging due to high variability and limited spatiotemporal data resolution. This study developed and evaluated a Random Forest Regression (RFR) model to predict SMC in loam soil at five different depths (5, 20, 40, 60, and 80 cm) utilizing meteorological data (temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind speed, and solar radiation) and vegetation indices: the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI). Data were collected during the maize vegetation season in 2023 in Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary. The results showed that the mean SMC ranged from 12.61% to 16.19%. Correlation analysis demonstrated that precipitation and NDMI had the strongest positive correlation with SMC, especially at shallower depths r = 0.78 at 5 cm depth, Solar radiation had a moderate correlation with SMC, especially at the deeper depths. The RFR model performed well at all depths, achieving an R² of 0.86 at 5 cm depth; the model accuracy enhanced at deeper layers, achieving R² values of 0.91 and 0.94 at 60 and 80 cm depths, respectively. The most significant predictors according to the feature importance analysis were precipitation, humidity, and NDMI, with NDMI playing a crucial role in subsurface moisture retention at deeper depths. These findings highlight the potential for machine learning algorithms to optimize irrigation approaches and improve water management in precision agriculture.

Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and Genesis of Hot Springs in Da Qaidam Area, Northern Qaidam Margin of the Qaidam Basin

Hydrogeochemical research on fluids is an effective method to understand the formation mechanism, occurrence environment, and circulation process of groundwater. The groundwater sampling sites are located in the town of Dachaidan on the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, which was selected as the study object. Samples were collected from hot and cold springs and surface water in the area. This study is based on the analysis of water chemistry and isotopes, and aims (1) to discuss the chemical characteristics of groundwater in Da Qaidam, (2) to estimate the deep reservoir temperatures, recharge elevation and circulation depth of geothermal waters, and (3) to figure out the heat source beneath the geothermal area and its genetic mechanism. The result showed the following: The hydrochemical type of the hot spring is Cl·SO4-Na and Cl-Na, and the hydrochemical type of cold spring is SO4·HCO3-Na·Ca and Cl·HCO3·SO4-Ca·Na. The main source of groundwater recharge is snow and ice melt water. The recharge elevation ranges from 4666.8 m to 5755.9 m. The geothermal reservoir temperature is about 119.15–126.6 °C. Ice and snow melt water infiltrate into the high mountainous areas on the north side of Da Qaidam and circulate underground through the developed deep and large fractures. Part of the groundwater migrates upwards under the water conduction of the Da Qaidam fault fracture zone to form cold springs, while another part is heated by deep circulation and exposed to the surface in the form of medium to low temperature tectonic hot springs. The research results can provide a scientific basis for geothermal resource exploitation and utilization in Qinghai Province.

Spatial Variability of Dissolved Cobalt in the Indian Ocean Waters: Contrasting Behavior in the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Southern Sector of the Indian Ocean

AbstractThe present study explored the dynamics of total dissolved Cobalt (dCo) in the Indian Ocean, revealing different distribution patterns in the different sub‐basins, nutrient‐type in the southern sector, hybrid‐type in the Arabian Sea to scavenged‐type in the Bay of Bengal (BoB). The dCo in the coastal water of the Arabian Sea displays elevated (0.12–0.13 nmol L−1) abundance and diminishes gradually toward the central Arabian Sea. Similarly, in the BoB, dCo concentrations are notably higher in the northern region (0.11 nmol L−1) and gradually decrease toward the south (0.03 nmol L−1 at 5°N). The Arabian Sea with higher biological uptake and remineralization in the oxycline supports a higher abundance of dCo in the intermediate oxygen minimum zone (OMZ), much a like the OMZs of the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. The influence of the phytoplankton community shift and uptake on the dCo distribution in the Indian Ocean could be inferred from the association between Co and phosphate in the photic waters. Our observation demonstrates a scavenging type dCo profile in the BoB due to its higher riverine as well as dust inputs in addition to its supply from continental shelf sediments. Such a higher concentration of dCo in the surface waters of the northern BoB masks the dCo signal associated with nitrite maxima. dCo gets removed by its scavenging with Mn oxides at deeper depths, as reflected by higher particulate Co in the BoB. Subduction fluids contribute significantly to the dCo inventory of the deep water in the Indian Ocean near the Java‐Sumatra subduction zone.

Flow and Deformation in Earth's Deepest Mantle: Insights From Geodynamic Modeling and Comparisons With Seismic Observations

AbstractThe dynamics of Earth's D″ layer at the base of the mantle plays an essential role in Earth's thermal and chemical evolution. Mantle convection in D″ is thought to result in seismic anisotropy; therefore, observations of anisotropy may be used to infer lowermost mantle flow. However, the connections between mantle flow and seismic anisotropy in D″ remain ambiguous. Here, we calculate the present‐day mantle flow field in D″ using 3D global geodynamic models. We then compute strain, a measure of deformation, outside the two large‐low velocity provinces (LLVPs) and compare the distribution of strain with previous observations of anisotropy. We find that, on a global scale, D″ materials are advected toward the LLVPs. The strains of D″ materials generally increase with time along their paths toward the LLVPs and toward deeper depths, but regions far from LLVPs may develop relative high strain as well. Materials in D″ outside the LLVPs mostly undergo lateral stretching, with the stretching direction often aligning with mantle flow direction, especially in fast flow regions. In most models, the depth‐averaged strain in D″ is >0.5 outside the LLVPs, consistent with widespread observations of seismic anisotropy. Flow directions inferred from anisotropy observations often (but not always) align with predictions from geodynamic modeling calculations.

MORPHODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF A SANDY BED MEANDERING CHANNEL AT DIFFERENT DISCHARGES

Transportation of sediment is a critical issue in riverine environments, particularly in meandering channels where flow dynamics are complex. However, information regarding erosion and deposition processes in meandering channels is still limited. Therefore, an experimental investigation on the influence of discharge variation on the morphodynamics of a meandering channel has been carried out. The experimental investigation was conducted at the Hydraulic and Hydrology Laboratory, UTM Johor Bahru. The study investigates the flow profiles and the morphological changes of inbank flow conditions represented by shallow and deep flow depths. The findings revealed that Manning’s n in a deep flow depth was 60.12% higher than a shallow flow depth. Moreover, velocity at the channel bend was increased by 8.3% to 14.6% compared to the crossover along the channel. This indicates that the geometrical planform plays a crucial part on the variability of velocity in the channel. Therefore, the outcomes of this study could provide more effective river management strategies to resolve erosion and deposition issues in river engineering studies.

Effect of Hydrothermal Reaction Time and Etching on Nanorod TiO2 Thin Film

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has the most potential function in numerous research domains because of its various advantages. Among the variety of ways, TiO2 nanorods (TNRs) are one of interest nanoparticle structures due to their superior delocalisation of the electron holes pair and lower charge recombination. However, TNRs inhibit solar spectrum absorption and have a high resistivity. In this study, etching treatment is introduced to increase the specific surface area and reduce resistivity. The effect of reaction time was investigated on TNRs thin film by using the hydrothermal method. From the findings, the 8-hour reaction time of TNRs thin film revealed the most striking characteristics. The preferred (101)-orientation of TNRs was observed and the diameter of rods increased along with reaction time. As the reaction time rises, the bandgap energy of TNRs approaches the value of 3.0 eV and presents a compact surface. After etching treatment, the peak intensity of (101)-orientation of TNRs increases indicating high crystallinity. The morphology of nanorods changed into smaller rods, apparently a nanowire with deeper depth. The surface roughness and band gap increased due to the surface area affected by etching. The electrical properties of etched-TNRs thin film after showed a reduction of resistivity aligning to thickness decrement. Thus, hydrothermal etching treatment showed effectiveness in enhancing TNRs properties in terms of crystallinity, surface morphology and reducing resistivity.

Assessment of Groundwater Quality and Vulnerability in the Nakivale Sub-Catchment of the Transboundary Lake Victoria Basin, Uganda

This study evaluates the quality and vulnerability of groundwater within the Nakivale Sub-catchment of the transboundary Lake Victoria Basin in Southwestern Uganda. Groundwater quality assessment focuses on its suitability for both drinking and agricultural uses. Hydrochemical analysis of 19 groundwater samples revealed that 90% comply with World Health Organization drinking water standards, although localized contamination was noted, particularly in terms of total iron, nitrate, potassium, magnesium, and sulfates. The drinking groundwater quality index shows that over 90% of the samples fall within the good-to-excellent quality categories. Elevated nitrate levels and chloride–bromide ratios indicate human impacts, likely due to agricultural runoff and wastewater disposal. For irrigation, Sodium Adsorption Ratio analysis revealed medium-to-high salinity hazards in the region, while Sodium Percentage and other parameters indicated low-to-moderate risks of soil degradation. DRASTIC vulnerability assessments identified low contamination risks due to impermeable geological layers, steep terrain, slow groundwater recharge, deep aquifer depth, and clayey soil cover. These findings emphasize the need for conjunctive water resource management, including improved groundwater quality monitoring, public education on sustainable practices, and protective measures for recharge zones and areas highly susceptible to contamination. By addressing these issues, this study aims to preserve groundwater resources for domestic and agricultural use, ensuring long-term sustainability in the region.

Aerobic and anaerobic poise of white swimming muscles of the deep-diving scalloped hammerhead shark: comparison to sympatric coastal and deep-water species

Scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) routinely perform rapid dives to forage on mesopelagic prey. These deep dives consist of intensive swimming followed by recovery periods in the surface mixed layer. Swimming muscle temperature profiles suggest that S. lewini suppresses gill function as a means to reduce convective heat loss during dives into cool water. Such intensive swimming behavior coupled with reduced respiration prompted us to test whether the aerobic and anaerobic metabolic capacities of the white swimming muscle tissue of this species are greater than those of other shark species from the same region. The activities of key enzymes used in aerobic and anaerobic metabolism provide an indirect indicator of the metabolic potential (“poise”) of a tissue. Here we measured the maximal activities [international units (µmol substrate converted to product per min, U) per gram of wet tissue mass at 10°C] of the citric acid cycle enzymes citrate synthase (CS) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and glycolytic enzymes pyruvate kinase (PK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from white swimming muscle of S. lewini. Enzyme activities, and ratios of these enzyme activities that indicate relative indexes of aerobic to anaerobic capacity, were compared to those measured in three sympatric coastal carcharhinid sharks and two deep-dwelling species, Echinorhinus cookei and Hexanchus griseus. This is the first report of swimming-muscle enzyme activity for these deep-dwelling species. In comparison to the other species, S. lewini had significantly higher activities of both LDH and MDH in the white muscle, and a higher MDH/CS ratio. The high LDH activities suggest that the white muscle of S. lewini relies on relatively high rates of anaerobic ATP production, with would result in build up of high lactate levels, during deep foraging dives. High MDH activity in S. lewini white muscle suggests the potential for lactate levels to be rapidly reduced when aerobic conditions are restored while in the surface mixed layer between dives. These biochemical characteristics may enable S. lewini to swim rapidly while suppressing gill function during deep dives and thereby exploit a very different ecological niche from sympatric shark species (e.g., coastal carcharhinids) and hunt more rapidly via faster swimming for deep-water prey compared to species that permanently inhabit deep depths.

Sedimentary facies controlled biogeochemical process of biotic extinction and turnover across the Cambrian SPICE event

The Steptoean positive carbon isotope excursion (SPICE) event, one of the largest carbon cycle perturbations in the Cambrian, coincides with shallow-shelf-fauna extinction and plankton revolution (critical transition of plankton). The event is globally documented, but biogeochemical responses of these biotic evolutions in varying facies environments are not well understood. Here high-resolution paired δ18Ocarb, δ13Ccarb and δ13Corg datasets from varied paleodepth environments in the Tarim Basin, NW China reveal facies-dependent signatures of the event, with globally synchronous patterns but notable intra-basinal variability. Shallow marine facies record the end-Marjuman extinction with a distinct negative δ13Corg excursion prior to the event, while the transitional facies region marks twice positive δ13C excursions corresponding to an asynchronous plankton revolution from shallow and deep areas during the event. The varying isotope responses are interpreted in the context of primary productivity and redox conditions, with deeper basins recording more 13C enriched signals (i.e., higher δ13C) due to greater organic matter preservation under anoxic conditions, compared to the platform area. The biotic extinction, the planktonic revolution and the interaction of organisms along the shallow to deep marine depth gradient were reflected by the significant isotopic shifts recorded during the event, suggesting depth-dependent biogeochemical processes that shaped marine ecosystems.

Influence of tectonic evolution processes on burial, thermal maturation and gas generation histories of the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale in the Sichuan Basin and adjacent areas

The Wufeng-Longmaxi (WL) shale is widely distributed in the Sichuan Basin and adjacent areas in southwest China. The basin experienced multiple-stage complex tectonic movements, whose influences on burial, thermal maturation and gas generation histories in different areas are poorly understood. Based on a detailed study of the denudation stages, strata thickness, and thermal history of the basin, burial and thermal maturation histories of seven wells in different areas were modelled using PetroMod software. Due to the high maturity of the WL shale, a low-maturity Silurian Polish Llandovery shale was used for gold tube closed-system pyrolysis experiments to obtain kinetic parameters for evaluating methane generation history. The Polish shale was selected due to its depositional age, sedimentary environment and organic type, which are similar to the WL shale. The burial history of the WL shale can be divided into five stages: I. Early to Middle Silurian rapid burial; II. Caledonian uplift and denudation; III. Permian to Triassic sustained burial and denudation; IV. sustained burial since the Late Triassic; and V. Late Cretaceous to present sustained uplift and denudation. The thermal maturity of the WL shale in all wells increased with burial depth during stage IV. In addition, high calculated reflectance increments in wells JY1 and N201 during stage III occurred due to the relatively high basal heat flow and deep burial depth, resulting in higher current thermal maturities than in the other wells. The late Permian–Early Triassic and the Middle Jurassic–Early (or Late) Cretaceous were the key methane generation periods for wells JY1 and N201. In contrast, the other five wells had a single methane generation stage, mainly determined by burial and thermal maturation processes. The time of uplift and the amount of denudation during stage V, the current burial depth, the development of faults and fractures, high proportion of retention and the seal capacity of the overlying caprock are key factors for shale gas preservation. Hence, this study will help guide future shale gas development in the Sichuan Basin.

Advances in Spectro-Microscopy Methods and their Applications in the Characterization of Perovskite Materials.

Perovskite materials are promising contenders as the active layer in light-harvesting and light-emitting applications if their long-term stability can be sufficiently increased. Chemical and structural engineering are shown to enhance long-term stability, but the increased complexity of the material system also leads to inhomogeneous functional properties across various length scales. Thus, scanning probe and high-resolution microscopy characterization techniques are needed to reveal the role of local defects and the results promise to act as the foundation for future device improvements. A look at the parameter space: technique-specific sample penetration depth versus probe size highlights a gap in current methods. High spatial resolution combined with a deep penetration depth is not yet achievable. However, multimodal measurement technique may be the key to covering this parameter space. In this perspective, current advanced spectro-microscopy methods which have been applied to perovskite materials are highlighted.

Magmatic initial and saturated water thresholds determine copper endowments: Insights from apatite F-Cl-OH compositions

Magmatic volatiles (H2O, F, Cl), especially water, are critical in the formation of porphyry copper deposit, for its significance as a carrier for metals. However, accurately quantifying the water contents of deep ore-forming magma remain a challenge. Here, we used apatite and forward modelling methods to reconstruct magmatic water evolution histories, with special concern on the control of initial magmatic H2O contents and water saturation threshold to porphyry mineralization. Samples investigated include granitoid rocks and apatite from highly copper-mineralized and barren localities. Generally, our research suggested that both ore-related and ore-barren magma systems are hydrous, the modeled magmatic water contents vary significantly among systems whether mineralized or not, and the major difference lies in the threshold of water saturation (6.0 wt% for barren, and up to 10.0 wt% for highly mineralized). Combined with whole rock geochemistry data (high K2O and Sr/Y contents) and modeling result (high modeled water thresholds), we think the ore-related magmas are stored at deeper depth with higher water solubility. In conclusion, we propose that the level of magmatic water saturation plays a crucial role in the formation of porphyry copper systems. Fertile magma has higher water solubility to which deeper storage depth is a critical contributing factor, and can get significantly water enriched upon saturation.

Practical 6-DoF Manoeuvring Simulation of a BB2 Submarine Near the Free Surface

It is necessary to predict the manoeuvring performance of a submarine accurately at the early design stage for its safe and effective operations. In this paper, the practical 6-DoF simulation models of an X-form stern plane submarine operating near the free surface are proposed. A 1/15 scaled model of ‘BB2 submarine’ is constructed, the captive model tests are performed in a towing tank of Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) at the full-scale depths, 30, 15.4 (snorkel depth), and 4.5 metres (surfaced depth). Resistance and propulsion tests are performed at the deepest depth, 30 metres. The vertical planar motion mechanism (PMM) tests including the forced rolling motions are also carried out at the depth of 30 metres. The horizontal PMM tests are conducted at three kinds of depths, respectively. The depth-varying horizontal plane coefficients in the model are identified, and the coefficients which are little influenced by the depths are treated as the constant values for the practical purpose. Some of velocity coupled terms are approximated by using the added mass coefficients on the assumption that the viscous components are negligible. In addition, the resistance increases, vertical suction forces and moments are measured in the straight-ahead tests with varying the submergence depths. The free surface effects are considered as the exponential function terms in the proposed models. Based on the present tests and the previous studies about the free surface effects on the submerged bodies, it is practically assumed that the free surface effects are exponentially decayed with the depths, and are already negligible when the submergence depth is 30 metres, approximately three times the hull depth. Horizontal and vertical plane manoeuvring motions as well as the neutral flights are simulated with the control plane deflections less than 15 degrees. The present simulations are in good agreements with existing free-running model test results.

Beyond The Usual Suspects: A Challenging Case Of Radix Entomolaris With Endodontic-Periodontal Lesion: A Case Report

The purpose of this case report is to present an unusual endodontic periodontal lesion along with radix entomolaris in tooth 46 in a 31-year-old female patient with intermittent pain and sensitivity to hot and cold stimuli. Clinical examination revealed deep dentinal caries and periodontal pocket depth of 5mm in tooth #46.The radiographic examination revealed an extra distal root with a periapical radiolucency in tooth #46. patient was diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis and chronic apical periodontitis, with secondary periodontal involvement due to an endodontic-periodontal lesion. Non-surgical root canal treatment was performed, followed by canal obturation with resin-based sealer and final restoration with a porcelain fused to metal crown. After a 3-month follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic, radiographs showed bone reposition, and periodontal probing depth decreased, indicating successful treatment.

Enhanced Depth Control and Stability in Submersible Pylon Inspection Robots Using IMU-Based Extended Kalman Filter and PID Control

The research developed a Submersible Pylon Inspection Robot (SPIR) to clean and inspect underwater structures automatically, facing challenges in stability and depth of operation. Integrating the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) with the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), as well as implementing customized PID controls, aims to improve the accuracy and stability of SPIR in dynamic underwater environments. The results show that the SPIR control system can follow the reference depth at shallow depths well, but has difficulty maintaining stability at deeper depths. The position error graph on the Z-axis shows the initial fluctuation that decreases over time, reflecting the increased calibration. The use of drive motors also shows different working patterns, with some motors active in depth settings and others for stabilization. This study shows that the integration approach of IMU, EKF, and PID control can improve SPIR performance, although further adjustments are required to meet the extreme challenges in underwater environments.

Internal tidal dynamics and associated processes at highly supercritical slopes in Banda Sea: Lessons from the oceanic island of Ambon, eastern Indonesia

Interactions between the deep sea and steep-sloping oceanic islands generate physical processes with potential impacts on sediment resuspension and ocean productivity. While studies have been conducted in the open oceans, those focusing on oceanic islands of the deep Banda Sea in eastern Indonesia are lacking. Here, we present the first observational evidence of vertical mechanisms (i.e. internal tidal reflection, internal hydraulic jumps) at the highly supercritical slope in outer Ambon Bay (OAB) in Ambon Island – an oceanic island in the Banda Sea. A 23-h CTD yoyo experiment combined with ADCP measurements conducted during spring flood and ebb tides demonstrated tidally-varying vertical temperature, salinity and density profiles. During spring flood tide, incoming internal tides were reflected by OAB's highly supercritical slope back to the deep sea with isopycnals and isotherms showing sharp downward plunges (downward vertical velocity = 6.5–8.3 × 10−3 m/s), and the internal tidal amplitude reaching 90–110 m. The reflection during flood tide caused seaward overturning flow at deeper depths despite the prevailing landward flow at the upper layers. During spring ebb tide, internal hydraulic jumps (upward vertical velocity = 6.1–6.48 × 10−3 m/s) occurred to rebound the downward plunges of isopycnals and isotherms as flood tide relaxed with the observed amplitude of internal tides of 90 m. We also observed weakened seaward ebb flow during the isothermal uplifting (when hydraulic jumps occurred), and subsequent intensified landward flow at the end of spring ebb tide indicating strong upslope flow when isotherms reached the maximum shoaling depths. Taken together, the observed vertical mechanisms indicate the conservation of energy at the highly supercritical slope of OAB evident by the comparable vertical velocities. An embedded turbidity-chlorophyll profiler in the CTD reveals that internal tidal activities at the highly supercritical slopes OAB may induce bottom nepheloid layers, and influence ocean productivity by regulating the vertical distribution of phytoplankton biomass.

Development of an experimental heterogeneous burn wound model

BackgroundMany research-based burn models rely on creating homogenous burns that are subsequently studied and treated. However, the majority of burn wounds sustained – and in particular those that are combat-related – are heterogeneous in nature, with varying degrees of severity intermixed throughout the entire wound, creating a complex debridement and overall treatment plan. The purpose of this study was to develop a clinically relevant heterogeneous porcine burn wound model. Materials and methodsThis study consisted of 3 anesthetized pigs with up to 6 heterogeneous 10 cm x 10 cm burn wounds. The burns were created using a thermocouple device with a square plate (5 cm x 5 cm) heated to 100 °C applied to the skin at constant pressure. The device was applied for a duration between 2–20 s for each burn segment to create burns of varying severity (superficial, partial-thickness, and full-thickness). Each heterogeneous burn wound consisted of 4 separate 5 cm x 5 cm burns, each with different and randomized burn times. Macroscopic images of the burns were obtained on days 0, 1, and 3. A punch biopsy was collected from each burn segment (1 of each depth) to determine the burn depth on day 0. On day 3, after euthanasia, all of the burns were harvested to give a cross-sectional view of the burn. ResultsHistology demonstrated that heterogeneous burns were created and burn progression was evident during the 3-day follow-up time. The depth of the burn wound significantly correlated with the burn time. By day 3, the 20-second burn wound had the deepest depth at 1003 ± 67 µm while the 2-second burn wound had the shallowest depth of burn at 258 ± 19 µm. Burn heterogeneity was also demonstrated with laser speckle image analysis. By day 3, the superficial blood flow for 20, 15, 12, 9, and 6 s burn times was below 85 AU. The 2 s burn mean flux (138 ± 48 AU) was noticeably different from other groups and well above the intact skin values (102 ± 4 AU). It was also shown that on day 3, at least 1 burn for each burn time resulted in identifiable infection via macroscopic imaging. ConclusionsThe heterogeneity of burn wounds creates a clinical challenge. This model will help to create burns that are more similar to the heterogeneous burn wounds that are seen in clinical practice and will help further research efforts in treating burns.

Anti-inflammatory effectiveness of Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth in rats induced with periodontitis

BackgroundPeriodontitis, marked by deep periodontal pocket depth (PPD), facilitates bacterial colonization and inflammation, necessitating adjunctive therapies. Although 0.2 % chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash is effective, its side effects have led to the search for alternative treatments. Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth, known as Pepper Elder, is a traditional medicinal plant with potential as an adjunctive herbal therapy for periodontitis. ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory efficacy of Peperomia pellucida extract in rats with induced periodontitis. MethodsA post-test control group design was used in this laboratory experimental study. Four groups of Wistar strain Rattus norvegicus rats were utilized: a Pristine group (without periodontitis), a negative control group (induced periodontitis only), a positive control group (induced periodontitis and administered 0.2 % CHX), and an experimental group (induced periodontitis and administered 2.5 μL of Pepper Elder extract). Each treatment group received daily administration for one week. PPD measurements were taken on days 0, 3, 5, and 7. Blood serum was collected on day 7 for ELISA to measure IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-13 levels. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test with a post hoc LSD and Mann-Whitney test. ResultsThe extract-treated rats showed a decrease in PPD, with significant differences between the extract group and the negative control group (p < 0.05). TNF-α levels in the extract group differed significantly from the negative control group (p < 0.05) but not from the Pristine and positive control groups. IL-1β levels differed significantly only from the negative control group. IL-10 levels were significantly different from both the Pristine and negative control groups, while IL-13 levels differed significantly only from the negative control group. ConclusionPeperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth extract exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in rats with induced periodontitis.

D3L-SLAM: A Comprehensive Hybrid Simultaneous Location and Mapping System with Deep Keypoint, Deep Depth, Deep Pose, and Line Detection

Robust localization and mapping are crucial for autonomous systems, but traditional handcrafted feature-based visual SLAM often struggles in challenging, textureless environments. Additionally, monocular SLAM lacks scale-aware depth perception, making accurate scene scale estimation difficult. To address these issues, we propose D3L-SLAM, a novel monocular SLAM system that integrates deep keypoints, deep depth estimates, deep pose priors, and a line detector. By leveraging deep keypoints, which are more resilient to lighting variations, our system improves the robustness of visual SLAM. We further enhance perception in low-texture areas by incorporating line features in the front-end and mitigate scale degradation with learned depth estimates. Additionally, point-line feature constraints optimize pose estimation and mapping through a tightly coupled point-line bundle adjustment (BA). The learned pose estimates refine the feature matching process during tracking, leading to more accurate localization and mapping. Experimental results on public and self-collected datasets show that D3L-SLAM significantly outperforms both traditional and learning-based visual SLAM methods in localization accuracy.

NIR‐II AIEgens for Infectious Diseases Phototheranostics

AbstractPathogenic infectious diseases have persistently posed significant threats to public health. Phototheranostics, which combines the functions of diagnostic imaging and therapy, presents an extremely promising solution to block the spread of pathogens as well as the outbreak of epidemics owing to its merits of a wide‐spectrum of activity, high controllability, non‐invasiveness, and difficult to acquire resistance. Among multifarious phototheranostic agents, second near‐infrared (NIR‐II, 1000–1700 nm) aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) are notable by virtue of their deep penetration depth, excellent biocompatibility, balanced radiative and nonradiative decay and aggregation‐enhanced theranostic performance, making them an ideal option for combating pathogens. This minireview provides a systematical summary of the latest advancements in NIR‐II AIEgens with emphasis on the molecular design and nanoplatform formulation to fulfill high‐efficiency in treating bacterial and viral pathogens, classified by disease models. Then, the current challenges, potential opportunities, and future research directions are presented to facilitate the further progress of this emerging field.