The progressive financialization of oil, in tandem with the advancement of economic globalization, has led to a sharp increase in oil prices. The growing volatility in the global economic and financial landscape has had some impact on the green bond market. Emerging markets, such as China, are particularly interesting due to their rapid evolution. This paper empirically analyzes the dynamic impact of oil market price uncertainty on China's Green Bond (GB) using the Dynamic Conditional Correlation-Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (DCC-GARCH) model. The empirical findings indicate that the uncertainty of oil has a remarkable time-varying influence on China's green bonds. Specifically, when oil prices rise, the yields on green bonds decrease. Dynamic correlation analysis reveals that oil market uncertainty exhibits a negative correlation with green bonds, with a more pronounced impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, an impulse response analysis shows that long-term interactions between oil prices and green bonds gradually stabilize, and short-term fluctuations are frequent and complex due to market factors. These fluctuations were more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic, consistent with the above conclusions. Oil market uncertainty increases risk levels in the overall financial market, which may affect investors' perceptions of green bonds. Drawing on the research outcomes, this study presents targeted policy recommendations aimed at promoting the stable and sustainable development of China's GB market. These measures are designed to bolster the nation's transition toward a green economy and align with its long-term sustainability goals.

Electric Vehicles (EVs) play a pivotal role in advancing environmental sustainability and accelerating the transition toward clean energy systems. However, large-scale EV adoption poses significant operational challenges, particularly when charging and discharging activities are uncoordinated, potentially leading to elevated peak demand and increased grid stress. Effective scheduling techniques are therefore essential to ensure reliable integration of EVs into modern power systems. This study provides a rigorous comparative evaluation of two metaheuristic optimization paradigms for EV charging and discharging scheduling: the traditional Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm and the more recent Transit Search Optimization (TSO) algorithm. Using an identical system configuration and EV dataset, the study assesses the performance of both approaches based on peak power reduction, cost minimization, and overall system efficiency. Results demonstrate that while enhanced PSO scenarios exhibit noticeable improvements over earlier literature, TSO consistently achieves superior outcomes due to its stronger exploration-exploitation balance. In particular, TSO attains a 46.23 % reduction in average EV charging cost and achieves the lowest power-loss levels across all tested scenarios. Relative to the best previously published benchmarks, TSO further improves peak power consumption by 1.6 % and total charging cost by 6.1 %. These findings highlight TSO’s strong potential as a high-efficiency scheduling tool for large-scale EV integration in future smart grid environments.

Introduction: Foot progression angle affects gait and lowerlimb alignment. Altered angles may increase knee and ankle loading and produce tissue loading patterns previously linked to musculoskeletal injury. This study investigates how different foot progression angles modify knee and ankle biomechanics in young adults with flexible flatfoot. Methods: 28 participants (aged 18–35 years) with flexible flatfoot completed gait trials under three foot progression angle conditions. Kinematic and kinetic variables were analyzed using one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping. A 1D convolutional neural network was applied to classify progression angle patterns based on flexible flatfoot severity and gait biomechanics. Results: Decreasing foot progression angle reduced the ankle eversion/inversion range and knee abduction and external rotation (p < 0.05). Increasing foot progression angle lowered early stance ankle plantarflexion and increased knee abduction/external rotation (p < 0.05). Kinetically, a smaller foot progression angle reduced peak ankle plantarflexion moment and knee extension moment but increased the first peak of the knee adduction moment and rotational moment fluctuations (p < 0.05). A larger foot progression angle reduced rotational fluctuations and terminal stance knee extension moment (p < 0.05). The convolutional neural network model was most accurate for moderate flexible flatfoot cases, and ankle coronal and knee transverse biomechanics showed the strongest discriminative power. Conclusion: Modifying the foot progression angle can meaningfully alter knee and ankle loading in young adults with flexible flatfoot. Neutral or mild toe-in angles may help mitigate excessive eversion and rotational stress, suggesting a simple noninvasive adjustment that clinicians can incorporate during gait retraining or orthotic prescription. Because biomechanical responses vary across individuals, FPA modification may be the most effective when tailored to patient-specific gait characteristics. In addition, deep-learning-based gait classification shows promise for supporting personalized monitoring and guiding clinical decision-making during rehabilitation.

Background Breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity among females worldwide. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023, we provided an updated comprehensive assessment of the epidemiological trends, disease burden, and risk factors associated with breast cancer globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2023. Methods Breast cancer incidence, mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were estimated by age and sex for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023. Mortality estimates were generated using GBD Cause of Death Ensemble models, leveraging data from population-based cancer registration systems, vital registration systems, and verbal autopsies. Mortality-to-incidence ratios were calculated to derive both mortality and incidence estimates. Prevalence was calculated by combining incidence and modelled survival estimates. YLLs were established by multiplying age-specific deaths with the GBD standard life expectancy at the age of death. YLDs were estimated by applying disability weights to prevalence estimates. The sum of YLLs and YLDs equalled the number of DALYs. Breast cancer burden attributable to seven risk factors was examined through the comparative risk assessment framework. The GBD forecasting framework was used to forecast breast cancer incidence and mortality from 2024 to 2050. Age-standardised rates were calculated for each metric using the GBD 2023 world standard population. Findings In 2023, there were an estimated 2·30 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 2·01 to 2·61) breast cancer incident cases, 764 000 deaths (672 000 to 854 000), and 24·1 million (21·3 to 27·5) DALYs among females globally. In the World Bank low-income group, where a low age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR) was estimated (44·2 per 100 000 person-years [31·2 to 58·4]), the age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) was the highest (24·1 per 100 000 [16·8 to 31·9]). The highest ASIR was in the high-income group (75·7 per 100 000 [67·1 to 84·0]), and the lowest ASMR was in the upper-middle-income group (11·2 per 100 000 [10·2 to 12·3]). Between 1990 and 2023, the ASIR in the low-income group increased by 147·2% (38·1 to 271·7), compared with a 1·2% (–11·5 to 17·2) change in the high-income group. The ASMR decreased in the high-income group, changing by –29·9% (–33·6 to –25·9), but increased by 99·3% (12·5 to 202·9) in the low-income group. The increase in age-standardised DALY rates followed that of ASMRs. Risk factors such as dietary risks, tobacco use, and high fasting plasma glucose contributed to 28·3% (16·6 to 38·9) of breast cancer DALYs in 2023. The risk factors with a decrease in attributable DALYs between 1990 and 2023 were high alcohol use and tobacco. By 2050, the global incident cases of breast cancer among females were forecast to reach 3·56 million (2·29 to 4·83), with 1·37 million (0·841 to 2·02) deaths. Interpretation The stable incidence and declining mortality rates of female breast cancer in high-income nations reflect success in screening, diagnosis, and treatment. In contrast, the concurrent rise in incidence and mortality in other regions signals health system deficits. Without effective interventions, many countries will fall short of the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative's ambitious target of achieving an annual reduction of 2·5% in age-standardised mortality rates by 2040. The mounting breast cancer burden, disproportionately affecting some of the world's most vulnerable populations, will further exacerbate health inequalities across the globe without decisive immediate action. Funding Gates Foundation, St Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Background: Chronic respiratory diseases are an important global issue, particularly in Asia, where burden patterns vary widely across countries. With more than half the world's population living in Asia, understanding the national and regional burden of chronic respiratory diseases is essential; however, research on this area remains inadequate. We aimed to investigate the burden of chronic respiratory diseases in Asia at national and regional levels, and to identify key risk factors. Methods: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2023 provides estimates for assessing the burden of chronic respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumoconiosis, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and pulmonary sarcoidosis. We focused on 34 countries in Asia, encompassing the high-income Asia Pacific region and central, east, south, and southeast Asia. Estimates for age-standardised prevalence and disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) rates per 100 000 population, including 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), were extracted by location, sex, year, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI). The average annual percentage change was calculated and presented as a percentage with 95% CIs. Estimates of modifiable attributable risk factors for DALYs and mortality were also included. Findings: In Asia, the age-standardised prevalence and DALY rates for chronic respiratory diseases generally declined from 1990 to 2023; however, the trend varied substantially by disease and country. In 2023, the age-standardised prevalence rate of COPD was highest in south Asia (3044·18 [95% UI 2748·67–3303·04] per 100 000 population), while the age-standardised asthma prevalence rate was highest in the high-income Asia Pacific region (4870·24 [4046·70–5962·78] per 100 000 population) and southeast Asia (4778·18 [3970·25–5735·61] per 100 000 population). Despite southeast Asia and the high-income Asia Pacific region having a similar age-standardised asthma prevalence rate, southeast Asia had a higher age-standardised DALY rate (508·67 [95% UI 394·89–669·92] per 100 000 population) compared with the high-income Asia Pacific region (204·40 [129·23–290·41] per 100 000 population). A decrease in the age-standardised DALY rate for chronic respiratory diseases was observed with increasing SDI, contrasting with its prevalence patterns. Age-standardised DALY rates of COPD decreased in all Asian countries except for Georgia (average annual percentage change 1·37 [95% CI 1·26–1·48]) and Kazakhstan (0·73 [0·55–0·93]), and age-standardised DALY rates of asthma decreased in all countries. Smoking and ambient particulate matter pollution were identified as leading attributable risk factors for chronic respiratory diseases across Asia. Household air pollution from solid fuels was a regionally pronounced risk factor for chronic respiratory diseases, particularly in south Asia (age-standardised DALY rate 657·58 [95% UI 485·04–880·45] per 100 000 population). Although smoking was a major risk factor in males, ambient particulate matter pollution and secondhand smoke emerged as important attributable risk factors for chronic respiratory diseases in females. Interpretation: Countries with lower SDI had markedly higher DALY rates, highlighting the need to address socioeconomic and health-care inequities. Household air pollution from solid fuels continues to impose a substantial but preventable burden in south Asia, calling for clean energy adoption and improved ventilation. Funding: Gates Foundation.

This work presents a compact microwave sensor for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring based on a substrate-integrated waveguide loaded with a complementary split-ring resonator on RO4350. The sensing principle uses shifts in resonance frequency and changes in S-parameters to track the dielectric dispersion of glucose-containing tissue. The resonator is constructed using Substrate-Integrated Waveguide (SIW) technology, which mimics the propagation characteristics of a conventional rectangular waveguide. To validate its versatility, the sensor implements three practical sample delivery modes: direct liquid contact with the sensing surface, a glass tube holder mounted over the active region, and a non-invasive fingertip interface. Electromagnetic simulations and benchtop measurements confirm clear glucose-dependent frequency shifts with stable matching and insertion levels. Across the physiological range of 20 to 200 mg·dL⁻¹, the sensor exhibits clear glucose-dependent resonance shifts in all configurations. In direct contact mode, the resonance frequency shifts from 10.83 GHz to 10.45 GHz with sensitivities up to 2.47 MHz per mg·dL⁻¹. The tube configuration shows a shift from 10.49 GHz to 10.38 GHz with sensitivity up to 0.80 MHz per mg·dL⁻¹, while reducing contamination. In the non-invasive fingertip mode, the resonance shifts from 2.56 GHz to 2.52 GHz with sensitivities up to 0.25 MHz per mg·dL⁻¹. These results confirm the sensor’s compactness, reliability, and suitability for portable, low-cost glucose monitoring. The results indicate that the proposed sensor can support practical continuous or spot monitoring and offers a clear path toward portable and low-cost glucose assessment.

Orchid pollination is traditionally considered to rely on intact pollinarium transfer by animal vectors. Species lacking a functional viscidium are generally classified as obligately autogamous. In this study, we investigated the reproductive biology of Epipactis bugacensis, a taxon long regarded as strictly self-pollinating. Floral visitor activity was assessed through repeated field observations, and pollinator dependence was tested using a pollinator-exclusion (net-covering) experiment at two Hungarian populations, combined with measurements of fruit set, capsule volume, seed number, and seed density. We documented a previously unreported pollen-transfer mechanism in E. bugacensis, whereby halictid bees fragment pollinia and transfer these fragments in their scopa to neighboring flowers enabling geitonogamous deposition and suggesting the potential for xenogamous pollen transfer. Other visitor taxa showed no evidence of effective pollen transport. Mesh coverage increased fruit set, capsule volume, and seed number, while seed density remained unchanged. Reproductive output declined from basal to apical positions along flowering shoots, revealing strong internal resource-allocation constraints. Overall, E. bugacensis is predominantly self-pollinating but not strictly obligate autogamous, and its reproductive success is governed primarily by microhabitat quality rather than pollinator availability.

The optimal power flow (OPF) problem is a highly nonlinear and complex multi-dimension optimization problem, especially with the increased penetration of uncertain renewable energies (RES). In this line, this paper presents the Hybrid Brown-Bear and Hippopotamus Optimization Algorithms with Quasi-Opposition-Based Learning (HBOA-QOBL) to enhance multi-dimension OPF solution. The algorithm combines the strengths of Brown-Bear optimizer, which excels in exploration and adaptive search mechanisms, and the Hippopotamus optimizer, known for its social behavior modeling and localized search strategies. By integrating QOBL, the HBOA-QOBL improves exploration through the generation of quasi-opposite solutions, allowing for a wider search of the solution space and reducing the risk of premature convergence. Adaptive search mechanisms embedded in HBOA-QOBL enhance exploitation by dynamically adjusting search behaviors during iterative power dispatch tuning, enabling improved fine-tuning of generation schedules and voltage profiles. The effectiveness of the proposed method is evaluated on the IEEE 30-bus, 57-bus, and 118-bus test systems for multiple dimension OPF objectives, including fuel cost minimization, emission reduction, power loss reduction, voltage deviation minimization, reactive power loss reduction and the voltage stability indicator (L-index). Simulation results indicate faster convergence compared to conventional techniques, achieving near-optimal solutions within 200 iterations, with a standard deviation of 63.8%, demonstrating superior technical and economic performance relative to previous research. Key convergence parameters such as population size, maximum iterations, and learning factor are explicitly tuned to enhance both exploration and exploitation. Simulation results confirm that HBOA-QOBL outperforms conventional optimization techniques in terms of solution quality, convergence speed, and stability, establishing significant improvement in the technical and economic issues.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the unsteady Caputo fractional fluid flow in the annular region of a vertical cylinder, incorporating heat supply or loss under natural convection and the influence of Hall current along a radial magnetic field. Fractional time derivatives of the Caputo type replace traditional integer-order derivatives to more accurately capture memory effects, anomalous diffusion, and sub-diffusive transport more accurately. To solve the resulting fractional model, a physics-informed neural network (PINN) framework is employed as a mesh-free alternative to conventional numerical techniques. By embedding the initial and boundary conditions, along with the governing fractional partial differential equations, directly into the loss function, the PINN effectively approximates both velocity and temperature fields. Automatic differentiation and the expressive capability of deep neural networks facilitate the treatment of concentric geometries and nonlocal fractional operators. The predicted results show strong agreement with existing literature, validating the accuracy of the proposed approach. Additionally, the results are computed and compared in terms of geometric aspects with small (λ=4) and large radial gaps (λ=10). Forλ=4, the curves are exactly parabolic, whereasλ=10, the profiles are attaining an asymptotic approach due to the ignorance of curvature effects for large r. The magnitude of the steady-state velocity at r = 4 increases by 10.29%, 52.33%, and 100% of its maximum velocity for the corresponding increment of α=0.1,0.5and0.9. Similarly, the temperature reaches 6.89%, 9.39%, and 100% of its maximum temperature for the same increments of α=0.1,0.5and0.9.