Search Results (5,290)

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) and lignin-derived binders, such as ammonium lignosulfonate (ALS), are increasingly being explored as renewable resources to reduce reliance on conventional formaldehyde-based resins in wood-fiber biocomposites. Although prior work has shown that SCG–ALS adhesive systems can achieve promising mechanical performance, two practical aspects essential for industrial applications and circular design remain insufficiently explored: a predictable and reproducible visual appearance and credible end-of-life options. In this study, sustainable wood-fiber biocomposites bonded with SCG and ALS were assessed from an aesthetic performance and end-of-life perspective. Color was quantified in the CIE L*a*b* (CIELAB) space and expressed as total color difference (ΔE*) relative to a reference panel. Increasing total SCG + ALS content from 40 to 75 wt.% based on oven-dry fibers produced pronounced darkening, with lightness decreasing from L* = 47.1 to 34.3 and ΔE* increasing from 18.38 to 32.51. Short-term composting behavior was explored by embedding fragments from formulations with 40–60 wt.% total SCG + ALS (based on oven-dry fibers; equal SCG/ALS shares) into a mixed organic substrate adjusted to an initial C/N ≈ 30 and monitored for 30 days in pots and trays. The process remained predominantly mesophilic (≈14–22 °C); nevertheless, visible microbial colonization and progressive surface degradation were observed, indicating susceptibility to biological activity under moist, nutrient-rich conditions. Overall, the results show that SCG–ALS content strongly governs the visual identity of the biocomposites and suggest composting-oriented routes as a potential end-of-life direction at an exploratory level, while highlighting the need for standardized compostability assessment and longer-term monitoring to substantiate circularity claims. Full article

With the growing clinical use of ion-releasing resin composites, their repairability has become an important consideration in minimally invasive restorative dentistry. Therefore, this study investigated the repair bond strength of a universal composite restorative to commercially available and experimental ion-releasing resin composite materials. Specimens (n = 8 per group) were produced from three commercially available ion-releasing composite materials (ACTIVA BioACTIVE-RESTORATIVE, Cention Forte, Beautifil II), one experimental ion-releasing resin composite containing 20 wt% bioactive glass fillers, and two conventional resin composites (3M Filtek Supreme XTE, Ceram.x Spectra ST), and aged by thermal cycling in artificial saliva (5000 cycles, 5–55 °C). Substrate surfaces were sandblasted (Al₂O₃, 50 µm), silanized (Monobond Plus), and repaired using adhesive (OptiBond FL) and universal resin composite (Ceram.x Spectra ST). After further thermal cycling, micro-tensile repair bond strength was assessed and analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. Failure modes were determined by stereomicroscopy (25× magnification) and statistically compared among the groups. Highest mean repair bond strength values were obtained for ACTIVA BioACTIVE-RESTORATIVE, Beautifil II, and 3M Filtek Supreme XTE (53.8, 46.2, and 43.0 MPa, respectively), which did not differ significantly among each other. ACTIVA BioACTIVE-RESTORATIVE attained significantly higher bond strength than the experimental composite, Ceram.x Spectra ST, and Cention Forte, and showed the highest incidence of cohesive failures (40%). No significant bond strength differences were detected among Beautifil II, 3M Filtek Supreme XTE, experimental composite, Ceram.x Spectra ST, and Cention Forte (36.2–46.2 MPa). In conclusion, ion-releasing resin composites can be repaired with conventional universal composite and show repair bond strength values at least as high as those of conventional composite materials. Full article

This study explores a novel class of polynuclear superhalogen anions featuring heterovalent central atoms from groups 13 (B, Al) and 15 (P, As). The investigated species follow a modified general formula, (X_nY_n’F_{{(3n+5n’)+1}})⁻ where X = B and/or Al, Y = P and/or As, and n + n′ = 2–4. Low-energy isomers were identified using the Coalescence Kick method and subsequently optimized at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory. Electronic stability was assessed via the outer valence Green’s function (OVGF) approach with the same aug-cc-pVDZ basis set. All examined anions exhibit exceptional electronic stability, with vertical electron detachment energies (VDEs) ranging from 10.70 to 12.37 eV, significantly exceeding the superhalogen threshold of 3.65 eV. Thermodynamic analyses indicate that aluminum atoms play a crucial role in stabilizing larger clusters by acting as a structural “glue”, thereby suppressing fragmentation through the loss of neutral XF₃ or YF₅ units. In contrast, larger non-metallic analogs show an increased propensity toward dissociation. The potential of the heterovalent polynuclear superhalogen anions as weakly coordinating anions (WCAs) was further evaluated through molecular electrostatic potential (ESP) analysis. The results demonstrate that combining different central atoms within boron-based frameworks leads to a more homogeneous charge distribution, enhancing weakly coordinating behavior. Full article

Tea offers health benefits, but some teas accumulate high fluoride (F), posing fluorosis risks. However, the roles of individual tea components in regulating F bioavailability remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of major tea constituents on F metabolism in male rats (n = 5/group) administered F (40 mg/L) alone or with graded doses of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG, 150–450 mg/kg); theaflavins, thearubigins, and theabrownin (TFs, TRs, TB, 200–800 mg/kg each); tea polysaccharides (TPSs, 25–250 mg/kg); and calcium and aluminum (Ca, Al, 800–3200 µg/kg each) via gavage. Pharmacokinetic analysis of plasma F (0–480 min) and fecal F excretion were assessed. The result showed that high-dose EGCG (450 mg/kg) reduced C_max by 61.76% and total exposure (AUC_0–t) by 37.48% compared to the control, while significantly increasing fecal F by 26.79% (p < 0.05). TB (800 mg/kg) delayed F absorption by prolonging T_max from 18 to 30 min and reduced C_max by 35.38% (p < 0.05). TPS (250 mg/kg) decreased C_max by 51.72% and AUC_0–t by 24.38% (p < 0.05). Ca and Al (800–3200 µg/kg) reduced C_max by 39.19–69.62%, and low-dose aluminum (800 µg/kg) increased fecal F by 35.58% (p < 0.05). These findings elucidate distinct roles of tea constituents in mitigating F bioavailability, providing a scientific basis for tea safety assessment and dietary interventions against F overexposure. Full article

Background and Objectives: Increased axial length is a major risk factor for retinal detachment. This study explored whether, in individuals presenting with unilateral disease, the longer eye was more likely to have rhegmatogenous disease. Materials and Methods: A consecutive cohort of 276 patients (100 female; mean age 62 ± 10 years), presenting with PVD-related retinal detachment or retinal tear between 2018 and 2024 in South Australia, had their axial length measured by partial coherence interferometry. Two-sample and paired t-tests were used to compare the affected and fellow eyes. Results: There was no significant difference in the axial length between the retinal detachment eyes and fellow eyes overall (n = 181; mean AL 24.93 vs. 24.82 mm; p = 0.41), or when considering a paired analysis of those with bilateral data (n = 139, 24.69 vs. 24.71 mm; p = 0.92), with the affected eye longer in 71/139 cases. Similar results were observed for retinal tear cases (n = 80; p = 0.20) and for the entire cohort with bilateral data (n = 219, p = 0.50). Sub-group analyses by axial length asymmetry (>0.1–1.0 mm, p = 0.63–0.97) and considering only larger eyes also found no significant difference (p = 0.38–0.98). Conclusions: Within individuals, the longer eye is not more likely to present with retinal detachment or retinal tear. This suggests that axial length is associated with, but not causative of, rhegmatogenous disease within individuals. Full article

The large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) is a key mariculture species in China, however, its industry is threatened by visceral white nodules disease (VWND) caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas plecoglossicida. A significant challenge in breeding is the potential genetic trade-off between growth and disease resistance. To investigate their genetic relationship, we constructed a high-density SNP-based genetic linkage map for L. crocea using a F1 full-sib family (n = 150). The map comprised 24 linkage groups with 32,429 bin markers and an average interval of 0.051 cM. Based on this map, we conducted QTL mapping for one yield trait (body weight), eight morphological traits, and three VWND-resistance traits (survival time, AT; spleen and liver pathogen loads). Phenotypic analysis revealed strong integration among growth traits and a moderate positive correlation between growth traits and AT. QTL mapping identified 53 QTLs for growth (PVE = 0.14–5.83%) and 20 for resistance (PVE = 0.78–8.93%). Notably, only two genomic intervals exhibited co-localization between a morphological trait (AL or BL) and AT, each explaining a modest phenotypic variance (0.66–5.99%). The largest-effect QTLs for growth and resistance were mapped to distinct linkage groups, and candidate genes within the co-localized intervals (Unc5d, SCN5A, HUS1) are involved in fundamental cellular processes rather than core growth or immune pathways. These results suggest that yield, morphological, and VWND-resistance traits in L. crocea are largely under independent genetic control within the studied family, indicating that simultaneous improvement of growth and disease resistance is feasible. This study provides a molecular basis for breeding strategies aimed at overcoming the trait trade-off bottleneck in this economically vital species. Full article

The elemental composition of the vitreous humor may reflect physiological and pathological processes occurring in the eye. The objective of this study was to provide a complex multielemental analysis of human vitreous humor. Vitreous humor samples (n = 57) were collected post-mortem during autopsies. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed to quantify micro-, trace-, ultra-trace, and toxic elements. The study showed the occurrence of elements at the ppm (Na, K, P, Ca, Mg), ppb (Al, Rb, Zn, Fe, Sr, Cu), and ppt (Ce, La, Nd, Tb) levels. Hierarchical clustering using Ward’s method and k-means analysis revealed four distinct clusters, including two major clusters representing the baseline macro- and microelement profile characteristic for the studied population. Correlations between elements revealed statistically significant (p < 0.05) positive and negative correlations between elements with (I) chemical similarity Ce-La, Cs-Rb, Rb-K, Ca-P, Zn-Cu, and Cs-K; (II) a possible common environmental origin, Cd-P, and Rb-P; (III) involvement in similar biological processes as K-P; and (iv) a common geochemical origin and similar biological functions, i.e., Se-Zn. The study identified several quantitative trends in the demographic and medical characteristics of the participants. Alcohol users had significantly higher Zn concentrations than non-alcohol users; women had significantly higher Ca concentrations than men; higher BMI correlated positively with Cs and negatively with Be and Cr levels; and Cu, Sb, Cd, Se, and Ca concentrations increased with age. The presence of several toxic and potentially toxic elements was identified in the vitreous body: Al (>10 ppb); Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Mn; and Ba (<10 ppb); As, Hg, Sb, Tl, Bi, Be (<1 ppb). The study showed that, within a given geographic region, the accumulation profiles of toxic metals are quite homogeneous, indicating common sources of exposure. Full article

Aiming at the problem of non-uniform and non-universal evaluation criteria of machine tools’ carbon emissions in the whole life-cycle analysis, an evaluation method of life-cycle carbon-emission analysis of machine tool based on declared unit was put forward by analyzing and summarizing the existing carbon emission evaluation models. A universal evaluation system for machine-tool life-cycle carbon-emission analysis was first established, and an appropriate declared unit was then selected according to industry characteristics and machine-tool types. Subsequently, an information-flow-based iERWC boundary division method was proposed to support data collection and carbon-emission calculation across five life-cycle stages. To better reflect carbon emissions in the phase of application, the life-cycle inventory incorporates the use of coated cutters, including the associated cutters’ consumption and replacement demands. Two heavy duty floor-milling and boring machine tools produced by Qiqihar No. 2 Machine Tool (Group) Co., Ltd. Were taken as examples to calculate and evaluate life-cycle carbon-emission analysis of machine tools, and the uncertainty analysis was carried out; the possible influencing factors were pointed out to ensure the comprehensive carbon-emission assessment of the whole life cycle. Full article

N,N-Dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (DMAPA) is an important aliphatic diamine widely used in fine chemical manufacturing. Its industrial production traditionally relies on Raney nickel catalysts, which suffer from pyrophoric hazards and limited selectivity due to imine condensation side reactions. To address these challenges, we report an Al₂O₃-supported Ni-Cu alloy catalyst as an efficient alternative for the selective hydrogenation of N,N-dimethylaminopropionitrile (DMAPN). The optimized Ni₃₀Cu₅/Al₂O₃ catalyst achieves complete DMAPN conversion and over 90% DMAPA selectivity under industrially relevant conditions (120 °C, 2.5 MPa H₂). X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analyses confirm the formation of substitutional Ni-Cu alloy nanoparticles, where Cu incorporation induces both geometric isolation of Ni ensembles and electronic modulation of surface active sites, thereby suppressing condensation-derived by-products. In addition, an NH₃/ethanol-assisted process further improves selectivity while reducing autogenous operating pressure. Overall, this work demonstrates a safe and highly selective catalytic system for primary diamine synthesis, providing a practical alternative to conventional Raney Ni-based processes. Full article

Real-time route guidance during disruptions in urban rail transit systems requires rapidly providing effective strategies that simultaneously alleviate congestion and account for passengers’ travel time. This study proposes an optimization framework that considers travel time, congestion perception time, and information costs, incorporating a Logit choice model with information bias to reflect passengers’ behavioral responses under disruptions. A bi-level simulation evaluation mechanism is employed to rapidly evaluate the objective functions under different guidance strategies, where a Physically Consistent Incremental Simulator, based on differential computation, achieves a 599-fold speedup while maintaining high fidelity with full-scale simulations (Pearson correlation > 0.96). A hybrid algorithm combining the Gray Wolf Optimizer and Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search is developed to solve the origin–destination level route guidance optimization problem. The algorithm embeds domain knowledge-based “destroy and repair” operators with a sequential repair mechanism to enable fast global search and precise local refinement. Case study results demonstrate that the framework reduces severely congested sections by 36%, shortens average travel time by 7.16 min, and improves solution quality by 12–30% over baseline algorithms. These findings confirm the practical applicability of integrating intelligent optimization with high-efficiency simulation for emergency route guidance in large-scale metro networks. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim was to assess whether a machine learning (ML) algorithm could empower the ability of ultrasound (US) integrated with shear-wave elastography (SWE) to preoperatively define the ALN status in breast cancer (BC). Methods: Patients with at least one histologically proven BC lesion, who underwent preoperative breast US and SWE were retrospectively enrolled. BC lesions were segmented on US and SWE images by three different operators and radiomics features were extracted. A multi-step US and SWE feature selection was performed. A Simple Logistic ML classifier was applied to the dataset to predict the ALN status, its performance assessed through the AUC and Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC). The performance of the ML classifier was compared to that of an expert radiologist, who evaluated the US B-mode lymph-node features included in the test set. Results: A total of 133 BC lesions were included and divided into a training set, composed of 89 BC lesions (ALN−: 52; ALN+: 37), and a test set, including 44 BC lesions (ALN−: 24; ALN+: 20). Eight features out of the 1098 radiomics features extracted from US and SWE images were selected to build the predictive model. Simple Logistic classifier showed AUC of 0.685 and 0.677, MCC of 0.387 and 0.375 in the training and test set, respectively. The performance of the expert radiologist was higher than that of the ML classifier (AUC = 0.817), but not significantly different (p = 0.481). Conclusions: The inclusion of SWE-derived radiomics features could aid in the preoperative assessment of ALN status in BC using an ML approach. Full article

This study investigates the influence of H13 steel substrate surface roughness on the corrosion behavior of CrAlN coatings in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The interfacial structure of the coatings and the evolution of corrosion products were characterized using electrochemical techniques, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicate that reducing the substrate surface roughness from 0.235 μm to 0.167 μm resulted in a proportional decrease in the coating’s critical load (Lc1), from 23.3 N to 17.3 N. Concurrently, the corrosion potential (Ecorr) shifted positively, the charge transfer resistance (Rct) increased significantly, and the corrosion current density (Icorr) decreased markedly. After 14 days of immersion, the most substantial positive shift in Ecorr was observed, moving from −1.038 V to −0.803 V (ΔE = 0.235 V). Rct increased dramatically from 2360 Ω·cm² to 2.772 × 10⁶ Ω·cm², representing an enhancement of two orders of magnitude. Icorr decreased from 7.003 × 10⁻⁵ A·cm⁻² to 1.182 × 10⁻⁶ A·cm⁻², corresponding to a reduction of 98%. Following 20 days of immersion, the sample with a substrate roughness of 0.214 μm exhibited corrosion damage to the underlying substrate. In contrast, the coating on the sample with a lower roughness (0.167 μm) remained relatively intact. Surface roughness directly governs collision, adsorption, and diffusion processes during coating deposition. While higher roughness enhances coating-substrate interfacial adhesion, it concomitantly increases surface porosity, ultimately compromising corrosion resistance. Therefore, practical applications necessitate a comprehensive optimization of coating adhesion strength and corrosion resistance, tailored to specific service environments. Full article

Notch wear in austenitic stainless steel turning develops rapidly and remains a key productivity limitation with carbide tools. This work identifies the initiation mechanism of notch wear when turning EN 1.4307 stainless steel using CVD-coated cemented carbide inserts with an Al₂O₃ top layer. Turning tests were performed under dry conditions, followed by optical wear measurements and chip surface analysis. The tool–chip interface chemistry and material transfer were characterized using SEM/EDS, while high-frequency acoustic emissions were recorded to resolve the dynamics of adhesive events. Thermo-mechanical FEM simulations were conducted to map contact pressure and temperature along the cutting edge. The results show that adhesive wear initiates immediately at engagement and governs notch formation: polluted SiO₂ deposits act as an active bonding medium, and repeated bond formation/rupture removes extremely thin flakes of tool and coating material, evidenced by Al₂O₃ and Ti(C,N) fragments on the chip and by characteristic acoustic cluster waves. A new tool–chip contact model is presented, indicating that high pressure and high temperature within the polluted SiO₂ near the chip’s outmost side promote larger, stronger adhesive bonds together with the absence of ceramic particles near the rake in the notch area. Oxidation and diffusion are assumed to be secondary processes that become relevant after local coating loss, while adhesion remains the primary removal mechanism during early and intermediate stages. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hajj is a major annual mass gathering. It requires prolonged walking under conditions of fatigue, heat stress, and crowd density, which increases mobility difficulties and fall risk, particularly among older adults and individuals with chronic diseases. Therefore, rapid operational mobility screening is required to identify risk and plan mobility. To support an operational mobility-classification workflow in a pre-Hajj setting, this study evaluated whether Timed Up and Go (TUG)-based stratification, combined with spatiotemporal gait and plantar pressure measurements, differentiates fall-risk categories. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at a seasonal medical center near Al-Haram in Madinah Al-Munawwarah (21 May–3 June 2025) within the “I Lean On It” screening initiative. Participants completed the TUG and dynamic baropodometric gait assessments. We stratified the risk of falling as low (≤10 s), moderate (10.1–13.5 s), and high (>13.5 s) according to the TUG performance. We performed between-group comparisons using the Kruskal–Wallis test and evaluated the associations using Spearman’s correlation analysis. Results: Participants were classified as having low (n = 103), moderate (n = 24), or high (n = 29) fall risk. TUG performance significantly increased across the fall-risk groups. Significant between-group differences were observed in cadence, half-step length, walking speed, test duration, and functional mobility, whereas plantar pressure magnitude and gait symmetry did not differ significantly. Spearman correlation analysis showed significant negative correlations between TUG time and sex (rs = −0.357), half-step length (rs = −0.617), walking speed (rs = −0.577), and cadence (rs = −0.420). Significant positive correlations were observed with weight-bearing time (right: rs = 0.584; left: rs = 0.461), test duration (rs = 0.376), and number of steps acquired (rs = 0.356) (all p ≤ 0.003). Overall, TUG performance was primarily associated with dynamic gait and functional mobility. Conclusions: Integrated functional mobility and spatiotemporal gait screening significantly differentiate fall risk and provide clinically actionable mobility-support guidance in a mass-gathering pre-Hajj clinical workflow. Full article