Search Results (738)

Synthetic-materials-induced environmental burdens have shifted the focus of scientists towards sustainable packaging solutions. Three-dimensional (3D) woven fabrics offering superior mechanical durability are a promising solution to the problem. However, this area has remained unattended by researchers in the field of packaging technology. Hence this study focuses on development of warp, weft, and bidirectional interlock 3D woven fabrics for packaging applications. Aiming at mechanical durability, tensile and creep characterization have been carried out, depicting the strong influence of interlacement patterns on mechanical properties. Increasing the number of interlacements decreased tensile and creep strength, such as the lower weftwise tensile strength offered by weft interlock 3D, and vice versa for warp interlock. While elongations were found higher in interlocking directions, creep loadings carried out at 30% and 60% of breaking loads revealed unique after tensile creep behaviors. Weftwise tensile strength decreased after creep; warp interlock 3D entailed 42% decrease in tensile strength after creep. However, warpwise tensile strength was noticed to be higher for weft interlock 3D, owing to alignment of yarns during applied creep, while a decrease was noticed in elongation percentages. In a nutshell, the engineered 3D interlacements entailed successful tailoring of mechanical properties, paving a pathway towards high-strength sustainable packaging. Full article

This study investigates broadband vibration and mechanical shock mitigation for an aluminum (AlSi10Mg) battery pack casing by integrating mechanical metamaterial wall modifications and add-on damping structures. A 12.432 kWh underbody-type casing is designed. Two wall architectures, i.e., the star-triangular honeycomb (STH) and a novel hybrid auxetic (NHA), are implemented on three walls (top, front, and rear) of the battery pack casing. A mechanical damping (DSMS) and three biomimetic damping concepts (BWBIS, BPPIS and BBIGPS) are further compared. All designs are evaluated through simulation using random vibration analysis based on ISO 12405-2 standard, followed by shaker-based shock and random vibration experiments. Simulations show that both modified casings suppress the casing vibration by approximately ${10}^2$–${10}^6$ relative to the solid casing, and their dominant peaks shift to above 150 Hz. The NHA casing provides higher overall vibration mitigation than the STH casing (98.07% longitudinal, 95.09% vertical, and 93.60% transverse versus 97.64%, 94.00%, and 91.51%). Thus, the NHA casing is selected for fabrication. In addition, BPPIS and BBIGPS outperform BWBIS and DSMS, and thus, BPPIS is selected for fabrication due to its simpler geometry and lower mass. Experimentally, the solid-BPPIS configuration achieves the most robust random vibration attenuation across all measurement points, with average root mean square (RMS) reductions of 26.82% (vertical), 87.34% (longitudinal), and 83.60% (transverse). Shock tests reveal strong direction dependence; adding damping structures improves longitudinal and transverse shock mitigation, while vertical shock mitigation remains limited. The results provide design-level guidance on selecting wall architectures and damping layouts for practical vibration and shock protection of electric vehicle (EV) battery pack casings. Full article

A substantial share of reinforced-concrete infrastructure assets has reached an age where deterioration mechanisms such as cracking, delamination, and voiding may develop, potentially increasing safety risks and maintenance demands. Conventional condition assessment commonly relies on localized intrusive testing (e.g., coring) and manual sounding, which can be disruptive, labor-intensive, and partly subjective. Vibration-based Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) provides an alternative by exciting the structure and evaluating changes in its dynamic response. In contrast to previous studies, which typically assess a single excitation method in isolation, this study provides a systematic side-by-side comparison of three vibration-based NDT excitation approaches: mechanical impact using a custom compressed-air impact device, acoustic excitation, and shaker excitation. All three methods were evaluated under identical measurement conditions. The vibration response is measured using Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV), enabling non-contact acquisition of frequency-response signatures. A custom mechanical excitation device was developed and evaluated, and the results indicate that it provides stable and repeatable excitation with good defect discrimination. Experiments on specimens with representative defect types show that mechanical impact and shaker excitation yield the most repeatable and discriminative response features, whereas acoustic excitation provides insufficient signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for the smallest tested specimens. Among the evaluated setups, the Qsources surface-mounted shaker and the compressed-air impact device provided the most promising laboratory results. However, the large electrodynamic shaker was used mainly as a controlled reference excitation method, and scalable field inspection would require more compact and automated excitation solutions. The goal of this work is therefore to support the development of efficient LDV-based non-contact inspection methods for safer and more reliable monitoring of reinforced-concrete infrastructure. Full article

With growing performance demands, sectors such as aerospace and energy are driven to rapidly develop and optimize advanced materials. High-energy ball milling is a route to produce novel high-performance materials. However, the development of these alloys is typically done serially on a small scale. In addition, this is labor-intensive and costly when one wants to explore a large compositional and processing space. To address this need, we report on a custom high-throughput system capable of parallel processing 24 vessels. This custom system improves experimental flexibility and scalability, enabling rapid parametric studies of diverse alloy compositions. We benchmark this unit against established shaker and vibration HEBM systems using the immiscible Fe-Cu system. Through this, we find that while the custom parallel processing system shows some comparability in lower solute compositions, the higher solute compositions reveal significant differences in driving the immiscible elements into a metastable solid solution between all the HEBM systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a rare but sight-threatening corneal infection. This study reviews the clinical profile, diagnostic pathways, treatment strategies, and outcomes of AK cases managed over a 34-year period. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 52 microbiologically AK cases from 1983 to 2017. Results: The mean age at presentation was 27.7 ± 9.4 years, with a female predominance (63.5%). The majority (82.7%) were contact lens users, almost exclusively soft lens wearers, with documented risk behaviors such as poor hygiene and sleeping with lenses. 44.2% were initially misdiagnosed as nonspecific microbial keratitis. Common clinical findings included epithelial defects (30.8%), ring infiltrates (44.2%), superficial infiltrates (53.8%), hypopyon (30.8%), and corneal thinning (13.5%). Diagnosis was confirmed by culture/stain in 61.5% of cases, while others required confocal microscopy or corneal biopsy. Co-infections with bacteria were noted in ~20%. Prior to referral, 82.7% of patients had received empirical topical therapy. At KKESH, all received dual anti-Acanthamoeba therapy, and 69.2% underwent surgical intervention, including tectonic PKP (46.2%) and optical PKP (19.2%). Visual acuity improved from a mean logMAR of 1.51 at presentation to 0.87 at last follow-up. Anti-Acanthamoeba therapy was discontinued in 95.9% of patients by the end of follow-up, with steroid use tapering from 61.5% at 3 months to 16.3% at final visit. Conclusions: Acanthamoeba keratitis in Saudi Arabia predominantly affects young female contact lens users and often presents with diagnostic delays and misclassification as herpetic or bacterial keratitis. Despite aggressive medical and surgical therapy, visual outcomes remain suboptimal in many cases. Full article

This study investigated the electrical insulation properties of epoxy matrix composites reinforced with carbonized palm kernel shell (PKS) particles. The raw PKS particles were collected, sun-dried, and further oven-dried at 105 °C for 2 h to eliminate residual moisture. The dried shells were then carbonized in an airtight furnace at three different temperatures: 450, 550, and 650 °C. After carbonization, the material was crushed and sieved into particle sizes of 200, 400, and 800 µm using an electromagnetic sieve shaker. Composites were fabricated by incorporating carbonized PKS particles into an epoxy resin matrix at varying weight fractions of 30, 40, 50, and 60 wt%. Electrical insulation performance was evaluated at room temperature and pressure using high-voltage DC test equipment for dielectric strength and a digital insulation tester (MIT 520/2) for resistivity measurements. The results revealed that optimal dielectric strength and resistivity were achieved with smaller particle sizes, lower filler loadings, and at low temperatures. Mineralogical characterization via X-ray diffraction confirmed that there was no radioactive element. Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed porous microstructures within the carbonized particles. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicated that carbon accounted for the highest elemental composition, followed by oxygen. It is concluded that PKS-reinforced epoxy composites exhibit promising electrical insulation properties. Full article

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity in saline soils is often constrained by nutrient imbalance, water scarcity, and ionic stress, particularly in arid regions such as the Nile Delta of Egypt. This study evaluated the combined effects of biochar (2.4 t ha⁻¹) and 1% foliar seaweed extract under varying nitrogen application levels on soil chemical properties, wheat growth, yield, nutrient uptake, and N-use efficiency indices over two consecutive winter seasons (2023/2024 and 2024/2025). A factorial field experiment with three replicates was conducted using four nitrogen rates: 0%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the recommended application (168 kg N ha⁻¹), combined with four treatments: control, seaweed extract, biochar, and their integration. Combined analysis showed that the highest grain yield was obtained under full nitrogen with biochar and seaweed extract (7085.75 kg ha⁻¹), although this was not significantly different from several integrated treatments, particularly those involving 75% nitrogen with amendments. The 75% N + biochar + seaweed extract treatment achieved comparable yield while significantly improving nitrogen-use efficiency indices, including recovery efficiency, agronomic efficiency, and partial factor productivity. Biochar and seaweed extract improved soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, and nutrient availability, while electrical conductivity was not significantly affected. These results indicate that nitrogen input can be reduced by up to 25% without yield loss when combined with these amendments, while enhancing nutrient-use efficiency. However, conclusions regarding salinity stress mitigation remain indirect due to the absence of physiological measurements. Overall, this integrated approach supports more sustainable wheat production in saline soils. Full article

In this study, we developed new food gel materials, prepared agarose (AG) gels containing chitosan (CHI)-oleic acid (OA) complex particles, and evaluated their structure, mechanical properties, and in vitro digestion characteristics. CHI-OA complex particles, with an average diameter of approximately 0.9 mm, were successfully incorporated into 1–3 wt% AG gels by mixing with an aqueous AG solution and cooling it while maintaining a uniform dispersion state of the complex particles after gelation. The incorporation of CHI-OA complex particles affected the gelation behavior of AG during cooling and altered the mechanical properties of the resulting gel. The digestion properties of the CHI-OA-AG gel were evaluated through in vitro gastric digestion experiments using a flask shaker and a human gastric digestion simulator. After 120 min of flask shaking, the CHI-OA-AG gel maintained its shape, whereas significant disintegration and fragmentation were observed after 120 min in the human gastric digestion simulator. Notably, most CHI-OA complex particles were retained within the gel fragments even after disintegration, with <5% of the total particles released into the simulated gastric juice. In addition, we prepared a CHI-OA-AG gel encapsulating water-insoluble curcumin (CUR) using the hydrophobic domains of the CHI-OA complex particles. CUR was successfully incorporated into the gel at concentrations up to 72 μmol/L, suggesting that CUR contained in the CHI-OA-AG dispersion before gelation was completely encapsulated. These results demonstrate the potential applicability of the CHI-OA-AG composite gel as a next-generation food material with enhanced nutritional value and controlled digestibility. Full article

Although numerous studies have focused on the potential application of heterotrophic nitrification–aerobic denitrification (HNAD) bacteria in wastewater treatment, research exploring their potential in aquaculture biofloc systems remains limited. In this study, a promising HNAD strain, identified as Stutzerimonas stutzeri MJ20, was isolated from mature biofloc. This strain efficiently utilized low-cost carbon sources (e.g., glucose) and small-molecule carbon sources (e.g., sodium acetate and sodium succinate). Under conditions with glucose as the carbon source, a carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio of 15, pH 6–9, temperature 25–35 °C, salinity 0–35‰, and shaker speed of 0–150 rpm, it achieved removal rates of 95–100% for NH₄⁺-N, NO₂⁻-N, and NO₃⁻-N at initial concentrations of 100 mg/L each. Even at higher concentrations (up to 200 mg/L NH₄⁺-N and 500 mg/L for both NO₂⁻-N and NO₃⁻-N), removal rates exceeded 99%. Under mixed nitrogen sources, strain MJ20 demonstrated efficient nitrogen removal, preferentially utilizing NH₄⁺-N, with only minimal and transient accumulation of nitrite and nitrate. Genomic analysis revealed that MJ20 carries key denitrification genes, including napA, nirS, norB and nosZ, and possesses complete pathways for nitrate reduction to nitrogen gas and ammonia assimilation, although typical autotrophic nitrification genes were not detected. Combined genomic data and autotrophic culture experiments indicated that, in addition to utilizing various organic carbon sources, the strain also exhibited certain autotrophic growth capabilities. Furthermore, MJ20 showed strong flocculation ability (flocculation rate > 96% within 16 h), sensitivity to multiple common antibiotics, and no toxicity to zebrafish, demonstrating favorable biosafety. In simulated seawater aquaculture wastewater with a C/N ratio of 5, it achieved a total nitrogen removal rate exceeding 94% within 72 h. These results indicate that strain MJ20 possesses comprehensive advantages, including efficient nitrogen removal, broad carbon source adaptability, strong environmental resilience, minimal accumulation of intermediate nitrogen products, excellent flocculation ability, and high biosafety. These traits highlight its potential for application in biofloc systems and in treating aquaculture tail water with a low C/N ratio. This study provides theoretical insights and practical guidance for screening HNAD bacteria suitable for biofloc systems. Full article

At the international level, heritage is widely recognised as a critical component of sustainable development. However, in South Asian countries such as Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, historic cities continue to struggle to preserve and integrate built heritage amid rapid urbanisation, socio-economic transformation, and evolving contemporary urban demands. Heritage places in these contexts are shaped by complex interrelations between collective memory, the built environment, and socio-cultural identity. Yet, conservation practices have been mainly implemented through fragmented, building-by-building approaches that neglect urban-scale coherence and intangible cultural dimensions. This article addresses this gap by examining adaptive reuse as a value-based conservation strategy in historic urban quarters, where heritage serves as both a repository of cultural memory and a catalyst for sustainable, experience-based tourism. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork, heritage value assessment matrices, and doctoral research, this study uses the Saddar Bazaar Quarter in Karachi, Pakistan, as a case study to explore how tangible and intangible heritage values can be systematically integrated into conservation and regeneration processes. The findings demonstrate that heritage-led adaptive reuse, when embedded within a comprehensive urban-scale conservation framework, can sustain everyday socio-cultural practices, reinforce local identity, and enhance the legibility of historic urban environments. Rather than positioning tourism as a primary driver, the study shows that culturally sensitive and community-oriented tourism emerges as an outcome of successful heritage integration, grounded in lived urban experience rather than commodified representation. Based on these insights, the article proposes a value-based integration framework that aligns heritage conservation, adaptive reuse, and sustainable tourism within historic urban quarters. The framework offers transferable methodological guidance for revitalising heritage places and collective memories, while providing policy-relevant insights for heritage governance that support sustainability objectives, community resilience, and inclusive urban regeneration in post-colonial contexts. Full article

Background and Objectives: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in sickle cell disease (SCD), yet reliable and accessible biomarkers for cardiopulmonary risk stratification remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate whether the platelet-to-neutrophil ratio (PNR) is independently associated with echo-estimated PH (ePH) in adolescents and adults with SCD and to compare its predictive value with hemoglobin composition and genotype. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia (January 2019–January 2025). Clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic data from 114 patients with confirmed SCD who underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were analyzed. ePH was defined as tricuspid regurgitant velocity (TRV) ≥ 2.5 m/s or pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAAT) ≤ 105 ms. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were used to assess associations between PNR, hemoglobin fractions, genotype, and pulmonary pressure estimates. Results: Overall, 43% of patients met the criteria for ePH. PNR was not independently associated with ePH or TRV in adjusted analyses. In contrast, higher fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels were independently associated with lower odds of ePH (adjusted OR 0.92 per 1% increase, 95% CI 0.86–0.98) and lower TRV values. The HbS/β⁰ genotype was significantly associated with increased odds of ePH (adjusted OR 5.44, 95% CI 1.37–24.0). Exploratory analyses demonstrated an inverse association between PNR and lactate dehydrogenase, suggesting that PNR reflects hemolytic activity rather than pulmonary vascular involvement. Conclusions: In this retrospective cohort of patients with SCD, PNR was not independently associated with ePH or TRV after multivariable adjustment. In contrast, hemoglobin composition and genotype, particularly higher HbF and the HbS/β⁰ genotype, were significantly associated with pulmonary pressure estimates. Full article

This study employed UPLC-MS/MS to determine the contents of major polyphenolic compounds and proanthocyanidins (PCs) in Kyoho grape seeds, optimized the extraction method and conditions for PCs using response surface methodology (RSM), and further evaluated the scavenging activities of PCs against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl (•OH) radicals as well as their effects on growth, immunity, and oxidative stress in mice. Three hundred and sixty 3-week-old male mice (42.28 ± 0.31 g) were assigned to a single factor complete randomized trial design and fed with six different diets including 0 mg/kg vitamin E(VE) + 0 mg/kg PCs, 100 mg/kg VE, 25 mg/kg PCs + 75 mg/kg VE, 50 mg/kg PCs + 50 mg/kg VE, 75 mg/kg PCs + 25 mg/kg VE and 100 mg/kg PCs, respectively. The results demonstrated that PCs were identified as the predominant phenolic compounds, accounting for 29.6% of total phenolic substances in Kyoho grape seeds. Additionally, the ultrasound-assisted extraction method was superior to the shaker-assisted and low-temperature infiltration extraction methods, with optimal conditions of 60% ethanol concentration, material-to-liquid ratio of 1:20 g/mL, temperature of 30 °C, and extraction time of 50 min. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that ultrasound treatment effectively disrupted the seed surface structure, facilitating PC release. In vitro, PCs exhibited significantly stronger DPPH and hydroxyl radical (•OH) scavenging activities than vitamin C (VC), Trolox, and gallic acid. Compared with the control group, mice fed diets containing PCs and VE showed higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity, and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), Catalase (CAT), GPX and inflammation factor 10 (IL-10) genes levels in the serum and liver (p < 0.05), whereas the levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as the mRNA expression of IL-1β and TNF-α, showed the opposite trend (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the antioxidant capacity of PCs was stronger than that of VC and VE. The addition of PCs improved the antioxidant activity and immune function of mice. Full article

In this study, an active vibration control (AVC) strategy is effectively used on a system made of a honeycomb polymer–paper core and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates. A cost-effective and practical solution based on an AVC system has been developed and tested using a microcontroller unit (MCU) from Texas Instruments. The control system is studied by applying out-of-plane disturbances to the composite panel via an electrodynamic shaker, by exciting the identified mode shapes obtained through experimental modal analysis, i.e., impact tests. The actuator chosen for the AVC system is a Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) patch. Multiple analog signal processing circuits were developed to scale and shift the signal at the input and output of the MCU. The proposed control algorithm is based on a positive position feedback (PPF) technique. Modal analysis was performed to identify the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the structure, which are essential for the design and tuning of the modal-based PPF controller. This analysis also enabled optimal sensor and actuator placement, ensuring effective targeting and control of the dominant vibration modes. Then, a series of tests were performed using pure sine excitations at frequencies of interest, close to the 2nd and 8th mode at 25.13 Hz and 129 Hz, respectively. The results of the experiments revealed a velocity attenuation of 55.8% to 76.9% and a Power Spectral Density (PSD) attenuation of 5.8 dB to 12.8 dB, depending on the mode under study. Owing to the size and mass properties of the Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) patches, the control system is very much suitable for automobile and aerospace applications. Full article

Salt stress inhibits plant growth, requiring salt-tolerant genes for the development of resilient plants. A key tolerance mechanism is potassium/sodium homeostasis, governed by Shaker K⁺ channels. Given that Shaker K⁺ channels from salt-sensitive species have been extensively studied while their counterparts in salt-tolerant plants remain largely unexplored, this study investigates the evolution and function of these channels in salt-tolerant bermudagrass to address this knowledge gap. Genomic analysis identified 25 Shaker K⁺ channel genes, an expanded family relative to other species. Phylogenetics placed them into five groups (I–V), with groups I, II, III, and V expanded via segmental duplication. Salt stress response screening revealed that only CdKAT1.1 was rapidly upregulated. Functional assays in yeast demonstrated that both CdKAT1.1 and its closest homolog CdKAT1.2 improve potassium uptake and salt tolerance, but the enhancement from CdKAT1.1 was significantly greater. This work elucidates the expansion and functional divergence of Shaker K⁺ channels in bermudagrass. CdKAT1.1 emerges as a superior regulator of potassium efficiency and salt tolerance, making it a prime candidate for molecular breeding to improve plant resilience in saline-alkaline soils. Full article