Search Results (143)

This review synthesizes the corpus of archaeometric and analytical investigations focused on mortar-based materials, including wall paintings, plasters, and concrete, in the Roman Regio X and neighboring territories of northeastern Italy from the mid-1970s to the present. Organized into three principal categories—wall paintings and pigments, structural and foundational mortars, and flooring preparations—the analysis highlights the main methodological advances and progress in petrographic microscopy, mineralogical analysis, and mechanical testing of ancient mortars. Despite extensive case studies, the review identifies a critical need for systematic, statistically robust, and chronologically anchored datasets to fully reconstruct socio-economic and technological landscapes of this provincial region. This work offers a programmatic research agenda aimed at bridging current gaps and fostering integrated understandings of ancient construction technologies in northern Italy. The full forms of the abbreviations used throughout the text to describe the analytical equipment are provided at the end of the document in the “Abbreviations” section. Full article

Study design: The advent of the Matrix Wave^TM System (Depuy-Synthes)—a bone-anchored Mandibulo-Maxillary Fixation (MMF) System—merits closer consideration because of its peculiarities. Objective: This study alludes to two preliminary stages in the evolution of the Matrix Wave^TM MMF System and details its technical and functional features. Results: The Matrix Wave^TM System (MWS) is characterized by a smoothed square-shaped Titanium rod profile with a flexible undulating geometry distinct from the flat plate framework in Erich arch bars. Single MWS segments are Omega-shaped and carry a tie-up cleat for interarch linkage to the opposite jaw. The ends at the throughs of each MWS segment are equipped with threaded screw holes to receive locking screws for attachment to underlying mandibular or maxillary bone. An MWS can be partitioned into segments of various length from single Omega-shaped elements over incremental chains of interconnected units up to a horseshoe-shaped bracing of the dental arches. The sinus wave design of each segment allows for stretch, compression and torque movements. So, the entire MWS device can conform to distinctive spatial anatomic relationships. Displaced fragments can be reduced by in-situ-bending of the screw-fixated MWS/Omega segments to obtain accurate realignment of the jaw fragments for the best possible occlusion. Conclusion: The Matrix Wave^TM MMF System is an easy-to-apply modular MMF system that can be assembled according to individual demands. Its versatility allows to address most facial fracture scenarios in adults. The option of “omnidirectional” in-situ-bending provides a distinctive feature not found in alternate MMF solutions. Full article

The advancement of materials science has had a profound, even revolutionary, impact on sports. Materials are used in the sports field, equipment, and sportswear, each with distinct functionality and safety requirements. Additionally, diverse sport-related data require physical devices for collection, analysis, and storage, which can be crucial in athlete selection, performance assessment, strategy planning, and training optimization. Artificial intelligence, with its strong cognitive abilities, learning capacity, large-scale data processing, and adaptability, can effectively enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and lower costs. The integration of advanced materials and artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly enhanced the efficiency and precision of research and development in sports-related technologies, while also facilitating the innovation of training methodologies through intelligent data analytics. This convergence has initiated a transformative phase in the digitalization of the sports industry. Anchored in both theoretical analysis and practical implementation, this study seeks to construct a systematic cognitive framework that elucidates the interrelationship between material science and AI technologies. The aim is to assist sports professionals in understanding and leveraging this technological shift to support strategic decision-making and to foster sustainable, high-quality development within the field. Full article

Anchor–bolt support operations are lengthy and conducted under harsh conditions, restricting the efficiency and safety of roadway excavation. To address these challenges, we developed an integrated solution combining mechanical structure optimization with control algorithms. Specifically, we designed a novel automated drilling system equipped with a robotic manipulator and an anchor–bolt magazine to handle modular hollow self-drilling anchor bolts, enabling automated support operations. To achieve precise docking in unmanned conditions, we employed an inner-loop fractional-order proportional–integral–derivative (FOPID) controller optimized by an improved particle swarm optimization (ILPSO) algorithm. Additionally, robust control based on H∞ control theory was introduced to ensure reliable system performance under disturbances and model uncertainties. Simulation results indicate that the ILPSO-tuned FOPID controller significantly outperforms conventional controllers in dynamic response accuracy; frequency–domain analysis further confirms that the H∞ control approach enhances system stability. Collectively, these results provide a theoretical basis for advancing automated mining technologies. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for new therapeutic strategies to counter emerging pathogenic viruses. Herein, we introduce a novel fusion protein platform that enables antiviral targeting of distinct viral species based on host receptor specificity. Proof-of-concept studies focused on the human coronavirus NL63, which shares specificity for the ACE2 host receptor with the pandemic SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 species. This antiviral fusion protein combines IFN-β with the soluble extracellular domain of ACE2 (IFNβ-ACE2). Both domains retained predicted bioactivities in that the IFN-β domain exhibited potent antiproliferative activity and the ACE2 domain exhibited full binding to the transmembrane SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. In virus-washed (virus-targeted) and non-washed in vitro infection systems, we showed that the pool of IFNβ-ACE2 targeted to the virion surface had superior antiviral activity against NL63 compared to soluble ACE2, IFN-β, or the unlinked combination of ACE2 and IFN-β. The pool of IFNβ-ACE2 on the virion surface exhibited robust antiviral efficacy based on the preemptive targeting of antiviral IFN-β activity to the proximal site of viral infection. In conclusion, virus-targeted IFN-β places interferon optimally and antecedent to viral infection to constitute a new antiviral strategy. Full article

Maintenance of the exteriors of buildings with convex façades, such as skyscrapers, is in high demand in urban centers. However, manual maintenance is inherently dangerous due to the possibility of accidental falls. Therefore, research has been conducted on cleaning robots as a replacement for human workers, e.g., the dual ascension robot (DAR), which is an underactuated rope-driven robot, and the rope-riding mobile anchor (RMA), which is a rope-riding robot. These robots are equipped with a convex-façade-cleaning system. The DAR and RMA are connected to each other by a rope that enables vibration transmission between them. It also increases the instability of the residual vibration that occurs during the operation of the DAR. This study focused on reducing the residual vibrations of a DAR to improve the stability of the overall system. Because it is a rope-on-rope (ROR) system, we assumed it to be a simplified serial spring–damper system and analyzed its kinematics and dynamics. An input-shaping technique was applied to control the residual vibrations in the DAR. We also applied a disturbance observer to mitigate factors contributing to the system uncertainty, such as rope deformation, slip, and external forces. We experimentally validated the system and assessed the effectiveness of the control method, which consisted of the input shaper and disturbance observer. Consequently, the residual vibrations were reduced. Full article

Introduction: Osteoporosis (OP) is a prevalent condition marked by reduced bone density and a heightened risk of fractures. Current treatments often have side effects, underscoring the need for safer alternatives. Recent research highlights the significant role of gut microbiota and their metabolites in maintaining bone health. Notably, bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) have emerged as a promising platform due to their nanoscale sizes, low toxicity, drug-loading capabilities, and excellent biocompatibility. Methods: In this study, we developed a delivery system using OMVs derived from Pseudomonas mirabilis (PM). By anchoring bone-targeting peptides to the PM-OMVs membrane, we equipped these vesicles to deliver endogenous miRNAs to the bone microenvironment effectively. Results and Discussion: The bone-targeted PM-OMVs (PM-OMVs-BT) demonstrated exceptional bone-targeting abilities and exhibited a favorable safety profile in vivo. Additionally, LGG-OMVs-BT were successfully internalized by bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) without significant cytotoxicity, effectively promoting their osteogenic differentiation and mineralization. In conclusion, our study indicates that PM-OMVs-BT could offer a safe and effective treatment option for OP. Full article

In this study, a tubular spot-welded grating sensor composed of a stainless-steel tube fixed to a substrate surface by welding is developed, and the tube is filled with high-performance epoxy resin components after the grating sensor is passed through it. A smart steel strand cable is created by spot welding steel strands using portable spot-welding equipment. This method generates a small current during spot welding, with a voltage of only 3 V to 5 V, and does not damage the internal structure of the steel strand. An equation related to the temperature, tension force, and wavelength fluctuation is presented in this article. A method with a transverse temperature coordinate and a longitudinal wavelength coordinate is used. A formula for the standard temperature calibration of the force values and a procedure for temperature adjustment of the force values are presented. The correlation coefficient between the stress on the steel strand and the wavelength of the tubular spot-welded grating sensor is as high as 0.999 according to static tensile testing, demonstrating good repeatability. The temperature adjustment coefficient for varying temperatures is 0.0264 nm/°C, and the test error is essentially limited to 3.0% F.S. When subjected to a 120 h relaxation test, the steel strand with the tubular spot-welded grating sensor exhibits a relaxation rate of 4.44%. The force value obtained after the relaxation test is 1.2% off from the standard load. A tubular spot-welded grating sensor is welded onto a steel strand within a cable sealing cylinder to create an extruded anchor epoxy-coated steel strand cable. The measured cable force is compared with the standard load. The maximum error is 0.5% F.S. The discrepancy between the measured cable force and the acceleration sensor value is 1.5% in one instance involving an arch bridge employing six smart suspension cables to detect cable forces onsite. The findings provide theoretical and engineering references for smart cables and demonstrate the high accuracy, dependability, and fixation performance of the tubular spot-welded grating sensor smart cable. Full article

Adsorption of mononuclear tris(bipyridine) ruthenium(II) complexes and binuclear tris(bipyridine) ruthenium(II) complexes equipped with carboxyl groups (-COOH) on the (111) surface of TiO₂ crystal in anatase form was modeled using Monte Carlo simulations, applying the Universal force field. It was shown that the adsorption efficiency of the ruthenium-based dyes on the TiO₂ surface depends on the position of the anchoring -COOH group in the molecular structure. The increase in the number of possible anchor groups in the dyes increases their ability to deposit on the surface of semiconductors. The chemisorbed molecules, such as mononuclear tris(bipyridine) ruthenium(II) complexes with the -COOH group in para position (RuLp) and binuclear tris(bipyridine) ruthenium(II) complexes called B3 with two anchoring -COOH groups and phenyl in the spacer, interact with the adsorber and other neighboring dyes, changing their electron and optical properties. The obtained computational results help to explain the behavior of the dyes on the TiO₂ surface, giving impact on their DSSC applications. Full article

Automatic navigation, as one of the modern technologies in farming automation, enables unmanned driving and operation of agricultural vehicles. In this research, the ZPTM (Zigzag Path Tracking Method) was proposed to reduce the complexity of path planning by using a point cloud consisting of a series of anchor points with spatial information, which are obtained from orthophotos taken by UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) to represent the curved path in the zigzag. A local straight path was created by linking two adjacent anchor points, forming the local target path to be tracked, which simplified the navigation algorithm for zigzag path tracking. A nonlinear feedback function was established, using both lateral and heading errors as inputs for determining the desired heading angle of agricultural vehicles, which were guided along the local target path with minimal errors. A GUI (Graphic User Interface) was designed on the navigation terminal to visualize and monitor the working process of agricultural vehicles in automatic navigation, displaying interactive controls and components, including representations of the zigzag path and the agricultural vehicle using affine transformation. A high-clearance sprayer equipped with an automatic navigation system was utilized as the test platform to evaluate the proposed ZPTM. Zigzag navigation tests were conducted to explore the impact of path tracking parameters, including path curvature, moving speed, and spacing between anchor points, on zigzag navigation performance. Based on these tests, a regression model was established to optimize these parameters for achieving accurate and smooth movement. Field test results showed that the maximum error, average error, and RMS (Root Mean Square) error in the zigzag navigation were 3.30 cm, 2.04 cm, and 2.27 cm, respectively. These results indicate that the point cloud path-based ZPTM in this research demonstrates adequate stability, accuracy, and applicability in zigzag navigation. Full article

This work proposes a novel multi-camera system-based method for relative pose estimation and virtual–physical collision detection for anchor digging equipment. It is dedicated to addressing the critical challenges of achieving accurate relative pose estimation and reliable collision detection between multiple devices during collaborative operations in coal mines. The key innovation is that the multi-camera multi-target system is established to collect images, and the relative pose estimation is completed by the EPNP (Efficient Perspective N-Point) algorithm based on multiple infrared LED targets. At the same time, combined with the characteristics of a roadheader and anchor drilling machine, AABB (Axis Alignment Bounding Box) with a simple structure and convex hull with a strong wrapping are selected to create the mixed hierarchical bounding box, and the collision detection is carried out by combining SAT (Split Axis Theorem) and GJK (Gilbert–Johnson–Keerthi) algorithms. The experimental results show that the relative pose estimation error of the multi-camera system is within 20 mm, with an angular error within 1.002°. The position error in the X-axis direction is within 1.160 mm, and the maximum deviation in the Y-axis direction is within 0.957 mm in the virtual–physical space. Compared with the existing methods, our method integrates digital twin technology, and has a simple system structure, which can meet the requirements of relative attitude estimation and collision detection between equipment in the process of heading face operation, and at the same time improve the system performance. Full article

With the rapid development and accelerated utilization of marine resources, multi-body floating systems have become extensively used in practical applications. This study examines the coupled motions of a side-by-side anchoring system for five fishing vessels in a harbor using ANSYS-AQWA. The system is connected by hawsers and equipped with fenders to reduce collisions between the vessels. It is designed to operate in the sheltered wind-wave combined environment within Ningbo Zhoushan Port, China. Considering the diverse types and quantities of fishing vessels in the anchorage area, this paper proposes a mixed arrangement of three large-scale fishing vessels in the middle and two small-scale vessels on both sides. The time-domain analysis is performed on this system under the combined effects of wind and waves, calculating the motion responses of the five fishing vessels along with the mechanical loads at the hawsers, fenders, and moorings. The results indicate that the maximum loads on these mechanical components remain well within the safe working limits, ensuring reliable operation. In addition, the impact of varying wind-wave angles on the coupled motions of the fishing vessel system are studied. As the wind-wave angle increases, the surge motion of the fishing vessels gradually decreases, while the sway motion intensifies. The forces on the hawsers, fenders, and mooring system exhibit distinct characteristics at different angles. Full article

The stability of deep-sea aquaculture equipment under extreme sea conditions such as typhoons directly affects the safety and operational reliability of the aquaculture platform, which in turn affects the economic benefits of fish farming. Therefore, it is particularly important to systematically analyze the hydrodynamic response of aquaculture facilities using numerical methods. This paper employs the hydrodynamic analysis software AQWA, integrating the boundary element method of three-dimensional potential flow theory with the Morison equation, to conduct hydrodynamic research on a flip-type aquaculture platform. The calculations include the platform’s amplitude response operators (RAOs), added mass, as well as motion responses and mooring line tensions under extreme sea conditions. The results indicate that the platform’s sway, surge, and heave motions are highly sensitive to wave frequency in the low-frequency range, with a significant resonance phenomenon occurring at a wave frequency of 0.84 Hz. The main wind and wave responses of the platform manifest as surge and roll motions. To address this issue, it is recommended to add additional anchor chains on the short sides of the platform to effectively reduce the amplitude of surge and roll motions. Furthermore, under extreme sea conditions when the platform faces the windward waves on the short side, its motion response frequency is lower than when facing the windward waves on the long side, but the difference in response amplitude between the two conditions is small. Full article

Single-sided formwork supporting systems (SFSSs) play a crucial role in the urban construction of retaining walls using cast-in-place concrete. By supporting the formwork from one side, an SFSS can minimize its spatial footprint, enabling its closer placement to boundary lines without compromising structural integrity. However, existing SFSS designs struggle to achieve a balance between mechanical performance and lightweight construction. To address these limitations, an innovative instrumented SFSS was proposed. It is composed of a panel structure made of a panel, vertical braces, and cross braces and a supporting structure comprising an L-shaped frame, steel tubes, and anchor bolts. These components are conducive to modular manufacturing, lightweight installation, and convenient connections. To facilitate the optimal design of this instrumented SFSS, a physics-constrained generative adversarial network (PC-GAN) approach was proposed. This approach incorporates three objective functions: minimizing material usage, adhering to deformation criteria, and ensuring structural safety. An example application is presented to demonstrate the superiority of the instrumented SFSS and validate the proposed PC-GAN approach. The instrumented SFSS enables individual components to be easily and rapidly prefabricated, assembled, and disassembled, requiring only two workers for installation or removal without the need for additional hoisting equipment. The optimized instrumented SFSS, designed using the PC-GAN approach, achieves comparable deformation performance (from 2.49 mm to 2.48 mm in maxima) and slightly improved component stress levels (from 97 MPa to 115 MPa in maxima) while reducing the total weight by 20.85%, through optimizing panel thickness, the dimensions and spacings of vertical and lateral braces, and the spacings of steel tubes. This optimized design of the instrumented SFSS using PC-GAN shows better performance than the current scheme, combining significant weight reduction with enhanced mechanical efficiency. Full article

The dynamics of territorial planning, the management of its tourism products, and the monitoring of demand flows and their impact on the territorial structure (social, economic and environmental) require tools that support the acquisition of reliable quantitative data, as far as possible in real time, that are easy to manage and allow immediate analysis. In the case of structures and equipment anchored in the nature tourism segment, in particular hiking trails, in addition to determining the demand indices in a network of hiking trails and understanding their territorial and temporal dynamics, the data collected through automatic counters is a crucial tool to support territorial management and evaluate the patterns and flows of tourist demand. Based on these assumptions, this research seeks to analyse demand data observed on eleven hiking trails in the Historic Villages of Portugal, collected through automatic monitoring systems (counters). In four years, between 2020 and 2023, the trails analysed generated a demand of almost 190,000 passages, which translates into an annual average of 47,500 passages in the tourism product “Historic Villages of Portugal” (more than 4800 passages for each trail), mostly in the spring and autumn months, mainly on weekends. Full article