Search Results (1,782)

Artistic style transfer aims to transfer the style of an artwork to a photograph while maintaining its original overall content. Although current style-transfer methods have achieved promising results when processing photorealistic images, they often struggle with brushstroke preservation in artworks, especially in styles such as oil painting and pointillism. In such cases, the extracted style and content features tend to include redundant information, leading to issues such as blurred edges and a loss of fine details in the transferred images. To address this problem, this paper proposes a multi-scale general style-transfer network based on diffusion models. The proposed network consists of a coarse style-transfer module and a refined style-transfer module. First, the coarse style-transfer module is designed to perform mainstream style-transfer tasks more efficiently by operating on downsampled images, enabling faster processing with satisfactory results. Next, to further enhance edge fidelity, a refined style-transfer module is introduced. This module utilizes a segmentation component to generate a mask of the main subject in the image and performs edge-aware refinement. This enhances the fusion between the subject’s edges and the target style while preserving more detailed features. To improve overall image quality and better integrate the style along the content boundaries, the output from the coarse module is upsampled by a factor of two and combined with the subject mask. With the assistance of ControlNet and Stable Diffusion, the model performs content-aware edge redrawing to enhance the overall visual quality of the stylized image. Compared with state-of-the-art style-transfer methods, the proposed model preserves more edge details and achieves more natural fusion between style and content. Full article

A two-phase closed thermosyphon (TPCT), a gravity-assisted heat pipe, is a highly efficient heat transmitter involving liquid–vapor phase change. It is used in many applications, including heat spreading, thermal management and control, and energy saving. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effects of the operating conditions for a thermosyphon used in solar water heaters. The study particularly focuses on the influence of the inclination angle. Thus, a comprehensive simulation model is developed using the volume of fluid (VOF) approach. Complex and related phenomena, including two-phase flow, phase change, and heat exchange, are taken into account. To implement the model, an open-source CFD toolbox based on finite volume formulation, OpenFOAM, is used. The model is then validated by comparing numerical results to the experimental data from the literature. The obtained results show that the simulation model is reliable for investigating the effects of various operating conditions on the transient and steady-state behavior of the thermosyphon. In fact, bubble creation, growth, and advection can be tracked correctly in the liquid pool at the evaporator. The effects of the designed operating conditions on the heat transfer parameters are also discussed. In particular, the optimal tilt angle is shown to be 60° for the intermediate saturation temperature (<50 °C) and 90° for the larger saturation temperature (>60 °C). Full article

Understanding the molecular basis of endometrial receptivity is crucial for improving implantation outcomes in assisted reproduction, especially for patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF). This study investigates the timing relationship between microRNA (miRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) profiles in the endometrium using simultaneously the endometrial receptivity array (ERA) and the microRNA receptivity assay (MIRA) in 100 RIF patients undergoing euploid blastocyst transfer. The concordance rate between ERA and MIRA was 72% (Kappa = 0.50), suggesting partial overlap in profiling. Patients were stratified by the timing sequence of miRNA relative to mRNA into Fast, Equal, and Slow groups. Those with delayed miRNA expression (Slow group) had significantly lower pregnancy rates (54.5%) than those with synchronous or leading miRNA expression (81.9% and 94.1%, respectively; p = 0.031). Moreover, the Slow group exhibited higher prior implantation failure counts and altered expression in 15 miRNAs, many involved in aging-related pathways. These findings highlight that asynchronous miRNA–mRNA profiles may reflect impaired receptivity and suggest that miRNA-based staging adds valuable diagnostic insight beyond mRNA profiling alone. Dual assessment of mRNA and miRNA profiles may offer additional diagnostic insight into endometrial receptivity but requires further validation before clinical application. Full article

The increasing need for materials that are both lightweight and strong in the aerospace and automotive sectors has driven the extensive use of composite sandwich structures. This study examines the impact response of honeycomb sandwich composites fabricated using the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) technique. Two configurations were analyzed, namely carbon–honeycomb–carbon (CHC) and carbon–Kevlar–honeycomb–Kevlar–carbon (CKHKC), to assess the effect of Kevlar reinforcement on impact resistance. Charpy impact testing was conducted to evaluate energy absorption, revealing that CKHKC composites exhibited significantly superior impact resistance compared to CHC composites. The CKHKC composite achieved an average impact strength of 70.501 KJ/m², which is approximately 73.8% higher than the 40.570 KJ/m² recorded for CHC. This improvement is attributed to Kevlar’s superior toughness and energy dissipation capabilities. A comparative assessment of impact energy absorption further highlights the advantages of hybrid Kevlar–carbon fiber composites, making them highly suitable for applications requiring enhanced impact performance. These findings provide valuable insights into the design and optimization of high-performance honeycomb sandwich structures for impact-critical environments. Full article

This study included 221 patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to the emergency department of Avicenne Hospital in Rabat between August 2020 and August 2021. Patients were divided into three groups according to their D-dimer levels (<1, 1–2, and >2 µg/mL). Adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between elevated D-dimer levels and in-hospital mortality. Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to explore the relationship between D-dimer levels and various biological and clinical parameters. The results revealed a statistically significant difference in the mean (SD) age among the three groups (p = 0.006). Analysis showed a statistically significant difference in the means (SD) of oxygen saturation, duration of hospital stay, and breathing rate among the three independent groups of COVID-19 patients. Patients with elevated D-dimer levels (greater than 2 µg/mL) experienced worse outcomes than those in the other groups, with severity, transfer to intensive care, and in-hospital mortality of 55 (40.7%), 35 (16%), and 24 (11%) patients, respectively, with p-values of 0.048, 0.002, and 0.002, respectively. Patients in the D-dimer > 2 µg/mL group had significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase, urea, cardiac troponin, B-type natriuretic peptide, and ferritin levels than those in the other two groups. The p-value was significant among the three groups (p = 0.044, p = 0.001, and p < 0.001). Age and elevated D-dimer levels (greater than 2 µg/mL) were associated with mortality in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Correlation analysis indicated that D-dimer in COVID-19 patients is associated with worsening respiratory, hepatic, cardiac, and coagulation parameters, suggesting their utility as an integrative marker of disease severity. D-dimer levels > 2 µg/mL were identified as an independent risk factor for COVID-19 in-hospital mortality. Measuring and monitoring D-dimer levels can assist clinicians in taking timely actions and predicting the prognosis of patients with COVID-19. Full article

Efficient and sustainable extraction of bioactive benzopyrans from Hypericum polyanthemum Klotzsch ex Reichardt (Hypericaceae) remains underexplored, despite their potential applications. The current study aimed to optimize this process by integrating computational simulation and experimental extraction with suitable solvents. The COSMO-RS model was employed to screen deep eutectic solvents (DESs), indicating lactic acid/glycine/water 3:1:3 (DES 1) as a highly promising candidate based on activity coefficients at infinite dilution for target benzopyrans (HP1, HP2, HP3). Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was then conducted using the proposed DES as well as hexane, and the extracts were analyzed via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrophotometry for total phenolic content (TPC). The results for DES 1 showed yields for benzopyrans HP1 (1.43 ± 0.09 mg/g plant) and HP2 (0.55 ± 0.04 mg/g plant) close to those obtained in the hexane extract (1.65 and 0.78 mg/g plant, respectively), corroborating the use of COSMO-RS for solvent screening. Kinetic analysis using an adapted Crank diffusion model successfully described the mass transfer process for DES 1 (R² > 0.98, mean average percent error < 9%), indicating diffusion control and allowing estimation of effective diffusion coefficients. This work confirms COSMO-RS as a valuable tool for solvent selection and demonstrates that UAE with the identified DES provides an efficient, greener approach for extracting valuable benzopyrans, offering a foundation for further process optimization. Full article

The relationship between ecosystem services (ESs) and human well-being (HWB) is a central issue of sustainable development. However, current research often relies on qualitative frameworks or indicator-based assessments, limiting a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between natural environment and human acquisition, which still needs to be strengthened. As an element transferred in the natural–society coupling system, carbon can assist in characterizing the dynamic interactions within coupled human–natural systems. Carbon, as a fundamental element transferred across ecological and social spheres, offers a powerful lens to characterize these linkages. This study develops and applies a novel analytical framework that integrates carbon flow as a unifying metric to quantitatively assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of the land use and land cover change (LUCC)–ESs–HWB nexus in Guizhou Province, China, from 2000 to 2020. The results show that: (1) Ecosystem services in Guizhou showed distinct trends from 2000 to 2020: supporting and regulating services declined and then recovered, and provisioning services steadily increased, while cultural services remained stable but varied across cities. (2) Human well-being generally improved over time, with health remaining stable and the HSI rising across most cities, although security levels fluctuated and remained low in some areas. (3) The contribution of ecosystem services to human well-being peaked in 2010–2015, followed by declines in central and northern regions, while southern and western areas maintained or improved their levels. (4) Supporting and regulating services were positively correlated with HWB security, while cultural services showed mixed effects, with strong synergies between culture and health in cities like Liupanshui and Qiandongnan. Overall, this study quantified the coupled dynamics between ecosystem services and human well-being through a carbon flow framework, which not only offers a unified metric for cross-dimensional analysis but also reduces subjective bias in evaluation. This integrated approach provides critical insights for crafting spatially explicit land management policies in Guizhou and offers a replicable methodology for exploring sustainable development pathways in other ecologically fragile karst regions worldwide. Compared with conventional ecosystem service frameworks, the carbon flow approach provides a process-based, dynamic mediator that quantifies biogeochemical linkages in LUCC–ESs–HWB systems, which is particularly important in fragile karst regions. However, we acknowledge that further empirical comparison with traditional ESs metrics could strengthen the framework’s generalizability. Full article

Glancing Angle Deposition (GLAD) has emerged as a versatile and powerful nanofabrication technique for developing next-generation gas sensors by enabling precise control over nanostructure geometry, porosity, and material composition. Through dynamic substrate tilting and rotation, GLAD facilitates the fabrication of highly porous, anisotropic nanostructures, such as aligned, tilted, zigzag, helical, and multilayered nanorods, with tunable surface area and diffusion pathways optimized for gas detection. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of recent advances in GLAD-based gas sensor design, focusing on how structural engineering and material integration converge to enhance sensor performance. Key materials strategies include the construction of heterojunctions and core–shell architectures, controlled doping, and nanoparticle decoration using noble metals or metal oxides to amplify charge transfer, catalytic activity, and redox responsiveness. GLAD-fabricated nanostructures have been effectively deployed across multiple gas sensing modalities, including resistive, capacitive, piezoelectric, and optical platforms, where their high aspect ratios, tailored porosity, and defect-rich surfaces facilitate enhanced gas adsorption kinetics and efficient signal transduction. These devices exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity toward a range of analytes, including NO₂, CO, H₂S, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with detection limits often reaching the parts-per-billion level. Emerging innovations, such as photo-assisted sensing and integration with artificial intelligence for data analysis and pattern recognition, further extend the capabilities of GLAD-based systems for multifunctional, real-time, and adaptive sensing. Finally, current challenges and future research directions are discussed, emphasizing the promise of GLAD as a scalable platform for next-generation gas sensing technologies. Full article

(1) Background: A severe decline in knee joint function significantly affects the mobility of the elderly, making it a key concern in the field of geriatric health. To alleviate the pressure on the knee joints of the elderly during daily movements such as sitting and standing, effective biomechanical solutions are required. (2) Methods: In this study, a biomechanical framework was established based on mechanical analysis to derive the transfer relationship between the ground reaction force and the knee joint moment. Experiments were designed to collect knee joint data on the elderly during the sit-to-stand process. Meanwhile, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images were processed through a medical imaging control system to construct a detailed digital 3D knee joint model. A finite element analysis was used to verify the model to ensure the accuracy of its structure and mechanical properties. An improved radial basis function was used to fit the pressure during the entire sit-to-stand conversion process to reduce the computational workload, with an error of less than 5%. In addition, a small-target human key point recognition network was developed to analyze the image sequences captured by the camera. The knee joint angle and the knee joint pressure distribution during the sit-to-stand conversion process were mapped to a three-dimensional interactive platform to form a digital twin system. (3) Results: The system can effectively capture the biomechanical behavior of the knee joint during movement and shows high accuracy in joint angle tracking and structure simulation. (4) Conclusions: This study provides an accurate and comprehensive method for analyzing the biomechanical characteristics of the knee joint during the movement of the elderly, laying a solid foundation for clinical rehabilitation research and the design of assistive devices in the field of rehabilitation medicine. Full article

This study explores the optical properties of a close-packed monolayer composed of core/shell-alloyed CdSeS/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) of two different sizes and compositions. The monolayers were self-assembled in a stacked configuration at the water/air interface using Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) techniques. Under continuous 532 nm laser illumination on the red absorption edge of the blue-emitting smaller QDs (QD450), the red-emitting larger QDs (QD645) exhibited oscillatory temporal dynamics in their photoluminescence (PL), characterized by a pronounced blueshift in the emission peak wavelength and an abrupt decrease in peak intensity. Conversely, excitation by a 405 nm laser on the blue absorption edge induced a drastic redshift in the emission wavelength over time. These significant shifts in emission spectra are attributed to photon- and anisotropic-strain-assisted interlayer atom transfer. The findings provide new insights into strain-driven atomic rearrangements and their impact on the photophysical behavior of QD systems. Full article

In this study, a new fibre combination for an interlayer hybrid fibre-reinforced polymer laminate was investigated to achieve pseudo-ductile behaviour in tensile tests. The chosen high-strain fibre for this purpose was S-Glass, and the low-strain fibre was flax. These materials were chosen because of their relatively low environmental impact compared to carbon/carbon and carbon/glass hybrids. An analytical model was used to find an ideal combination of the two materials. With that model, the expected stress–strain relation could also be predicted analytically. The modelling was based on preliminary tensile tests of the two basic components investigated in this research: unidirectional laminates reinforced with either flax fibres or S-Glass fibres. Hybrid specimens were then designed, produced in a heat-assisted pressing process, and subjected to tensile tests. The strain measurement was performed using distributed fibre optic sensing. Ultimately, it was possible to obtain repeatable pseudo-ductile stress–strain behaviour with the chosen hybrid when the specimens were subjected to quasi-static uniaxial tension in the direction of the fibres. The intended damage-mode, consisting of a controlled delamination at the flax-fibre/glass-fibre interface after the flax fibres failed, followed by a load transfer to the glass fibre layers, was successfully achieved. The pseudo-ductile strain averaged 0.52% with a standard deviation of 0.09%, and the average load reserve after delamination was 145.5 MPa with a standard deviation of 48.5 MPa. The integrated fibre optic sensors allowed us to monitor and verify the damage process with increasing strain and load. Finally, the analytical model was compared to the measurements and was partially modified by neglecting the Weibull strength distribution of the high-strain material. Full article

Paeonia ludlowii, a critically endangered species endemic to Tibet, China, possesses significant ornamental, culinary, and medicinal value. However, its mitochondrial genome remains understudied, limiting insights into its evolutionary mechanisms and constraining conservation genetics applications and molecular breeding programs. We present the first complete assembly and comprehensive analysis of the P. ludlowii mitochondrial genome. Most remarkably, we discovered that the P. ludlowii mitogenome exhibits an atypical dual-circular structure, representing the first documented occurrence of this architectural feature within the genus Paeonia. The assembled genome spans 314,371 bp and encodes 42 tRNA genes, 3 rRNA genes, and 31 protein-coding genes, with a pronounced adenine–thymine bias. This multipartite genome structure is characterized by abundant repetitive elements (112 functionally annotated SSRs, 33 tandem repeats, and 945 dispersed repeats), which potentially drive genome rearrangements and facilitate adaptive evolution. Analyses of codon usage bias and nucleotide diversity revealed highly conserved gene expression regulation with limited variability. Phylogenetic reconstruction confirms that P. ludlowii, P. suffruticosa, and P. lactiflora form a monophyletic clade, reflecting close evolutionary relationships, while extensive syntenic collinearity with other Paeonia species underscores mitochondrial genome conservation at the genus level. Extensive inter-organellar gene transfer events, particularly from chloroplast to mitochondrion, suggest that such DNA exchanges enhance genetic diversity and promote environmental adaptation. The discovery of the dual-circular architecture provides novel insights into plant mitochondrial genome evolution and structural plasticity. This study elucidates the unique structural characteristics of the P. ludlowii mitochondrial genome and establishes a crucial genetic foundation for developing targeted conservation strategies and facilitating molecular-assisted breeding programs for this endangered species. Full article

The discovery of proteomic biomarkers in cancer research can be effectively performed in situ by exploiting Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI). However, due to experimental limitations, the spectra extracted by MALDI-MSI can be noisy, so pre-processing steps are generally needed to reduce the instrumental and analytical variability. Thus far, the importance and the effect of standard pre-processing methods, as well as their combinations and parameter settings, have not been extensively investigated in proteomics applications. In this work, we present a systematic study of 15 combinations of pre-processing steps—including baseline, smoothing, normalization, and peak alignment—for a real-data classification task on MALDI-MSI data measured from fine-needle aspirates biopsies of thyroid nodules. The influence of each combination was assessed by analyzing the feature extraction, pixel-by-pixel classification probabilities, and LASSO classification performance. Our results highlight the necessity of fine-tuning a pre-processing pipeline, especially for the reliable transfer of molecular diagnostic signatures in clinical practice. We outline some recommendations on the selection of pre-processing steps, together with filter levels and alignment methods, according to the mass-to-charge range and heterogeneity of data. Full article

Owing to high electrical conductivity, layered structure, and abundant surface functional groups, transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes) have received enormous interest in the field of gas sensors at room temperature. In this work, we synthesize a heterostructured nanocomposite with indium oxide (In₂O₃) decorated on titanium carbide (Ti₃C₂T_x) nanosheets by electrostatic self-assembly and develop it for high-selectivity NO₂ gas sensing at room temperature. Self-assembly formation of multiple heterojunctions in the In₂O₃/Ti₃C₂T_x composite provide abundant NO₂ gas adsorption sites and high electron transfer activity, which is conducive to improving the gas-sensing response of the In₂O₃/Ti₃C₂T_x gas sensor. Assisted by rich adsorption sites and hetero interface, the as-fabricated In₂O₃/Ti₃C₂T_x gas sensor exhibits the highest response to NO₂ among various interference gases. Meanwhile, a detection limit of 0.3 ppm, and response/recovery time (197.62/93.84 s) is displayed at room temperature. Finally, a NO₂ sensing mechanism of In₂O₃/Ti₃C₂T_x gas sensor is constructed based on PN heterojunction enhancement and molecular adsorption. This work not only expands the gas-sensing application of MXenes, but also demonstrates an avenue for the rational design and construction of NO₂-sensing materials. Full article

The incorporation of multi-material design (MMD) to achieve lightweight vehicles requires Friction Stir Spot Welding (FSSW) to join steel with aluminum, magnesium, or composites. This study investigates the mechanisms, challenges, and performance of FSSW in MMD based on the information available in the literature. It also explores the effect of FSSW tool geometries and design on the spot weld formation and mechanical strength. Larger shoulder and pin diameters increase heat generation during welding. A concave shoulder profile produces a stronger weld compared to flat and convex profiles due to its ability to trap materials and transfer materials to the sheet interface efficiently for the development of a sound weld. Grooves such as Fibonacci and involute, and threads on P-FSSW and R-FSSW tools, also contribute to effective material flow during welding, hence assisting in heat generation. This review also provides recommendations on tool design for FSSW, P-FSSW, and R-FSSW. Full article