Search Results (1,327)

Long-term monitoring can test whether pile-design assumptions remain appropriate as consolidation and soil-pile load transfer develop after construction. This study combines records from three Ontario transportation projects: Ramsayville, Locha Creek, and Nash Road. The database contains 53,218 weekly movement records, 152 sensor channels, 1714 axial-load profiles, and ten instrumented piles. Baseline-referenced axial-force changes were interpreted together with pore pressure, ground and pile movement, soil-test results, pile geometry, load tests, and construction history. Conventional total-stress and effective-stress calculations were retained as engineering baselines, while gradient-boosted models were used to examine nonlinear residuals and the relative influence of measured inputs. A bounded cross-site mobilization relation achieved an in-sample RMSE of 100.0 kN ($R^2=0.71$) and a leave-one-site-out RMSE of 110.2 kN. In a separate Ramsayville daily forecasting analysis, a seven-day moving average outperformed LightGBM and CatBoost, showing that greater model complexity did not improve short-term prediction. The confirmed cost of the full Ramsayville research monitoring program is CAD 678,700: CAD 267,200 for the test-pile program and CAD 411,500 for the production-pile program. A reduced regional seed-site program is estimated at CAD 225,700. At Locha Creek, the project reference exceeded the conditional 95% screening value by 7.9%, equivalent in cost to 2.30 m of installed pile length, or about CAD 919 per representative 29 m pile at CAD 400/m. The corrected break-even scale is approximately 246 similar piles. No screened reduction was supported at Ramsayville or Nash Road. The results define a monitoring-to-design framework that can identify both conservative and unconservative assumptions. Any design modification must still satisfy the governing geotechnical, structural, serviceability, drivability, group, founding, durability, and reliability requirements. Full article

Background: The widespread global adoption of facial respiratory barriers across diverse clinical and public environments has led to a significant increase in specialized consultations regarding unexpected ocular irritation and surface dryness. This clinical presentation, often secondary to mask-associated ocular symptoms, represents a unique challenge for accurate preoperative assessment in cataract surgery. This narrative review provides a comprehensive and critical evaluation of the literature exploring the relationship between mask-induced microenvironmental stress, patient-reported symptoms and objective tear film parameters, focusing specifically on their distinct impacts on preoperative ocular biometry and diagnostic measurement reliability for cataract surgery planning. Methods: A screening of published clinical studies and cohorts evaluating questionnaires, non-invasive tear film kinetics, epithelial structural changes and high-resolution automated topography was conducted across major biomedical databases up to April 2026 to evaluate underlying patterns, clinical associations and research gaps. Results: The available evidence suggests a distinct and reproducible dissociation between ocular surface symptoms and objective parameters. While improperly fitted superior mask margins may direct continuous, asymmetric warm convective air currents upward over the periorbital region—a mechanism hypothesized to accelerate tear evaporation and contribute to ocular surface discomfort—the evidence regarding biometric technology vulnerability remains constrained to limited sample sizes. Early automated measurements, particularly deeper metrics such as axial length, show good reproducibility under specific mask exposure settings, whereas superficial tear-film-dependent measurements require careful isolation. Conclusions: Strategic preoperative pathways must differentiate acute, transient microenvironmental alterations from persistent or progressive pre-existing ocular surface disease. Clinical screening workflows should incorporate cautious terminology and the optimization of mask fit or targeted mask removal should be actively considered during automated data acquisition, particularly for patients with compromised ocular surfaces. This structured approach incorporates targeted ocular surface assessment and management, including optimization of mask fit and tear film therapy when clinically indicated, to guarantee patient comfort and predictable postoperative visual outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: To describe the study protocol and baseline characteristics of participants in the Myopic Normal-Tension Glaucoma Treatment Study (MYNT-GTS), which is a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering treatment on glaucoma progression in eyes with myopic normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). Methods: A prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial and baseline cross-sectional analysis. The study enrolled 473 treatment-naïve NTG eyes with myopia (spherical equivalent ≤ −1.0 diopters or axial length [AXL] > 24.0 mm) aged 20–60 years from 9 tertiary referral centers in South Korea. Participants were randomized at a 1:1 ratio into a treated group and an untreated group managed by active surveillance, and stratified by age, baseline IOP, AXL, and visual field (VF) mean deviation (MD). Treatment was initiated or intensified when predefined structural or functional progression was detected. Comprehensive examinations including quantitative assessments of the optic nerve head structure and microvasculature, medication adherence, and quality of life were performed every 4 months during the first year and every 6 months thereafter. Glaucoma progression was assessed from the rate of circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning, and the rate of VF deterioration was assessed from the MD or visual field index (VFI). Results: The 473 enrolled participants comprised 239 assigned to the treated group and 234 to the untreated group. Most of the baseline variables did not differ significantly between the groups, including age (43.1 ± 9.1 vs. 43.9 ± 9.1 years [mean ± standard deviation], p = 0.33), baseline IOP (14.9 ± 2.6 vs. 14.7 ± 2.5 mmHg, p = 0.26), AXL (26.31 ± 1.37 vs. 26.32 ± 1.34 mm, p = 0.94), global RNFL thickness (79.5 ± 11.4 vs. 80.5 ± 13.2 μm, p = 0.38), and VF MD (−2.71 ± 2.58 vs. −2.32 ± 2.52 dB, p = 0.10). Conclusions: The vast majority of the analyzed variables did not differ significantly between the treated and untreated groups at baseline, supporting the validity of the subsequent comparisons. As the first prospective, multicenter randomized controlled trial dedicated to myopic NTG, the MYNT-GTS should clarify the efficacy of IOP-lowering treatment and inform the individualized management of myopic NTG. Trial Registration: Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS), Republic of Korea, KCT0005225. Full article

Electromagnetic stirring is an established strategy for improving the quality of continuously cast metals. In thin aluminium slabs, however, its implementation is constrained by short solidification length, limited installation space, and magnetic-field distortion caused by surrounding metallic components. This work presents a staged design assessment of three compact electromagnetic stirring configurations conceived for the Wheel and Belt continuous casting line of Continuus-Properzi S.p.A. Harmonic electromagnetic simulations were performed for all three configurations, whereas a coupled steady-state, isothermal electromagnetic–fluid-dynamic analysis, based on a fully liquid melt assumption, was carried out only for the axial-flux configuration. Qualitative experiments on a low-melting-point GaInSn alloy were used as proof-of-concept support for the predicted stirring patterns, rather than as a full quantitative validation of the industrial process. Because the three configurations were investigated at different levels and under different operating conditions, the results do not establish a quantitative performance ranking. The axial-flux configuration was selected for further development based on its compactness, integration feasibility, and the circular flow topology obtained numerically and observed qualitatively. Future work will focus on quantitative velocity measurements, transient and thermo-solidification modelling, and industrial-scale validation. Full article

The hybrid caisson–steel tubular pile group anchorage (CSTPGA) provides an optimized anchorage foundation solution for long-span suspension bridges. In this study, three-dimensional finite element analyses were carried out to investigate the performance of the CSTPGA under the main cable tension. The numerical modeling method was first validated against experimental data from a model test. A comprehensive parametric study was subsequently conducted to evaluate the effects of pile diameter, pile spacing, pile length, and soil stiffness on the displacements of the CSTPGA, as well as the deflection and internal force responses of the critical corner pile P_c. The results indicate that increasing pile diameter significantly enhances the pile group’s load-sharing ratio within the CSTPGA. Furthermore, the mechanical performance of the CSTPGA is improved by increasing pile spacing and length. However, the CSTPGA may not be suitable for sites characterized by excessively soft soil conditions. In addition, embedding pile toes through the sandy silty clay into the underlying stiff cobble stratum markedly enhances axial load mobilization and fixes the elevation of the peak positive bending moment at −56.81 m, which corresponds to the geological interface between the two soil layers. Full article

Rapid excavation in deep rock masses imposes a non-proportional stress path that can destabilize jointed rock. A three-dimensional Particle Flow Code (PFC3D) true-triaxial model of granite containing two parallel non-persistent joints was used to examine the effects of joint length, joint spacing, joint dip angle, and minimum principal stress, followed by 25 joint length–dip angle combinations. The prescribed path rapidly released the minimum principal stress to zero after the major principal stress reached 50 MPa while maintaining the intermediate principal stress at 40 MPa, followed by continued axial loading to failure. In the single-factor tests, joint length caused the most systematic deterioration: post-unloading strength fell from 103.22 to 36.85 MPa as joint length increased from 5 to 45 mm, and specimens with 40–45 mm joints could no longer recover the load-bearing level at unloading onset. Joint dip angle produced a pronounced V-shaped anisotropy, with the lowest strength at 15–30°. More importantly, long joints altered when damage accumulated: 55.6–69.0% of the cracks formed before the post-unloading strength was reached were generated during rapid unloading, while the peak elastic energy-storage ratio decreased from 76.4% to 31.9%, indicating a transition toward dissipation-dominated behavior. In the factorial analysis, joint dip angle and joint length explained 61.67% and 24.32% of the variation in the composite strength–energy-storage response, respectively, and longer joints amplified the weakening associated with unfavorable intermediate dip angles. Across 85 numerical cases, low strength–energy-storage capacity coincided with high unloading-induced crack fractions and loss of post-unloading strength recovery. These results identify a coupled instability mechanism governed by rock-bridge degradation, earlier damage activation, and reduced elastic energy storage, providing a basis for recognizing unloading-sensitive joint configurations in deep excavation. Full article

Objectives: This study evaluated the association of patient age and preoperative prostate MRI-derived anatomical parameters with postoperative urinary incontinence (UI) and urinary continence (UC) recovery after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Methods: We retrospectively included 118 patients who underwent RARP between 2022 and 2024 and had preoperative prostate MRI. Patient age and continence status at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months were obtained from medical records. Levator ani muscle (LAM), obturator internus muscle (OIM), and pubococcygeus muscle thicknesses were measured at their thickest points on axial and coronal T2-weighted images. Membranous urethral width (MUW), length (MUL), and angle (MUA) were measured, and prostate volume was calculated. UC was defined as no pad use or one safety pad per day (used for reassurance or for occasional minimal drops of urine), whereas UI was defined as the use of one or more pads per day that became wet because of urine leakage. Associations were evaluated using group comparisons, Kaplan–Meier analysis, and exploratory Cox and logistic regression models. Results: UC rates at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months were 32.2%, 54.2%, 73.7%, and 91.5%, respectively, while 8.5% of patients remained incontinent at 12 months. At 3 months, patients with UC differed significantly from those with UI in age, MUA, and LAM thickness. Comparisons among patients who achieved UC at different postoperative time points and those with UI at 12 months demonstrated significant differences in LAM thickness, MUL, and MUA (all p < 0.05). In multivariable Cox regression, higher MUA (hazard ratio [HR] 1.43 per 10°), thicker LAM (coronal HR 1.30 and axial HR 1.28 per mm), and younger age (HR 0.85 per 5 years) were associated with earlier continence recovery, whereas MUL was not. Prostate volume, MUW, and pubococcygeus muscle thickness were not associated with continence outcomes. Conclusions: Preoperative MRI-derived anatomical parameters, particularly MUA and LAM thickness, together with patient age, were associated with urinary continence recovery after RARP, and the associations of MUA and LAM thickness remained significant after multivariable adjustment in the time-to-event analysis. These exploratory findings are hypothesis-generating; clinical confounders could not be accounted for, and validation in prospective studies is required before these parameters can be considered for clinical use. Full article

The strengthening of intermediate-length concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns using CFRP has attracted growing attention, but the effect of fibre orientation on the axial compressive behaviour—particularly for members where stability rather than strength governs—has not been fully clarified. This study therefore addressed the issue through a combined experimental, numerical, and analytical approach. Specimens were divided into four groups: unstrengthened controls, those with four longitudinal CFRP layers, those with four hoop layers, and a hybrid group with two longitudinal plus two hoop layers. All were tested under monotonic axial compression. The ultimate load-carrying capacity was enhanced by 23.0%, 20.5%, and 8.4% for the longitudinal, hybrid, and hoop-only CFRP wrapping schemes, respectively. These findings indicate that the strengthening efficiency is likely governed by the wrapping configuration under the conditions examined in the present test programme. Unstrengthened columns exhibited local buckling of the steel tube and crushing of the concrete core, a brittle failure mode. Longitudinal CFRP participated directly in load resistance and raised the flexural stiffness, thus effectively suppressing global buckling—the critical mode for intermediate-length columns. The hybrid configuration provided a reasonable strength gain and exhibited a relatively gentle descending branch together with favourable deformation compatibility. Hoop-only confinement, however, contributed little to stability improvement because it only provided lateral restraint without affecting bending resistance. A three-dimensional finite element model was constructed in ABAQUS, and its predictions of failure modes, load–displacement curves, and ultimate loads agreed well with the experimental data, confirming its reliability. Parametric studies using this model further revealed that the axial capacity decreased markedly with increasing slenderness ratio, whereas higher concrete and steel strengths both led to steady improvements. Finally, a simplified design formula was derived for the axial compressive capacity of CFRP-confined circular CFST intermediate-length columns. This formula includes a confinement efficiency coefficient that reflects the wrapping pattern and a stability coefficient suitable for intermediate-length members. Comparisons with both experimental and numerical results demonstrated that the proposed formula yields predictions within ±5% of the present dataset. The formula is applicable to circular CFST intermediate-length columns with 40 ≤ λ ≤ 80, concrete grades of C30–C50, steel grades of Q235–Q460, and the three wrapping configurations examined herein. Extension to slenderness ratios below 40 requires further validation, since the present tests and parametric study did not cover this range. Further independent validation is warranted prior to its adoption in general design. Full article

Does square-lattice symmetry determine the search parameters selected by a fractional random walk with resetting? We compare a walk that updates one coordinate per movement with a walk generated by a fractional power of the full square-torus Laplacian. Both have the same lattice symmetry and nearest-neighbor limit. For the coordinate-updated walk, we prove that coordinate exchange maps the complete first-passage distribution to that of the parameter-swapped target problem. This identity pairs asymmetric local minima and separates the Hessian at a symmetric stationary point into even and odd sectors. For the full-torus walk, we derive the probability of simultaneous two-coordinate motion and relate it exactly to the ratio of the two lazy-chain spectral gaps. Matched searches on a 31-by-31 torus resolve one equal-index candidate for the coordinate-updated walk and two for the full-torus walk at axial target distances 3–5. One-sided derivatives support the reported boundary candidates as constrained solutions, not estimates of an unconstrained optimal index. A fixed-relative-geometry comparison at side lengths 31, 62, and 93 shows that these candidates remain sensitive to lattice resolution and the index cutoff. Thus exchange symmetry constrains relations among search problems, while the generator, encounter rule, and reset timing determine the candidates recovered in a specified finite system. Full article

Geometric shielding in multi-emitter configurations modifies the near-tip ionisation environment, whereas resolving each geometry with a full three-dimensional transient discharge model is computationally demanding. Here, the three-dimensional electrostatic field of two grounded emitters is transferred to a two-dimensional axisymmetric discharge-fluid model by least-squares matching of nine near-tip axial mean fields. Six centre-to-centre spacings, d = 10–60 mm, are considered. The resulting equivalent voltage maps the geometry-dependent field to a precomputed two-dimensional response library, while the effective-ionisation descriptor K_eff provides an independent post-mapping check. In the reference series, K_eff increases from 12.36 to 14.48, and the field-profile NRMSE remains below 2.65%. Direct two-dimensional calculations at the two endpoint voltages reproduce the response–library values of the 1 mm front-arrival time and 5 ns front position within 0.23% and 0.01%, respectively. Equal-weight, length-weighted and K_eff-matched reductions all retain the endpoint ordering, and the larger 5 ns front position at 60 mm persists over the tested initial-ionisation and front-threshold ranges. Numerical controls reveal residual mesh and outer-domain sensitivity, which limits interpretation of the small differences at larger spacings. Endpoint electrical measurements give median inception voltages of 15.30 kV at 10 mm and 14.21 kV at 60 mm, supporting the direction of the spacing effect. The field-profile mapping is therefore used as an early near-axial geometric-screening approach rather than as a quantitative surrogate for fully three-dimensional streamer dynamics. Full article

Background and Objectives: Myopia is a worldwide healthcare problem, particularly in the young population. Inflammation, alongside genetic and environmental factors, may contribute to the onset and progression of myopia. This pilot study explored whether long-term colchicine therapy is associated with ocular biometric and refractive differences in pediatric patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ocular biometric and refractive parameters were compared between FMF patients receiving colchicine for at least one year and age-matched healthy controls, including refraction, keratometry, anterior chamber depth (ACD), axial length (AL), and ganglion cell complex (GCC). Results: Compared with controls, the colchicine group showed a smaller refractive error (−0.46 ± 1.06 vs. −1.48 ± 1.93 D) and shallower ACD (3.29 ± 0.35 vs. 3.73 ± 0.31 mm); both remained significant after Holm-Bonferroni correction (corrected p = 0.041 and p < 0.001). Keratometry was also lower in the colchicine group but did not remain significant after correction (corrected p = 0.194). AL and GCC did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions: Colchicine-treated FMF patients showed a less myopic profile and shallower anterior chamber depth than controls. Given the cross-sectional design and the inseparability of FMF status from colchicine treatment, these findings should be considered preliminary and hypothetical rather than evidence of a plausible protective effect, highlighting the need for longitudinal studies to clarify this potential association. Full article

Localized corrosion leads to a local reduction in wall thickness in pipes, compromising their load-bearing capacity. In this study, a quantitative detection method for full-circumferential localized corrosion in pipes based on longitudinal guided waves is proposed. Based on theoretical analysis of the interaction between full-circumferential localized corrosion defects and longitudinal guided waves, the proposed method consists of two procedures. First, the theoretical relationship between the time-of-flight (TOF) difference of L(0,2) modes reflected from the front and back edges of the corrosion defect and the axial length of the corrosion defect was established using the pulse-echo method, enabling quantitative evaluation of the axial length. Subsequently, with the axial length determined, the theoretical relationship between the TOF variation of the L(0,1) mode and the depth of the corrosion defect was established using the pitch-catch method, allowing quantitative estimation of the depth. The effectiveness of this method was verified experimentally. The results demonstrate that the measured axial lengths and depths agree well with the preset values, with maximum relative errors of −1.27% and 9.52%, respectively. The proposed method overcomes the limitation of conventional guided wave methods, which are generally difficult to accurately quantify the axial length and depth of full-circumferential localized corrosion defects simultaneously. Full article

Basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) offers the advantages of high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and low weight, providing a promising material solution to the durability problems associated with conventional steel anti-floating anchors. However, a systematic understanding of the interfacial bonding behavior, load-transfer mechanisms, and long-term evolution of BFRP anti-floating anchors remains lacking. Focusing on the interfacial bonding and load-transfer mechanisms of BFRP anti-floating anchors, this review systematically summarizes their structural configurations and the dual-interface system consisting of the BFRP anchor rod-anchorage body interface and the anchorage body-rock and soil mass interface. Particular emphasis is placed on the bonding mechanisms and typical failure modes of these two interfaces. The axial-force distribution along the BFRP anchor rod, interfacial shear-stress distribution, critical anchorage length, and their major influencing factors are also analyzed. Furthermore, the load-transfer and deformation characteristics under monotonic, cyclic, and sustained loading conditions are comparatively discussed. Existing studies indicate that load transfer in BFRP anti-floating anchors is markedly nonuniform and progressive. The axial force gradually decreases from the loading end toward the deeper anchorage zone, while the interfacial shear stress is concentrated within a limited load-transfer zone. With the progressive development of local slip and interfacial damage, the peak shear stress and effective load-transfer zone gradually migrate toward greater anchorage depths. The load-bearing capacity and failure mode are jointly governed by the mechanical properties of the BFRP anchor rod, the relative stiffness and strength of the two interfaces, the properties of the anchorage body, the confinement provided by the rock and soil mass, and construction quality. Cyclic and sustained loading further induce the accumulation of residual deformation, stiffness degradation, and stress redistribution. Future research should focus on long-term constitutive models and reliability-based design methods that account for coupled damage at the dual interfaces and environmental load-coupling effects. Full article

Background/Objectives: To compare lower-limb muscle architecture and strength between men with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) and controls. Methods: In this controlled cross-sectional study, 30 men with r-axSpA and 30 age-matched healthy men underwent bilateral ultrasound assessment of the vastus lateralis (VL), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), and tibialis anterior (TA). Fascicle length was derived trigonometrically. Strength was assessed using hand-held dynamometry. Results: Differences represent r-axSpA minus controls, with 95% confidence intervals. VL, GM, and GL thickness differences were −0.32 (−0.50 to −0.13), −0.18 (−0.34 to −0.02), and −0.21 (−0.36 to −0.05) cm, respectively. Pennation-angle differences were −2.38 (−3.48 to −1.28), −1.99 (−3.35 to −0.63), −2.46 (−3.69 to −1.23), and 0.26 (−0.68 to 1.22) degrees for VL, GM, GL, and the TA superficial region, respectively. TA superficial-region thickness and derived fascicle length were greater: +0.53 (0.29 to 0.78) and +2.40 (1.36 to 3.45) cm, respectively. Knee extensor, ankle dorsiflexor, and ankle plantar flexor strength differences were −86.3 (−123.6 to −48.8), −52.0 (−78.2 to −26.6), and −57.9 (−92.3 to −24.1) N, respectively. Conclusions: Men with r-axSpA showed greater TA superficial-region thickness and derived fascicle length alongside lower dorsiflexion strength. These preliminary findings require confirmation in independent studies using validated measurement methods. Full article

Background/Objectives: X-rays are the most reliable and widely available imaging modality for diagnosing deformities of the lower extremities in paediatric orthopaedic patients. This raises the question of whether AI-generated analysis of key parameters is comparable to manual measurement. Methods: This retrospective, single-center observational study included patients with radiographically confirmed open growth plates at a Level One university hospital in Germany between 2005 and 2022. Using the quality criteria (full-leg weight-bearing radiograph with the patella centered, showing both legs with the upper ankle joint and pelvis, in a bipedal, hip-width stance), 325 X-rays were evaluated for leg length measurement and 269 X-rays for leg angle measurement. For each parameter, measurements were taken manually by a specialist and compared with the results from the AI software BoneMetrics developed by Gleamer (Paris, France). The age range of the patients at the time of examination was for length measurements between 3.4 and 17.8 years; 59.4% were male (mean 12.5 ± 3.0 years) and 40.6% were female (mean 10.8 ± 2.8 years). For angle measurements, the study included a cohort ranging in age from 10.1 to 17.7 years; 58% were male (mean age 13.6 ± 1.7 years) and 42% were female (mean age 12.5 ± 1.4). Results: For leg length measurements, the mean values of the AI-based measurements for the femur were 1.4% (5.6 mm) lower on both sides than those of the manual measurement; however, they were higher on both sides for the tibia (6.5%, 21.7 mm) and total leg-length (5.3%, 40.4 mm). The correlation of leg length measurements showed no differences between the right and left sides. For all parameters (femur, tibia, and total length), the measurement results from the two methods correlated excellently, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) > 0.75. The combined effect of excellent ICC values, coupled with systematic deviations in tibial- and total leg length suggests that high reliability does not necessarily mean interchangeability of the two methods. For leg angle measurements, the percentage differences ranged from 0 to a maximum of 1.3%. The joint line convergence angle (JLCA) was an exception on both sides, with very high percentage differences of 27.2% on the right and 50.5% on the left. The mechanical axial deviation (MAD) showed significantly higher values on both sides for the AI measurement compared to the manual measurement (p < 0.001). The percentage difference was 9.2% on the right and 5.4% on the left. The ICC showed excellent values of >0.75 for 7 out of 10 angles and good values of 0.71, but poor values of 0.08 and 0.146 for the left and right JLCA, respectively. Conclusions: Manual measurement remains vital for the diagnosis of axial deformities in children and adolescents. Given some promising results, it is expected that, through continuous training, AI will eventually be able to match the radiological values determined manually. Full article