Search Results (20,556)

This study presents a comparative investigation of MgCu intermetallic compounds, CuCoMnSn Heusler alloys, and carbon steel for spur gear applications using a novel tooth contact analysis (TCA) method. The TCA employs a nonlinear two-variable equation, providing a fast and accurate computational tool for evaluating gear contact behavior. By integrating material-specific elastic properties from density functional theory (DFT) studies, the analysis predicts contact paths, stress distributions, and responses to angular misalignments. Material selection strongly influences gear performance: MgCu is promising for lightweight applications, while CuCoMnSn is better suited where mechanical performance is prioritized. The CuCoMnSn alloy also exhibits half-metallic ferromagnetic behavior, offering potential functional advantages beyond mechanical performance. These results highlight the promise of intermetallics and Heusler alloys for high-performance, misalignment-tolerant gears and demonstrate the effectiveness of combining DFT-informed material modeling with the novel TCA method for optimized spur gear design. Full article

Endometriosis is characterized by enhanced cellular proliferation, migration, and resistance to apoptosis, contributing to lesion persistence and progression. Targeting cellular plasticity and mesenchymal-associated functions may therefore represent a promising therapeutic strategy. Here, we investigated the effects of Pelargonium graveolens essential oil (PGEO) on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, cytoskeletal organization, transcriptional regulation, and metabolic alterations in human endometriotic 12Z cells. PGEO treatment suppressed proliferative capacity in a concentration-dependent manner and significantly impaired cell migration, accompanied by reduced β-tubulin expression and decreased levels of mesenchymal-associated markers CD73 and CD105. Increased GRP78 expression together with ultrastructural alterations, including cytoplasmic vacuolization and mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum changes, indicated activation of cellular stress responses. Although transcriptional analysis revealed increased CCND1 and PIK3CA mRNA levels, these changes did not parallel the observed suppression of proliferation, suggesting compensatory regulatory responses. Untargeted metabolomic profiling revealed alterations in energy metabolism characterized by increased levels of glycolysis-related metabolites, reduced levels of several amino acids including glutamine and histidine, and changes in lipid-associated metabolites. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that PGEO suppresses proliferative and migratory behavior in endometriotic cells while modulating cytoskeletal, transcriptional, and metabolic pathways, highlighting its potential as a candidate for further investigation in endometriosis-targeted therapeutic strategies. Full article

This study presents a systematic review and an integrative interpretive synthesis of the architectural literature addressing sensory–interactive design strategies in early childhood learning environments that support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome (DS), and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Following a systematic review conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, twenty-nine peer-reviewed studies were analyzed to examine how environmental design variables may influence sensory load, cognitive processing, emotional stability, and behavioral engagement across neurodevelopmental profiles. Rather than remaining within conventional descriptive approaches, architectural variables—including lighting, color, acoustics, materials, spatial configuration, and environmental controllability—are reconceptualized as regulatory dimensions shaping child–environment interactions. The synthesis suggests that identical environmental variables may elicit divergent, and at times conflicting, sensory–emotional and behavioral responses among children with ASD, DS, and ADHD, highlighting the limitations of standardized design solutions. Accordingly, the study proposes the Sensory–Interactive Architecture Framework (SIAF), an analytical framework that links neurodevelopmental response patterns with sensory–emotional regulation mechanisms and environmental design variables as regulatory dimensions. The findings indicate that effective inclusive design does not rely on generalized sensory interventions but rather on the deliberate regulation of sensory variability through more legible, graded, and controllable spatial systems, thereby promoting learning engagement, emotional stability, and adaptive behavior in neurodiverse children. Full article

The rapid advancements in large language models (LLMs) have transformed natural language processing, enabling their application in diverse domains such as conversational agents and decision-support systems in sensitive areas like healthcare, finance, and eldercare. However, as LLMs are increasingly integrated into real-world contexts, concerns about their adherence to ethical principles, privacy norms, and contextual expectations have become critical. Privacy preservation is particularly pressing in interactions involving personal or sensitive data, where ensuring that LLMs align with societal norms while mitigating risks of information leakage is essential to fostering trust and ensuring responsible deployment. Contextual integrity (CI) provides a robust framework to address these challenges, emphasizing that information flows should adhere to context-specific social norms. This principle is especially vital in sensitive applications, where LLMs must evaluate roles, information attributes, and transmission principles to maintain ethical behavior. Despite their linguistic proficiency, LLMs often fail to recognize and adapt to nuanced contextual norms, a limitation exacerbated by their probabilistic nature and the biases in their training data, which can lead to inappropriate or harmful outputs. Addressing these shortcomings requires rigorous evaluation methodologies and fine-tuning strategies that embed societal and contextual norms into the models. Full article

Building users are key participants in demand response (DR) markets, providing significant flexible resources. Due to uncertainty in market clearing prices, various risk-based decision models have been developed to describe their bidding behavior, typically assuming constant risk preferences. However, empirical evidence indicates that users’ risk attitudes vary with the magnitude of load adjustments. To capture this feature, this paper introduces mental accounting theory to model the risk-aware bidding behavior of building users. Total response capacity is divided into three independent mental accounts based on air-conditioning setpoint adjustment magnitude, representing risk-averse, risk-neutral, and risk-seeking behaviors. This framework allows multiple risk preferences to be represented within a unified bidding model. For each account, response quantity and cost models are developed. Bidding strategies under uncertain market clearing prices are formulated by incorporating loss aversion. A multi-agent simulation framework, including building users, a load aggregator, and a grid operator, is established to simulate the market clearing process. A simulation study is conducted using 19 building clusters located in Zhuhai, China. The proposed model is compared with a single-bid model and a step-wise bidding model with constant risk preferences. The results show that it better captures building users’ multiple risk preferences under market clearing price uncertainty. Users tend to secure stable returns through responses with minimal comfort loss, while pursuing excess profits via higher bids for responses involving greater comfort sacrifices. Full article

In this paper, we present a mathematical analysis of within-host CHIKV dynamics by developing and studying a novel delay differential equation model that incorporates persistent infected monocytes, discrete time delays, and an antibody-mediated humoral immune response. The model includes five compartments: susceptible monocytes, persistent infected monocytes, actively infected monocytes, CHIKV pathogens, and neutralizing antibodies. To reflect key biological latencies, we introduce four distinct discrete delays accounting for the periods between viral entry and the emergence of infected cell populations, intracellular virion production, and antibody activation. We analyze the model, establishing the positivity, boundedness, and invariance of solutions, and derive the basic reproduction number ${\mathcal{R}}_0$ via the next-generation matrix method. Using Lyapunov functions and LaSalle’s Invariance Principle, we prove a threshold dynamic: the infection-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable (GAS) when ${\mathcal{R}}_0\le 1$, while a unique endemic equilibrium is GAS when ${\mathcal{R}}_0>1$. Numerical simulations validate the analytical results and illustrate threshold behavior. A detailed local sensitivity analysis of ${\mathcal{R}}_0$ identifies the most influential parameters, offering theoretical insights into potential intervention strategies. We further investigate the effects of antiviral therapy as a theoretical intervention, deriving a treatment-dependent reproduction number and the critical drug efficacy required for eradication, and explore how the intracellular production delay can itself serve as a critical threshold for infection clearance. The study provides a rigorous theoretical framework that highlights the roles of latency, immune response, and biological delays in CHIKV pathogenesis and offers qualitative insights that may inform future experimental and treatment design studies. Full article

Under fault conditions, Photovoltaic-Storage-Charging Integrated Stations (PSCISs) are regarded as a key resource for enhancing distribution network resilience. However, traditional centralized optimization fails to account for conflicts of interest between the distribution network and PSCISs and neglects the actual response behavior of EV users. To address these issues, a coordinated emergency operation strategy for distribution networks and PSCISs based on the master–slave game is proposed. Firstly, a bilevel optimization framework based on the master–slave game is constructed, where the upper level performs system-level coordination and the lower level handles autonomous decision-making. For the upper level, the minimization of distribution network operation cost is set as the optimization objective by the dispatching center to determine power purchase prices and load shedding rates, which serve as guidance signals for lower-level PSCISs. In terms of the lower level, a dual-factor S-shaped response curve is introduced into the lower-level model to precisely characterize EV users’ nonlinear response behavior to price incentives. Furthermore, based on the signals received from the upper level, the maximization of each PSCIS’s profit is set as the optimization objective to determine the PV output, storage dispatch, and V2G incentive prices. Subsequently, Model Predictive Control (MPC) is employed to implement rolling optimization during the fault period, addressing the source-load uncertainties. Finally, an improved IEEE 33-node distribution network is used for case analysis and validation of the proposed operation strategy. The results indicate that the proposed strategy can effectively coordinate the interests of multiple parties, achieving synergistic improvements in both the economy and reliability of the distribution network. Full article

Understanding individuals’ connection to nature is crucial for promoting sustainable attitudes and behaviors. The environmental identity (EID) scale, widely used to assess this connection, plays a key role in environmental research; however, its cross-cultural application requires rigorous psychometric validation. Although the revised 14-item EID scale has demonstrated good reliability, questions remain regarding its dimensionality and the potential influence of acquiescence due to exclusively positive worded items. This study examined both issues in Portuguese samples. In Study 1, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test the factorial structure. Results supported a two-factor model with correlated dimensions: Reflective Connection to Nature (RCN) and Ecological Identity (EI), rather than a strictly unidimensional solution. In Study 2 acquiescence was assessed by comparing the original version with a balanced version that included partially reverse-worded items. Item distributions, factor loadings, and reliability were analyzed. The balanced version did not improve control of acquiescence; instead, reversed-worded items showed weaker loadings, lower explanation variance, and method effects, suggesting increased measurement bias. Overall, the findings support the robustness of the revised 14-item EID scale in Portugal while indicating that environmental identity is better conceptualized as a bidimensional construct portraying both reflective connection and identity-based engagement with nature. The results also highlight the limitations of reverse-worded items as a strategy for reducing response bias in value-laden constructs. Full article

This study examines how the COVID-19 period is associated with changes in digital payment usage, rather than simply whether adoption increased, in Saudi Arabia using monthly data from January 2019 to July 2025. An Interrupted Time Series (ITS) approach is employed to assess both the immediate and long-term effects associated with the pandemic on a digital payment Intensity (DPI) index constructed from national point-of-sale (POS) transaction data to capture aggregate electronic payment usage relative to cash withdrawals. The results show that the onset of the COVID-19 period is associated with a sharp and statistically significant one-time increase of approximately 7 to 13% in digital payment intensity, followed by stabilization at a higher level rather than sustained acceleration. This finding challenges the common view that digital payment adoption followed a continuously accelerating path, instead showing that the pandemic induced a discrete upward shift without altering the underlying growth trajectory. The estimated effects remain robust across multiple model specifications, including dynamic ITS models, seasonal adjustments, alternative break dates, exclusion of overlapping usage variables, and parsimonious infrastructure-only models. Inflation and ATM usage consistently show negative associations with digital payment intensity, highlighting the role of macroeconomic stability and cash substitution in shaping payment behavior. The study therefore offers a more nuanced interpretation of post-pandemic digital adoption by showing that the main effect of COVID-19 was a one-time level shift rather than a lasting change in growth dynamics. Focusing on aggregate usage intensity rather than access or account ownership, it provides a system-level perspective on digital payment behavior in response to large-scale shocks. Overall, the evidence suggests that the pandemic period coincided with a discrete upward realignment in digital payment usage in Saudi Arabia, reflecting the interaction between crisis-driven behavioral change and strong pre-existing digital infrastructure under Vision 2030. Full article

This research examines the impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Market Orientation on Dynamic Capabilities and investigates how these capabilities influence Firm Performance in the wine tourism industry. Drawing on the Dynamic Capabilities View, the research addresses a gap in the literature by clarifying the relationships between strategic orientations (Entrepreneurial and Market) and performance outcomes in a rapidly evolving tourism context. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 171 entrepreneurs operating visitable wineries, using a five-point Likert scale. Structural Equation Modeling was employed to test the proposed relationships. The results indicate that both Entrepreneurial Orientation and Market Orientation significantly contribute to the development of Dynamic Capabilities, which in turn positively affect Firm Performance. The findings confirm the mediating role of Dynamic Capabilities in the relationship between strategic orientations and performance, offering new theoretical insights into how entrepreneurial and market-oriented behaviors translate into improved organizational outcomes. From a practical perspective, the research provides implications for wine tourism firms seeking to enhance innovation, adaptability, and market responsiveness, thereby strengthening long-term competitiveness in an increasingly dynamic and competitive environment. Full article

The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of autistic adults and parents of autistic children regarding applied behavior analysis (ABA)-based early intervention, their beliefs about best practices in early intervention, and their recommendations for improving service delivery. A mixed-methods design was used to compare quantitative survey data from 70 participants (33 autistic adults, 37 parents) with qualitative interview responses (12 autistic adults, 12 parents), exploring perceptions of ABA and early intervention implementation. Quantitative analyses revealed significant group differences in perceptions of ABA’s benefits and side effects: parents rated ABA-based interventions more positively overall, whereas autistic adults expressed greater concern about potential harms. Despite these differences, both groups endorsed core best-practice principles, emphasizing naturalistic, child-led, and person-centered approaches. Qualitative findings further highlighted the importance of transparency, individualized goal setting, and partnership between families and practitioners. Across groups, participants valued early interventions that promote children’s autonomy and overall well-being. Together, these findings reveal both areas of convergence and divergence in how invested parties perceive ABA-based early intervention and its implementation. Implications for practice include the need to strengthen collaborative, compassionate, and advocacy-driven partnerships among autistic individuals, families, and behavior analysts to enhance social validity, ethical integrity, and inclusivity in early intervention systems. Full article

This study examines how Saudi consumers evaluate the commodification of cultural symbols in fashion amid intensified heritage branding and symbolic market expansion. It addresses a gap in the literature on internal cultural commodification, where tensions surrounding authenticity, legitimacy, and commercialization emerge within the same cultural community rather than across clearly separate cultural groups. Drawing on a culturally grounded application of the Theory of Planned Behavior and related literature on consumer ethnocentrism and moral evaluation, the study investigates how perceived authenticity, perceived cultural appropriation, ethical sense, and consumer ethnocentrism shape attitudes toward cultural commodification and purchase intention in the Saudi fashion context. Data were collected through an Arabic-language questionnaire-based survey of Saudi consumers (N = 552) using a non-probability purposive sampling approach. The measurement model employed reflective scales adapted from prior literature and was assessed for reliability and validity. To strengthen methodological rigor, the analysis also considered common method bias diagnostics. The proposed relationships were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with bootstrapping. The findings indicate that perceived authenticity is positively associated with attitudes toward cultural commodification and relates to purchase intention primarily through attitudes. Perceived cultural appropriation is negatively associated with both attitudes and purchase intention, suggesting both a direct deterrent effect and an indirect pathway via attitudes. Consumer ethnocentrism shows a negative association with purchase intention and a weaker negative association with attitudes, while its moderating role appears statistically significant but limited in magnitude. Ethical sense displays a more complex pattern, combining negative indirect effects through evaluative pathways with a positive direct association with intention, consistent with qualified rather than purely restrictive participation in symbolic consumption. The study contributes to the literature by clarifying how consumer responses to heritage-based fashion commercialization are shaped by representational, ethical, and normative evaluations in a non-Western setting. Practically, it suggests that fashion brands operating in Saudi heritage markets should manage authenticity claims, symbolic legitimacy, and appropriation risk with greater cultural and ethical sensitivity. Full article

Personalized transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) represent a transformative approach in precision medicine by enabling patient-specific, non-invasive, and controlled therapeutic administration. Conventional transdermal patches are limited by fixed dosing, passive diffusion, and interindividual variability in skin permeability and metabolism, often leading to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes. Recent advances in materials science, nanotechnology, microneedle engineering, and digital health have enabled the development of next-generation personalized TDDS capable of programmable, adaptive, and feedback-controlled drug release. Smart wearable patches integrating biosensors, microfluidics, microneedles, and wireless connectivity allow real-time monitoring of physiological and biochemical parameters, enabling closed-loop drug delivery tailored to individual metabolic profiles. Nanocarriers such as lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, and stimuli-responsive hydrogels further enhance drug stability, penetration, and controlled release, while 3D-printing technologies facilitate patient-specific customization of patch geometry, drug loading, and release kinetics. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools are increasingly being employed to predict drug permeation behavior, optimize enhancer combinations, and personalize dosing regimens based on pharmacogenomic and pharmacokinetic data. Despite these advances, regulatory complexity, manufacturing standardization, long-term biocompatibility, and cybersecurity considerations remain critical challenges for clinical translation. This review highlights recent innovations in personalized TDDS, discusses their clinical potential, and examines regulatory and technological barriers. Collectively, these emerging smart transdermal platforms offer a promising pathway toward adaptive, patient-centered therapeutics that can significantly improve treatment efficacy, safety, and compliance. Future research should focus on integrating multimodal biosensing, advanced biomaterials, scalable manufacturing strategies, and robust regulatory frameworks to enable clinically validated, fully autonomous transdermal systems that can dynamically adapt to real-time patient needs in diverse therapeutic settings. Full article

Agricultural ecosystems in northeastern Bangladesh are increasingly vulnerable to climate-induced stressors, particularly rising temperatures and seasonal droughts. While previous research has examined the climate’s impact on agriculture in broader contexts, no study has specifically investigated long-term seasonal vegetation and thermal dynamics in Sylhet. This study addresses this gap by assessing spatio-temporal variations in vegetation health under climate stress in the Sylhet region from 2005 to 2025 using remote sensing techniques. To investigate this problem, the study derived the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and land surface temperature (LST) from Landsat satellite imagery and evaluated their seasonal behavior across the major cropping periods Rabi, Kharif I, and Kharif II. The relationship between vegetation health and surface temperature was examined using Pearson’s correlation matrix along with a statistical comparison to identify change patterns, transitions among vegetation and thermal stress classes, and the seasonal intensity of climate stress. The findings indicate that increased LST generally corresponds with reduced vegetation cover in lowland agricultural zones, whereas elevated areas with forest or tree covers show an opposite response. Distinct spatial hotspots of thermal stress and drought-prone zones were also identified, particularly during the dry Rabi season. These results highlight the idea that rising LST corresponds with declining NDVI values, indicating that increasing thermal stress and potential reductions in agricultural vegetation productivity and climate stress across Sylhet’s agricultural landscape have intensified markedly from 2005 to 2025, with clear seasonal differences in vulnerability. NDVI analysis reveals a consistent decline in vegetation health, while LST patterns show widespread transitions from moderate to high and severe thermal stress, particularly during the Kharif seasons. The observed NDVI decline under elevated LST conditions indicates reduced vegetation vigor and potential productivity within agricultural lands, rather than a direct reduction in cultivated areas, since NDVI primarily captures vegetation density and physiological condition. The strongest NDVI–LST inverse relationship occurs in Rabi and Kharif I, indicating vegetation’s cooling role, whereas this linkage weakens in Kharif II due to dominant monsoon-driven atmospheric controls. Full article

Piezoelectric sensors are widely used for force and vibration monitoring in both rigid and flexible structures, yet their performance can be significantly affected by how they are integrated into the host material. Challenges such as limited sensitivity, inconsistent signal transmission, and delays in response remain particularly relevant in flexible components produced by additive manufacturing. Addressing these limitations requires a better understanding of how integration strategies influence sensor behavior. This study presents preliminary experimental results on the performance of commercial piezoelectric ceramic (PZT) sensors embedded in flexible structures fabricated by additive manufacturing (3D printing). Although the current investigation did not assess variability from mass production, repeated testing of each specimen was performed to reduce this potential error. Filaflex Foamy 95A polyurethane (TPU) samples were produced using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) technology in two configurations: with and without a cavity for sensor fitting. A minimum of seven valid compression tests, at each condition, were performed, with ten loading and unloading cycles up to 1000 N of force, using an indentation rate of 0.5 mm/s. In most tests, the two configurations showed different peak amplitudes throughout the cycles. Samples with the sensor embedded in the cavity consistently reached peak signal amplitudes more rapidly. In contrast, samples with the sensor positioned on the material surface without a fitting exhibited similar results across all tests and demonstrated a broader signal distribution over time. These findings indicate that the sensor-integration strategy is the primary factor influencing dynamic force transfer, impact sensitivity, piezoelectric response time, and maximum signal magnitude. Full article