Search Results (5,306)

Carbon nanotube (CNT) materials exhibit ultrahigh electrical and thermal conductivity. Upon electrical excitation, CNT-based transparent conductive films (TCFs) can emit far-infrared radiation (FIR) and provide certain physiotherapeutic efficacy, making them ideal candidates for thermotherapy applications. This work systematically tests and analyzes the fundamental physical properties and physiotherapeutic performance of CNT flexible thin-film heaters (TFHs) for potential use in health physiotherapy. Two types of TFHs with different electrode connection modes were fabricated via the prepared TCFs. Experimental characterizations were conducted on their response time, electrothermal performance, and heat transfer characteristics. The results showed that the temperature rise per unit input power for TFH1 was 16.71 °C/W, while that of TFH2 was 4.29 °C/W at the same voltage of 10 V. In addition, the variation trends of maximum temperature with power density were highly consistent for the two films. This demonstrates that TFHs fabricated using the same TCFs exhibit excellent and high electrothermal conversion efficiency as well as outstanding comprehensive electrothermal performance. In addition, smaller L/W ratio leads to lower resistance of TFHs, resulting in a stronger thermal effect under identical applied voltage. After the temperature stabilized, the surface temperature of the TFHs decreased by approximately 5 °C when attached to the human arm, confirming that the heat generated by the TFHs under electrical excitation could be effectively absorbed by the human body. The TFHs emitted rapid FIR upon electrification, and the peak wavelength ranged from 8 to 12 µm, which fell within the range of 6–14 µm that was easily absorbable by the human body. The heat can be rapidly absorbed by the skin and distributed throughout the body via blood circulation, yielding favorable physiotherapeutic efficacy. This study provides key physical parameters for the application of TFHs in wearable medical devices and physiotherapy equipment. Full article

Several studies have shown that supplementation with 100 to 130 mg of 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP)/kg diet acts as a mitigating factor of enteric CH₄ production in ruminants. From an energy perspective, this effect could indicate improved feed energy utilization. Feed additives that reduce the acetate-to-propionate molar ratio and/or CH₄ production generally increase the efficiency of feed energy utilization and can alleviate the negative impact of high ambient heat loads on ruminant productivity. In seeking to test this assumption, the impact of supplementing 3-NOP in growing–finishing diets was evaluated in 24 intact male lambs (31.92 ± 3.77 kg). The experiment lasted 61 days. Treatments consisted of supplementing a total mixed growing–finishing diet (30:70 forage-to-concentrate ratio) with zero or 115 mg 3-NOP/kg diet. Lambs were assigned to 12 pens (two lambs/pen, six replicates per treatment). The temperature–humidity index (THI) during the experiment averaged 83.37 ± 6.4. The inclusion of 3-NOP tended to increase final weight (2.6%, p = 0.06) but increased dry matter intake by 10.6% (p = 0.03), thus decreasing the efficiency of dietary net energy utilization by 2.3% and 3%, respectively (p = 0.04). Lambs fed with 3-NOP showed greater (6.2%, p = 0.04) carcass weight and dressing percentage (3.3%, p = 0.03) without effects on the tissue shoulder composition. Supplemented lambs showed lower gastrointestinal (GIT) fill (9.3%, p = 0.02) and greater (1.3%) empty body weight (EBW, p < 0.01). Visceral organ mass (expressed as g/kg EBW) was not affected by 3-NOP supplementation. It was concluded that supplemental 3-NOP did not improve feed efficiency nor the efficiency of dietary energy utilization, but did improve carcass weight and dressing percentage in lambs fattened under high ambient heat load. The greater carcass weight observed in the present experiment was due mainly to a tendency for a greater final weight (p = 0.06) for 3-NOP lambs, whereas the improvement in dressing percentage was due mainly to a lower (p = 0.02) GIT fill. It is crucial to highlight that this is a pioneering study on the effect of 3-NOP on the productive efficiency of lambs subjected to high ambient heat loads. It is also important to note that enteric methane production was not measured in this experiment. Although the doses used in this experiment have consistently reduced methane production in several studies conducted under favorable climatic conditions, we cannot precisely determine the role of CH₄ production in the dietary net energy efficiency observed in lambs that received 3-NOP. The results presented here provide a basis for future research evaluating the anti-methanogenic and productive responses to the use of 3-NOP under high ambient temperature conditions. Full article

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that may lead to sudden cardiac death. Among the causes, dysfunctions of ion channels involved in the cardiac action potential (specifically in SCN5A and SCN10A genes) are particularly significant. Among diagnosed Brugada patients, fever-induced episodes occur in 20–30% of cases. Fever worsens sodium channel dysfunction, as elevated temperature further reduces their conductance. First clinical manifestation of BrS occurs usually during a febrile episode, especially in young people. We performed a multiparametric examination in addition to genetic analysis. We treated a 19-year-old man presenting with subfebrility. During the patient’s subfebrile episodes, 12-lead ECG recordings revealed ST-segment elevations in leads V1–V3. Notably, the patient remained asymptomatic. Targeted genetic testing of SCN5A did not reveal any disease-causing variants as an underlying cause of the syndrome, but the temperature-inducing effect was demonstrated. The occurrence of the Brugada type 1 pattern has also been observed at subfebrile episodes, although significantly rarely. This case demonstrates that in susceptible patients, even a relatively mild elevation in body temperature can trigger ion channel dysfunctions. Timely diagnosis and follow-up are important in preserving quality of life and preventing fatal outcomes. Full article

Electrohydrodynamic effects can significantly alter transport processes in reacting flows, even when the plasma is weakly ionized. However, predictive modeling of such plasma–flame interactions remains challenging due to the multiscale coupling among charge transport, fluid motion, and chemical kinetics. This study presents a charge-transport closure model to investigate electrohydrodynamic influences on laminar non-premixed flames. A two-dimensional computational framework in cylindrical coordinates is used to simulate plasma-assisted methane–air diffusion flames under weak electric-field conditions representative of practical combustion environments. To represent plasma–flow coupling in a computationally feasible yet physically consistent manner, a charge-transport formulation based on the drift–diffusion approximation is employed. The model solves transport equations for representative positive and negative charge carriers coupled with Poisson’s equation for the electric potential to obtain a self-consistent electric field. This formulation assumes a weakly ionized regime for low-temperature plasma-assisted combustion, in which neutral species dominate the mass and momentum transport, while ionization chemistry is simplified and charge transport primarily influences the flow through electrohydrodynamic body forces and Joule heating. Assuming a weak electric field, the steady flamelet model is applied, in which plasma effects primarily influence scalar transport and local thermal balance rather than inducing significant bulk ionization dynamics. The governing equations are discretized using a high-order compact finite-difference scheme that provides improved resolution of steep gradients in temperature, species concentration, and space-charge density near thin reaction zones. The canonical laminar flame model configuration was validated using the established laminar methane–air diffusion flame benchmark, and steady-state spatial profiles of key transport properties were evaluated. Two-dimensional analysis identified the discharge coupling location as an important factor. The application of discharge in the fuel-air mixing region leads to a clear restructuring of the flame. When the discharge is activated, electrohydrodynamic forcing and ion-driven momentum transfer produce a highly localized, columnar flame with sharp gradients and a confined reaction zone. Compared with the baseline case, the plasma-assisted flame localizes the OH-rich reaction zone, confines the high-temperature region into a narrow column, and enhances downstream H₂O formation. Full article

The hornblende gabbro investigated in this study crops out in northwestern Elazığ, eastern Türkiye, within the Southeastern Anatolian Orogenic Belt (SAOB), where Late Cretaceous ophiolitic, volcanic, plutonic, and metamorphic units are widely exposed. This study examines the petrology, whole-rock geochemistry, Sr–Nd isotopic composition, mineral chemistry, and crystallisation conditions of these gabbroic bodies to constrain their petrogenesis and tectonomagmatic significance. Field observations show that the rock occurs as rounded to sub-rounded blocks with fresh inner cores and altered outer rims. Petrographic and XRD data indicate that the fresh gabbro mainly consists of plagioclase and amphibole, whereas the altered outer rims contain quartz and minor secondary phases. Whole-rock geochemical data classify the samples as low- to medium-K, tholeiitic, and predominantly metaluminous gabbro. Primitive mantle-normalised trace-element patterns display enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements and depletion in high-field-strength elements, whereas chondrite-normalised REE patterns show slight LREE enrichment, relatively flat HREE patterns, and weak Eu anomalies. Sr–Nd isotopic compositions are characterised by positive εNd_(T) values (+4.4 to +5.3) and moderately radiogenic initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.704792–0.705344), indicating a predominantly mantle-derived magma source affected by subduction-related modification, with limited crustal contribution. Mineral chemistry data show that amphiboles belong to the calcic amphibole group and plot in the magnesio-hornblende field. Amphibole thermobarometric calculations yielded temperatures of 873–991 °C and pressures of 1.49–3.26 kbar, corresponding to crystallisation depths of 5.1–15.3 km. Overall, the results indicate that the hornblende gabbro was derived from a mafic magma generated from a spinel lherzolite mantle source and crystallised in a subduction-related tectonomagmatic setting. Full article

The skin–brain axis constitutes a complex, bidirectional network integrating cutaneous sensory, immune, and neuroendocrine systems with central neural circuits involved in emotion regulation, stress responsivity, and social cognition. Advances in psychodermatology and cosmetic science have progressively extended this framework to the emerging field of neurocosmetics, which explores how topical formulations, sensorial properties, and cutaneous neuromodulators may influence psychological well-being, affective states, and perceived stress. The aim of this narrative review is to synthesize current evidence on the biological foundations of the skin–brain axis and to critically examine the implications of these mechanisms for neurocosmetic interventions from a psychological and psychiatric perspective. It describes the biological substrates underlying skin–brain communication, including the cutaneous hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, neuropeptides, neurotrophins, transient receptor potential channels, and endocannabinoid signaling, and examines how these pathways are targeted by neurocosmetic interventions. Particular attention is devoted to neuroactive compounds, such as peptides, cannabinoids, botanicals, and aromatherapeutic molecules, as well as to sensorial strategies involving texture, temperature, and olfactory cues, which may modulate mood, anxiety, and self-perception through peripheral mechanisms. From a psychological and psychiatric perspective, the review discusses the intersection between stress-related skin conditions, body image disturbances, and emotional dysregulation, highlighting how cosmetic practices may influence subjective well-being beyond purely aesthetic outcomes. Methodological limitations of the existing literature, including the heterogeneity of study designs and outcome measures, as well as ethical considerations related to mood- and stress-related claims in cosmetic products, are critically examined. Finally, future research directions are outlined, and a translational framework is proposed to integrate dermatology, neuroscience, and mental health within next-generation cosmetic science. Full article

Human adenovirus type 7 (HAdV-7) is a significant pathogen responsible for viral community-acquired pneumonia in children. To date, no specific antiviral agents have been approved for clinical use against HAdV infections. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) mixtures have shown promising potential in managing viral pneumonia. This study aimed to evaluate the antiviral activity of Yuanzhixingrenheji (YZ), a hospital-prepared TCM formulation from Beijing Children’s Hospital, against HAdV-7. Initial screening of four hospital formulations (Feiyanheji, Qingjieheji, Yindaizhikeheji, and Yuanzhixingrenheji) using a CCK-8 assay revealed that YZ exhibited the lowest cytotoxicity. In vitro, YZ pretreatment and post-infection treatment exhibited dose-dependent antiviral activity against HAdV-7 in A549 cells, significantly suppressing the DBP mRNA level and protein expression while reducing viral genome copies, HAdV-7-GFP fluorescence, hexon fluorescence, and DBP nuclear localization. In the hDSG2^+/+ C57BL/6 mouse model of HAdV-7 infection, YZ effectively mitigated infection-induced body weight loss and substantially reduced viral loads in lung tissue. Furthermore, a clinical retrospective analysis indicated that YZ treatment significantly decreased post-hospitalization serum C-reactive protein levels of pediatric patients with HAdV infection in various disease severities. Compared with conventional treatment, YZ treatment also significantly reduced peak temperature and shortened the duration of fever in children with HAdV infection, supporting its therapeutic potential. In summary, this study provides the first integrated evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical retrospective investigations, demonstrating that the TCM mixture YZ has significant anti-HAdV-7 activity and clinical efficacy. Characterized by a favorable safety profile and low economic burden, YZ is a promising candidate for the treatment of pediatric adenovirus pneumonia. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of heat stress on productive performance, physiology, reproduction, and oxidative status in pregnant New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit does, as well as the potential synergistic effects of curcumin and vitamin D3 (Cur + VD₃) supplementation in alleviating these stress-induced impairments. Eighty multiparous does (12–18 months old) were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial design involving two ambient temperatures (indoor vs. outdoor) and two supplementation levels (with or without Cur + VD₃). Outdoor does experienced severe heat stress (THI = 33.22) compared to indoor thermal comfort conditions (THI = 25.13). The supplement (Cur + VD₃) was administered orally at 1 mL/kg body weight. Heat stress significantly decreased body weight, milk yield, litter size, weight at weaning, and behavioral activity. Conversely, rectal temperature, respiration rate, and mortality increased. Supplementation with Cur + VD₃ showed improved body weight, reproductive parameters, milk yield, and behavior, while reducing mortality (0% vs. 5%) compared to treatment without these additives. Physiologically, Cur + VD₃ lowered rectal temperature and respiration rate. In conclusion, combined curcumin and vitamin D₃ supplementation is an effective nutritional strategy to improve heat stress tolerance and maintain productivity in pregnant rabbits exposed to high ambient temperatures. Full article

Global land use is changing rapidly, particularly in the tropics, where human populations have had relatively high growth rates in recent decades. This has resulted in wildlife increasingly living in or using anthropogenic environments, which often have different thermal properties in comparison to natural habitats. For example, materials used for buildings, such as concrete and brick, typically absorb, retain and radiate more heat than vegetated surfaces. The mosaic of man-made and natural areas formed when anthropogenic environments expand is therefore likely to generate microhabitats with different thermal properties. Here, we investigated the association between microhabitats and the body surface temperature of wild banded mongooses (Mungos mungo), a social mammal living in equatorial Uganda. After controlling for the significant effects of air temperature, humidity, time of day and body contact, we found that mongooses had the highest body surface temperatures when present on anthropogenic substrates, such as discarded roofing straw and refuse, while mongooses present on building materials, dead vegetation and bare soil had intermediate body surface temperatures. In contrast, mongooses had the lowest body surface temperatures when present in more natural, vegetated habitats. Although our study is relatively small scale and limited in scope, our results indicate that anthropogenic modifications to natural environments may result in hotter microhabitats, which may in turn impact space use, movement and thermoregulation in wildlife. We hope that our study encourages further research into this understudied but emerging topic. Full article

This study evaluated whether membrane structures can enhance thermal comfort and reduce heat- and cold-related health risks in privately owned public spaces (POPS) under representative seasonal peak conditions. Based on previous in situ measurements revealing severe summer heat stress and winter cold discomfort in two POPS in Tokyo’s Minato-ku Shibaura district, a membrane-based shelter solution is proposed and systematically assessed. Their thermal environmental effects were numerically simulated using a coupled surface energy balance (SEB) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, with evaluations focusing on human health risks and thermal comfort. Results demonstrated that in summer, membrane structures effectively improved thermal comfort by reducing the standard effective temperature (SET*) by 1.9–3.9 °C, although these SET* values still remained above the thermal comfort range. Notably, heat stress-related health risks were significantly mitigated, as deep body temperature (DBT) decreased by 1.2–1.6 °C, falling below the 38 °C heatstroke risk threshold. In winter, although the overall improvement was limited, the membrane structures still reduced cold-related health risks and extended allowable exposure duration (AED). Furthermore, auxiliary measures (e.g., mist sprays for summer and supplementary heating for winter) are recommended to further enhance thermal comfort in POPS. Full article

Global warming and increasing heatwaves elevate the risk of exertional heat illnesses, particularly heatstroke, in endurance athletes and outdoor workers. This study developed and validated a wearable heatstroke warning system integrating physiological and environmental monitoring with a real-time web dashboard. The wrist- and finger-worn prototype comprised an ESP32 microcontroller and heart rate (MAX30101), skin temperature (MAX30205), ambient temperature and humidity (SHT31), and galvanic skin response (Grove-GSR v1.2) sensors with dual acoustic–visual alerts and WiFi transmission. Fifteen triathletes (18–39 years) completed 30 min of cycling in a climatic chamber: 0–15 min at 24 ± 1 °C, 70 ± 10% RH, and 16–30 min at 27 ± 1 °C, 90 ± 10% RH, with the workload rising from 40%HRmax by 10% every 10 min. Heart rate, estimated core temperature, ambient temperature, relative humidity, and GSR were recorded every 30 s and compared with standard devices using Spearman correlation (p = 0.01) and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (p < 0.05). Heart rate, skin temperature (used a linear model to calculate core body temperature), ambient temperature, and humidity sensors showed fair–very good validity (r = 0.692, 0.995, 0.994, 0.952), while GSR was low (r = 0.298). No significant differences were observed for heart rate, skin temperature, and humidity (p > 0.05), but body temperature (p = 0.003) and GSR (p < 0.001) differed. The system showed promising validity for real-time heatstroke risk monitoring, with further refinement needed for skin temperature and GSR sensing. Full article

Body temperature regulation in ectotherms is influenced by numerous environmental, morphological, and physiological factors, some of which operate in population-specific ways. Understanding how these factors shape thermal biology is important for species conservation. The nose-horned viper, an ecologically significant yet understudied mesopredator of southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, occupies diverse ecosystems facing ongoing degradation. Over five years, we investigated how 12 environmental, behavioral, morphological, and physiological variables influenced field body temperature across three climatically distinct populations of nose-horned vipers. Using an information-theoretic approach with model averaging, we identified important predictors and assessed population-specific effects. Air temperature at 5 cm above the snake’s position, humidity, and wind were highly important predictors across all populations, whereas physiological states (shedding and digestion) exerted weaker effects. Microhabitat type and time of day emerged as highly important population-specific predictors, while body size showed weaker, population-dependent effects. Neither sex, cloud cover, nor behavioral state contributed meaningfully to model fit. Mean body temperatures were similar across populations and sexes. By integrating environmental, behavioral, physiological, and morphological variables, this study comprehensively identifies predictors of body temperature in nose-horned vipers. Site-tailored maintenance of structurally diverse habitats is essential for preserving thermoregulatory opportunities and ensuring long-term persistence of nose-horned vipers. Full article

The Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) process has established itself as a key technology in prototyping and development and has garnered increasing interest in academic research. A substantial body of research on the FFF process has focused on the influence of process parameters on the resultant material/part properties. The thermal history of the printed part has proven itself as one of the most important factors in the printing process. It influences warping behavior, dimensional accuracy, build plate adhesion, as well as the mechanical properties of the finished part. A key requirement for understanding the influence of thermal history is the knowledge of the thermal properties of the considered material. In this study, the temperature-dependent thermal properties (isobaric heat capacity, thermal conductivity and density) of an unfilled polyamide 6 material for 3D printing are provided. Special attention is given to discussing the challenges associated with measuring these properties, particularly regarding how well the measured values represent the actual conditions during the printing process. Full article

While the detrimental effects of high temperature stress on fish growth and disease resistance have been widely reported, its impact on muscle quality has received limited attention. In this study, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides with an initial body weight of 45.73 g were subjected to a 60-day growth trial (~25 °C), followed by a 5-day acute warming phase and a subsequent 30-day chronic high temperature exposure (32 °C). Through integrated analyses of morphological parameters, texture characteristics, TUNEL assay, gene expression analysis, and metabolomics in muscle, the effects of high temperature stress on the meat quality of largemouth bass were systematically examined. The results showed that high temperature stress significantly upregulated key genes in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (trim13, foxo1α) and key genes in the autophagy-lysosome pathways (lc3α, lc3β, bcl2l1, ctsl2), induced apoptosis in muscle cells, and led to significant reductions in myofiber diameter and density. In terms of textural properties, high temperature stress significantly decreased parameters such as springiness, adhesiveness, and cohesiveness, as well as water holding capacity. Metabolomic analysis further revealed that high temperature induced remodeling of energy metabolism and significant reprogramming of purine and amino acid metabolic pathways, resulting in decreased levels of key flavor compounds, including IMP, GMP, flavor amino acids (glutamic acid, alanine, methionine, arginine, proline), and peptides (glu-glu-lys and glu-cys-gly), thereby adversely affecting muscle flavor quality. The findings of this study provide a theoretical basis for understanding the impact of thermal stress on the eating quality of farmed fish. Full article

Previous studies of nitrogen and carbonitride layers on titanium alloys have mainly focused on cast or wrought materials. These traditional manufacturing methods are increasingly being replaced by additive methods, which allow the geometry of the manufactured product to be personalized. In the case of multi-component structures, and implant systems in particular, the hardness and abrasion resistance of the surface are insufficient. Therefore, these surfaces must be modified to improve these properties. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the properties of surface-modified Ti64 ELI alloy samples produced by the additive Direct Metal Laser Sintering method. To increase the hardness and abrasion resistance of the surface, a diffusion layer of TiN was produced under glow discharge conditions on samples previously heat-treated at temperatures of 800 °C, 910 °C, and 1020 °C. Since these implants remain in the body, it is important to sterilize them beforehand. Therefore, this study included samples after steam sterilization, and the results were compared to unsterilized samples. This study evaluated the structure of the material, the phase composition of the layer, the topography and wettability of the surface, along with the surface energy (before sterilization θ_av > 106°), resistance to pitting corrosion, hardness, and tribological properties. Full article