Search Results (11,617)

Addressing technical challenges in personalized fabrication and mechanical regulation of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds, this study pioneers an electric field-driven melt jetting rotational printing technique to fabricate polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds (Ø3–8 mm). Multiscale characterization confirms a rhombic mesh macrostructure with uniform fibers and fusion-enhanced nodal junctions, demonstrating synergistic control of electrohydrodynamic forces and surface tension over microfiber deposition. Mechanical testing reveals triphasic tensile behavior (elastic-plastic-fracture), where 5 mm scaffolds exhibit 38% enhanced peak load due to superior interfacial bonding and densified geometry, while 8 mm counterparts suffer premature failure from structural weakening. Fractography identifies brittle fracture initiation at stress-concentrated nodes versus ductile dominance in straight segments, confirming co-regulation by intrinsic material properties and architecture. Compression tests demonstrate characteristic load-holding-recovery behavior, with 20% increased load-bearing capacity and enhanced elastic recovery in larger scaffolds. This work establishes a structure–property correlation framework for optimizing degradable vascular implants, providing novel methodologies and theoretical foundations for clinical compatibility. Full article

Pre-tensioned T-beams with polygonal tendons offer high load-bearing capacity and suitability for large spans, demonstrating broad application potential in bridge engineering. The cracking state of a prestressed beam is a crucial indicator for assessing its service state, while the ultimate bearing capacity is a key metric for structural safety. In this study, we designed a novel 30 m pre-tensioned T-beam with polygonal tendons and investigated its shear cracking performance and ultimate bearing capacity under a shear-span ratio of 2.5 through a full-scale test. A graded loading protocol was employed. The results indicate that during the initial loading stage, the shear cracking load of the inclined section was 1766 kN. A distinct inflection point appeared on the load–displacement curve, accompanied by a significant reduction in stiffness. Cracks initially developed at the junctions between the web and the top flange, as well as the diaphragm, and subsequently propagated towards the shear–flexural region, exhibiting typical shear–compression failure characteristics. During the secondary loading to the ultimate state, the beam demonstrated good ductility and stress redistribution capability. The ultimate shear capacity reached 3868 kN. Failure occurred by crushing of the concrete in the compression zone after the critical inclined crack penetrated the web, with the member ultimately reaching its ultimate capacity through a plastic hinge mechanism. Strain analysis revealed that the polygonal tendons effectively restrained the premature development of inclined cracks, thereby enhancing the overall shear performance and deformation capacity. This study verifies the mechanical performance of the new T-beam under a shear span-to-depth ratio of 2.5 through calculations based on different codes and finite element numerical analysis, providing experimental evidence and theoretical references for its engineering application. Full article

Traditional exterior walls are heavy, offer insufficient insulation, and have poor durability, making it challenging to meet the combined requirements of energy efficiency and structural enclosure performance. To address the issues of excessive weight and inadequate insulation in conventional concrete exterior wall panels, alternative materials and designs are being adopted. A novel double-layer composite wall panel structure is proposed, arranging normal concrete (NC) on the exterior side to ensure the panel’s durability and ceramsite foam concrete (CFC) on the interior side to enhance thermal insulation and reduce thermal bridging effects. To address the scenario where the wall panel is subjected to out-of-plane loads during service, causing stress in the CFC layer, bending performance tests were conducted on CFC-NC double-layer composite panels under load applied on the CFC side. Research shows that CFC-NC double-layer composite wall panels exhibit bending performance under four-point bending conditions that is basically consistent with that of monolithic wall panels. As the thickness of the CFC layer increases, cracks may appear near the interface in the CFC layer that do not extend from NC cracking, and may even occur earlier than NC cracking. As the density grade of CFC decreases, the compressive deformation of CFC becomes more pronounced; however, no crushing of the CFC occurs at the ultimate bearing capacity stage. Under four-point bending conditions, the strain at the mid-span section of the composite wall panel along the thickness direction is basically linearly distributed. Under the same conditions of wall panel thickness, reinforcement ratio, and shear span ratio, the flexural bearing capacity of CFC-NC double-layer composite wall panels with CFC density grades A8, A6, and A4 is approximately 12.5%, 25.03%, and 18.29% lower, respectively, compared to C30 cast-in-place wall panels. The flexural bearing capacity of the composite panels increases correspondingly with the increase in CFC layer thickness and reinforcement ratio. Specimens with smaller shear span ratios exhibit more pronounced shear effects. Based on the stress–strain relationship of CFC, a modified calculation method for the flexural capacity of ordinary concrete sections is presented. Referring to the ACI 318-14 code, a calculation method for the bending deformation of composite wall panels is provided. The research results can offer a theoretical basis for the design and application of CFC-NC double-layer composite wall panels. Full article

N-Benzylthiocarbamate (NBTC) analogs 1–10 were synthesized as potential Cu²⁺-chelating tyrosinase inhibitors. Most analogs exhibited strong Cu²⁺-chelating activity, but none inhibited mushroom tyrosinase (mTYR) activity better than kojic acid (KA). However, owing to their potent cellular TYR inhibitory activity, all analogs, except 8, inhibited melanin formation in B16F10 cells more than KA. Analogs 3, 4, and 9 exhibited stronger antimelanogenic properties than N-phenylthiourea. The TYR inhibitory activity of the analogs of mTYR and B16F10 TYR was probably different because mTYR and mammalian TYR have different structural characteristics. All analogs had a potency to significantly scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS). Analog 1 was very effective in reducing browning in potato juice. Furthermore, analog 3 inhibited zebrafish larval pigmentation 2000 times more potently than KA and was more effective than N-phenylthiourea. It is believed that their capacity to scavenge ROS amplifies their antimelanogenic effects. Exogenously added CuSO₄ attenuated the inhibitions of cellular TYR activity and melanin formation in B16F10 cells caused by analog 9. This result might have been due to the externally added Cu²⁺ ions forming chelates with 9. The differential TYR inhibitory activity of NBTC analogs appeared to be due to their high sensitivity to interactions with TYRs of different origins. Full article

This paper presents an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach for estimating total real and reactive power losses in electrical power systems. Three network architectures were explored: the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), the Radial Basis Function (RBF) network, and the Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN). The main advantage of the proposed methodology lies in its ability to rapidly compute power loss values throughout the system. ANN models are especially effective due to their capacity to capture the nonlinear characteristics of power systems, thus eliminating the need for iterative procedures. The applicability and effectiveness of the approach were evaluated using the IEEE 14-bus test system and compared with the continuation power flow method, which estimates losses using conventional numerical techniques. The results indicate that the ANN-based models performed well, achieving mean squared error (MSE) values below the predefined threshold during both training and validation (0.001). Notably, the networks accurately estimated the total power losses within the expected range, with residuals on the order of 10⁻⁴. Among the models tested, the RBF network showed slightly superior performance in terms of error metrics, requiring fewer centers to meet the established criteria compared to the MLP and GRNN models (11 centers). However, the GRNN achieved the shortest processing time; even so, all three networks produced satisfactory and consistent results, particularly in identifying the critical points of electrical power systems, which is of fundamental importance for ensuring system stability and operational reliability. Full article

Exploring the spatio-temporal evolution patterns of rapeseed production at the county level in Sichuan Province, China, and analyzing the influence of natural conditions and socioeconomic development based on regional spatial characteristics, can help guide the rational distribution of crop production and provide a reference for the high-quality and sustainable development of the local rapeseed industry. Based on panel data from 2001 to 2023, this study employs GIS spatial analysis to examine the spatio-temporal evolution of rapeseed production in Sichuan and applies a Geodetector model to identify factors influencing its spatial and temporal variations. The results reveal that rapeseed production in Sichuan is concentrated in three main production areas: the northeastern Sichuan region, the middle Sichuan hilly region, and the Chengdu Plain. The dynamic evolution exhibits a composite pattern characterized by the stability and expansion of core areas, alongside breakthroughs and growth in peripheral regions, with increased production observed across 134 counties. The spatial center of rapeseed production shows short-range fluctuations and distinct regional anchoring, oscillating among Santai County, Shehong City, and Daying County, tracing a “Z”-shaped trajectory. Over the 23-year period, the global Moran’s I index ranged from 0.464 to 0.558, indicating a significant spatial clustering trend in rapeseed output among adjacent counties. Local spatial autocorrelation patterns were predominantly H-H, L-L, and L-H clusters. Factor detection identifies labor force availability, fertilizer application intensity, and effective irrigated area as the most influential factors. Interaction detection results consistently exhibit a two-factor enhancement effect. To enhance the rapeseed industry’s performance and efficiency, it is recommended to stabilize production capacity in the three core production areas, leverage central regions to strengthen radiation to the surrounding counties, optimize resource allocation based on clustering patterns, and focus on improving key factors such as labor and irrigation, as well as their synergistic effects. Full article

A trussed concrete-filled square steel tubular (CFSST) composite column frame is proposed for multi-story residential buildings. The frame provides high lateral resistance and can be integrated within wall systems. To evaluate its seismic performance, three full-scale specimens were subjected to quasi-static cyclic loading. The failure modes, load-carrying capacity, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation characteristics were examined and compared. The results show that, compared to the H-shaped steel column frame (HK) with equivalent steel consumption, the trussed CFSST composite column frame exhibits an 88.3% increase in yield load and an 87.1% increase in peak load, together with significant improvements in stiffness and energy dissipation. Compared with an ordinary CFSST column frame (FK), the proposed system required 41% more steel but attained a 56% increase in load-carrying capacity, along with corresponding enhancements in stiffness and energy dissipation. Finite element (FE) models were developed based on the experimental results, and parametric analyses were performed to investigate the effects of corner-end column spacing, number of truss diagonal bars, truss joint type, axial compression ratio, and steel strength. Design recommendations are provided accordingly. Full article

Industrial and domestic effluents contaminated with synthetic dyes represent a significant global environmental and public health concern, necessitating the development of efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable wastewater treatment technologies. Among various remediation strategies, activated carbon (AC) has garnered considerable attention as an effective adsorbent, owing to its high surface area, excellent porosity, and strong adsorption capacity. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of activated carbon, with a particular focus on its derivation from bamboo biomass—a renewable, abundant, and low-cost precursor. It explores the key physicochemical characteristics of bamboo-based AC, common synthesis techniques, and the role of modification strategies—particularly metal oxide doping with TiO₂, ZnO, and MoS₂—in enhancing dye removal performance. The mechanisms underlying dye remediation, including adsorption and photocatalysis, as well as the synergistic effects observed in advanced AC-based composites, are critically examined. Emphasis is placed on the degradation of commonly used textile dyes such as methylene blue (MB), rhodamine B (RhB), and reactive blue, supported by comparative analyses of efficiency, stability, and reusability across various studies. Finally, the review outlines current challenges and knowledge gaps in the field, offering perspectives on future research directions to advance the development and large-scale application of sustainable bamboo-derived activated carbon composites for effective and eco-friendly wastewater purification. Full article

The clam Meretrix meretrix (Linnaeus, 1758) is a commercially significant bivalve species widely distributed along China’s coast. To investigate the differences among geoducks from different geographic populations, this study investigated the geographical variations in morphology and key physiological traits among three populations spanning a latitudinal gradient: Liaoning Dandong (north), Jiangsu Rudong (center), and Guangxi Qinzhou (south). We analyzed nine morphological traits and measured physiological indicators—including filtration rate, feeding rate, oxygen consumption, ammonia excretion, and burrowing behavior—at two temperatures (18 °C and 20 °C). The results revealed significant morphological differentiation among the populations. Physiologically, the Guangxi population demonstrated superior adaptation to warmer conditions, exhibiting the highest feeding and metabolic rates at 20 °C. In contrast, the Liaoning population performed better at the lower temperature of 18 °C, while the Jiangsu population showed intermediate characteristics. Furthermore, burrowing capacity varied significantly, with the southern population having the highest burrowing rate. These findings demonstrate clear population-specific adaptations to local thermal environments, likely driven by long-term acclimatization. This study provides a crucial scientific basis for the conservation of genetic resources and informs regionalized aquaculture strategies for M. meretrix, emphasizing the importance of selecting locally adapted populations for cultivation. Full article

The mechanical performance of rail fasteners plays a crucial role in the track–structure interaction of high-speed railways. A reasonable lateral stiffness of the fastener system can enhance the stability and safety of train operation and prevent derailment accidents. Under seismic action, adjacent bridge spans undergo reciprocating displacement, causing the rail-fastener system near the beam ends to be subjected to lateral cyclic forces. To investigate the mechanical and deformation behavior of the WJ-8B fastener system under lateral loading, low-cycle reciprocating loading tests were conducted on the rail-fastener system considering different bolt torques. The load–displacement curves and torque–rotation curves of the fastener system were obtained, and formulas for calculating the characteristic values of the mechanical properties of the WJ-8B fastener system were fitted, which show good agreement with the experimental results. The results indicate that the lateral mechanical behavior of the WJ-8B fastener exhibits significant nonlinear characteristics, marked by three distinct inflection points in the load–displacement curve that delineate five stages: initial stage, rail shearing stage, rail sliding stage, rail contact stage, and three-point contact. The bolt torque is positively correlated with the lateral stiffness of the fastener system. Increasing the torque from 115 N·m to 190 N·m enhances the lateral bearing capacity by 29.06% in the push direction and by 38.74% in the pull direction. Meanwhile, the system torque decreases by 21.45% in the push direction and increases by 21.14% in the pull direction. Full article

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as versatile precursors and templates for developing high-performance electrode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), owing to their adjustable porosity, abundant metal-coordination sites, and structural flexibility. Among the diverse array of MOFs investigated, those based on manganese, copper, and cobalt, as well as their derivatives, have shown exceptional potential, exhibiting enhanced redox activity, structural integrity, and advantageous zinc-ion storage kinetics compared with many other MOF systems. This study emphasizes the synthesis methodologies, structural characteristics, and electrochemical benefits of these three significant MOF families. After a succinct overview of MOF chemistry, synthesis methodologies, and fundamental design principles for ZIB electrode materials, the article presents a systematic, comparative evaluation of Mn-MOFs, Cu-MOFs, Co-MOFs and V-MOFs, along with their corresponding metal oxides, sulfides, phosphates, carbon composites, and multidimensional hybrid structures. Recent publications for each MOF type are detailed in separate tables, including synthesis methods, morphological development, electrochemical behavior, and performance metrics. The discourse highlights the distinct properties of each metal center, Mn’s multivalent redox chemistry, Cu’s superior electron transport and coordination adaptability, and Co’s elevated activity and stable structures, which together facilitate improved ion diffusion, substantial reversible capacity, and prolonged cycling durability. Ultimately, existing obstacles and potential research avenues are delineated to advance MOF-based materials for next-generation aqueous ZIB systems. Full article

The transition to a low-carbon economy is profoundly reshaping European labour markets, creating both opportunities for sustainable employment and challenges for regions reliant on carbon-intensive sectors. Assessing how prepared EU Member States are for this shift remains difficult due to the lack of unified evaluation tools. This study introduces the Green Labour Market Readiness Index (GLMRI)—a composite measure assessing the adaptability of national labour markets to the energy-driven green transformation in nine EU countries: Germany, France, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Greece, Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic. The index integrates five dimensions—education and skills, investment and infrastructure, policy and institutional quality, labour market structure, and innovation—based on harmonized data from 2010 to 2024. Panel econometric models (Fixed and Random Effects), combined with Hausman tests, are used to examine how structurally independent external energy-system characteristics, institutional capacity, and macro-structural labour-market conditions are associated with observed variation in labour-market readiness, as captured by the GLMRI composite outcome. Machine learning algorithms (Random Forest, XGBoost, LSTM) are employed to forecast readiness trajectories until 2040 under alternative policy scenarios. Results reveal persistent asymmetries between Northwestern and Southeastern Europe, showing that successful energy transition is closely associated not only with investment and innovation but also with human capital and governance quality. These associations are interpreted as diagnostic rather than causal, highlighting how external structural conditions shape the translation of energy-transition pressures into differentiated labour-market outcomes. The GLMRI provides a methodological and policy-relevant framework, helping decision-makers prioritize resources and design measures that make Europe’s energy transition sustainable, inclusive, and equitable. Full article

This work aims to adsorb CO and CO₂ using a low-cost biogenic waste (bone) as a platform for the in situ growth of HKUST-1, employing two methodologies. The synthesized composite materials, BMOF2 and BMOF3, exhibited functional, textural, and structural characteristics that were modulated by the MOF growth pathway. SEM, RXD, FTIR, XPS, and the N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherm confirmed the growth of HKUST-1. Both methodologies yield the same MOF, but differ in surface area and shape. The relative and total coverage percentages were determined, as well as the apparent selectivity at a fixed time, establishing direct correlations between the structural and textural differences in the materials and their dynamic performance in the presence of both gases. Although the adsorption capacities obtained do not exceed those of other MOFs, the results from BMOF2 and BMOF3 demonstrate that the efficiency of an adsorbent depends not only on its capacity but also on its technological feasibility, including rapid processing and high capacities. The combination of abundant availability, a simple, sustainable, and reproducible synthetic route, and competitive performance makes these compounds viable alternatives for large-scale applications. Incorporating HKUTS-1 into bone as a functional material is a promising approach to developing new compounds for gas capture in the treatment of gas streams. Full article

As a major export crop in China, Saccharina japonica cultivation suffers from significant economic losses due to disease outbreaks, with pathogen identification remaining a critical bottleneck for mariculture. In this study, a dominant bacterial strain, LJ53, was isolated from the diseased farmed S. japonica. Artificial challenge assay confirmed that this strain is the direct causative agent of bleaching symptoms on sporophytes. Based on morphological characteristics and 16S rRNA gene-based phylogeny, it was identified as Pseudoalteromonas agarivorans LJ53. Ultrastructural observation revealed that this strain destroyed host cells and caused typical pathological changes such as chloroplast disintegration. Interestingly, metagenomic analysis showed no significant difference in the relative abundance of this pathogen between healthy and diseased S. japonica tissues. However, the co-occurrence network of the disease community exhibited increased connectivity, altered modularity, and features characteristic of microbial dysbiosis. This dysbiosis disrupts the water ecological balance by destabilizing microbial symbiosis and nutrient cycling, which are essential for overall ecosystem resilience. As a result, these imbalances can exacerbate disease transmission and weaken the self-regulating capacity of marine environment, highlighting the need for integrated management strategies to restore equilibrium. These findings provide a theoretical basis for elucidating the mechanisms of bacterial diseases in S. japonica and developing future control strategies. Full article

As core components of power grids, overhead transmission lines must traverse mountains and rivers, particularly in complex terrain where traditional wind speed prediction methods exhibit significant shortcomings in capturing sudden wind speed changes and spatial structural characteristics. The present study proposes a deep learning-based complex terrain wind speed prediction algorithm model utilizing meteorological data with the objective of enhancing the precision of wind speed variation prediction. The model utilizes historical meteorological data and terrain attributes derived from digital elevation models as inputs. The model’s design incorporates a terrain-aware temporal convolutional network and a terrain-modulated initialization strategy, resulting in high sensitivity to wind field variations. Subsequently, a terrain-relative position encoding bridging module is constructed to fuse local terrain features with spatial structural priors. A novel terrain-guided sparse attention mechanism is proposed to direct the model’s focus toward complex terrain regions, thereby enhancing the model’s capacity to predict wind speed with greater precision. The experimental results demonstrate that, for conventional wind speed prediction, this model reduces the mean absolute error and root mean square error by 6.6% and 30%, respectively, compared to current mainstream models. In tasks involving strong wind prediction, the model exhibits a reduction in the average false negative rate and false positive rate by 11.3% and 4.7%, respectively, when compared to conventional models. This finding suggests the model’s efficacy and robustness in complex terrain wind speed prediction tasks. Full article