Search Results (1,231)

IT help desks at large organizations face a high volume of recurrent, well-documented user requests that nevertheless require human-written replies, creating a persistent staff workload that is repetitive in content but non-trivial in tone and procedural correctness. We present FroLineR, short for Front-Line Response, a system that drafts the initial staff reply to such tickets in the login and account-activation category and integrates into a human-in-the-loop ticketing workflow on a Romanian-language ticketing platform. The generator is an unmodified instruct model augmented with retrieval from a small set of hand-curated guide documents, using a Romanian system prompt refined over several rounds of staff review. To evaluate and refine the prompt without manual labeling, we cluster the first user message of every historical thread with both BERTopic and Semantic Signal Separation ($S^3$), score configurations along coherence and lexical-diversity axes, and extract a 200-message evaluation set from the winning model. Prompt convergence was certified by several rounds of manual review by support staff. The production system is quantized to Q4_K_M GGUF, served through llama-cpp-python behind a small Flask API, and deployed with GPU offloading on the target server, reducing end-to-end per-answer latency from approximately 830 s on the server’s CPU to roughly 61 s once layers are offloaded to the GPU, with no observable degradation in answer quality. Full article

Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are now included in the plastic wrap used to protect seed cotton formed into cylindrical or “round” modules on modern cotton harvesters. In this paper, the development of a new work tool system for handling round modules with articulated wheel loaders or telehandlers is described. The work tool system reads the module-specific identification number from the RFID tags in the wrap and associates the module’s weight, seed cotton moisture content, GPS location, cotton ownership, and load information with the module serial number. Finite element analysis of critical components indicated that the system was capable of processing modules weighing 3178 kg (7000 lb.) Module weight was determined on the loader using measurements of the hydraulic pressure in the lift arm circuit. Seed cotton moisture content was measured using a custom-designed resistance-based probe. To help reduce the potential for lint bale contamination from module wrap plastic, the work tool system was designed to rotate modules so that the wrap can be cut within the manufacturer-recommended cut zone before the wrap is removed at the gin. The total cost for the system configured for fully automated data collection and module rotation control was $28,909. Full article

This study investigates the direct tensile mechanical behavior of cement mortar plates reinforced with a galvanized steel mesh and randomly incorporated alkali-resistant glass fibers. An experimental program was executed using direct tensile tests on thin mortar specimens containing fiber volumetric fractions of 0%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% relative to the cement volume. To rigorously characterize the mechanical response, the study quantified the apparent initial stiffness, 0.2% offset stress, ultimate tensile strength, and post-offset energy absorption capacity. Results indicate that increasing alkali-resistant glass-fiber content systematically modified the global tensile response of the composite system. At 10% glass-fiber content, the mean crosshead-derived apparent initial tensile stiffness was 10.43 times that of the reference group without glass fibers. The characteristic stress determined using the adopted 0.2% offset criterion and the ultimate tensile strength increased by 154.5% and 74.1%, respectively, while the apparent post-offset energy absorption increased by 68.4%. Because strain was derived from crosshead displacement, the apparent stiffness and energy-absorption parameters represent the global specimen–grip–machine response rather than intrinsic material properties. The experimental results exhibited acceptable repeatability, although the apparent tensile stiffness showed greater variability than the strength-related parameters. These findings support the continued development of the investigated composite configuration for thin cementitious elements requiring improved tensile response and damage tolerance. Full article

The growing demand for virtual reality and immersive applications has increased interest in 360° video streaming. When viewing omnidirectional content through a head-mounted display, users observe only a limited portion of the content, i.e., the viewport, at any given time. Consequently, transmitting the complete panoramic frame at uniformly high quality is bandwidth-inefficient. This review presents a system-level analysis of viewport-adaptive three-degree-of-freedom (3DoF) 360° video streaming, focusing on the coupled roles of viewport prediction, tile-based multi-rate encoding and bitrate allocation, transport mechanisms, and edge-assisted processing. The reviewed literature is examined to identify the design dependencies and trade-offs among these components. Viewport-adaptive approaches seek to reduce the bandwidth allocated to regions outside the instantaneous viewport while preserving the quality of the visible region. The analysis shows that their effectiveness cannot be attributed to prediction accuracy alone: the resulting Quality of Experience (QoE) depends jointly on tile granularity, bitrate allocation, buffer occupancy, transport delay, and whether prioritized tiles arrive before their playback deadlines. Finer tiling can improve spatial selectivity but increases coding, signaling, and request overhead. Moreover, HTTP/2, HTTP/3/QUIC, RTP/RTSP, and WebRTC present different reliability, latency, congestion-control, and scalability trade-offs across buffered video-on-demand, low-latency live streaming, and interactive immersive applications. Based on this synthesis, the review formulates a unified closed-loop cross-layer framework that coordinates prediction, tiling, bitrate allocation, request timing, transport configuration, buffering, and edge processing under bandwidth, latency, and resource constraints. Full article

Generative AI shopping assistants are becoming a primary touchpoint for online consumers, yet they often produce convincing but inaccurate content, a phenomenon known as AI hallucination that poses an under-studied risk to consumer trust in e-commerce. This study explains that phenomenon by building and testing a moderated mediation model grounded in Expectation Violation Theory, Epistemic Vigilance Theory, and Algorithmic Trust Repair Theory. A sequential, exploratory mixed-methods design was used: a qualitative phase identified the dimensions and configurational pathways of consumer trust withdrawal using the Gioia methodology and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis, and a subsequent large-scale quantitative phase tested and refined the resulting model across a multi-country European sample using partial least squares structural equation modeling and Necessary Condition Analysis. The results show that exposure to hallucinations triggers expectation violation, activating epistemic vigilance and reducing perceived AI competence; this sequence drives trust recalibration, reflected in lower continued-use and purchase intentions and greater negative word-of-mouth. AI literacy, prior trust, and transparency cues significantly moderate these relationships, and structural trust repair mechanisms, namely retrieval-augmented generation and uncertainty disclosure, prove more effective than purely communicative repair strategies. Theoretically, this study advances a dynamic account of trust recalibration in AI-mediated commerce; practically, it offers concrete guidance for platform design and regulatory policy under the EU AI Act. Full article

Objectives: The aim was to evaluate the mechanical, physical, and surface properties, as well as the microstructure, of three direct resin composites with different formulations (CLEARFIL AP-X, MAJESTY ES Flow, and MAJESTY ES-2) from the same manufacturer. Methods: Mechanical properties, including flexural strength, flexural modulus, and fracture toughness, were determined for each material (n = 8/material) according to ISO standards. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to determine the degree of conversion (DC%). Two-body wear was evaluated using a ball-on-flat configuration in a chewing simulator for 15,000 cycles, and wear depth was measured using a non-contact 3D optical profilometer. Polymerization shrinkage stress was measured using a tensilometer. Surface roughness and gloss were evaluated on disk-shaped specimens (n = 5/material) after polishing with 2400- and 4000-grit abrasive papers. Microstructural characterization was performed using scanning electron microscopy. Data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by Tukey’s HSD test (α = 0.05). Results: CLEARFIL AP-X exhibited the highest flexural strength (186.95 MPa), flexural modulus (19.25 GPa), and fracture toughness (1.50 MPa m^1/2) among the tested materials (p < 0.05). However, it also showed the highest surface roughness and the lowest gloss values. MAJESTY ES Flow demonstrated the lowest wear depth and the highest gloss and polymerization shrinkage stress, whereas MAJESTY ES-2 exhibited the greatest wear and the lowest DC%. Conclusions: The three resin composites exhibited distinct mechanical, physical, surface, and microstructural characteristics associated with differences in their formulations, including filler content, filler morphology, and resin matrix composition. No single material demonstrated superior performance across all evaluated properties, highlighting the importance of selecting resin composites according to the specific clinical requirements. Full article

The corrosion behavior of AISI 316Ti stainless steel was examined in NaCl solutions (0.9%, 3.5%, and 5%), whereas tribocorrosion tests were performed in both chloride-containing solutions and distilled water as a reference environment. Potentiodynamic polarization tests were performed to evaluate passive film stability, while tribocorrosion experiments were conducted under a 10 N normal load using a ball-on-flat configuration with continuous monitoring of open circuit potential (OCP) and coefficient of friction (COF). Surface degradation was quantified using optical 3D profilometry and scanning electron microscopy. Electrochemical results confirmed passive behavior in all environments; however, increasing chloride concentration shifted corrosion and pitting potentials toward more negative values and reduced passive stability. During sliding, a pronounced cathodic OCP shift indicated mechanical depassivation, with the magnitude of the shift increasing in chloride-rich solutions. Repassivation after sliding was progressively hindered as NaCl concentration increased. Wear analysis revealed a clear dependence on chloride content, with the wear area in 5% NaCl (0.0020 mm²) exceeding that in distilled water (0.0009 mm²) by approximately 122%. Abrasive wear was identified as the dominant mechanism, accompanied by delamination wear in highly aggressive environments. The results demonstrate a strong synergistic interaction between wear and corrosion, with chloride concentration significantly intensifying tribocorrosion-induced material degradation. Full article

Coastal sandy ecosystems face compounded abiotic stresses, including nutrient-poor soils, strong winds, and salt spray, making vegetation restoration highly challenging. Plant functional traits are key indicators of adaptive strategies under environmental stress, yet systematic studies on leaf, twig, and root functional traits of bamboo stands under different silvicultural regimes in coastal sandy land remain scarce. This study examined six stand types on Dongshan Island, Fujian Province: monospecific stands of Bambusa oldhamii Munro, Phyllostachys nidularia f. farcata Wen, and Bambusa tuldoides ‘Swolleninternode’, and their corresponding mixed stands with Casuarina equisetifolia L. (bamboo-to-C. equisetifolia ratio 7:3). Eighteen morphological and structural indices spanning three organ categories, leaf morphology (leaf area, specific leaf area [SLA], leaf tissue density [LTD], etc.), twig structure (wood density, dry matter content, etc.), and root morphology (specific root length [SRL], specific root surface area [SRA], root tissue density [RTD], etc.), were measured and analysed using Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA). Results: (1) Coefficients of variation (CV) for leaf and twig traits ranged from 11.29% to 74.61%; leaf area (CV = 74.61%) and twig wood density (CV = 71.91%) were most variable, indicating high phenotypic plasticity of bamboo in coastal sandy environments. (2) Twig wood density in monospecific stands of B. oldhamii (0.346 g cm⁻³) was significantly higher than in all other stands (p < 0.05), reflecting a conservative water-transport strategy; mixed stands of B. oldhamii had significantly higher SRL and SRA than other stands (p < 0.05), indicating stronger root resource-acquisition capacity. (3) PCA revealed that leaf area, leaf volume, SLA, LTD, SRL, average root diameter, total root volume, total root surface area, and twig wood density (TWD) were the key traits distinguishing stands under different silvicultural regimes; monospecific stands scored higher overall than mixed stands, reflecting superior leaf, twig, and root functional coordination. Different silvicultural regimes significantly shape the functional adaptive strategies of bamboo in coastal sandy land. Bamboo plants integrate leaf, twig, and root traits in a coordinated, resource-conservative manner to withstand coastal stresses. These findings provide a theoretical basis for bamboo species selection and mixed-stand configuration in coastal shelterbelt management. Full article

To ensure large-scale production of plant-derived polyphenols, efficient and scalable in vitro culture systems are needed that can enable high biomass accumulation and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The present study evaluates the suitability of transformed Salvia bulleyana shoot and hairy root cultures for biomass growth and phenolic compound production in different bioreactor systems, including two temporary immersion systems (PlantForm™ and RITA^®) and a nutrient sprinkle bioreactor (NSB). A pronounced system- and organ-specific response was observed. In transformed shoot cultures, the RITA^® bioreactor promoted high growth and volumetric productivity, although metabolite accumulation was lowered by partial hyperhydricity. In contrast, the PlantForm™ system provided more stable morphogenesis and higher polyphenol content, although less effective growth. In hairy root cultures, the NSB proved to be the most effective system, combining high biomass productivity with greater phenolic compound accumulation; total polyphenol content reached 65.1 mg/g DW, with rosmarinic acid (RA) constituting up to 78% of total phenolics. The highest volumetric productivity was achieved in NSB-grown hairy roots, reaching 837.9 mg/L total polyphenols and 651.3 mg/L RA. Secondary metabolism was further enhanced by elicitation with 100 μm methyl jasmonate applied under optimized bioreactor conditions. In transformed shoot cultures, elicitation increased RA accumulation by 63%, resulting in final productivity of 1164 mg/L RA, and 1250 mg/L total polyphenols. In hairy root cultures, RA accumulation increased by 44%, leading to final productivity of 795 mg/L RA and 933 mg/L total polyphenols. Our findings indicate that the balance between biomass growth and secondary metabolism in S. bulleyana cultures is determined by bioreactor configuration. The nutrient sprinkle bioreactor represents a highly effective platform for phenolic acid production in hairy root cultures, whereas temporary immersion systems can be successfully applied for transformed shoot cultivation. The combination of tailored bioreactor strategies with methyl jasmonate elicitation provides a promising approach for scalable production of high-value phenolic compounds in plant in vitro culture systems. Full article

This study aimed to optimize the spray-drying (SD) process for aquafaba and compare the physical and techno-functional properties of the resulting powder with those of its freeze-dried (FD) counterpart. A Box–Behnken design was employed to evaluate the effects of inlet air temperature (150–190 °C), air speed (3.5–4.3 m/s), and feed flow rate (0.3–0.5 L/h) on 14 quality responses. The optimized SD conditions were determined to be an inlet air temperature of 189 °C, an air speed of 4.2 m/s, and a feed flow rate of 0.3 L/h. Validation experiments demonstrated that the developed models had high predictive capacity, with only a small discrepancy (0.56–5.88%) between the predicted and experimental values. Comparative analysis showed that the optimized SD powder had significantly lower moisture content (2.47%) and water activity (0.18) than the FD powder (3.51% and 0.34, respectively), indicating superior storage stability. In addition, the SD powder exhibited greater whiteness (82.37), higher water solubility (88.44%), and substantially greater foaming capacity (266.67%) than the FD sample (243.33%). Although the FD powder demonstrated better wettability and water absorption capacity because of its porous structure, FTIR spectroscopy and protein secondary structure analysis confirmed that SD preserved the functional integrity of aquafaba. Specifically, SD induced a transition from disordered random-coil structures to more ordered β-sheet and β-turn configurations, thereby improving foaming performance. Overall, these findings indicate that optimized spray-drying is a highly efficient and industrially scalable alternative to freeze-drying for producing functional aquafaba powder for use as a plant-based egg substitute. Full article

Indonesia has committed to displacing diesel generation with solar PV and battery energy storage (PV-BESS) microgrids on its isolated island grids. However, no PV-BESS project on an isolated grid has reached financial close through the independent power producer procurement channel to date. Existing studies attribute this gap to implementation failure. This study proposes and tests an alternative hypothesis that the failure originates in the regulatory architecture itself. An Intent–Mechanism–Outcome analytical framework integrates directed qualitative content analysis of 30 regulatory instruments with discounted cash flow modeling of two island case studies (Sapudi, East Java, and Sabu, East Nusa Tenggara) under the actual tariff, procurement, and fiscal parameters governing private developers. The analysis identifies four interlocking regulatory mechanisms that collectively reproduce diesel dependence through tariff circularity, procurement asymmetry, fiscal channel asymmetry, and a BESS tariff penalty. Financial modeling produces debt service coverage ratios below the 1.30× lender covenant for PV-BESS with a 50% renewable energy share. Equity net present value is negative at the 12% required return, confirming that the projects cannot meet bankability thresholds on either a debt or equity basis. Only the smallest configuration (36–40% renewable share) clears bankability thresholds on either island, revealing a perverse regulatory selection mechanism that rewards minimal diesel displacement. The binding constraint is the tariff ceiling architecture, not technology cost or financing terms. Full article

The valorisation of textile wool waste through sustainable conversion technologies such as pyrolysis has gained increasing attention as an effective strategy to reduce textile waste, recover valuable resources, and support the transition toward a circular economy. Herein, we investigated the pyrolysis of processed wool textile waste in CO₂ and N₂ atmospheres to recover valuable products and reduce the environmental impact. Key factors such as the temperature, carrier gas type, feed size, condensation set-up, and reactor configuration were evaluated for their influence on product distribution and quality. Pyrolysis at 900 °C in the presence of CO₂ led to greater gas formation (79 wt%), enhanced the stability and BET surface area of the char (10–12 wt%), and increased byproducts including phenol and indole in the bio-oil (13 wt%) product. CO made up over 65% of the gas at 900 °C due to the prevalence of the reverse (endothermic) Boudouard reaction, with the remnant gas made of CO₂ (21%) and small amounts of NH₃ (2%), HCN (0.8%) and SO₂ (0.3%). This CO-rich gas could have industrial applications such as Fischer–Tropsch after conditioning and N/S removal. Moreover, the higher carbon content (82.5% at 900 °C) increased the stability of char produced with CO₂ (compared to N₂), making it suitable for soil enhancement (~10% N at 900 °C) or pollutant removal and allowing it to be categorised and marketed as biochar. Despite low-temperature pyrolysis (350 °C) not being efficient in decomposing the whole wool waste, a staged pyrolysis with an initial low-temperature stage was shown to be effective in separately removing bromine-rich compounds. In summary, this study provides insights into the thermal decomposition behaviour of wool and the influence of the reaction conditions and reactor type on product distribution. Full article

Ice lenses in natural frozen soils commonly exhibit inclined and heterogeneous distributions, and their spatial morphology significantly influences the mechanical behavior of frozen soils. To investigate the coupled regulatory mechanism of ice lens inclination angle and thickness on the mechanical properties of frozen silty clay, specimens containing artificial single-layer ice lenses with varying inclination angles (0°, 10°, 20°, 30°) and thicknesses (5 mm, 15 mm) were prepared under constant temperature, water content, and loading rate conditions. Low-temperature uniaxial compression tests were conducted, and the results were systematically analyzed in conjunction with discrete element method (DEM) simulations and a modified Duncan–Chang model. The results indicate that increasing the ice lens inclination angle leads to a nonlinear reduction in the deviatoric stress at 15% axial strain, with the failure mode transitioning from compression-induced bulging to shear sliding dominance. When the ice lens thickness increased from 5 mm to 15 mm, the deviatoric stress at 15% axial strain further decreased across all inclination angles, accompanied by a reduction in the composite modulus. The response surface prediction formulas for parameters a and b, established based on experimental data, effectively describe the stress–strain relationships. DEM simulations reveal, at the mesoscale, the asymmetric displacement field and shear band evolution mechanisms governed by inclined ice layers, with bond breakage accelerating as the inclination angle increases. This study clarifies the coupled effects of ice lens spatial configuration and confining pressure on the mechanical response of frozen soils, providing a theoretical reference for bearing capacity assessment of frozen ground containing inclined ice lenses. Full article

Global trade governance is being reshaped as multilateral rulemaking and dispute settlement face persistent constraints. However, it remains unclear whether this development signals institutional decline or a layered allocation of governance functions across interconnected venues. This study develops a functional-allocation framework and examines rulemaking, enforcement, and coordination across the World Trade Organization (WTO), WTO-linked mechanisms, and regional trade agreements (RTAs). The framework distinguishes directly observable functional allocation from functional reallocation as a process-oriented interpretation of institutional change. The analysis combines a mapping of 282 RTA governance events entering into force between 2000 and 2025 with treaty content and institutional design data and a structured comparison of WTO core agreements, differentiated arrangements, enforcement supplements, and plurilateral initiatives. The findings identify a layered trade architecture rather than a simple shift away from the WTO. The WTO retains selected multilateral functions, differentiated arrangements sustain selective cooperation within its framework, and WTO-linked mechanisms supplement constrained appellate enforcement. RTAs provide additional venues for rulemaking, enforcement, and coordination. Among directly classified RTA events, formal adjudication increased from 76.0% in 2000–2004 to 100.0% in 2020–2025. Formal adjudication and institutionalized coordination are also positively associated with core substantive treaty depth. These patterns are consistent with functional allocation across a layered architecture, but do not establish that WTO constraints caused the observed institutional configurations. Full article

The increasing demand for technology-supported instructional solutions has created opportunities to develop learning systems that integrate curriculum alignment, instructional design, and learner-centered interaction within a unified educational framework. This study presents the design and validation of a Technology-Aided Interactive Mathematics Learning Framework that functions as an instructional support system for Grade 3 subtraction involving three- to four-digit numbers with and without regrouping. The proposed framework adopts the Four-D (4D) instructional development model as its system development methodology and incorporates structured content organization, interactive learning components, and curriculum-driven instructional configuration. A mixed-method developmental research approach was employed involving fourteen participants, including twelve Grade 3 teachers and two master teachers from public elementary schools in Alcantara, Romblon, Philippines. A needs assessment identified subtraction with regrouping as the highest-priority instructional challenge. The resulting instructional system was evaluated using the Department of Education Evaluation Rating Sheet for Print Resources and achieved an overall Very Satisfactory rating across content integrity, interface organization, presentation, instructional architecture, and information accuracy. Qualitative analysis further demonstrated that the framework supports curriculum alignment, contextual adaptability, learner engagement, and reusable instructional deployment while identifying opportunities for improving inclusivity and interface presentation. The findings demonstrate that the proposed technology-aided instructional framework provides a practical, scalable, and sustainable learning support configuration that can serve as a foundation for future intelligent educational systems, adaptive learning platforms, and digital instructional environments. Full article