Search Results (36,394)

Spectral interrogation of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) in the ~850 nm band remains relatively uncommon, largely due to the limited availability of commercial instruments and the restricted applicability of conventional interrogation schemes in this wavelength range. This work presents a practical and high-precision wavelength demodulation method for 850 nm FBG sensing based on an imaging Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) spectrometer. A Czerny–Turner (C–T) optical configuration is employed for spatial spectral dispersion, and the optical system is theoretically analyzed and optimized using ZEMAX to balance spectral resolution, optical throughput, and compactness. A polynomial wavelength–pixel calibration model is established, and Gaussian fitting is adopted for robust peak-position extraction under multimode fiber conditions. Experimental validation is carried out using four serially cascaded FBGs distributed over 830–880 nm. The wavelength–pixel calibration yields an RMS residual of 0.46 nm. Within a strain range of 0–2000 με, the average wavelength demodulation bias of a single FBG is 6.8 pm, with a wavelength demodulation RMS error of 86.9 pm and a measured strain sensitivity of 0.72 pm/με. The results demonstrate that the proposed CCD-based imaging interrogation scheme is feasible for 850 nm FBG sensing and enables accurate wavelength demodulation in this relatively underexplored band. Since the system is implemented using standard off-the-shelf components, it also provides a practical technical route for the deployment of FBG sensing systems in engineering applications. Full article

The obligate mutualism between Ficus and its pollinating wasps provides a suitable system to investigate these dynamics because it encompasses two contrasting pollination modes: active and passive. Here we compared pollen traits in an actively pollinated fig tree, Ficus citrifolia, and a passively pollinated species, F. obtusiuscula, examining pollen both at anther presentation and after deposition on the bodies of their pollinating wasps. Pollen morphology, hydration-related behavior, cytology, and reserve composition were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (conventional and modified), light and transmission electron microscopy, histochemical assays, and viability tests. Across species, pollen traits at anthesis showed broad overlap in morphology, viability and major reserve classes, indicating that these characteristics are not consistently predicted by pollination mode alone. In both species, pollen was bicellular, harmomegathic and highly viable at presentation, consistent with resilience during transport. The main divergence emerged after pollen transfer to the pollinator. In the actively pollinated species, pollen recovered from wasp thoracic pockets exhibited pronounced intracellular remodeling, including vacuolization, starch depletion, lipid redistribution and localized cytoplasmic degradation. By contrast, pollen of the passively pollinated species retained a comparatively stable cytological organization after transport despite changes in reserve distribution. These results suggest that the more pronounced cytoplasmic reorganization observed in the pollen of the actively pollinated species after deposition on the wasp body may represent a preparatory phase for rapid germination following pollination, reflecting the stronger dependence of larval development on successful flower fertilization in actively pollinated figs. More broadly, our study provides the first comparative account of pollen structural and cytophysiological dynamics on fig-wasp bodies, linking pollen cell biology to pollinator-mediated dispersal and highlighting how different pollination strategies may impose distinct selective pressures on male gametophytes. Full article

Fabry–Perot resonator (FPR) sensors are widely implemented in optical and microwave waveguides because their interference fringe spectra enable highly sensitive, stable, and calibration-free measurements. In contrast, despite the extensive use of beams and plates as waveguides in vibration- and ultrasound-based structural health monitoring (SHM), an explicit FPR framework for these mechanical waveguides has not been established. This paper demonstrates that flexural beams can be rigorously treated as FPRs despite their inherently dispersive nature. Through analytical derivation, wave-propagation analysis, and fringe-based group-velocity extraction, we show that flexural-beam resonances arise from multi-reflection interference analogous to Fabry–Perot interference. A closed-form relationship between the frequency-dependent group velocity and the FPR free spectral range (FSR) is established, enabling inverse determination of mechanical or environmental perturbance from the FPR fringe spectrum. By extending FPR-based fringe analysis to dispersive mechanical waveguides, this work introduces a theoretical framework for implementing dispersive mechanical waveguide-based FPR sensors. Full article

Intranasal administration is a promising drug delivery route enabling precise and rapid central nervous system targeting. In our previous work, twelve hybrid colloidal dispersions were developed, consisting of synthetic poly(ethylene-oxide)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL) block copolymers with an increasing proportion of the hydrophobic PCL segment, Tween 80 (Tw80) and β-cyclodextrin derivatives (βCD), either methyl-β-CD (MβCD) or hydroxy-propyl-β-CD (HPβCD) for IN delivery of ropinirole hydrochloride (RH). Colloidal dispersions were prepared at different weight ratios (system/RH equal to 10:1 and 10:5), characterized and evaluated in vitro. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ex vivo permeation through rabbit nasal mucosa and determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of RH, when administered intranasally as a colloidal dispersion, compared with oral and intranasal RH solutions in C57BL/6J mice. Ex vivo permeation studies showed that all formulations significantly enhanced RH permeation compared to the pure RH solution (0.5 mg/mL, pH 5.6). Among them, F4 [(PEO-b-PCL₁/Tw80/HPβCD)/RH 10:5] was selected for further investigation. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that F4 significantly enhanced both systemic and brain exposure of RH, achieving higher serum AUC and C_max values, despite a 3-fold lower administered dose compared to the oral dose. It showed high systemic (F_rel(Serum) = 1815%) and brain (F_rel(Brain) = 363%) relative bioavailability compared with oral administration, underscoring its potential as an intranasal delivery system for efficient CNS targeting. Full article

The effect of A-site substitution on the morphological and electrochemical properties of La_1-xSr_xMnO₃ (x = 0, 0.25, 0.50) perovskites was investigated to evaluate their potential as electrode materials for supercapacitors. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of the perovskite structure, with minor peak shifts and distortion of crystal structure induced by Sr substitution. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed irregularly shaped particulate morphology across all perovskite compositions. The increasing amount of Sr as in La_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃ (LSM-50) favored the formation of nanosized particles, and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis confirmed the presence of all constituent elements; EDX elemental mapping also showed a uniform distribution of all elements in the various perovskite compositions. Among all compositions, La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ (LSM-25) possessed the highest specific capacitance (C_sp) of 483 Fg⁻¹ at 1 Ag⁻¹ current density in 3 M KOH electrolyte, as determined by electrochemical analysis. This perovskite material also exhibited a capacitance retention of 87.8% after 5000 charge–discharge cycles. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that LSM-25 showed the lowest solution resistance (0.68 Ω*cm²) and charge transfer resistance (1.52 Ω*cm²), indicating strong electrode–electrolyte interaction. Detailed analysis of cyclic voltammetry data revealed that the predominant charge storage mechanism was diffusive in nature, with 88% of the diffusive contribution registered for LSM-25. These findings demonstrate that Sr substitution at the A-site significantly enhances the energy storage performance of LaMnO₃, making it a promising candidate for supercapacitor applications. Full article

The Janus monolayers have recently attracted substantial interest due to their unique asymmetric structures and intriguing physical properties. In this work, we explore the thermoelectric properties of the Janus monolayer ZrBrI, using first-principles calculations and Boltzmann transport theory. We demonstrate that the system maintains good dynamic and thermal stability, as evidenced by the absence of imaginary phonon modes and small lattice fluctuation at a higher temperature of 600 K. The hybrid functional calculations reveal that the monolayer exhibits a relatively small indirect gap of 1.22 eV, and the energy bands near the conduction band minimum exhibit double degeneracy with weak dispersions, which is very beneficial for enhancing the n-type power factor. Meanwhile, a relatively lower lattice thermal conductivity is found due to strong lattice anharmonicity caused by the antibonding state and the symmetry breaking of the structure. Collectively, a larger ZT value of 3.9 at 600 K can be realized for the n-type Janus monolayer ZrBrI at an optimal concentration of $1.89\times {10}^{13} {\mathrm{cm}}^{-2}$, highlighting its promising thermoelectric application in the intermediate temperature region. Full article

Recently, two novel extensions of the Weibull distribution have been introduced through Manly’s exponential transformation, offering a flexible mechanism for modeling skewness, tail behavior, and complex hazard rate structures. In this study, we develop a comprehensive theoretical and inferential framework for one of these models, referred to as the Baker–T1 distribution, to establish it as a mature and practically viable lifetime model for reliability and survival analysis. While the Baker–T1 model exhibits remarkable flexibility in capturing skewness, tail behavior, and complex hazard rate shapes, its statistical properties and practical performance have not yet been systematically investigated. To bridge this gap, we derive a wide range of fundamental distributional characteristics, including reliability measures, hazard and reversed-hazard functions, quantiles, moments, skewness, kurtosis, dispersion indices, and order statistics, establishing the model’s analytical tractability and structural richness. An extensive inferential framework is introduced by implementing eight classical estimation techniques, and their finite-sample behavior is rigorously examined through a large-scale Monte Carlo simulation study under diverse parameter configurations. The practical relevance of the Baker–T1 model is further demonstrated using two genuine datasets from biomedical and engineering domains, where it consistently outperforms thirteen competing lifetime distributions according to likelihood-based and information-theoretic criteria. Full article

Traditional polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) faces limitations in smart dimming applications due to high driving voltage and poor high-temperature stability. In this study, a high-birefringence liquid crystal (QYPDLC-901) was used to prepare PDLC films with liquid crystal contents ranging from 72 wt% to 80 wt%, achieved through synergistic regulation of a low-functional acrylic polymer system and a low-intensity curing process. The effects of liquid crystal content, cell gap, and temperature on electro-optical properties were systematically investigated. Optimal performance was obtained at a liquid crystal content of 77 wt%, with a low threshold voltage of 2.9 V, saturation voltage of 7 V, fast response (rise time 4.2 ms, decay time 47 ms), and a favorable balance between high on-state and low off-state transmittance. Microstructural analysis revealed that the superior performance results from uniform droplet dispersion and low interfacial energy. Furthermore, the PDLC exhibited excellent switching stability from 23 °C to 90 °C, maintaining a maximum transmittance of 93% at 90 °C, with increases of only 0.4 V in threshold voltage and 0.1 V in saturation voltage. This study provides an experimental basis for designing smart dimming devices suitable for low-voltage driving and extreme environments. Full article

The foaming of hydrogels presents a promising strategy for tailoring mechanical and radiological properties to replicate biological soft tissues for biomedical phantom applications. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) framework is developed to predict void fraction distribution in alginate hydrogel precursor solutions aerated by air injection through a bottom nozzle. The objective is to use the framework for the design of the foaming system to match the desired gas-fraction distribution and radiological property. Seven parametric cases are investigated, varying inlet air velocity, alginate concentration, and surface tension. Results show that higher inlet velocities promote stronger jet penetration and greater gas accumulation, while increasing alginate concentration confines the bubble plume, with quasi-steady gas fractions displaying a non-monotonic trend with concentration. Elevated surface tension yields broader plume coverage and improved gas distribution uniformity at the expense of peak void fraction. The predicted void fractions map to Hounsfield Unit (HU) values of −34 to −103, corresponding to adipose and fatty breast tissue attenuation (−50 to −150 HU). The peak gas fraction at 5.0 wt% alginate yields −307 HU, approaching published experimental CT measurements for the same formulation (−460 to −233 HU). Full article

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill site selection is a complex multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem involving uncertainty and conflicting criteria. Although spherical fuzzy extensions of the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (SF-TOPSIS) are widely used, existing studies rely on conventional distance measures that do not fully capture the geometric structure of spherical fuzzy sets. To address this limitation, this study proposes an enhanced SF-TOPSIS framework incorporating a novel spherical distance measure to improve consistency, discrimination capability, and structural compatibility. The framework integrates Spherical Fuzzy Weighted Arithmetic Mean (SWAM) and Spherical Fuzzy Weighted Geometric Mean (SWGM) operators and evaluates robustness using Spearman rank correlation. Additionally, a coefficient of variation (CV)-based analysis is conducted to examine the dispersion of closeness coefficients. The applicability of the approach is demonstrated through a landfill site selection case; however, the main contribution lies in a generalized distance-based formulation applicable to various MCDM problems. Results show that the proposed distance improves agreement between aggregation operators, increasing correlation values from 0.905 to 0.976, while producing a more stable distribution of closeness coefficients. Overall, the study advances spherical fuzzy MCDM by introducing a geometrically consistent distance formulation. Full article

The CO₂ storage–regeneration (CO₂-SR) process represents a promising strategy for integrating CO₂ capture and catalytic conversion within a single cyclic operation using multifunctional catalysts. In this concept, CO₂ is first stored on basic sites and subsequently converted through methane activation, enabling the coupling of CO₂ capture and reforming reactions in a single reactor. In this work, a series of unsupported Ni–Ba catalysts were investigated as model multifunctional materials for the CO₂-SR process. Catalysts with different Ni/Ba ratios were prepared to analyze how the distribution of storage and catalytic sites influences the cyclic CO₂ capture–conversion behavior. In addition, Rh was introduced as a promoter either during synthesis by co-precipitation or ex situ by impregnation, allowing to evaluate the influence of Rh location and surface enrichment on the catalytic properties. Rh incorporation in the NiBa catalyst (Ni/Ba = 10/1 and Ni/Rh = 100/1) increased the specific surface area (BET area 64 m²·g⁻¹ vs. 55 m²·g⁻¹ for NiBa) and reduced the NiO crystallite size from 250.4 Å to 231.5 Å, indicating improved dispersion of the metallic phase. XPS analysis revealed the coexistence of Rh⁰ and Rh³⁺ species, suggesting that Rh acts as a redox mediator that facilitates hydrogen activation and promotes hydrogen spillover to neighboring Ni sites. Raman and CO₂-TPD results show that Ba-derived domains stabilize carbonate species responsible for CO₂ storage, while Rh enhances catalyst reducibility and modifies the kinetics of carbonate decomposition during the regeneration stage. Transient CO₂–CH₄ pulse experiments demonstrate that the CO₂-SR process proceeds through a dynamic surface cycle involving reversible carbonate formation on Ba-derived basic sites coupled with methane activation on Ni-containing interfacial sites. The results indicate that catalyst performance is governed by a hierarchical surface architecture composed of Ni–O–Ba interfacial domains, reversible Ba–O–Ba carbonate storage sites, and more stable Ba-rich domains. The distribution of these domains, controlled by the Ni/Ba ratio and the dispersion of the metallic phase, determines the reversibility of carbonate formation and the efficiency of the cyclic CO₂ storage–regeneration process. Full article

Building upon our previous research in which we derived two formulations of the governing equations expressed in terms of $\left(\rho ,\mathit{B},\mathit{v}\right)$ and the perturbation displacement $\mathit{\xi }$, we extend our analysis to investigate the dispersion relation of linear magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves in a one-dimensional flux-sheet magneto-lattice. The convergence of the dispersion relations is examined by increasing the truncation order of the reciprocal lattice vectors from 3 to 10, for the central equations expressed in terms of $\left(\rho ,\mathit{B},\mathit{v}\right)$, and for modulation amplitudes of $B_m=0.01$, $0.02$, $0.1$, $0.2$, $0.3$ and $0.4$. The dispersion relations obtained at different truncation orders exhibit rapid convergence for small modulation amplitudes $B_m$, with only minor discrepancies emerging as $B_m$ increases, indicating overall satisfactory convergence of the plane wave expansion (PWE) method within the investigated parameter range. A comparative analysis with the previously studied sinusoidal magneto-lattice reveals that, while the overall dispersion structure remains qualitatively similar, the flux-sheet magneto-lattice yields wider bandgaps at equivalent modulation amplitudes. This is shown to result from the distinct Fourier spectra of the two periodic structures, which differ in both the magnitude and the harmonic content of their reciprocal lattice components. Full article

Single-player role-playing games (RPGs) combine two promises that do not always align: delivering a compelling narrative experience (world, characters, choices, and consequences) while sustaining a demanding ludic trajectory in which players face obstacles, master systems, and progress over time. This Systematic Literature Review (SLR) synthesizes existing evidence on the evolution of narrative and challenge in single-player RPGs from a player-centered perspective, with particular attention paid to immersion, engagement, flow, and perceived agency. A multi-database search strategy was conducted across Google Scholar, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and the ACM Digital Library using query strings targeting narrative/agency, challenge and dynamic difficulty adjustment (DDA), adaptive difficulty, and the historical evolution of RPG narrative design, following a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-reported selection flow and Rayyan-supported screening. From 423 identified records, duplicates and non-eligible records were removed through staged screening, yielding 43 reports sought for retrieval; because six were not accessible in full text at consolidation, the synthesis was conducted on 37 full-text articles. The findings indicate (i) a predominance of work on narrative and agency, where agency is framed as a design effect rather than merely the presence of explicit branching choices; (ii) a recent rise in challenge/adaptation research, frequently tied to flow, fairness, and differentiated player profiles; and (iii) the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven approaches, including non-player character (NPC) systems, combat AI, reinforcement learning, and large language model (LLM)-based narrative control, which amplify core design trade-offs between narrative coherence and perceived agency. Beyond synthesizing a dispersed body of literature, the review contributes an integrated player-centered analytical framework that brings together narrative, challenge, and player experience, while also highlighting the need for more consistent measurement practices, stronger comparative designs, and longer-term empirical work in single-player RPG research. Full article

The rational design of oxygen carriers (OCs) is critical for enhancing biomass chemical looping gasification (BCLG) performance. This work systematically investigated the effects of different supports (Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, TiO₂, SiO₂) on the performance of NiFe-based OCs with oxidation and catalytic reforming functions. The gasification reactivity and support-active phase interaction of OCs in both oxidized and reduced states were evaluated. XRD, H₂-TPR, XPS, and SEM techniques were employed to characterize the phase composition, synergistic interactions, and surface morphology. The results showed that NiFeAl exhibited the optimal gasification performance in both oxidized and reduced states, achieving a syngas (H₂ + CO) yield of approximately 1.4 m³/kg (dry walnut shell). NiFeAl featured a higher Fe binding energy, abundant cavity structures, and the uniform dispersion of Ni and Fe on Al₂O₃, which confirm the formation of an appropriately strong Ni-Fe-Al ternary system. In contrast, NiFeZr suffered from the higher CO₂ yield, attributed to the over-oxidation caused by the weak interactions. NiFeTi and NiFeSi had lower syngas yields due to their poor reducibility induced by excessively strong interactions. This work verifies that moderate support-active phase interactions in OCs are optimal for BCLG. Full article

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the ability of the new strontium-containing composite, Stela (SDI, Victoria, Australia), to induce hydroxyapatite formation and promote remineralization of demineralized dentin, compared to SDR Flow+ (York, PA, USA). Twenty-four dentin slices (1 mm thick) were obtained from extracted wisdom teeth using a microtome and demineralized with 17% EDTA for 2 h. A layer of either Stela or SDR Flow+ was applied to each slice, allowed to set, and preserved in 0.1% thymol solution. Samples were analyzed at 1, 7, 14 and 28 days (n = 3 per group and time). Measurements were taken at baseline, after demineralization, and after application. Apatite formation was assessed using 'Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while changes in the Calcium/Phosphate (Ca/P) ratio were evaluated by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDX). Statistical comparisons were performed using the Wilcoxon test (p < 0.05). Both materials promoted carbonated hydroxyapatite formation and increases in calcium and phosphate. Stela exhibited an apatite peak (1420 cm⁻¹) as early as 24 h and significant increases in calcium and phosphate from day 7. SDR Flow+ reached its peak at 14 days and showed significant increases in the Ca/P ratio. By 28 days, both materials achieved comparable remineralization, confirming their effectiveness in treating demineralized dentine. Full article