Search Results (765)

This study investigates the transient thermo-hydrodynamic behaviour of millimetric water droplets impacting heated solid substrates under subcooled conditions. The effects of wall temperature, wall material, and impact velocity on droplet spreading, heat transfer, and cooling performance are examined using high-resolution CFD simulations, validated against in-house experimental measurements of transient temperature evolution. The results show that droplet spreading is highly affected by impact inertia, with higher velocities producing faster radial expansion and larger maximum spreading. In contrast, the thermal response is strongly influenced by substrate properties. Steel exhibits steeper temperature gradients and stronger localized cooling within the substrate, while aluminium, owing to its higher thermal diffusivity and effusivity, sustains higher total heat-transfer rates at the wall–liquid interface. Increasing wall temperature significantly enhances the absolute heat-transfer rate due to the larger thermal driving potential, although normalized temperature profiles indicate reduced relative cooling. The analysis highlights the distinct roles of hydrodynamic and thermal mechanisms: impact velocity governs the lateral distribution of cooling, whereas substrate properties control the depth-wise thermal response. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of droplet-induced cooling from a substrate perspective and offer insights for optimizing material selection and operating conditions in spray cooling, surface quenching, and high-heat-flux thermal management applications. Full article

Quark–gluon dynamics within protons and high-energy radiation phenomena in the universe are typically regarded as two entirely distinct fields. This paper aims to demonstrate that gluon condensation (GC) may serve as a direct bridge between these two fields. We review three key aspects of GC research: first, the Zhu–Shen–Ruan (ZSR) equation, as a nonlinear evolution equation based on structural symmetry, exhibits self-consistent connections with the DGLAP, BFKL and GLR-MQ-ZRS equations, providing a theoretical foundation for the generation of GC; second, the chaotic solutions and the shadowing–antishadowing synergy inherent in this equation can drive gluons to aggregate near the critical momentum, thereby forming a novel type of high-density, strongly interacting matter; third, these changes in microstructure manifest themselves as a broken-power-law feature in high-energy cosmic gamma-ray spectra, thereby offering new insights into the hadronic scenarios underlying certain astrophysical sources. Consequently, GC not only concerns the novel behaviour of quantum chromodynamics under extreme conditions but may also serve as a vital window for probing the deep structure of protons using cosmic-ray signals. With the advancement of higher-precision gamma-ray observations, hadron collision experiments and related theoretical research, the physical picture of GC and its observational criteria are expected to undergo more rigorous testing. Should this picture be confirmed, certain features in the high-energy gamma-ray spectrum (previously attributed solely to empirical fitting or lepton models) will need to be re-examined within the deeper context of hadronic dynamics; simultaneously, GC may also provide a new entry point for research into pion condensation in nuclear physics and even condensed matter physics. Consequently, the significance of the search for GC extends beyond the model itself, reaching into multiple fields of natural science. Full article

The microstructure of semicrystalline bioresorbable polymers is central to their biomedical performance because the crystalline content influences both the mechanical stability and the degradation behaviour. Experimental studies have shown that crystallinity evolves concurrently with mass loss during enzymatic degradation. However, most existing models represent the material as a single homogeneous structure, preventing them from capturing this microstructural evolution or the state-selective mechanisms that drive it. We present a one-dimensional partial differential equation model for the enzymatic degradation of thin films, which treats the crystalline and amorphous states as distinct reactive components. Calibrated to poly($\epsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL) degraded by Candida antarctica lipase in vitro, the model accurately reproduces both the observed weight-loss profile and the concurrent decline in crystallinity. Parameter uncertainty analysis indicates that while there are varying degrees of confidence in individual parameter values, the overall model predictive uncertainty is well constrained. Parameter sensitivity analysis shows that the amorphous catalytic rate (the rate at which the enzyme degrades the amorphous region) is the dominant driver of degradation dynamics. The identified model parameters are used to explore the role of film thickness on the rates of mass and crystallinity loss. It was found that thin films remain largely reaction-limited, whereas thicker specimens become increasingly transport-influenced, with slower degradation and delayed structural evolution in the material interior. The model provides a useful tool to explore the effect of changing PCL film thickness on degradation rate and crystallinity-related properties without extensive experimentation. Full article

This study details the modelling and simulation analyses performed on a mathematically modelled permanent magnet-assisted synchronous reluctance motor (PMa-SynRM) driven by a field-oriented controlled (FOC) voltage source inverter (VSI) coupled with a half-bridge bidirectional buck-boost DC/DC converter for two-wheeler electric vehicle (EV) applications. The 5 kW, 1500 rpm PMa-SynRM employed here has a shorter response time and is also naturally lighter and cost-effective, making it suitable for two-wheeler EVs. Field-oriented control simplifies the control strategy for PMa-SynRM by decoupling torque and flux, effectively matching the behaviour of a DC motor. A half-bridge buck-boost converter is a DC-DC converter capable of bidirectional power flow, stepping up and down voltages. This makes it ideal for both motoring and regenerative braking in electric vehicles. The buck-boost converter with its controller effectively adjusts the inverter and battery voltage for efficient power flow during motoring and maximum power recovery during regenerating braking. The developed model aims at demonstrating forward and reverse motoring, as well as forward and reverse braking to validate the four-quadrant torque-speed characteristics of two-wheeler EVs. The proposed model attains less than 2% torque ripple and less than 1% speed ripple, respectively. Further, the current ripples are minimised to reduce losses and to improve efficiency. The work presented in this paper implements a PMa-SynRM-based drive system for EVs, a technology which is in the exploratory stage and not commercially widespread. This adds novelty to the proposed work. A MATLAB Simulink environment was used for modelling and simulation. Full article

This study examines whether investor sentiment drives volatility spillovers between socially responsible and traditional mutual funds. The rapid growth of responsible investing in emerging markets raises questions about whether higher costs deliver improved risk or diversification benefits, particularly in volatile, behaviourally driven settings. Using a sentiment-augmented Diebold–Yilmaz connectedness framework, a composite sentiment index is constructed from global and local indicators. The results show that spillovers are time-varying and regime-dependent. During periods of stress and pessimism, responsible funds act as net transmitters of volatility, while traditional funds absorb shocks. In bullish conditions, volatility transmission weakens. Overall, connectedness shifts across market states, and socially responsible funds do not consistently provide stabilising or diversification benefits, as these depend on prevailing sentiment and risk conditions. This study provides new evidence on how sentiment-driven volatility spillovers are transmitted between socially responsible and traditional funds in South Africa, with implications for systemic risk and ESG investment costs. Full article

Traffic calming devices (TCMs) are widely implemented to reduce urban vehicle speeds; however, their influence on drivers’ direct control inputs remains underexplored. This study examines how drivers redistribute braking, throttle and steering inputs in the presence of speed cushions, extending driver–infrastructure interaction assessment beyond speed-only metrics. A driving simulator reproduced an urban corridor in Messina (Italy). Twenty-five drivers completed three scenarios: baseline without traffic calming (No TCM), daytime with speed cushions and nighttime with speed cushions. Cushion colour (red/blue) and width (1.5, 1.8, 2.1 m) were varied. Vehicle telemetry was analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA with corrected post hoc tests and partial η² as effect size. The analysis was complemented by paired within-subject comparisons, bootstrap confidence intervals and additional transient indicators computed on travelled-distance windows to support transparent effect interpretation without replacing the RM-ANOVA framework. Compared with No TCM, speed cushions increased mean braking (+224% Day, +372% Night) and reduced the mean normalized throttle input by approximately 55%, with stronger braking at night. Width primarily influenced throttle release and steering corrections, whereas colour modulated braking under reduced visibility. Despite limitations related to sample size and simulation, the findings provide actionable evidence for contexts where cushion width and colour are not standardized. Full article

Limb movement is an important component of control during safety-critical tasks such as driving. Restricted movement, such as limitations associated with an injury or surgery to the upper limb, may impact driving safety. However, the degree of upper limb movement required for driving is not well described outside of traditional laboratory settings. There is a need for new affordable, accessible, reliable and accurate measures of normative limb movement to guide decisions about driving capacity. This feasibility study applied a volume estimation approach to wrist-worn triaxial accelerometry data to quantify upper limb movement during naturalistic driving in a young adult population. A sample of 89 participants wore accelerometers while engaging in daily driving activity over a two-week period. Results demonstrated a distribution of movement volumes, consistent with variation in individual driving behaviour. This volume estimation approach has strong potential for further development as both a research tool and clinical assessment method, particularly in rehabilitation and return-to-driving assessments following upper limb injury or surgery. Full article

The construction sector is responsible for substantial energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource depletion, driving the search for sustainable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based insulation materials. Lignocellulosic biomass, comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, offers a renewable resource for the development of bio-based foams with potential application in construction systems. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of bio-based foams tailored to building applications, positioning recent scientific advances against the technical properties of commercial synthetic insulation foams. Key performance parameters, including density, thermal conductivity, compressive strength, dimensional stability, water vapour diffusion resistance, and fire behaviour, are critically examined. Developments in lignocellulosic-based foams are discussed, highlighting processing strategies such as crosslinking, chemical modification, and hybrid reinforcement to enhance mechanical, thermal, and fire performance. The reported results demonstrate that lignin-based polyurethane and phenolic foams can achieve competitive compressive strength and thermal insulation, while cellulose-based aerogels and foams exhibit ultra-low density and promising conductivity values. However, challenges related to moisture sensitivity, fire classification, process scalability, standardisation, and market integration remain significant. Overall, lignocellulosic foams represent a promising pathway toward decarbonised, circular construction systems, provided that technical optimisation and regulatory alignment are successfully achieved. Full article

Food allergy is a chronic immune-mediated condition that must be understood not only as a biological disorder but also as a biopsychosocial condition with significant psychological and neurodevelopmental consequences. Beyond the management of acute allergic reactions, individuals living with food allergy experience ongoing threat appraisal, dietary restriction, and social constraints, shaping emotional regulation, cognition, and wellbeing. This review adopts a psychology-led biopsychosocial and neuropsychological framework to examine the mechanisms through which immune activation and food avoidance influence psychological functioning. Drawing on medical psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, and gut–brain research, we explore how threat perception, interoceptive awareness, learning processes, stress physiology, and family context interact to shape emotional and behavioural responses to food allergy. Particular attention is given to the role of risk perception, vigilance, and learned avoidance in driving anxiety and reduced quality of life. By integrating evidence across psychological and biological domains, this review argues for a more comprehensive model of food allergy that recognises the cumulative emotional and neuropsychological burden associated with living with chronic dietary risk. Greater integration of psychological perspectives within allergy care may help support adaptive coping, reduce unnecessary restriction, and improve quality-of-life outcomes for individuals and families affected by food allergy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fear of missing out (FoMO) describes the concern of missing out on a rewarding experience, a contemporary psychological phenomenon that has yet to be explored in relation to addictive eating. This exploratory study examined the relationship between FoMO and addictive eating, and the effect of reward-related eating and mental health status (anxiety, depression, and stress) on the relationship. Methods: A sample of 227 adults (mean age 49.4 years; 79.3% women) completed an online survey to assess addictive eating (Yale Food Addiction Scale), FoMO (Fear of Missing Out Scale), reward-related eating (Reward-Based Eating Drive Scale), anxiety, depression, and perceived stress (GAD-7, PHQ-8, PSS-4). Mediation and moderated mediation analyses were performed to determine relationships between variables. Results: A direct relationship between FoMO and addictive eating was found. The relationship was partially mediated by reward-related eating after accounting for BMI and gender. Anxiety severity was a significant moderator of the relationship between reward-related eating levels and addictive eating symptoms. Conclusions: This study provides insights that can assist in informing interventions to mitigate the negative effects of FoMO on eating behaviours, particularly among populations vulnerable to anxiety. Full article

Digital commerce ecosystems increasingly depend on the alignment between social media advertising formats and digital payment systems, yet existing research has examined these mechanisms in isolation, overlooking their combined influence on consumer behaviour, conversion, and long-term value creation. This study addresses that gap by developing an integrative conceptual framework that examines how advertising formats and payment infrastructures jointly shape sustainable digital monetisation within an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework. Methodologically, the study adopts a structured narrative literature review of interdisciplinary peer-reviewed studies and selected high-quality institutional reports, drawn from Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and Google Scholar, covering publications from 2015 to April 2026. A four-stage PRISMA-adapted selection protocol was applied to ensure transparency, replicability, and analytical rigour across the review process. The findings demonstrate that advertising formats including native advertising, influencer marketing, user-generated content, short-form video, live streaming, and augmented reality drive consumer attention and purchase intention, while payment systems encompassing digital wallets, BNPL services, and in-platform checkout shape transactional trust and friction. Conversion and customer lifetime value emerge as joint outcomes of this interaction, mediated by consumer trust and transaction friction. The study further identifies key sustainability tensions related to digital carbon footprints from data-intensive formats, financial vulnerability associated with frictionless credit tools, and governance concerns surrounding transparency, privacy, and platform power concentration. The study contributes an integrative conceptual model linking advertising formats, payment systems, consumer behaviour, and ESG dimensions within a unified framework, supported by six theoretically grounded hypotheses (H1–H6) to guide future empirical research in sustainable digital commerce. Full article

Novice drivers demonstrate inefficient visual scanning and elevated crash risk relative to experienced drivers. Different training programmes may influence gaze behaviour and performance in distinct ways. This study compared the impact of cognitive, simulator-based, and real-world training on visual attention and driving-related outcomes in novice drivers. Thirty novice drivers (18–27 years; ≤1 year driving experience) were randomized into three training groups (n = 10 each): cognitive training (PsyToolkit, Version 3.7.0), game-based simulator training, and supervised real-world driving. Baseline and post-training assessments included visuomotor performance (Fitts’ Law), attentional cueing (valid/invalid reaction time), simulator-based driving errors, and eye-tracking measures of gaze behaviour. Eye-tracking outcomes included dwell-time percentage and first-fixation order across predefined areas of interest (AOIs). Participants completed 10 consecutive days of modality-specific training. Cognitive training improved visuomotor performance and increased forward road monitoring. Game-based simulator training yielded the largest reductions in simulator driving errors, particularly lane deviations (Z = −2.89, p = 0.004). Real-world driving altered visual scanning patterns, with significant differences in rear-view mirror prioritization (p = 0.024). Across groups, gaze shifted from dashboard view toward safety-relevant AOIs. Training modifies novice drivers’ gaze behaviour in modality-specific ways, suggesting that a multimodal training approach may enhance visual attention and driving safety Full article

Background: Regulatory restrictions and mandates typically offer short-term behaviour guidance, whereas interventions to improve knowledge and attitudes could result in more sustainable behavioural changes. Health authorities implemented awareness campaigns to enhance public knowledge and attitudes regarding COVID-19. This study explored the interplay between knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to COVID-19 among university undergraduate students in Jordan, aiming to inform public health initiatives and educational programmes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey targeting undergraduate students enrolled at Yarmouk University in Jordan was conducted between January and May 2021. Participants consented to complete an anonymised validated self-administered questionnaire to evaluate their understanding of COVID-19 symptoms, treatment and transmission and attitudes and behaviours towards preventive measures. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and structural equation modelling to investigate the associations between knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Results: A total of 1375 undergraduate students participated in the survey. Knowledge of COVID-19 was low among most participants, with only 1.3% demonstrating high knowledge. Conversely, 58.5% exhibited good behaviour, and 31.4% reported full compliance with recommended behaviours. Significant differences were found in knowledge, attitudes and behaviours across different faculty clusters, with health faculties showing superior knowledge and more positive attitudes. Female participants (66.3%) were more likely to engage in positive behaviours than males (p-value = 0.02). Structural equation model (SEM) analysis showed that knowledge significantly influenced attitudes, which affected behaviours, confirming the model’s validity. Conclusions: The study highlights the critical role of knowledge and attitudes in shaping COVID-19-related behaviours among university students. Significant variations in knowledge and attitudes across different academic disciplines highlight the need for tailored educational interventions. The analysis supports the theoretical model linking knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, emphasising the importance of improving knowledge and attitudes to drive behaviour change. The findings suggest that comprehensive health education programmes targeting cognitive and affective aspects are essential for effective public health responses during pandemics. Full article

This study aims to analyse the influence of sustainability knowledge on sustainable lifestyles with attitudes toward sustainability as a mediating variable, within the framework of Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR). The study respondents were 311 tourism managers in Yogyakarta with various destinations who were selected using non-probability sampling techniques due to limited population access and the specific needs of subjects relevant to sustainability issues. The data analysis uses Structural Equation Modelling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) with Smart PLS. The results of the study show that sustainability knowledge directly affects sustainable lifestyles; in addition, attitudes towards sustainability partially mediate the influence of sustainability knowledge on sustainable lifestyles. Sustainability knowledge is seen as an external stimulus that influences positive attitudes towards sustainability, which then drives a response in the form of adopting a sustainable lifestyle. Although knowledge is often assumed to directly influence behaviour, theoretical and empirical findings suggest that attitudes play an important role as mediators that bridge knowledge with real behaviour. Other results show that sustainable awareness does not directly affect a sustainable lifestyle. Attitude toward sustainability plays a mediating role in the influence of sustainable awareness on sustainable lifestyles. Individuals or tourism managers who have a deep awareness of environmental, social, and economic issues tend to internalise sustainability values, form positive attitudes, and ultimately adopt sustainable lifestyles. This research is expected to make a theoretical contribution by strengthening the application of the SOR framework in sustainable tourism, as well as a practical contribution through educational programme recommendations that emphasise the importance of forming positive attitudes in behaviour transformation. Full article

Background: To evaluate the association between glaucomatous visual field loss and self-reported driving limitation, and to explore potential threshold ranges of visual field loss associated with an increased likelihood of driving restriction. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma underwent standard automated perimetry. Visual function was assessed using Mean Deviation (MD) and Visual Field Index (VFI) from the better eye. Driving status, driving limitation, and self-reported driving difficulties were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine independent associations between visual field parameters and driving limitation, adjusting for age, sex, cataract status, and systemic comorbidities. Because MD and VFI are closely related indices of visual field loss, separate multivariable models were constructed for each parameter. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to explore threshold values associated with driving limitation. Results: Driving limitation increased progressively with worsening functional severity, affecting 17% of participants with preserved function, 48% of those with borderline impairment, and 72% of those with definite impairment (p < 0.001). Reduced VFI was independently associated with driving limitation (OR = 0.972, 95% CI: 0.948–0.996; p = 0.021). In a separate model, more negative MD was also independently associated with driving limitation (OR = 0.924, 95% CI: 0.875–0.976; p = 0.004). Male sex was associated with a lower likelihood of driving limitation. ROC analysis identified threshold values of VFI ≤ 71% (AUC = 0.663) and MD ≤ −13.36 dB (AUC = 0.650), both characterized by high specificity but limited sensitivity. Participants who had ceased driving demonstrated worse visual field indices than active drivers, whereas never-drivers showed no consistent association with visual field loss. Conclusions: Glaucomatous visual field loss was significantly associated with self-reported driving limitation and behavioural self-regulation. Objective perimetric parameters, particularly VFI and MD in the better eye, may help identify patients more likely to report driving difficulties. The reported threshold values should be interpreted as exploratory reference points rather than clinically actionable criteria and require further validation before clinical application. Full article