Search Results (47)

The increasing adoption of exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCSs) in the maritime industry has raised concerns regarding the management of sludge residues generated during wet scrubber operation. Conventional onboard sludge handling methods primarily rely on temporary storage and onshore disposal, resulting in increased storage requirements, disposal costs, and environmental burdens. Although vacuum drying has emerged as a promising approach for onboard sludge volume reduction, limited studies have addressed the integrated risk-informed design, reliability evaluation, and operational validation of onboard vacuum drying systems under marine operating conditions. This study proposes a risk-informed systems engineering framework for the design, reliability evaluation, and validation of an onboard vacuum drying system (VDS) for EGCS sludge treatment. The framework establishes a closed-loop process in which functional analysis and hazard identification inform quantitative reliability assessment and structural verification, which in turn drive design refinement and are subsequently confirmed through hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) validation and experimental testing. The results demonstrated stable vacuum operation at the designated pressure of 3 Torr for more than 30 min, with a minimum chamber pressure of 0.08 Torr. Structural assessment confirmed that the calculated stresses remained well below the allowable limits of ASME Section VIII Division 1, while modal analysis indicated acceptable dynamic stability. FMECA-based design refinement reduced the Risk Priority Number (RPN) values of major components by 50–67%, with an average reduction of 53.3%. HIL-based validation and experimental testing further verified the effectiveness of the control architecture and the operational feasibility of the system. The study demonstrates how a risk-informed systems engineering framework can systematically integrate structural verification, quantitative reliability improvement, and operational validation for onboard environmental treatment systems. The proposed framework provides a practical and transferable methodology for enhancing the safety, reliability, and operational feasibility of marine systems operating under complex onboard conditions. Full article

In the simulation research of explosion shock waves, generating explosion loads with long-duration characteristics represents a key technical challenge for evaluating far-field damage effects of large-scale explosions. The core issue lies in how to effectively extend the positive pressure duration of shock waves to accurately simulate real explosion scenarios. Based on ANSYS AUTODYN, this study investigates the energy utilization mechanisms in shock tube drivers. The results demonstrate that increasing the driver section volume significantly improves explosion energy utilization efficiency, thereby effectively extending the positive phase duration of shock waves. Full article

Physical inactivity among adults is a major contributor to the escalating global burden of neurodegenerative diseases and mental disorders. The “Weekend Warrior” (WW) pattern—characterized by condensing the recommended volume of physical activity (PA) into one or two days—has emerged as a potential strategy for time-constrained adults. However, a systematic synthesis comparing the potential association of the WW pattern on neuropsychological outcomes (e.g., neurodegenerative diseases, mental health conditions and cognitive function) with those of inactive (IA) and regular exercise (RE) patterns remains limited. This systematic review aimed to assess the associations of the WW pattern with neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., dementia, Parkinson’s disease), mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, psychological distress), and cognitive function (CF), and to compare these neuropsychological outcomes with those associated with IA and RE patterns. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang) was conducted for observational studies published from inception to October 2025. Thirteen studies (5 cohort and 8 cross-sectional studies) involving adults were included. The assessment of methodological quality was conducted using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) methodology and the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). The majority of included studies indicated that the WW pattern was inversely associated with the risks of neurodegenerative diseases and mental health conditions and enhanced CF, exhibiting associations of a similar magnitude to those of RE. Furthermore, the synthesis highlighted prevailing gaps in the extant literature, particularly regarding the lack of randomized controlled trials, insufficient control for confounding variables such as social context, and the limited investigation into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these associations. This systematic review emphasizes the WW pattern as a viable and time-efficient strategy that promotes positive neuropsychological outcomes, exhibiting associations of a similar magnitude to those observed with RE. The findings substantiate the flexibility inherent in PA guidelines, underscoring that adhering to recommended PA volumes is highly beneficial, even when accumulated within a condensed timeframe. Future research should prioritize randomized controlled trials and investigations into neurobiological mechanisms to further validate causal relationships and elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving these associations. Full article

Glacial lake dynamics in high-mountain regions serve as a sensitive proxy for cryospheric responses to climate warming. This study utilizes multi-temporal Sentinel-2 imagery and digital elevation model (DEM) data to quantify glacial lake evolution in the Donglin Tsangpo Watershed, a strategically important section of the China–Nepal Economic Corridor, from 2016 to 2024. The results show a significant expansion in both the number (from 43 to 56) and total area (from 3.97 km² to 4.94 km², +24.43%) of glacial lakes, primarily driven by the rapid emergence of very small lakes (0.02–0.05 km²) and a clear upward shift in elevation distribution, with new lakes forming above 5300 m and extending to elevations exceeding 5500 m. Analysis of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature (LST) reveals that this expansion coincided with pronounced positive thermal anomalies, particularly the 2020 extreme warm event (daytime +3.88 °C, nighttime +1.61 °C). Mechanistic analysis using the ERA5-Land reanalysis dataset further demonstrates that persistent positive downward longwave radiation (LW) anomalies (peaking at +10.71 W/m² in 2021) effectively compensated for reduced shortwave input, inhibiting nocturnal refreezing and extending the effective ablation period. Furthermore, a rising liquid-to-solid precipitation ratio and extreme melt-day anomalies (up to +39.36 days) provided intensified hydrothermal inputs, driving the pronounced expansion of glacier-contact lakes despite non-linear interannual responses. This study also estimates individual lake volumes, identifying a transition toward rapid lake development that elevates potential downstream hazard exposure. These findings provide a high-resolution dataset and a robust physical framework for transboundary environmental monitoring and risk assessment in this climate-sensitive region. Full article

Thousand-seed weight (TSW) is a critical determinant of yield in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Developing germplasm with high TSW is therefore a key strategy in high-yield rapeseed breeding. However, the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying TSW in rapeseed remain poorly understood. In our earlier work, we identified a mutant, designated GRG177, which exhibits a remarkably high TSW exceeding 7 g. To unravel the mechanisms driving this elevated TSW, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of GRG177, integrating morphological, genetic, developmental, anatomical, and physiological approaches. Compared with the control germplasm GRD328 (TSW ≈ 3.5 g), GRG177 displayed a significant increase in seed weight and seed volume, larger silique surface area, and higher yield per plant. However, it also showed a notable reduction in both silique number per plant and seed number per silique. Genetic analysis of a segregating population revealed that the high-TSW trait in GRG177 is governed by two pairs of dominant epistatic major genes plus polygenes. Endogenous hormone analysis revealed significantly higher zeatin riboside (ZR) content in the early stage of seed development in GRG177, whereas indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) levels were significantly up-regulated in the late stage of seed development. Anatomical observation using paraffin sections further confirmed that enhanced cell division activity in the early stage and improved cell expansion capacity in the later stage underpin the formation of high TSW. Furthermore, BSA-seq was utilized to map four TSW-related Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) and screen 13 candidate genes involved in IAA, ZR, and ABA signaling pathways. In conclusion, these findings provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms governing high-TSW formation in rapeseed and present valuable genetic resources for high-yield breeding. Full article

Aeolian sand hazards severely constrain highway safety and operation in arid regions. To support targeted mitigation along Highway S315 in the Gobi Desert of northern China, this study integrates meteorological observations with sand removal records to quantify wind regimes and classify sand hazard intensity. Event thresholds were objectively identified using change points in semi-logarithmic distributions of daily sand removal volumes, and spatial hazard severity was graded based on annual sand removal per unit road length. The results showed that (1) the study area was subject to intense aeolian activity, with a mean annual sand-driving wind frequency of 23.98%, an annual drift potential of 344.91 vector units (VU), and a resultant sand transport direction of 129.88° (east–southeast). (2) Based on inflection point characteristics, sand hazard events were classified into three intensity levels, namely, slight (<800 m³), moderate (800–3000 m³), and severe (>3000 m³), accounting for 13.0%, 76.1%, and 10.9% of all events along Highway S315, respectively. (3) Spatial grading criteria for sand hazard severity were defined as slight (<3 × 10³ m³ km⁻¹ yr⁻¹), moderate (3 × 10³–1.0 × 10⁴ m³ km⁻¹ yr⁻¹), and severe (>1.0 × 10⁴ m³ km⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Application of these criteria to a representative road section (K9+000–K30+600; 21.6 km) indicated that severe, moderate, and slight sand hazard segments extend over 6.0 km, 9.1 km, and 6.5 km, respectively, thereby delineating priority zones for targeted mitigation measures. This study proposes a quantitative framework that couples regional wind-driven sand dynamics with highway hazard severity, enabling targeted mitigation and offering a transferable reference for sand risk management in arid and desert regions. Full article

Global urbanization is driving a rising demand for sand and gravel, which has intensified riverbed mining. This threatens fluvial stability, flood safety, and ecological integrity. Although previous studies have documented localized geomorphic and hydrological impacts, systematic assessments that integrate long-term incision trends, embankment stability mechanisms, and resource optimization under multiple objectives remain limited. In this study, we investigate the Wengang section of the Fu River (Jiangxi, China), a sediment-deficient river reach subjected to decades of intensive mining. Through the application of hydrosediment analysis, hydrodynamic modeling, geotechnical–hydrological–mechanical (GHM) simulations, and a dynamic optimization model, the sustained impacts of mining are quantified, and science-based management strategies are proposed. The results indicate that extensive excavation has resulted in irreversible riverbed incision, with a net volume increase of 12.97 × 10⁶ m³ between 2003 and 2023, far exceeding the natural sediment deposition volume (0.853 × 10⁶ m³). Although the overall longitudinal profile remains stable, localized flow velocities in the primary mining area are increased by 0.22–0.39 m/s. A GHM analysis identifies a critical safe distance of 13–14 m between pit edge and embankment toe and demonstrates that wide-shallow pit morphology is associated with reduced stability risk compared to narrow-deep pits. Based on these constraints, an economic optimization model incorporating flood safety and market demand is developed, yielding an optimal extraction plan for 2024–2028 with a total volume of 4.4848 million tons and an estimated revenue of 50.03 million USD. This study provides an integrated framework for assessing mining impacts and offers actionable strategies to support sustainable sediment management in vulnerable river systems. Full article

The Shawan Sag and its adjacent areas are rich in hydrocarbon resources. Moreover, the genesis and evolution patterns of zeolite cements in the sandy conglomerate reservoirs have resulted in diverse types of reservoir spaces, a complex composition, and significant heterogeneity. To investigate their impact on reservoir quality, this study integrates core observations, thin-section petrography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), whole-rock X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) for macro–micro comparative analysis of zeolite cement types, formation mechanisms, and pore systems in the Lower Permian strata of the Shawan Sag and adjacent areas. Research demonstrates that provenance exerts a control on type and origin of the diagenetic zeolites: In the Shawan Sag, zeolites form through hydration of volcanic glass in tuff, while adjacent areas develop zeolites via albitization of plagioclase derived from andesite. This genetic divergence drives pore differentiation: Zeolite (heulandite and laumontite) evolution in the Sag generates grain-edge fractures through cement volume shrinkage and crystalline water release. In contrast, the adjacent areas exhibit reservoir spaces dominated by dissolution pores, resulting from the dissolution of laumontite and calcite, along with a relatively higher overall rock porosity. Full article

Nutritional supplementation is widely used in resistance training, yet assessment of “hypertrophy” is often confounded by body-composition surrogates. This narrative review, anchored in mechanistic plausibility, integrates trials reporting morphology-direct outcomes (ultrasound/MRI). Across 46 eligible trials, protein/essential amino acids (EAA) showed consistent benefits when daily intake was <1.6 g·kg⁻¹·day⁻¹ or when per-meal leucine provision was <2–3 g; effects plateaued once intakes exceeded ~2.0 g·kg⁻¹·day⁻¹. Creatine monohydrate (3–5 g·day⁻¹, with or without loading) produced measurable increases in muscle thickness or cross-sectional area in interventions lasting ≥8–12 weeks, mediated by enhanced training volume and quality. β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB, 3 g·day⁻¹) demonstrated conditional utility during high training stress or caloric deficit, but was largely neutral in well-fed, resistance-trained cohorts. Adjuncts such as omega-3 fatty acids (1–2 g·day⁻¹), citrulline (6–8 g pre-exercise), and collagen (10–15 g·day⁻¹ plus vitamin C) primarily facilitated training tolerance, recovery, or connective-tissue adaptation, rather than driving hypertrophy directly. A tiered model is proposed: protein/EAA as the foundation, creatine as amplifier, HMB as conditional agent, and adjuncts as facilitators. Methodological heterogeneity, short intervention length, and inconsistent imaging protocols remain limiting factors, underscoring the need for standardized ultrasound/MRI and adequately powered, preregistered trials. Full article

Within urban tunnels, the lane boundary lines are typically solid, thereby prohibiting lane changes and overtaking. The establishment of a mobile operation zone in the slow lane can pose significant driving safety hazards not only to the slow lane within the tunnel but also to the middle and overtaking lanes at the tunnel exit. This article adopts the method of simulation of the establishment of an urban expressway three-lane VISSIM model, and selects the road traffic volume and speed of moving work zone as the independent variable parameters. Then, the influence range of a low-speed vehicle on the rear vehicles in the middle lane and slow lane and the traffic risk caused by a low-speed vehicle are analyzed. The results show that, irrespective of the variations in traffic volume and moving operation zone speed, the traffic flow within a 150 m range after the tunnel section was significantly influenced. This was because queuing and congested vehicles from the slow lane exited the tunnel, causing vehicles to change lanes and overtake in a concentrated manner. The moving operation zone has a substantial impact on the traffic flow in the slow lane. Under different moving operation zone speed conditions, the speed change trend of the following vehicles is consistent. When the moving operation zone speed was 5 km/h and the traffic volume exceeded 1200 pcu/h, the traffic flow behind the operation zone was directly affected, and within an observable longitudinal distance of 500 m, this impact did not dissipate. The research results can provide a scientific basis for the operation and management of urban tunnel low-speed vehicles. Full article

Due to the high volume of traffic on European highways and the increased percentage of traffic accidents and fatalities, traffic safety is imperative in the planning and design of highways. While highway safety design construction standards have been extensively researched, insufficient attention has been given to the influence of the surrounding landscape on traffic safety and to drivers’ awareness about the danger of the same. Thus, the aim of the research was to assess drivers’ perceptions of various factors impacting highway traffic safety (climatic impacts from the surrounding landscape, landscape vegetation that follows the roadway, and animals) beyond specific engineering features (roadway surface, traffic signs, highway junction points). A survey of 138 drivers was conducted to assess driver awareness of traffic safety on the research section of a highway in Serbia. This highway is part of the Serbian highway that is a key connection within the European road network, forming an integral part of several major routes. The survey revealed that drivers, regardless of gender or experience, primarily associate traffic safety with well-built roads and good visibility during driving. While the impacts of climatic elements from the surrounding landscape were acknowledged, drivers do not strongly attribute any danger to traffic safety from these factors due to their lack of visibility. This is reflected in the notable number of traffic accidents, impacted by these factors, on the studied highway (e.g., 12% of the total number of accidents during 2022). Vegetation and animals did not play a significant role in the respondents’ answers, which should not be the case; however, their absence in the highway landscape and along the roadway led to a lack of observed quality by drivers. This underscores the need for the scientific community and policymakers to delve deeper into these issues with a broader perspective, and to elevate highway safety standards accordingly. Full article

Bus lanes with intermittent prioritization (BLIPs) have been proposed as a way to reduce traffic burden and improve air quality along busy urban streets; however, to date, the impacts of BLIPs on local-scale air quality have not been thoroughly evaluated, due in part to challenges in study design. We measured traffic-emission proxies—black carbon aerosol and ultrafine particles—before and after the installation of a BLIP in the Boston area (Massachusetts, USA) in 2021, and compared our data with traffic measurements to determine whether changes in air quality were attributable to changes in traffic patterns. We used both stationary and mobile monitoring to characterize temporal and spatial variations in air quality both before and after the BLIP went into operation. Although the BLIP led to a reduction in traffic volume (~20%), we did not find evidence that this reduction caused a significant change in local air quality. Nonetheless, substantial spatial and temporal differences in pollutant concentrations were observed; the highest concentrations occurred closest to a nearby highway along a section of the bus lane that was in an urban canyon, likely causing pollutant trapping. Wind direction was a dominant influence: pollutant concentrations were generally higher during winds that oriented the bus lane downwind of or parallel to the highway. Based on our findings, we recommend in future studies to evaluate the effectiveness of BLIPs that: (i) traffic and air quality measurements be collected simultaneously for several non-weekend days immediately before and immediately after bus lanes are first put into operation; (ii) the evaluation should be performed when other significant changes in motorists’ driving behavior and bus ridership are not anticipated; and (iii) coordinated efforts be made to increase bus ridership and incentivize motorists to avoid using the bus lane during the hours of intermittent prioritization. Full article

Linear spatial data are primarily used in Geographic Information Systems (GISs) to represent spatial data in the form of roads, rivers, railways, and utility lines. Linear spatial data are mostly composed of one-dimensional linear elements, incorporating geometric attributes such as location, direction, and length, as well as the interconnections of these elements. In the case of roads, this information is used to map and analyze traffic data, such as vehicle movements, on the road network. This study aims to propose an area-based spatial analysis method that allows for the flexible application of analysis scales using individual vehicle data, as opposed to node and link generation for linear road networks. The analysis focused on nine expressways, conducting a microscopic analysis of speed-homogeneous sections. The final analysis showed that out of 375 cells, 91 cells in the final 12 division cells did not meet the homogeneity criteria. This discrepancy was ascertained to be due to vehicles decelerating or accelerating when entering or exiting highways at ramps or interchanges, not due to directional speed differences but lane-specific speed variations. The final cells with large speed deviations were found to be influenced by connections to highway on-ramps or off-ramps. In contrast, sections with small speed variations within a cell were influenced by traffic factors such as connection points and traffic volume, which hindered normal driving. As a result, this study validated that traffic information from highways, typically provided as linear data, could be divided into cells based on real-time GPS speed data and presented on an area-based scale. While dividing regions based on fixed intervals does not pinpoint exact speed change points, this study found that reasonable segmentation is possible based on spatial size and speed-homogeneous sections. Full article

This study aims to identify the factors that influence the occurrence of traffic accidents to improve motorway traffic safety. Various data, including the frequency of traffic accidents, traffic volume, geometric structure, and congestion level, were collected from individual sections of motorways in South Korea. Using the collected data, a traffic accident frequency prediction model was developed by applying an explainable artificial intelligence (AI)-based approach. The developed deep neural network model was combined with Shapley Additive Explanations to identify the variables that significantly affect the frequency of traffic accidents. The analysis identified five significant factors: segment length, total traffic volume, the proportion of truck traffic, the number of dangerous driving behaviors, and the duration of congestion. The results demonstrate the potential of using explainable AI in predicting traffic accident frequency. By identifying the factors that influence traffic accidents using this model, we can pinpoint areas for improvement, which may ultimately help reduce highway traffic accidents. Full article

The forming quality of profiled ring rolling not only encompasses macroscopic accuracy but also emphasizes the microstructure. Due to the multiple process parameters and complex metal flow during profiled ring rolling, the various forming defects are difficult to control and difficult to study theoretically. The objective of this study is to establish a comprehensive method for evaluating the forming quality of profiled rings, which considers both the macroscopic forming accuracy and the microstructure. Firstly, the synthetic size factor was defined, and the evolutionary relation between the section forming rate and the diameter growth rate of E-section ring rolling was analyzed in detail. The synthetic size factor can be used to describe the dimensional evolution and evaluate the forming accuracy of the profiled ring rolling process. Taking into full consideration the features of intermittent deformation in local areas, a microstructure evolution model of the Inconel718 alloy during E-section ring rolling, which can accurately predict the recrystallization volume fraction and average grain size of the final ring, was established. Then, combined with finite element simulation, the influence of the rotation speed of the driving roll on the macro-size evolution and microstructure was systematically analyzed. The results indicate that there is often a discrepancy between dimensional accuracy and microstructure uniformity in the optimization trend. For instance, the higher the rotation speed of the driving roll is, the more uniform the microstructure is, but the more difficult it is for the section profile to form. Finally, combined with response surface methodology (RSM), multi-parameter optimization was carried out with section forming accuracy and grain uniformity as the optimization objectives. By using the optimal parameters, an E-section ring with a complete profile and a uniform microstructure was obtained, with a maximum prediction error of the recrystallization volume fraction lower than 5%. The results show that the macroscopic and microscopic quality evaluation methods proposed in this study, as well as the optimization method combining RSM, can be effectively applied to the process optimization of profiled ring rolling. Full article