Search Results (437)

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) causes heterogeneous injury, with normal, unstable, and edematous tissue distributed throughout the lung. Although positive pressure ventilation initially reduced ARDS-related mortality, it became clear that the ventilator can be a double-edged sword and, if set improperly, can worsen outcomes. This uneven pathology makes the lung vulnerable to secondary ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). In 2000, evidence showed that lowering tidal volume (V_T) and airway pressure significantly reduced mortality in patients with ARDS, suggesting that this reduction led to less overdistension of healthy lung tissue. Including respiratory system compliance (C_RS) in the calculation. It was shown that low driving pressure (ΔP = V_T/C_RS) was more strongly associated with survival than low V_T alone. This idea was further extended into measuring the mechanical power delivered to the respiratory system: MP_rs = RR × ΔV²∙[1/2∙EL_rs + RR∙(1 + I:E)/60∙I:E∙R_aw] + ΔV∙PEEP, where EL_rs is elastance, I:E is inspiratory:expiratory ratio, R_aw is airway resistance, and RR is respiratory rate. This measure helps identify when the lung is at risk of VILI. However, a recent study found no direct causal link between MP_RS and mortality; rather, it showed that MP_RS, normalized to C_RS or end-expiratory lung volume (EELV), was independently associated with outcomes. This indicates that lung size and underlying pathophysiology—rather than ΔP or MP_RS alone—are critical determinants of VILI risk. Reopening collapsed lung tissue would increase C_RS and decrease E_RS, thereby lowering ΔP or MP_RS at any given V_T, R_aw, PEEP, I:E, or RR setting. Consequently, the focus should shift from simply adjusting the ventilator to normalize C_RS and EELV that reduce ΔP or MP_RS at higher ventilator settings. Full article

Modern distributed systems increasingly rely on reactive programming to meet the demands of high throughput and low latency under extreme concurrency. While the theoretical advantages of non-blocking I/O are well-established, empirical understanding of its behavior across heterogeneous enterprise workloads remains fragmented. This study presents a unified architectural evaluation of asynchronous (thread-per-request) and reactive (event-loop) paradigms within a functionally equivalent Java microservice environment. Unlike prior studies that isolate specific workloads, this research benchmarks the architectural crossover points across three distinct operational categories: distributed caching, CPU-bound processing, and blocking I/O, under loads up to 1000 concurrent users. The results quantify specific boundary conditions: the reactive model demonstrates superior elasticity in I/O-bound caching scenarios, achieving 75% higher throughput and 68% lower memory footprint. However, this advantage is strictly workload-dependent; both paradigms converge to an identical CPU wall at processor saturation, where the reactive model incurs a quantifiable latency penalty due to event-loop contention. Furthermore, under blocking conditions, the reactive model’s memory efficiency (reducing footprint by ~50%) provides resilience against Out-Of-Memory (OOM) failures, even as throughput gains plateau. These findings move beyond generic performance comparisons to provide precise, data-driven guidelines for hybrid architectural adoption in complex distributed systems. Full article

Amid accelerating climate change, intensifying urban heat island effects, and rising public demand for livable, walkable streets, there is an urgent practical need for interpretable and actionable evidence on streetscape quality. Yet, research on streetscape quality has often relied on single data sources and linear models, limiting insight into multidimensional perception; evidence from temperate monsoon cities remains scarce. Using Tianjin’s main urban area as a case study, we integrate street-view imagery with remote sensing imagery to characterize satellite-derived environmental indicators at the point scale and examine the following five perceptual outcomes: comfort, aesthetics, perceived greenness, summer heat perception, and willingness to linger. We develop a three-step interpretable assessment, as follows: Elastic Net logistic regression to establish directional and magnitude baselines; Generalized Additive Models with a logistic link to recover nonlinear patterns and threshold bands with Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate control and binned probability calibration; and Shapley additive explanations to provide parallel validation and global and local explanations. The results show that the Green View Index is consistently and positively associated with all five outcomes, whereas Spatial Balance is negative across the observed range. Sky View Factor and the Building Visibility Index display heterogeneous forms, including monotonic, U-shaped, and inverted-U patterns across outcomes; Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Land Surface Temperature are likewise predominantly nonlinear with peak sensitivity in the midrange. In total, 54 of 55 smoothing terms remain significant after Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate correction. The summer heat perception outcome is highly imbalanced: 94.2% of samples are labeled positive. Overall calibration is good. On a standardized scale, we delineate optimal and risk intervals for key indicators and demonstrate the complementary explanatory value of street-view imagery and remote sensing imagery for people-centered perceptions. In Tianjin, a temperate monsoon megacity, the framework provides reproducible, actionable, design-relevant evidence to inform streetscape optimization and offers a template that can be adapted to other cities, subject to local calibration. Full article

Natural fillers have been widely explored to enhance the mechanical and barrier properties of biodegradable films. In this study, a mineral-rich powder obtained from the solid components of Ucides cordatus crab shells was processed (washing, drying, milling, and sieving at 75 µm) and extensively characterized using SEM, FTIR XRD, EDX, mineral analysis, hygroscopicity, density, and particle size distribution. The powder exhibited heterogeneous morphology and contained 22.52 g·kg⁻¹ of calcium carbonate, along with other trace minerals; its crystalline profile indicated the presence of both calcite and aragonite. Low hygroscopicity (1.76%) and a true density of 2.11 g/cm³ were also observed. When incorporated into pectin-based films at 1–5%, the filler promoted a reduction in film thickness, indicating enhanced structural compaction. Solubility increased linearly with filler content, whereas water vapor permeability (WVP) decreased at 1% and 2% but rose again at 4% and 5%, correlating positively with solubility (r = 0.895). Films containing 4% and 5% exhibited higher tensile strength and elastic modulus, confirming increased rigidity. At elevated concentrations, the films also became less luminous and more chromatic. Overall, the findings demonstrate that crab-shell mineral powder is a viable and sustainable reinforcement capable of tailoring the structural, mechanical, and barrier performance of biodegradable films. Full article

Background: Recent advancements in regenerative medicine have introduced mesenchymal stem cell–derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) as a novel therapeutic approach. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles containing proteins, lipids, and RNAs capable of modulating cellular behavior and promoting tissue regeneration. A systematic review of human studies is warranted to summarize outcomes, assess therapeutic value, and guide clinical applications. Objectives: This systematic review synthesizes current evidence on mesenchymal stem cell–derived exosomes for cutaneous scars, aging, and hyperpigmentation, with a focus on functional and aesthetic outcomes. Method: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (January 2010–July 2025) was performed following 2020 PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies included studies that were randomized controlled trials, pilot studies, case series, and case reports involving human participants treated with MSC-Exos. Outcomes assessed were scar remodeling, pigmentation, skin regeneration, recurrence, and adverse events. Data extraction and bias assessment were conducted independently. Result: Six studies (n = 99; age 19–72 years) from diverse regions, including the United States, the Republic of Korea, and México, were included. MSC-Exos therapy showed promising improvements in reducing scar thickness (32.5% vs. 19.9%, p < 0.01), wrinkle parameters were reduced by 1 (2.4–14.4% vs. 6.6–7.1%, p < 0.05), and elasticity was enhanced (+11.3% vs. −3.3%, p = 0.002) Additional benefits included hydration (+6.5% vs. +4.5%, p = 0.37) and reduced melanin index (−9.9% vs. −1%, p = 0.44). The Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale score showed significant improvement (p = 0.005). Using the Investigator Global Assessment, 16 out of 25 areas treated with exosomes showed significant improvement (grade ≥ 2), compared to 12 out of 25 areas in the control group (p = 0.02), indicating that exosome treatment led to more visible improvement. Complete resolution of icepick scars, partial improvement of boxcar/rolling scars, and no recurrence of keloids (18/21) were reported. Adverse events were mild and transient. Conclusions: Early human evidence suggests that MSC-Exos may offer potential therapeutic benefits for scars, hyperpigmentation, and skin aging, with favorable short-term safety profiles. However, the current evidence remains preliminary due to small sample sizes, heterogeneous study designs, and limited follow-up durations. Larger, well-designed randomized trials are needed to confirm long-term efficacy and safety. Full article

Conventional particleboards often exhibit limited mechanical strength, which restricts their use in load-bearing and high-performance applications; reinforcing these boards with carbon fibers offers a potential solution to overcome these limitations. This study investigated the effect of carbon fiber (CF) content on the mechanical performance of single-layer particleboards bonded with polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) adhesive. Carbon fibers were examined as a reinforcement to improve the mechanical properties of particleboards. Experimental boards were produced with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% CF (based on the oven-dry mass of wood particles). The analysis included density profile distribution, modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), and screw withdrawal resistance (SWR). The results showed that mechanical performance improved only at lower CF contents. The most pronounced effect was observed at 10% CF, where MOR increased from 15.2 MPa (control) to 19.2 MPa, and MOE increased from 2.45 GPa to 2.91 GPa. Higher CF additions (≥20%) did not yield further improvements, and at elevated levels (≥30%), bending performance decreased (MOR dropped to 14.1–13.5 MPa) due to poor fiber dispersion and weakened interfacial bonding between fibers and wood particles. Screw withdrawal resistance increased gradually with CF content, from 156 N in the control boards to 182 N at 50% CF, although the improvement was limited by adhesion quality and mat heterogeneity. Overall, the study demonstrates that small CF additions can enhance selected mechanical properties of particleboards, whereas higher loadings negatively affect performance due to microstructural incompatibilities. Full article

The pore complexity and heterogeneity in porous media display obvious fractal characteristics, which can be characterized by the fractal dimension for the pore tortuosity (D_T) and the fractal dimension for the pore size (D_f). Correspondingly, a three-dimensional (3D) fractal permeability model for porous media is proposed based on the D_T and D_f. The accuracy of the proposed model is verified by the classical theoretical relation of the permeability versus porosity, the measured permeability, and the previous study. The sensitivity analysis of model parameters (D_f, D_T, λ_min and λ_max) based on elasticity coefficient indicates that the proposed model is much more sensitive to D_f and D_T than λ_min and λ_max, and more sensitive to D_f than D_T. The proposed model is much more sensitive to λ_min than λ_max. Furthermore, the proposed model is compared with the modified Kozeny–Carman equation. The root mean square error (RMSE) analysis shows that the RMSE of the proposed model and the modified Kozeny–Carman equation in predicting permeability are 8.9857 × 10⁻⁴ and 0.5082, exhibiting high prediction accuracy of the proposed model. The proposed fractal permeability model achieves a more accurate characterization of the fluid transport by more comprehensively describing the complexity and tortuosity of pore structure, which can also provide the prospective theoretical significance and method reference for predicting the permeability of 3D porous media. Full article

This study explores the production of composites based on polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), using Additive Manufacturing technology via LCD. Polylactic acid, being biodegradable and possessing good mechanical properties, was combined with microcrystalline cellulose, which has a high modulus of elasticity, aiming to further improve its performance. Composites with different microcrystalline cellulose contents (1, 3, 5, and 10%) were obtained and compared to pure PLA. Characterization involved thermal, mechanical, morphological, and structural tests. The results showed that the addition of microcrystalline cellulose increases hardness, tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity. Scanning electron microscopy revealed more heterogeneous fracture surfaces in the composites compared to pure polylactic acid. Thermal stability varies according to the microcrystalline cellulose content, with increased degradation observed in some samples, reaching 1%. Increased water absorption was also detected with increasing microcrystalline cellulose concentration, indicating potential limitations in humid environments. The incorporation of microcrystalline cellulose, especially at moderate concentrations such as 3%, proved to be an effective strategy for improving the mechanical properties of polylactic acid. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of green coffee flour (GCF) addition (2–8%) and drying method (convective versus microwave-vacuum drying) on the physicochemical, textural, and bioactive properties of pasta. Both factors were found to significantly influence the assessed parameters. Green coffee had no observable effect on the microstructure of convectively dried pasta, whereas microwave-vacuum drying caused visible cracks and a heterogeneous starch-protein matrix even at a 2% supplementation level. Microwave-vacuum-dried pasta exhibited a shorter optimal cooking time and higher water absorption compared with convectively dried samples, while increasing the level of GCF prolonged cooking time and increased cooking losses. Texture analysis revealed that convectively dried pasta showed decreased elasticity and cohesiveness with increasing GCF content, whereas microwave -vacuum-dried pasta maintained a relatively uniform texture regardless of supplementation. The incorporation of GCF enhanced the antioxidant capacity of pasta, with the most pronounced effect at 2% addition, while higher levels showed reduced benefits. Similarly, fortification increased the content of phenolic acids, particularly chlorogenic acid and its isomers, with convectively dried samples exhibiting higher levels than microwave-vacuum-dried pasta. Consumer acceptance was highest for convectively dried pasta without GCF and for samples containing 2%, while pasta with higher GCF levels or microwave-vacuum-dried samples received lower scores. Full article

The development of deep coalbed methane is hindered by the strong heterogeneity of coal mechanical properties and complex hydraulic fracturing behavior. To identify the key factors controlling fracture geometry and permeability enhancement, this study developed a thermo-hydro-mechanical-damage coupled model within a COMSOL Multiphysics 6.3-MATLAB R2022b co-simulation framework, incorporating a Weibull random field to characterize mechanical heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that tensile strength is the predominant factor governing both the fracturing damage zone and permeability-enhanced area, with its damage area extreme difference (10.094) and coefficient of variation (0.85) significantly surpassing those of other parameters. Poisson’s ratio and elastic modulus emerge as key secondary parameters, while compressive strength shows the lowest sensitivity. The parametric influences exhibit distinct patterns: tensile strength shows a strong negative correlation with damage and permeability-enhanced areas (up to 85% reduction), whereas the maximum permeability enhancement rate follows a non-monotonic trend, peaking at 215 when tensile strength reaches 3.33 MPa. Compressive strength minimally affects the damage area (~15%) but steadily improves the maximum permeability enhancement rate (7.5% increase). Elastic modulus exhibits an optimal value (8.93 GPa) for maximizing damage area, while negatively correlating with maximum permeability enhancement rate (9.1% decrease). Fracture morphology is differentially controlled by multiple parameters: low compressive strength promotes fracture deflection and branching, elastic modulus regulates fracture network complexity, and low Poisson’s ratio enhances coal brittleness to effectively activate natural fractures, thereby facilitating complex fracture network formation. Full article

This work presents the development and characterization of laminated composite panels produced from açaí residues and fibers, incorporated into a castor oil-based vegetable polyurethane matrix. The study aimed to evaluate the potential of these Amazonian agro-industrial residues as lignocellulosic reinforcement in sustainable materials. The manufacturing process was carried out by manual lamination and cold pressing, following the recommendations of ABNT NBR 14810-2:2018. The physical (moisture, density, and swelling) and mechanical (perpendicular tensile and static flexural) properties of the resulting panels were analyzed. The results revealed an average moisture content of 6.23% and a 24 h swelling of 2.76%, which are values within and well below the regulatory limits, respectively. The perpendicular tensile strength (0.49 N/mm²) exceeded the minimum required value, indicating good interfacial adhesion and internal cohesion. However, the flexural strength and modulus of elasticity (2.4 N/mm² and 1323 N/mm²) were below the standards due to the absence of oriented fibers and density heterogeneity. It is concluded that the composite has high potential for indoor applications with low structural stress, standing out for its lightness, dimensional stability and environmental viability in the use of açaí residues. Full article

Short fibre-reinforced adhesives (SFRAs) are increasingly used in wind turbine blades to enhance stiffness and fatigue resistance, yet their heterogeneous microstructure poses significant challenges for predictive modelling. This study presents a fully automated digital workflow that integrates micro-computed tomography (µCT), image processing, and finite element modelling (FEM) to investigate the mechanical response of SFRAs. Our aim is also to establish a computational foundation for data-driven modelling and future AI surrogates of adhesive joints in wind turbine blades. High-resolution µCT scans were denoised and segmented using a hybrid non-local means and Gaussian filtering pipeline combined with Otsu thresholding and convex hull separation, enabling robust fibre identification and orientation analysis. Two complementary modelling strategies were employed: (i) 2D slice-based FEM models to rapidly assess microstructural effects on stress localisation and (ii) 3D voxel-based FEM models to capture the full anisotropic fibre network. Linear elastic simulations were conducted under inhomogeneous uniaxial extension and torsional loading, revealing interfacial stress hotspots at fibre tips and narrow ligaments. Fibre clustering and alignment strongly influenced stress partitioning between fibres and the matrix, while isotropic regions exhibited diffuse, matrix-dominated load transfer. The results demonstrate that image-based FEM provides a powerful route for structure–property modelling of SFRAs and establish a scalable foundation for digital twin development, reliability assessment, and integration with physics-informed surrogate modelling frameworks. Full article

Cellulite, or edematous-fibro-sclerotic panniculopathy (EFSP), is a multifactorial condition affecting most postpubertal women, characterized by surface irregularities with significant psychosocial impact. Its pathogenesis involves adipocyte metabolism, fibrous septa, microvascular dysfunction, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, oxidative stress, and low-grade inflammation. Topical therapies remain among the most accessible approaches, acting on specific biological pathways. Osmotic and vSSasomodulatory formulations reduce edema and improve microcirculation, while methylxanthines such as caffeine and aminophylline promote lipolysis and enhance cutaneous blood flow. Retinoids mainly target the ECM, stimulating neocollagenesis and dermal thickening, with greater efficacy in early EFSP. Botanicals, including Centella asiatica, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Ginkgo biloba, provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and venotonic effects. Randomized controlled trials consistently report modest but reproducible benefits: localized circumference reductions and improved elasticity, echogenicity, and orange-peel scores, all with excellent tolerability. Recent innovations, such as lipid nanoparticles, ultradeformable vesicles, and microneedle-assisted delivery, aim to enhance penetration, stability, and sustained bioactivity of established actives. Nonetheless, most studies are small, short-term, and heterogeneous, with limited ability to isolate the role of individual components or control for massage-related effects. Artificial intelligence offers opportunities to standardize outcome measures, optimize formulations, and personalize protocols. Overall, topical therapies are best positioned as safe, biologically active adjuncts within multimodal cellulite management. Full article

Background: Colorectal cancer is a multifactorial malignancy implicating a wide variety of risk factors, such as genetic, environmental, nutritional, and lifestyle factors, leading to a certain heterogeneity in the development of the disease. Colorectal cancer is generally classified in terms of a Warburg metabolic phenotype, characterized by an excess of glycolytic axes as compared to oxidative phosphorylation. It is therefore important to better characterize the metabolic heterogeneity of these tumors in relation to their mitochondrial activity. Materials and Methods: Two R-packages (keggmetascore and mitoscore) were developed to explore metabolism, based on KEGG metabolism pathways, and mitochondrial activities, based on mitocarta V3 annotations, for the investigation of diverse transcriptomics data such as bulk or single cell experiments at the single-sample level. Results: Using the two R-packages, we functionally confirmed both regulation of metabolism and mitochondrial activities in LOVO cells after stimulation with metformin. At the single-cell level, in single-cell RNA-sequencing of colorectal tumors, we conjointly observed an activation of metabolism and mitochondrial activities in tumor cells from MSI-high tumors, in contrast to a conjoint repression of metabolism and mitochondrial activity in tumor cells from POLE-mutated tumors. These two types of tumors have distinct responses to immune checkpoint blockade therapy. At the bulk transcriptome level, colorectal tumors present less metabolism/mitochondria activities as compared to normal tissues. Multi-modal integration by co-expression network analysis showed that metabolism/mitochondrial activities are associated with a consensus molecular subtype (CMS) classification of colorectal cancer. Regarding KRAS, BRAF, and TP53 driver gene mutation status, strong repression of metabolism pathways was observed, mainly associated with fewer intra-mitochondrial membrane interactions in tumors harboring a BRAF-V600E mutation. Machine learning using Elastic-net allowed us to build a mixed metabolism/mitochondrial activity score, which was found to be increased in the CMS1-MSI subtype and metastatic samples and to be an independent parameter predictive of BRAF-V600E mutation status in colorectal cancer. Conclusions: These findings underscore the pivotal role of mitochondrial metabolism in colorectal cancer subtyping and highlight its value as a predictive biomarker for personalized therapeutic strategies. Full article

Simulating damage phenomena in masonry structures remains a significant challenge because of the intricate and heterogeneous nature of this material. An accurate evaluation of fracture behavior is essential for assessing the bearing capacity of these structures, thereby mitigating dramatic failures. This paper proposes an innovative adaptive concurrent multiscale model for evaluating the bearing capacity of in-plane masonry structures under in-plane loadings. Developed within a Finite Element (FE) set, the proposed model employs a domain decomposition scheme to solve a combination of fine- and coarse-scale sub-models concurrently. In regions requiring less detail, the masonry is represented by homogeneous linear elastic macro-elements. The material properties for these macro-elements are derived through a first-order computational homogenization strategy. Conversely, in areas with higher resolution needs, the masonry is modeled by accurately depicting individual brick units and mortar joints. To capture strain localization effectively in these finer regions, a Phase Field Cohesive Zone Model (PF-CZM) formulation is employed as the fracture model. The adaptive nature derives from the fact that at the beginning of the analysis, the model is entirely composed of coarse regions. As nonlinear phenomena develop, these regions are progressively deactivated and replaced by finer regions. An activation criterion identifies damage-prone regions of the domain, thereby triggering the transition from macro to micro scales. The proposed model’s validity was assessed through multiscale numerical simulations applied to a targeted case study, with the results compared to those from a direct numerical simulation. The results confirm the effectiveness and accuracy of this innovative approach for analyzing masonry failure. Full article