Search Results (2,101)

Introduction: The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of combined artificial aging protocols on the surface roughness and Vickers microhardness of bulk-fill resin composites, compared with a nanofilled composite used as a reference. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 cylindrical specimens were prepared from three bulk-fill composites (Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill, Filtek One Bulk Fill, Venus Bulk Fill) and one nanofilled composite (Filtek Supreme Ultra). Specimens were allocated into three aging conditions: mechanical wear (A), mechanical wear combined with pH-cycling (B), and mechanical wear combined with thermocycling (C). Surface roughness (Ra) and Vickers microhardness (VHN) were evaluated at two time points (T1: 120,000 cycles; T2: 240,000 cycles). Non-parametric statistical tests were applied (α = 0.05). Results: Aging protocols significantly influenced both Ra and VHN (p < 0.05). Overall, higher surface roughness and lower Vickers microhardness values were observed after cumulative aging, with material-dependent variations between T1 and T2. The greatest post-aging differences were observed under combined mechanical wear and pH-cycling (subgroup B), whereas mechanical wear alone showed the lowest changes. Filtek One Bulk Fill and Filtek Supreme Ultra showed more favorable post-aging Ra and VHN values, whereas Venus Bulk Fill showed less favorable post-aging surface properties. No significant correlation was found between Ra and VHN (rho = −0.009; p = 0.958). Conclusions: Combined aging conditions significantly affected the surface roughness and Vickers microhardness of resin composites, with the greatest post-aging differences observed under acidic challenges. Bulk-fill materials exhibit variable resistance depending on composition, emphasizing the importance of material selection for long-term clinical performance. Clinical relevance: Composite restorations exposed to combined mechanical and acidic challenges may show altered surface roughness and microhardness, highlighting the need for materials with enhanced resistance in high-risk oral environments. Full article

Urban thermal comfort in winter is an important but insufficiently quantified component of sustainable, climate-adapted urban design in cold-weather cities facing energy-intensive winter environmental challenges. This study uses high-resolution simulations to evaluate discomfort across a downtown district in Sapporo, Japan, based on the standard effective temperature (SET*) index and universal thermal climate index (UTCI). A total of 2438 sampling points were assessed under 69 hourly winter scenarios. Discomfort hotspots were found in east–west streets and wind-exposed corners, driven by limited solar access or intensified wind. SET* is a more sensitive indicator under cold conditions, particularly in shaded areas. Wind speed and mean radiant temperature distributions revealed the environmental drivers of discomfort. The influence of building height was confirmed via quantitative correlation analysis, which revealed significant negative relationships between adjacent building heights and SET* across all streets analyzed, especially in east–west street canyons, where correlation coefficients ranged from −0.80 to −0.52 in the representative street. These findings contribute to urban sustainability by providing a quantitative tool for identifying winter thermal vulnerability and supporting passive, climate-adapted public-space design. The proposed framework can help improve winter walkability, outdoor activity, and the environmental quality of downtown spaces in cold-region cities. Full article

Dissolution-induced spalling is a major deterioration mechanism affecting the long-term stability of grottoes exposed to acidic environments. However, existing numerical methods have limited capability in capturing the coupled effects of hydrochemical dissolution, joint degradation, and fracture propagation. In this study, a hydrochemical damage-coupled Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA) method is proposed. A mineral dissolution-based crack evolution model is first established, and a chemical residual strength factor D_c is introduced to quantify the degradation of fracture toughness, tensile strength, and shear strength. The factor is then incorporated into a nonlinear joint constitutive model to simulate the mechanical-chemical behavior. The proposed method is validated through a two-block contact model and a three-point bending test. Results show that the model accurately reproduces nonlinear contact behavior, including stiffness degradation, hysteresis, and peak strength reduction (24.6% after 90 days) under chemical erosion. Further application to a typical sandstone grotto reveals a progressive failure process characterized by crack initiation, propagation, coalescence, and eventual block detachment. The results demonstrate that hydrochemical dissolution significantly accelerates structural degradation of grotto rock masses, and that both the number of active cracks as well as the total crack length have significantly increased. The proposed method provides an effective tool for evaluating long-term stability and supports the preservation of grotto cultural heritage. Full article

Background: Matrix-bound nanovesicles (MBV) are extracellular vesicles (EVs) that are embedded within the extracellular matrix (ECM), and they have shown immunomodulatory effects in various cell types. The THP-1 cell line is often used to study monocyte and macrophage functions due to its easy culture potential and relatively simple conditioning into different macrophage phenotypes, but the optimal culturing conditions that allow MBV immunomodulation have not been established. Methods: In this study, we evaluated different culturing and differentiation conditions of THP-1 cells in which MBVs showed immunomodulatory effects. We also studied the effect of MBVs on relevant inflammation pathways (NF-κB and ERK 1/2). Results: Quantification of inflammatory cytokine IL-6 indicated modulation effects by MBVs in the majority of the conditions, but TNF-α showed very limited modulation. ERK1/p44 phosphorylation was significantly increased in MBV groups, but NF-κB protein p65 expression was unaffected. When compared to serum EVs, vesicle uptake by THP-1 cells remained low after 24 h. Multispectral flow cytometry analysis of THP-1 cells exposed to MBV and serum EVs showed internalization of lipids, proteins and RNA within the cells in higher cell proportions, but colocalization of the different vesicle components was not observed. Conclusions: Overall, this study provided insights into MBV immunomodulatory effects on THP-1 cells and compared the effects of MBV and serum EVs. Slight differences in modulation were observed between both EV sources, pointing to cargo differences that need further investigation. Full article

This study presents a comparative analysis of six DFS implementations representing different maturity levels and investigates the systemic gap between technological capabilities and regulatory approaches. A structured narrative review with case-based analysis was conducted using the Scopus database (2015–2026) with six targeted queries. The case selection followed the PICo protocol. An original ten-criterion DFS maturity assessment rubric—grounded in the Technology Readiness Level (TRL), Integration Readiness Level (IRL), and Digital Twin Maturity Model frameworks—was applied to all six cases. Inter-rater validation yielded substantial agreement (κw = 0.797; unweighted κ = 0.674 [95% CI: 0.509, 0.839]). The results indicate a clear maturity gradient (Dimension X: 4–9 points; Dimension Y: 2–8 points). Benefits reported in the analysed primary studies include up to a 55 s reduction in evacuation time, a 72% improvement compared with static signage, and a 34-percentage-point increase in evacuation success rate under simulation-based conditions. Five normative recommendations are proposed to address the structural regulatory gap between current prescriptive frameworks and DFS deployment in Poland and the EU. This study argues that prescriptive rules should remain the baseline, whereas complex facilities may adopt performance-based DFS solutions, provided that equivalence to conventional protection levels is rigorously demonstrated. From a sustainability perspective, the study frames DFS as a dynamic safety layer that supports occupant protection, operational resilience, and lifecycle adaptability in complex buildings exposed to uncertain fire and crowd conditions. Full article

Energy-intensive industries deploying hybrid renewable energy systems require performance monitoring frameworks that evolve with phased system implementation. This paper introduces the performance and sustainability framework, a simulation-grounded evolution of the sustainability balanced scorecard for longitudinal assessment of renewable energy infrastructure. The framework requires that key performance indicators derive from validated techno-economic simulations, that assessment is repeated at temporal checkpoints corresponding to physical system changes, and that each balanced scorecard perspective includes at least one environmental or circular-economy indicator. The framework is demonstrated in a cheese manufacturing facility in Crete, Greece, where a 38 kW cheese whey biomass generator, 72.2 kW photovoltaic system, and 10 kW wind turbine are deployed over five years. Annual HOMER Pro re-simulations are combined with weighted SWOT scoring to track technical, economic, environmental, and organisational performance. By Year 5, the system achieves an 88.7% electrical renewable fraction, 60.0% gross-operational CO₂-eq reduction, 0.1148 EUR/kWh levelised cost of energy, and 22.3% internal rate of return. The longitudinal trajectory also reveals declining delivered thermal renewable contribution and cheese whey utilisation, exposing operational trade-offs that single-point scorecard assessments would miss. Applicability of the PSF to community-scale governance under ISO 37101:2016 and to renewable energy communities under Directive (EU) 2018/2001 is examined exclusively as a conceptual scaling framework for future research. The present empirical demonstration is restricted to a single-facility case study, and no community-level stakeholder data are collected or analysed. Full article

Point-supported connections are an innovative modern connection design that can benefit from the 2-way structural action of cross-laminated timber (CLT) slabs, which is typically not considered in traditional timber design. It also allows for flatter ceiling surfaces where no beams are needed to support the mass timber floor slabs. In an attempt to better understand the structural behaviour of this type of connection in fire conditions, preliminary unloaded fire tests were conducted to evaluate their thermal performance. The test results indicated that, for these tested configurations, the presence of steel connection components does not inherently increase charring rates within adjacent mass timber elements. While the outcomes provided valuable insights on the thermal performance of such assemblies, their actual mechanical behaviour under structural loading in fire conditions remains unknown. This paper presents the results of two structural fire-resistance tests under load: Test 1 had the gap fully exposed to fire, and Test 2 had the gap protected by a firestop. Neither assembly reached failure during the 2 h of standard fire exposure, while the target load could not be fully maintained to the end of the tests. Test 1 experienced charring at the CLT-steel plate interface, while Test 2 did not. Their mechanical behaviours were also similar. Lastly, a preliminary design approach is being proposed, although it requires further validation. Full article

Given the current global agricultural system, honey bees are exposed to a complex network of stressors that can act simultaneously, making it challenging to maintain healthy colonies. Therefore, studies on natural products to improve colony health have increased in recent years. Among them, fungal extracts have been shown to be beneficial to honey bees. However, there remains a knowledge gap regarding lifespan and histomorphological studies in bees fed fungal extracts. Our current study aimed to assess the impacts of extracts from Ganoderma lucidum (GL), Hericium erinaceus (HE), Inonotus obliquus (IO), and Trametes versicolor (TV) on the lifespan and midgut of honey bees. Newly emerged Carniolan honey bees (Apis mellifera carnica) were fed 4% of each fungal extract until the death of the last individual to assess survival probability. For histomorphological analyses, bees were fed for 7, 14, and 21 days and sampled at these same time points. Then, the midguts were dissected and histologically processed for qualitative and semi-quantitative microscopic analyses. The results showed that the fungal extracts did not significantly affect honey bee survival, and that the histomorphology of the intestinal villi, digestive cells, and regenerative cells in bees treated with fungal extracts did not differ from that of untreated bees throughout the analyzed period. Similarly, no differences were observed in the midgut lesion index between bees treated with fungal extracts and the untreated group. Overall, the absence of harmful effects on lifespan and midgut suggests that feeding fungal extracts may be a potential alternative for supporting bee health. Full article

This paper presents detailed small-signal modeling and modal analysis of a 1.5 MW grid-connected doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbine. A full nonlinear model capturing stator, rotor, and grid-side converter dynamics, DC-link voltage behavior, and the wind-turbine electromechanical subsystem is developed in the synchronously rotating d-q frame and linearized around a realistic steady-state operating point. The resulting state-space representation is utilized to investigate the intrinsic dynamic characteristics of the DFIG through eigenvalue analysis, modal classification, and participation factor evaluation. The results show that the open-loop DFIG contains a weakly damped electrical mode, a slowly growing unstable mode, and a near-integrator mode linked to the DC-link voltage, all of which strongly influence system behavior under disturbances. Parameter-sensitivity studies reveal how rotor speed, stator voltage, and rotor resistance affect the dominant modes, highlighting significant deterioration under low-voltage and low-speed operating conditions. Time-domain small-signal responses to temporary voltage sags further expose the vulnerability of DC-link voltage and power outputs when no coordinated control is applied. Overall, the study establishes a rigorous dynamic baseline for DFIG systems and provides the foundational insight needed for a follow-up paper focused on advanced damping and robustness-enhancing controllers. Full article

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental pollutants associated with neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. PCB 118 is one of the most abundant congeners and exerts neurotoxic effects, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying its impact on human neurons remain poorly understood. We investigated the molecular response of retinoic acid-differentiated, neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells exposed to 5 µM PCB 118 for 24 h, a concentration that did not affect cell viability. RNA sequencing identified 1239 differentially expressed genes. Functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction analyses identified upregulation of histone and chromatin structural genes, indicative of substantial chromatin remodeling. In parallel, a significant downregulation of genes involved in ribosome biogenesis and rRNA processing was observed, potentially indicating impairment of the protein synthesis machinery. These transcriptional changes point to a coordinated reprogramming of nuclear architecture and translational machinery, potentially compromising neuronal homeostasis. The modulation of proteostasis-related pathways further supports a mechanistic link between PCB 118 exposure and neuronal dysfunction. Our results provide a comprehensive transcriptional framework connecting PCB 118 to chromatin-mediated gene regulation and suppression of ribosome biogenesis in human neuron-like cells. This study offers mechanistic insights into how environmental PCB exposure may contribute to neurotoxicity and highlights molecular pathways potentially implicated in the development of neurodegenerative disorders. Full article

Precise and continuous monitoring of thermal effects are critical for ensuring the structural safety of bridges and preventing potential failures. This study presents a methodology integrating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based thermal measurements with interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) satellite data to assess and monitor the thermomechanical response of bridges. A three-dimensional (3D) finite element model (FEM) of a prestressed concrete (PC) bridge was developed and validated using in situ displacement measurements. High-resolution, 3D temperature distributions of bridge elements were obtained daily and seasonally using UAV-based infrared thermography (UAV–IRT). Thermal maps were validated with point temperature measurements on the structure. Simultaneously, long-term wide-area deformation trends were investigated using satellite-based InSAR observations. The thermo-mechanical displacement behavior derived from UAV–IRT measurements was compared with historical InSAR-derived seasonal deformation patterns to develop an integrated multi-source structural monitoring framework. The behavior of the bridge in daily and seasonal temperature cycles was simulated and analyzed by integrating UAV–IRT thermal load data into FEM. Maximum stress levels occurring under the most adverse thermal loading conditions and over a one-year period were calculated, taking into account stress limits. The FEM revealed a maximum vertical displacement of 12.3 mm under extreme thermal loading, with tensile stresses in the deck mid-depth exceeding the 3.5 MPa limit, signaling a potential risk for thermally induced cracking. Integration of UAV–IRT thermal observations and historical InSAR deformation measurements revealed vertical temperature gradients of up to 24 °C during summer conditions and indicated that the observed structural response was predominantly governed by thermo-elastic deformation. UAV-satellite methodology offers a rapid, economical, and comprehensive solution for the structural health monitoring of bridges exposed to thermal effects. Full article

Research on the long-term durability of concrete has continued due to its widespread application in construction. Freeze–thaw cycles significantly impact concrete durability, particularly in regions with harsh climates. While most studies focus on the material properties of concrete, limited research has addressed the performance degradation of reinforced concrete structures. This study investigates the freeze–thaw resistance of RC beams made with 35 MPa concrete, with particular emphasis on the influence of air content on flexural performance. RC beams were exposed to freeze–thaw cycles using the air freeze–thaw method and the ASTM C666/C666M-15 water freeze–thaw method. Their flexural behavior was evaluated through four-point bending tests. The results showed that low-air-content RC beams exhibited notable reductions in yield load and energy absorption capacity after freeze–thaw cycles, indicating decreased strength and ductility. Conversely, RC beams with appropriate or high air content exhibited minimal reductions, demonstrating superior freeze–thaw resistance. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing air content to enhance the durability of RC structures in harsh environmental conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Multiplex and point-of-care (POC) diagnostics require each probe to detect one intended target while rejecting many closely related sequences under shared room-temperature conditions. The conventional focus on mismatch count is incomplete: two alignments with the same number of matches and mismatches can have very different off-target risks depending on whether mismatches are clustered or distributed. We introduce a simple visual heuristic that scores mismatch placement rather than mismatch count alone. Methods: Effective complementary island (ECI) score retained matched continuity after subtracting one base for each mismatch- or gap-exposed edge. The score is S_ECI = Σ_i ECI_i^2, and the design margin is ΔS_ECI = S_ECI (intended) − S_ECI (highest-scoring non-intended alignment by ECI). ECI is not a thermodynamic model; thermodynamics (ΔG37) is used separately to verify an adequate sensitivity floor. We retrospectively applied ECI to a fixed 39-target HPV capture-probe benchmark and to a public Affymetrix dataset contrasting clustered versus distributed mismatches at identical or near-identical mismatch counts. Results: In the HPV benchmark, ECI separated intended from off-target in 32/39 panels; ΔG37 favored the intended duplex in 31/39 panels; both layers were concordant in 36/39 panels. In the Affymetrix dataset (n = 8 probes, 2–4 mismatches), S_ECI correlated with reported log2 hybridization intensity (Pearson r = 0.92, p = 0.0014). Within the strict three-mismatch subset (n = 5), S_ECI remained correlated with intensity (r = 0.96; p = 0.010), while ΔG37 was uncorrelated (r = −0.04; p = 0.95), supporting the narrower claim that mismatch placement can affect signal even when mismatch count is fixed. Conclusions: ECI is not a replacement for thermodynamics, BLAST, target-accessibility analysis, empirical optimization, or machine-learning prediction. It adds one actionable readout: where to shift, shorten, or place a limited intentional mismatch so that intended retained continuity stays above the assay floor while the highest-scoring off-target island by ECI is fragmented. We provide a bench-ready workflow for multiplex, room-temperature, and POC probe design. Full article

The invasive expansion of the oak lace bug (Corythucha arcuata) represents a major threat to European oak forests, yet the synergistic roles of climatic stressors remain poorly understood. This study investigates the phenological plasticity and adaptive thermoregulation of C. arcuata in the specific microclimatic conditions of the Rășinari Forest District, Romania. Monitoring across an altitudinal gradient (525–825 m) identified a complex voltinism, characterized by a highly successful second generation (G₂) and a restricted third generation (G₃, <12% emergence due to early frosts). By utilizing a physiological time scale (GDD), we demonstrated that G₂ exhibits a 15% temporal compression in development duration compared to G₁. A critical tipping point for host vulnerability was identified at a De Martonne Aridity Index (I_Ar) value of 20. Below this threshold, oak trees underwent a linear physiological decline, with a 74.5% decrease in chlorophyll content and a 58.8% accumulation of soluble sugars. These findings support the metabolic bait hypothesis, where drought-stressed foliage becomes a high-quality nutritional resource. Furthermore, we established a critical thermal threshold of 32 °C, which triggers active vertical migration from the sun-exposed canopy to shaded interiors to avoid heat stress. Our results provide a predictive framework for sustainable forest management, identifying aridity as an injury amplifier that facilitates pest impacts under a warming climate. Full article

This research paper addresses the persistent problem of environmental opacity in sustainable debt markets, exposing a structural flaw that incremental regulation alone cannot remedy. This study advances a radical, physics-grounded solution that fundamentally transforms environmental reporting from voluntary self-disclosure to instrumentally verified, quantum-limited measurement. The method integrates three mutually reinforcing analytical frameworks: the design of Quantum-Verified Green Bonds (QVGBs), the application of cryptographic quantum key distribution (QKD), and the formal apparatus of financial contract theory. The principal conceptual innovation resides in a three-tiered architectural structure—physical, cyber–physical, and financial—that collectively shifts the epistemological foundation of sustainable finance from institutional norms and managerial discretion to the immutable constraints of physical laws. By deploying nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond as primary sensing arrays at industrial emission points, this system achieves environmental parameter estimation bounded by the Cramér–Rao quantum limits, a precision ceiling governed by Quantum Fisher Information, not corporate policy. This architecture acquires high-fidelity, real-time data on CO₂ and CH₄ flux densities, transforming atmospheric pollutant concentrations into physically attested, contractually actionable financial variables. A QKD layer further leverages the no-cloning theorem to render any upstream data manipulation physically self-revealing through statistically detectable elevations in the Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER). The central contribution of this work lies in the algorithmic coupling of bond coupon structures to these quantum-verified state variables, enforced via smart contracts, thereby converting “environmental misinformation” from a viable managerial strategy into a strictly dominated equilibrium outcome. These findings carry substantial implications for bridging the “trust gap” in green financial markets, a gap sustained by chronically undervalued transition risks and deficient accountability mechanisms in air quality and carbon reporting. The QVGB framework stabilizes green asset prices by subordinating capital allocation decisions to physical constraints rather than political or institutional ones, thereby establishing a new ontological baseline for the global sustainable debt market. Full article