Search Results (171)

Optical inverse design faces a dilemma: neural surrogates enable fast, differentiable search but can yield physically unreliable pseudo-optima, whereas solver-in-the-loop optimization is reliable yet costly. Most surrogate methods also trust the surrogate throughout the search, train separate models for performance prediction and structure optimization, and remain largely black-box. We propose Physics-Verified Spectral Dreaming (PVSD), a unified framework for forward prediction, inverse design, and physical interpretability: a frozen differentiable spectral surrogate “dreams” structural mutations by input-gradient ascent to explore the design space, while a physical solver adjudicates every accepted update—the surrogate proposes, physics decides. We instantiate it as PVSD-TMM for one-dimensional multilayer radiative coolers. The forward predictor attains $R^2=0.9936/0.9964/0.9828$ for net cooling power, solar reflectance, and primary-window emissivity; neural dreaming lifts the population-mean net cooling power of 1000 random seeds from $-466.7$ to $65.8$ W m⁻² ($91.4\%$ reaching net cooling), and continuous-thickness refinement with 5 nm rounding yields a 14-layer manufacturable final design. Independent COMSOL finite-element and analytic TMM cross-validation converge to $P_{\mathrm{cool}}\approx 172$ W m⁻², $R_{\mathrm{solar}}\approx 0.970$, and ${\epsilon }_{\mathrm{win}}=0.9252$. This is a full-spectrum radiative-balance result for an idealized radiative-only case ($h_{\mathrm{conv}}=0$), not a window-emittance-only metric; PVSD thus achieves high simulated broadband radiative-cooling performance under the stated assumptions, without claiming global optimality. Full article

Background: Cutaneous microcirculation is crucial for skin appearance and rejuvenation, influencing color, luminosity and texture. Aging reduces microcirculation and alters skin color parameters. This study investigated the long-term effects of intradermal CellBooster^® Lift (CBL), a mechanically stabilized hyaluronic acid complex enriched with amino acids and vitamins, on skin microcirculation, color, and aesthetics in healthy adults. This study was registered at clinicaltrial.gov (NCT06000839). Methods: 36 women and 4 men aged 35–55 received three intradermal injections of 3 mL CBL across the face at two-week intervals. Cutaneous microcirculation was assessed using a PeriFlux 5000^® laser Doppler system at 7 and 84 days post-treatment. Skin color parameters, including lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellow-blue component (b*), individual typology angle (ITA°), individual whitening angle (IWA°), color homogeneity (H76), saturation, and luminance-saturation ratio, were analyzed using Visia^® CR 2D imaging. Aesthetic improvement was evaluated by both participants and medical practitioners using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS). Results: At 84 days post-treatment, CBL significantly enhanced cutaneous microcirculation and induced favorable changes in all measured skin color parameters: L*, ITA°, IWA°, and luminance-saturation ratio increased, while a*, b*, H76, and saturation decreased in women, but no changes were seen in men. No significant differences were observed between female age groups. On the GAIS, approximately 70–73% of participants reported improvement or significant improvement, while medical practitioners rated improvement in up to 93% of cases. Conclusions: Intradermal CBL administration improves cutaneous microcirculation and skin color characteristics, contributing to a more youthful appearance in adults aged 35–55, with consistent effects across age groups and high subjective and clinical aesthetic ratings. Full article

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent a critical global challenge to workforce productivity. In Thailand, these disorders are particularly prevalent in labor-intensive industries such as ice manufacturing, where workers face significant ergonomic hazards. Addressing this gap, the present study aimed to assess the occupational health, safety, and ergonomic risks facing workers in ice production facilities. This cross-sectional descriptive study investigated production workers who were employees in two of eight ice manufacturing plants in Surat Thani, Thailand, using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method. A structured occupational health and safety risk assessment questionnaire and the REBA evaluation form were used to collect data. All participants were male, averaging 30.4 (±8.5) years old. Regular pain areas included the upper/lower back, hips/thighs, shoulders, wrists, and ankles. Ergonomic assessments showed high overall risk due to heavy lifting, repetitive tasks, and cold environments. Based on REBA scores, 13.04% were in the very-high-risk group (score ≥ 11) and 65.22% in the high-risk group (score 8–10). Most production workers in ice plants faced high ergonomic risks, especially from postures affecting the upper and lower back. Training should be provided to promote awareness of risky postures and proper lifting techniques. Mechanical aids and back-support equipment are also recommended to help prevent musculoskeletal injuries. Full article

Offshore drilling operations face the critical challenge of maintaining precise weight-on-bit (WOB) control during automatic drilling feed while subjected to vessel heave disturbances. This study investigates an integrated closed-circuit hydraulic cylinder lifting system that combines full-stroke drill string compensation with potential energy recovery capabilities, addressing the control coupling problem inherent in traditional split-design systems. A longitudinal vibration model of the drill string is established using lumped mass, stiffness, and damping principles incorporating the Rayleigh method. A co-simulation model implementing nested PID control logic is developed on the AMESim platform to evaluate automatic drilling feed performance under both passive and semi-active compensation modes. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed integrated control strategy effectively mitigates bottom-hole WOB fluctuations, with top drive velocity accurately tracking set drilling feed rates (0.01–0.02 m/s) within a response time of approximately 10 s. The system maintains operational stability under sea conditions up to Grade 6 (heave wave height ≤ 4.578 m, period 14 s), beyond which accumulator piston limit-stroke collision risks emerge. These findings validate the feasibility of integrated hoisting-compensation design and establish quantitative operational limits, providing theoretical foundations for next-generation marine drilling systems targeting ultra-deepwater and natural gas hydrate exploitation. Full article

The annual congress of the Italian Association of Plastic Aesthetic Surgery (AICPE), with more than 700 members, represents one of the most relevant conference meetings in Europe relating to Aesthetic Plastic Surgery due to the number of participants and due to the faculty of invited speakers chosen for their renowned scientific value. The 13th meeting was held in Rome (Italy) from 10 to 12 April 2026. Key focus areas of the scientific program concerned breast (reduction, lifting supported or not by mesh, implant surfaces, augmentation), face and neck (lifting, blepharoplasty, malar implants, feminization), body (abdominoplasty and torsoplasty, post-partum and ex-obesity surgery, body and limb contouring, complication treatments) and nose surgery combined with medical innovations in energy devices, threads and aesthetic medicine procedures. Special attention was also given to the theme of the therapeutic role of aesthetic surgery, which is increasingly becoming an integral part of a clinical pathway useful for restoring the patient’s psycho-physical balance. Presented here is a report of the abstracts accepted due to their innovative or cutting-edge content that were selected to be given as oral presentations during the congress sessions. The 2nd edition of the Saccomanno memorial award for the best abstract presented by a young surgeon has been organized with the endorsement of Surgical Techniques Development by MDPI. Full article

Research on post-COVID tourism behaviour has expanded rapidly, yet inland UNESCO World Heritage cities remain underexamined, particularly in Mediterranean contexts. This study examines whether the pandemic produced durable changes in tourist behaviour and in willingness to pay for sustainable services in Cáceres, Spain. A structured face-to-face survey was administered to 421 visitors in March 2023, after public-health restrictions had been lifted. The analysis covered self-reported behavioural change, perceived impacts on different destination types, perceived effects on local sustainability objectives and changes in willingness to pay (WTP) for sustainable services. Descriptive statistics were complemented by an exploratory binary logistic regression predicting increased WTP. Because the model includes only sociodemographic predictors and shows modest fit, it is used to describe associations rather than to predict. Reported behavioural change was limited: mean scores for crowd avoidance, health–safety preferences, shorter stays and substitution towards rural and nature tourism ranged from 1.73 to 1.91 on a five-point scale. Respondents nevertheless perceived substantial spatial effects of the pandemic, particularly on natural parks (92.6%) and rural destinations (84.1%). Most believed that the pandemic had accelerated sustainability efforts mainly through greater institutional and business awareness (54.9%). WTP proved relatively stable, with 62.7% reporting no change and 26.1% an increase. Women and respondents with university education showed higher odds of reporting increased WTP. Because constructs such as institutional trust and pro-environmental values were not measured directly, these attitudes are interpreted—rather than demonstrated—as reflecting governance-related confidence and value orientations more than lingering health concerns. This governance-and-values reading is the study’s main interpretive contribution and requires confirmation with direct measures of the underlying constructs. Full article

Engineered bamboo composites (EBCs) are increasingly considered as sustainable alternatives to tropical hardwoods in structural applications. In jacking systems, performance is primarily governed by compression perpendicular-to-grain (bearing), although improper use may introduce flexural demands. This study evaluates the bearing and flexural behavior of Dragonwood, a commercial parallel strand bamboo (PSB), in comparison to Ekki (Lophira alata) through 120 full-scale tests. Dragonwood exhibited higher mean bearing capacity than Ekki, with yield stresses exceeding those of Ekki by over 60%, indicating strong potential for bearing-dominated applications such as in jacking. However, face-bonded specimens showed sensitivity to glue-line orientation, resulting in flexural strength reductions of up to 42% and undesirable shear failures. Increasing adhesive content and pressing pressure in the manufacturing process did not eliminate this behavior. Single-lift specimens removed the glue-line and showed improved failure behavior in flexure, although with reduced strength. The results demonstrate that manufacturing strategy heavily influences PSB performance. While single-lift Dragonwood products show the most potential, further testing under bearing is required before its suitability for jacking applications can be fully established. Full article

Monopolar radiofrequency (MRF) is a well-established modality for non-invasive facial rejuvenation; however, its clinical utility is frequently constrained by patient discomfort and inconsistent thermal delivery. This study evaluated the efficacy, safety, and mechanistic profile of a novel MRF system incorporating continuous water cooling (RF-CWC) designed to optimize thermal distribution and enhance patient tolerance. In a prospective, single-arm clinical trial involving 22 female participants, a single RF-CWC treatment utilizing region-specific static and sliding delivery modes yielded statistically significant improvements in jawline lifting, alongside a volumetric increase in the midface and a concomitant volumetric reduction in the lower face (p < 0.001) over an 8-week follow-up period, with no adverse events reported. To elucidate the underlying cellular mechanisms, the system was further evaluated using an ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced ex vivo human skin model and an in vivo porcine model. Histological, immunohistochemical, and ELISA analyses revealed that RF-CWC effectively mitigated UVB-induced dermal degradation ex vivo by significantly up-regulating elastin, insulin-like growth factor, and hyaluronic acid, while down-regulating matrix metalloproteinase-1, interleukin-1α, and heat shock protein 72 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the in vivo model demonstrated time-dependent increases in collagen types I and III and elastin without thermal tissue damage, with the sliding mode and higher shot counts correlating with enhanced extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Comparative analyses demonstrated that RF-CWC achieved superior ECM restoration and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration relative to traditional cryogen spray-cooled RF systems. Taken together, these findings suggest that the RF-CWC system may promote robust ECM remodeling and significant facial neocollagenesis while minimizing inflammatory responses, potentially presenting an optimized, highly effective, and patient-friendly advancement in MRF technology. Full article

Flapping-wing flight offers a promising solution for aerial mobility in low-density environments such as the Martian atmosphere, where conventional rotorcraft faces significant performance constraints. However, the coupled aerodynamic and structural mechanisms governing lift generation at low Reynolds numbers remain insufficiently understood. This study investigates the aeroelastic and unsteady aerodynamic behaviour of a bio-inspired flapping wing using an integrated experimental–numerical framework. High-speed imaging is employed to extract representative wing kinematics, including flapping frequency, stroke amplitude, and rotational motion. A geometrically scaled wing model is developed based on Reynolds number similitude and analysed using finite element methods to characterise its dynamic response. Aeroelastic behaviour is evaluated through modal transient simulations, while aerodynamic performance is assessed using both vortex-lattice modelling and computational fluid dynamics. The results show strong coupling between bending and torsional modes, with the structural response highly dependent on excitation frequency relative to the natural modes. Near-resonant conditions lead to amplified deformation and distinct phase relationships, while aerodynamic simulations reveal vortex-dominated lift generation. These findings provide a physics-based framework for the design and analysis of flapping-wing systems operating in low-Reynolds-number and low-density flight regimes. Full article

Bed-separation grouting filling mining is a damage-mitigation mining technology characterized by non-interfering mining and filling operations, low cost, and high efficiency. To recover coal resources from the 3801 working face located beneath a surface gas station in a Shanxi coal mine, this study first analyzed the maximum allowable deformation values for the gas station’s canopy, business hall, and oil storage tanks. Second, the feasibility and safety of bed-separation grouting filling mining at the 3801 working face were investigated using physical similarity modeling and the probability integral method. Finally, a field application of this technology was carried out at the 3801 working face. The results show that: (1) After the successive mining of the 3802, 3803 and 3801 working faces, the No. 17 bed separation was finally preserved above the 3801 working face. It is located in the upper part of the water-conducting fracture zone and has a thick impermeable isolation layer. (2) Physical similarity simulation and numerical simulation (3UDEC) of bed-separation grouting filling mining at the 3801 working face indicate that the underlying strata are effectively compacted after mining, and both overlying strata movement and surface subsidence above the grouting zone are significantly reduced. (3) The probability integral method was adopted to predict surface movement and deformation induced by mining at the 3801 working face (bed-separation grouting filling mining), the 3802 working face (fully mechanized top-coal caving mining) and the 3803 working face (full-seam mining in a single lift). All surface movement and deformation indices satisfy the surface deformation control requirements for the gas station. (4) After completion of the overburden bed-separation grouting filling project at the 3801 working face, the measured surface movement and deformation values during and after mining are all below the allowable deformation limits. No large deformations or cracks occurred in gas station structures including the canopy, business hall and oil tank farm. The protection effect is satisfactory, and the gas station has maintained normal operation throughout the mining period. Full article

With the steady progress of the global energy transition and the pursuit of “dual carbon” goals, Offshore Carbon Sequestration (OCS) has emerged as a pivotal strategic pathway within Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) initiatives aimed at mitigating climate warming. Nevertheless, the drilling of OCS injection wells faces severe challenges, including narrow geological pressure windows, high risks of shallow geohazards, stringent environmental protection standards, and prohibitive construction costs. Riserless Mud Recovery (RMR) technology, as a novel and eco-friendly deepwater drilling technique, provides innovative technical support for OCS by establishing a closed-loop seafloor circulation system that achieves dual-gradient pressure control and “near-zero discharge” of drilling fluids. This paper systematically reviews the development history and technical principles of RMR. By integrating the specific requirements of OCS injection well drilling—such as wellbore integrity, environmental protection, and shallow hazard mitigation—the study provides an in-depth analysis of the application potential of RMR in drilling CO₂ injection wells within shallow formations. Furthermore, it demonstrates the engineering feasibility of RMR across technical, environmental, and economic dimensions. Building on this analysis, the paper discusses current technical challenges regarding key equipment research and development, adaptability to complex operating conditions, enhancement of intelligent control systems, and the establishment of technical standards. It also outlines the prospects for the integrated development of RMR with emerging fields, including hydrate-based carbon sequestration, intelligent drilling and completion, and carbon sequestration in far-reaching deep-sea areas. The research indicates that RMR technology can effectively resolve the dual constraints of cost control and environmental protection in OCS drilling. With breakthroughs in critical hardware, such as high-displacement subsea lift pumps, and the deepening of cross-disciplinary integration, RMR is poised to become an essential technical pillar in the field of offshore carbon sequestration. Full article

Emergency responders face a high risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), particularly lower back injuries, due to frequent patient-handling tasks performed in awkward and dynamic postures. This aim of study is to utilize dual motion capture systems integrated with a digital human modeling (DHM) ergonomics tool to evaluate the biomechanical effects of two common two-person carrying techniques: facing forward and facing each other. Twenty-two participants lifted a 25 kg mannequin while wearing Xsens motion sensors, and lumbar forces and joint angles were analyzed using Siemens Jack software (v9.0). Peak compressive and anterior–posterior (AP) shear forces, along with trunk, hip, and knee joint angles, were examined. Compressive forces ranged from approximately 948.6 to 2955.6 N, and AP shear forces ranged from 286.0 to 827.0 N. Mean compressive and AP shear forces were higher during the facing-each-other task (1977.3 N and 595.0 N) than during the facing-forward task (1596.0 N and 462.0 N). Males experienced higher spinal loads than females across both tasks. The facing-each-other technique was associated with greater hip flexion, lower knee flexion, and reduced trunk flexion, whereas the facing-forward technique resulted in less hip flexion, greater knee flexion, and greater trunk flexion. Overall, under the conditions of the present study, the facing-forward technique was associated with lower lumbar loading indicators. Integrating motion capture with DHM offers a valuable approach for evaluating realistic rescue tasks and can inform ergonomic training strategies for emergency responders. Full article

Active flow control represents a key enabling technology for advancing aerodynamic performance, offering significant potential improvements in drag reduction, lift enhancement, and overall efficiency. This paper reviews state-of-the-art active flow control techniques originally developed for aerospace applications and evaluates their applicability to automotive systems, considering constraints such as packaging, efficiency, cost, and integration. A structured classification of fluidic, surface-based (including morphing), and plasma-based approaches is presented, followed by a comparative and decision-oriented assessment of their performance, technological maturity, and feasibility. The results indicate that synthetic jet actuators and morphing-based solutions provide the most balanced compromise between aerodynamic effectiveness and practical implementation. In contrast, conventional fluidic methods are limited by low system efficiency, while plasma-based techniques, although highly responsive, face challenges related to scalability and integration. Full article

In rural South Africa, many households lack access to clean and reliable water sources and are therefore forced to rely on contaminated sources for their daily needs. This study presents the design of a manually operated hand water pump with an integrated filtration system. The design makes use of a double-acting cylinder and is optimized for a 50 m static lift, as this depth provides an optimal balance between structural integrity and ergonomic limits. SolidWorks Flow Simulations 2020 and numerical analysis show that the system overcomes a dynamic head of 51.44 m and a pump pressure of 503,063.62 Pa while maintaining a mechanical advantage of 4.8. Through the use of anthropometric data, a crank radius of 0.396 m was deemed optimal, resulting in a peak hand force of 158.38 N. This design proves that deep well water extraction can be achieved without any compromise to user ergonomics. By integrating filtration, unlike existing designs, this pump offers a practical solution for the water challenges faced in rural communities. Full article

Magnetically driven microrobots operating in intestinal environments face two major challenges: difficulty in traversing low-height confined spaces and limited local visibility caused by mucosal obstruction. To address these issues, this study proposes a gradient-field-based force-driven control method for a mudskipper-inspired magnetic microrobot. By establishing the mapping among coil current, magnetic field, and magnetic force at the robot working point, and by solving the control input through singular value decomposition and linear programming, effective magnetic-force output along a desired direction was achieved. On this basis, two representative force-driven motions were designed. The first was a translational mode based on pulsed magnetic-force actuation for stable navigation in low-height confined spaces. The second was a lifting mode based on continuous loading and gradual adjustment of the magnetic-force upper bound to locally lift a flexible “mucosa-like” membrane, thereby simulating intestinal mucosal elevation and local visual field expansion. Experimental results showed that the robot could stably pass through narrow tunnels and effectively lift an overlying flexible membrane under vertical magnetic-force actuation. The proposed method extends both the locomotion capability and the local interaction capability of the mudskipper-inspired magnetic microrobot, and demonstrates a feasible proof-of-concept approach for confined-space navigation and localized manipulation in intestinal applications. Full article