Search Results (445)

Achieving precise docking, reliable locking and damage-free emergency unlocking under complex ocean current conditions remains a key challenge for deep-water multi-way quick connectors (MQCs). This study proposes a novel MQC prototype characterised by a tiered tolerance guidance mechanism, an innovative L-shaped spatial helical cam locking system, and a real-time visual attitude indicator. Using Ansys 2023 R2 and its tools, the safe operating limits were determined through explicit non-linear finite element collision analysis. The results demonstrate that, under a controlled docking speed of 10 mm/s, the hierarchical guidance mechanism successfully accommodated extreme initial misalignments (25 mm lateral offset, 5° horizontal rotation and 15° axial rotation), whilst keeping the peak collision stress within the elastic limit. Furthermore, the L-shaped locking guide was analysed using a fifth-order polynomial motion law and a macro-micro elastoplastic Hertzian contact mechanics model, effectively eliminating rigid-flexible impact forces. Under extreme separation loads of 10,000 psi, the maximum equivalent plastic strain at the base of the locking shaft was strictly controlled at 0.00926. This is well below the failure threshold of 0.0865 specified by ASME, providing a substantial safety margin and completely preventing local yielding. Crucially, the emergency release strategy based on precision locating pins was validated through full-scale prototype testing. Destructive tests conducted under simulated severe jamming conditions demonstrated clean, damage-free disengagement under shear torques ranging from 2100 Nm to 2200 Nm. This threshold ensures that accidental triggering will absolutely not occur during routine operations (1400 Nm) and establishes a safe underwater robotic (ROV) operating speed of ≤4 r/min. This study provides a robust theoretical framework and empirical data for the future design of yield-resistant subsea connectors and safe emergency recovery. Full article

The potassium-rich mother liquor generated from the sulfuric acid process for lithium extraction from spodumene cannot be directly used for the production of battery-grade lithium salts, resulting in lithium resource loss. To address the issues of slow reaction rate and high seed crystal dosage in the traditional jarosite process for potassium removal, this paper systematically optimizes the type, dosage, and particle size of seed crystals based on the mechanisms of crystal nucleation and growth, ion occupancy competition, and interfacial crystallization-driven behavior. Results show that potassium jarosite seed offers high crystallographic compatibility, ease of preparation, and the best overall performance. Seed particle size must balance specific surface area and dispersibility; either too large or too small is detrimental to uniform crystal growth. Thermodynamic and kinetic analyses confirm that jarosite precipitation is strongly spontaneous and chemically controlled. Under the optimal process conditions (pH = 1.5, n(Fe³⁺)/n(K⁺) = 3.5:1, 1 g of potassium jarosite seed, 95 °C, 1 h), the potassium removal rate reaches (92.60 ± 0.48)%, and the lithium recovery rate is (95.20 ± 0.34)%. Lithium loss mainly arises from precipitate entrainment and insufficient washing; enhanced washing can further improve recovery. This study elucidates seed-mediated crystallization regulation and provides both theoretical guidance and technical reference for efficient potassium removal and high-value lithium recovery from potassium-rich mother liquor. Full article

Background/Objectives: Intramedullary tumors are uncommon spinal cord lesions that account for a small proportion of central nervous system neoplasms but are associated with a high risk of neurological morbidity. Accurate preoperative characterization is essential because therapeutic strategies, surgical planning, and functional prognosis depend strongly on tumor biology and growth behavior within the confined spinal cord environment. This study aims to characterize the radiological phenotype of intramedullary tumors and to identify imaging patterns that may assist in lesion characterization and diagnostic stratification. Methods: A retrospective analysis of preoperative MRI findings in patients with histopathologically confirmed intramedullary tumors was performed. Preoperative MRI examinations were systematically analyzed to describe imaging features according to tumor histology using conventional sequences (T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and contrast-enhanced imaging). Results: Distinct radiological phenotypes were observed across a wide spectrum of lesions. Glial tumors, including subependymoma, ependymoma, pilocytic astrocytoma, diffuse midline glioma H3K27M, glioblastoma, high-grade astrocytoma with piloid features, ganglioglioma, and diffuse leptomeningeal glioneural tumors, demonstrated variable combinations of cord expansion, margin definition, enhancement patterns, and tract involvement, reflecting differences between expansile and infiltrative growth. Secondary tumors such as metastases frequently exhibited aggressive imaging features, including extensive edema and intense or heterogeneous enhancement. Vascular lesions, including hemangioblastoma and cavernoma, showed characteristic vascular signatures, such as nodular enhancement with flow voids or susceptibility-related signal changes. Developmental lesions, such as epidermoid cysts, neurenteric cysts, and lipoma, displayed distinctive signal characteristics, especially on diffusion and T1, that aided differentiation from neoplastic processes. Conclusions: In conclusion, the structured radiological interpretation functions proposed herein are not only useful for diagnostic purposes, but could also be useful for risk stratification and therapeutic guidance. Full article

Background/Objectives: We report a case of severe dermatomyositis demonstrating characteristic widespread extraosseous uptake on ^99mTc-methylene diphosphonate (^99mTc-MDP) bone scintigraphy. This study highlights the diagnostic value of this modality in detecting active inflammatory myopathy when conventional muscle biopsy is inconclusive and introduces its novel use for intraoperative gamma-probe-guided biopsy to precisely target metabolically active muscle. This approach may help target metabolically active muscle in heterogeneous idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). Case Presentation: A 49-year-old man developed progressive proximal muscle weakness (Medical Research Council grade 2/5 proximally, 5/5 distally) beginning in June 2025 following influenza infection, accompanied by dysphagia, classic dermatomyositis cutaneous manifestations, back pain, and difficulty standing. Laboratory evaluation revealed elevated inflammatory markers (ESR 55 mm/hr, CRP 20 mg/L), leukocytosis (16.58 × 10⁹/L), markedly raised creatine kinase (19,937 IU/L), and troponin T levels. An initial quadriceps muscle biopsy performed on 29 July 2025 was non-diagnostic. Three-phase ^99mTc-MDP scintigraphy (~1110 MBq) demonstrated intense, diffuse extraosseous uptake involving bilateral deltoids (symmetric), biceps and triceps (patchy), paraspinal muscles (longitudinal), gluteal muscles, thighs (quadriceps and hamstrings), and gastrocnemius muscles, with relative suppression of appendicular skeletal uptake on delayed images due to soft-tissue tracer dominance—findings consistent with severe inflammatory myopathy. Following reinjection (~1100 MBq), intraoperative gamma-probe-guided biopsy targeted areas of highest uptake (left quadriceps femoris and distal triceps brachii; intraoperative counts 1300–1400 versus background ~500). Histopathology revealed histiocyte-predominant inflammation with myofibre necrosis and regeneration, sparse CD4⁺ T-cell infiltrates, and absence of fibrosis, consistent with necrotising myopathy. Positive antinuclear antibodies and strong anti-Mi-2 antibodies confirmed the diagnosis of dermatomyositis. Treatment included pulse methylprednisolone followed by oral prednisone taper, methotrexate, azathioprine, intravenous immunoglobulin, and planned rituximab therapy. Discussion: Whole-body ^99mTc-MDP scintigraphy provided a complementary whole-body functional assessment of disease extent, revealing widespread muscular involvement. The novel application of intraoperative gamma-probe-guided biopsy enabled real-time targeting of metabolically active muscle, facilitating targeted sampling after an initial non-diagnostic biopsy and yielding supportive histopathological findings. This dual diagnostic and interventional role demonstrates the technical feasibility of gamma-probe guidance in a diagnostically challenging case of dermatomyositis. Conclusions: In our case, the integration of ^99mTc-MDP scintigraphy with gamma-probe-guided biopsy enabled precise targeting of metabolically active muscle following an initial non-diagnostic biopsy. This multimodal approach may be useful in selected diagnostically challenging cases of severe inflammatory myopathy. Larger studies are needed to evaluate its reproducibility and added value. Full article

Background: Fatigued driving is a key contributing factor to major traffic accidents. Existing detection technologies suffer from issues such as delayed identification, high error rates, and a lack of quantified causal relationships between physiological and behavioral indicators. This study aims to clarify the intrinsic relationship between electrophysiological and driving behavior data during the progression of driving fatigue. Methods: Four categories of driving behavior data and electrocardiographic (ECG) heart rate variability (HRV) indicators were selected as the study subjects. Based on a four-stage standardized simulated driving experiment ranging from wakefulness to severe fatigue, the correlations between indicators were quantified using Pearson correlation analysis, and a four-layer physiological–behavioral fusion fatigue assessment model was constructed. Results: Autonomic dysregulation is the intrinsic cause of abnormal driving behavior. The two exhibit a highly synchronized, stepwise progressive evolution pattern, with |r| ≥ 0.75 among core indicators. The accuracy of the constructed model exceeded 90% for all fatigue stages, reaching 97.8% for severe fatigue detection, with a response time of ≤0.5 s. Conclusions: This model effectively addresses the limitations of single-monitoring technologies and provides theoretical support and technical guidance for multimodal identification and graded early warning of driving fatigue. Full article

Against the backdrop of the global energy transition and decarbonization imperative targets, improving the efficiency of conventional energy systems while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions has become a pressing challenge. To address the widespread problem of insufficient waste heat utilization in combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) systems, this study proposes a novel low-carbon-emission CCHP system coupled with heat pump (HP) technology and a monoethanolamine (MEA)-based carbon capture and storage (CCS) subsystem. The HP unit enables cascaded recovery and temperature upgrading of low-grade waste heat from both the flue gas and the CCS regeneration column. A comprehensive five-dimensional evaluation framework—covering energy, exergy, life cycle environmental assessment, economic and exergoeconomic analyses—is established and benchmarked against a conventional low-carbon CCHP reference system. Thermodynamic results show that HP integration raises the overall energy efficiency from 74.25% to 81.22% and the waste heat recovery rate from 73.59% to 89.85%, while simultaneously reducing exergy losses by 365.06 kW and elevating exergy efficiency from 53.95% to 65.07%. Economic analysis reveals that the unit energy production cost decreases from 0.033 to 0.031 $/(kW·h), despite a marginal increase in unit power generation cost. Sensitivity analysis identifies operating hours and interest rate as the dominant cost drivers. Exergoeconomic analysis pinpoints the turbine, the CCS subsystem, and the compressor as contributing 67.02%, 17.11%, and 8.17% of the total exergoeconomic losses, respectively, identifying them as the primary targets for future optimization. These findings provide a theoretical foundation and engineering guidance for the development and deployment of high-efficiency, low-carbon multi-generation energy systems. Full article

Hydro-cultural heritage is shaped by strong hydrological dependence and historical accessibility. To address insufficient identification of river-basin heritage linkages and their weak translation into graded protection, this study develops an analytical framework integrating heritage-site evaluation, cultural source identification, resistance-surface construction, potential corridor extraction, network grading, and protection guidance, and applies it to the Xiangjiang River Basin, China. Heritage sites were evaluated by protection level, historical continuity, spatial proximity, and hydro-cultural relevance. Cultural source areas were identified using weighted kernel density analysis, potential corridors were extracted using the minimum cumulative resistance model, and the graded corridor network was examined using network-structure indices. The results show river-oriented clustering, localized nucleation, and belt-like extension. Eight primary and fourteen supplementary cultural source areas were identified. Potential corridors are concentrated along the Xiangjiang main stem and major tributaries. In the resistance-surface construction, distance to the water system received the highest AHP-derived resistance weight, while GeoDetector showed that it had the highest, although modest, single-factor explanatory power among the tested variables for corridor spatial differentiation. The corridor network exhibits a primary–secondary–tertiary graded structure. This study reveals the spatial continuity and hierarchy of hydro-cultural heritage corridors and provides a methodological reference for river-basin conservation. Full article

Heap bioleaching is widely used to extract copper from low-grade sulfide ores thanks to its operational simplicity, low cost, and environmental sustainability. However, current control strategies rely primarily on single-factor optimization and often overlook the synergistic interactions of multiple key parameters, such as ore particle size, pore structure, pH, temperature, microbial activity, and oxygen transfer efficiency. As a result, issues such as low recovery rates, extended leaching periods, and high operational costs persist. Moreover, the “gray-box” nature of heap systems impedes real-time monitoring of internal physical, chemical, and biological processes. In addition, empirical multi-parameter optimization is time-consuming and inadequate for capturing complex interdependencies. This review was conducted to systematically examine the key factors influencing heap bioleaching efficiency and critically evaluate recent advances in numerical simulation and intelligent control strategies. As a result, we identified a major research gap: the existing models—including microscale shrinking core models (SCMs), mesoscale pore-network models based on CT reconstruction, and macroscale continuum models—have inherent limitations. SCMs assume idealized spherical particles with uniform mineral distribution while neglecting pore structure evolution and biofilm dynamics. Mesoscale models offer detailed pore characterization but lack robust multi-physics coupling (thermal–hydro–mechanical–chemical–biological, or THMCB). Macroscale models rely on homogenization assumptions that oversimplify spatial heterogeneity and temporal variations in permeability. This analysis covers the relevant literature from 1985 to 2025, with a focus on three methodological scales (micro, meso, and macro) and their integration with machine learning approaches. A notable finding is that hybrid neural network models (e.g., BP and RBF architectures) outperform purely physics-based models in predicting leaching kinetics under varying operational conditions. However, their accuracy depends heavily on high-quality field data—a limitation rarely addressed in prior reviews. By clearly delineating these model-specific limitations and scale-dependent trade-offs, this review makes two unique contributions: a structured framework for selecting and coupling numerical methods according to process requirements and a roadmap for integrating artificial neural networks with multi-physics simulations to achieve real-time intelligent control of heap bioleaching. The findings offer both theoretical guidance and practical references for optimizing the processing of low-grade copper sulfide ores. Full article

In terms of the detection of colorectal polyps during a colonoscopy, the accuracy of the diagnosis is key to effective prevention and treatment, and can be hindered by manual identification. Colorectal polyps are abnormal tissue growths in the colon or rectum, and their sizes, shapes and textures can make them difficult to find. Researchers have now turned to deep learning techniques and the YOLOv11 detection framework in particular to provide a method to automate the recognition and accurate identification of these abnormal growths. Specifically, the proposed method modifies the conventional YOLOv11 detection workflow by generating bounding box annotations from polyp segmentation masks, applying region-aware data preprocessing and augmentation, and training the detector under region-guided supervision to enhance localization precision and detection robustness. polyp segmentation masks are utilized to generate bounding box annotations which not only contribute exact spatial supervision but also avoid manual box labeling inconstancy. Region-aware data preprocessing and augmentation pay more attention to polyp-relevant regions and suppress background noise, which leads to clearer feature discrimination for small or irregular polyps. Additionally, region-guided supervision serves as explicit guidance for localizing objects with the anatomical polyp regions, which largely helps achieve accurate boundaries and prevent false detections. The proposed YOLOv11-based polyp detection system was tested and evaluated on the publicly available Kvasir-SEG dataset, which is comprised of annotated colonoscopy images. Enhanced data pre-processing and exhaustive training with appropriate choice of hyper-parameters fortified the reliability and useability of the model. The results confirmed high-grade results, and gave an Intersection over Union score of 0.9764, and an overall correctness rate of 99.00%, with well-balanced precision, recollection and F1-scores. Coming in with a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 0.9937 at a Intersection over Union threshold of 0.5 and 0.9935 over the full spectrum of thresholds from 0.5 to 0.95, this shows that the model is able to consistently and reliably detect polyps. The proposed system was also compared with Segment Anything Model, YOLO-Seg, and SAM2 and confirmed the efficacy of its method. Full article

This paper analyzes the vibrational characteristics of a novel sandwich plate configuration composed of an auxetic honeycomb (AH) core and laminated functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) face sheets, hereafter referred to as the SD-AuCNT plate. Based on Reddy’s third-order shear deformation theory (SDT), which accurately accounts for transverse shear effects without requiring shear correction factors, the equations of motion are derived using Hamilton’s principle and subsequently solved using a pb-2 Ritz formulation combined with the Newmark time integration scheme for dynamic response analysis. By combining an auxetic core with negative Poisson’s ratio characteristics and laminated FG-CNTRC face sheets featuring tailored CNT distribution patterns and orientations, the hybrid SD-AuCNT plate can improve structural stiffness, energy absorption, and dynamic performance; however, it has not been thoroughly investigated in the existing literature. After verifying the accuracy of the proposed computational procedure, the effects of auxetic core geometry, CNT distribution patterns, thickness ratios, and boundary conditions on the natural frequencies and transient responses of the plate are comprehensively investigated. The results provide new insights into the dynamic behavior of advanced sandwich plates and offer practical guidance for the design of high-performance lightweight structures in aerospace, marine, defense, and other engineering applications. Full article

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are natural high-molecular-weight polymers secreted extracellularly during growth. They possess unique rheological properties and emulsifying stability and may exhibit prebiotic-related functionalities. In food systems, EPSs exhibit multiple functional values. In recent years, driven by the global “Clean Label” movement and increasing consumer demand for natural and healthy foods, EPSs, as safe and traceable natural food-grade prebiotics, have attracted extensive attention in the dairy industry. This review summarizes EPSs’ structure, properties, and mechanisms in dairy systems. It focuses on their functional effects and mechanisms in typical dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, and ice cream, and analyzes the technical bottlenecks limiting large-scale production, including low yield, high cost, and challenges in separation and purification. This review further outlines several promising research directions for EPS research. These include strain modification via synthetic biology strategies, fermentation optimization using high-throughput screening technologies, and targeted application based on structure–function relationships. It aims to provide systematic theoretical references and practical guidance for the efficient development and innovative application of EPSs in the food industry. Full article

To support the strategy of building a strong maritime nation, oil and gas resources need to be shifted from inland to coastal areas, and large-scale strategic reserves must be established to meet national security and energy security requirements. Currently, the primary method for offshore gas storage involves onshore steel tanks, which suffer from high costs and limited capacity. The offshore sediment-type salt cavern gas storage is a high-quality alternative solution; however, its long-term stability and economic viability remain to be studied. The feasibility of gas storage in an abandoned cavern of a coastal, low-grade salt mine was simulated using ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL) and FLAC3D 7.0, and the cost–benefit comparisons were conducted among abandoned salt caverns, newly constructed single- and double-well salt caverns, and onshore storage tanks. The results show that, without utilizing the sediment storage space, the gas storage capacity is reduced and surrounding rock deformation is increased. On the other hand, the sediment’s supporting effect can mitigate creep deformation and enhance cavern stability. In addition, increasing the operating cycle frequency can significantly reduce volume shrinkage, roof subsidence, and the extent of the plastic zone. Economic analysis shows that the estimated construction cost for repurposing coastal sediment-type salt caverns is approximately 82 million CNY, which is significantly lower than the 450 million CNY required for onshore storage tanks. Compared with newly constructed single- and double-well salt caverns, it offers advantages in cycle time, cost, and revenue. Accordingly, this research can provide theoretical guidance for evaluating abandoned cavern reserves and conducting feasibility studies. Furthermore, it offers technical support for the large-scale, sustainable storage of carbon dioxide, hydrogen, compressed air, and other renew-able energy carriers in abandoned salt caverns. Full article

Full-arch implant-supported rehabilitations are widely recognized as an effective treatment option for edentulous patients. Nevertheless, clinical decision-making regarding patient selection, surgical planning, prosthetic material choice, and long-term maintenance protocols remains heterogeneous and requires structured evidence-based guidance. A modified Delphi consensus process was conducted involving 29 experts during the Italian Consensus Conference. A systematic literature review covering the period 2015–2024 was performed, and the certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Consensus was predefined as ≥90% agreement. Seven evidence-based consensus statements were developed addressing: (1) periodontal risk assessment using validated tools; (2) guided bone regeneration outcomes with technique-specific indications; (3) comparative survival of four versus six implants in mandibular full-arch rehabilitations; (4) equivalence of tilted and axial implant configurations; (5) prosthetic material selection, with monolithic zirconia showing high survival; (6) risk-stratified supportive maintenance protocols associated with a reduction in peri-implantitis incidence; and (7) systemic risk stratification, including absolute and relative contraindications, medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) risk management, and perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Full article

To mitigate health hazards from pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus) and fungi (Aspergillus niger) as well as the coating mildew issue in high-humidity indoor environments, and to overcome the challenges of particle agglomeration and non-uniform distribution in conventional benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-clay composites, this study proposes a wet chemical strategy to prepare BAC-hectorite antimicrobial composites using synthetic hectorite as a high-performance carrier, which is superior to natural clays such as montmorillonite and kaolin in structural uniformity, ion-exchange efficiency, and dispersion stability. Characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis confirmed the successful intercalation of BAC cations into the hectorite interlayers through ion exchange. This resulted in a significant expansion of the interlayer spacing from 1.0–1.2 nm to 1.5–1.8 nm, a marked alleviation of particle agglomeration, and an optimized pore structure. A clear structure–activity relationship between preparation conditions, microstructure regulation, and antimicrobial performance is systematically established. Antibacterial tests revealed superior efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria; the composite exhibited an inhibition zone of 13.31 mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 4 μg/mL against S. aureus, compared to 11.62 mm and 32 μg/mL against E. coli. Practical application tests demonstrated that at an ultralow addition level of 0.4%, incorporating this composite into latex paint achieved an antibacterial rate exceeding 99.9% against both pathogens. When added to putty powder, it yielded Grade 0 mold resistance with no observable growth. Furthermore, compounding with polypropylene (PP) increased the elongation at break to approximately 600%, simultaneously realizing antibacterial, antifungal, and toughening functions, thereby not only conferring antibacterial functionality but also significantly enhancing toughness—resolving the typical polymer embrittlement caused by traditional inorganic antibacterial fillers. Short-term evaluations confirm that this composite offers a stable structure, high-efficiency antimicrobial properties, and improved substrate mechanics at low loading levels. These findings provide technical support and experimental guidance for the functional upgrading of indoor decorative coatings, putties, and polymer materials used in high-humidity scenarios such as kitchens and bathrooms. Full article

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed oncologic care and are increasingly used as adjuvant therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence. However, this shift has introduced immune-related adverse events (irAEs) to patients who may otherwise be clinically disease-free after definitive therapy. Sarcoidosis-like reaction (SLR) is an uncommon but important irAE characterized by non-necrotizing granulomatous inflammation. In the adjuvant setting, SLR is uniquely consequential because it can closely mimic recurrent malignancy on surveillance imaging and thereby prompt unnecessary diagnostic procedures, treatment interruption, or escalation of care. This review summarizes the current evidence on ICI-associated SLR with an emphasis on adjuvant immunotherapy, where practical guidance remains limited. We integrate evidence from clinical trials, real-world cohorts, and published case series to summarize the reported incidence of SLR, proposed immunologic mechanisms, clinical and radiographic presentation, pathology, differential diagnosis, and management. Particular attention is given to the problem of distinguishing SLR from recurrence, when tissue confirmation should be prioritized, and how management should be individualized according to clinical severity and organ involvement. Common radiographic features include bilateral mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy and pulmonary nodules, but tissue confirmation remains the diagnostic gold standard when feasible. Many cases are low grade and may be managed conservatively. Greater recognition of ICI-associated SLR is critical to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary escalation of care while preserving the therapeutic benefit of adjuvant immunotherapy. Full article