Search Results (4,498)

Background: Achieving and maintaining therapeutic anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin in critically ill patients is challenging due to biologic variability, heparin resistance, and limitations of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) monitoring. Argatroban, a direct thrombin inhibitor, provides antithrombin-independent anticoagulation with more predictable pharmacokinetics, but real-world data describing its anticoagulation stability in the intensive care unit (ICU) remain limited. Objective: This study aimed to compare anticoagulation stability between continuous intravenous argatroban and unfractionated heparin in critically ill patients using time in therapeutic range (TTR) based on aPTT as the primary performance metric. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the ICU and step-down unit of Hôpital Montfort (Ottawa, ON, Canada) between January 2016 and December 2024. Adult patients receiving continuous intravenous argatroban or unfractionated heparin for systemic anticoagulation were included. All aPTT values obtained during active infusion were extracted, and TTR was calculated using linear interpolation between consecutive measurements. Continuous variables were summarized as medians with interquartile ranges and compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test; categorical TTR strata were compared using Fisher’s exact test. Results: Sixty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria, contributing 9 argatroban and 61 heparin infusion courses. Argatroban demonstrated a higher median TTR than heparin (83.3% [IQR 82.0–90.7] vs. 47.5% [32.9–62.4]; p < 0.001), with a moderate-to-large effect size (r = 0.51). Median aPTT values were similar between groups, but argatroban showed narrower dispersion and fewer prolonged subtherapeutic periods. A majority of heparin courses (56.5%) spent <50% of time within range, whereas no argatroban courses fell into this category. Conversely, 33.3% of argatroban courses achieved ≥90% TTR compared with none in the heparin group. Conclusions: In this real-world ICU cohort where argatroban was used for suspected or confirmed HIT, argatroban was associated with higher TTR than unfractionated heparin. These findings support the use of time-dependent metrics to evaluate anticoagulation quality and warrant prospective studies in more homogeneous populations. Full article

Expansive clay slopes are vulnerable to progressive strength loss induced by repeated wetting and drying, a mechanism that drives shallow failure in active moisture zones. Reproducing this degradation experimentally is time-consuming and resource-intensive. This study evaluates whether Fully Softened Strength (FSS) can serve as a practical substitute for five wet–dry cycles in expansive clay slope stability assessment. Direct shear tests were conducted on wet–dry-cycled and reconstituted FSS specimens across fourteen experimental water contents. Strength parameters were incorporated into homogeneous and heterogeneous limit equilibrium slope models, considering degraded layer thicknesses of 1–5 m and suspended water table conditions. Equivalence was assessed using root mean square error (RMSE), prediction bias, and physical representativeness. Five wet–dry cycles produced a dominant cohesion reduction of 70.4% with minor changes in friction angle, reaching a quasi-stationary degraded state. FSS reproduced an equivalent system response through mechanical compensation between cohesion and friction—not through equality of strength parameters—under shallow failure conditions. The best statistical fit was obtained at w = 43.5% (RMSE = 0.314); however, w = 42.0%, coinciding with the liquid limit, provided a physically more robust interpretation with near-zero bias. Equivalence was found to be valid only for normal stresses ≤ 50 kPa, representative of shallow failure depths of 1–4 m. Full article

Background/Objectives: Natamycin is an effective antifungal limited by poor solubility. This study aimed to develop and characterize natamycin-loaded liposomal vesicles as a biocompatible delivery system to improve stability and achieve controlled release for potential topical application in the treatment of fungal infections. Methods: Formulations were prepared using two phospholipid mixtures (Lipoid S100 and Phospholipon 90H) via standard (thin-film) and proliposome methods. Evaluation included encapsulation efficiency (EE%), particle size, zeta potential, the polydispersity index (PDI), and rheological properties. In vitro release kinetics were compared to a natamycin solution. Antifungal efficacy was tested against four Candida strains to determine minimum inhibitory and fungicidal concentrations (MICs and MFCs, respectively) and biofilm inhibition, while biocompatibility was assessed via keratinocyte viability assays. Results: Formulations achieved high encapsulation (~90%). Natamycin incorporation improved homogeneity and reduced particle diameters, particularly in proliposome-derived vesicles, suggesting strong drug–lipid interactions. Preparation method and lipid type significantly influenced properties; thin-film formulations showed a lower PDI and higher stability. Diffusion was twofold slower than the control, with Lipoid S100 proliposomes providing the most sustained release. The liposomes demonstrated robust antifungal activity (MICs: 0.00625–0.2 mg/mL) and effective biofilm inhibition against C. krusei. While high concentrations moderately reduced keratinocyte viability, lower doses remained biocompatible and slightly stimulatory. Conclusions: Lipid composition and preparation methods have minimal impact on the physical properties and in vitro release profiles of natamycin liposomes. These vesicles provide a dose-dependent, biocompatible platform for the controlled delivery of antifungals, showing significant in vitro inhibitory activity against Candida growth and biofilm formation. Full article

Improving the durability of reinforced concrete sleepers is essential for railway infrastructure exposed to dynamic loading, moisture, and repeated freeze–thaw action. This study proposes a material-level modification approach for heavy concrete for type 2 reinforced concrete sleepers based on the combined use of activated microsilica, a ferroalloy-production byproduct, electrolyzed mixing water, and a polycarboxylate superplasticizer. The novelty of the work lies in the preliminary electrochemical activation of microsilica in an alkaline medium and in the optimization of its joint use with KN-5 by means of second-order experimental design. The concrete was evaluated by compressive and bending strength tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water-penetration testing, and freeze–thaw resistance testing. All modified mixtures outperformed the reference concrete. The highest 28-day compressive strength reached 67.0 MPa, while bending strength reached 7.26 MPa. SEM observations showed a denser and more homogeneous cement matrix with reduced capillary porosity and improved interfacial transition zones. Water resistance improved from W8 for the reference mixture to W10–W14 for the modified concretes. Most modified mixtures achieved a frost resistance grade of F500, and the composition containing 15% activated microsilica and 1.0% superplasticizer reached F550. The proposed approach is effective at the material level for producing heavy concrete with enhanced strength and durability characteristics for reinforced concrete sleeper applications. Full article

This study investigates the effect of complex nanomodification combined with the simultaneous application of magnetic fields and mechanical vibration on the structure formation and performance properties of medium-alloy steel 40CrNi3MoV. Improving the structural homogeneity and operational characteristics of such steels remains an important task due to their widespread use in components operating under severe loading and wear conditions. The introduction of the nanostructured modifier InSteel-7 at a concentration of 0.03%, together with simultaneous magnetic and vibrational treatment of the melt, resulted in pronounced structural homogenization and grain refinement. Quantitative metallographic analysis using Thixomet Pro image analyzer revealed a significant refinement of the dendritic structure, with the secondary dendrite arm spacing decreasing from 73.9 μm to 27.9 μm. X-ray phase analysis confirmed the preservation of phase composition while indicating increased structural uniformity of the BCC matrix. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy and elemental micro-mapping demonstrated high chemical purity of the alloy and a uniform distribution of the modifier components. The combined treatment significantly improved the mechanical and tribological characteristics of the material. The average hardness increased from 390 HV to 510 HV, while tribological tests showed a reduction in wear track depth from 5.16 μm to 0.87 μm and a decrease in surface roughness from Ra 2.13 μm to 0.20 μm, indicating enhanced wear resistance. Full article

In this study, a microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)-stabilized Pickering emulsion approach was developed to integrate hydrophobic natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES; menthol:decanoic acid, 1:1 molar ratio) into agar-based biopolymer films. MCC was evaluated not only as a filler but also as a functional interfacial component governing hydrophobic phase distribution and structural organization. SEM analysis showed that MCC concentration significantly influenced morphology; films with 0.2% MCC exhibited a more homogeneous structure, whereas 0.5% MCC led to heterogeneous and irregular formations. Mechanically, films with 0.2% MCC showed higher elongation at break (16.37%) compared to 0.5% MCC (9.86%), while tensile strength remained similar (2.75–2.78 MPa). Increased MCC content enhanced surface hydrophobicity, as indicated by higher contact angle values. The 0.5% MCC films exhibited high moisture content (85%) and water solubility (93%), attributed to increased free volume and structural irregularity. Swelling index exceeded 40% in 0.2% MCC films but decreased at higher MCC levels. HS-GC-MS analysis revealed temperature-dependent controlled release of menthol, with significant release at 50 °C compared to 25 °C. Antimicrobial tests demonstrated broad-spectrum activity (8.9–24.2 mm). These results highlight MCC as an effective stabilizer for hydrophobic NADES integration and support the potential of these films for active packaging applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Most brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is performed in supine position, although posture may influence cerebrovascular signal characteristics through gravity-related physiological changes. However, posture-dependent vascular signal alterations on low-field MRI have not been sufficiently quantified. This study aimed to quantify posture-related internal carotid artery (ICA) signal alterations using low-field MRI by comparing seated and supine images with intensity-, noise-, and texture-based metrics. Methods: Nine healthy adults (20–69 years old; one female) underwent 0.25 T tilting MRI in supine and seated postures. 3D gradient echo T1-weighted images were obtained. The bilateral ICA regions of interest (ROI) and adjacent reference ROI were manually delineated. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), signal intensity ratio (SIR), gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture features (contrast, correlation, energy, and homogeneity) were extracted and compared between postures using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results: Seated posture produced significantly higher ICA signal intensity metrics than the supine posture, with increased SNR (median 17.11 vs. 13.48), CNR (median 21.94 vs. 18.36), and SIR (median 10.84 vs. 9.54) (p = 0.004). GLCM texture analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in contrast in the seated position (median 62.01 vs. 145.92; p = 0.004), whereas correlation, energy, and homogeneity showed no significant between-posture differences. Conclusions: Low-field MRI was sensitive to posture-dependent ICA signal alterations. ICA-based metrics may provide quantitative markers of gravity-related cerebrovascular adaptation. Full article

Materials derived from renewable and recycled resources offer a promising route toward more sustainable thermoset composites. In this study, waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was depolymerized by glycolysis with propylene glycol to obtain a glycolysate, and subsequently polycondensed with biobased propylene glycol, maleic anhydride, and trimethylolpropane diallyl ether to synthesize biobased UV-curable unsaturated polyester resin (UV-bUPR). The composites were prepared with acryloyl-modified Kraft lignin (K_rL-A) as a reactive bio-filler using a dual-curing approach, in which rapid UV curing was followed by thermal/redox post-curing to improve conversion and network homogeneity. The structure of the synthesized resin and composites was confirmed by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. Mechanical properties were evaluated by tensile testing and hardness measurements, while morphology and fracture behavior were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The unmodified lignin decreased tensile performance due to limited compatibility with the polyester matrix and the formation of interfacial defects and agglomerates. In contrast, K_rL-A exhibited improved dispersion and stronger filler–matrix interactions, resulting in superior mechanical performance. The most pronounced effect of lignin modification was observed at 15 wt.% filler loading, where the tensile strength reached 27.83 MPa, compared with 13.91 MPa for the corresponding unmodified system. The developed composites also showed improved sustainability, assessed through the E-factor, due to the combined use of recycled PET and renewable lignin. Full article

The stress and deformation sensitivity analysis of high earth-rock dams requires knowledge of the statistical mean and standard deviation of deformation parameters of dam materials. However, these parameters are typically determined through grouped tests and sorting. Given the small sample size in each group and the consequently large parameter errors, the inaccuracy of the resulting statistical parameters is evident. The least squares method fits all test points of each group in the same coordinate system for regression calculation, which not only helps to better address the issue of a small sample size, but also eliminates the errors caused by the grouping of test parameters. However, it is found that when the least squares method is applied to the elastic modulus and bulk modulus parameters of the Duncan–Chang E-B model, the residual errors have heteroscedasticity and correlation, which violates the use condition of the least squares method. In order to eliminate the heteroscedasticity and correlation of the fitting residuals of the elastic modulus and bulk modulus parameters of the Duncan–Chang E-B model, this paper decomposes the covariance matrix of the regression residuals to obtain its square root matrix, multiplies the explanatory variables, dependent variables and residual vectors of the regression equation by the square root matrix of the covariance, respectively, and performs variable substitution. The new regression equation has the homogeneity of variance and the irrelevance of the residual. The mean and variance of the model parameters are obtained directly by calculating all the experimental data. The variance of the new parameters is smaller than that of the classical least squares method. The results demonstrate that this generalized least squares method improves the estimation accuracy of elastic modulus and bulk modulus parameters of the Duncan–Chang E-B model. Full article

This study investigates the valorization of dredged sludge as a sustainable subgrade fill material through stabilization with a nano-calcium carbonate–cement composite. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests were systematically conducted to determine the optimal dosage of nano-CaCO₃ as a supplementary additive at a fixed cement content of 8% by dry soil mass. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and quantitative pore structure analysis were employed to elucidate the underlying solidification mechanisms. The results demonstrate that the addition of 2% nano-CaCO₃ yields the highest 28-day UCS of 721 kPa, representing a statistically significant 21% improvement over the cement-only reference (596 kPa) and a more than threefold increase relative to untreated sludge (213 kPa). Conversely, increasing the nano-CaCO₃ dosage to 2.5% leads to a significant strength reduction, attributed to nanoparticle agglomeration and hindered cement hydration. Microstructural characterization reveals that the optimal nano-CaCO₃ dosage accelerates early-age hydration through a nucleation effect, promotes the consumption of portlandite, and enhances the formation of calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H) gel. Semi-quantitative XRD analysis further confirms the conversion of less stable monosulfate (AFm-SO₄) into stable monocarboaluminate (AFm-CO₃) phases. These synergistic mechanisms—nucleation, physical pore filling, and chemical reaction—result in a densified matrix with a refined pore structure, reduced total porosity, and a more homogeneous pore-size distribution. The findings provide a robust theoretical basis for the resource-oriented utilization of dredged sludge and the design of low-carbon composite stabilizers for soft soil treatment. Full article

The effect of nanosecond laser modification on X165CrMoV12 tool steel before and after heat treatment was investigated. Three laser texturing modes were applied to the studied material, with the variables being the frequency used and the pulse energy: 50 kHz/pulse energy 0.9 mJ, 100 kHz/pulse energy 0.45 mJ, and 150 kHz/pulse energy 0.3 mJ. The other parameters of laser texturing were power—90%; speed—500 mm/s; hatching angle—0° (horizontal), +60°/−60° (or equivalent 120°), and +30°/−30° (or equivalent 150°); and Hatching Distance—0.02 mm. The surface laser modification process aims to obtain a homogeneous and adaptive surface relief optimizing the operational properties of the working surfaces of the parts under dry contact friction conditions. The influence of the used laser modification modes on the roughness class of the obtained surfaces, the structure of the formed modified surface and the friction coefficient was studied. The comparative analysis showed that the lowest roughness class (Ra—4.123 µm) was obtained when using an operating frequency of 50 kHz. The obtained friction coefficient values were lowest in the following sequence of processes: laser texturing and subsequent thermal treatment. The lowest friction coefficient (µ = 0.0041) was registered in the test bodies processed with a mode in which the operating frequency was 50 kHz and the pulse energy was 0.9 mJ, after which they were subjected to thermal treatment according to the used cycle. In this processing sequence, no diffusion-related defects (decarburization) were observed on the surface layer of the tested steel. Full article

Cellulose-derived gel films are promising matrices for the immobilization and delivery of beneficial microorganisms in sustainable plant protection. This study evaluated the effects of polymer molecular weight and chemical structure on the physicochemical properties and biocontrol performance of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) films of low, medium, and high molecular weight, as well as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na), loaded with Bacillus subtilis. The films were characterized in terms of morphology, swelling behavior, mechanical properties, microbial viability, and antifungal activity against Fusarium avenaceum and Alternaria solani. Increasing HEC molecular weight produced progressively denser and more homogeneous gel networks, resulting in improved structural integrity, whereas CMC-Na formed dense but less stable networks. Swelling studies at pH 4, 7, and 9 showed high water uptake for all HEC systems, with enhanced structural stability observed in high-molecular-weight films, whereas CMC-Na dissolved rapidly under all conditions. Mechanical testing further confirmed that increasing molecular weight enhanced stiffness and tensile strength but reduced flexibility. Immobilized in gel matrices, B. subtilis remained viable after 12 months of storage and rapidly reactivated after rehydration. All biohybrid films inhibited fungal growth, with stronger formulation-dependent responses against F. avenaceum than against A. solani. In general, polymer molecular weight and structure were identified as key parameters controlling network organization, hydration behavior, mechanical performance, and biological functionality. These findings highlight the potential of cellulose-derived gel matrices as tunable carriers for microbial biocontrol applications. Full article

Accurate retrieval of visibility grades is critical for transportation safety. Due to the highly complex meteorological backgrounds, traditional global deep learning models frequently struggle with limited physical traceability and feature heterogeneity. To address these challenges by enhance physical traceability and reduces heterogeneity, this study proposes a scenario-adaptive visibility retrieval framework based on multi-source synergy, namely TabPFN-ExtraTrees (TabPFN-ET), targeting major transportation routes in Anhui Province, China. Fusing Fengyun-4 (FY-4A/4B) satellite multispectral observations with ground meteorological data, this framework utilizes the divide-and-conquer routing mechanism of ExtraTrees to decouple the complex, heterogeneous feature space into highly homogeneous sub-scenarios. Subsequently, the TabPFN model conducts high-precision inference within each specific subspace. Evaluations on a class-balanced benchmark demonstrate that TabPFN-ET achieves an Overall Accuracy of 0.681, outperforming baseline models such as SAINT across various metrics. Furthermore, this paper conducts a physically consistent analysis of the framework. Feature importance and node profiling corroborate its physical consistency: the FY-4 upper-level water vapor channel (Channel 09) and near-surface humidity act as the macroscopic atmospheric stability and microscopic thermodynamic constraints, respectively, driving the model’s scene decoupling and inference. Cross-regional tests in Jiangsu provide preliminary indications of context-specific transferability. Full article

Protected areas are often treated as internally homogeneous conservation units, yet their communities may be structured either as discrete modules or as continuous gradients shaped by environmental heterogeneity and human disturbance. Using camera-trap data from Liziping Nature Reserve, China, we examined the spatial organization of mammal and galliform bird communities and tested whether species-level environmental responses help explain community structure. From 109 camera-trap sites surveyed between October 2017 and July 2020, we obtained 6688 independent detections and retained 17 species for analysis. We combined β-diversity decomposition, clustering, NMDS ordination, single-species occupancy models, clustering of environmental response coefficients, and Mantel tests. Community variation was dominated by turnover rather than nestedness, and clustering based on co-occurrence and relative activity patterns did not reveal well-separated discrete modules. Instead, NMDS indicated continuous variation along environmental gradients, with elevation and vegetation productivity as the strongest correlates. Occupancy models showed marked species-specific environmental responses, especially to elevation, habitat structure, and human disturbance, and β-based clustering suggested two broad environmental response groups. Although human influences did not affect all species uniformly, some species showed clear sensitivity to recent disturbance and human-modified landscapes. These results indicate that communities in Liziping are better characterized as continuous gradient structures than as discrete modules, and suggest that conservation should emphasize the maintenance of environmental heterogeneity, habitat continuity, connectivity, and differentiated management of human activities within mountain protected areas. Full article

Salt and seasoning application plays a critical role in flavor and product consistency in industrial food manufacturing; however, manual recovery of excess salt limits both hygiene and process efficiency. In this study, a closed-loop salt dispensing machine capable of operating between 120–700 kg/h was developed to automatically recover salt that does not adhere to the product surface during processing. The required motor power and torque for achieving the maximum discharge rate of 700 kg/h were analytically calculated and experimentally validated. Homogeneity tests performed on a 1.2-m conveyor indicated maximum and minimum deviations of 5.3% and 7%, respectively. Overall, the system eliminates material waste, enhances hygiene, and provides more controlled salt distribution compared to conventional manual methods. Full article