Search Results (7,214)

This work describes the design and characterization of nanocomposites based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and commercial polymer matrices for innovative electronic applications. This work addresses the need for advanced materials for flexible electronics, sensing, and electromagnetic shielding. Sipolprene^® 25170-W, a flexible and durable polyester–polyether block copolymer, was used as the matrix. For filler incorporation, the commercial masterbatch Plasticyl™ PBT-1501 (15 wt% of MWCNTs in PBT, polybutylene terephthalate) was employed, ensuring operational safety and ease of dispersion. The samples were produced as films (with masterbatch contents ranging from 10% to 30% corresponding to a MWCNT content ranging from 1.5 wt% to 4.5 wt%) via twin-screw extrusion with a flat die. Characterization included SEM, FT-IR, TGA, DSC, tensile testing, surface wettability, volume resistivity measurements, and electro-mechanical tests. All the results confirmed good dispersion of the filler within the matrix: from a mechanical point of view, the addition of MWCNTs increased the Young’s modulus from 25 MPa of the neat material to 122 MPa of the material containing 4.5 wt% of MWCNTs, enhancing stiffness while maintaining good film handleability. Thermal analysis revealed the high stability of the obtained system and allowed us to identify the appropriate processing temperature parameters to guarantee the thermal stability of the materials during processing. Finally, electrical tests demonstrated a significant reduction in volume resistivity with increasing filler content: the volume resistivity decreased by about eleven orders of magnitude, from approximately 10⁸ Ohm x cm of the unmodified material to 10⁻³ Ohm x cm for the material containing 4.5 wt% of MWCNTs. the sample with 30% of filler exhibited the typical behavior of a conductive material, and it was demonstrated that it could be used as an in situ strain sensor. All these findings confirm the potential of the developed materials for advanced technological applications. Full article

Railway track geometry degradation is a key determinant of infrastructure safety, ride comfort, maintenance demand, and lifecycle cost. This paper presents a measurement-based assessment of track geometry degradation on the analyzed section of railway line M300 in Romania, with emphasis on its practical use for maintenance prioritization. The study uses in situ track-geometry inspection records collected by a track-measuring vehicle (VMC) between 2020 and 2023 on a curved double-track sector, and evaluates the main geometric defect families used in railway practice, including alignment, gauge, longitudinal level, cross-level, and twist. In addition to conventional defect identification, severity grading, and penalty-point scoring, the paper uses a maintenance-oriented interpretation framework based on the campaign-level Defect Severity Index (DSI), the Defect Recurrence Factor (DRF), and the Maintenance Priority Matrix (MPM). In this framework, DSI corresponds to the normalized penalty score per kilometre and is used to compare inspection campaigns, while DRF and MPM extend the interpretation by identifying persistent defect families and translating measured degradation into maintenance priorities. The results show that degradation is non-uniform over time and defect-family-dependent, with cross-level and longitudinal-level defects dominating the cumulative penalty score. The DSI ranged from 467 points/km in September 2022 to 3183 points/km in March 2022, confirming a non-linear degradation and recovery pattern. The proposed indices provide an interpretable extension of the existing penalty-point framework and support condition-based maintenance planning on conventional railway lines. Full article

Ex situ conservation programs maintain threatened mammal populations and support conservation breeding and reintroduction, but success also depends on physiological function, behavioral competence, welfare, and reproductive performance. This critical narrative review combined structured literature searches with a descriptive quantitative evidence map of published summary values to evaluate mammalian fecal or intestinal microbiomes in relation to wild–captive transitions, diet and management, welfare-related outcomes, and reproduction. Captivity was repeatedly associated with altered microbial community composition, but richness and major phylum-level changes showed no universal direction. Host phylogeny, diet, digestive anatomy, facility, environmental exposure, reproductive state, and analytical methods constrained comparisons. Five studies provided direct Tier 1 evidence by jointly measuring microbiomes with outcomes spanning stereotypic behavior, stress and endocrine measures, breeding season, breeding success, and multigenerational fitness within the same ex situ-managed populations. These included associations with stereotypic behavior, breeding season, hormone metabolites, breeding success, and multigenerational fitness trajectories. However, the evidence remains observational and taxon-specific, and no bacterial feature is currently validated as a transferable biomarker. Longitudinal fecal microbiome monitoring may add value when integrated with behavioral, endocrine, clinical, dietary, and breeding data. Standardized repeated-measures studies, functional profiling, and prospective management interventions are priorities for translating microbiome research into evidence-based ex situ conservation. Full article

Climate change is intensifying heat-related risks in Mediterranean urban environments, increasing the need for pedestrian-scale approaches that combine spatial diagnostics with lived thermal experience. The pilot study develops a three-layer diagnostic framework for assessing outdoor thermal comfort in the central neighbourhoods of Urla, İzmir, Türkiye. The framework integrates UMEP-SOLWEIG microclimatic modelling, citizen science field measurements and structured thermal perception diaries. First, Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) and mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) were modelled for 24 November 2023 and used as spatial diagnostic layers to identify three pilot areas with distinct urban morphologies. Second, an independent citizen science thermal walk campaign was conducted on 5 November 2025, during which 12 volunteers recorded in situ air temperature and relative humidity at predefined measurement points. Third, participants completed thermal diaries based on ASHRAE Standard 55 to document thermal sensation, comfort, preference, acceptability and adaptive responses. The modelling and fieldwork components were not designed as same-day validation datasets but as complementary layers for interpreting spatial thermal patterns and perceived thermal conditions. The results show that modelled PET values were relatively homogeneous across the three areas, while field-measured air temperature and subjective thermal responses varied more clearly at the pedestrian scale. These differences suggest that surface conditions, shading, spatial openness and user perception may jointly shape outdoor thermal experience, although the findings should be interpreted as descriptive tendencies due to the single autumn fieldwork session and small sample size. The study contributes a cautious, repeatable pilot framework for linking spatial screening, citizen-generated microclimatic data and structured perception evidence in climate-responsive urban design and local climate governance. Full article

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-borne laser wavefront sensing technology holds significant application prospects for high-precision vibration detection in the field; however, the acquired signals are highly susceptible to complex, nonlinear environmental noise interference. Existing high-precision deep learning denoising models typically rely on massive computational resources, making them difficult to deploy on resource-constrained edge devices. Consequently, practical engineering exploration is often confined to an inefficient “blind sampling followed by offline processing” mode, incurring a high risk of data invalidation. To explore solutions for real-time quality control at the edge, this paper proposes a lightweight time-frequency state space model (SWIFT-Mamba), aiming to provide an efficient algorithmic foundation and an engineering proof-of-concept for portable devices moving toward in situ verification. Through rigorous evaluation on over 60,000 laboratory-measured and controlled synthetic wavefront vibration data samples, SWIFT-Mamba achieves an average Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) gain of 19.64 dB and a Scale-Invariant Signal-to-Distortion Ratio (SI-SDR) gain of 16.10 dB, with an extremely low computational overhead requiring only 0.066 M parameters and 0.147 GFLOPs. Experimental results demonstrate that while significantly reducing computational costs, the proposed model can effectively extract the physical manifold of the signal and precisely preserve high-frequency phase features. Full article

This paper examines the results of in-situ U-value measurements across 36 traditional uninsulated solid walls and early mass concrete construction in Ireland. As the retrofit of poorly performing buildings becomes increasingly important, establishing an accurate thermal performance baseline for common solid wall types is essential. Existing assumptions in Ireland are based on default U-values used for Energy Performance Certificates or on calculated values derived using BR443 or ISO 6946 with reference thermal conductivities, while no large-scale dataset of in-situ U-values for Irish solid wall construction currently exists. This paper introduces a new dataset for such walls and compares it to the associated default and calculated U-values. Brick walls < 325 mm performed on average 36.8% better than default assumptions, while brick walls ≥ 325 mm aligned on average reasonably well with the defaults. However, the results ranged from −18.7 to +33.1% of the defaults. Stone walls performed on average 7.2% better than the defaults but with substantial variability at −54.8 to +40.8%. In contrast, mass concrete walls performed significantly worse than assumed (+37.2%), while an earthen wall exceeded expectations by 21.5%. The findings demonstrate that in-situ U-value measurements provide a valuable, non-invasive means of improving the accuracy of thermal performance assessments for traditional solid walls. Full article

This review analyzes how in situ environmental monitoring and satellite remote sensing (RS) can be integrated to assess the production performance of the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis). It provides a focused synthesis of the available evidence on the integration of these complementary monitoring approaches for assessing environmental conditions and mussel production performance. A systematic literature search was performed across major scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CAB Abstracts, ASFA, and IEEE Xplore, to identify studies published between 2014 and November 2025. Following the screening process, reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR, 28 studies met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that most studies relied exclusively on in situ environmental data (n = 24), while only one study used RS alone and three studies combined both approaches. Temperature and salinity were the most frequently monitored variables and showed the clearest associations with growth-related indicators, such as shell length and soft tissue weight. Overall, the combination of in situ monitoring and RS remains limited, while spatial analytical methods, including GIS, are still underused in this research area. Combining local and depth-specific in situ measurements with the broader spatial coverage of RS may provide a more comprehensive assessment of environmental variability relevant to mussel production and aquaculture management. These findings highlight important methodological gaps and emphasize the need for standardized and integrated monitoring schemes to support the management of mussel farming systems. Full article

Protein aggregation strongly depends on the local environment, yet investigating it in compartmentalized, high-surface-area volumes remains challenging. Here, we present an optically controlled platform for inducing and monitoring protein aggregation in microliter droplets. Local pH changes are generated in situ via photoconversion of 2-nitrobenzaldehyde, enabling noninvasive environmental control without mechanical mixing or direct perturbation of the sample. By combining fluorescein-based pH measurements with Raster Image Correlation Spectroscopy (RICS), pH variations and protein diffusion were monitored. As a model system, we investigated β-lactoglobulin, whose association state strongly depends on pH. Light-induced acidification progressively shifted the protein toward its isoelectric region, resulting in a measurable decrease in the diffusion coefficient consistent with the formation of larger supramolecular species. Furthermore, modulation of electrostatic interactions through NaCl addition revealed the sensitivity of the system to environmental factors governing the balance between electrostatic repulsion and short-range attractive interactions. Under these conditions, the platform enabled the observation of aggregation behaviors that were significantly less pronounced in corresponding bulk conditions. Overall, this droplet-based approach allows for the precise manipulation of local chemistry and quantitative analysis of biomolecular self-assembly, making it readily extendable to various noninvasive, time-resolved monitoring applications. Full article

Hydrogen production via polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolysis has attracted considerable attention as a promising technology to store renewable electricity and combat global warming. Although PEM water electrolyzers can produce high-purity hydrogen at high current densities, the use of low-purity water leads to device degradation because metal ions from the water are deposited on the membrane, thereby increasing its resistance and operating voltage. In this study, an in-situ recovery method was developed, in which degraded PEM water electrolysis cells were chemically treated without disassembly. Cells after degradation were subjected to a 24-h chemical treatment with either a strong acid (1.0 mol/L nitric acid) or a weak acid (12.9 and 1.0 mol/L phosphoric acid), followed by the supply of ultrapure water for 72 h. Recovery was evaluated using cell voltage measurements, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analyses were performed to investigate membrane morphology, elemental distributions, and metal ion removal. Among the tested acids, 12.9 mol/L phosphoric acid showed the highest voltage recovery performance, achieving a 90% recovery ratio immediately after treatment (0 h). Moreover, a comparison of the voltage recovery ratios at 1 h post-immersion suggests that higher hydrogen ion concentrations are more effective for the recovery of degraded PEMs. These findings demonstrate that in-situ acid treatment can restore the performance of contaminated PEM water electrolyzers without disassembly and may provide a practical approach for extending cell lifetime and reducing maintenance requirements. Full article

Accurate magnetic-field characterization is essential for evaluating wireless power transfer (WPT) systems. Conventional near-field measurements require setup-specific probe calibration, increasing experimental complexity. This paper proposes a calibration-free framework based on a minimal small-loop magnetic-field probe model derived from Faraday’s law, where the voltage-to-magnetic-field conversion coefficient is analytically determined from probe geometry and operating frequency. Its validity is examined by comparing an ideal analytical model, a spatially aware Bessel-function-based model, and full-wave simulations. Full-wave simulations indicate that the loop circumference should remain within approximately $0.1\lambda$ for the modeled probe, while experimental validation at 13.56 MHz supports the method in the tested WPT configuration. Combined with three-axis measurement and augmented-reality (AR) visualization, the method enables practical three-dimensional (3D) magnetic-field mapping. Full article

This study examines the long-term associations between ambient air pollutants and the burden of major respiratory and infectious diseases in this geographically sensitive region. A retrospective analysis was conducted using ICD-10-coded hospital records of patients diagnosed with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, and tuberculosis from January 2020 to June 2026. These data were integrated with in situ air quality measurements, including PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and SO₂, as well as satellite-derived Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) from MODIS. Disease incidence was stratified by year, sex, and age groups (0–85+ years) to assess demographic susceptibility patterns. Respiratory diseases constituted a substantial public health burden over the study period. Asthma showed a marked female predominance (≈29,700 females vs. ≈16,000 males) and a bimodal age distribution with peaks in early childhood (0–5 years) and mid-adulthood (35–50 years). COPD was predominantly observed in males (≈8300 males vs. ≈5500 females), with a higher median age range (≈67–70 years). Bronchitis exhibited a similar bimodal pattern, disproportionately affecting both pediatric and elderly populations, while overall case numbers declined over time. Tuberculosis incidence was approximately threefold higher in males than females, with notable age-related divergence, affecting younger females (≈30–32 years) and middle-aged males (≈42–45 years). The findings suggest a spatial–temporal correspondence between elevated pollutant concentrations and respiratory disease prevalence in the Iğdır Basin. The observed sex- and age-specific disparities underscore the potential value of region-specific environmental health strategies, strengthened air quality management, and continuous epidemiological surveillance in enclosed basin environments. Full article

This paper addresses the need for cost-effective and integrated impedance spectroscopy (IS) techniques for supercapacitors (SCs), particularly in applications where conventional frequency response analyzers (FRAs) are impractical due to their high cost and lack of portability. A power converter-based methodology is proposed to perform IS using a power electronics interface, enabling in situ characterization of SCs. The approach is based on an analytical formulation that relates the amplitude of the duty-cycle perturbation introduced into the converter with the excitation frequency and the desired sinusoidal current amplitude, allowing the direct generation of frequency-dependent excitation signals using the power converter. The proposed methodology is first validated using circuital simulations, demonstrating accurate impedance estimation with a Range-Average Absolute Error (RAAE) of $0.30\%$ in magnitude and $1.94\%$ in phase compared with a reference simulation. Experimental validation is then conducted using a synchronous converter controlled by a digital signal processor, and those results are benchmarked against a commercial FRA, obtaining an experimental RAAE of $4.88\%$ in magnitude and $2.41\%$ in phase. These discrepancies are mainly attributed to limitations in the excitation and measurement stages. In addition to its accuracy, the proposed approach significantly reduces implementation cost. The converter-based setup relies on standard power electronics hardware and conventional laboratory instrumentation, with an estimated cost of approximately $\$2000$ USD, which is much cheaper than commercial FRA-based systems (up to $60,000 USD). These results demonstrate that the proposed methodology provides a practical and scalable alternative for impedance spectroscopy of supercapacitors, enabling embedded and in situ diagnostics of energy storage systems. Full article

Mayonnaise is a high-viscosity food emulsion whose consistency evolves during shearing due to structural rearrangement and possible emulsion destabilization. This study presents a laboratory-scale proof-of-concept for adapting an established motor current-derived accumulated entropy generation (AEG) framework as a thermodynamic descriptor for monitoring mayonnaise structure changes. First, eight reference fluids were tested using a rotating-bob viscometer at shear rates of 600, 800, and 1000 s⁻¹ to establish the relationship between viscosity and motor current. The corrected current response showed a strong linear correlation with viscosity. The approach was then extended to commercially available mayonnaise samples. Due to the higher viscosity and structured nature of mayonnaise, testing was performed at 1000 s⁻¹, where stable shearing could be achieved. A modified impeller-based viscometer setup was used to continuously shear the mayonnaise and monitor the motor current in situ, while rheometer measurements were performed independently to validate the corresponding viscosity changes during shearing. The motor current decreased with shearing time, consistent with the reduction in measured viscosity. The calculated AEG increased continuously and distinguished the shear stability of different mayonnaise formulations. The viscosity degradation rates of two different mayonnaises are characterized using the degradation coefficient B introduced in the degradation–entropy generation (DEG) theorem. A higher B value indicates greater structural breakdown. These results suggest that current-derived entropic parameters (B coefficient and AEG) may serve as practical, sensor-accessible descriptors for monitoring mayonnaise consistency evolution when direct torque measurement or in-line rheology is unavailable. Full article

Short-pitch rail corrugation is prevalent on metro tracks with high-elastic fasteners and is closely linked to rolling noise. Field measurements show that the in situ pass-by noise reaches its maximum in the 600 Hz–1 kHz range. In the present work, the growth processes of short-pitch rail corrugation are investigated in the time domain by considering wheel–track dynamics, rolling mechanics and wear characteristics on tracks with high-elastic fasteners. The results confirm that wave reflections between wheels cause rapid development of short-pitch rail corrugation on tracks equipped with high-elastic fasteners. It is also found that a promising measure to mitigate this type of rail corrugation is to adjust the wheel intervals. Furthermore, the rail-related component of rolling noise is analyzed, and a rail vibration absorber is introduced into the wheel-track system. Both the simulated results and in situ measured pass-by noise demonstrate that rolling noise and rail corrugation within the 600 Hz–1 kHz range exhibit a strong intrinsic coupling. Thus, rail vibration absorbers offer dual benefits: suppressing corrugation growth and reducing associated rail-borne noise. Full article

Optimizing protein nutrition in ruminants is vital for enhancing growth performance, meat quality, and overall production efficiency. However, the precise protein requirement for ruminants remains unclear. Two experimental trials were conducted to investigate the impact of varying levels of rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) on in situ feed degradability, growth performance, meat quality, and rumen fermentation parameters in fattening Hu sheep. In EXP 1, six Hu sheep were fitted with rumen fistulas to measure rumen degradation characteristics of diets varying levels of crude protein (CP) (13%, 14%, 15%, and 16% X RUP: CP 40%, 45%, 50%). The results showed that the ruminal DM and GE degradation had no difference between the experimental diets (p > 0.05). However, the CP degradation rate gradually decreased as the dietary RUP proportion increased (p < 0.05). In EXP 2, a double factorial experiment was conducted using 720 male Hu sheep, divided into twelve dietary treatments with varying levels of crude protein (CP) (13%, 14%, 15%, and 16%) and RUP (40%, 45%, and 50%). Key performance indicators such as body weight gain (BWG), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured at the beginning and end of the trial. Post-slaughter, meat quality attributes, including drip loss and initial pH of the longissimus dorsi muscle, were assessed after 40 days of the trial. Rumen fluid samples were analyzed for volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles to evaluate rumen fermentation efficiency. The results demonstrated that increasing RUP levels significantly improved BWG and ADG (p < 0.05) without affecting ADFI and FCR. Although dietary protein levels had minimal impact, higher RUP levels were associated with a trend toward increased final body weight (p = 0.09). Dietary protein levels and the RUP: CP ratio had no significant effect on meat quality (p > 0.05). Ruminal acetate, valerate, and iso-valerate concentrations were reduced as RUP: CP increased (p < 0.05), and propionate concentration showed a similar trend (p = 0.062). In conclusion, optimizing RUP levels in the diets of fattening Hu sheep significantly enhances growth performance without compromising feed efficiency or the overall rumen fermentation process. These findings provide a foundation for developing feeding strategies that maximize production efficiency in sheep farming. Full article