Search Results (1,574)

Treadmill running gait differs to overland running and is commonly used to evaluate interventions. One challenge is accurately defining strike pattern and related impact kinetics. This study aimed to characterise foot-strike patterns during treadmill running using the spatial distribution of in-shoe plantar forces and to identify differences in impact kinetics through spectral analysis. Low- and high-frequency power components were analysed in heel, midfoot and forefoot strike patterns. No distinct impact peaks were identified in the force traces; however, significant spatial differences were found. Forefoot strikes exhibited lower peak impact force, average loading rate, and high-frequency power spectral density (PSD) components compared to heel and midfoot strikes, with heel also lower than midfoot. Strike pattern classification was derived from spatial force distribution, where >70% posterior and >50% anterior denote heel and forefoot strikes, while midfoot strikes demonstrate a more balanced distribution with >25% in the central zone. These findings support the integration of spatial, force-based classification with frequency-domain analysis to enhance the evaluation of impact attenuation in treadmill-based running interventions. Full article

This paper presents an advanced energy management system (EMS) for optimizing power distribution in a battery/ultracapacitor (UC) hybrid energy storage system (HESS) for electric vehicles (EVs). The proposed EMS accounts for all energy flow scenarios within a practical driving cycle. A regenerative braking control strategy is developed to maximize kinetic energy recovery using an induction motor, efficiently distributing the recovered energy between the UC and battery. Additionally, a power flow management approach is introduced for both motoring (discharge) and braking (charge) operations via bidirectional buck–boost DC-DC converters. In discharge mode, an optimal distribution factor is dynamically adjusted to balance power delivery between the battery and UC, maximizing efficiency. During charging, a DC link voltage control mechanism prioritizes UC charging over the battery, reducing stress and enhancing energy recovery efficiency. The proposed EMS is validated through simulations and experiments, demonstrating significant improvements in vehicle acceleration, energy efficiency, and battery lifespan. Full article

This study proposes a method for estimating the kinetic coefficient of friction (COF) for asphalt pavements by improving and applying Persson’s friction theory. The method utilizes the power spectral density (PSD) of the top surface topography instead of the full PSD to better reflect the actual contact conditions. This approach avoids including deeper roughness components that do not contribute to real rubber–pavement contact due to surface skewness. The key aspect of the method is determining an appropriate cutting plane to isolate the top surface. Four cutting strategies were evaluated. Results show that the cutting plane defined at 0.5 times the root mean square (RMS) height exhibits the highest robustness across all pavement types, with the estimated COF closely matching the measured values for all four tested surfaces. This study presents an improved method for estimating the kinetic coefficient of friction (COF) of asphalt pavements by employing the power spectral density (PSD) of the top surface roughness, rather than the total surface profile. This refinement is based on Persson’s friction theory and aims to exclude the influence of deep surface irregularities that do not make actual contact with the rubber interface. The core of the method lies in defining an appropriate cutting plane to isolate the topographical features that contribute most to frictional interactions. Four cutting strategies were investigated. Among them, the cutting plane positioned at 0.5 times the root mean square (RMS) height demonstrated the best overall applicability. COF estimates derived from this method showed strong consistency with experimentally measured values across all four tested asphalt pavement surfaces, indicating its robustness and practical potential. Full article

Background/Objectives: The clinical potential of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) against dual threats like antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and cancer is often limited by their high host cell toxicity. Here, we focused on brevinin-2OS (B2OS), a novel peptide from the skin of Odorrana schmackeri with potent haemolytic activity. The objective was to study the structure–activity relationship and optimise the safety via targeted modifications. Methods: A dual-modification strategy involving C-terminal truncation and subsequent N-terminal D-amino acid substitution was employed. The bioactivities and safety profiles of the resulting analogues were evaluated using antimicrobial, haemolysis, and cytotoxicity assays. Result: Removal of the rana box in B2OS(1-22)-NH₂ substantially reduced haemolysis while maintaining bioactivities. Remarkably, the D-leucine substitution in [D-Leu²]B2OS(1-22)-NH₂ displayed a superior HC₅₀ value of 118.1 µM, representing a more than ten-fold improvement compared to its parent peptide (HC₅₀ of 10.44 µM). This optimised analogue also demonstrated faster bactericidal kinetics and enhanced membrane permeabilisation, leading to a greater than 22-fold improvement in its therapeutic index against Gram-positive bacteria. Conclusions: The C-terminal rana box is a primary determinant of toxicity rather than a requirement for activity in the B2OS scaffold. The engineered peptide [D-Leu²]B2OS(1-22)-NH₂ emerges as a promising lead compound, and this dual-modification strategy provides a powerful design principle for developing safer, more effective peptide-based therapeutics. Full article

Microfluidic platforms offer a powerful approach for ultimately replicating vascularization in vitro, enabling precise microscale control and manipulation of physical parameters. Despite these advances, the real-time ability to monitor and quantify mechanical forces—particularly pressure—within microfluidic environments remains constrained by limitations in cost and compatibility across diverse device architectures. Our work presents an advanced experimental module for quantifying pressure within a vascularizing microfluidic platform. Equipped with an integrated Arduino microcontroller and image monitoring, the system facilitates real-time remote monitoring to access temporal pressure and flow dynamics within the device. This setup provides actionable insights into the hemodynamic parameters driving vascularization in vitro. In-line pressure sensors, interfaced through I2C communication, are employed to precisely record inlet and outlet pressures during critical stages of microvasculature tubulogenesis. Flow measurements are obtained by analyzing changes in reservoir volume over time (dV/dt), correlated with the change in pressure over time (dP/dt). This quantitative assessment of various pressure conditions in a microfluidic platform offers insights into their impact on microvasculature perfusion kinetics. Data acquisition can help inform and finetune functional vessel network formation and potentially enhance the durability, stability, and reproducibility of engineered in vitro platforms for organoid vascularization in regenerative medicine. Full article

As economically important sympatric species in the Northwest Pacific, the Japanese sardine (Sardinops melanostictus) and Chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) exhibit significant biological interactions. Understanding the impact of interspecies competition on their habitat dynamics can provide crucial insights for the sustainable development and management of these interconnected species resources. This study utilizes fisheries data of S. melanostictus and S. japonicus from the Northwest Pacific, collected from June to November between 2017 and 2020. We integrated various environmental parameters, including temperature at different depths (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 m), eddy kinetic energy (EKE), sea surface height (SSH), chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a), and the oceanic Niño index (ONI), to construct interspecific competition species distribution model (icSDM) for both species. We validated these models by overlaying the predicted habitats with fisheries data from 2021 and performing cross-validation to assess the models’ reliability. Furthermore, we conducted correlation analyses of the habitats of these two species to evaluate the impact of interspecies relationships on their habitat dynamics. The results indicate that, compared to single-species habitat models, the interspecific competition species distribution model (icSDM) for these two species exhibit a significantly higher explanatory power, with R² values increasing by up to 0.29; interspecific competition significantly influences the habitat dynamics of S. melanostictus and S. japonicus, strengthening the correlation between their habitat changes. This relationship exhibits a positive correlation at specific stages, with the highest correlations observed in June, July, and October, at 0.81, 0.80, and 0.88, respectively; interspecific competition also demonstrates stage-specific differences in its impact on the habitat dynamics of S. melanostictus and S. japonicus, with the most pronounced differences occurring in August and November. Compared to S. melanostictus, interspecific competition is more beneficial for the expansion of the optimal habitat (HIS ≥ 0.6) for S. japonicus and, to some extent, inhibits the habitat expansion of S. melanostictus. The variation in migratory routes and predatory interactions (with larger individuals of S. japonicus preying on smaller individuals of S. melanostictus) likely constitutes the primary factors contributing to these observed differences. Full article

This study systematically investigates the homogenization-induced Laves phase dissolution kinetics and recrystallization mechanisms in laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) processed IN718 superalloy. The as-built material exhibits a characteristic fine dendritic microstructure with interdendritic Laves phase segregation and high dislocation density, featuring directional sub-grain boundaries aligned with the build direction. Laves phase dissolution demonstrates dual-stage kinetics: initial rapid dissolution (0–15 min) governed by bulk atomic diffusion, followed by interface reaction-controlled deceleration (15–60 min) after 1 h at 1150 °C. Complete dissolution of the Laves phase is achieved after 3.7 h at 1150 °C. Recrystallization initiates preferentially at serrated grain boundaries through boundary bulging mechanisms, driven by localized orientation gradients and stored energy differentials. Grain growth kinetics obey a fourth-power time dependence, confirming Ostwald ripening-controlled boundary migration via grain boundary diffusion. Such a study is expected to be helpful in understanding the microstructural development of L-PBF-built IN718 under heat treatments. Full article

Sanicro 25 (X7NiCrWCuCoNb25-23-3-3-2) steel is specifically designed for use in superheater components within the latest generation of conventional power plants. These power plants operate under conditions often referred to as super-ultra-supercritical, with steam parameters that can reach up to 30 MPa and temperatures of 653 °C for fresh steam and 672 °C for reheated steam. While last-generation supercritical power plants still rely on fossil fuels, they represent a significant step forward in more sustainable energy production. The most sophisticated facilities of this kind can achieve thermodynamic efficiencies exceeding 47%. This study aimed to conduct a detailed analysis of the initial precipitation processes occurring in Sanicro 25 steel within the temperature range of 700–900 °C. The temperature of 700 °C corresponds to the operational conditions of this material, particularly in secondary steam superheaters in thermal power plants that operate under ultra-supercritical parameters. Understanding precipitation processes is crucial for optimizing mechanical performance, particularly in terms of long-term strength and creep resistance. To accurately assess the microstructural changes that occur during the early stages of service, a digital twin approach was employed, which included CALPHAD simulations and experimental heat treatments. Experimental annealing tests were conducted in air within the temperature range of 700–900 °C. Precipitation behavior was simulated using the Thermo-Calc 2025a with Dictra software package. The results from Prisma simulations correlated well with the experimental data related to the kinetics of phase transformations; however, it was noted that the predicted sizes of the precipitates were generally smaller than those observed in experiments. Additionally, computational limitations were encountered during some simulations due to the complexity arising from the numerous alloying elements present in Sanicro 25 steel. The microstructural evolution was investigated using various methods, including light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Full article

Stylolites, common dissolution surfaces in carbonate rocks, form due to localized stress-induced pressure-solution during burial compaction or tectonic contraction. Their morphology and growth are influenced by dissolution kinetics, rock heterogeneity, clay content, burial depth, stress evolution, diagenesis, and pore fluid availability. This study applies the stylolite roughness inversion technique (SRIT), a proven paleopizometer that quantifies the principal vertical stress (σ_v = σ₁) prevailing in strata in the last moments of bedding-parallel stylolites (BPS) formation, to the Late Cretaceous Bagh Group carbonates in the Narmada Basin, India, to estimate their burial paleo-depth. Using the Fourier Power Spectrum (FPS), we obtained 18 σ₁ values from a collection of 30 samples, enabling us to estimate paleo-burial depths for the Bagh Group ranging from 660 to 1320 m. As the Bagh Group burial history is unknown, but as there is no subsequent sedimentary deposition above it, we relate this ca. 1.3 km burial depth to the now eroded thickness of the deposits related to Deccan volcanism at the end of the Cretaceous time, implying a quasi-instantaneous development of the BPS population in the strata. This research highlights the robustness of SRIT for reconstructing burial histories in carbonate sequences and that it can be a reliable way to reconstruct the thickness of eroded deposits in well-constrained geological history. Full article

Annular flow is a common flow configuration encountered in fields such as food engineering, energy and power engineering, and petroleum engineering. The annular space formed by the inner and outer pipes exhibits unique characteristics, with the distinct curvatures of the inner and outer pipes rendering the annulus fundamentally different from a circular pipe. The complexity of the annular structure complicates the rapid calculation of turbulent statistics in engineering practice, as modeling these statistics necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their peak characteristics. However, current research lacks a thorough understanding of the peak characteristics of turbulent flows in annuli with varying diameter ratios (the ratio of the inner tube’s diameter to the outer tube’s diameter) between the inner and outer pipes. To gain a deeper insight into the turbulent peak characteristics within annular flows, this study employs numerical simulation methods to investigate the first- and second-order turbulent statistics under different diameter ratios resulting from varying curvatures of the inner and outer pipes. These statistics encompass velocity distribution, the position and magnitude of maximum velocity, turbulence intensity, turbulent kinetic energy, and Reynolds stress. The research findings indicate that the contour plots of velocity, turbulence intensity, and turbulent kinetic energy distributions under different diameter ratio conditions exhibit central symmetry. The peaks of the first-order statistical quantities are located in the mainstream region of the annulus, and their positions gradually shift closer to the center of the annulus as the diameter ratio increases. For the second-order statistical quantities, peaks are observed near both the inner and outer walls, and their positions move closer to the walls as the diameter ratio rises. The peak values of turbulent characteristics show significant variations across different diameter ratios. Both the inner and outer wall surfaces exhibit peaks in their second-order statistical quantities. For instance, the maximum value of Reynolds stress near the inner tube is 101.4% of that near the outer tube, and the distance from the wall where the maximum Reynolds stress occurs near the inner tube is 97.2% of the corresponding distance near the outer tube. This study is of great significance for optimizing the diameter combination of the inner and outer pipes in annular configurations and for evaluating turbulent statistics. Full article

Glancing Angle Deposition (GLAD) has emerged as a versatile and powerful nanofabrication technique for developing next-generation gas sensors by enabling precise control over nanostructure geometry, porosity, and material composition. Through dynamic substrate tilting and rotation, GLAD facilitates the fabrication of highly porous, anisotropic nanostructures, such as aligned, tilted, zigzag, helical, and multilayered nanorods, with tunable surface area and diffusion pathways optimized for gas detection. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of recent advances in GLAD-based gas sensor design, focusing on how structural engineering and material integration converge to enhance sensor performance. Key materials strategies include the construction of heterojunctions and core–shell architectures, controlled doping, and nanoparticle decoration using noble metals or metal oxides to amplify charge transfer, catalytic activity, and redox responsiveness. GLAD-fabricated nanostructures have been effectively deployed across multiple gas sensing modalities, including resistive, capacitive, piezoelectric, and optical platforms, where their high aspect ratios, tailored porosity, and defect-rich surfaces facilitate enhanced gas adsorption kinetics and efficient signal transduction. These devices exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity toward a range of analytes, including NO₂, CO, H₂S, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with detection limits often reaching the parts-per-billion level. Emerging innovations, such as photo-assisted sensing and integration with artificial intelligence for data analysis and pattern recognition, further extend the capabilities of GLAD-based systems for multifunctional, real-time, and adaptive sensing. Finally, current challenges and future research directions are discussed, emphasizing the promise of GLAD as a scalable platform for next-generation gas sensing technologies. Full article

Avian influenza virus (AIV) remains a persistent threat to both the poultry industry and human health. Among the AIV subtypes posing public health threats, H7N9 AIV is responsible for five epidemic waves of human infection in China. Here, a detection system based on a mouse model was established, which can simultaneously and quantitatively analyze the dynamic changes in the viral genomic RNA (vRNA), complementary RNA (cRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA) of H7N9 AIV by using reverse transcription primers with tag sequences to reverse transcribe the three species of RNAs into corresponding cDNA templates, which are then absolutely quantified using the TaqMan quantitative PCR method. This system specifically targets the PB2 and NA genes and, for the first time, enables a spatiotemporal analysis of all three viral RNA species within an animal model. Our results revealed that H7N9 AIV exhibits characteristic replication kinetics, with all three species of viral RNAs showing a rapid increase followed by a certain degree of decline. This system offers a powerful tool for us to further advance our understanding of the replication dynamics of AIV in mice. Full article

Due to the structural aspects of the wind turbine, such as wind shear and tower shadow effects, the output power of the wind turbine has periodic fluctuations, known as 3P fluctuations. These fluctuations can reduce overall power generation and deteriorate power quality. In this context, this paper proposes a power smoothing control method that utilizes rotor inertia and a DC-link capacitor as small-scale energy storage devices. First, the typical energy storage capacities of the rotor’s rotational kinetic energy and the DC-link capacitor’s electrostatic energy are analyzed to assess their smoothing potential. Secondly, a control method is presented to apply the rotor and the DC-link capacitor as small-scale energy storage, with the smoothing frequency range allocated according to their respective storage capacities. Finally, the proposed method is compared with the conventional maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method and the 3P-notch filter method. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified through MATLAB/Simulink simulations, demonstrating its capability to mitigate periodic power fluctuations. The results showed that the proposed control method is applicable, reliable, and effective in mitigating periodic power fluctuations. Full article

MXenes, a family of two-dimensional carbide and nitride nanomaterials, have demonstrated significant promise across various technological domains, particularly in energy storage applications. This review critically examines scalable synthesis techniques for MXenes and their potential integration into next-generation rechargeable battery systems. We highlight both top-down and emerging bottom-up approaches, exploring their respective efficiencies, environmental impacts, and industrial feasibility. The paper further discusses the electrochemical behavior of MXenes in lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and aluminum-ion batteries, as well as their multifunctional roles in solid-state batteries—including as electrodes, additives, and solid electrolytes. Special emphasis is placed on surface functionalization, interlayer engineering, and ion transport properties. We also compare MXenes with conventional graphite anodes, analyzing their gravimetric and volumetric performance potential. Finally, challenges such as diffusion kinetics, power density limitations, and scalability are addressed, providing a comprehensive outlook on the future of MXenes in sustainable energy storage technologies. Full article

We develop a symmetry-based variational theory that shows the coarse-grained balance of work inflow to heat outflow in a driven, dissipative system relaxed to the golden ratio. Two order-2 Möbius transformations—a self-dual flip and a self-similar shift—generate a discrete non-abelian subgroup of $\mathrm{PGL}(2,\mathbb{Q}\left(\sqrt{5}\right))$. Requiring any smooth, strictly convex Lyapunov functional to be invariant under both maps enforces a single non-equilibrium fixed point: the golden mean. We confirm this result by (i) a gradient-flow partial-differential equation, (ii) a birth–death Markov chain whose continuum limit is Fokker–Planck, (iii) a Martin–Siggia–Rose field theory, and (iv) exact Ward identities that protect the fixed point against noise. Microscopic kinetics merely set the approach rate; three parameter-free invariants emerge: a $62\%:38\%$ split between entropy production and useful power, an RG-invariant diffusion coefficient linking relaxation time and correlation length ${\mathcal{D}}_{\alpha }={\xi }^z/\tau$, and a $\vartheta ={45}^{\circ }$ eigen-angle that maps to the golden logarithmic spiral. The same dual symmetry underlies scaling laws in rotating turbulence, plant phyllotaxis, cortical avalanches, quantum critical metals, and even de-Sitter cosmology, providing a falsifiable, unifying principle for pattern formation far from equilibrium. Full article