Search Results (3,247)

The global cement industry remains a significant contributor to carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, prompting substantial research efforts toward sustainable construction materials. Lithium slag (LS), a by-product of lithium extraction, has attracted attention as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM). This review synthesizes experimental findings on LS replacement levels, fresh-state behavior, mechanical performance (compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths), time-dependent deformation (shrinkage and creep), and durability (sulfate, acid, abrasion, and thermal) of LS-modified concretes. Statistical analysis identifies an optimal LS dosage of 20–30% (average 24%) for maximizing compressive strength and long-term durability, with 40% as a practical upper limit for tensile and flexural performance. Fresh-state tests show that workability losses at high LS content can be mitigated via superplasticizers. Drying shrinkage and creep strains decrease in a dose-dependent manner with up to 30% LS. High-volume (40%) LS blends achieve up to an 18% gain in 180-day compressive strength and >30% reduction in permeability metrics. Under elevated temperatures, 20% LS mixes retain up to 50% more residual strength than controls. In advanced systems—autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), one-part geopolymers, and recycled aggregate composites—LS further enhances both microstructural densification and durability. In particular, LS emerges as a versatile SCM that optimizes mechanical and durability performance, supports material circularity, and reduces the carbon footprint. Full article

Container liner shipping companies operate within a complex environment where they must balance profitability and service reliability. Meanwhile, evolving regulatory policies, such as surcharges imposed on ships of a particular origin or type on specific trade lanes, introduce new operational challenges. This study addresses the heterogeneous ship routing and demand acceptance problem, aiming to maximize two conflicting objectives: weekly profit and total transport volume. We formulate the problem as a bi-objective mixed-integer programming model and prove that the ship chartering constraint matrix is totally unimodular, enabling the reformulation of the model into a partially relaxed MIP that preserves optimality while improving computational efficiency. We further analyze key mathematical properties showing that the Pareto frontier consists of a finite union of continuous, piecewise linear segments but is generally non-convex with discontinuities. A case study based on a realistic liner shipping network confirms the model’s effectiveness in capturing the trade-off between profit and transport volume. Sensitivity analyses show that increasing freight rates enables higher profits without large losses in volume. Notably, this paper provides a practical risk management framework for shipping companies to enhance their adaptability under shifting regulatory landscapes. Full article

This paper focuses on the sealing failure problem of double-lip seal rings for high-speed ball bearings used in unmanned aerial vehicles. By using ANSYS 2023R1 software, a thermal–stress–wear coupled finite element model was established. Taking the contact pressure and volume loss due to wear as indicators to evaluate sealing performance, this study analyzed the influence of lip seal structural parameters on sealing performance, performed response surface optimization of the seal structure parameters and conducted a comparative test on lip seals before and after optimization. The research results show that the contact pressure at the main lip of the lip seal was the greatest, which was 0.79 MPa, and the volume loss due to wear lip seal was 7.94 × 10⁻⁷ mm³. Optimal sealing performance is achieved when the seal lip inclination angle is 41.68°, the middle width of the lip seal is 0.153 mm, the main lip height is 0.179 mm, the spring center distance is 0.37 mm and the radial interference is 0.0034 mm. After optimization, the grease leakage rate of the sealing ring decreased by 48% compared to before optimization. Full article

Climate change has accelerated the retreat of Andean glaciers, with significant recent losses in the tropical Andes. This study evaluates the extinction of the Carihuairazo volcano glacier (Ecuador), quantifying its area from 1312.5 m² in September 2023 to 101.2 m² in January 2024, its thickness (from 2.5 m to 0.71 m), and its volume (from 2638.85 m³ to 457.18 m³), before its complete deglaciation in February 2024; this rapid melting and its small size classify it as a glacierette. Multivariate analyses (PCA and biclustering) were performed to correlate climatic variables (temperature, solar radiation, precipitation, relative humidity, vapor pressure, and wind) with glacier surface and thickness. The PCA explained 70.26% of the total variance, with Axis 1 (28.01%) associated with extreme thermal conditions (temperatures up to 8.18 °C and radiation up to 16.14 kJ m⁻² day⁻¹), which probably drove its disappearance. Likewise, Axis 2 (21.56%) was related to favorable hydric conditions (precipitation between 39 and 94 mm) during the initial phase of glacier monitoring. Biclustering identified three groups of variables: Group 1 (temperature, solar radiation, and vapor pressure) contributed most to deglaciation; Group 2 (precipitation, humidity) apparently benefited initial stability; and Group 3 (wind) played a secondary role. These results, validated through in situ measurements, provide scientific evidence of the disappearance of the Carihuairazo volcano glacier by February 2024. They also corroborate earlier projections that anticipated its extinction by the middle of this decade. The early disappearance of this glacier highlights the vulnerability of small tropical Andean glaciers and underscores the urgent need for water security strategies focused on management, adaptation, and resilience. Full article

Purpose: To present the findings of our preliminary experience using daily image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) supported by implanted fiducial markers (FMs) in the radiotherapy of the vaginal cuff, in a cohort of post-surgery endometrial cancer patients. Methods: Patients with vaginal cuff cancer requiring adjuvant radiation with external beams were enrolled. Five patients underwent radiation therapy targeting the pelvic disease and positive lymph nodes, with doses of 50.4 Gy in twenty-eight fractions and a subsequent stereotactic boost on the vaginal vault at a dose of 5 Gy in a single fraction. One patient was administered 30 Gy in five fractions to the vaginal vault. These patients underwent external beam RT following the implantation of three 0.40 × 10 mm gold fiducial markers (FMs). Our IGRT strategy involved real-time 2D kV image-based monitoring of the fiducial markers during the treatment delivery as a surrogate of the vaginal cuff. To explore the potential role of FMs throughout the treatment process, we analyzed cine movies of the 2D kV-triggered images during delivery, as well as the image registration between pre- and post-treatment CBCT scans and the planning CT (pCT). Each CBCT used to trigger fraction delivery was segmented to define the rectum, bladder, and vaginal cuff. We calculated a standard metric to assess the similarity among the images (Dice index). Results: All the patients completed radiotherapy and experienced good tolerance without any reported acute or long-term toxicity. We did not observe any loss of FMs during or before treatment. A total of twenty CBCTs were analyzed across ten fractions. The observed trend showed a relatively emptier bladder compared to the simulation phase, with the bladder filling during the delivery. This resulted in a final median Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 0.90, indicating strong performance. The rectum reproducibility revealed greater variability, negatively affecting the quality of the delivery. Only in two patients, FMs showed intrafractional shift > 5 mm, probably associated with considerable rectal volume changes. Target coverage was preserved due to a safe CTV-to-PTV margin (10 mm). Conclusions: In our preliminary study, CBCT in combination with the use of fiducial markers to guide the delivery proved to be a feasible method for IGRT both before and during the treatment of post-operative gynecological cancer. In particular, this approach seems to be promising in selected patients to facilitate the use of SBRT instead of BRT (brachytherapy), thanks to margin reduction and adaptive strategies to optimize dose delivery while minimizing toxicity. A larger sample of patients is needed to confirm our results. Full article

Permanent magnetic couplings provide critical advantages for deep-sea systems through static-sealed, contactless power transmission. However, conventional metallic isolation sleeves incur significant eddy current losses, limiting efficiency and high-speed operation. Limited torque capacities fail to meet the operational demands of harsh marine environments. This study presents a novel permanent magnet coupling featuring a ceramic isolation sleeve engineered for deep-sea cryogenic ammonia submersible pumps. The ceramic sleeve eliminates eddy current losses and provides exceptional corrosion resistance in acidic/alkaline environments. To withstand 3.5 MPa hydrostatic pressure, a 6-mm-thick sleeve necessitates a 10 mm operational air gap, challenging magnetic circuit efficiency. To address this limitation, an improved 3D magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) model was developed that explicitly accounts for flux leakage and axial end-effects, enabling the accurate characterization of large air gap fields. Leveraging this model, a Taguchi method-based optimization framework was implemented by balancing key parameters to maximize the torque density. This co-design strategy achieved a 21% increase in torque density, enabling higher torque transfer per unit volume. Experimental validation demonstrated a maximum torque of 920 Nm, with stable performance under simulated deep-sea conditions. This design establishes a new paradigm for high-power leak-free transmission in corrosive, high-pressure marine environments, advancing applications from deep-sea propulsion to offshore energy systems. Full article

This study investigates the impact of partially replacing cement with fly ash (FA) on the mechanical performance of fiber-reinforced rubberized concrete (FRRC) incorporating waste tyre rubber and recycled macro-synthetic fibers (MSF). FRRC mixtures were prepared with varying fly ash replacement levels (0%, 25%, and 50%), rubber aggregate contents (0%, 10%, and 20% by volume of fine aggregate), and macro-synthetic fiber dosages (0% to 1% by total volume). The fresh properties were evaluated through slump tests, while hardened properties including compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength were systematically assessed. Results demonstrated that fly ash substitution up to 25% improved the interfacial bonding between rubber particles, fibers, and the cementitious matrix, leading to enhanced tensile and flexural performance without significantly compromising compressive strength. However, at 50% replacement, strength reductions were more pronounced due to slower pozzolanic reactions and reduced cement content. The inclusion of MSF effectively mitigated strength loss induced by rubber aggregates, improving post-cracking behavior and toughness. Overall, an optimal balance was achieved at 25% fly ash replacement combined with 10% rubber and 0.5% fiber content, producing a more sustainable composite with favorable mechanical properties while reducing carbon and ecological footprints. These findings highlight the potential of integrating industrial by-products and waste materials to develop eco-friendly, high-performance FRRC for structural applications, supporting circular economy principles and reducing the carbon footprint of concrete infrastructure. Full article

Facial expression recognition (FER) is a critical research direction in artificial intelligence, which is widely used in intelligent interaction, medical diagnosis, security monitoring, and other domains. These applications highlight its considerable practical value and social significance. Face expression recognition models often need to run efficiently on mobile devices or edge devices, so the research on lightweight face expression recognition is particularly important. However, feature extraction and classification methods of lightweight convolutional neural network expression recognition algorithms mostly used at present are not specifically and fully optimized for the characteristics of facial expression images, yet fail to make full use of the feature information in face expression images. To address the lack of facial expression recognition models that are both lightweight and effectively optimized for expression-specific feature extraction, this study proposes a novel network design tailored to the characteristics of facial expressions. In this paper, we refer to the backbone architecture of MobileNet V2 network, and redesign LightExNet, a lightweight convolutional neural network based on the fusion of deep and shallow layers, attention mechanism, and joint loss function, according to the characteristics of the facial expression features. In the network architecture of LightExNet, firstly, deep and shallow features are fused in order to fully extract the shallow features in the original image, reduce the loss of information, alleviate the problem of gradient disappearance when the number of convolutional layers increases, and achieve the effect of multi-scale feature fusion. The MobileNet V2 architecture has also been streamlined to seamlessly integrate deep and shallow networks. Secondly, by combining the own characteristics of face expression features, a new channel and spatial attention mechanism is proposed to obtain the feature information of different expression regions as much as possible for encoding. Thus improve the accuracy of expression recognition effectively. Finally, the improved center loss function is superimposed to further improve the accuracy of face expression classification results, and corresponding measures are taken to significantly reduce the computational volume of the joint loss function. In this paper, LightExNet is tested on the three mainstream face expression datasets: Fer2013, CK+ and RAF-DB, respectively, and the experimental results show that LightExNet has 3.27 M Parameters and 298.27 M Flops, and the accuracy on the three datasets is 69.17%, 97.37%, and 85.97%, respectively. The comprehensive performance of LightExNet is better than the current mainstream lightweight expression recognition algorithms such as MobileNet V2, IE-DBN, Self-Cure Net, Improved MobileViT, MFN, Ada-CM, Parallel CNN(Convolutional Neural Network), etc. Experimental results confirm that LightExNet effectively improves recognition accuracy and computational efficiency while reducing energy consumption and enhancing deployment flexibility. These advantages underscore its strong potential for real-world applications in lightweight facial expression recognition. Full article

Cereal-based plant beverages have gained attention as functional ingredients in bakery formulations, offering both nutritional and technological benefits. Replacing water with these beverages may improve the nutritional value of bread by increasing its fiber and unsaturated fatty acid content, while also introducing functional components that affect dough rheology and bread texture. This study examined the effects of substituting water with oat (BO), millet (BM), and spelt (BS) beverages in wheat bread formulations at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% levels. Thirteen bread variants were prepared: one control and four substitution levels for each of the three cereal-based beverages, using the straight dough method, with hydration adjusted according to farinograph results. Farinograph tests showed increased water absorption (up to 64.5% in BO100 vs. 56.9% in control) and improved dough stability (10.6 min in BS100). Specific bread volume increased, with BS75 reaching 3.52 cm³/g compared to 3.09 cm³/g in control. Moisture content remained stable during storage, and crumb hardness after 72 h was lowest in BO100 (9.5 N) and BS75 (11.5 N), indicating delayed staling. All bread variants received favorable sensory ratings, with average scores above 3.75 on a 5-point scale. The highest bread yield (149.8%) and lowest baking loss (10.9%) were noted for BS100. Although BO breads had slightly higher fat and energy content, their nutritional profile remained favorable due to unsaturated fatty acids. Overall, oat and spelt beverages demonstrated the greatest potential as functional water substitutes, improving dough handling, shelf-life, and sensory quality while maintaining consumer appeal. Full article

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), especially iron oxide (Fe₃O₄), display distinctive superparamagnetic characteristics and elevated surface-area-to-volume ratios, facilitating improved physicochemical interactions with solutes and pollutants. These characteristics make MNPs strong contenders for use in water treatment applications. This research investigates the application of iron oxide MNPs synthesized via co-precipitation as innovative draw solutes in forward osmosis (FO) for treating synthetic produced water (SPW). The FO membrane underwent surface modification with sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA), a zwitterionic polymer, to increase hydrophilicity, minimize fouling, and elevate water flux. The SBMA functional groups aid in electrostatic repulsion of organic and inorganic contaminants, simultaneously encouraging robust hydration layers that improve water permeability. This adjustment is vital for sustaining consistent flux performance while functioning with MNP-based draw solutions. Material analysis through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) verified the MNPs’ thermal stability, consistent morphology, and modified surface chemistry. The FO experiments showed a distinct relationship between MNP concentration and osmotic efficiency. At an MNP dosage of 10 g/L, the peak real-time flux was observed at around 3.5–4.0 L/m²·h. After magnetic regeneration, 7.8 g of retrieved MNPs generated a steady flow of ~2.8 L/m²·h, whereas a subsequent regeneration (4.06 g) resulted in ~1.5 L/m²·h, demonstrating partial preservation of osmotic driving capability. Post-FO draw solutions, after filtration, exhibited total dissolved solids (TDS) measurements that varied from 2.5 mg/L (0 g/L MNP) to 227.1 mg/L (10 g/L MNP), further validating the effective dispersion and solute contribution of MNPs. The TDS of regenerated MNP solutions stayed similar to that of their fresh versions, indicating minimal loss of solute activity during the recycling process. The combined synergistic application of SBMA-modified FO membranes and regenerable MNP draw solutes showcases an effective and sustainable method for treating produced water, providing excellent water recovery, consistent operational stability, and opportunities for cyclic reuse. Full article

In this study, dry sliding wear tests were carried out on Er, Zr-microalloyed Al-Zn-Mg alloys with different Zn/Mg ratios under 30–70 N loads. The effects of the Zn/Mg content ratio and Er microalloying on the friction coefficient, wear volume loss, worn surface, and wear debris during the friction process of Al-Zn-Mg alloys were analyzed. At the load of 30 N, abrasive wear, fatigue wear, and adhesive wear were synergistically involved. At a load of 50 N, the abrasive wear dominated, accompanied by fatigue wear and adhesive wear. At a load of 70 N, the primary wear mechanisms transitioned to abrasive wear and fatigue wear, with additional adhesive wear and oxidative wear observed. Reducing the Zn/Mg ratio mitigated wear volume across all tested loads. For the Al4.5Zn1.5Mg alloy, Er microalloying significantly reduced wear volume under moderate-to-low loads (30 N, 50 N). Full article

To capture the complex metallic spatter and melt pool behavior during the rapid interaction between the laser and metal material, high-speed cameras are applied to record the laser powder bed fusion process and generate a large volume of image data. In this study, four deep learning algorithms are applied: YOLOv5, Fast R-CNN, RetinaNet, and EfficientDet. They are trained by the recorded videos to learn and extract information on spatter and melt pool behavior during the laser powder bed fusion process. The well-trained models achieved high accuracy and low loss, demonstrating strong capability in accurately detecting and tracking spatter and melt pool dynamics. A stability index is proposed and calculated based on the melt pool length change rate. Greater index value reflects a more stable melt pool. We found that more spatters were detected for the unstable melt pool, while fewer spatters were found for the stable melt pool. The spatter’s size can affect its initial ejection speed, and large spatters are ejected slowly while small spatters are ejected rapidly. In addition, more than 58% of detected spatters have their initial ejection angle in the range of 60–120$°$. These findings provide a better understanding of spatter and melt pool dynamics and behavior, uncover the influence of melt pool stability on spatter formation, and demonstrate the correlation between the spatter size and its initial ejection speed. This work will contribute to the extraction of important information from high-speed recorded videos for additive manufacturing to reduce waste, lower cost, enhance part quality, and increase process reliability. Full article

Background/Objectives: “Ozempic face” is an aesthetic side effect associated with the use of the antidiabetic agent Ozempic (semaglutide), characterized by a prematurely aged and fatigued facial appearance due to rapid weight loss. Currently, treatment options for this condition are limited. In this study, we present our clinical experience with the BodyTite device, provided by InMode Italy S.r.l. (Rome, Italy). Materials and Methods: We report a case series involving 24 patients (19 women and 5 men, aged 27–65 years), treated with subdermal bipolar radiofrequency (Endotissutal Bipolar Radiofrequency) between 2023 and 2024. All patients underwent a minimum follow-up of 12 months. At the end of the follow-up period, patients rated their satisfaction on a from 0 to 10 scale, and an independent expert assessed the stability of clinical outcomes. Results: The majority of patients reported high satisfaction levels (≥8), which correlated with the independent expert’s evaluation of treatment efficacy and result stability. The only observed adverse event was transient cutaneous erythema. Conclusions: “Ozempic face” is an increasingly common side effect associated with newer classes of antidiabetic medications. Although these drugs offer significant metabolic benefits, the accompanying facial volume loss and aging are often poorly tolerated by patients. Our findings suggest that subdermal bipolar radiofrequency represents a safe, low-risk, and cost-effective therapeutic option for the aesthetic management of Ozempic face. Full article

The insular cortex has emerged as a key region implicated in a wide array of cognitive, emotional, and sensory processes. The anterior part of the insula (AIC) is central to emotional awareness, decision-making, and interoception, while the posterior insula (PIC) is more associated with somatosensory processing. The insula acts as a functional hub within the salience network and integrates homeostatic, affective, and cognitive information; thus, its role in different mental disorders seems to be prominent. Altered structure and connectivity of the insular cortex are evident in several psychiatric conditions. In schizophrenia, reductions in insular volume—especially on the left—correlate with hallucinations, emotional dysregulation, and cognitive deficits. Bipolar and major depressive disorders exhibit AIC volume loss and aberrant connectivity patterns linked to impaired affect regulation and interoceptive awareness. Anxiety disorders show functional hyperactivity of the insula, especially in response to fear-inducing stimuli, though findings on structural changes are mixed. Overall, growing evidence underscores the insular cortex’s central role in psychiatric pathophysiology and highlights its potential as a target for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Full article

Grasping objects with a high degree of anthropomorphism is a critical component in the field of highly anthropomorphic robotic grasping. However, the accuracy of contact maps and the irrationality of the grasping gesture become challenges for grasp generation. In this paper, we propose a reasonably improved generation scheme, called Diffangle-Grasp, consisting of two parts: contact map generation based on a conditional variational autoencoder (CVAE), sharing the potential space with the diffusion model, and optimized grasping generation, conforming to the physical laws and the natural pose. The experimental findings demonstrate that the proposed method effectively reduces the loss in contact map reconstruction by 9.59% in comparison with the base model. Additionally, it enhances the naturalness by 2.15%, elevates the success rate of grasping by 3.27%, reduces the penetration volume by 11.06%, and maintains the grasping simulation displacement. The comprehensive comparison and qualitative analysis with mainstream schemes also corroborate the rationality of the improvement. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive account of our contributions to enhancing the accuracy of contact maps and the naturalness of grasping gestures. We also offer a detailed technical feasibility analysis for robotic human grasping. Full article