Search Results (2,494)

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the dynamic tensile behavior of concrete, focusing on its implications for seismic-resistant and impact-prone structures such as dams. The present work distinguishes itself in the following ways: providing the first comprehensive synthesis explicitly focused on large-aggregate dam concrete behavior across the seismic strain rate range (${10}^{-4}$ to ${10}^{-2}$ s${}^{-1}$), which is critical yet underrepresented in the existing literature; integrating recent experimental and numerical advances regarding moisture effects, load history, and cyclic loading—factors that are essential for dam safety assessments; and critically evaluating current design guidelines for concrete dams against state-of-the-art research to identify gaps between engineering practice and scientific evidence. Through the extensive synthesis of experimental data, numerical simulations, and existing guidelines, the study examines key factors influencing dynamic tensile strength, including strain rate effects, crack evolution, testing techniques, and material variables such as moisture content, load history, and aggregate size. Experimental results from spall tests, split Hopkinson pressure bar configurations, and cyclic loading protocols are analyzed, revealing dynamic increase factors ranging from 1.1 to over 12, depending on the strain rates, saturation levels, and preloading conditions. The roles of inertial effects, free water (via the Stefan effect), and microstructural heterogeneity in enhancing or diminishing tensile performance are critically evaluated. Numerical models, including finite element, discrete element, and peridynamic approaches, are discussed for their ability to simulate crack propagation, inertia-dominated responses, and moisture interactions. The review identifies and analyzes current design guidelines. Key conclusions emphasize the necessity of integrating moisture content, load history, and mesoscale heterogeneity into dynamic constitutive models, alongside standardized testing protocols to bridge gaps between laboratory data and real-world applications. The findings advocate for updated engineering guidelines that reflect recent advances in rate-dependent fracture mechanics and multi-scale modeling, ensuring safer and more resilient concrete infrastructure under extreme dynamic loads. Full article

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a clinical syndrome in which the obstruction of small blood vessels by fat emboli triggers a systemic inflammatory response, leading to organ dysfunction. Due to a lack of specific laboratory tests and physical examination, FES is clinically underdiagnosed. We report a case of a 39-year-old woman who presented with dyspnea that had developed after augmentation mammaplasty and vaginal tightening with autologous fat. Bedside transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) carried out in our emergency department evidently revealed right heart embolic material presumed to be fat. Based on echocardiography findings, combined with medical history and computed tomography pulmonary angiography images, a diagnosis of pulmonary fat embolism was made. This case presents valuable echocardiographic images and emphasizes the availability of bedside TTE in the diagnosis of fat embolism in a patient with dyspnea after plastic surgery, highlighting the value of bedside TTE in rapidly identifying pulmonary fat embolism. Full article

Material Extrusion (ME) is a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing technique that has gained prominence due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, design freedom, and adaptability to a wide range of thermoplastic materials. However, the mechanical performance of ME-printed parts often remains suboptimal, primarily due to complex thermal phenomena that govern microstructural development during the printing process, which are key determinants of mechanical strength. As a result, optimizing thermodynamic printing parameters has become essential for improving the overall quality of the printed parts. Extensive research articles and reviews have been published to explore the effect of many ME printing parameter settings on the resultant product characteristics. Despite this focus, the effect of cooling rate, a critical thermodynamic parameter of the process, has been largely overlooked in current research when they are critically reviewed. Cooling rate plays a central role in determining the thermal history of printed material, which in turn influences polymer chain mobility and microstructural features of the extruded material, all of which are crucial to the mechanical integrity of the printed part. Thus, it has been concluded by this review that analytical and empirical investigations into the influence of cooling rate on the microstructural properties of ME parts represent a valuable and novel contribution to the academic field. Full article

In the history of Turkish-Islamic culture, every stage of human life—from birth to death—has been ritualized with profound symbolic and spiritual meanings. Turkish religious music has functioned as a fundamental element in these transitional phases, possessing both aesthetic and devotional dimensions. In individual rites of passage such as naming, circumcision, beginning school, and marriage, as well as in collective rituals such as bidding farewell to and welcoming Hajj pilgrims or observing religious days and nights, Turkish religious music has held a significant place. Confronting death—an inevitable and sorrowful reality of life—Turkish society has employed religious music as a consolatory and spiritually guiding medium, transforming it into a ritual mode of expression intended to soften the disruptive impact of death and to give meaning to the mourning process. Sufi order funerals represent one of the manifestations of this aesthetic depth. In this context, (Janāza) funeral ceremonies are not merely occasions of farewell but also rites of metaphysical acceptance and surrender. Since death is considered not an end but “wuṣlat,” that is, reunion with the Absolute Truth (al-Ḥaqq), within Sufi thought, the funeral rites of Sufi orders have been shaped accordingly. In Mawlawī, Bektāshī, Jarrahī, and Rifāʿī orders, not only the canonical funeral prayer (ṣalāt al-janāza) but also various forms of religious music are performed, imparting both aesthetic and spiritual depth to the ceremony. This study aims to examine the religious musical practices present in the funeral ceremonies of these four major Sufi orders, all of which have historically maintained a close relationship with music. A qualitative ritual-musicological approach has been adopted; semi-structured interviews were conducted with the Shaykh of the Rifāʿī order, the Zakirbaşı of the Jarrahī branch of the Khalwatī order, and a Dede of the Bektāshī order. The data sources of the study consist of interview materials, archival-based works, literature on the history of Sufism, sources on Turkish religious music, and digital recordings of Sufi orders’ funeral rituals. The limited number of interviews were analyzed through thematic analysis, while textual analysis and contextual interpretation were employed to examine in detail “the musical forms, thematic structures, performance contexts, and symbolic functions” present in these rituals. Preliminary findings indicate that the music unique to Sufi order funerals fulfills multiple functions, including “spiritual consolation, strengthening social solidarity, doctrinal expression of belief in the afterlife, and transforming mourning into a sacred experience.” The funeral traditions of the four orders examined possess distinctive musical structures, and these structures constitute an identifiable aesthetic form within the Ottoman and Turkish religious-musical tradition. It has also been determined that the repertory performed in Sufi orders’ funeral ceremonies is largely rooted in the tekke (Sufi lodge) musical tradition and that various forms of Turkish religious music are prominently represented in these rituals. This study has brought to light the religious musical repertory performed within the funeral rituals of Sufi orders—an area that has remained insufficiently explored to date—and has demonstrated that this repertory exerts positive psychosocial effects on both Sufi adherents and other participants in their approach to death. In this respect, the study sheds light on the repertory of Turkish religious music and offers an original contribution to the scholarly literature. Full article

Ethiopic manuscript studies have become a rapidly expanding field in recent decades. However, most research has focused on cataloging and textual analysis. This study examines the material traces of original addenda, patterns of deterioration, and desecration of indigenous conservation ethics. A combination of codicological and paleographic methods was used. This approach is vital for documenting historical features, understanding the context of use, and informing conservation efforts. The research involved assessing twenty-eight physical manuscripts from two collections in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Additionally, twenty-seven digital copies from the Endangered Archives Program, the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library, and the University of Cambridge Digital Library repositories were consulted. The findings revealed original features like holes, repairs, and scribal corrections. Damage such as tears, creases, dirt, fading, erasures, and recent writing was also identified. These results reveal the material history of the manuscripts. Furthermore, both domestic and international stakeholders have adversely affected these manuscripts through erasure, dispossession, and appropriation. This study proposes ethical guidelines for recent additions to the manuscripts and for preserving the original addendum. It also underscores the necessity for additional material research, enhancements in conservation practices, and efforts to raise awareness. Full article

Glaucoma is recognized as the second leading cause of blindness globally and a primary cause of irreversible blindness, estimated to affect over 80 million patients worldwide, including 4.5 million in the United States. Though the disease is multifactorial, the primary cause is elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), which damages the optic nerve fibers that connect the eye to the brain, thus interfering with the quality of vision. Current treatments have evolved, which consist of medications, laser therapies, and surgical interventions such as filtering procedures, glaucoma drainage devices (GDDs), and current innovations of minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS). This paper aims to discuss the history and evolution of the design and biomaterials employed in GDDs and MIGS. Through a comprehensive review of the literature, we trace the development of these devices from early concepts to modern implants, highlighting advancements in materials science and surgical integration. This historical analysis, ranging from the mid-19th century, reveals a trend towards enhanced biocompatibility, improved efficiency in IOP reduction, and reduced complications. We conclude that the ongoing evolution of GDDs and MIGS underscores a persistent commitment to advancing patient care in glaucoma, paving the way for future device innovations and therapeutic trends to treat glaucoma. Full article

Background: Intestinal-type vulvar adenocarcinoma (VAIt) is an exceptionally rare form of primary vulvar cancer, characterized by histological features resembling mucinous colonic carcinomas, including villo-glandular structures composed of goblet and Paneth cells with intracytoplasmic mucin. Objective: To provide a comprehensive synthesis of the existing literature on VAIt and to also report a case from our institution in order to define its clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical characteristics and its management and prognosis. Materials and Methods: A systematic review of the literature according to PRISMA guidelines was performed through searching five electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS and Cochrane Library), considering studies from 1998 to May 2025. In our research, we included all peer-reviewed studies which reported cases of VAIt. Data about VAIt were extracted by included studies and compared. Results: All in all, 32 studies with a total of 40 cases (including our case) of VAIt were assessed. The median age at diagnosis was 58 years. Most tumors arose in the labia or perineal structures, often mimicking benign lesions. Immunohistochemistry consistently showed CK20 and CDX2 positivity, with variable CK7 and p16 expression. FIGO stage IA was the most frequent stage at diagnosis. Surgical excision was the mainstay of treatment, while adjuvant therapy was less commonly reported. Lymph node metastases were present in about 31.5% of cases. Despite aggressive histology, most patients were disease-free at follow-up. Mortality due to disease occurred in 10% of cases. Conclusions: VAIt is a very rare histotype of vulvar cancer. Compared to vulvar squamous cell carcinomas, approximately 40% of early-stage clinical diseases reported in the literature presented positive inguinal lymph nodes with recurrence even after many years. The optimal treatment is not well defined and should be based on the individual clinical history of the patient, as there are no established guidelines. Further studies and longer follow-up periods are needed to clarify the best therapeutic management and its long-term prognosis. Full article

The topic of archaeological apothekes, i.e., storage areas not intended for display and not accessible to the public (depositi in Italian), has only recently received the attention it deserves, for reasons related to the history of research methodology. The archiving of archaeological material poses specific problems compared to other categories of material with which the process is generally associated, such as artistic artefacts. Excavation finds consist mainly (and increasingly) of a mass of anonymous, repetitive pottery fragments, not destined to be accessible to the public. The management of these storage facilities poses two sets of problems linked with its archiving: on one hand, its (digital) documentation; on the other hand, its physical arrangement. Both aspects have often been contemplated, but as separate entities by different specialists (archaeologists, conservators, etc.). An adequate approach requires however both aspects to be considered together, for archaeological material only achieves its full value when its context of origin is secure. Only proper management of digital and physical archives can ensure a full understanding of the historical significance of archaeological material. These challenges also apply to the Archaeological Mission of Phaistos, in Crete, where Italian have been active since 1900. The reorganisation of the warehouses in 2024–2025 provided an opportunity to adequately address both the digital archiving of the material and the layout of the warehouses, tackling at the same time the particularly pressing issue in this case of the reuse of ‘legacy data’, which poses problems of standardization. This led also to a new perspective, using old labels and boxes as metadata to reconstruct the methods of archaeological research. The main results however were the creation of a holistic approach to the management of archaeological material and its (written, graphic, photographic, and topographic) documentation through the adoption and implementation of PyArchInit (version 4.9.5), a plug-in of QGIS (version 3.40.7 Bratislava). Full article

Background and Objectives: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) displays marked geographic and histopathological heterogeneity, and prognostic determinants in non-endemic regions remain incompletely defined. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of clinicopathological characteristics and treatment modalities on survival outcomes among patients with stage II–IVA NPC treated with curative intent at a single tertiary cancer center. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 81 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed NPC treated between 2000 and 2022. Demographic, clinical, and treatment parameters were extracted from institutional records. Survival outcomes—including disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS)—were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Prognostic variables identified in univariate analysis were further assessed by multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression (Cox’s model). Results: The cohort included 59 men (72.8%) and 22 women (27.2%), with a median age of 50.8 years (range, 19–78). Most patients presented with locally advanced disease (T3–T4, 53.1%; N2, 60.5%; stage III–IVA, 87.7%). Non-keratinizing undifferentiated carcinoma (World Health Organization [WHO] type III) was the predominant histology (71.6%), followed by the non-keratinizing differentiated subtype (17.3%). Median DFS and OS were 94.6 and 139.4 months, respectively. According to the univariate analysis, histological subtypes and a family history of cancer were significantly associated with DFS, whereas comorbid systemic disease showed an unexpected association with longer DMFS. The multivariable Cox model identified the histological subtype as an independent predictor of disease recurrence (HR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.00–4.94; p = 0.049). For OS, both histological subtype (HR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.10–5.25; p = 0.029) and age at diagnosis (HR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02–1.09; p = 0.005) were independent adverse prognostic factors. Conclusions: In this long-term, single-center study from a non-endemic region, histological subtype emerged as the most powerful determinant of prognosis, significantly influencing both DFS and OS. Patients with non-keratinizing undifferentiated (WHO type III) carcinoma demonstrated superior outcomes compared with those with differentiated histology. Additionally, increasing age at diagnosis was independently associated with poorer OS. In contrast, inflammatory and nutritional biomarkers, the Pan-Immune–Inflammation Value (PIV) and the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), showed no prognostic significance. These findings underscore the continued prognostic relevance of histopathologic classification and age and highlight the need for large-scale, standardized studies integrating Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) status and host-related factors in non-endemic NPC populations. Full article

This paper explores racialization as a historical-sociological concept and an ongoing, contemporary material praxis, using a Global Critical Race and Racism (GCRR) framework. Racialization is an ideological and material practice of colonial conquest that requires constant reification and maintenance. This paper examines how racialization and racial practices are positioned within Egyptian state tourism campaigns, through a media content and discourse analysis, as a function of contemporary national-racial identity formation. Histories of colonial archaeology, race science, and the European colonial domination and imagination of Egypt heavily contextualize this analysis. First, the paper outlines how the identity of ancient Egyptians was a racing project fundamental to white supremacy and global race and racism in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in ways that are intricately tied to contemporary nationalism, national identity formation, and nation-building in modern Egypt. The focus of this paper is Egypt’s agency in its national identity formation practices, wherein it acknowledges, negotiates, and markets aspects of its racialization that are economically and geopolitically advantageous, specifically within the tourism industry and in relation to Pharaonic Egypt. In this way, Egypt’s racialization is not simply externally imposed; the Egyptian state is engaging with global structures of race and racism by maintaining racial mythologies for Western imaginaries. Egypt’s contemporary national identity formation includes an engagement with its past that negotiates its position within a global hierarchy of nations across the racial-modern world system. This study explores notions of autonomy, acquiescence, and resistance under racialization by examining how nation-states engage with, resist, or leverage racialization. Full article

The PHEND (Past Has Ears at Notre-Dame) collaborative research project is being carried out by a team of multidisciplinary researchers interested in the acoustic history of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The project involved the creation of seven digital models representing the interior of the monument between 1182 and 2018. To support one of the virtual reconstructions, that of 1868, a technical report was drawn up based on the written and iconographic archives of the restorations carried out between 1845 and 1870 by the architects Eugène Viollet-le-Duc (1814–1879) and Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Lassus (1807–1857). The archives come mainly from the “Fonds Viollet-le-Duc”, from the work diary of the “Médiathèque du patrimoine et de la photographie” (MPP), and from the archives of the Notre-Dame chapter. In order to select the most relevant data for the digital reconstruction, the research addresses specific questions regarding the cathedral’s materiality, such as structural modifications, restorations, and the choice of materials and furnishings. To understand how the interior of the cathedral was transformed in the 19th century, a detailed inventory of its condition was compiled at two points in time: at the beginning of the restoration in 1848 and following its completion in 1868. In parallel with this work, to provide a graphic representation of the changes that had occurred in each area, comparative illustrations were produced showing the situation before and after restoration. The modifications were then detailed by area: general restoration (vaults, openings, paving), and redevelopment of the choir and the main body of the building (chapels, transept, nave). This research revealed the building’s profound structural changes and the fact that the renovations spared no space. These included mainly modifications to the high windows, a complete redesign of the decorative layout of the choir and chapels, the restoration of all the vaults and paving at different levels, and a complete restoration of the organ. Full article

Sweet bags were small, embroidered textile pouches used in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries to carry fragrant substances, money, books, sewing tools, mirrors, or other personal items. They were often exchanged as gifts, used to preserve clothing in wardrobes, or used to protect against contaminated air. Beyond their material function, both their name and some of their uses suggest an olfactory dimension, as they were typically filled with aromatic herbs—combinations frequently recorded in recipe books, medical, and household manuals, including Countrey Contentments, or The English Husvvife, Praxis Medicinæ, or The Physitian’s Practise, and Exenterata, among others. Through close reading and literary analysis of such primary sources combined with a sensory approach, this article traces the possible ingredients of these pouches in Early Modern recipes and argues that their olfactory content positions them as objects of the “olfactory gaze” (Verbeek), thereby transforming them into elements of olfactory heritage. Ultimately, the article seeks to recreate the olfactory component of sweet bags within recipe-related practices, and broader domestic traditions of Early Modern England. Full article

Introduction: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) refer to traumatic events occurring before the age of 18 that can negatively impact physical and mental health, often disrupting development. Numerous studies have shown associations between ACEs and the onset or severity of psychotic disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of ACEs among patients with psychotic disorders and to examine an association between ACEs and the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of psychosis. Material and Methods: The study was conducted at the Center for Mental Health and the Psychiatric Clinic of the University Clinical Center Nis, from March to July 2025. The sample included adult patients of both sexes diagnosed with psychotic spectrum disorders based on ICD-10 criteria. The Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q), along with sociodemographic and clinical data from medical records, was used. Results: The sample included 60 patients, with a mean age of 36.7 years. The average ACE-Q score was 2.57 ± 1.98, with one-third of patients reporting high exposure (≥4 ACEs) to childhood adversity. Patients with high ACEs exposure (≥4 ACEs) differed significantly from those with low to moderate or no exposure (<4 ACEs) in terms of economic status, family history of psychiatric disorders, substance use, and treatment adherence. Conclusion: Despite the small sample size, our results point to a potential link between childhood adversity and certain sociodemographic and clinical characteristics in patients with psychotic disorders. Integrating systematic assessments of trauma history into routine clinical practice may support the development of more effective treatment strategies. Full article

The tectonic evolution of the Paleo-Asian Ocean during the Early to Middle Permian remains a key issue in understanding the geodynamic history of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. To address this, we conducted petrological, whole-rock geochemical, zircon U–Pb geochronological, and Hf isotopic analyses of Early Permian biotite granodiorite and Middle Permian porphyritic granite from the south-central Great Xing’an Range. Zircon U–Pb dating yields ages of 273.2 ± 1.4 Ma and 264.4 ± 1.5 Ma, indicating that these intrusions emplaced during Early and Middle Permian. Geochemical analyses show that the rocks are characterized by high SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ contents, and low MgO and CaO contents and belong to the metaluminous to weakly peraluminous series, typical of I-type granites. The rocks are enriched in light rare earth elements and large-ion lithophile elements (e.g., Rb, Ba, K), but depleted in heavy rare earth elements and high field strength elements (e.g., Nb, Ta, P, Ti), with weakly negative Eu anomalies. The Early Permian pluton exhibits low-Sr and high-Yb characteristics and thus fall in the plagioclase stability field. In contrast, Middle Permian pluton was derived from magmas generated by partial melting under high-pressure conditions and that, underwent crystal fractionation during ascent to the mid-upper crust, ultimately forming low-Sr and low-Yb type granites. All zircon ε_Hf(t) values are positive (+4.84 to +14.87), with the corresponding two-stage Hf model ages ranging from 345 Ma to 980 Ma, indicating that the magmas were predominantly derived from juvenile crustal materials accreted during the Neoproterozoic to Phanerozoic. Considering these results, we propose that the Paleo-Asian Oceanic plate continued to subduct beneath the Songliao–Xilinhot block to the north during the Early to Middle Permian, with intense subduction and crustal thickening occurring in the Middle Permian. This suggests that the south-central segment of the Great Xing’an Range was situated in an active continental marginal setting during the Early-Middle Permian. Full article

The automotive industry is currently undergoing significant transformations driven by challenges such as fierce competition, supply chain disruptions, and stringent legislative regulations aimed at reducing pollutant emissions. The research employs a combination of theoretical analysis and numerical modeling to investigate the manufacturing processes of stamped automotive components. Data collection methods include experimental testing of materials, LS-DYNA simulations, and non-contact scanning for dimensional analysis. The study also utilizes a workflow diagram to illustrate the various phases involved in the design and validation of automotive assemblies. The findings detail the critical role of digital transformation in the automotive industry, particularly in enhancing the accuracy and reliability of manufacturing processes. Implementing digital twins improves product quality and reduces product development time. The experimental results were compared with simulation data, and a good correlation was identified, showing, for the numerical model with complete history (thickness and stress), a difference of $1.6\%$. Furthermore, to simplify the process of developing the numerical models for the initial iterations, a scale factor of $~1.1$ is proposed for the testing load. This factor is not limited to the current design, as the manufacturing stages are similar for this range of products. Full article