Search Results (1,468)

This study enhanced the self-healing performance of cherry wood furniture coatings by incorporating chitosan gum arabic-coated tung oil (CGA-T) microcapsules (types 1 and 2) into UV topcoats at 3%–15% concentrations. Multi-layer coated samples were systematically evaluated for optical, mechanical, and self-healing properties. Results demonstrated that microcapsules conferred self-healing ability, but concentrations >9% reduced reflectance (min 39.20%), increased color difference (max ΔE = 8.35), decreased gloss (max 35.25% loss at 60°), and raised roughness (max 1.79 μm). Mechanically, impact resistance improved (to grade 3), while adhesion declined (to grade 3) and hardness decreased (4H→2H). Self-healing performance peaked at 9% microcapsule 2 content (31.32% healing rate), with optimal overall performance at 6%. The 6% microcapsule 2 formulation (Sample 7) achieved the best overall balance among optical, mechanical, and self-healing properties, demonstrating its suitability for practical applications. Full article

Microalgae proteins are increasingly recognized in the food and nutraceutical industries for their functional versatility and high nutritional value. Mild alkaline treatment is commonly used for cell wall degradation and intracellular protein solubilization, consequently enhancing the protein extraction yield. The findings of this study reveal that alkaline treatment alone, even at higher NaOH concentration (up to 0.3 M) and treatment time (up to 90 min), was ineffective (max. 2.4% yield) for the extraction of protein from Auxenochlorella protothecoides biomass. This challenge was significantly reduced through synergistic application of mechanical cell disruption using high-pressure homogenization (HPH) and alkaline solubilization. Single-pass HPH (35 k psi) alone without alkaline treatment led to 52.3% protein solubilization from wet biomass directly harvested from culture broth, while it was only 18.5% for spray-dried biomass. The combined effect of HPH and alkaline (0.1 M NaOH) treatment significantly increased protein extraction yield to 68.0% for a spray-dried biomass loading of 50 g L⁻¹. Through replacing spray-dried biomass with wet biomass, the requirement of NaOH was reduced by 5-fold to 0.02 M to achieve a similar yield of 68.1%. The process integration of HPH with the mild alkaline solubilization and utilization of wet biomass from culture broth showed high potential for industrialization of microalgae protein extraction. This method achieves high extraction yield while reducing alkaline waste and eliminating the need for energy-consuming drying of biomass, thereby minimizing the environmental impact. Full article

Background: Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are common arrhythmias associated with symptoms such as fatigue and, in severe cases, PVC-induced cardiomyopathy. Catheter ablation (CA) is a primary treatment for symptomatic PVCs, particularly when pharmacological therapies fail or are undesired. While improvements in: quality-of-life following ablation are documented, its impact on functional capacity remains underexplored. Objectives: This study evaluated the impact of CA on functional capacity and cardiac stress markers in patients with symptomatic PVCs using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and NT-proBNP levels. Methods: A total of 30 patients underwent successful PVC ablation and completed baseline and follow-up CPET evaluations under the Bruce protocol. PVC burden, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), NT-proBNP levels, and CPET parameters, including VO₂ max, METS, ventilatory efficiency, and anaerobic threshold (AT), were analyzed pre- and post-ablation. Results: PVC burden significantly decreased post-ablation (23,509.3 ± 10,700.47 to 1759 ± 1659.15, p < 0.001). CPET revealed improved functional capacity, with VO₂ max increasing from 24.97 ± 4.16 mL/kg/min to 26.02 ± 4.34 mL/kg/min (p = 0.0096) and METS from 7.16 ± 1.17 to 7.48 ± 1.24 (p = 0.0103). NT-proBNP significantly decreased (240.93 ± 156.54 pg/mL to 138.47 ± 152.91 pg/mL, p = 0.0065). LVEF and ventilatory efficiency metrics (VE/VO₂ and VE/VCO₂) remained stable. Conclusions: Catheter ablation improves functional capacity, reduces cardiac stress, and minimizes medication dependency in patients with symptomatic PVCs. These findings support the utility of ablation in enhancing aerobic capacity and overall exercise performance. Full article

Background: Blood pressure (BP) variability has been increasingly recognized as a predictor of cardiovascular and renal outcomes. However, the relevance of specific dynamic indices such as the maximum slope of systolic blood pressure (max SBP slope), derived through partial Fourier series modeling, in relation to early renal damage remains underexplored. Methods: A total of 389 patients with essential hypertension were enrolled and stratified according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ or <90 mL/min/1.73 m² and the presence of subclinical renal damage, defined by elevated urinary albumin excretion (AER) and/or reduced eGFR. All participants underwent clinical and biochemical evaluation, as well as 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), including advanced hemodynamic analysis using Fourier-based modeling. Results: Patients with eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m² were older and exhibited higher waist circumference, uricemia, albuminuria, and systolic BP values, including the elevated max SBP slope (12.8 vs. 10.8 mmHg/h, p = 0.028). Subclinical renal damage was associated with older age; male sex; smoking; and higher levels of uricemia, clinical, and ambulatory BP, and the max SBP slope (14.2 vs. 10.7 mmHg/h, p = 0.007). The max SBP slope positively correlated with AER (r = 0.215, p < 0.001) and inversely with eGFR (r = −0.153, p = 0.002). In multivariate linear regression, the max SBP slope remained independently associated with AER (β = 0.220, p < 0.001), along with mean 24-h SBP, male sex, and the day–night SBP percentage dip. Logistic regression confirmed these associations with subclinical renal damage (max SBP slope OR: 1.536; 95% CI: 1.241–2.004; p = 0.001). Conclusions: The max SBP slope, a dynamic index of BP derived via Fourier analysis, is independently associated with markers of subclinical renal damage in hypertensive patients. This suggests that incorporating such advanced metrics into ABPM evaluation may improve early risk stratification and help identify individuals at greater risk of renal impairment, even in the absence of overt kidney disease. Full article

Background/Objectives: Although there is an increasing interest among athletes in adopting plant-based diets, there is insufficient research available to determine how a vegan diet affects soccer performance. Methods: This interventional pilot study examined the effect of an 8-week vegan diet (VEG, n = 10) on nutritional status and athletic performance in semi-professional soccer players compared to controls (CON, n = 8). The study employed a controlled, non-randomized, longitudinal pilot study design during the season to compare the two groups. Results: Both groups displayed overall differences in nutrient intake, including insufficient energy and carbohydrates (t2: 46.2 [40.3–52.2] En% (VEG) vs. 37.6 [34.1–41.1] En% (CON); p = 0.036, Cohen’s d = 1.321). Notably, biochemical parameters 25(OH)D and ferritin levels fell within the normal ranges for both groups. The VEG group exhibited favorable changes in total and LDL cholesterol levels. Both groups had increased performances on the treadmill over the entire course of the study (VEG: +0.87 km/h (6.6%); CON: +0.96 km/h (7%); p > 0.05). The initial relative VO_2max at t0 was comparable between the groups. Primarily due to the significant weight loss in the VEG group (−1.94 kg, p = 0.007) rather than a change in absolute VO_2max values, we found an increased relative VO_2max in the VEG group, which was significantly different from that of the CON group (57.0 [53.7–60.3] mL/kg/min (VEG) vs. 51.6 [48.1–55.0] mL/kg/min (CON); p = 0.041, Cohen’s d = 1.675). Conclusions: These findings suggest that a short-term vegan diet does not adversely affect training-induced performance improvements and may be suitable for semi-professional soccer players. Full article

This study aimed to describe the training leading to the Zwift Academy (ZA) Finals of a world-class road cyclist who earned a professional contract after winning the contest. Four years of daily power meter data were analyzed (male, 25 years old, 68 kg, VO₂max: 85 mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹, and 20-min power: 6.37 W·kg⁻¹), focusing on load, volume, intensity, and strategies. Early training alternated between long, moderate-intensity sessions and shorter high-intensity sessions, with easy days in between. Gradually, the structure was progressively modified by increasing the duration of moderate-intensity (MIT) and high-intensity (HIT) and, subsequently, moving them to “high-volume days”, creating a sort of “all-in days” with low-intensity (LIT), MIT, and HIT. Moderate use of indoor training and a few double low-volume, low-intensity sessions were noted. These data provide a deep view of a 4-year preparation period of ZA, providing suggestions for talent identification and training, thereby highlighting the importance of gradual progression in MIT and HIT. Full article

This study systematically investigates the effects of trap concentration on self-heating and terahertz (THz) responses in GaN HEMTs using Sentaurus TCAD. Traps, inherently unavoidable in semiconductors, can be strategically introduced to engineer specific energy levels that establish competitive dynamics between the electron momentum relaxation time and the carrier lifetime. A simulation-based exploration of this mechanism provides significant scientific value for enhancing device performance through self-heating mitigation and THz response optimization. An AlGaN/GaN heterojunction HEMT model was established, with trap concentrations ranging from 0 to $5\times {10}^{17} {\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{-3}$. The analysis reveals that traps significantly enhance channel current (achieving 3× gain at $1\times 10^{17} {\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{-3}$) via new energy levels that prolong carrier lifetime. However, elevated trap concentrations (>$1\times {10}^{16} {\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{-3}$) exacerbate self-heating-induced current collapse, reducing the min-to-max current ratio to 0.9158. In THz response characterization, devices exhibit a distinct DC component (${\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{d}\mathrm{c}}$) under non-resonant detection ($\mathsf{\omega }\mathsf{\tau }\ll 1$). At a trap concentration of $1\times {10}^{15} {\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{-3}$, ${\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{d}\mathrm{c}}$ peaks at $0.12 \mathrm{V}$ when ${\mathrm{V}}_{\mathrm{g}}\mathrm{D}\mathrm{C}=-7.8 \mathrm{V}$. Compared to trap-free devices, a maximum response attenuation of 64.89% occurs at ${\mathrm{V}}_{\mathrm{g}}\mathrm{D}\mathrm{C}=-4.9 \mathrm{V}$. Furthermore, ${\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{d}\mathrm{c}}$ demonstrates non-monotonic behavior with concentration, showing local maxima at $4\times {10}^{15} {\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{-3}$ and $7\times {10}^{15} {\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{-3}$, attributed to plasma wave damping and temperature-gradient-induced electric field variations. This research establishes trap engineering guidelines for GaN HEMTs: a concentration of $4\times {10}^{15} {\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{-3}$ optimally enhances conductivity while minimizing adverse impacts on both self-heating and the THz response, making it particularly suitable for high-sensitivity terahertz detectors. Full article

Background: The perceived importance of physical practice and its contribution to students’ academic success have evolved considerably throughout the history of the modern educational system. Aim: The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between physical fitness (measured as VO₂max) and cognitive abilities (attention and concentration) and academic performance in different subjects: sciences, letters, language, arts, and physical education. Method: Fifty Spanish male students who participated in extracurricular sports activities (mean age (SD): 11.59 ± 1.30; range: 9–15 years) were included in the analysis. The 6 min walk test was used to assess physical fitness (6MWT), while for selective attention and concentration, the students completed the D2 test, which is usually considered to analyse the visual ability to select the most relevant stimulus of an exercise and ignore precisely the most irrelevant stimuli. Results: Correlation the individual contribution analyses revealed no significant associations between VO₂max and academic performance in sciences (r = 0.04, p = 0.77), humanities (r = 0.00, p = 0.98), language (r = 0.03, p = 0.83), or arts (r = 0.04, p = 0.76). Similarly, no relationship was found between VO₂max and overall academic performance (r = 0.10, p = 0.46), or cognitive abilities. However, a small positive correlation was observed between VO₂max and physical education scores. Conclusions: Physical fitness showed no significant association with cognitive abilities or academic performance in most subjects, although a small positive correlation with physical education scores was observed. These findings emphasise the importance of promoting physical activity for its health and physical benefits. However, future research should explore broader cognitive outcomes and include more diverse and representative samples. Full article

The entanglement entropy of a random tensor network (RTN) is studied using tools from free probability theory. Random tensor networks are simple toy models that help in understanding the entanglement behavior of a boundary region in the anti-de Sitter/conformal field theory (AdS/CFT) context. These can be regarded as specific probabilistic models for tensors with particular geometry dictated by a graph (or network) structure. First, we introduce a model of RTN obtained by contracting maximally entangled states (corresponding to the edges of the graph) on the tensor product of Gaussian tensors (corresponding to the vertices of the graph). The entanglement spectrum of the resulting random state is analyzed along a given bipartition of the local Hilbert spaces. The limiting eigenvalue distribution of the reduced density operator of the RTN state is provided in the limit of large local dimension. This limiting value is described through a maximum flow optimization problem in a new graph corresponding to the geometry of the RTN and the given bipartition. In the case of series-parallel graphs, an explicit formula for the limiting eigenvalue distribution is provided using classical and free multiplicative convolutions. The physical implications of these results are discussed, allowing the analysis to move beyond the semiclassical regime without any cut assumption, specifically in terms of finite corrections to the average entanglement entropy of the RTN. Full article

Background: Employee turnover poses a multi-faceted challenge to organizations by undermining productivity, morale, and financial stability while rendering recruitment, onboarding, and training investments wasteful. Traditional machine learning approaches often struggle with class imbalance and lack transparency, limiting actionable insights. This study introduces an Explainable AI (XAI) framework to achieve both high predictive accuracy and interpretability in turnover forecasting. Methods: Two publicly available HR datasets (IBM HR Analytics, Kaggle HR Analytics) were preprocessed with label encoding and MinMax scaling. Class imbalance was addressed via GAN-based synthetic data generation. A three-layer Transformer encoder performed binary classification, and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis provided both global and local feature attributions. Model performance was evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and ROC AUC metrics. Results: On the IBM dataset, the Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) Transformer model achieved 92.00% accuracy, 96.67% precision, 87.00% recall, 91.58% F1, and 96.32% ROC AUC. On the Kaggle dataset, it reached 96.95% accuracy, 97.28% precision, 96.60% recall, 96.94% F1, and 99.15% ROC AUC, substantially outperforming classical resampling methods (ROS, SMOTE, ADASYN) and recent literature benchmarks. SHAP explanations highlighted JobSatisfaction, Age, and YearsWithCurrManager as top predictors in IBM and number project, satisfaction level, and time spend company in Kaggle. Conclusion: The proposed GAN Transformer SHAP pipeline delivers state-of-the-art turnover prediction while furnishing transparent, actionable insights for HR decision-makers. Future work should validate generalizability across diverse industries and develop lightweight, real-time implementations. Full article

Introduction: Home-based cardiac telerehabilitation (HBCTR) is a multidisciplinary intervention aimed at optimizing functional, psychological, and social recovery in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This rehabilitation model serves as an effective alternative to traditional center-based rehabilitation, providing a cost-effective and clinically advantageous approach. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic literature search across multiple databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science). We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort, and observational studies assessing telerehabilitation in post-PCI patients. Primary outcomes focused on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and adherence, while secondary outcomes included functional capacity (6 min walk test, VO₂max), cardiovascular risk factor control, and psychological well-being. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 and ROBINS-I tools. Results: A total of 3575 articles were identified after removing duplicates, of which 877 were selected based on title and abstract, and 17 met the inclusion criteria, with strong RCT representation ensuring robust evidence synthesis. HBCTR was associated with significant improvements in exercise capacity, with increases in VO₂max ranging from +1.6 to +3.5 mL/kg/min and in 6 min walk distance from +34.7 to +116.6 m. HRQoL scores improved significantly, with physical and mental component scores increasing by +6.75 to +14.18 and +4.27 to +11.39 points, respectively. Adherence to telerehabilitation programs was consistently high, often exceeding 80%, and some studies reported reductions in hospital readmissions of up to 40%. Wearable devices and smartphone applications facilitated self-monitoring, enhancing adherence and reducing readmissions. Several studies also highlighted improvements in anxiety and depression scores ranging from 10% to 35%. Conclusions: HBCTR is a promising strategy for rehabilitation and quality-of-life improvement after PCI. It offers a patient-centered solution that leverages technology to enhance long-term outcomes. By integrating structured telerehabilitation programs, healthcare systems can expand accessibility, promote adherence, and improve equity in cardiovascular care. Full article

During centralizer hydroforming, internal pressure and axial feed critically influence the forming outcome. Insufficient feed causes excessive thinning and cracking, while excessive feed causes thickening and wrinkling. Achieving uniform wall thickness necessitates careful design of the pressure and feed curves. Using max/min wall thickness as objectives and key control points on these curves as variables, the study integrated Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II), Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO), Neighborhood Cultivation Genetic Algorithm (NCGA), and Archive-based Micro Genetic Algorithm (AMGA) with LS-DYNA to automatically optimize loading paths. The results demonstrate the following: ① NSGA-II, NCGA, and AMGA successfully generated optimized paths; ② NSGA-II and AMGA produced larger sets of higher-quality Pareto solutions; ③ AMGA required more iterations for satisfactory Pareto sets; ④ MOPSO exhibited a tendency towards premature convergence, yielding inferior results; ⑤ Multi-objective optimization efficiently generated diverse Pareto solutions, expanding the design space for process design. Full article

This paper presents a methodology for extracting and simulating arterial pulse waveform signals from Fabry–Perot interferometric measurements, emphasizing a practical approach for noninvasive cardiovascular assessment. A key novelty of this work is the presentation of a complete Python-based processing pipeline, which is made publicly available as open-source code on GitHub (git version 2.39.5). To the authors’ knowledge, no such repository for demodulating these specific interferometric signals to obtain a raw arterial pulse waveform previously existed. The proposed system utilizes accessible Python-based preprocessing steps, including outlier removal, Butterworth high-pass filtering, and min–max normalization, designed for robust signal quality even in settings with common physiological artifacts. Key features such as the rate of change, the Hilbert transform of the rate of change (envelope), and detected extrema guide the signal reconstruction, offering a computationally efficient pathway to reveal its periodic and phase-dependent dynamics. Visual analyses highlight amplitude variations and residual noise sources, primarily attributed to sensor bandwidth limitations and interpolation methods, considerations critical for real-world deployment. Despite these practical challenges, the reconstructed arterial pulse waveform signals provide valuable insights into arterial motion, with the methodology’s performance validated on measurements from three subjects against synchronized ECG recordings. This demonstrates the viability of Fabry–Perot sensors as a potentially cost-effective and readily implementable tool for noninvasive cardiovascular diagnostics. The results underscore the importance of precise yet practical signal processing techniques and pave the way for further improvements in interferometric sensing, bio-signal analysis, and their translation into clinical practice. Full article

This study investigates regional and gender disparities in educational attainment across Italy in 2021, drawing on the Fair and Sustainable Well-being (BES) dataset from ISTAT. By applying cluster analysis and composite indicators—including the Mazziotta–Pareto Index (MPI), geometric and arithmetic means, min-max normalization, and principal component analysis (PCA)—we assess the robustness and consistency of educational performance across regions. A key methodological innovation is the use of the stacking method to ensure comparability between genders. Results show persistent North–South educational divides and a consistent female advantage across all indicators. The paper contributes to Sustainable Development Goals by providing empirical insights into SDG 4 (Quality Education) through measurement of educational inequality and access; SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by highlighting structural advantages of women in educational outcomes; and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) through a territorial analysis of disparities and policy implications. The findings offer both a methodological contribution—by testing multiple aggregation techniques—and a practical tool for policy evaluation, emphasizing the importance of multidimensional and gender-sensitive approaches in achieving educational sustainability. Full article

Finding a fair and efficient multi-resource allocation is a fundamental goal in cloud computing systems. In this paper, we consider the problem of multi-resource allocation with a bounded number of tasks. We propose a lexicographic max–min maximin share (LMM-MMS) fair allocation mechanism and design a non-trivial polynomial-time algorithm to find an LMM-MMS solution. In addition, we prove that LMM-MMS satisfies Pareto efficiency, sharing incentive, envy-freeness, and group strategy-proofness properties. The experimental results showed that LMM-MMS could produce a fair allocation with a higher resource utilization and completion ratio of user jobs than previous known fair mechanisms; LMM-MMS also performed well in resource sharing. Full article