Search Results (1,026)

Komagataeibacter strains are important bacterial cellulose producers, yet closely related isolates can differ in cellulose yield, pellicle properties, and genetic stability during propagation. Such variability suggests that lineage structure and mobile genetic elements both contribute to strain-level genomic divergence. Here, complete genome comparisons were used to integrate vertical relatedness, gene-content structure, cellulose-associated signatures, and mobilome heterogeneity across 22 closed Komagataeibacter assemblies. A maximum likelihood phylogeny inferred from 642 single copy core genes provided the lineage scaffold. An anvi’o pangenome analysis defined a constant core gene cluster component across genomes and a noncore fraction that accounted for most of the genome differences in gene content. Targeted features linked to cellulose biosynthesis and local c-di-GMP-associated context were extracted from each genome. These features captured differences in bcs neighborhood composition and the presence of nearby GGDEF and EAL domain signals. The resulting feature matrix was projected by principal component analysis to summarize between-genome variation. Mobilome profiles were strongly strain dependent. Plasmid homology clustering identified 12 clusters comprising 36 plasmids from 13 genomes, including two dominant clusters of seven and six plasmids. Mash-based distance summaries further distinguished clusters consistent with conserved backbones from clusters consistent with heterogeneous, module-driven relationships. Prophage sequences, assessed as VIBRANT-predicted regions, were widespread but sparse per genome and dominated by medium length fragments. Insertion sequence burden ranged from 50 to 181 elements per genome, indicating substantial differences in transposition-associated sequence content. Pairwise association tests did not support robust cross module covariation beyond expected relationships among pangenome composition metrics at the current sampling depth. Overall, these results provide a complete genome reference framework linking lineage structure and mobilome heterogeneity, and they define reusable resources for comparative studies in bacterial cellulose biotechnology. Full article

Background/Objectives: The achievement of stable and functional occlusal contacts represents a key objective of orthodontic treatment, particularly in growing patients. Evidence comparing the effectiveness of these two modalities in establishing adequate occlusal contacts in growing patients remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate and compare occlusal contact characteristics following clear aligner therapy (CAT) and fixed orthodontic therapy (FAT). Methods: Twenty-four growing patients (<18 years with permanent dentition) were included in the study and divided into two groups: 12 patients treated with fixed appliances and 12 treated with clear aligners. Post-treatment digital dental scans were analyzed to assess occlusal contacts. Contacts were calculated as the minimum distance between upper and lower arches using a color-map analysis. The following outcomes were evaluated: Maximum Contact Point (MCP), occlusal contact surface (OCS, ≤50 μm from MCP), near occlusal contact surface (NOCS, ≤350 μm), half mm (≤0.5 mm), and one mm (≤1 mm). Total occlusal contacts, antero-posterior distribution, left–right asymmetry, and single-tooth contacts were assessed. Results: The FAT group showed higher total occlusal contact values in OCS compared to the CAT group (p < 0.05). Statistical difference was also observed in the antero-posterior ratio, with FAT presenting fewer anterior contacts in OCS, NOCS, half-mm, and one-mm measurements (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between groups in terms of left–right asymmetry or post-treatment single-tooth contacts, except for the second premolar, which exhibited higher contacts in the FAT group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Fixed orthodontic treatment is more effective than aligners in achieving adequate occlusal contacts, with differences limited to tight contacts and antero-posterior occlusal distribution. Full article

This study developed a biomimetic jumping robot inspired by frogs to enhance its obstacle-crossing capabilities. The biological principles underlying the jumping biomechanics of frog hindlimbs were integrated into the robotic mechanism; quantitative analysis of the bionic structure and its jumping performance not only provides mechanical engineering insights for investigating frog locomotion mechanics but also offers practical design references for the development of biomimetic mobile robots. Through theoretical calculations and application scenario analysis, a six-bar linkage mechanism was designed to simulate the force generation of frog hindlimbs, with tension springs mimicking the elastic energy storage function of the semimembranosus and gastrocnemius muscles. A reducer was integrated into the trunk to enable energy storage, and an adjustable single-hinge structure was adopted for the forelegs to realize take-off angle adjustment and shock absorption. Finite element simulations were conducted to validate the load-bearing capacity and strength of critical components. Multi-body dynamics and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm were employed to explore the relationship between input parameters and output performance metrics (jumping height and jumping distance), while orthogonal experimental analysis was used for comprehensive parameter evaluation. Finally, a physical prototype was fabricated, and its performance parameters were tested. The prototype has a mass of 150 g, generates a ground push force of 50 N, attains a jumping height of 380 mm, and achieves a maximum jumping distance of 500 mm. This study establishes a biologically inspired working principle for jumping robots and provides a novel practical prototype for research into biomimetic mobile robots. Full article

Despite increasing efforts by the scientific community to raise awareness of breed-related health problems through educational campaigns, public information initiatives, and veterinary outreach programmes, brachycephalic dog breeds remain highly popular. As the number of brachycephalic dogs increases, the prevalence of associated health problems rises accordingly. Ethical and animal welfare considerations appear to play a limited role in breed selection. In German-speaking regions, extensive educational efforts have been undertaken in recent years to address the issue of so-called torture breeding, defined as intentional selection for extreme phenotypic traits that impair health, reduce welfare, and cause chronic suffering, particularly in brachycephalic breeds. The aim of this study was to determine the underlying reasons for the decision to buy and keep a brachycephalic dog. Although the veterinary profession is already improving education and communication, this qualitative study intended to find new starting points for targeted education against animal suffering and to explore the sociological background of the ownership of such dogs. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews with people with brachycephalic dogs were conducted throughout Switzerland (n = 16). The focus was on the animal–human relationship. The interviews were defined by systematically applied guidelines for the design of the interview process, while still allowing maximum openness (all possibilities for expression). The transcribed interviews were coded and analysed according to the Kuckartz methodology, which allows us to set certain focal points of analysis and to structure them according to codes. The results of this study indicate that, although awareness of torture breeding is present within the broader population, owners of brachycephalic dogs frequently rely on individualised arguments and rationalisations. These typically involve emphasising the perceived health, functionality, or exceptional characteristics of their own animal (e.g., claims that their dog is “healthy” or not affected by breed-related problems), thereby distancing their personal ownership experience from the general welfare concerns associated with the breed. This psychological pattern can be interpreted as cognitive dissonance, in which contradictory beliefs are harmonised through selective perception or re-evaluation. The results also show that brachycephalic dogs offer a very strong projection surface: their owners assign them a variety of social roles that go beyond the classic animal–human relationship—for example, as a substitute for children, a romantic partner, or a best friend. This qualitative study provides differentiated insights into the attitudes and motivations of owners of brachycephalic dogs and illustrates that traditional awareness campaigns have not been sufficient to effectively change problematic breeding practices and ownership patterns. In order to develop long-term effective solutions, interdisciplinary cooperation is therefore needed—for example, between veterinary medicine, animal welfare, communication science, psychology and law. In addition to individual education, new, target-group-specific communication strategies and consistent legal regulations are needed to protect animal welfare in the long term. This study is intended to serve as a catalyst for a broader ethical and social debate on the keeping of torture breed dogs. Full article

To effectively enhance the seismic performance of traditional Chinese timber structures, this study proposes a reinforcement method utilizing friction dampers. Based on the working mechanism of friction dampers and the extended discrete element theory, an analytical model for timber structures equipped with these dampers was developed and validated through shake table tests. Subsequently, dynamic analyses were conducted to systematically evaluate the enhanced seismic energy dissipation capacity of the ancient timber structures by the reinforcement of friction dampers. The friction coefficient (μ), bolt pre-tension strain (ε), and action distance (l) were selected as key parameters. A multi-objective optimization function was constructed using the weighted sum method, enabling a multi-objective parameter optimization analysis for the friction dampers to identify the optimal parameter combination under specific conditions. The results indicate that the established extended discrete element model effectively simulates the dynamic characteristics of the structure. The installation of friction dampers significantly enhanced the structure’s energy dissipation capacity and substantially reduced the peak displacement. However, due to the initial stiffness introduced by the dampers, the lateral stiffness of the column frame increased markedly, leading to a significant amplification of the acceleration response, with a maximum increase in peak acceleration reaching 77%. The multi-objective optimization analysis revealed that with weighting coefficients λ_a = λ_b = 0.5, the optimal damper parameter combination is μ = 0.36, ε = 102 με, and l = 268 mm. Under these conditions, the structural displacement response decreased by 38.5%, while the acceleration response increased by 93.7%. It is noted that the derived optimal design solutions are pertinent to the specific structural typology and ground motions considered. Full article

Landslide susceptibility assessment (LSA) heavily depends on the completeness of landslide inventories and the interpretability of predictive models. Conventional inventories, based solely on historical records, often fail to identify newly occurring or slow-moving landslides, leading to biased susceptibility estimates. To address this limitation, this study proposes a dynamic LSA framework that integrates multi-source remote sensing data, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) modeling, and Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP), with a case study in Yongsheng County, Yunnan Province, China. This study jointly uses multi-temporal optical remote sensing imagery and Sentinel-1 InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) deformation data to update the landslide inventory. Compared with the historical inventory containing 334 landslide points, the updated inventory incorporates an additional 140 deformation-related landslide hazard points. XGBoost models were developed using conditioning factors selected through multicollinearity analysis to evaluate the influence of inventory completeness on model performance. Results show that the model based on the updated inventory achieves a significant improvement in predictive accuracy. SHAP-based interpretation reveals that distance to roads and maximum deformation rate are the dominant factors controlling landslide occurrence, reflecting the combined effects of human activities and dynamic ground deformation. The resulting susceptibility map shows that the Area Under the Curve (AUC) value for susceptibility zoning of the updated sample increases from 0.857 to 0.928, with high and very high susceptibility zones occupying 8.28% of the study area. Overall, the proposed framework improves both the accuracy and interpretability of LSA and demonstrates the effectiveness of multi-source remote sensing data for dynamic landslide hazard assessment in mountainous regions. Full article

Precise control of thin liquid film deposition is crucial in applications where film stability and internal liquid flow significantly impact the dry film shape or the efficiency of sample or drug delivery. No prior work has automated the extraction and measurement uncertainty quantification of film geometric parameters from dual-view optical visualization with minimal user input. We present Python-based software that extracts time-resolved film thickness, width, and the positions of three contact lines from visual data using computer vision. The utility of such analysis is demonstrated by depositing 30% glycerol on a flexible tape through a circular nozzle orifice. The nozzle is positioned at a distance of h = 0.3 mm from the tape at an angle of attack α = 45°, with deposition controlled at a volume flow rate $\dot{V}$ = 30 μL min⁻¹ and tape velocity v = 1.0 mm s⁻¹. Expanded measurement uncertainties are 21 μm, 22 μm, and 53 μm for the upstream static, downstream static, and upstream dynamic contact line positions, respectively, with maximum relative uncertainties of 10.3% and 8.2% for film thickness and width. Static contact line oscillations remain within measurement uncertainty, whereas the upstream dynamic contact line exhibits resolvable oscillations. This dual-view framework provides high-resolution insights into liquid film dynamics, which is crucial for comprehensive control of liquid film deposition. Full article

This work presents a highly compact triple-band multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) implantable antenna for wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) and leadless cardiac pacemakers. The proposed antenna operates at industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands of 2.400 to 2.480 GHz and 5.725 to 5.875 GHz for data telemetry and the wireless medical telemetry service (WMTS) band of 1.395 to 1.432 GHz for efficient wireless power transfer. The four-element design measures 8.5 × 8.5 × 0.26 mm³ and achieves low mutual coupling through a planar four-port configuration with optimized inter-element spacing. The antenna is integrated within realistic capsule devices containing batteries, sensors, and electronic components, and evaluated in both homogeneous and realistic heterogeneous body phantoms, including the large intestine and heart. The design yields maximum reflection coefficients of −26.15 dB, −15 dB, and −36.32 dB, −10 dB bandwidths of 260 MHz, 160 MHz, and 160 MHz, mutual coupling of −37.74 dB, −44.55 dB, −26.48 dB, and peak realized gains of −35 dBi, −25 dBi, and −15 dBi at 1.4 GHz, 2.45 GHz, and 5.8 GHz, respectively. Specific absorption rate (SAR) analysis satisfies implantation safety limits. Link budget analysis confirms reliable communication over distances > 20 m in all bands with data rates up to 100 Mbps. MIMO channel parameters such as envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) and diversity gain (DG) remain within acceptable limits. Owing to its multi-band operation, miniaturization, and isolation, the proposed four-port antenna is a good candidate for next-generation WCE and leadless pacemaker systems. Full article

Urban traffic noise poses escalating environmental challenges in rapidly urbanizing regions with high-density buildings, yet systematic investigations into its spatiotemporal characteristics remain relatively scarce. This study addresses this research gap via the synchronized on-site monitoring of traffic noise and traffic flow on a representative arterial road in Guangzhou, China. The analysis reveals that nighttime equivalent continuous A-weighted sound levels (L_Aeq) are 3.0–4.0 dB(A) higher than those during the congested daytime peak, a phenomenon primarily driven by higher vehicle speeds under nighttime free-flow traffic conditions. The spatial analysis uncovers complex three-dimensional noise propagation dynamics specific to urban street canyons. Vertical profiling demonstrates a counterintuitive pattern where noise levels do not attenuate with building height, and upper floors experience marginally higher noise exposure than the ground floor, which is attributed to the canyon effect, where multiple sound wave reflections offset the natural distance attenuation. A validated three-dimensional computational model was further employed to evaluate the efficacy of noise mitigation strategies, showing that an integrated intervention combining porous asphalt pavement and acoustic barriers achieves a maximum noise attenuation of 19.9 dB(A) at ground-level receptors. This significant reduction stems from a synergistic effect: porous asphalt reduces noise at the source on a global scale, while acoustic barriers provide localized shielding for the lower floors of adjacent buildings. This research concludes that effective traffic noise control in high-density urban areas requires three-dimensional, multi-faceted strategies addressing noise source characteristics, transmission pathways, and receptor vulnerabilities. Full article

This study addresses the problem of traffic congestion in large cities caused by long-term repairs of underground utility networks. An innovative mobile overpass is considered, which combines the functions of a vehicle and a temporary bridge, allowing passenger cars up to 3.5 t to pass directly over repair trenches without detours. The research focuses on optimizing the placement of overpass supports relative to the trench edge to reduce soil deformation and prevent trench wall instability. A numerical methodology is developed in ANSYS Workbench that integrates finite element analysis of the soil-support system with parametric optimization using the nonlinear Drucker–Prager elastoplastic model. The soil parameters are obtained from oedometer compression tests (KPr-1M) and direct shear tests (PSG-2M) on clayey soils and then used to calibrate the numerical model. The optimization results show that the optimal distance from the trench wall to the overpass support is $L_{\min } = 2.78$ m, which is 13.5% greater than the initial design value. This modification reduces the maximum horizontal displacement of the trench wall by more than a factor of two and ensures compliance with the displacement criteria. Comparison between experimental and numerical compression curves yields an average deviation of 37.55%, with errors below 5% at higher stress levels, confirming that the Drucker–Prager model is suitable for engineering optimization of mobile overpass support placement on similar soils. The proposed methodology can be applied to the design and verification of temporary bridge systems operating above utility trenches in urban environments. Full article

With the intensive development of urban underground space, excavations adjacent to existing tunnels have become increasingly common. This study investigates the response of adjacent tunnels and surrounding soil to multi-step foundation pit excavation and the effect and mechanism of a new capsule technology. Centrifuge model tests and finite element analysis were conducted for models both with and without a capsule. The results show that the soil deformation caused by each excavation step is confined to an influence zone. As the excavation deepens, this influence zone progressively expands. Excavation causes the tunnel to move outward and the retaining wall to rotate clockwise. The results demonstrate that capsule pressurization can effectively reduce the maximum horizontal displacement of the adjacent tunnel by approximately 30–40% compared to the case without reinforcement. Capsule pressurization alters the earth pressure distribution on the retaining wall and reduces tunnel displacement. The effect of the capsule decays with increasing distance from the capsule to the tunnel. The excavation impact propagates to the tunnel via wall–soil and soil–tunnel interactions. Capsule pressurization mitigates the tunnel response by ensuring that the surrounding soil experiences a smaller reduction in horizontal stress and exhibits a higher modulus during subsequent excavation. This enhanced state of the soil produces smaller deformation, which ultimately transfers less of the excavation effect to the tunnel and controls its displacement. The study concludes that the active pressure control offered by the capsule technology is a promising method for protecting existing tunnels during adjacent deep excavations. Full article

Multi-outlet air-assisted sprayers are increasingly used for directional and zoned airflow to match varying canopy structures. In this study, a self-developed multi-outlet orchard air-assisted sprayer was investigated. Airflow velocity and direction were tested at different inlet areas, heights, and downstream horizontal distances using a three-dimensional ultrasonic anemometer. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression modeling were applied to elucidate the effects of these three factors on airflow velocity, horizontal angle (θ), and elevation angle (Φ). The results showed that a stable alternating “primary jet–interaction zone” structure was formed in the spatial airflow field under all operating conditions, indicating that the fundamental airflow pattern was mainly governed by the sprayer layout. Varying the inlet area did not alter the basic airflow structure; however, the intensity and directional stability of the primary jets were significantly modified. Larger inlet openings produced higher airflow velocities, with a maximum near-field velocity of 19.7 m s⁻¹, whereas smaller inlet openings resulted in faster far-field attenuation and more pronounced diffusion. Increasing the inlet area caused the θ distribution peak to converge toward 0°, thereby improving axial coherence and directional stability. In contrast, decreasing the inlet area shifted Φ toward more negative values, with Φ reaching approximately −20° in the far field; moreover, far-field differences in Φ were more pronounced. Under the minimum inlet opening area condition (S1), the airflow velocity within the region 80–100 cm from the outlet can be stably maintained above 3 m/s, with a relatively uniform velocity distribution. This is beneficial for improving droplet deposition uniformity within the canopy and reducing droplet drift in non-target areas. Based on the experimental data, a regression model for mean airflow velocity was established (R² = 0.873), demonstrating good predictive performance and indicating that inlet-opening regulation is feasible. These findings provide a basis for airflow matching and spray-parameter optimization for different canopy structures. Full article

The efficiency of power transfer is a critical issue for wireless charging applications in electric vehicles. The misalignment between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil in wireless charging leads to a significant reduction in efficiency. This article investigates improving coil misalignment performance in wireless power transfer for electric vehicles using magnetic flux density analysis. The objective is to study the effect of the automatic alignment transmitter system’s movement on error distance. The automatic alignment transmitter system was integrated with a wireless power transfer system to realign the transmitter coil whenever lateral misalignment occurred between the transmitter and receiver coils. The experiment was performed with a horizontal misalignment of 0.35 m and was repeated three times. The gap between the coils was held constant at 0.15 m. The wireless charging system was designed according to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standard. The experimental results demonstrated that the movement error distance was 0.001 m, with an average error of 0.33%. These findings indicate that the automatic alignment transmitter system achieved an operational effectiveness of 99.67%. The maximum wireless charging efficiencies of 75.78% and 75.59% were recorded for the X-axis and Y-axis adjustments, respectively. Full article

This study addresses the limited adsorption efficiency of traditional vacuum suction cups used in applications such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and robotic systems. Inspired by the adhesion mechanism of the abalone muscular foot, we propose a novel suction cup design. The design incorporates optimization of the groove geometry, groove distribution, and the positioning of the sealing ring. To assess the mechanical performance of these designs, finite element analysis (FEA) is employed. A prototype exhibiting the most promising simulation results is fabricated and subjected to tensile testing. The experimental results show strong agreement with the simulation outcomes, thereby validating the accuracy and reliability of the FEA. The biomimetic suction cup demonstrates superior adsorption performance compared to the baseline design. Specifically, the maximum von Mises stress is reduced by 5.9%, the maximum pressure is increased by 498%, and the maximum frictional stress rises by 498%. Moreover, the maximum sliding distance is reduced by 38%, while the maximum total circumferential deformation is increased by 21%. This innovative design enhances the stress distribution across the bottom surface of the suction cup, mitigates inward edge contraction, and delays the communication between the inner cavity and the external environment, thereby improving the overall adsorption efficiency of the suction cup. Full article

This paper presents a geometric difficulty analysis framework for Formula 1 racing lines based on telemetry data from the 2024 season. To ensure geometric consistency across multiple laps, a representative racing line is identified using the discrete Fréchet distance, and corner segments are modeled using biarc approximation to estimate stable curvature. Based on the resulting geometric representation, we introduce three curvature-based difficulty metrics—the Curvature Exposure Index (CEI), Maximum Curvature Severity (MCS), and Curvature Variation Index (CVI)—to quantify both local and global track characteristics. This approach establishes a strictly geometric definition of difficulty based on the planar projection of the trajectory, purposely decoupling structural complexity from 3D terrain features, vehicle dynamics, and race context. Experimental results across 24 tracks demonstrate that these metrics effectively capture distinct track characteristics: CEI ranged from 1.97 rad/km (Italian) to 8.44 rad/km (Monaco), MCS from 230.54 km⁻¹ (Spanish) to 1689.54 km⁻¹ (Monaco), and CVI from 7.60 (British) to 9.33 (Monaco and Qatar). Although this framework focuses on planar geometry, it provides a compact, extensible foundation for geometric analysis and future applications incorporating elevation profiles and dynamic variables. Full article