Search Results (78,724)

The line contact behavior of multiscale meshing interfaces necessitates synergistic investigation spanning nano-to centimeter-scale ranges. When nominally smooth gear teeth surfaces come into contact, the mechanical–thermal coupling effect at the meshing interface actually occurs over a collection of microscale asperities (roughness peaks) exhibiting hierarchical distribution characteristics. The emergent deformation phenomena across multiple asperity scales govern the self-organized evolution of interface conformity, thereby regulating both the load transfer efficiency and thermal transport properties within the contact zone. The fractal nature of the roughness topography on actual meshing interfaces calls for the development of a cross-scale theoretical framework that integrates micro-texture optimization with multi-physics coupling contact behavior. Conventional roughness characterization methods based on statistical parameters suffer from inherent limitations: their parameter values are highly dependent on measurement scale, lacking uniqueness under varying sampling intervals and instrument resolutions, and failing to capture the scale-invariant nature of meshing interface topography. A scale-independent parameter system grounded in fractal geometry theory enables essential feature extraction and quantitative characterization of three-dimensional interface morphology. This study establishes a progressive deformation theory for gear line contact interfaces with fractal geometric characteristics, encompassing elastic, elastoplastic transition, and perfectly plastic stages. By systematically investigating the force–thermal coupling mechanisms in textured meshing interfaces under multiscale conditions, the research provides a theoretical foundation and numerical implementation pathways for high-precision multiscale thermo-mechanical analysis of meshing interfaces. Full article

Remote working is increasingly being recognized as a practice that can advance organizational sustainability across environmental, economic and social dimensions. However, little is known about how employees perceive its benefits within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and about the role of leadership in shaping these perceptions. This study aimed to identify distinct profiles of perceived remote working benefits and to examine how socio-demographic characteristics and leader–member exchange (LMX) predict profile membership. Data were collected through an online survey administered to 377 employees of a medium-sized Italian IT company. Measures included perceived benefits of remote working and supportive leadership, and analyses were conducted using latent class analysis (LCA) and multinomial logistic regression. Results revealed four profiles: Enthusiastic Supporters (37%), Cautious Adopters (25%), Remote Work Skeptics (22%), and Core Pragmatists (17%). Younger employees were more likely to belong to the Enthusiastic Supporters category, while supportive leadership increased the probability of being Cautious Adopters rather than Skeptics. These findings stress the importance of considering diverse employee experiences when implementing remote work policies and highlight the role of leadership in fostering positive evaluations of remote working. The study provides practical insights for SMEs aiming to align remote working practices with sustainability goals. Full article

In 2017, the Commission Implementing Decision (European Union [EU]) 2017/1910 officially declared Italy to be enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL)-free. The Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689 laid criteria to maintain an official disease-free status. While some infection clusters persist in restricted areas, specific measures are being implemented to eliminate pockets of viral persistence. This updated analysis of current data, concerning epidemiological trends of EBL in Italy from January 2022 to December 2024, aimed to analyze the status of infection clusters in terms of risk factors associated with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) seropositivity to evaluate the effectiveness of the eradication measures. Our findings highlighted an improvement in EBL eradication; however, the Latium region lags behind in terms of disease eradication while the situation in Apulia is being resolved. Campania, which has implemented restrictive and consistent health measures, has the lowest prevalence and incidence rates compared with previous years. Identifying and assessing risk factors that favor EBL persistence in infection clusters is essential as is implementing specific measures to eliminate such clusters, thereby enabling disease eradication and the adoption of targeted prevention strategies. Full article

Background and Objectives: Cardiac injury caused by cancer therapy can be detected early using high-sensitivity cardiac troponins (hs-cTns), and this is crucial for preventing irreversible consequences. Clinically relevant issues regarding hs-cTns in oncologic settings—such as reliable cut-off values, the optimal assessment timeframe, factors influencing their levels, and their prognostic ability in relation to functional echocardiographic parameters—require further investigation. In this study, we aimed to examine the determinants of hs-cTnT variations during cancer therapy and the relationship between the biomarker and functional conventional echocardiographic parameters. Materials and Methods: We prospectively evaluated adult patients scheduled for chemotherapy for either breast or gastrointestinal cancers, excluding those with pulmonary and cardiac disorders. We enrolled 40 patients who underwent a minimum of one cycle of potentially cardiotoxic regimens containing at least one of the following agents: anthracyclines, cyclophosphamide, taxanes, 5-fluorouracil, platinum compounds, trastuzumab, or bevacizumab. We observed two-dimensional and tissue Doppler echocardiographic parameters and hs-cTnT levels for a median of 360 days (IQR 162, 478) following the start of chemotherapy. Results: The generalised estimating equation (GEE) analysis revealed significant elevations in hs-cTnT levels at three months (β = 1.2; p = 0.005) and six months (β = 2.3; p = 0.02) from baseline, influenced by anthracycline treatment (p = 0.009), renal function (p = 0.003), and increased cardiotoxicity risk (high: p = 0.013; medium: p < 0.001). Elevated hs-cTnT levels independently predicted the deterioration of the LV longitudinal myocardial function, measured by the systolic tissue velocities, according to the GEE analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve-derived hs-cTnT thresholds—of 8.23 ng/L and 8.08 ng/L—had a high negative predictive value for identifying Average and Lateral LVS′ decreases, respectively. Conclusions: Our research supports the use of baseline and continuing hs-cTnT testing in cancer patients, showing the dependence of the biomarker on renal function, cardiovascular toxicity risk level, and anthracycline treatment. The hs-cTnT cut-off value of approximately 8 ng/L may suggest a low probability of longitudinal myocardial function impairment and this observation needs further validation in larger cohorts. Full article

Objectives: To establish normative data for anterior segment parameters in healthy pediatric and adult populations using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), and to evaluate the influence of age and sex on these parameters. Methods: This retrospective study included the right eyes of 390 healthy participants. Subjects were divided into three age groups: Group 1 (6–17 years, n = 97), Group 2 (18–45 years, n = 144), and Group 3 (46–77 years, n = 149). All patients were categorized according to their biological sex as female and male. Exclusion criteria were corneal pathology, prior intraocular/refractive surgery, recent contact lens use, severe dry eye, ectatic disorders, low-quality imaging, and refractive error of ±2.0 D or greater. Measurements of anterior and posterior keratometry, total corneal power (TCP), central corneal thickness (CCT), thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), pupil diameter (PD), lens thickness (LT), and white-to-white distance (WTW) were obtained using the Anterion^® SS-OCT system. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Group 1 demonstrated the highest PD and CCT values, whereas LT was lowest. In adults, LT increased with age and was significantly higher in males older than 45 years. Keratometric analysis revealed greater anterior and total steep astigmatism in the pediatric group, independent of sex. Adult females had significantly higher anterior and posterior keratometry values compared with males. In the pediatric cohort, females exhibited greater CCT, while WTW varied with age. PD decreased with age, whereas LT increased. Conclusions: Anterior segment parameters measured with SS-OCT show significant variations across different age groups and between sexes. Normative data, particularly for pediatric and adult populations, may serve as valuable reference values in keratorefractive surgical planning and corneal pathology assessment. Future studies with larger cohorts, especially in pediatric populations, are warranted. Full article

Additively manufactured (AM) aluminum (Al) alloys are very useful in sectors like automotive, manufacturing, and aerospace because they have unique mechanical properties, such as their light weight, etc. AlSi10Mg made by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is one of the most promising materials because it has a high strength-to-weight ratio, good thermal resistance, and good corrosion resistance. But machining AlSi10Mg parts is still hard because they have unique microstructural properties from the way they were produced. This research investigates the machining efficacy of the AM-AlSi10Mg alloy in distinct cutting conditions (dry, flood, chilled air, and minimal quantity lubrication with castor oil). The study assesses how different cooling conditions affect important performance metrics such as cutting temperature, surface roughness, and tool wear. Due to castor oil’s superior lubricating and film-forming properties, MQL (Minimal Quantity Lubrication) reduces heat generation between 80 °C and 98 °C for the distinct speed–feed combinations. The Multi-Objective Optimization by Ratio Analysis (MOORA) approach is used to determine the ideal cooling and machining conditions (MQL, Vc of 90 m/min, and fr of 0.05 mm/rev). The relative closeness values derived from the MOORA approach were used to predict machining results using machine learning (ML) models (MLP, GPR, and RF). The MLP showed the strongest relationship between the measured and predicted values, with R values of 0.9995 in training and 0.9993 in testing. Full article

This study investigated a novel method of recovering energy from iron ore sinter using solid iron oxide heat transfer materials. Traditionally, air is passed through the sinter either in an open conveyor or a sealed vessel to recover energy. The bed materials used were a magnetite concentrate, hematite ore, goethite–hematite ore and sinter fines. A shortwave thermal camera and quartz reactor were used measure infrared radiation from the process. The thermal imaging was combined with image analysis techniques to visualise the transfer of thermal energy through the system. The results showed that energy moved rapidly through the system with peak heating rates of 18 °C/min at a lump sinter temperature of 600 °C. The ratio of heating rate to cooling rate was as high as 8.6:1.0, indicating efficient retention of energy by the bed materials. The bed composition, determined by X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction was used to calculate the heat capacity based on pure material properties. The resultant energy balance determined thermal efficiency to be between 32 and 46% for the sinter fines and hematite–goethite ore, resulting in predicted fuel savings of up to 9.4kg/tonne with similar heat utilisations to the air recovery process. Thermal imaging combined with Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area measurements and scanning electron microscopy analysis experimentally replicated mathematical heat transfer model predictions that a smaller total pore volume resulted in less thermally resistive bed. Image analysis illustrated the breaking of the heat front between the less resistive solid and more resistive air in porous beds versus even conduction of heat through a dense bed. The oxide distribution in the bed materials impacted heat transfer, as at a lump temperature of 500 °C was controlled by hydrated oxide content whereas at 600 °C Fe₂O₃ was the more dominant driver. Full article

Background: Goji berry, known as a “superfood”, is widely distributed in northwest China and possesses significant medicinal and health value. The CER gene family serves as a key regulator of cuticular wax synthesis, which plays important roles in enhancing plant drought resistance and disease tolerance. However, genome-wide identification of the goji CER gene family and its expression analysis across different varieties and organs have not been reported. Methods: Based on SEM observations and wax load measurements, this study identified CER gene family members using whole genome data of the goji berry. Representative genes were selected and their expression patterns in different varieties and organs were validated by qRT‒PCR. Results: The stem wax load was significantly higher than that in other organs, while the leaf wax load of ‘Ningqi I’ goji was significantly higher than that in other varieties, consistent with SEM observations. A total of 113 CER gene family members were identified in goji berry, which were unevenly distributed on 12 chromosomes. The goji CER proteins mainly localized in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, chloroplast, and nucleus and clustered into five subfamilies. Ten conserved motifs were identified in CER proteins, with Motif5 and Motif7 being the most widely distributed. The LbaCER10-1 gene contained the highest number of exons (39). Cis-acting elements related to light-responsiveness, MeJA-responsiveness, and ABA-responsiveness showed high frequencies. Goji berry shared more homologous CER genes with tomato, potato, and tobacco than with Arabidopsis, with chr3 and chr9 being most conserved while chr7 showed greater variation. Conclusions: Integrating SEM, wax load, and qRT‒PCR results, LbaCER1-1 was identified as a candidate gene responsible for the higher wax load on goji stems, while LbaCER2-5 and LbaCER3-12 were candidate genes for greater wax load on ‘Ningqi I’ leaves. Full article

Background: Socioeconomic factors may influence maternal nutrition knowledge (MNK), which directly affects the nutritional status of children under five. This study aims to explore the importance of socioeconomic factors associated with MNK and nutritional status. Methods: This cross-sectional study focused on mothers of children aged 36–59 months (n = 657). A structured questionnaire was employed to collect data on socioeconomic factors. Anthropometric measurements were taken to assess nutritional status. The Boruta algorithm, implemented using R Studio version R.4.5.1, was used to identify the most important socioeconomic factors associated with MNK and nutrition status. Results: The analysis revealed that socioeconomic status (SES) emerged as an important factor associated with MNK and nutrition status, particularly stunting and wasting. However, SES was not confirmed as an important factor associated with underweight. This study uncovered a bidirectional relationship between child nutrition outcomes; underweight was found to be an important factor related to stunting and wasting, whereas stunting and wasting were important factors for underweight. Furthermore, infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators, such as weaning practices and exclusive breastfeeding (BF), were found to be important factors for stunting and wasting. Conclusions: The interlinkage among forms of undernutrition, where each nutritional outcome is related to other outcomes, underscores the importance of comprehensively addressing child undernutrition, rather than focusing on single outcomes independently. Moreover, the association between SES and MNK, wasting, and stunting supports approaches based on holistic and multi-sectoral strategies to reduce poverty by WASH programs, promote IYCF practices, and improve healthcare access by providing health insurance coverage. Full article

Traditional single-mode Brillouin optical time-domain analysis systems are inherently limited in terms of sensing capacity, susceptibility to bending loss, and spatial resolution. Multi-core fibers present a promising approach to overcoming these limitations. In this study, a seven-core fiber was utilized, with the central core and three asymmetrically positioned off-axis cores selected for sensing. The temperature coefficients of the four selected cores were experimentally calibrated as 1.103, 0.962, 1.277, and 0.937 MHz/°C, respectively. By employing differential pulse techniques within the Brillouin distributed sensing system, temperature-compensated bending measurements were achieved with a spatial resolution of 20 cm. The fiber was wound around cylindrical mandrels with diameters of 7 cm, 10 cm, and 15 cm. Experimental results demonstrate effective decoupling of temperature and bending strain, enabling accurate curvature reconstruction. Error analysis reveals a minimum deviation of 0.04% for smaller diameters and 0.68% for larger diameters. Cross-comparison of measurements conducted at varying temperatures confirms the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed temperature compensation method. Full article

Measuring the long-term trend of PM2.5 mass-concentration in urban environments is essential as it has a direct impact on human health. PM2.5 levels depend not only on the intensity of local emission sources and on imported pollution, but also on meteorological conditions (e.g., anticyclonic versus windy conditions), which leads to yearly variations in mean PM2.5 values. Two datasets available for Paris, France, are considered: measurements from Airparif air quality agency network and from the Pollutrack network of mobile car-based sensors. Also, meteorological parameters coming from ERA5 analysis (ECMWF) are considered. Annual values are calculated using three different statistical methods, which yield different results. For the 2013–2024 period, a clear relationship between wind speed and PM2.5 mass-concentration levels is established. The results show a linear decrease in both concentration and standard deviation for wind speeds in the 0–6 m.s⁻¹ range, followed by nearly stable values for wind speed above 6 m.s⁻¹. This behavior is explained by the dispersive effect of strong winds on air pollution. Under such conditions, which occur about 10% of the time in Paris, the contribution of persistent background sources can be isolated. Using the 6 m·s⁻¹ threshold, the average annual linear decrease in emissions from local sources is estimated at 4.1 and 4.3% per year for the Airparif and Pollutrack data, respectively. Since 2023, the annual background value attributed to emission has been close to 5 µg.m⁻³, in agreement with WHO recommendations. This approach could be used to monitor the effects of regulations on traffic and heating emissions and could be applied to other cities for estimating background pollution levels. Finally, future studies should therefore prioritize number concentrations and size distributions, rather than mass-concentrations. Full article

Since it is difficult to obtain the positions of dynamic loads on structures, this paper suggests a new method to identify the locations of dynamic loads step-by-step based on the correlation coefficients of dynamic responses. First, a recognition model for dynamic load position based on a finite-element scheme is established, with the finite-element domain divided into several regions. Second, virtual loads are applied at the central points of these regions, and acceleration responses are calculated at the sensor measurement points. Third, the maximum correlation coefficient between the calculational and measured accelerations is obtained, and the dynamic load is located in the region with the virtual load corresponding to the maximum correlation coefficient. Finally, this region is continuously subdivided with the refined mesh until the dynamic load is pinpointed in a sufficiently small area. Different virtual load construction methods are proposed according to different types of loads. The frequency response function, unresolvable for the actual problem due to the unknown location of the real dynamic load, can be transformed into a solvable form, involving only known points. This transformation simplifies the analytical process, making it more efficient and applicable to analysis of the dynamic behavior of the system. The identification of the dynamic load position in the entire structure is then transformed into a sub-region approach, focusing on the area where the dynamic load acts. Simulations for case studies are conducted to demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively identify positions of single and multiple dynamic loads. The correctness of the theory and simulation model is verified with experiments. Compared to recent methods that use machine learning and neural networks to identify positions of dynamic loads, the approach proposed in this paper avoids the heavy computational cost and time required for data training. Full article

The reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) is a primary electron donor for both antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione reductase, and pro-oxidant enzymes, such as NADPH oxidases that produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide synthases that generate nitric oxide which act as signaling molecules. Monitoring NADPH levels, NADPH/NADP⁺ ratio, and especially distinguishing from NADH, provides vital information about cellular redox status, energy generation, survival, lineage specification, and death pathway selection. NADPH detection is key to understanding metabolic reprogramming in cancer, aging, and cardiovascular, hormonal, neurodegenerative, and autoimmune diseases. Liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is crucial for NADPH detection in redox signaling because it offers the high sensitivity, specificity, and comprehensive profiling needed to quantify this vital but labile redox cofactor in complex biological samples. Using hepatoma cell lines, liver tissues, and primary hepatocytes from mice lacking transaldolase or nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase, or having lupus, this study demonstrates that accurate measurement of NADPH depends on its preservation in reduced form which can be optimally achieved by extraction of metabolites in alkaline solution, such as 0.1 M potassium hydroxide (KOH) in comparison to 80% methanol (MeOH) alone or 40:40:20 methanol/acetonitrile/formic acid solution. While KOH extraction coupled with hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and mass spectrometry most reliably detects NADPH, NADP, NADH, NAD, polyamines, and polyols, MeOH extraction is best suited for detection of glutathione and overall discrimination between complex metabolite extracts. This study therefore supports performing parallel KOH and MeOH extractions to enable comprehensive metabolomic analysis of redox signaling. Full article

This study proposes the Sponge City+ parametric design toolkit, which integrates low-impact development (LID) measures into urban design to support compliance checking, runoff risk analysis, and optimization of design alternatives. Compliance is evaluated using the annual runoff volume capture ratio (AVCR) calculated via the Volume Method, which is the core criterion in sponge city standards. The toolkit combines a measures database, runoff volume control functions, and runoff simulation functions to evaluate and compare design alternatives. Its applicability was tested through case studies of three university campuses in China. These cases were used to: (1) conduct a sensitivity analysis of the toolkit’s response to different LID strategies, ranking three typical LID measures (sunken green spaces > permeable pavements > green roofs) in terms of their contribution to runoff control; (2) perform multi-objective optimization considering cost, runoff control, and peak reduction, which, under ordinary PC computational capacity, efficiently identified 27 qualified solutions out of more than 5000 samples, thereby providing a broader set of design choices while ensuring compliance with runoff control requirements; and (3) demonstrate a design optimization process based on runoff visualization, where human–computer interaction helped avoid potential flood risks during the early design stage. This study demonstrates the potential of a parametric workflow to bridge disciplinary boundaries and support the achievement of global sustainability goals. Full article

Simultaneous measurement of force and position often relies on delicate tactile sensing systems that only measure small forces at discrete positions. This study proposes a compact, durable sensor which can provide simultaneous and continuous measurements of force and position using multiple strain gauges mounted on a cantilever beam. When a point force is applied to the cantilever, the strain gauges are used to determine the magnitude of the applied force and its position along the beam. A major advantage of the force-position sensor concept is its compact electronics and durable sensing surface. We designed, tested, and evaluated three different prototypes for the force-position sensor concept. The prototypes achieved an average percent error of 1.71% and were highly linear. We also conducted a thorough analysis of design variables and their effects on performance. The force and position measurement ranges can be adjusted by tuning the material and geometric properties of the beam and the spacing of the strain gauges. The accuracy of force measurements is dependent upon applied load, but insensitive to the location of the applied load. Accuracy of position measurements is also dependent upon applied load and weakly dependent upon position of the applied load. Full article