Search Results (52,799)

Coagulation–flocculation is widely recognized as a fundamental step in wastewater treatment, as it promotes the aggregation and removal of suspended particles and organic contaminants following the addition of a coagulant. In this study, a bio-based coagulant was prepared from prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) seed residues obtained after essential oil extraction. The extraction process for bioactive agents was successfully modeled using Central Composite Design (CCD)-based Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Optimal extraction was reached at pH 13, PPSM of 7.5 g, 0.75 M NaCl, and 40 min of stirring, providing maximum yields of 69.63 g proteins, 217.075 g total sugars, and 81.416 g polyphenols. The optimized extract was subsequently used as a bio-coagulant for the treatment of wastewater collected from the Chalghoum El Aid–Oued El Athmania wastewater treatment plant (Mila, Algeria). The effects of three operating parameters, initial turbidity, solution pH, and bio-coagulant dosage, on the coagulation–flocculation performance were investigated using a Box–Behnken design (BBD). Process efficiency was evaluated in terms of turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and organic matter (OM) removal. The raw wastewater exhibited initial values of 200 NTU for turbidity, 640 mg/L for COD, and 25 for organic matter. Statistical analysis revealed that the developed quadratic models were highly significant (p ≤ 0.05) and showed excellent predictive performance, with coefficients of determination (R² ≥ 0.97). Optimal treatment conditions were identified at pH 7, a bio-coagulant dosage of 1 mL/L, and an initial turbidity of 200 NTU. Under these conditions, removal efficiencies exceeded 98% for turbidity and COD and reached 88.08% for organic matter. Furthermore, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups responsible for the coagulation activity of the bio-coagulant. These findings highlight the potential of prickly pear seed residues as an effective, sustainable, and low-cost alternative to conventional chemical coagulants in wastewater treatment. Full article

To evaluate microbump antenna performance for high-frequency communications, this study utilizes 3D electromagnetic simulations comparing solder-ball and copper-pillar structures across three feeding schemes. The simulation results show that the copper-pillar type exhibits a lower resonant frequency and more stable relative bandwidth (with a fluctuation of only 0.63%) under the same feeding condition, while the bandwidth fluctuation of the solder-ball type reaches 13.17%. Regarding gain characteristics, the absolute differences between the two structures across all feeding methods remain negligible (within 0.03–0.06 dBi). Both antenna types exhibit the highest realized gain among the investigated schemes under microstrip feeding, yielding 5.54 dBi for solder-ball and 5.48 dBi for copper-pillar configurations, while coaxial center feeding results in the minimum gain. Given the extreme difficulty of sub-THz measurements, a measurement-compatible GSG-fed copper-pillar-type model resonating at 477.9 GHz was designed and subsequently enlarged by a factor of 46 according to the electromagnetic similarity principle. It should be emphasized that the fabricated and measured prototype is the scaled 10.4–10.5 GHz model rather than the original sub-THz microbump antenna. Based on the electromagnetic similarity principle, the measured resonant frequency and gain of the antenna are 10.5 GHz and 7.1 dBi, respectively. The measured S parameters are generally consistent with the simulated ones in trend. Therefore, under the same conditions considered in this work, the copper-pillar-type microbump antenna can achieve a lower resonant frequency and more stable relative bandwidth; while microstrip feeding provides the highest realized gain among the three investigated feeding schemes. The conclusions provide data support for the antenna-in-package design and performance optimization of microbump antennas. Full article

Train-induced vibrations pose a significant threat to foundation pit slopes adjacent to railways during parallel construction or line renovation projects. To address this issue, this paper proposes a periodic steel-sheet pile barrier for vibration mitigation in narrow construction sites. Firstly, field tests were conducted along the Qinbei Railway in China. The acceleration time history and dominant frequency (27.6 Hz) of ground vibrations were obtained. Secondly, based on periodic structure theory, the dispersion relations and band-gap characteristics of periodic steel-sheet piles were analyzed using the finite element method. Parametric studies were then performed to investigate the effects of key factors, including periodic constants, pile spacing and pile count per unit cell, and construction deviations, on the band-gap boundaries and width. Subsequently, frequency-domain, time-domain, and slope stability analyses were carried out to evaluate the isolation performance. The results show that the optimized barrier, with parameters of a = 1.6 m, D = 0.1 m, n₁ = n₂ = 4, and L = 2S, reduced the peak acceleration by 70% and achieved a vibration reduction of up to 88% at the dominant frequency. Furthermore, slope stability analysis revealed that the barrier increased the factor of safety from 1.16 to 1.46, exceeding the code-required minimum of 1.2–1.3. This study provides a potentially cost-effective and construction-friendly solution for protecting temporary foundation pit slopes from train-induced vibrations in railway-adjacent areas. Full article

Swine Inflammation and Necrosis Syndrome (SINS) is a widespread condition in pigs and has been proposed as an early-life animal-based measure (ABM) for assessing health and welfare. However, its prognostic value for later-life outcomes under commercial conditions remains poorly understood. This study investigated the prevalence, progression, and predictive relevance of SINS in two organic pig farms in the Netherlands. Clinical SINS signs were assessed in suckling and weaned piglets and related to hematological parameters at weaning (35 weaned piglets) as well as tail integrity at slaughter. SINS lesions were highly prevalent in suckling piglets (approximately 80%) but markedly decreased after weaning. Lesion prevalence and severity differed substantially between farms and showed clear age-dependent patterns, peaking between days 3 and 5 of life. Higher SINS scores in suckling piglets were associated with systemic hematological alterations at weaning, including increased monocyte proportions, reduced platelet counts, and altered red blood cell indices. Importantly, early-life SINS was significantly associated with later tail integrity. Pigs with higher SINS scores showed a lower probability of intact tails at slaughter and subsequently a higher prevalence of tail lesions. These findings suggest that SINS may have potential as an early-life indicator of later tail outcomes; however, this hypothesis requires validation in larger studies involving a greater number of farms and production systems. Full article

This study investigates the aerodynamic performance of a two-building ensemble as an integrated architectural–aerodynamic system, with a focus on airflow conditions relevant to building-integrated wind turbines. The research addresses the question of whether newly designed development can actively improve, rather than deteriorate, airflow conditions above existing buildings. A parametric CFD analysis based on steady-state RANS (SST k–ω) simulations was conducted for multiple geometric configurations of a reference building (A) and a neighboring building (B), varying roof pitch (22–40°) and height. Airflow was evaluated using mean longitudinal velocity (Vy), coefficient of variation (CV), and vector components across three architectural scenarios corresponding to different turbine-integration strategies. The results demonstrate that properly designed geometries can significantly enhance flow quality. In the near-roof scenario (Arch1), the optimal configuration achieved a 24.28% increase in Vy and a 94.53% reduction in CV, indicating strong flow stabilization. In the façade-integration scenario (Arch2), improvements reached +10.40% in Vy and −23.16% in CV, reflecting vertical homogenization of the flow field. In the point-based scenario (Arch3), a local velocity increase of 4.29% was obtained while maintaining directional stability. The findings indicate that building geometry acts as an active design parameter that controls flow intensity, homogeneity, and direction. The study proposes a CFD-based decision framework and demonstrates that architectural form can be deliberately shaped to enhance wind conditions, supporting the integration of wind turbines into coherent building design. Full article

To investigate the respective contributions of cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺) and anions (Cl⁻ and SO₄²⁻) to the formation of whey protein isolate (WPI)-based nanofibrils, eight salts with a 4 × 2 factorial design were added to WPI solutions. The morphology and aggregation process of the fibril aggregates were examined under fixed low salt concentration (10 mmol/L) to isolate ion-specific effects. The salts altered the pH, conductivity, and fibril yield. Notably, the Na⁺, K⁺, and Zn²⁺ salts increased fibril production, whereas Fe³⁺ salts reduced it. Mechanistically, Fe³⁺ strongly suppressed fibrillation via strong electrostatic interaction and accelerated protein hydrolysis, while SO₄²⁻ partially alleviated this inhibition. All the ions altered the kinetic parameters. Compared with Cl⁻ salts, SO₄²⁻ salts induced shorter, clustered fibrils and stronger kinetic suppression, preserving elongated fibrils. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed anion incorporation, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed secondary structural changes. These results demonstrate that while cations contribute to fibril formation, anions play a deterministic role in regulating assembly kinetics and morphological outcomes, independent of cation valence. In this study, we establish a mechanistic basis for tailoring WPI fibril aggregation states through anion-specific salt selection. Full article

To clarify the spreading law of river crab pellet feed in a centrifugal spreading mechanism and provide a physical basis for the path planning of automatic feeding boats, this study took 4.0 mm sinking extruded river crab feed as the research object. A systematic research method combining physical experiments and Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulation was established. Physical experiments were conducted to calibrate the intrinsic parameters (density, Poisson’s ratio, elastic modulus) and contact parameters (friction coefficients and restitution coefficients between feed and 304 stainless steel/ABS plastic, as well as between feed particles) of the pellet feed. On this basis, a DEM simulation model of a vibration blanking-dual disc centrifugal spreading mechanism was constructed using the multi-sphere aggregation method and the Hertz-Mindlin (no-slip) contact model. A Central Composite Design (CCD) response surface experiment was employed to investigate the spreading law, with boat speed (0.5–1.5 m/s) and spreading disc rotation speed (800–1000 rpm) as independent variables, and unilateral spreading width (W), track superposition uniformity (ω), and transverse coefficient of variation ($Cv$) as response indicators to characterize spreading range and particle distribution. The results showed that the spreading disc rotation speed had an extremely significant effect (p < 0.0001) on all three response indicators, while boat speed had no significant effect. The feed exhibited a characteristic double fan-shaped superposition distribution pattern. Through multi-objective optimization, the optimal operational parameters were determined as a boat speed of 1.0 m/s and a spreading disc rotation speed of 879 rpm, yielding a unilateral spreading width of 2.9 m, a track superposition uniformity of 88.31%, and a transverse coefficient of variation of 8.33%. This study establishes a quantitative method for analyzing feed spreading characteristics and clarifies the spreading range and particle distribution law, providing a reliable physical basis for full-coverage path planning of crab pond feeding boats. Full article

Shape-memory polymers (SMPs) are gaining significant attention for their ability to recover predefined shapes via external stimuli. Among thermally activated systems, biodegradable blends of polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) are particularly promising for biomedical devices and soft actuators. This study develops a thermo-mechanical theoretical model to investigate the shape-memory behavior of a PLA/PCL composite blend under controlled thermal cycling. The framework integrates transient heat transfer, temperature-dependent elasticity, and viscoelastic dynamics to predict temperature evolution, deformation, and internal stress. The thermal response is computed via Newton’s law of convection, while the mechanical transition is described by a sigmoidal temperature- and crystallinity-dependent Young’s modulus. Beam bending theory is employed to evaluate the spatial distribution of strain and stress. A parametric sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of different parameters, including the crystallinity grade, convective heat transfer coefficient, glass transition temperature, and viscoelastic recovery constant. The theoretical study accurately reproduces the shape-memory cycle, quantifying performance through fixation and recovery ratios. This model provides a robust tool for the rational design and optimization of biodegradable smart polymer structures. Full article

The present study investigates the semantic structure, dominant themes, and temporal evolution of research on giftedness in early childhood through a comparative topic modeling approach. A final analytic sample (n = 518) of peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases was analyzed. Three topic modeling methods, Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), Structural Topic Modeling (STM), and BERTopic, were systematically compared using multiple evaluation metrics. BERTopic demonstrated the strongest overall performance, producing approximately 11% higher coherence than STM and approximately 34% higher coherence than LDA. In terms of diversity, it achieved 14% to 17% greater thematic variety and, according to the Gini coefficient, revealed a 58% to 60% more balanced thematic distribution. BERTopic-based analyses identified five major thematic axes: Socio-Linguistic Development and Family Context, Psychometric Intelligence, Identification, and Cognitive Differences, Program Access, Identification, and Educational Equity, Early Academic Skills and Cognitive Development, and Creativity, Higher-Order Thinking, and Enrichment Programs. Thematic mapping and topic similarity analysis were used to examine the semantic structure of the field, while linear regression-based trend analysis over the 1918–2026 publication period showed that family context, socio-linguistic development, and equity-related themes have gained increasing importance over time, whereas psychometric identification largely maintained its central position within the field. These findings indicate that the field is moving toward a more inclusive, semantically grounded, and equity-oriented perspective. However, they should be interpreted in light of the study’s reliance on article abstracts, the sensitivity of BERTopic clustering parameters, and the use of linear trend modeling. Full article

This paper presents a parametric numerical study on the cooling performance of photovoltaic panels using water and an Al₂O₃-based nanofluid. The increase in operating temperature leads to a decrease in electrical efficiency, making thermal management a key factor in optimizing these systems. The analysis was carried out through numerical simulations in ANSYS, aiming to evaluate the influence of volumetric flow rate and inlet temperature of the cooling fluid on the panel cooling time under transient conditions. The results show that the performance of the Al₂O₃ nanofluid depends on the flow rate of the cooling fluid. At a low flow rate of 0.05 m³/h and a concentration of 4%, the cooling time is reduced by approximately 18–22% compared to water, while this advantage diminishes as the flow rate increases. A favorable operating region was also observed within the investigated laminar and near-transitional range, beyond which increasing the flow rate produced only limited additional reductions in cooling time under the assumptions of the numerical model. The findings highlight the importance of correlating the thermophysical properties of the fluid with flow parameters in order to optimize the thermal management of photovoltaic panels. Full article

Background: Although chronic venous insufficiency is often treated as a localized problem, it is a systemic condition that can negatively affect cardiac hemodynamics. This study investigates the associated effects of eliminating the pathologic venous reservoir on right ventricular (RV) functions, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP), and inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter in patients undergoing endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for severe great saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 154 patients who presented between September 2023 and May 2025 with GSV insufficiency (CEAP C3-C4b) and underwent endovenous RFA. Patients with major cardiopulmonary diseases were strictly excluded. Preoperative and 6-month postoperative transthoracic echocardiography records were analyzed to evaluate RV diastolic diameter, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), sPAP, the TAPSE/sPAP ratio, and IVC diameter. Results: At 6 months post-RFA, compared to preoperative values, a significant decrease was detected in the mean sPAP (14.7 ± 2.5 vs. 11.8 ± 1.8 mmHg, p < 0.001) and IVC diameter (2.1 ± 0.2 vs. 1.9 ± 0.2 cm, p < 0.001). Furthermore, significant improvements were observed in TAPSE (20.0 ± 2.0 vs. 21.5 ± 1.8 mm, p < 0.001) and the TAPSE/sPAP ratio (1.36 ± 0.15 vs. 1.82 ± 0.18 mm/mmHg, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Endovenous RFA is associated with favorable changes in right heart parameters. Eliminating pathologic extremity blood pooling may optimize venous return kinetics and subclinically improve right ventricular–pulmonary arterial coupling. Full article

As energy demand continues to increase, the environmental impact of conventional petroleum-based sources has become a growing concern. Biofuels offer a sustainable alternative, with crude glycerol from biodiesel production showing promise for methane production via anaerobic digestion. To optimize methane production, the application of ultrasound as a pretreatment method has been investigated. This study introduces the novel use of ultrasound pretreatment to enhance methane yield from crude glycerol and improve anaerobic digestion efficiency. This work explores the relationship between ultrasound-pretreated crude glycerol and methane production while also assessing the role of reactor operational parameters in determining the final generated volume. The main purpose of this study is to determine how ultrasound duration and process conditions affect biogas performance and to identify an optimal strategy for maximizing methane output from this biodiesel by-product. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) increased from 29.1 to 45.1 g L⁻¹ after 30 min of ultrasound, representing a 55% rise due to enhanced organic matter disintegration. Methane generation improved markedly with pretreatment duration, increasing from 520 mL (10 min) to 1440 mL (15 min) and reaching 13,185 mL after 30 min in the laboratory reactor. The methane volume obtained in 22 days from glycerol subjected to a 30 min ultrasound pretreatment using a 1% glycerol mixture reached an impressive 16,224 mL. Full article

Background: The Postural Control System is affected by sensory inputs in stabilizing posture. The impact of postural receptors can be quantitatively evaluated by baropodometry. The lack of a standardized testing environment can decrease the reliability of baropodometric results. Virtual reality (VR) might represent a useful standardization tool. This study aimed to investigate the effects of virtual environment on plantar pressure and postural stability parameters by using a Head-Mounted Display (HMD). Methods: 50 healthy young adults underwent a baropodometric exam in upright standing under four conditions: Open Eyes (OE), Closed Eyes (CE), open (HMD-OE) and closed eyes (HMD-CE) conditions while wearing an HMD. Results: a negligible effect of VR on intrasubject variability of plantar pressure and stabilometric parameters. Moreover, no significant differences in the latter ones were found between OE conditions without and with headset (OE vs. HMD-OE), highlighting no impact of VR; instead, a significant increase in body sway was found in the closed eyes condition compared to OE ones with and without headset (CE vs. OE, CE vs. HMD-OE), underlining the effect of visual deprivation, whereas no significant difference was observed between the HMD-CE and OE conditions and a significant decrease in HMD-CE compared to the CE condition, showing the sensory-proprioceptive effect of the HMD. Eventually, no significant differences in plantar pressure parameters were generally found in different conditions. Conclusions: These findings highlighted the specific effect of visual afferents differently from proprioceptive ones by headset use and the absence of the VR impact on postural stability, suggesting a possible role of virtual reality in standardizing instrumental postural exam. Full article

Genetic cardiomyopathies (GCMs) are chronic heart muscle disorders requiring lifelong monitoring and treatment. Although quality of life (QoL) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are increasingly recognized as important outcomes in cardiomyopathy care, their conceptualization and measurement remain inconsistent. This scoping review aims to (a) identify the tools most commonly used to assess QoL and HRQoL in adults with genetic cardiomyopathies and (b) map the thematic areas of existing studies, including symptom burden, psychological distress, diagnostic challenges, and the impact of medical and psychological interventions. PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO were systematically searched, and the final search was completed in November 2025. Seventeen peer-reviewed studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this scoping review. The review followed the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews and included both quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods designs. Most studies employed standardized tools such as EQ-5D (N = 5), SF-36/SF36v2 (N = 5), and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (N = 3), while others included the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (N = 2) and disease-specific or ad hoc measures. The most frequently investigated themes included impairments in physical functioning, emotional well-being, symptom burden, psychological distress, and social participation. Several studies showed that patients’ perceived QoL was more closely associated with symptom burden and psychological adjustment than with objective clinical indicators alone. Clinical interventions showed mixed or limited effects on QoL and HRQoL outcomes, even when clinical parameters improved. Qualitative research further emphasized the lived experiences of patients and families, highlighting unmet needs in care. Less commonly addressed findings concerned caregiver perspectives, patient–provider communication, treatment adherence, socioeconomic disadvantage, healthcare costs, productivity loss, and the experiences of patients with rarer cardiomyopathy-related conditions. The results highlight how QoL and HRQoL are central but still inconsistently assessed outcomes in cardiomyopathy research. This review calls for greater conceptual clarity between QoL and HRQoL, greater standardization in measurement tools, broader inclusion of psychosocial variables, and more patient-centred research approaches to better support individuals living with cardiomyopathies. Full article

Background: Menopause represents a critical physiological transition associated with hormonal changes that influence both metabolic health and quality of life (QoL). Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a common metabolic condition, is closely linked to menopause; however, its independent contribution to QoL impairment remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the interplay between menopausal status, metabolic dysfunction, MASLD, and QoL in midlife women. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted including 80 women aged 45–55 years, comprising both premenopausal and menopausal participants. Clinical, anthropometric, biochemical, and imaging data were collected. MASLD was diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging in the presence of metabolic dysfunction. Metabolic assessment included glucose, insulin, liver enzymes, C-reactive protein, and indices of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and sensitivity (QUICKI). QoL was evaluated using the Utian Quality of Life (UQOL) scale. Associations were examined using univariate and multivariable linear regression models. Results: MASLD prevalence was significantly higher in menopausal women compared with non-menopausal women (61.9% vs. 15.8%, p < 0.001). Metabolic parameters, particularly insulin resistance and body mass index, were strongly associated with MASLD. The mean total UQOL score indicated moderate QoL. In multivariable analysis, menopausal status was the only independent predictor of reduced total QoL (b = −4.93, p = 0.01) and occupational health domain (b = −4.60, p = 0.001). MASLD and metabolic parameters were not independently associated with overall QoL. Correlation analyses revealed modest associations between metabolic markers and specific QoL domains, particularly occupational and physical health. Conclusions: Menopause is the primary determinant of reduced QoL in midlife women, particularly affecting functional domains, while MASLD does not independently impact QoL despite its strong association with metabolic dysfunction. These findings suggest that menopausal status may play a more prominent role in quality-of-life outcomes than MASLD in women undergoing the menopausal transition. However, the cross-sectional design does not allow conclusions regarding causal or mechanistic relationships. Full article