Search Results (3,689)

This study evaluated the feasibility of using mucilage derived from plant seeds as a viscosity-modifying agent in cementitious composites. Mucilages derived from quince seeds (quince seed mucilage, QSM) and flax seeds (flaxseed mucilage, FSM)-which are readily available, low-cost, and sustainable sources of hydrocolloids-were dried and ground into powder, then used as viscosity-modifying agents in cementitious mixtures. Their effects on the mortars were compared with those of welan gum (WG), which is commercially used as a viscosity-modifying agent. According to the results, at a 0.1% dosage QSM and FSM reduced the spread diameter by 63% and 61% respectively, and significantly increased the V-funnel flow time, which exceeded 40 s. Rheological measurements revealed that all additives used increased viscosity, yield stress, and thixotropy. QSM increased plastic viscosity by approximately 8.9 times, and FSM by approximately 8.4 times. While the additives caused only a minor reduction in compressive strength (below 8%), they increased the resistance to segregation and extended the setting time. It was concluded that QSM and FSM can be used as viscosity-modifying agents in cement-based composites because they modulate the rheological properties without altering the mechanical properties of the mortars. Full article

The growing volume of plastic waste is one of the major environmental problems of this century. Among the plastics discarded each year, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste accounts for a significant proportion, making it increasingly urgent to establish new methods for its recovery and recycling. This study addresses the manufacture and characterisation of new gypsum composites incorporating PET waste from bottle preforms. Specifically, different series were produced by partially replacing the original gypsum with rPET at 7.5%, 15.0%, and 22.5% by volume. The resulting composites were then subjected to mechanical, thermal and environmental characterisation. All the materials analysed exceeded the minimum mechanical strength values set by the regulations, achieving flexural and compressive strengths of over 2 MPa and 8 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, thermal conductivity was reduced by up to 10%, resulting in a thermal resistance of 0.77 (m²·K)/W when employed as prefabricated blocks for interior partition walls in residential buildings. Furthermore, the environmental impact analysis, covering the cradle-to-site life cycle, showed a reduction in impact across all assessed categories, including up to 22% in CO₂ eq. emissions. These results support the suitability of using plastic waste in the manufacture of gypsum-based prefabricated elements and demonstrate that this alternative constitutes a technically and environmentally viable solution. Full article

Mitochondria are increasingly recognized as dynamic regulators of cancer-cell adaptation, immune function, and therapeutic response. Beyond their canonical role in energy production, mitochondrial metabolism, dynamics, quality control, and stress signaling influence tumor-cell survival and the capacity of immune effector cells to sustain antitumor activity within the tumor microenvironment. In this narrative review, we examine mitochondrial fitness as a multidimensional functional property encompassing bioenergetic capacity, metabolic flexibility, redox homeostasis, mitochondrial quality control, and adaptation to cellular and therapeutic stress. We propose the mitochondrial functional immune checkpoint as a conceptual framework linking mitochondrial fitness in malignant and immune cells to tumor–immune interactions and immunotherapy response. We discuss how mitochondrial metabolic plasticity, mitochondrial stress and mtDNA signaling, reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial dynamics, and intercellular mitochondrial transfer contribute to immune escape and treatment resistance. We further examine the relevance of mitochondrial fitness to immune checkpoint blockade, CAR-T-cell therapy, and T-cell-redirecting bispecific antibodies, with particular attention to hematological malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma, while incorporating selected evidence from solid tumors to highlight shared mitochondrial mechanisms and their broader oncologic relevance. Finally, we discuss emerging strategies for mitochondrial targeting and functional mitochondrial profiling and their potential integration with established molecular and measurable residual disease assessments. Current evidence supports mitochondrial biology as a complementary dimension of precision oncology, although important challenges remain regarding context dependence, biomarker standardization, therapeutic selectivity, and preservation of immune-cell fitness. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether functional mitochondrial profiling can improve patient stratification and guide rational therapeutic combinations that selectively exploit tumor mitochondrial vulnerabilities while preserving effective antitumor immunity. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the physical properties of native tapioca starch (TS) ag-glomerated using its gelatinized dispersion as an agglomerating agent and to evaluate the performance of the resulting agglomerate tablets. The results demonstrate that TS agglomerated with gelatinized tapioca starch (GTS) exhibited increased particle strength as GTS content increased. Moreover, particle flowability was enhanced compared with that of native TS. The compressibility of TS agglomerates increased with higher GTS content, thereby reducing resistance to volume reduction and enhancing the plasticity of particle deformation under pressure, resulting in the greater tensile strength of the tablets. GTS showed superior performance to polyvinylpyrrolidone and sodium alginate at the concentration of 2% w/w in terms of Carr’s index and tablet hardness. Propranolol HCl (PNL) tablets prepared from agglomerates with GTS exhibited higher hardness than those without GTS, with tablet hardness increasing proportionally to GTS content. Additionally, GTS facilitated faster tablet disintegration, thereby accelerating PNL dissolution. In drug-loading tests, agglomerate tablets containing 3% GTS maintained acceptable physical properties when the PNL content did not exceed 20% w/w. Higher PNL loading may be achievable by increasing compression pressure. These findings indicate that native TS agglomerated with GTS is a promising tablet diluent for direct compression. Full article

Unsaturated polyester resin concrete (UPC) exhibits high strength and corrosion resistance, and it has been widely used in hydraulic engineering structures. However, the diffusion of water molecules inevitably induces matrix plasticization and debonding at the aggregate–resin interface, which leads to progressive degradation of mechanical performance under long-term aqueous service conditions. To elucidate the water-induced mechanical deterioration mechanism of UPC and to develop a temperature-adaptive model for long-term compressive strength prediction, we prepared UPC specimens using graded quartz sand aggregate, an unsaturated polyester binder, V388 curing agent, and KH570 coupling agent at a fixed mass mixing ratio, followed by 7 days of natural curing after demolding. Accelerated water aging tests were conducted at three temperature levels (25 °C, 40 °C, 60 °C) and four immersion durations (15 d, 30 d, 45 d, 60 d), including water absorption, compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural tests. Based on Fick’s second diffusion law and the Arrhenius equation, we quantitatively analyzed moisture diffusion behavior and the evolution of mechanical degradation. The results indicate that the water absorption of UPC strictly follows Fickian diffusion, and that elevated temperature increases both the water absorption rate and the saturated water absorption capacity. The saturated water absorption ratios reached 0.15%, 0.16%, and 0.22% at 25 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C, respectively, corresponding to apparent diffusion coefficients of 1.13 × 10⁻⁶, 1.67 × 10⁻⁶, and 4.52 × 10⁻⁶ mm/s. Long-term water aging progressively degrades the mechanical properties of UPC; after 60 d of immersion at 60 °C, the retention rates of compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strength decreased to 88%, 85%, and 78%, respectively. We developed a physically coupled compressive strength prediction model based on moisture erosion depth and the associated reduction in effective bearing area. The ratio of model predictions to experimental data ranged from 0.93 to 0.98, indicating favorable conservative accuracy for engineering applications. When further combined with the Arrhenius relationship, the model enables extrapolation of the long-term mechanical properties of UPC under arbitrary service temperatures. This work provides theoretical support and a quantitative calculation framework for assessing the durability and predicting the service life of UPC hydraulic structures. Full article

Steel moment-resisting frames are widely used in seismic regions, but conventional beam–column connections often suffer from concentrated damage and difficult post-earthquake repair. To address these issues, this study proposes a novel replaceable energy-dissipating slit beam–column joint for steel frames. To enhance structural energy dissipation efficiency, mitigate seismic damage, and enable rapid post-earthquake repair, the joint utilizes connectors as energy-dissipating elements such that plastic deformation is confined to these connectors while main beams and columns remain elastic throughout the loading history. A quasi-static test was conducted on the proposed joint. The test results indicate that the hysteresis loops are full and fusiform, demonstrating excellent energy dissipation capacity. The joint exhibits ductility coefficients of 6.30 and 5.27 under positive and negative loading, respectively, and the equivalent viscous damping coefficient remains above 0.30 after a rotation of 0.025 rad. Furthermore, plastic damage is primarily sustained by the connectors, with no evident yielding observed in other structural members. To further investigate the joint, it was applied to a three-story, four-bay, three-span steel frame for finite element analyses. Compared with a conventional rigid joint frame, the proposed joint frame under rare earthquakes reduces roof displacements by 20.97% (with the X-direction as the primary direction) and 16.23% (with the Y-direction as the primary direction), and maximum interstory drift ratios by 18.06% (with the X-direction as the primary direction) and 15.55% (with the Y-direction as the primary direction), while satisfying the code-specified limits of 1/250 for elastic and 1/50 for elastoplastic interstory drift ratios, thereby indicating its superior seismic performance. Full article

This study develops a transparent and reproducible multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework for selecting the material and structural variant of floating navigation buoys on inland waterways. The decision problem was defined at the buoy-platform level and separated from external descriptive evidence on visual and radar performance. Three alternatives—galvanized steel, rotationally moulded polyethylene (PE), and mixed steel–PE—were assessed using the Weighted Sum Model (WSM) across eight non-overlapping technical, economic, and operational criteria. An eight-member purposive technical calibration panel screened the criteria, agreed their ordinal priority ranking, and validated the performance-class definitions—this panel was separate from a survey of 52 employees responsible for waterway maintenance. Technical performance classes were assigned from post-season condition assessments of 20 buoys per variant, whereas 36 repeated visual and radar observation series were treated as external descriptive evidence. In the baseline rank-sum model, steel buoys achieved 66.11 points, compared with 59.44 for PE and 54.44 for mixed buoys. Alternative rank-reciprocal and rank-order-centroid weight transformations retained steel as the highest-scoring alternative, while equal weights produced a tie between steel and PE (65.00 points each). One-factor sensitivity analysis showed that PE was preferred when the durability weight decreased from 22.22% to approximately 6.7% or when the corrosion-resistance weight increased from 19.44% to approximately 31%. Simultaneous perturbation of all weights retained steel as the highest-scoring alternative in 99.94% of simulations for ±30% perturbations and 95.17% for ±50%. The survey nevertheless showed greater practitioner preference for plastic or mixed solutions. The framework therefore provides an auditable, context-dependent decision process rather than a universal material recommendation and should be recalibrated and validated for other environmental and operational conditions. Full article

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by extensive adaptive signaling plasticity and metabolic reprogramming that contribute to therapeutic resistance. While the PI3K–mTOR pathway is a central regulator of these processes, the role of the FGF19–FGFR4 axis and its interaction with PI3K-mTOR signaling remains incompletely defined in PDAC. This study investigated whether co-targeting FGFR4 and PI3K-mTOR signaling could overcome adaptive pathway reactivation and suppress tumor-promoting phenotypes. PDAC cell lines representing a spectrum of FGFR4 dependence were treated with the selective FGFR4 inhibitor fisogatinib in combination with the clinically relevant PI3K–mTOR inhibitor gedatolisib. Transcriptomic analyses of TCGA data, along with molecular and functional responses, were evaluated. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated a positive association between FGFR4 and PI3K–mTOR signaling and linked combined pathway components with poorer overall survival. Across heterogeneous PDAC models, combined inhibition reduced viability, clonogenic survival, migration, and cell-cycle progression more consistently than monotherapy. Apoptosis induction was driven principally by fisogatinib and combination treatment, resulting in comparable apoptotic responses across cell lines. Mechanistically, combined inhibition converged on increased 4E-BP1 inhibitory activity, despite compensatory ERK-RSK pathway activation, indicating that adaptive MAPK was insufficient to restore downstream translational output. In FGFR4-dependent cells, the combined inhibition also reduced secretion of the FGFR4 ligand FGF19. The FGFR4 and PI3K–mTOR signaling comprises a partially interconnected network in PDAC that converges on 4E-BP1-dependent translational control. Dual pathway inhibition consistently and additively suppressed tumor-associated phenotypes despite compensatory MAPK activation, with the clearest added benefit over fisogatinib alone in migration, cell-cycle control, and 4E-BP1 modulation, supporting translational regulation as a shared therapeutic vulnerability. These findings provide a preliminary rationale for biomarker-guided strategies targeting FGFR4 and PI3K–mTOR signaling in pancreatic cancer. Full article

In this paper an experimental study and comparative analysis of temperature and moisture in pavements and their soil bases on experimental road sections located in two southern metropolises of Kazakhstan—in the cities of Almaty and Shymkent—were conducted. The temperature and moisture values were measured by systems for long-term continuous monitoring of temperature and moisture in structural elements of roads. Sensors were installed at ten locations within the pavements and soil bases at depths ranging from 2.5 cm to 270–275 cm below the pavement surfaces. The temperature and moisture monitoring period extends from 21 October 2024 to 31 December 2025. Temperature and moisture readings were recorded hourly. It has been established that the temperature conditions of pavements and their soil bases in the two cities are qualitatively the same, and the quantitative differences are small: air temperatures and soil temperatures at depths of 2.5 cm and 10 cm in Shymkent are higher than in Almaty by an average of 4.75 °C, 5.69 °C and 2.12 °C, respectively. These facts make it possible to use a single methodological approach to account for temperature changes in the design of new roads and in the operation of existing roads. It is recommended to pay attention to ensuring the resistance to rutting and fatigue cracking of asphalt concrete layers of pavement. The moisture regime at the experimental section in Almaty up to 130–140 cm depth is unstable due to seepage of precipitation and surface water through the stone mastic and the two coarse-grained porous asphalt concrete layers of the pavement; in Shymkent the pavement and the soil base have a stable moisture regime throughout the year; these features should be taken into account when calculating accumulations of plastic strains (increasing of rut depth) and fatigue damage in asphalt concrete layers of pavements while also accounting for temperature changes in them and transport facility loads in different time periods. Full article

This study investigates two numerical techniques for modelling hollow clay block masonry infills in reinforced concrete (RC) frames: a detailed micro-modelling (DMM) approach and a proposed simplified micro-modelling (SMM) approach. The simplified method introduces a novel concept in which the hollow clay blocks are replaced by equivalent solid units that are subsequently expanded by the thickness of the mortar joint. In both strategies the concrete damage plasticity model represents the nonlinear behaviour of concrete, hollow clay blocks, mortar and expanded units, and a surface-based cohesive contact combined with Coulomb friction represents the joints. The interface parameters were calibrated once on a single reference specimen and were then applied, with the sole exception of the friction coefficient of the third specimen, without further modification to two additional specimens. The models were validated against three in-plane tests on hollow clay block infilled RC frames: two 2/3-scale, single-bay, single-storey specimens tested by the authors and the full-scale specimen TA2 reported in the literature. For the reference infilled frame the experimental maximum lateral resistance of 94.17 kN, attained at a drift ratio of 1.9%, was reproduced within 4% by the detailed model (90.9 kN without cohesion and 92.5 kN with cohesion) and within about 7% by the simplified one, while the detailed model reproduces the resistance at 1.5% drift within 3%, whereas at the intermediate drift levels between 0.1% and 1.0% the computed resistance departs from the experimental one by up to 26% for the friction-only approach and up to 53% for the approach including cohesion. The initial secant stiffness at 0.05% drift was 23.0 kN/mm experimentally, against 19.0 kN/mm and 29.8 kN/mm for the two interface approaches, which therefore bracket the measured value; the energy absorbed under the monotonic envelope up to 1.0% drift was overestimated by 18% to 32%. For specimen TA2 the best agreement in initial stiffness and maximum resistance was obtained with a friction coefficient of 0.6. A mesh sensitivity study covering seven discretisations showed that a reinforcement mesh twice as coarse as the concrete mesh changes the maximum lateral force by less than 3% while reducing the analysis time by 35% to 57%. The simplified technique reproduces the failure mechanism, the lateral resistance and the damage evolution obtained with the detailed technique and observed experimentally, while simplifying the generation of the model substantially and reducing the computational time from 446–470 min to 80–86 min, i.e., by more than 80%. It therefore provides a reliable and efficient alternative for the numerical analysis of large-scale hollow clay block masonry-infilled RC frames. Full article

Unlike conventional models that typically rely on a single memristive synapse, this study uniquely proposes a novel 5D fractional-order memristive Hopfield neural network (FOMHNN) modulated by dual memristors to simultaneously emulate internal synaptic plasticity and external electromagnetic radiation effects in brain-like computing. Analytically, the FOMHNN features multiple parallel lines of equilibria with double-zero eigenvalues, rigorously proving the generation of hidden attractors. The continuous dynamical behaviors are systematically evaluated using the Adomian Decomposition Method (ADM), revealing rich phenomena including transient chaos, grid multi-scroll hidden attractors, and frequency-controllable extreme multistability with fractal-like basin boundaries. The theoretical model is physically validated on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) platform, demonstrating high precision and ultra-low power consumption. To bridge theoretical dynamics with cryptographic applications, a novel pseudo-random number generator is designed. By incorporating a chaotic derivative extractor, the generated sequences significantly reduce topological periodicity, successfully passing all rigorous NIST SP 800-22 statistical tests. Furthermore, an adaptive color image encryption scheme is developed, utilizing bidirectional feedback diffusion and least significant bit (LSB) key embedding. Security analyses confirm that the cipher, under the fractional order $q=0.95$, achieves near-ideal information entropy, optimal resistance against differential attacks, with NPCR and UACI values reaching 99.6114% and 33.4910%, both extremely close to their theoretical ideals (99.6094% and 33.4635%), and robust resilience against noise. Ultimately, the FOMHNN provides a highly secure and physically realizable chaotic source for advanced secure communications. Full article

High-strength steel–ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) composite beams provide an efficient solution for lightweight and high-capacity building structures. This study presents a preliminary experimental investigation on the flexural behavior of three high-strength castellated steel–UHPC composite beam configurations employing hinged-bolt shear connectors. This connector type had previously been validated only at the component level and was applied here for the first time in high-strength castellated steel–UHPC composite beams. The three beams were tested under positive bending: a reference specimen with a full-depth cast-in-place UHPC slab and dispersed connectors (CC-DHB), a prefabricated specimen with a C100 precast slab, dispersed connectors, and local UHPC connection regions (PC-DHB), and a prefabricated specimen with a C100 precast slab, grouped connectors, and local UHPC connection regions (PC-GHB). The failure mode, load–deflection response, ductility, interface slip, strain distribution, and flexural resistance were evaluated. The results showed that all specimens exhibited flexure-dominated failure, characterized by the yielding of the steel girder and tensile reinforcement occurring first, followed by concrete crushing near the loading region. A key finding was that, although UHPC was used only in the local connection regions of the two prefabricated configurations, their peak flexural resistances were only 4.5% and 2.5% lower than that of the full-depth cast-in-place UHPC reference beam, indicating that the prefabricated beams substantially reduced UHPC use while retaining nearly the same ultimate flexural resistance as the reference beam. However, their initial stiffness and ductility factors decreased by up to 17%, while their cracking load decreased by approximately 50%. Compared with specimen PC-GHB, the initial stiffness and ductility of specimen PC-DHB increased by approximately 5%. The maximum measured interface slip before the peak load was less than 3 mm for all specimens. A preliminary sectional plastic-resistance method was also developed, and the calculated-to-tested resistance ratios ranged from 1.06 to 1.08. Further validation is required for different connector spacings, web-opening layouts, slab configurations, and shear connection degrees. Full article

Aluminum alloy is a lightweight, high-strength material based on aluminum matrix with the addition of elements such as copper, magnesium, silicon, zinc, manganese, or lithium. Featuring low density, high specific strength, excellent formability, and outstanding corrosion resistance, it is widely applied in the fields of aerospace, rail transit, automotive lightweighting, and additive manufacturing. In the aerospace sector, fatigue failure constitutes the primary failure mode of load-bearing components. This paper reviews the influence mechanisms of various strengthening technologies, namely shot peening (SP), laser shock processing (LSP), physical vapor deposition (PVD), micro-arc oxidation (MAO), anodic oxidation (ANO), additive manufacturing, casting, extrusion, and heat treatment, on the fatigue properties of aluminum alloys; analyzes the regulatory effects of process principles, coating compositions, and microstructures (grains, phase composition, and interfacial bonding) on crack initiation and propagation; discusses the synergistic effect between plastic deformation strengthening and coating functionality; summarizes the key material and process factors affecting the fatigue life of aluminum alloys; and finally prospects the technical development trends driven by high-reliability service requirements. Full article

With the continuous development of plastic products toward larger dimensions, higher precision, and extended service life, plastic mold steels are required to simultaneously possess superior wear resistance, strength, and toughness. The effects of five alloying elements (V, Nb, Si, Mo, and Mn) on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of P20 plastic mold steel were systematically investigated after air-cooling from 860 °C, followed by tempering at 525 °C, and the underlying strengthening and toughening mechanisms were elucidated. The results revealed that, in the 0.2 V steel, approximately 62.6% of V existed in the form of fine VC carbides after austenitization at 860 °C, effectively inhibiting austenite grain coarsening. The remaining dissolved V atoms subsequently precipitated as nanoscale V–Mo-rich MC-type carbides during tempering, with an average size of less than 50 nm. This precipitation strengthening contributed an estimated strengthening increment of approximately 760 MPa, corresponding to a measured tensile strength increase of 326 MPa relative to the P20. In contrast, in the 0.1 Nb specimen, solubility calculations indicate that over 99% of Nb remains in undissolved NbC particles; TEM observations show these particles range from coarse 1–3 μm to finer 100–200 nm in size. The contribution of coarse NbC particles to material strength improvement is limited. The addition of Mo promoted the formation of abundant nanoscale MoC-type carbides (2–10 nm), which also exhibit a notable precipitation strengthening effect. Meanwhile, Si mainly contributed to solid-solution strengthening, whereas Mn enhanced the strength through solid-solution strengthening and grain refinement. Charpy impact tests demonstrated that, despite the remarkable strengthening induced by nanoscale carbide precipitation in the 0.2 V steel (tensile strength: 1237 MPa), the impact toughness deteriorated severely, dropping to 21 J. This severe toughness loss is proposed to be associated with local stress concentration around the fine carbides, which promotes secondary crack propagation. Similarly, coarse micrometer-sized NbC particles acted as detrimental sites for crack initiation and impaired impact toughness. Comparative analysis indicated that the steels containing 0.75 wt.% Si, 0.7 wt.% Mo, and 1.5 wt.% Mn achieved a favorable balance between strength, ductility, and toughness. In particular, the 0.7 Mo steel exhibited the most outstanding combination of mechanical properties, attaining a tensile strength of 1207 MPa and an impact energy of 136 J. Full article

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains difficult to control because recurrence, impaired hepatic reserve, and treatment resistance limit durable benefit. Natural products and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provide resources that range from drug-lead discovery to adjunctive multicomponent therapy. This review integrates pharmacological and clinical evidence for purified compounds, semisynthetic derivatives, extracts, formulas, and delivery systems. It focuses on metabolic reprogramming and redox homeostasis, stress responses and regulated cell death, tumor cell plasticity and vascular remodeling, and the immune microenvironment and host response. Recent studies have strengthened selected mechanistic claims through chemical probes, functional perturbation, and resistance models. Clinical research has concentrated on recurrence control after surgery or minimally invasive treatment and on combinations with transarterial chemoembolization, targeted agents, and immunotherapy. Randomized trials and prospective cohorts suggest potential benefit in specific settings, although product standardization, external validation, and long-term follow-up remain limited. Major translational barriers include uncertain active constituents, inadequate batch comparability, missing tumor-exposure data, and sparse herb–drug interaction studies. Future development should match target validation, pharmacokinetics, safety assessment, and clinical endpoints to each product class and clarify whether a candidate is best positioned as a drug lead, adjunctive therapy, or supportive intervention. Full article