Search Results (3,973)

Economic dispatch in grid-connected microgrids is challenged by the variability of renewable generation, the uncertainty of demand, and the need to simultaneously satisfy technical and economic constraints under different operating conditions. This study proposes an integrated predictive economic dispatch strategy for power grids with interconnected microgrids, structured as a unified optimization framework. The approach integrates nodal electrical modeling, Optimal Power Flow (OPF)-based optimization, multi-scenario analysis, and post-optimization feasibility verification based on performance indicators within a single decision-support structure. The methodology is applied to a modified 14-node power grid interconnected with a microgrid, where simulations are conducted under three representative load scenarios (100%, 70%, and 40%) and two operational configurations (hybrid and renewable-only), enabling a comprehensive assessment of system behavior. Results show that the hybrid configuration consistently outperforms the renewable-only case, achieving loss reductions of up to 7.3 MW, increases in spinning reserve exceeding 50 MW, and a transition from net power import to export of approximately 50 MW under high demand. Additionally, the microgrid plays an active operational role, dynamically switching between import and export modes based on load levels and the generation mix. The proposed framework enables identification of operationally efficient and technically feasible configurations by incorporating bidirectional power exchange, electrical constraints, and reserve requirements. The main contribution lies in integrating technical, operational, and interaction variables within a single deterministic Optimal Power Flow (OPF)-based assessment scheme to support decision-making in interconnected microgrid-based power grids. Full article

Background: Competitive sports represent a powerful physiological and psychological stressor capable of modulating neuroendocrine and immune pathways. Water polo, characterized by intense intermittent exertion and frequent physical contact, provides a unique model to investigate competition-related stress biology. Methods: Sixteen male Italian Serie C water polo players were enrolled in the study. Using a within-subject design, saliva samples were collected under controlled circadian conditions. Salivary biomarkers, including cortisol, IgA, and cytokines, were assessed both before and after training sessions and competitive matches. Results: Both training and competition elicited POST-session increases in salivary cortisol and cytokines, alongside reductions in IgA. However, competition produced significantly higher anticipatory and POST-session cortisol concentrations. A larger POST-session decreases in IgA compared with training was observed. Cytokine concentrations increased from PRE- to POST-session in both conditions, with significantly greater induction during competition across the panel. During training, selected cytokines showed positive within-session correlations with cortisol, indicating coordinated hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal–immune activation under lower psychosocial load. These associations were attenuated and less consistent during competition. Conclusions: Official competition amplifies endocrine and immune responses beyond those observed during match-like training in elite water polo players, despite comparable physical demands. Altered cytokine–cortisol coupling under competitive conditions suggests modulation of neuroendocrine–immune integration by psychosocial stress. Combined salivary profiling of cortisol, cytokines, and IgA represents a feasible, non-invasive approach for monitoring psychophysiological load in elite aquatic team sports. Full article

High-strength nanofiber yarns exhibit pronounced nonlinear tensile responses arising from their hierarchical fibrous architecture, yet compact constitutive descriptions remain limited. Here, high-strength polyacrylonitrile nanofiber yarns were prepared by post-drawing as-spun yarns above the glass transition temperature, and their aligned, stacked morphology was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Monotonic tensile tests at different loading rates were used to quantify the rate-dependent stress–strain response. The tangent modulus derived from the tensile curve varied strongly with strain, confirming clear deviation from linear viscoelasticity. To capture this behavior, two effective models were established: a modified nonlinear three-element model and a structural four-element model incorporating a nonlinear elastic contribution. Closed-form stress–strain expressions were derived for constant strain-rate loading and fitted to experimental data using nonlinear regression. Both models reproduced the measured tensile curves with high accuracy over the investigated loading-rate range, with correlation coefficients close to unity and low fitting errors. The identified parameters were highly consistent between formulations, indicating functional equivalence for the present monotonic tensile dataset. These results provide a compact framework for characterizing and designing hierarchical polymer nanofiber yarns. Full article

Background and Aims: To evaluate whether the family history of diabetes mellitus (FHD⁺) is associated with markers of glucose homeostasis in healthy adults. Methods: Studies evaluating adults aged 18 to 60 years without a diagnosis of cardiometabolic disease, and reporting the influence of FHD⁺ (at least one first-degree relative) on fasting and 2 h postload glucose, and fasting insulin were included. The electronic database MEDLINE (via PubMed) was searched in February 2026 for studies published in English. Results are presented as mean differences with 95% confidence intervals, using random-effects models. Sensitivity analyses were performed considering study design, methodological quality, the definition of FHD⁺, and participants’ age and sex. Results: Twenty-six studies totaling 3122 individuals were included. Fasting glucose [3.48 (1.34–5.63) mg·dL⁻¹; – = 90%], 2 h postload glucose [4.18 (2.27–6.10) mg·dL⁻¹; I² = 38%], A1c [0.12 (0.04–0.19)%; – = 67%]; fasting insulin [1.72 (0.97–2.48) µU·mL⁻¹; – = 90%], and HOMA–IR [0.55 (0.42–0.69); – = 70%] were higher (p < 0.001) in individuals with an FHD⁺. Meta-regression analyses showed no significant associations between mean age or BMI and markers of glucose homeostasis. Findings remained robust across sensitivity and subgroup analyses, with reduced heterogeneity for some outcomes. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests that FHD⁺ may be associated with markers of impaired glucose homeostasis in healthy adults. However, these results should be interpreted with caution and confirmed in higher-quality prospective studies. Full article

Although praziquantel (PZQ) is the main antischistosomal drug currently in use, concerns remain regarding incomplete reversal of schistosomiasis-induced pathology and the emergence of drug resistance. This study evaluates the combined effect of PZQ with safranal, a bioactive saffron constituent, on Schistosoma mansoni-induced pathology in mice. Male CD1 Swiss albino mice were exposed to 60 S. mansoni cercariae and, at week 9 post-infection, were treated with PZQ (500 mg/kg orally for two consecutive days), safranal (50 mg/kg/day), or both, for three weeks. The animals were sacrificed at week 11 post-infection. Worm and egg burdens, liver histopathology, fibrotic markers, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines were assessed. Combined PZQ + safranal therapy significantly reduced adult worm counts and hepatic and intestinal egg loads compared to PZQ alone. All treatments decreased liver index (hepatomegaly), with the combination treatment providing the best intervention. Histological analyses revealed significantly reduced granuloma size and hepatic necrosis post-treatment, particularly in the combination group. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10) were significantly lowered in treated mice, most notably with the combination treatment. Oxidative stress was also markedly attenuated, and infected mice exhibited elevated malondialdehyde and depleted antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH). Interestingly, PZQ and/or safranal restored antioxidant status and reduced lipid peroxidation, with the combination being most effective. Furthermore, collagen deposition and expression of hepatic fibrotic markers α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), TGF-β1, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were most effectively suppressed by combined therapy. To conclude, safranal enhances PZQ’s antischistosomal efficacy and confers additive protection against Schistosoma-induced liver fibrosis. Full article

Controller comparisons for grid-forming battery inverters are often confounded by simultaneous changes in the plant model, saturation law, measurement filtering, and disturbance envelope. This paper addresses that problem through a reproducible weak-grid benchmark and a switching-averaged EMT validation layer for a battery-backed PV microgrid. Droop, virtual synchronous machine (VSM), and power-synchronization control (PSC) are compared under identical plant data, load disturbance, grid-strength reduction, voltage sag, current limit, and metric-extraction rules. The benchmark reveals a consistent trade-off: VSM provides the best frequency moderation, droop provides the fastest post-fault restoration and the lowest implementation burden, and PSC provides the most balanced compromise across recovery, stability, EMT, and implementation metrics. The averaged EMT layer preserves the low-order restoration ordering and sharpens the waveform trade-off during the fault window. Additional analyses quantify the converter-angle excursions during the sag, clarify the reduced lag tolerance of VSM as the grid becomes weaker, and test the local robustness of the reported ranking against representative tuning perturbations. The resulting message is benchmark-specific but operationally useful: controller selection should follow the dominant project objective—frequency quality, restorative efficiency, or balanced performance—before controller-specific switching EMT, hardware-in-the-loop, and plant-level studies are launched. Full article

Restaurants combine long opening hours, catering demand, kitchen ventilation, DHW, and mixed-fuel cooking loads, making their decarbonisation different from generic commercial retrofit. For small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) hospitality premises, this makes the transition to net-zero operation a distinct sustainability challenge because a large, process-driven share of demand lies outside conventional building-fabric and building-services retrofit. This single-case study develops a whole-building utility-calibrated OpenStudio/EnergyPlus model for Beit El Zaytoun, a 655.82 m² restaurant in Park Royal, London. Monthly electricity and gas data for June 2024–May 2025 were used to calibrate the baseline at whole-building level. Standalone and cumulative scenarios tested insulation, low-emissivity double glazing, LED lighting and controls, ASHP service scenarios, and an 11 kWp PV array. Baseline demand was 413,895 kWh/yr, equivalent to 631.1 kWh/m²·yr and 75,020 kgCO₂e/yr. The lowest-net-energy analytical package reduced net imported energy to 314,734 kWh/yr and operational carbon to 56,700 kgCO₂e/yr, a retained 24.0% reduction on the source reporting basis; this package is treated as an analytical bound rather than as a final design recommendation because it excludes cooling. The model-derived residual process load, kitchen and catering gas plus kitchen, and back-of-house electricity remained 233,920 kWh/yr across building-focused scenarios. The Residual-Load Index (RLI) rose from 0.57 to 0.74; with ±15% process-load allocation uncertainty, the optimised RLI range was 0.63–0.85, so the post-retrofit balance remained process-load dominated. The case demonstrates a practical decarbonisation ceiling likely to recur in similar high-process-load hospitality premises: fabric, lighting, heat electrification, and PV are necessary but insufficient without catering-equipment, cooking-fuel, kitchen-ventilation, refrigeration-control, sub-metering, and demand-response strategies. The paper contributes whole-building utility-calibrated quantitative evidence and a transferable RLI metric for sub-sector-specific sustainable retrofit policy, and the net-zero transition of SME food-service premises. Full article

Background: Long-term care facility (LTCF) residents are highly susceptible to healthcare-associated infections, and prevention is challenging given frailty, dementia, communal living, and resource constraints. Environmental surface and air contamination contribute to transmission. Novel no-touch automated disinfection technologies have been studied in hospitals, but evidence specific to LTCFs is scarce. This scoping review summarizes recent LTCF-focused interventions, their effectiveness, and implementation considerations. Methods: This scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist. We searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus for observational or experimental studies evaluating environmental disinfection in LTCFs/nursing homes, excluding body decolonization, non-LTCF settings, and reviews/protocols. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data via Covidence. This review has been registered on OSF (Open Science Framework). Results: Of 1491 records, 7 studies met the inclusion criteria (6 from the USA, 1 from Australia): one cluster randomized trial, one interrupted time series studies, three prospective observational studies, and two pre–post designs. Interventions included physical methods (HVAC-integrated UV/UVGI, continuous UVGI) and chemical approaches (dry hydrogen peroxide, room fogging plus chlorine dioxide wipes, hydrogen peroxide wipes). Outcomes were heterogeneous (surface SARS-CoV-2 RNA, COVID-19 attack/case rates, airborne/surface microbial loads, and one clinical endpoint—acute respiratory illness). Several studies reported reductions in environmental or airborne bioburden; however, UV-based studies did not demonstrate statistically significant reductions in clinical infections. Certainty was limited by small numbers, non-randomized designs, and diverse outcome measures. Conclusions: No-touch automated disinfection methods appear promising as supplements to standard infection prevention control bundles for reducing environmental contamination in LTCFs. Nevertheless, consistent clinical benefits are unproven. Rigorous, LTCF-tailored, adequately powered trials with standardized clinical and environmental outcomes, plus implementation and cost-effectiveness evaluations, are needed. Full article

Objective: To determine whether contrast therapy improves recovery after climbing-specific forearm fatigue in amateur climbers. Methods: In a randomized repeated-measures trial, 40 climbers were allocated to passive recovery (n = 20) or Game Ready contrast therapy (n = 20). Both groups completed a fixed-task intermittent fingerboard protocol on a 20 mm edge using a half-crimp grip, with 7 s of work and 3 s of rest for five sets; the load was not individualized to climbing-specific maximal finger-flexor force. The intervention group received bilateral forearm treatment consisting of alternating 1 min cold (3 °C) and heat (45 °C) phases combined with pneumatic compression ranging from 15 to 75 mmHg. Sessions lasted 20 min and were administered immediately after post-fatigue testing, at 24 h and 48 h, and then three times weekly on alternate days for 8 weeks, for a total of 27 sessions. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately after fatigue, at 24 h and 48 h, and after 8 weeks. Outcomes included perfusion, reactive hyperemia, stiffness, pressure pain threshold, grip strength, perceived recovery, creatine kinase, and interleukin-6. Results: Immediate post-fatigue responses were comparable. Contrast therapy produced greater 24 h and 48 h resting perfusion responses (+7.28 percentage points, 95% CI 6.58 to 7.98; +7.62, 95% CI 6.94 to 8.31; both adjusted p < 0.001). At week 8, peak hyperemic perfusion improved more with contrast therapy (+6.21 PU, 95% CI 5.62 to 6.79; p < 0.001). Recovery favored contrast therapy for stiffness at 48 h (−71.7 N/m, 95% CI −75.6 to −67.8), pressure pain threshold at week 8 (+8.1 N/cm², 95% CI 7.3 to 8.8), and grip strength at 48 h (+7.8 kgf, 95% CI 7.3 to 8.3; all p < 0.001). CK and IL-6 differences were transient, and no serious adverse events or intervention-related discontinuations were recorded. Conclusions: Contrast therapy was associated with more favorable cutaneous perfusion, post-occlusive reactive hyperemia-derived, and neuromechanical recovery outcomes, whereas biochemical differences were limited and time-dependent. The vascular findings do not establish improved endothelial function or nitric-oxide-mediated vasodilation because these mechanisms were not directly assessed. Trial registration: ISRCTN49499065 on 23 June 2025. Full article

Voltage source converters (VSCs), together with their inner current and outer power/voltage control loops, are fundamental building blocks in the modern, converter-dominated power systems, particularly within high-voltage DC (HVDC) frameworks. Selecting effective control methods for VSCs is essential to ensure the stability, power quality, and dynamic performance of HVDC grids. This paper seeks to advance the current body of research by delivering an in-depth, consistent, unified framework and systematic examination of VSC control architectures within HVDC networks. It thoroughly explores various control strategies for VSCs interfacing with HVDC grids, such as grid-following and grid-forming strategies, with particular emphasis on both stationary ($\alpha \beta$) and synchronous (dq) reference frames. Moreover, the paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the theoretical underpinnings and decoupled control strategies, like the feedforward decoupling of the d- and q-axis currents in the dq frame and the inherently decoupled structure of the αβ frame. Additionally, advanced filtering techniques, including Moving Average Filter (MAF), Cascaded Delayed Signal Cancellation (DSC), and LCL filters, are analyzed. In addition, harmonic mitigation strategies, like parallel/multiple resonant (PR) terms in the αβ frame and cascaded notch filters in the dq frame, are presented. Furthermore, precise power control approaches and synchronization methods are discussed in detail. Also, this paper presents a detailed comparison of the performance characteristics of phase-locked loop (PLL) and frequency-locked loop (FLL) in response to grid frequency variations. Moreover, this paper proposes circuit representations and VSC models in both synchronous and stationary reference frames. The simulation results corroborate the theoretical insights discussed in the paper under various operational conditions, including initial responses, grid disturbances, three-phase-to-ground temporary fault scenarios, harmonic distortions, and load imbalances, in terms of overshoot, settling time, active- and reactive-power fluctuation reduction, voltage unbalance factor, total harmonic distortion, and post-fault convergence time, all evaluated in accordance with the limits defined in EN-50160. This comprehensive comparison of the presented control strategies facilitates researchers in identifying the most appropriate controller depending on their specific application requirements. Full article

Against the backdrop of rapid development in low-carbon building materials, geopolymer mortar has become a high-quality alternative to traditional cement-based materials due to its advantages of environmental friendliness, high strength, and excellent durability. However, its inherent brittleness and tendency to crack severely limit its widespread adoption and use in engineering. To mitigate the inherent brittleness of geopolymer mortar, this study developed a ternary binder system composed of metakaolin, slag, and fly ash. The effects of basalt fiber contents of 0%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, 1.00%, and 1.25% by mass on the flowability, flexural strength, compressive strength, and deformation behavior of the geopolymer mortar were systematically investigated. The evolution of the displacement and strain fields during flexural and compressive loading was monitored in real time using two-dimensional digital image correlation (2D-DIC). The fiber-reinforcement mechanism was further examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that basalt fiber reduces mortar flowability, and the reduction becomes more pronounced with increasing fiber content. The flexural strength first increased and then decreased with increasing fiber content; at 0.50% fiber content, the 28-day flexural strength reached 12.6 MPa, which was 8.2% higher than that of the fiber-free control. The compressive strength increased only slightly at a low fiber content of 0.25% and then decreased when the fiber content exceeded 0.50%. The 2D-DIC results indicate that a moderate fiber content (0.50–0.75%) markedly increased the ultimate displacement, delayed crack propagation, and enhanced the post-cracking deformation capacity. Microstructural observations revealed that an appropriate fiber content promoted good interfacial bonding with the matrix and enabled fiber bridging and crack resistance. In contrast, excessive fiber addition caused agglomeration-induced micropores and microcracks, thereby degrading mechanical properties. Overall, the recommended basalt fiber content is 0.25–0.50%. These findings provide a theoretical and experimental basis for optimizing high-performance, low-carbon geopolymer mortar for engineering applications. Full article

Background and Objectives: Elderly patients with head and neck tumours frequently present with multiple comorbidities and a potentially difficult airway, making general anaesthesia high-risk. Dexmedetomidine, a selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, provides conscious sedation without clinically significant respiratory depression, offering a compelling locoregional alternative. This study evaluated the haemodynamic profile, sedation kinetics, and satisfaction outcomes of a standardised dexmedetomidine-based protocol for head and neck surgery under local infiltration anaesthesia. Materials and Methods: A prospective, single-centre observational study was conducted at the University Hospital Centre Zagreb. Twenty-three consecutive adult patients received a continuous dexmedetomidine infusion at 0.5 μg/kg/h, initiated preoperatively in the post-anaesthesia care unit without a loading dose. Haemodynamic parameters, sedation-to-incision interval, cumulative dose, and postoperative patient and surgeon satisfaction (NRS 1–10) were recorded. Spearman rank-order correlation and the Mann–Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The primary outcome of haemodynamic stability—defined as the absence of vasoactive or inotropic rescue—was achieved in all 23 patients (100%). The median cumulative dexmedetomidine dose was 52 μg (IQR 44–68 μg). Controlled hypotension was achieved in all patients, with a median nadir systolic blood pressure of 98 mmHg. Supplemental oxygen was required in only 2 of 23 patients (8.7%). Patient and surgeon satisfaction reached a median NRS score of 10 in both groups. The sedation-to-incision interval correlated with total drug dose (ρ = 0.74, p < 0.001), consistent with fixed-rate infusion pharmacokinetics. Hypertensive patients exhibited a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure (median 45 vs. 28 mmHg; p = 0.015). Conclusions: A fixed-rate dexmedetomidine infusion initiated in the post-anaesthesia care unit provides a feasible and potentially effective conscious sedation strategy for head and neck surgery under local infiltration anaesthesia in selected elderly and comorbid patients. In this pilot series, the protocol was associated with haemodynamic stability in all cases, low supplemental oxygen requirements, and high procedural satisfaction among both patients and surgeons. These findings are preliminary and require confirmation in larger, controlled studies. Full article

To reveal the damage–seepage coupling mechanism of delayed floor water inrush induced by small fault activation under mining-induced stress, a cubic cement mortar specimen containing a persistent small fault was prepared based on similarity theory. Systematic triaxial loading–seepage tests were conducted under different fault fracture zone particle gradations, fracture zone widths, and fault angles, with simultaneous monitoring of stress–strain behavior, acoustic emission (AE) characteristics, and seepage flow evolution. The results show that: ① The peak strength decreases with increasing fracture zone width, but increases with increasing Talbot gradation coefficient (a fractal grading method) and fault angle. The failure mode transitions from shear-dominated to tension–shear composite failure. The spatial localization of AE events corresponds well with macroscopic fracture surfaces, and the AE source amplitude is positively correlated with compressive strength. ② The seepage flow exhibits a nonlinear evolution pattern of “compaction stabilization—stepwise rise—plateau stabilization” during loading. In the early loading stage, compaction of the fracture zone causes a slight decrease in flow. Approaching peak strength, the initiation and propagation of through-going fractures create interconnected seepage channels, leading to a stepwise jump in flow. In the post-peak stage, accompanied by fine particle erosion and framework reconfiguration, the flow tends to stabilize. A larger fracture zone width, smaller gradation coefficient, and smaller fault angle result in a more significant post-peak seepage surge, with the maximum flow rate reaching 3.6 times that of the specimen with a 2 mm wide fracture zone. ③ Grey relational analysis indicates that the fault angle is the most sensitive factor affecting the risk of delayed water inrush (correlation degree 0.788), followed by particle gradation and fracture zone width. The study demonstrates that under monotonic loading conditions, the damage evolution and seepage response of small faults are jointly controlled by their geometric parameters and internal structure, with the fractal grading method effectively quantifying the role of particle gradation. The findings provide a theoretical basis for risk assessment of delayed water inrush from small faults in working faces above confined aquifers. Full article

High-intensity 5 km running offers an ideal framework to analyze the organism’s multidimensional responses. Since previous research primarily analyzed isolated aspects of fatigue, this study aimed to examine the integrated acute neuromuscular, metabolic, and perceptual responses to a 5 km run. Twenty-one recreational male runners participated. Pre- and post-race assessments included body composition, blood lactate, m. rectus femoris ultrasound thickness, quadriceps maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), heart rate, perceived exertion (Borg CR10), and 5 km finish time. Statistical analysis was performed in the Jamovi software, utilizing descriptive statistics, the Shapiro–Wilk test of normality, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test with effect size calculation, and Spearman’s correlation coefficient, at a significance level of p < 0.05. Post-race measurements revealed a significant decrease in quadriceps MVIC (pre: 305 ± 99 N vs. post: 259 ± 88 N; p = 0.002) and an increase in blood lactate (pre: 0.8 ± 0.4 vs. post: 6.9 ± 1.4 mmol/L; p < 0.001), alongside high average heart rates (165 ± 16 bpm). However, ultrasound-assessed muscle architecture remained unchanged. The 5 km run induced pronounced neuromuscular and metabolic fatigue. Unchanged muscle architecture suggests that acute strength decline is primarily mediated by metabolic and neural mechanisms, rather than immediate structural–morphological factors. These findings highlight the value of an integrated assessment approach for understanding acute fatigue responses following high-intensity 5 km running and may contribute to more precise training-load prescription and recovery monitoring in recreational runners. Full article

Particle-laden flow through rough confined fractures is controlled by the coupled evolution of particle packing, load-bearing contacts, and rough-wall flow channels. In this study, conductivity experiments were performed on rough split-core fractures prepared from downhole tight-sandstone cores from the Tarim Basin, China, to examine how proppant size mixing and placement sequence regulate flow capacity under closure. Single-size 40/70 and 70/140 proppants and mixed-size systems with different size ratios were tested under staged and uniformly mixed placement schemes. Two equivalent placement levels, denoted as 1 mm and 2 mm, were considered. Three-dimensional laser scanning before and after conductivity testing was used to quantify rough-wall morphology using $R_a$, $R_q$, and $R_z$. The results show that fracture conductivity decreased with increasing closure pressure for all particle systems, indicating progressive narrowing and rearrangement of preferential flow channels. Coarse-particle-dominated systems consistently retained higher conductivity, with an overall ranking of 40/70 > 3:1 > 1:1 > 1:3 > 70/140 at both placement levels. Increasing the placement level from 1 mm to 2 mm markedly enhanced conductivity, especially for systems rich in 40/70 proppant. Staged placement yielded higher conductivity than uniformly mixed placement for the 3:1 and 1:1 systems, but this effect was negligible for the fine-particle-dominated 1:3 system. Post-test roughness changes indicate that sparse placement induced competing smoothing and roughening, whereas sufficient placement caused systematic roughening after closure. The proposed morphology-aware experimental workflow provides a laboratory-scale basis for interpreting the coupled evolution of fracture conductivity and rough-wall morphology in propped rough fractures. Although the workflow can be extended to other lithologies and fracture systems, quantitative field-scale prediction requires further calibration with larger datasets and reservoir-specific conditions. Full article