Search Results (126)

Background/Objectives: In current conflicts, the most frequent cause of injury among soldiers is associated with impact by natural fragments from explosives; such injuries can also occur in peacetime following terrorist attacks or accidents. Despite this, the wounding patterns of irregularly shaped natural fragments and their irregular wounding mechanisms remain understudied compared to the ballistic characteristics of preformed fragments, standard fragments, or bullets. Methods: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of natural fragments produced by the old 120 mm, new 120 mm, and new 60 mm mortar shells on the human body, and to compare the resulting injuries with those caused by preformed fragments, i.e., non-deformable steel balls. The findings are expected to help healthcare workers and forensic pathologists become more familiar with fragment injuries. Results: For natural fragments, our experiments produced larger temporary cavities than those from preformed fragments. When natural fragments passed through a model of human flat bone before entering a soft tissue model, bone fragments were found in the wound channel along with the natural fragments. In the case of preformed fragments, practically no bone fragments were observed in the wound channel. Conclusions: The conducted research showed that the detonation of mortar ammunition causes deep, extensive, differently shaped temporary cavities, which contain multiple fragments of various shapes and sizes. In contrast, the preformed fragments we used caused less damage than natural fragments. However, because our experimental conditions were not identical, these findings are not a general conclusion; rather, they reflect observations under these specific conditions. The experiments yielded clinical knowledge about natural fragment wounds useful not only for military and emergency medicine but also for forensic medicine, particularly for identifying the causative agent, assessing damage to flat and long bones, reconstructing events, and understanding the role of diagnostic imaging. Full article

Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) is a broadly applied composite fabrication technique in which liquid resin is injected into a sealed mold housing a fibrous preform. This technique enables the industrial-scale production of large, complex-shaped components while ensuring high quality and excellent material properties. A notable phenomenon in the Resin Transfer Molding process, particularly when vegetable fibers are used as reinforcement, involves resin absorption by the fibers during the filling process, which causes a deceleration of the fluid flow front, leading to an increase in mold filling time. This phenomenon has been scarcely investigated in the scientific literature, particularly under non-isothermal situations. In this context, this paper focuses on the resin injection in a closed and heated mold, emphasizing the evaluation of the capillary number of the fluid flow. The model incorporates a transient, radial, and 3D flow, variable resin viscosity, and includes the effect of resin absorption by the fibers. Simulations were carried out using CFD techniques, evaluating the effect of fixed injection gauge pressure (2.0 bar) or volumetric flow rate (3.5 × 10⁻⁸ m³/s) on the infiltration transient behavior. The numerical results of the capillary number of the flow, resin viscosity, and resin superficial velocity as a function of radial position were analyzed. Based on the analysis of the capillary number field, with the sole objective of minimizing the potential formation of voids in the manufactured composite, optimal operating parameters were identified, namely, a mold heating temperature of 30 °C and an optimal resin injection condition consisting of a constant volumetric flow rate of 3.5 × 10⁻⁸ m³/s. Further, the volumetric fraction, pressure, and temperature fields are presented and examined. The numerical modeling used builds upon a previously validated numerical framework and extends its application by evaluating the potential generation of voids through the analysis of the capillary number field. Full article

Polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) is a versatile route for densifying carbon–carbon composites (C/CCs) and ultra-high-temperature ceramic matrix composites (UHTCMCs), particularly SiC and UHTC-based systems. It operates at comparatively low temperatures, accommodates complex shapes, and is more cost-effective than chemical vapor infiltration (CVI). However, conventional PIP has intrinsic limitations, including low ceramic or char yield, significant shrinkage and gas evolution during pyrolysis, and the need for many infiltration–pyrolysis cycles to reach useful densities. Recent strategies to reduce these drawbacks include graded-concentration and high-pressure PIP, as well as hybrid CVI–PIP and PIP–reactive melt infiltration (RMI) schemes. In parallel, a separate body of work has shown that vacuum-assisted and vibration-assisted infiltration can improve impregnation quality in carbon or ceramic fiber preforms and in carbon-based UHTCMCs. Yet, these advances are rarely synthesized from a PIP-centered, manufacturing-focused perspective or systematically extended to the densification of porous C/C structures, particularly when high-viscosity modified phenolic or particle-laden preceramic precursors are used. This review summarizes the state of the art in PIP densification and processing–structure–property relationships in modified C/CCs or UHTCMCs and related high-temperature composites. It then examines vacuum- and vibration-assisted infiltration concepts, extracts the underlying fluid- and pore-scale mechanisms, and proposes design principles for enhanced PIP equipment and processes tailored to porous and modified C/C systems for space and defense thermal protection. Full article

This study evaluates the rapid tooling feasibility and structural significance of utilizing digital light processing (DLP)-printed alumina as a near-net-shape ceramic mold-insert preform route for replication of curved polymer optics. While conventional production tooling for precision optics demands immediate optical-grade tolerances, the fundamental mechanisms governing polymer replication close to additively manufactured ceramic interfaces remain insufficiently understood. To isolate these multi-factor processing signatures, alumina specimens incorporating concave and convex parabolic surfaces were synthesized via lithography-based ceramic manufacturing. Our design acts as a geometric control lens, ensuring that thermal shrinkage trends, slicing kinematics, and interfacial replication behaviors are clearly exposed and quantified under uniform boundary conditions. Following debinding and sintering, exploratory hot-pressing cycles were executed to evaluate gross profile transfer and surface inheritance on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) replicas. Quantitative laser scanning confocal microscopy confirmed successful gross curvature generation and revealed geometry-dependent post-sintering shrinkage trends. The convex inserts exhibited an average peak-to-valley (PV) error of 123.48 ± 3.30 µm and an RMS error of 29.76 ± 1.23 µm, whereas the concave alumina inserts showed an average PV error of 137.98 ± 5.80 µm and an RMS error of 34.68 ± 1.20 µm. The PMMA replicas also showed substantial form deviation, with an average PV error of 163.72 ± 15.64 µm and RMS error of 27.37 ± 2.03 µm. Our work presents a route for producing near-net-shape ceramic mold-insert preforms that transforms complex processing variations into a predictable, mathematically addressable roadmap. A geometry-specific CAD pre-compensation can then be performed while the remaining precision gap can be selectively closed via targeted post-polishing depending on the desired optical application tier. Full article

This qualitative study develops morphological design principles for thermally formed passive adaptive grippers within an accessible 4D-printing approach. A practice-based morphological exploration was conducted through 18 PLA+ prototypes fabricated by Fused Deposition Modeling and thermally formed through controlled hot-water immersion. The study treats the two-dimensional pre-forming sheet geometry as the central design variable and examines how variations in flat-pattern organization affect the activated three-dimensional gripper. This shifts attention from optimizing a single predefined gripper toward understanding how form variations generate design knowledge. The prototypes were organized into two morphological families: a convergence-based radial gripping family and a guided cylindrical wrapping family. Functional and morphological readings of the catalogue showed that flat-pattern decisions shape grasp typology, functional role distribution, approach geometry, structural continuity, and the behavioral envelope of the activated form. The study proposes seven morphological design principles linking flat-pattern operations to three-dimensional gripping consequences, while also showing that the two families form a continuum of morphological possibilities rather than discrete categories. Across the prototype lineage, design knowledge accumulates through comparison and can be recombined into more resolved configurations. This paper offers a planning vocabulary for developing passive adaptive gripping structures before performance optimization or application-specific engineering begins. Full article

Standard diagnostic categories (International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)) were developed as a pragmatic compromise between competing theoretical schools in psychiatry and psychotherapy. Focused on recognizable patterns of symptoms, they produce reliable descriptions and facilitate clinical communication, research, and reimbursement. Such a focus, however, necessarily falls short of the etiological complexity of bodily, personal, interpersonal, and cultural processes that shape human suffering. This article argues that beneath the diversity of approaches seeking to address this gap, a fundamental complementarity emerges—one constitutive of human existence itself: the complementarity between two irreducible ways of being in the world. The first is the organismic–biological dimension, elaborated in Jakob von Uexküll’s biosemiotics: sign-governed, evolutionarily pre-formed processes of meaning-attribution that operate prior to and independent of language. The second is the symbolic–cultural dimension, developed in Ernst Cassirer’s philosophy of symbolic forms: the embedding of human beings in socially created, intersubjectively shared symbol systems through which the world is seen and understood. Although both approaches were published nearly a century ago, this article is not primarily a historical contribution. Rather, it argues that psychopathology and therapy can be understood more fully—and clinical practice enriched—when both dimensions are taken into account as genuinely complementary perspectives. Full article

Arc-based directed energy deposition (DED-Arc) processes represent a promising choice for developing flexible and eco-friendly manufacturing strategies for titanium components within the aerospace sector. Previous work has predominantly focused on using Ti-6Al-4V combined with machining for structural components. This study aims to establish a hybrid manufacturing route that integrates DED-Arc with flowforming (FF), focusing on the processability of Ti-15-3-3-3 in both stages. Sinusoidal path strategies for DED-Arc yield superior results in terms of process stability and geometrical accuracy, leading to near-net-shape preforms. In the FF process, a reduction of up to 80% in wall thickness across various techniques was achieved. The hybrid approach led to a buy-to-fly (BTF) ratio of 2.5:1, revealing the potential for significant material savings compared to conventional manufacturing routes. Full article

Surgical intervention is a primary treatment for osteosarcoma, often resulting in a tumorous bone defect with an irregular shape. Postoperative management is essential to minimize tumor recurrence risks and promote bone regeneration. To address these issues, we developed a multifunctional injectable, rapidly photo-curable hydrogel composed of gelatin methacryloyl/carboxymethyl chitosan/hyaluronic acid (GelMA/CMCS/HA), modified with vanadium-doped mesoporous bioactive glass (VMBG). The exceptional injectability enables seamless adaptation to irregular bone defects, offering a significant advantage over preformed implants, while the rapid photocurability of the hydrogel ensures stable fixation within minutes, thereby reducing potential risks during surgery. Furthermore, this platform exhibits dual therapeutic efficacy, characterized by antitumor activity and osteogenic induction. In vitro assessments demonstrated that V(V)/V(IV) valence cycling-driven ROS generation mediated its potent antitumor efficacy. Additionally, concurrent enhancement of alkaline phosphatase activity and osteogenic marker expression validated its osteogenic potential. The CMCS incorporation promoted healing at the defect site, while the HA addition created binding sites for cell adhesion and growth, thereby improving scaffold bioactivity. Collectively, this study presents the development and validation of a multifunctional GelMA/CMCS/HA hydrogel, highlighting its dual capability for bone regeneration and tumor suppression within tumor-associated bone microenvironments. Full article

Ethno Sense is defined as a culturally mediated cognitive–perceptual capacity through which individuals discern, select, and interpret mathematically salient structures in socially situated practices. The increasing recognition of mathematics as a culturally situated practice has prompted growing interest in integrating cultural contexts into mathematics education. Approaches such as ethnomathematics and Realistic Mathematics Education emphasize the importance of culture and meaningful contexts; however, a critical gap remains in explaining how individuals perceive and recognize mathematical structures within culturally embedded experiences. This entry addresses this gap by introducing Ethno Sense as a novel conceptual construct. Conceptualized as a pre-formal layer of mathematical cognition, it explains how culturally conditioned perception, interpretive schemas, and value systems shape the recognition of mathematical meaning prior to formalization. It proposes a mechanism comprising contextual indexing, schema activation and selection, and value-informed interpretation. These processes operate dynamically to guide engagement with culturally meaningful phenomena and the identification of mathematical relevance. The entry further positions Ethno Sense as an epistemological foundation for Ethno-Realistic Mathematics Education, supporting authentic context selection and progressive mathematization. By foregrounding culturally mediated perception, it shifts attention from problem solving to recognizing situations as mathematically meaningful. This study contributes a unifying theoretical construct linking cultural experience and mathematical cognition, and outlines implications for practice and future research on culturally situated learning. Ultimately it offers a lens for understanding reciprocal relationships between culture and mathematics across educational contexts. Full article

Disease-specific alpha-synuclein (αsyn) strains have been linked to different synucleinopathies. Current αsyn biomarkers are limited to binary detection of pathogenic αsyn in peripheral tissue biopsies or fluids, limiting differential diagnosis. Hence, there is an urgent need for methods that allow strain-specific detection and characterization of αsyn strain architecture. Notably, luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes (LCOs) have been successfully used to detect distinct protein strain conformers in prion diseases and Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting their utility in differentiating disease-specific amyloid structures. Species-dependent differences in αsyn structure are increasingly recognized as one of the critical aspects that shape how fibrils form, propagate and interact with molecular LCO probes. Here, we evaluate the potential of the LCO h-FTAA to differentiate species-specific αsyn strains and conduct a translational investigation using peripheral cardiac tissue of a gut-first synucleinopathy rodent model. Our in vitro data demonstrate strain-specific probe–fibril interactions, reflecting a differential strain architecture and cellular micro-environment. While h-FTAA binds with comparable efficiency to mouse (mo-) and human (hu-) pre-formed fibrils (PFFs), h-FTAA exhibits markedly lower quantum yield when bound to moPFFs versus huPFFs. Spectral imaging revealed h-FTAA-moPFF binding produces blue-shifted maxima (505–550 nm), contrasting with the red-shifted maxima (545–580 nm) of huPFFs. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy confirmed h-FTAA’s intrinsic sensitivity to species-dependent variations through distinct temporal fluorescence signatures (moPFFs: ~0.60–1.5 ns vs. huPFFs: ~0.65–1.0 ns). Our translational investigation showed h-FTAA binding to peripheral cardiac pathology exhibits comparable red-shifted emission, but distinct fluorescence lifetimes of h-FTAA-bound aggregates in moPFF-injected (~1.0–1.4 ns) versus huPFF-injected (~0.69–0.8 ns) rats. Interestingly, we observed distinct blue-shifted emission profiles in a few selected regions of the heart of moPFF-injected rodents, further characterized by extra-long fluorescence decay shifts (~1.5–1.9 ns), reflecting differences in both aggregate conformation and maturity in moPFF-induced compared with huPFF-induced rats. Taken together, our findings underscore the potential of LCO ligands, like h-FTAA, to enable more precise disease staging and diagnosis through peripheral biopsies, complementing existing αsyn biomarker methods. Full article

This work presents a comparative study of micro- and nano-scale fillers in liquid composite molding processes, focusing on how particle size and morphology affect resin rheology, flow behavior, and filler filtration within fiber preforms. Glass microspheres and organo-modified montmorillonite were dispersed in epoxy resin and injected through glass-mat preforms at different fiber volume fractions (ranging from 0.27 to 0.47). Our study integrates rheological characterization, in situ flow-front tracking, unsaturated permeability analysis, thermogravimetric quantification of retained particles, and microstructural observations by SEM. Despite their smaller loading, nanoclay suspensions showed a markedly higher viscosity increase than microsphere systems, yet their permeability remained nearly unchanged. In contrast, microsphere-filled resins exhibited strong filtration at the flow inlet, density-driven settling near the lower tool face, and significant permeability loss. The results demonstrate that nano-fillers, although more viscous, maintain homogeneous distribution and flow continuity, whereas micro-fillers promote cake formation and local compaction. This controlled side-by-side comparison clarifies how filler size and shape govern filtration mechanisms in liquid composite molding (LCM), providing design guidelines for processing filled resin systems without compromising part quality. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gastroschisis is a congenital abdominal wall defect characterized by herniation of bowel loops without a covering membrane and typically located to the right of the umbilical cord. Although contemporary management is well established, its historical study development has not been comprehensively synthesized. This review examines the chronological evolution of focus of interest in gastroschisis and highlights how research priorities shifted across eras, shaping current anatomical understanding, diagnostic strategies, and surgical management. Methods: A structured literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies in English, Spanish, Turkish, and Arabic were included. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened independently. Eligible publications addressed historical descriptions, differentiation from omphalocele, advancements in imaging, surgical techniques, or experimental modeling. Results: Sixty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Early reports from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries provided descriptive accounts without distinguishing gastroschisis from omphalocele. The nineteenth century introduced the term “gastroschisis,” and definitive clinical differentiation was achieved in the mid twentieth century. Surgical innovation progressed from primary closure in the 1940s to the development of preformed and spring-loaded silos, which improved physiologic tolerance and survival. Animal models clarified mechanisms of bowel injury, including the effects of amniotic exposure and delayed maturation of interstitial cells of Cajal. Advances in ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging facilitated prenatal risk stratification and shifted research attention toward predicting complex gastroschisis and optimizing perinatal planning. Conclusions: The historical trajectory of studies about gastroschisis demonstrates a coherent pattern in which developments in anatomical definition, surgical innovation, and mechanistic research sequentially enabled modern prenatal diagnostic and prognostic strategies. Recognizing these temporal shifts provides important context for current practice and highlights opportunities to improve prenatal markers of bowel compromise and refine individualized postnatal care. Full article

The formability of reinforcement is essential for controlling shaping processes and assessing their suitability for industrial applications. The complexity of the geometries dictates the deformation modes and thus the reinforcements’ behaviours. This study is an experimental campaign to investigate the shaping of five different geometries with three reinforcements that have varying meso-structures: plain weave, interlock and Non-Crimp Fabric. The comparison concentrates on shear behaviour and defects induced. The measured parameters are chosen in relation to their potential impact on the composite’s properties at both local and macro levels. The findings reveal that geometry significantly influences the quality of the preform. Each geometry shows unique behaviours due to a different, but limited, range of mechanisms. This highlights the importance of identifying and analysing the interesting parts of these geometries and their role in triggering the different behaviours. Full article

Branching structures such as vascular networks are representative morphological patterns in living systems, and they often arise from collective cell migration. Angiogenesis, the sprouting of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is a fundamental process in development. Experimental and theoretical studies have demonstrated that sprout formation depends on the collective movements and shapes of endothelial cells, as well as the remodelling of the extracellular matrix. Many discrete models have been proposed to describe cell dynamics, successfully reproducing vascular patterns and collective behaviours. In this study, we present a two-dimensional mathematical model that represents each endothelial cell as an ellipse and incorporates the effects of the extracellular matrix. We performed computer simulations under two scenarios: invasion from a pre-formed sprout and collective advancement into an extracellular matrix region. The results show that the extracellular matrix helps maintain linear sprout extension and suppresses the formation of dispersed or curved branches, while elongated cell shapes promote sprouting more effectively than round cells. The model also reproduces experimentally observed behaviours such as tip-cell replacement and the mixing of cells within sprouts. These findings highlight the importance of integrating cell shape and extracellular matrix remodelling to understand early blood vessel formation. Full article

(1) Background: This study evaluated the efficacy of magnesium nanoparticles (MgNPs) synthesized through a green method utilizing bacterial metabolites (BMs) produced by Escherichia coli. (2) Methods: BMs were tested for total phenolic content by high-performance liquid chromatography. MgNPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. MgNPs and BMs were tested for antibacterial and antibiofilm potentials against multidrug-resistant clinical isolates by agar well diffusion, minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration assays, time–kill test, and inhibition of biofilm formation and destruction of pre-formed biofilm assays. Furthermore, they were tested for antioxidant potential by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. (3) Results: BMs included carbohydrates, reducing sugars, and phenols (gallic acid and catechin) with a total phenolic content of 0.024 mg GAE/g. MgNPs showed a pure crystalline structure with a spherical shape, 17.8 nm in size, and a 4.19 eV energy gap. Bacteria included Streptococcus pneumonia, Enterococcus faecium, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Salmonella Typhimurium. The antibacterial results showed inhibition zones ranging between 7.2 and 10.4 mm, a bactericidal effect of MgNPs, a bacteriostatic effect of BMs, and growth inhibition after 3 h. The antibiofilm results demonstrated significant inhibition of biofilm formation (inhibition percentages of 64.931% for MgNPs and 71.407% for BMs). However, the assays revealed modest biofilm destruction (eradication percentages of 48.667% for MgNPs and 37.730% for BMs). Antioxidant capacity revealed notable scavenging activity of MgNPs (scavenging activity of 41.482%) and weak activity of BMs (scavenging activity of 16.460%). (4) Conclusions: These findings support the application of MgNPs in biomedical fields. Full article