Search Results (72)

Many compressed air devices are energy inefficient. One example is using air nozzles above pastry lines to remove flour and cool products. These nozzles consume excessive energy, particularly when mounted too high, requiring stronger airflow. Adjustable nozzle height and energy-efficient nozzles should be used with careful control of air pressure, flow rate, and activation time, ensuring efficient and adaptive control. Additionally, sensor-based control should activate airflow only when pastries are present and until the correct amount of powder material has been blown out, as the nozzles often operate unnecessarily. Accurate measurement of powder volume after blow-off remains a challenge. With the use of computer vision methodology, the system would continuously read the measured values and determine not only the optimal moment to interrupt device operation but also dynamically adjust key parameters. This paper demonstrates that computer vision can estimate powder volume using two non-contact 3D methods: a depth camera, and a structured light scanner. Their accuracy, reliability, advantages, and limitations are analyzed. The results show that the structured light scanner can be used in the case of a static model (the conveyor belt with products stops at the moment when it is necessary to perform a 3D measurement). This approach shows higher repeatability and gives a more accurate 3D model. On the other hand, for the dynamic model (the conveyor belt with products moves while the 3D measurement device is fixed), the depth camera can be used because, at minimum rotation speeds of the substrate, it shows higher accuracy and enables faster adaptive modeling and creation of the necessary data. Full article

Introduction: Massage therapy delivers structured mechanosensory input that can influence brain function, yet the central mechanisms and potential for neuroplastic change have not been synthesized across neuroimaging modalities. This mechanistic review integrates evidence from electroencephalography (EEG), functional MRI (fMRI), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to map how massage alters human brain activity acutely and over time and to identify signals of longitudinal adaptation. Materials and Methods: We conducted a scoping, mechanistic review informed by PRISMA/PRISMA-ScR principles. PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate were queried for English-language human trials (January 1990–July 2025) that (1) delivered a practitioner-applied manual massage (e.g., Swedish, Thai, shiatsu, tuina, reflexology, myofascial techniques) and (2) measured brain activity with EEG, fMRI, or fNIRS pre/post or between groups. Non-manual stimulation, structural-only imaging, protocols, and non-English reports were excluded. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted study, intervention, and neuroimaging details; heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis, so results were narratively synthesized by modality and linked to putative mechanisms and longitudinal effects. Results: Forty-seven studies met the criteria: 30 EEG, 12 fMRI, and 5 fNIRS. Results: Regarding EEG, massage commonly increased alpha across single sessions with reductions in beta/gamma, alongside pressure-dependent autonomic shifts; moderate pressure favored a parasympathetic/relaxation profile. Connectivity effects were state- and modality-specific (e.g., reduced inter-occipital alpha coherence after facial massage, preserved or reorganized coupling with hands-on vs. mechanical delivery). Frontal alpha asymmetry frequently shifted leftward (approach/positive affect). Pain cohorts showed decreased cortical entropy and a shift toward slower rhythms, which tracked analgesia. Somatotopy emerged during unilateral treatments (contralateral central beta suppression). Adjuncts (e.g., binaural beats) enhanced anti-fatigue indices. Longitudinally, repeated programs showed attenuation of acute EEG/cortisol responses yet improvements in stress and performance; in one program, BDNF increased across weeks. In preterm infants, twice-daily massage accelerated EEG maturation (higher alpha/beta, lower delta) in a dose-responsive fashion; the EEG background was more continuous. In fMRI studies, in-scanner touch and reflexology engaged the insula, anterior cingulate, striatum, and periaqueductal gray; somatotopic specificity was observed for mapped foot areas. Resting-state studies in chronic pain reported normalization of regional homogeneity and/or connectivity within default-mode and salience/interoceptive networks after multi-session tuina or osteopathic interventions, paralleling symptom improvement; some task-based effects persisted at delayed follow-up. fNIRS studies generally showed increased prefrontal oxygenation during/after massage; in motor-impaired cohorts, acupressure/massage enhanced lateralized sensorimotor activation, consistent with use-dependent plasticity. Some reports paired hemodynamic changes with oxytocin and autonomic markers. Conclusions: Across modalities, massage reliably modulates central activity acutely and shows convergent signals of neuroplastic adaptation with repeated dosing and in developmental windows. Evidence supports (i) rapid induction of relaxed/analgesic states (alpha increases, network rebalancing) and (ii) longer-horizon changes—network normalization in chronic pain, EEG maturation in preterm infants, and neurotrophic up-shifts—consistent with trait-level recalibration of stress, interoception, and pain circuits. These findings justify integrating massage into rehabilitation, pain management, mental health, and neonatal care and motivate larger, standardized, multimodal longitudinal trials to define dose–response relationships, durability, and mechanistic mediators (e.g., connectivity targets, neuropeptides). Full article

To sustain high-throughput extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, pellicles with high transmittance are essential. As conventional methods—such as material optimization and membrane thinning—have reached their practical limits, alternative strategies are now required. In this study, we investigate an alternative hole-patterned pellicle architecture that introduces a geometric degree of freedom beyond that of continuous-film architectures. EUV transmittance measurements show that transmittance increases with open ratio (OR), following the absorption-limited trend predicted by an OR-based upper bound model, while exhibiting a measurable deviation at higher OR. To provide structural insight into this deviation, pseudo-spectral time domain (PSTD) simulations were performed under scanner-relevant numerical aperture and illumination conditions, solely to extract qualitative angular redistribution trends associated with hole geometry. Lithographic aerial-image simulations indicate that pattern distortion effects emerge only under highly coherent illumination and are suppressed as radius sigma σ_r increases. Mechanical characterization using bulge tests reveals distinct pressure–deflection behavior in hole-patterned membranes compared with continuous films, including earlier pressure saturation and modified burst-failure statistics. Although a modest reduction in mean burst pressure is observed, the hole-patterned membranes exhibit a narrower failure distribution, reflecting altered defect sensitivity. Taken together, the results demonstrate how periodic perforation influences transmittance behavior and mechanical response, providing design-relevant trends that complement existing material- and thickness-based pellicle optimization approaches. Full article

Cancers are diseases described by the irregular spread of cells that have developed invasive features, enabling them to invade adjacent tissues. The specific diagnosis and effective management of oncological treatments depend on the timely detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in a patient’s bloodstream. One of the most promising approaches to CTC separation from blood fractions involves the dielectrophoresis (DEP) technique. This research presents a new DEP-based bionic system designed for MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell isolation from white blood cell (WBC) subtypes with a viable approach to cell viability. This work leverages the principle that every cell type possesses a unique dielectric fingerprint. This dielectrophoresis microfluidic device is designed to act as a scanner, reading these fingerprints to achieve a continuous, label-free separation of cancer cells from blood components with a high efficiency. In the proposed system that consists of three different stages, the first stage allows for separating B-lymphocytes and Monocytes from Granulocytes and MDA-MB-231 cells. The separation of B-lymphocytes from Monocytes occurs in the second step, while the last step concerns the separation of Granulocytes and MDA-MB-231 cells. In the analysis, x-y graphs of the electric potentials, velocity fields, pressure distributions, and cellular DEP forces applied to the cells, as well as the resulting particle paths, are provided. The model predicts that the system operates with a separation efficiency of nearly 92%. This work focuses on an investigation of the impact of electrode potentials, the velocity of cells, the number of electrodes, the width of the channel, and the output angles on enhancing the separation efficiency of particles. Full article

Continued population growth demands a significant increase in agricultural production to ensure food security. However, agricultural output is limited by environmental crises and the negative impacts of open-field farm practices. As an alternative, vertical farming techniques, such as aeroponics, can be utilized to optimize the use of resources. However, the uneven size and distribution of spray droplets in aeroponics, issues that affect root development and nutrient delivery, continue to be problematic in spray performance analysis. In aeroponics, nutrient solutions are delivered to plant roots through pressurized nozzles, and the effectiveness of this delivery depends on the spray characteristics. Variations in flow rates directly affect droplet size, density, and coverage, which in turn influence nutrient uptake and crop growth. In this study, the flow rate was adjusted (3, 4.5, and 6 L/min) to quantitatively analyze spray performance using water-sensitive paper (WSP) as a deposit collector via a quick assessment method. Subsequently, image-processing techniques such as threshold segmentation and morphological operations were applied to isolate individual spray droplets on the WSP images. This technique enabled the quantification of the droplet’s coverage area, size, density, and uniformity to effectively evaluate spray performance. One-way ANOVA indicated that all the spray parameters varied significantly with respect to the flow rate (p < 0.05): For example, the average diameters of the droplets increased from 0.73 mm at 3 L/min to 1.29 mm at 6 L/min. The droplets’ densities decreased from 85.53 drops/cm² to 30.00 drops/cm² across the same flow range. The average uniformity index improved from 30.53 to 15.95 as the flow rate increased. These results indicate that the application of WSP is an effective and scalable approach for analyzing spray performance in aeroponics, as WSP can be rapidly digitized with simple tools, such as a cell phone camera, avoiding the limitations of flatbed scanners or specialized imaging systems. Full article

In this numerical and experimental study, the effects of the width, length, and height parameters of a mirror arm on the drag coefficients of two side-view mirror models were investigated. The analyses were performed according to fractional factorial Taguchi L9 experiment plans. In the wind tunnel, a constant-temperature hot-wire anemometer and a pressure scanner system were used to measure velocity and static pressures, respectively. A realizable k-ε turbulence model with a scalable wall function was applied in the simulations, and the velocity was kept constant at 30 m/s. Means of the drag coefficient, signal/noise values, and analysis of variance were used to evaluate the parameters’ effects. The results showed that the drag coefficients increased with arm height. The increase in arm width decreased the drag coefficient to a limited extent, while the aspect ratio (width/height) showed a strong negative correlation with the drag coefficient. The high aspect ratios resulted in streamlined geometries around the mirror arm and delayed flow separations. The numerical analysis results showed good agreement with the experimental values for both mirror models. Full article

Dynamic pressure measurement is an important component in the turbo engine testing process. This paper presents a comparative analysis between two types of multichannel electronic pressure measurement systems, commonly known as pressure scanners, used for this purpose: ZOC17/8Px, with analog amplification per channel, and MPS4264, a modern digital system with integrated A/D conversion. The study was conducted in two stages: a metrological verification and validation in static mode, using a high-precision pressure standard, and an experimental stage in dynamic mode, where data was acquired from a turbojet engine test stand, in constant engine speed mode. The signal stability of the pressure scanners was statistically analyzed by determining the coefficient of variation in the signal and the frequency spectrum (FFT) for each channel of the pressure scanners. Furthermore, comprehensive uncertainty budgets were calculated for both systems. The results highlight the superior stability and reduced uncertainty of the MPS4264 pressure scanner, attributing its enhanced performance to digital integration and a higher resilience to external noise. The findings support the adoption of modern digital systems for dynamic applications and provide a robust metrological basis for the optimal selection of measurement systems. Full article

Tunnel systems are often confronted with issues such as cracks, water seepage, and exposed tendons, all of which compromise their structural integrity. This study utilizes an advanced robotic system equipped with a 3D laser scanner to capture data on visible lining defects. By analyzing the distribution of defects across various tunnel segments, we explore the mechanisms underlying structural cracks. Finite element software is employed to assess stress, deformation, and crack progression within the tunnel linings. The result found that the diversion tunnel’s segments exhibit notable variations: 66.0% of the defects are concentrated in the upper flat section, while 34.0% are found in the inclined shaft segment. Cracks, primarily located in the vault area, characterize these defects. Under water pressure, stress deformation in the intact lining follows a linear escalation pattern. Specifically, after the formation of cracks measuring 0.1 m, 0.2 m, and 0.3 m, circumferential stresses increase by approximately 4.50%, 9.10%, and 15.10%, respectively. Numerical simulations reveal significant stress concentration near the cave entrance at the upper flat break. Crack propagation at the arch crown is found to pose a greater risk than at the sides of the arch waist. These findings offer valuable scientific insights and practical implications for improving safety and enabling intelligent monitoring of power station tunnels. Full article

Objective: We aimed to quantify the mechanical pressure required to reach the deep cervical and thoracolumbar fasciae, to examine its association with pressure pain threshold (PPT) and adipose tissue thickness, and to determine whether PPT and adipose tissue thickness can predict the mechanical pressure needed to reach the fascia. Methods: Forty-three subjects’ PPT, mechanical pressure and skinfold in the trapezius and lumbar regions were evaluated using an algometer, an ultrasound scanner, and an adipometer. The Wilcoxon test, Student’s t-test, and Pearson and Spearman’s correlation tests were used (p < 0.05). Results: The values of mechanical pressure in the cervical and lumbar regions were 6.06 ± 0.186 N/cm² and 5.85 ± 5.280, 7.287 N/cm², respectively. PPT values were 18.88 ± 0.917 N/cm², and 46.46 ± 2.408 N/cm², respectively (p < 0.001), and the adipose tissue thickness values in the cervical and lumbar regions were 0.88 ± 0.675 cm, 1.08 and 1.48 ± 0.069 cm (p < 0.001). There was no correlation between the variables in either region under study. Conclusions: The mechanical pressure required to reach the deep cervical and thoracolumbar fasciae was similar with an average value of approximately 6 N/cm², suggesting a consistent mechanical response across these anatomical regions. Mechanosensitivity and subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness did not influence the mechanical pressure needed to access the deep fascial tissue. Full article

Multi-layer multi-pass welding plays an important role in manufacturing industries such as nuclear power plants, pressure vessel manufacturing, and ship building. However, distortion or welding defects are still challenges; therefore, welding monitoring and quality control are essential tasks for the dynamic adjustment of execution during welding. The aim was to propose a machine vision system for monitoring and surface quality evaluation during multi-pass welding using a line scanner and infrared camera sensors. The cross-section modelling based on the line scanner data enabled the measurement of distortion and dynamic control of the welding plan. Lack of fusion, porosity, and burn-through defects were intentionally generated by controlling welding parameters to construct a defect inspection dataset. To reduce the influence of material surface colour, the proposed normal map approach combined with a deep learning approach was applied for inspecting the surface defects on each layer, achieving a mean average precision of 0.88. In addition to monitoring the temperature of the weld pool, a burn-through defect detection algorithm was introduced to track welding status. The whole system was integrated into a graphical user interface to visualize the welding progress. This work provides a solid foundation for monitoring and potential for the further development of the automatic adaptive welding system in multi-layer multi-pass welding. Full article

Porous asphalt concrete (PAC) is widely recognized for its excellent performance in drainage, noise reduction, and environmental protection due to its high interconnected porosity. However, challenges remain in relationships between mesoscopic void parameters and permeability performance. To reveal the influence mechanism of meso-structural parameters on the permeability performance of PAC, the X-ray CT scanning and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation techniques were combined in this study. A PAC-13 mixture was selected and prepared with target porosities of 18%, 20%, and 25%. The three-dimensional meso-structure of the specimens was measured using a CT scanner with a resolution of 0.08 mm, and the void parameters were extracted using Image J v1.8.0 software. The mesoscopic parameters of PAC and its impact on permeability performance were analyzed. Moreover, a three-dimensional void model was reconstructed using Avizo 9.0 software. The seepage performance was analyzed using CFD simulation. The results show that the roundness, the ratio of long to short axes, and the equivalent diameter of the voids increase linearly with porosity from 18% to 25%. The void number distribution shows a Gaussian characteristic. The permeability coefficient of PAC mixtures gradually increases linearly with the increase in porosity from 18% to 25%. Good relationships can be found between mesoscopic distribution characteristics and the permeability coefficient, where the coefficients of determination are larger than 0.97. The surface seepage pressure is nearly ten times more than the bottom pressure. The influence depth of seepage pressure is deeper with the increase in porosity, while the seepage velocity increases with the increase in porosity. This study offers valuable insights into the functional design and performance optimization of PAC materials. Full article

To improve the traction performance of mobile mechanisms on soft ground, such as paddy fields, tidal flats, and swamps, a mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) foot was adopted as a bionic prototype to explore the influence and contribution of the plantar morphology of the toes and webbing on the anti-subsidence function during its locomotion on wet and soft substrates and to apply this to the bionic design of high-traction wheel grousers. A handheld three-dimensional laser scanner was used to scan the main locomotion postures of a mallard foot during ground contact, and the Geomagic Studio software was utilized to repair the scanned model. As a result, the main three-dimensional geometric models of a mallard foot during the process of touching the ground were obtained. The plantar morphology of a mallard foot was divided into three typical parts: the plantar irregular edge curve, the lateral webbing surface, and the medial webbing surface. The main morphological feature curves/surfaces were extracted through computer-aided design software for the fitting and construction of a mathematical model to obtain the fitting equations of the three typical parts, and the mathematical model construction of the plantar irregular morphology of the mallard foot was completed. In order to verify the sand-fixing and flow-limiting characteristics of this morphological feature, based on the discrete element method (DEM), the numerical simulation of the interaction between the plantar surface of the mallard foot and sand particles was carried out. The simulation results show that during the process of the mallard foot penetration into the loose medium, the lateral and medial webbing surfaces cause the particles under the foot to mainly move downward, effectively preventing the particles from spreading around and significantly enhancing the solidification effect of the particles under the sole. Based on the principle and technology of engineering bionics, the plantar morphology and movement attitude characteristics of the mallard were extracted, and the characteristics of concave middle and edge bulge were applied to the wheel grouser design of paddy field wheels. Two types of bionic wheel grousers with different curved surfaces were designed and compared with the traditional wheel grousers of the paddy field wheel. Through pressure-bearing simulation and experiments, the resistance of different wheel grousers during the process of penetrating into sand particles was compared, and the macro–micro behaviors of particle disturbance during the pressure-bearing process were analyzed. The results show that a bionic wheel grouser with unique curved surfaces can well encapsulate sand particles at the bottom of the wheel grouser, and it also has a greater penetration resistance, which plays a crucial role in improving the traction performance of the paddy field wheel and reducing the disturbance to the surrounding sand particles. This paper realizes the transformation from the biological model to the mathematical model of the plantar morphology of the mallard foot and applies it to the bionic design of the wheel grousers of the paddy field wheels, providing a new solution for improving the traction performance of mobile mechanisms on soft ground. Full article

Background: Cheiloscopy, a forensic technique based on the uniqueness of labial traces, has traditionally relied on analog methods. While simple, these methods present significant limitations in terms of precision and reproducibility. The introduction of 3D technology, specifically high-resolution optical scanners, represents a pivotal advancement in overcoming these challenges. Objective: This pilot study aimed to explore the feasibility and potential advantages of 3D cheiloscopy in forensic science by analyzing its precision and repeatability compared to traditional analog methods. Methods: Two participants were selected as a pilot sample, and their lip impressions were captured using both analog techniques and a high-resolution intraoral scanner (Medit i700). A total of 40 samples were collected, equally distributed among operators with varying levels of experience. Surface deviation analysis was performed to compare the methods. Results: The 3D models demonstrated greater uniformity and resolution compared to the analog impressions, which were more prone to errors caused by material quality or operator pressure. Surface deviation analysis showed an average similarity of 70%, with a standard deviation of 0.229 mm. The digital methods also significantly reduced operator-dependent variability. Conclusions: This pilot study highlights the potential of 3D cheiloscopy to improve precision and standardization in forensic applications. While the small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings, the results provide a foundation for further research with larger and more diverse datasets. Future studies should explore the capability of 3D cheiloscopy to accurately match individuals and further validate its applicability in forensic and clinical contexts. Full article

The key equipment for performing aerodynamic testing of objects, such as road and railway vehicles, aircraft, and wind turbines, as well as stationary objects such as bridges and buildings, are multichannel pressure measurement instruments (pressure scanners). These instruments are typically based on arrays of separate pressure sensors built in an enclosure that also contains temperature sensors used for temperature compensation. However, there are significant limitations to such a construction, especially when increasing requirements in terms of miniaturization, the number of pressure channels, and high measurement performance must be met at the same time. In this paper, we present the development and realization of an innovative MEMS multisensor chip, which is designed with the intention of overcoming these limitations. The chip has four MEMS piezoresistive pressure-sensing elements and two resistive temperature-sensing elements, which are all monolithically integrated, enabling better sensor matching and thermal coupling while providing a high number of pressure channels per unit area. The main steps of chip development are preliminary chip design, numerical simulations of the chip’s mechanical behavior when exposed to the measured pressure, final chip design, fabrication processes (photolithography, thermal oxidation, diffusion, layer deposition, micromachining, anodic bonding, and wafer dicing), and electrical testing. Full article

Thermal conductivity is a decisive parameter in all geothermal applications. In addition to the influencing factors of density, saturation, porosity, temperature and pressure, it is, above all, the geochemical and mineralogical composition that determines the thermal conductivity in rocks and soils. This study focuses on selected rock samples from Southern and Central Germany regarding major element oxides and minerals as well as distributed thermal conductivity. We examined clastic and chemical sedimentary, as well as igneous and metamorphic rocks, ranging from the Paleozoic to Cenozoic age. Measurements were conducted by X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical scanning with a thermal conductivity scanner (TCS). The results show significant correlations between thermal and geochemical parameters. Chemical composition significantly impacts thermal conductivity. Higher quartz and SiO₂ contents generally lead to increased thermal conductivity, while aluminum silicates, common in clay minerals, correlate with lower conductivity. For carbonates, increased density or reduced porosity enhances conductivity. Structural differences and differing mineral concentrations influence the measurement variability along the sampling axis. This is especially visible in clastic sedimentary rock samples, where porosity decreases while cementation of the matrix increases thermal conductivity. Full article