Search Results (125)

This study presents an energy-efficient, room-temperature synthesis and characterization of methacrylated pullulan (Pull-MA) hydrogel developed for controlled nutrient delivery in agricultural applications. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analyses confirmed the successful functionalization of pullulan with methacrylate groups, accompanied by a decrease in thermal transition temperatures, indicative of increased polymer chain mobility. The synthesized Pull-MA hydrogel exhibited a high swelling capacity, reaching an equilibrium swelling ratio of 1068% within 5 h, demonstrating its suitability as a carrier matrix. The room-temperature synthesis approach enabled the in situ incorporation of microbial inoculant into the hydrogel network, preserving microbial viability and activity. SEM analysis performed under the different magnifications (1000, 2500, 5000, 10,000, 25,000×) has confirmed brittle nature of xerogels and increasing in structural irregularities with increasing in cultivation broth content.The biological performance of the fertilizer-loaded hydrogels was evaluated through seed germination assays using maize and pepper as model crops. The optimized formulation, T2 (Pull-MA: cultivation broth 1:5 w/w), significantly improved germination efficiency, as evidenced by increased relative seed germination (RSG), root growth rate (RRG), and germination index (GI) compared to both the control and the low-fertilizer formulation (T1, 1:2.5 w/w). These findings highlight the potential of Pull-MA hydrogels as bioactive seed-coating materials that enhance early seedling development through controlled nutrient release. The results lay a solid foundation for further optimization and future application of this system under real field conditions. Full article

Nowadays, the number of people enduring extreme commuting is increasing, exacerbating traffic problems and harming individual well-being. To quantify the extreme commuting, we propose an extreme commuting severity (ECS) index that combines the number of extreme commuting trips with their specific distances, where a one-way trip with a commuting distance of at least 25 km is regarded as an extreme commuting trip. In Beijing, the ECS index shows substantial spatial variability, with maximum values exceeding 30,000 for origins and 50,000 for destinations, underscoring the severe commuting burden in specific areas. By integrating the geographically weighted random forest (GWRF) with Shapley additive explanations (SHAP), we model both nonlinear effects and spatial heterogeneity in how the built environment shapes extreme commuting. Compared with benchmark models, the proposed GWRF model achieves the highest predictive performance, yielding the largest R² and the lowest absolute and relative indicators across both generation and attraction scenarios. Notably, the GWRF improves explanatory power over the global model by a substantial margin, highlighting the importance of incorporating spatial heterogeneity. SHAP-based global importance results show that residential density (17.58%) is the most influential factor for ECS, whereas in the attraction scenario, company density exhibits the strongest contribution (20.7%), reflecting the strong pull of major employment clusters. Local importance maps further reveal pronounced spatial differences in effect direction and magnitude. For instance, although housing prices have modest global importance, they display clear spatial heterogeneity: they exert the strongest influence on extreme commuting generation within the Fourth Ring Road and around the North Fifth Ring, whereas in the attraction scenario, their effects concentrate in the southern part of the core area. These findings provide new empirical insights into the mechanisms underlying extreme commuting and highlight the need for spatially differentiated planning strategies. Full article

This paper investigates the use of recycled carbon fibre (rCF) from wind turbine blades in fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC). The research demonstrates the combined effects of fibre length (25 mm, 35 mm, and 45 mm) and fibre content (0.29%, 0.58%, and 0.87% by volume). The experimental programme included the investigation of compressive and tensile splitting strengths, as well as the determination of the Brittleness Index and fracture energy. The transfer of tensile forces through fibres was assessed based on the surface area of split samples. Tensile strength was determined for two loading directions: parallel and perpendicular to the direction of concreting. It was found that the maximum fibre addition reduced the compressive strength by up to 9% and that the tensile strength was significantly dependent on the fibre orientation, which was determined by the direction of concreting. The tensile strength perpendicular to the direction of concreting increased by a maximum of 11.8% and parallel to the direction of concreting by a maximum of 66% compared to plain concrete, depending on the fibre content and length. The research also demonstrated the synergy of pull-out and rupture of fibres in transmitting tensile forces. These studies provide important insights into the applicability of rCF as a dispersed reinforcement in concrete and have important implications for sustainability in the construction sector. Full article

Background/Objectives: While arthroscopic repair is established for the treatment of medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRT), the relationship between physiotherapy (PT) exposure, meniscal extrusion (ME), and structural healing remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate short-term functional and structural results after transtibial pull-out (TPO) repair of isolated MMPRT and to explore the influence of patient age and postoperative physiotherapy volume. Methods: A retrospective single-center case series with 14 adults (64% women, age 59 years, body mass index (BMI) 31.0 kg/m²) who underwent TPO repair (April 2022–June 2024). Mean follow-up was 18.4 months. Outcomes included range of motion (ROM), pain levels using visual analog scale (VAS), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), the Western Ontario Meniscal Evaluation Tool (WOMET), the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and MRI-based ME, cartilage grade, and root-healing status. Postoperative PT volume was assessed with a self-developed, custom questionnaire. Correlations and subgroup analyses (<60 vs. ≥60 years) were performed. Results: Mean postoperative ROM was 121° and IKDC 63.4. Median PT exposure was 25.9 h, and the mean duration from symptom to repair was 215 days. MRI demonstrated complete healing in 70% of cases. A positive correlation was observed between postoperative ME and ROM (p = 0.008), while higher PT volume was associated with greater pain scores. Conclusions: TPO repair appears to be a viable treatment option for selected patients with MMPRT, showing acceptable early outcomes, even in older individuals with higher BMIs or delayed repair. Meniscal healing was frequent, although extrusion progression remained common and may influence the function. The observed links between ME, ROM, and PT-related pain highlight the need for standardized rehabilitation assessment. Larger, prospective studies are warranted to validate these exploratory findings and refine postoperative management. Full article

Solidification cracking and liquation cracking have been reported frequently in additive manufacturing (AM) as well as welding. In the vast majority of weldability tests, a single-pass, single-layer weld is tested, though multiple-pass, multiple-layer welding is common in welding practice. In AM, evaluating the cracking susceptibility based on the total number or length of cracks per unit volume requires repeated cutting and polishing of a built object, and the cracks are often too small to open easily for fracture-surface examination. The present study identified an existing weldability test and modified it to serve as a cracking susceptibility test for AM. A single-pass, single-layer deposit of metal powder was made along a slender specimen that was pulled like in tensile testing but with acceleration. Cracks were visible on the deposit surface and opened easily for examination. The critical pulling speed, i.e., the minimum pulling speed required to cause cracking, was determined as an index for the cracking susceptibility. The lower the critical pulling speed is, the higher the cracking susceptibility. As a result, 6061 Al showed solidification cracking, and 7075 Al showed liquation cracking, consistent with their high susceptibility to such cracking. Full article

Deicing salt effectively melts ice and snow to maintain traffic flow in seasonal freezing zones, but its erosion effect compromises the water stability and structural integrity of asphalt pavements. To comprehensively explore the impacts of salt erosion on the interfacial behaviors of rubber asphalt–aggregate systems, this study developed a multiscale characterization method integrating a macroscopic mechanical test, microscopic tests, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Firstly, laboratory-controlled salt–freeze–thaw cycles were employed to simulate field conditions, followed by quantitative evaluation of interfacial bonding properties through pull-out tests. Subsequently, the atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) tests were conducted to characterize the microscopic morphology evolution and chemical functional group transformations, respectively. Moreover, by combining the diffusion coefficients of water molecules, salt solution ions, and asphalt components, the mechanism of interfacial salt erosion was elucidated. The results demonstrate that increasing NaCl concentration and freeze–thaw cycles progressively reduces interfacial pull-out strength and fracture energy, with NaCl-induced damage becoming limited after twelve salt–freeze–thaw cycles. In detail, with exposure to 15 freeze–thaw cycles in 6% NaCl solution, the pull-out strength and fracture energy of the rubber asphalt–limestone aggregate decrease by 50.47% and 51.57%, respectively. At this stage, rubber asphalt exhibits 65.42% and 52.34% increases in carbonyl and sulfoxide indexes, respectively, contrasted by 49.24% and 42.5% decreases in aromatic and aliphatic indexes. Long-term exposure to salt–freeze–thaw conditions promotes phase homogenization, ultimately reducing surface roughness and causing rubber asphalt to resemble matrix asphalt morphologically. At the rubber asphalt–NaCl solution–aggregate interface, the diffusion of Na⁺ is faster than that of Cl⁻. Meanwhile, compared with other asphalt components, saturates exhibit notably enhanced mobility under salt erosion conditions. The synergistic effects of accelerated aging, salt crystallization pressure, and enhanced ionic diffusion jointly induce the deterioration of interfacial bonding, which accounts for the decrease in macroscopic pull-out strength. This multiscale investigation advances understanding of salt-induced deterioration while providing practical insights for developing durable asphalt mixtures in cold regions. Full article

Current systems for exchanging medical records struggle with efficiency and privacy issues. While establishing the Electronic Medical Record Exchange Center (EEC) in 2012 was intended to alleviate these issues, its centralized structure has brought about new attack vectors, such as performance bottlenecks, single points of failure, and an absence of patient consent over their data. Methods: This paper describes a novel EMR Gateway system that uses blockchain technology to exchange electronic medical records electronically, overcome the limitations of current centralized systems for sharing EMR, and leverage decentralization to enhance resilience, data privacy, and patient autonomy. Our proposed system is built on two interconnected blockchains: a Decentralized Identity Blockchain (DID-Chain) based on Ethereum for managing user identities via smart contracts, and an Electronic Medical Record Blockchain (EMR-Chain) implemented on Hyperledger Fabric to handle medical record indexes and fine-grained access control. To address the dual requirements of cross-platform data exchange and patient privacy, the system was developed based on the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard, incorporating stringent de-identification protocols. Our system is built using the FHIR standard. Think of it as a common language that lets different healthcare systems talk to each other without confusion. Plus, we are very serious about patient privacy and remove all personal details from the data to keep it confidential. When we tested its performance, the system handled things well. It can take in about 40 transactions every second and pull out data faster, at around 49 per second. To give you some perspective, this is far more than what the average hospital in Taiwan dealt with back in 2018. This shows our system is very solid and more than ready to handle even bigger workloads in the future. Full article

Entosis is a form of cell-in-cell interaction observed in epithelial cancers, characterized by the internalization of one cell into another. This process is initiated by cell detachment, cadherin-mediated homotypic adhesion, and the formation of an entotic vacuole. Mechanistically, entosis is driven by Rho/ROCK signaling and actomyosin contractility in the invading (inner) cell, which becomes stiffer and is pulled into the softer host (outer) cell. A functional assay using differently stained cell populations allows for the assessment of pharmacological interventions on either the inner or outer cell during entosis. In this study, we investigated the impact of MEK pathway inhibition on entosis in two epithelial cancer cell lines, BxPC3 (pancreatic cancer) and MCF7 (breast cancer). BxPC3 cells, which rely on adhesion, exhibited a significant reduction in entotic index upon MEK inhibition. In contrast, MCF7 cells showed no selectivity of entosis to three different MEK inhibitors. These findings suggest cell-type-specific regulation of entosis, potentially linked to differences in protrusion formation mechanisms and upstream Ras signaling pathways previously implicated in cancer cell motility. Full article

Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of forest disturbances globally, including windthrow, which poses substantial risks for both forest productivity and ecosystem stability. Rapid and precise assessment of wind-induced tree damage is essential for effective management, yet many injuries remain visually undetectable in the early stages. This study employed drone-based multispectral imaging and a simulated wind stress experiment (static pulling) on Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) to investigate the detectability of physiological and structural changes over four years. Multispectral data were collected at multiple time points (2023–2024), and a suite of vegetation indices (the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Structure Insensitive Pigment Index (SIPI), the Difference Vegetation Index (DVI), and Red Edge-based indices) were calculated and analysed using mixed-effects models. Our results demonstrate that trees subjected to mechanical bending (“Bent”) exhibit substantial reductions in the near-infrared (NIR)-based indices, while healthy trees maintain higher and more stable index values. Structure- and pigment-sensitive indices (e.g., the Modified Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index (MCARI 2), the Transformed Chlorophyll Absorption in Reflectance Index/Optimised Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (TCARI/OSAVI), and RDVI) showed the highest diagnostic value for differentiating between damaged and healthy trees. We found the clear identification of group- and season-specific patterns, revealing that the most pronounced physiological decline in Bent trees emerged only several seasons after the disturbance. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of isometric and plyometric combined activation prior to the endurance performance assessed with the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15 IFT) and cardiovascular parameters. Methods: In this crossover study the data of 14 elite female soccer players aged 22.1 ± 2.9 years were assessed. The conditioning activity (CA) consisted of three sets of five seconds of maximal mid-thigh pull (IMPT), and peak force was measured, and four countermovement jumps were performed. Contact time, jump height, and reactive strength index (RSI) were assessed. Ninety seconds of rest between the sets was performed. Then, 7 min after the CA, the 30-15 IFT was performed. Results: One-way repeated measures (RM) ANOVA showed that performance during the CA did not decrease; what is more, it improved in RSI (p < 0.01). Further, paired samples t-test showed that the performance in the IFT did not change, whereas training impulse (TRIMP) was increased after CA (p = 0.039, ES = 0.61), thus the Bayesian paired test yielded only anecdotal evidence in favor of the alternative hypothesis (BF₁₀ = 1.92; error = 2%). Conclusions: The improvement in CA suggests potentiation rather than fatigue. However, the unchanged performance alongside a modest TRIMP increase should be interpreted with caution, as TRIMP alone provides a limited assessment of physiological cost. Therefore, while the applied protocol did not enhance endurance performance, further research using multiple physiological markers is needed to clarify its impact on internal load and overall efficacy. Full article

Asphalt plant reclaimed powder is a common solid waste in road engineering. Reusing reclaimed powder as filler holds significant importance for environmental protection and resource conservation. The key factors affecting the feasibility of reclaimed powder reuse are its acidity/alkalinity and cleanliness. Traditional evaluation methods, such as the methylene blue test and plasticity index, can assess reclaimed powder properties to guide its recycling. However, these methods suffer from inefficiency, strong empirical dependence, and high variability. To address these limitations, this study proposes a rapid and precise evaluation method for reclaimed powder properties based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). To do so, five field-collected reclaimed powder samples and four artificial samples were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to characterize their microphase morphology, chemical composition, and crystal structure, respectively. Subsequently, FTIR was used to establish correlations between key acidity/alkalinity, cleanliness, and multiple characteristic peak intensities. Representative infrared characteristic peaks were selected, and a quantitative functional group index (Is) was proposed to simultaneously evaluate acidity/alkalinity and cleanliness. The results indicate that reclaimed powder primarily consists of tiny, crushed stone particles and dust, with significant variations in crystal structure and chemical composition, including calcium carbonate, silicon oxide, iron oxide, and aluminum oxide. Some samples also contained clay, which critically influenced the reclaimed powder properties. Since both filler acidity/alkalinity and cleanliness are affected by clay (silicon/carbon ratio determining acidity/alkalinity and aluminosilicate content affecting cleanliness), this study calculated four functional group indices based on FTIR absorption peaks, namely the Si-O-Si stretching vibration (1000 cm⁻¹) and the CO₃²⁻ asymmetric stretching vibration (1400 cm⁻¹). These indices were correlated with conventional testing results (XRF for acidity/alkalinity, methylene blue value, and pull-off strength for cleanliness). The results show that the Is index exhibited strong correlations (R² = 0.89 with XRF, R² = 0.80 with methylene blue value, and R² = 0.96 with pull-off strength), demonstrating its effectiveness in predicting both acidity/alkalinity and cleanliness. The developed method enhances reclaimed powder detection efficiency and facilitates high-value recycling in road engineering applications. Full article

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the plaque-reducing efficacy of sesame-based oil pulling versus distilled water in a randomized controlled, examiner-blinded parallel-group study. Materials and Methods: Forty participants with gingivitis (community periodontal index of treatment needs grade 1 or 2) were randomly assigned to either the test group (sesame-based oil) or the control group (distilled water). Participants were instructed to perform oil pulling daily in the morning for 15 min over an eight-week period. The Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index (RMNPI) and gingival bleeding index (GBI) were evaluated at the baseline, as well as after four and eight weeks. Additionally, biofilm samples were collected for microbiological analysis. Results: The RMNPI was statistically significantly reduced after eight weeks of pulling with sesame-based oil (p < 0.001), as well as with distilled water (p < 0.001), without a significant difference between the groups. The GBI was statistically significantly reduced after eight weeks of pulling with sesame-based oil (p < 0.002), as well as with distilled water (p < 0.002), without a significant difference between the groups. No significant microbiological changes were detected in biofilm samples. Conclusions: Both plaque and gingival indices significantly decreased with oil pulling after eight weeks of intervention. Preclinical studies are necessary to clarify the mechanism of plaque reduction by oil pulling. Full article

Background: The aim of this study was to characterise the performance, perceptual, and wellness responses to a barbell back squat overreaching training protocol. Methods: Eight trained male participants (age = 24.6 ± 2.8 years; relative to body mass back squat one repetition maximum (1-RM) = 1.9 ± 0.4; training experience = 7.0 ± 3.2 years) participated in a 5-day squat OR protocol (SqOR), followed by a 14-day taper. SqOR consisted of five sets of barbell back squats using 80% of daily adjusted 1-RM. A 40% velocity loss threshold was used to determine the set end point. For performance, isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) peak force (PF), and countermovement jump (CMJ) PF and jump height; for perceptual, perceived recovery scale (PRS); and for wellness, Hooper Wellness Index (HWI), were recorded at baseline, each day of SqOR, and at select intervals during the taper (POST 1 d, 2 d, 7 d, and 14 d). Follow-up back squat 1-RM testing was conducted at POST 7 d and POST 14 d to determine strength-performance changes relative to baseline. Results: Back squat 1-RM increased by 4.8% at POST 7 d and 5.2% at POST 14 d. IMTP PF increased by 10.3% at POST 7 d and 11.4% at POST 14 d relative to the baseline. CMJ PF and jump height decreased during SqOR but returned to baseline by POST 7 d. PRS and HWI worsened during SqOR, with the greatest impairment occurring on day 3 (PRS = −41.5%; HWI = 34.4%), and did not return to baseline until POST 14 d and POST 2 d, respectively. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that a short-term period of planned OR improves muscular strength performance, but the duration of the taper influences when peak strength improvements are observed. Full article

As powerful actions commonly proceed goal scoring opportunities within soccer, enhancing powerful actions could be essential to optimize performance. There is a large body of evidence supporting the positive associations between maximal isometric mid-thigh pull force-generating qualities and jump performance. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if relative maximal isometric force production can discriminate between higher- and lower-performing jumpers among professional and semi-professional soccer players. As such, it was hypothesized that stronger players would have a greater jump performance than weaker players. Methods: An observational cross-sectional research design was used to assess ballistic and isometric force production of the lower limbs across players from four professional and semi-professional soccer clubs during the pre-season period. Seventy-six professional male lower-league soccer players (mass: 82.5 ± 8.2 kg; height: 1.80 ± 0.07 m; age: 25.8 ± 4.3 years) performed three trials of the countermovement jump (CMJ) and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) using force plates. Players were categorized as strong and weak using the group’s average IMTP relative peak force (33.41 N/kg). A series of one-way Bayesian independent t-tests were performed to determine the difference between strong and weak groups. Results: A large magnitude of difference was observed between strong and weak players for relative peak force (d [95% CI] = 2.53 [2.017–∞]), with strong evidence supporting the hypothesis (BF₁₀ = 2.698 × 10⁺¹⁴). There was moderate evidence to support the hypothesis that strong players (n = 37) had a greater modified reactive strength index (mRSI) and relative average braking force in comparison to weaker players (n = 39). All other evidence was weak, with trivial-to-small differences (d = 0.10–0.42) for jump height, jump momentum, propulsive force, force at minimum displacement, time to take off, and countermovement depth. Conclusions: Maximal relative strength has implications on jump performance, albeit not on the jump outcome. Stronger players performed the CMJ more efficiently when observing the mRSI, with a shorter time to take off, while producing greater average relative forces during the braking phase. This could have potential implications in the sporting environment when performing jumping tasks, where they can achieve a similar outcome over a shorter duration. Full article

The research concentrates on determining the degree of internationalization of born global SMEs, believing that some push factors determine internationalization, pull factors, and internal firm-specific factors. Three important factors were found in looking into the causes of internationalization in born global firms: push, pull, and internal firm-specific factors. The study used a survey instrument with a sample of 280 manufacturing-related SMEs chosen from manufacturing clusters in India. A metric called the “index of internationalization” is used to gauge how internationalization in SMEs takes shape. The results demonstrated that internal firm-specific factors influence the internationalization of firms relatively highly compared to push and pull factors. The results unequivocally demonstrate that developing economies have distinct factors that cause internationalization, opening up new avenues for further study. The research aids in the identification of the elements that will enhance early internationalization and tries to draw the attention of young entrepreneurs. This research also helps prioritize the factors responsible for early internationalization. These findings are pertinent for the practitioners and researchers working in this area. This research is helpful for start-ups looking for global opportunities; this research categorizes factors significant in the global journey of the born global firms. Full article