Search Results (981)

On 7 January 2025, an Mw 7.0 earthquake struck Dingri County, Shigatse, Tibet. This was the largest event in the region in recent years. Analysis of the Dingri earthquake is urgent for understanding the coseismic slip and early postseismic deformation characteristics. In this study, the coseismic characteristics were analyzed by using Lutan-1 and Sentinel-1 data with the Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar method, and then the Okada elastic half-space dislocation model was used to invert the coseismic slip distribution of the seismogenic fault. The postseismic characteristics were analyzed by Sentinel-1 ascending and descending orbits, then time-series deformation results were obtained with the Small Baseline Subset InSAR method. The main results are as follows: (1) The maximum coseismic subsidence is −2.03 m and the maximum coseismic uplift is 0.68 m, the coseismic deformation is concentrated on the west side of the new rupture trace generated by the coseismic events; (2) the ruptured fault is dominated by normal faulting with a minor strike-slip component, and the slip is mainly distributed at depths of 0–15 km, with a maximum slip of about 3.97 m; (3) the deformation characteristics of the fault in the postseismic stage are basically consistent with those during the coseismic stage. The research results play an important role in understanding the earthquake fault tectonic activities. Full article

Thermal and nuclear power systems require materials capable of sustaining high mechanical and thermal loads over prolonged service durations. Among these, 9Cr heat-resistant steels are particularly attractive due to their superior mechanical strength and extended creep rupture life, making them suitable for extreme environments. In this study, multiple machine learning models were explored to predict the creep rupture life of 9Cr heat-resistant steels. A comprehensive dataset of 913 samples, compiled from experimental results and literature, included eight input variables—covering chemical composition, stress, and temperature—and one output variable, the creep rupture life. The optimized artificial neural network (ANN) model achieved the highest predictive accuracy with a regularization coefficient of 0.01, 10,000 training iterations, and five hidden layers with 30 neurons per layer, attaining an R² of 0.9718 for the test dataset. Beyond accurate prediction, single- and two-variable sensitivity analyses were used to elucidate statistically meaningful trends and interactions among the input parameters governing creep rupture life. The analyses indicated that among all variables, test conditions—particularly the test temperature—exert a pronounced negative effect on creep life, significantly reducing durability at elevated temperatures. Additionally, an optimization module enables identification of input conditions to achieve desired creep life, while the Index of Relative Importance (I_RI) and quantitative effect analysis enhance interpretability. This framework represents a robust and reliable tool for long-term creep life assessment and the design of 9Cr steels for high-temperature applications. Full article

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) play crucial roles in the growth and survival of microorganisms. However, the lack of effective evaluation for extraction methods has limited further investigations and applications of EPS. This study established a quantitative assessment system for algal EPS thermal extraction methods based on extraction yield, cell integrity, and EPS chemical properties. An extraction efficiency parameter (ε) was introduced to quantify the relationship between EPS yield and cell rupture. Thermal treatment proved to be an effective approach for algal EPS extraction. Using the proposed evaluation system, the extraction methods for EPS of Microcystis were compared and optimized, including the following treatments: NaOH, NaCl, and buffer solutions (borate, phosphate, Tris-HCl). The results demonstrated that heating at 55 °C for 30 min with borate buffer achieved the highest extraction efficiency for EPS, with an ε value of 11.06 ± 1.13. In contrast, NaOH treatment at 60 °C for 30 min resulted in 30.4% cell rupture and the lowest ε value (9.7 ± 0.81). Furthermore, the modeled cell rupture rates aligned with flow cytometry and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy analyses. The EPS extraction evaluation system developed in this study was empirically validated as a robust tool for optimizing extraction protocols for algal EPS. Full article

Background/Objectives: Uterine fibroids are the most common benign neoplasms of the female genital tract, with a prevalence of 20% to 40% among women of reproductive age. Their management in the context of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) represents a major clinical challenge, characterized by controversies, contrasting approaches, and a lack of shared guidelines. Indeed, the detrimental effects of fibroid treatments are not well known and may be influenced by the size, location, and number of fibroids. The impact of hysteroscopic myomectomy in women affected by submucosal myomas (FIGO classification type: G0–G2) is well documented in the current literature; however, the impact of intramural and subserosal myoma removal (FIGO types 3–8), in particular those <4/5 cm in diameter, remains controversial. The aim of the present study is to introduce and share a pragmatic surgical approach to uterine fibroid management prior to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), to reduce the knowledge gap regarding uterine fibroid treatment. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observationally study that included 94 cases of infertile women, who underwent myomectomy at our IVF centre at Sandro Pertini Hospital, Rome, Italy, between 2020 and 2025. These patients met the inclusion criterion of having an idiopathic/tubal factor of infertility and were aged < 40. We evaluated a group of 17 women (group A) who underwent hysteroscopic myomectomy for submucosal fibroids (FIGO types 0–2) and a group of 39 women (group B) who underwent open (laparotomic) myomectomy for intramural/subserosal fibroids (FIGO types 3–8). Group B was compared with a control group of 38 women who were similar in terms of all demographic and clinical parameters and myoma features (group C) and did not want to undergo a myomectomy procedure. All surgical procedures were executed by the same expert surgeon following our proposed model: submucosal fibroids were always removed by operative hysteroscopy, while intramural/subserosal fibroids were removed if there were three or more and if they were at least 1 ≥ 3 cm in size. All enrolled patients subsequently underwent IVF treatment at our centre, which consisted of an antagonist protocol for ovarian stimulation, and all transferred embryos were of good quality according to the recent European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) classification. Results: In group A, we observed an implantation rate of 41% and a clinical pregnancy rate of 35.2%, and these results are consistent with the current literature. In group B, we obtained statistically significant differences in the implantation (31% vs. 12.9%) and pregnancy rates (28.1% vs. 7.8%) compared to group C (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively). In addition, the live birth rate was statistically higher compared to that in group C (p < 0.01). Miscarriage and preterm delivery rates were lower in group B, although the differences were not statistically significant. No severe post-surgical complications, such as uterine rupture, were observed during subsequent pregnancies. Conclusions: Despite the limited patient sample size, the monocentric experience, and the retrospective design, we emphasize the effectiveness of our proposed surgical model in women affected by myomas. Indeed, the surgical treatment of submucosal, intramural, and subserosal lesions may improve ART and pregnancy outcomes (through a higher implantation rate, pregnancy rate, and live birth rate, as well as a lower miscarriage/preterm rate). Full article

Background/Objectives: Changes in the physiological activity of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) family caused by genetic variability may significantly affect the phenotype of the musculoskeletal system and, consequently, the risk of sports injuries. This study aimed to investigate whether the TGFBI (rs1442), TGFBR3 (rs1805113 and rs1805117), and MSTN (rs11333758) polymorphisms, either individually or in combination, were associated with susceptibility to muscle injury, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, and other injuries. Methods: The study group included 202 physically active Caucasians with reported sport injuries and 133 healthy controls. All the samples were genotyped using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). Results: The results revealed that (1) the TGFBR3 rs1805117 TC genotype was nominally associated with increased ACL injury risk; (2) the MSTN rs11333758 heterozygotes was more frequent in the one injury group (vs controls) and in the ACL group, whereas in the multiple vs. one comparison the over-dominant model suggested lower odds for heterozygotes; and (3) the TGFBI rs1442 CG genotype was nominally associated with lower odds of fractures, dislocations or sprains. In addition, simultaneous analysis of chosen SNPs revealed interactions between TGFBR3 rs1805117 and rs1805113, with a nominal association of the rs1805113 G allele with increased injury risk, as did rs11333758 and rs1805113, with a potential effect of rs11333758 on injury status. However, haplotype analysis of the TGFBR3 SNPs revealed no significant associations. After Bonferroni correction, none of the associations remained statistically significant. Conclusions: The results suggested that carrying specific TGFBI, TGFBR3, and MSTN genotypes may be potentially associated with susceptibility to musculoskeletal injuries in a physically active Caucasians. Full article

The M_JMA 7.6 (Mw 7.5) Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 1 January 2024 in Japan triggered widespread slope failures across northern Noto region, but their spatial controls and susceptibility patterns remain poorly quantified. Most previous studies have focused mainly on fault rupture, ground deformation, and tsunami impacts, leaving a clear gap in machine learning based assessment of earthquake-induced slope failures. This study integrates 2323 mapped landslides with eleven conditioning factors to develop the first data-driven susceptibility framework for the 2024 event. Spatial analysis shows that 75% of the landslides are smaller than 3220 m² and nearly half occurred within about 23 km of the epicenter, reflecting concentrated ground shaking beyond the rupture zone. Terrain variables such as slope (mean 31.8°), southwest-facing aspects, and elevations of 100–300 m influenced the failure patterns, along with peak ground acceleration values of 0.8–1.1 g and proximity to roads and rivers. Six supervised machine learning models were trained, with Random Forest and Gradient Boosting achieving the highest accuracies (AUC = 0.95 and 0.94, respectively). Explainable AI using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) identified slope, epicentral distance, and peak ground acceleration as the dominant predictors. The resulting susceptibility maps align well with observed failures and provide an interpretable foundation for post-earthquake hazard assessment and regional risk reduction. Further work should integrate post-seismic rainfall, multi-temporal inventories, and InSAR deformation to support dynamic hazard assessment and improved early warning. Full article

Glued laminated timber (glulam) is increasingly adopted as a sustainable structural material; however, its performance under bending can be limited by brittle tensile failures and variability caused by natural defects. This study examines the flexural behavior of glulam beams strengthened with externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets. A four-point bending experimental program was carried out on glulam beams with varying CFRP bonded lengths, including unreinforced control beams. The results demonstrate that CFRP reinforcement enhanced load–carrying capacity by up to 48%, increased stiffness, and shifted failure modes from brittle tension–side ruptures to more favorable compression–controlled mechanisms. A nonlinear finite element (FE) model was developed using DIANA software 10.5 to simulate the structural response of both unreinforced and CFRP–strengthened beams. The numerical model accurately reproduced the experimental load–deflection behavior, stress redistribution, and failure trends, with deviations in ultimate load prediction generally within ±16% across all reinforcement configurations. The simulations further revealed the critical influence of CFRP bonded length on stress transfer efficiency and failure mode transition, mimicking experimental observations. By integrating experimental findings with numerical simulations and simplified analytical predictions, the study demonstrates that reinforcement length and bond activation govern the effectiveness of CFRP strengthening. The proposed combined methodology provides a reliable framework for evaluating and designing CFRP strengthened glulam beams. Full article

Low-disturbance liquid manure injection is increasingly important for sustainable soil management because it reduces residue burial, minimizes surface disruption, and lowers energy demand during application. However, the performance of low-disturbance shanks has not been systematically optimized, and their interaction with soil remains poorly quantified. This study developed an integrated discrete element method (DEM)–experimental framework to evaluate and optimize the performance of a purpose-built injector shank featuring a 45° rake angle, 25 mm thickness, and 110 mm width. The framework aimed to identify operating conditions that balance soil disturbance and energy efficiency. A DEM soil model was constructed using mechanical properties obtained from laboratory characterization tests and validated against soil bin experiments measuring draft force and soil rupture area across five working depths (100–250 mm) and three travel speeds (350–450 mm/s). The calibrated model showed strong agreement with experimental observations, yielding mean absolute relative errors of 1.7% for draft force and 6.2% for rupture area. Following validation, a multi-objective optimization was performed to minimize draft force while maximizing soil rupture, two key indicators of energy demand and injection effectiveness. Optimization results identified the most favorable operating parameters at a forward speed of 450 mm/s and an injection depth of 150 mm, achieving a desirability score of 0.884. The integrated DEM–experimental framework demonstrated reliable predictive capability and enables virtual testing of soil–tool interactions prior to field implementation. This study provides a scientifically grounded approach for improving injector shank operation and supports sustainable manure management by identifying settings that achieve adequate soil disruption while reducing energy consumption. Full article

Cup rupture failures in strip steel welds can lead to strip breakage, resulting in unplanned downtime of high-speed continuous rolling mills and scrap steel losses. Manual visual inspection suffers from a high false positive rate and cannot meet the production cycle time requirements. This paper proposes a lightweight online cup rupture visual inspection method based on an improved YOLOv10 algorithm. The backbone feature extraction network is replaced with ShuffleNetV2 to reduce the model’s parameter count and computational complexity. An ECA attention mechanism is incorporated into the backbone network to enhance the model’s focus on cup rupture micro-cracks. A Slim-Neck design is adopted, utilizing a dual optimization with GSConv and VoV-GSCSP, significantly improving the balance between real-time performance and accuracy. Based on the results, the optimized model achieves a precision of 98.8% and a recall of 99.2%, with a mean average precision (mAP) of 99.5%—an improvement of 0.2 percentage points over the baseline. The model has a computational load of 4.4 GFLOPs and a compact size of only 3.24 MB, approximately half that of the original model. On embedded devices, it achieves a real-time inference speed of 122 FPS, which is about 2.5, 11, and 1.8 times faster than SSD, Faster R-CNN, and YOLOv10n, respectively. Therefore, the lightweight model based on the improved YOLOv10 not only enhances detection accuracy but also significantly reduces computational cost and model size, enabling efficient real-time cup rupture detection in industrial production environments on embedded platforms. Full article

We investigate the fundamental trade-off between entropy and the Gini index within income distributions, employing a stochastic framework to expose deficiencies in conventional inequality metrics. Anchored in the principle of maximum entropy (ME), we position entropy as a key marker of societal robustness, while the Gini index, identical to the (second-order) K-spread coefficient, captures spread but neglects dynamics in distribution tails. We recommend supplanting Lorenz profiles with simpler graphs such as the odds and probability density functions, and a core set of numerical indicators (K-spread $K_2/\mu$, standardized entropy ${\Phi }_{\mu }$, and upper and lower tail indices, $\xi , \zeta$) for deeper diagnostics. This approach fuses ME into disparity evaluation, highlighting a path to harmonize fairness with structural endurance. Drawing from percentile records in the World Income Inequality Database from 1947 to 2023, we fit flexible models (Pareto–Burr–Feller, Dagum) and extract K-moments and tail indices. The results unveil a concave frontier: moderate Gini reductions have little effect on entropy, but aggressive equalization incurs steep stability costs. Country-level analyses (Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Bulgaria) link entropy declines to political ruptures, positioning low entropy as a precursor to instability. On the other hand, analyses based on the core set of indicators for present-day geopolitical powers show that they are positioned in a high stability area. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Although rupture of aneurysms at the internal carotid-posterior communicating artery (ICA-PCom) junction accounts for a small percentage of all ruptured intracranial aneurysms, they are clinically relevant due to their proximity to perforator-rich cisterns, the optic-carotid-oculomotor pathways and flow-diverting zones, as well as their high likelihood for causing early neurological instability. Additionally, ruptured ICA-PCom aneurysms that have multiple lobulations are associated with increased variability in wall shear stress, local inflammatory remodeling and higher propensity for rupture at smaller sizes compared to other types of aneurysms. Due to the rapidity of early physiological destabilization in most patients with ruptured ICA-PCom aneurysms, clinical–anatomical correlations in these cases are often obscured by neurological deterioration; therefore, the presentation of this patient provides a unique opportunity to correlate the minimal early symptoms, tri-lobulation of the aneurysm and confined cisternal hemorrhage, to better understand rupture behavior, surgical decision-making in an anatomically challenging area, and postoperative recovery. Case Presentation: A 48-year-old hypertensive female experienced an acute “thunderclap” headache accompanied by intense photophobia and focal meningeal irritation, but, unexpectedly, retained a normal neurologic examination. She did exhibit some minor ocular motor micro-latencies, early cortical attentional strain and lateralized pain sensation that suggested localized cisternal involvement despite lack of generalized neurologic impairment. Digital subtraction angiography and three-dimensional CT angiography revealed a ruptured, tri-lobulated aneurysm originating from the communicating portion of the left internal carotid artery proximal to its origin from the posterior communicating artery, oriented toward the perimesencephalic cisterns. The aneurysm was surgically clipped using a standard left pterional craniotomy with direct visualization, after careful dissection through the carotid and optic windows to preserve the anterior choroidal artery, oculomotor nerve, and surrounding perforators. The neck of the aneurysm was reconstructed with a single straight clip, without compromise to the parent vessel lumen. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course without vasospasm or neurologic deficit. At both 3 and 9 months postoperatively the patient remained free of clinical neurologic deficit, and imaging demonstrated continued aneurysm exclusion, preserved ICA-PCom anatomy, and no evidence of delayed ischemic injury or hydrocephalus. Conclusions: The goal of this report is to demonstrate how a ruptured, morphologically complex ICA-PCom aneurysm may present with preserved neurologic function, thereby enabling the study of clinical–anatomical associations before secondary injury mechanisms intervene. The relationship between the configuration of the patient’s symptoms, geometry of the aneurysm and pattern of hemorrhage within the cisterns offers insight into a rare rupture pattern observed during routine clinical experience. Through complete anatomical analysis, timely microsurgical reconstruction and consistent follow-up, the authors were able to achieve long-term recovery of this particular patient. Continued advancements in vascular imaging techniques, aneurysmal wall modeling, and postoperative monitoring will likely help clarify the underlying mechanism(s) responsible for such presentations. Full article

Background/Objectives: In two-stage flexor tendon reconstruction, a biomechanically strong connection between the tendon graft, the motor unit, and the distal phalanx of the finger is essential to enable active rehabilitation after surgery. However, the available literature contains few biomechanical studies concerning the strength of this connection. In this study, we tested a new model of this connection involving suturing the tendon graft to the phalanx using an anchor and to the flexor digitorum profundus stump with a three-level continuous suture (palmaris longus—flexor digitorum profundus—anchor (PL-FDP-A)). Methods: For this study, we used eight fingers from patients with injuries that were unsuitable for replantation, as well as eight palmaris longus tendons harvested from cadavers. Eight specimens simulating the PL-FDP-A connections were prepared and tested on a tensile testing machine. The elongation of the specimens under a 20 N load (the minimum for active loading) and the force at rupture were assessed. Results: The mean rupture strength was 44.53 N (SD 16.27, min. 16.50, max. 64.60), with elongation at 20 N of 4.28 mm (SD 2.65, min. 1.49, max. 9.14). Conclusions: Based on our findings, we recommend the PL-FDP-A connection for use in two-stage flexor tendon reconstruction due to (1) rupture values which significantly exceeded the force required for active rehabilitation, and (2) minimal elongation at 20 N, so that motion transmission was not impaired. Full article

To investigate the performance of horizontally reinforced composite foundations in resisting surface rupture of normal faults, this study designed and conducted a series of physical model tests. A systematic comparative analysis was performed on the fracture resistance of sites with three-layer sand, five-layer sand, and three-layer clay geogrid horizontally reinforced composite foundations under 70° normal fault dislocation. The results indicate that significant changes in earth pressure serve as a precursor indicator of fault rupture, and their evolution process reveals the internal energy accumulation and release mechanism. Increasing the number of geogrid layers significantly enhances the lateral confinement of the foundation, resulting in a narrower macro-rupture zone located farther from the structure in sand sites, and promotes the formation of a step-fault scarp deformation mode at the surface, which is more conducive to structural safety. Under identical reinforcement conditions, the clay site exhibited comprehensively superior fracture resistance compared to the sand site due to the soil cohesion and stronger interfacial interaction with the geogrids, manifested as more significant deviation of the rupture path, and lower microseismic accelerations and structural strains transmitted to the building. Comprehensive analysis confirms that employing geogrid-reinforced composite foundations can effectively guide the surface rupture path and improve the deformation pattern, representing an effective engineering measure for mitigating disaster risk for buildings spanning active faults. Full article

Background and Objectives: Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) is a significant obstetric complication associated with increased maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Inflammation plays a central role in its pathophysiology, and maternal inflammatory biomarkers have gained increasing attention as potential predictors of disease onset and adverse outcomes. Materials and Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized evidence from PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases evaluating maternal inflammatory biomarkers—particularly interleukin-6 (IL-6)—in women with PPROM compared with controls. Eligible studies assessed biomarker levels in serum, plasma, or amniotic fluid and reported quantitative outcomes. Data were pooled using random-effects models, and heterogeneity was quantified using the I² statistic. Results: A total of 23 studies involving 2841 participants were included. Maternal IL-6 concentrations were significantly elevated in PPROM compared with controls in both maternal serum (pooled SMD = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.15–2.29; p < 0.001) and amniotic fluid (SMD = 2.84; 95% CI: 2.01–3.67; p < 0.001). CRP showed a moderate association (SMD = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.61–1.36; p < 0.001), whereas IL-8 and TNF-α displayed inconsistent relationships. Conclusions: Elevated maternal IL-6 concentrations, particularly in amniotic fluid, are strongly associated with PPROM and adverse perinatal outcomes. IL-6 demonstrated superior diagnostic and prognostic value compared with other inflammatory markers. These findings support IL-6 as a promising biomarker for early risk identification and individualized the management of high-risk pregnancies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is the standard treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysms, but the risk of endoleak compromises its effectiveness. Type IA endoleak, stemming from an inadequate proximal seal, is the most critical complication associated with the highest risk of rupture. Current preoperative planning relies on static anatomical measurements from computed tomography angiography that fail to predict seal failure due to dynamic biomechanical forces. This study aimed to retrospectively validate the predictive accuracy of a novel physics-informed digital twin and artificial intelligence (AI) model for predicting type IA endoleak risk compared to conventional static planning methods. Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center proof-of-concept validation study involving 15 patients who underwent elective EVAR (5 with confirmed type IA endoleak and 10 without type IA endoleak). A patient-specific digital twin was created for each case to simulate stent-graft deployment and capture the dynamic biomechanical interaction with the aortic wall. A logistic regression AI model processed over 16,000 biomechanical measurements to generate a single, objective metric of the endoleak risk index (ERI). The predictive performance of the ERI (using a cutoff of 0.80) was assessed and compared against a 1:3 propensity score-matched conventional control group (n = 45) who received traditional anatomical-based planning. Results: The mean ERI was significantly higher in the endoleak-positive group (0.85 ± 0.10) compared to the endoleak-negative group (0.39 ± 0.11) (p = 0.011). The digital twin/AI model demonstrated superior predictive capability, achieving an overall accuracy of 80% (95% CI: 51.9–95.7) and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.58–0.99). Crucially, the model achieved a sensitivity of 100% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%, correctly identifying all high-risk cases and ruling out endoleak in all low-risk cases. In stark contrast, the matched conventional planning group achieved an overall accuracy of only 51.1% and an AUC of 0.54. Conclusion: This physics-informed digital twin and AI framework successfully validated its capability to accurately and objectively predict the risk of type IA endoleak following EVAR. The derived ERI offers a significant quantitative advantage over traditional static anatomical measurements, establishing it as a highly reliable safety tool (100% NPV) for ruling out endoleak risk. This technology represents a critical advancement toward personalized EVAR planning, enabling surgeons to proactively identify high-risk anatomies and adjust treatment strategies to minimize post-procedural complications. Further large-scale, multicenter prospective trials are necessary to confirm these findings and support clinical adoption. Full article