Search Results (115,169)

This study quantifies the effect of air and fuel filter restriction on fuel consumption, regulated pollutants (CO and HC), and CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions under real driving conditions in a hilly high-altitude environment. Four filter configurations were evaluated: clean air filter–clean fuel filter (CAF–CFF, reference), dirty air filter–clean fuel filter (DAF–CFF), clean air filter–dirty fuel filter (CAF–DFF), and dirty air filter–dirty fuel filter (DAF–DFF). Each test was repeated three times over the same RDE route in Quito (≈2100–2900 m). Fuel consumption was estimated from ECU-based signals, and CO₂ emission factors and regulated pollutant (CO and HC) emission factors were computed from measured exhaust concentrations and distance normalization. Results were analyzed by RDE section (urban, rural, motorway) and expressed as percent changes relative to the reference configuration to directly isolate filter restriction effects. Relative to CAF–CFF, DAF–CFF produced the largest increase in average fuel consumption (+7.2%) and the largest urban CO₂ penalty (+22.7%), indicating a strong efficiency sensitivity to intake restriction under transient operation. CAF–DFF increased average fuel consumption by 6% and produced the strongest motorway penalties for CO (+77.3%) and HC (+44.4%), suggesting that fuel delivery restriction has a stronger influence on incomplete oxidation products under sustained higher load. The combined restriction (DAF–DFF) showed non-additive responses depending on the operating regime. Random Forest models were trained to estimate CO₂, CO, and HC, achieving R² values of 0.8571, 0.8229, and 0.7690, respectively, while multiple linear regression achieved an R² of 0.852 for fuel consumption. The proposed approach supports data-driven monitoring of filter restriction effects under real driving operation, while acknowledging that fuel consumption and CO₂ are obtained through different measurement and conversion paths and may not yield identical percent changes. Full article

The high-temperature engine nozzle is a critical component of a rocket motor, and its stability and performance are significantly influenced by internal high-temperature gas radiative heat transfer. Due to the non-gray nature of the nozzle medium and the complexity of the Radiative Transfer Equation (RTE), rapid and accurate simulation of radiative heat transfer is crucial for engineering applications. This paper presents a high-efficiency solution coupling the Full-Spectrum Correlated k-Distribution (FSCK) model with the Null-Collision Monte Carlo Method (NCMCM). To address the inherent computational bottleneck of linear traversal in unstructured grids, a hybrid ray-localization model integrating KD-tree and Bounding Volume Hierarchy (BVH) is proposed. This model shifts the search mechanism from element-wise iteration to spatial topological indexing, achieving logarithmic search complexity and significantly mitigating the sensitivity of computational cost to grid scale. Furthermore, a collaborative MPI–OpenMP parallel framework is established to maximize hardware utilization, where an optimized guided scheduling strategy effectively counteracts the stochastic load imbalances encountered in traditional static schemes. Results indicate that the proposed method reduces the total execution time to approximately 1/4 compared to traditional models. Simulations identify the convergent section as the primary radiation zone, where CO₂ contributes less to the radiative source term than H₂O under high-temperature conditions. Full article

Introduction and Clinical Significance: Cushing’s disease is a rare but clinically consequential cause of endogenous hypercortisolism in children, most commonly resulting from ACTH-secreting pituitary microadenomas. In contrast to adults, growth deceleration accompanied by disproportionate weight gain represents the earliest and most sensitive clinical marker in pediatric cases. Sustained hypercortisolism during critical periods of somatic maturation may compromise final height, disrupt pubertal progression, and induce persistent metabolic and neurocognitive sequelae, even after biochemical remission. Early recognition and timely intervention are, therefore, essential to preserve developmental trajectories. Case Presentation: A 13-year-and-8-month-old boy was referred for evaluation of progressive linear growth impairment, markedly reduced growth velocity (0.8 cm/year; <1st percentile), and insidious weight gain over a two-year period. His height was at the 5th percentile, substantially below the mid-parental target. Biochemical assessment showed repeated elevations of 24 h urinary free cortisol and ACTH levels, consistent with ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism. Dynamic testing supported a pituitary etiology, and high-resolution MRI identified a 3 × 2 mm microadenoma. The patient underwent successful endoscopic transsphenoidal resection. Postoperatively, transient central diabetes insipidus and secondary adrenal insufficiency developed, requiring structured endocrine follow-up. Recovery of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis function was confirmed one year after surgery, allowing discontinuation of glucocorticoid replacement. Conclusions: Cushing’s disease should be suspected in children presenting with growth deceleration in the context of disproportionate weight gain. Timely diagnosis and early surgical management are essential to mitigate long-term auxological and metabolic sequelae. Postoperative endocrine disturbances, particularly transient adrenal insufficiency, are frequent and require systematic follow-up with periodic functional reassessment to ensure complete endocrine recovery. Full article

Modern oceanographic studies demonstrate that marginal seas and semi-restricted marine environments, including epicontinental seas and carbonate platforms, are highly sensitive to changes in circulation, freshwater input, stratification, and redox conditions, allowing climatic perturbations to be recorded with high fidelity. Understanding the behavior of such systems under icehouse conditions is therefore important for interpreting climate variability in both ancient and modern oceans. The Late Paleozoic Ice Age was a prolonged icehouse interval characterized by repeated glacial and interglacial oscillations, yet its climate dynamics are still mainly constrained by Gondwanan glacigenic records and low-latitude carbonate successions. High-resolution climate information from mid-latitude regions remains limited. The purpose of this study is to obtain high-resolution mid-latitude geochemical constraints on climate variability during the Late Paleozoic Ice Age using a semi-restricted marine carbonate succession. Specifically, this study aims to (1) establish high-resolution carbon and oxygen isotope records from well-preserved carbonate samples spanning the Visean to Asselian interval; (2) identify and characterize major glacial to interglacial cycles recorded in the succession; (3) evaluate the extent to which semi-restricted paleogeography amplifies isotopic responses relative to coeval low-latitude open-marine settings and (4) assess the climatic significance of a short-lived negative carbon isotope excursion during the middle Bashkirian. Here we present high-resolution carbon and oxygen isotope records from a Visean to Asselian marine carbonate succession deposited in a semi-restricted basin. Stable isotope analyses of well-preserved carbonate samples document temporal variations in carbonate carbon and oxygen isotopes. The records resolve at least three major glacial to interglacial cycles, with isotope shifts substantially larger than those reported from coeval low-latitude open-marine settings. Carbon isotope variations reach up to 7.7‰, while oxygen isotope variations reach up to 9.2‰. These pronounced responses are attributed to semi-restricted paleogeography, facies heterogeneity, and the sensitivity of marine carbonate systems to stratification, redox variability, and organic carbon cycling. A short-lived negative carbon isotope excursion during the middle Bashkirian may record a Northern Hemisphere deglaciation event superimposed on the broader Gondwanan icehouse background, a signal that is not clearly expressed in other regions. Overall, this study describes new mid-latitude geochemical constraints on Late Paleozoic climate variability and offers valuable analogs for understanding climate responses in modern marginal marine systems. Full article

The rapid evolution of live-streaming commerce has reshaped retail supply chains, shifting market dominance from manufacturers to influential streamers. Despite this shift, the internal mechanisms of selling efforts and paid traffic acquisition remain underexplored. To bridge this theoretical gap, we develop a game-theoretic framework to model the endogenous power structure and compare the streamer-led top-tier (KS) mode and the brand-led ordinary (MS) mode. Our analytical results reveal three key theoretical insights. First, we establish strict positive monotonicity between streamer influence and equilibrium decisions. Regardless of the power structure, an increase in influence consistently drives the streamer to intensify operational inputs while simultaneously inducing the brand to raise the direct selling price. Second, consumer sensitivity acts as a positive driver of the top-tier mode. Higher sensitivity motivates the streamer to scale up sales efforts and paid-traffic volume, which corresponds to an optimal increase in the brand’s retail price. Moreover, the top-tier mode exhibits negative sensitivity to operational costs. We prove that rising costs lead to a significant reduction in the streamer’s operational portfolio and, consequently, to a decrease in the brand’s price, indicating that the high-input equilibrium is constrained by cost frictions. From a managerial perspective, numerical experiments reveal not a “Consensus on Scale” but a “Conflict on Structure.” Specifically, brands maximize profit by collaborating with top-tier streamers, while streamers maximize profit by attaining top-tier influence. However, the brand receives more profit by relinquishing channel leadership with respect to the decision hierarchy. In contrast, the streamer is less profitable as a leader than as a follower due to the “leadership trap,” in which greater operational burdens outweigh first-mover advantages. Full article

β-agonists are prohibited antibiotics that have raised concerns due to their illegal use in the livestock industry, posing potential toxicity risks to human health. For ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analysis of β-agonists, effective sample pretreatment is a crucial and challenging process that dictates the overall reliability and sensitivity of the method. Thus, this study developed a reliable method utilizing dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) with NH₂-UiO-66 as a superior adsorbent, coupled with UPLC-MS/MS, to extract and quantify β-agonists in environmental water, swine urine, and milk. The synthesized NH₂-UiO-66 exhibited outstanding adsorption capacities (146.06–358.00 mg/g) towards the target analytes. The optimized method demonstrated excellent performance: low matrix effects (−13.10–15.30%), wide linearity (0.1–50 μg/L), low limits of detection (0.04–0.09 μg/L), and satisfactory recoveries (81.48–106.67%) with good precision (intra-day RSDs 1.51–6.24%; inter-day RSDs 2.06–10.96%). Adsorption mechanism studies revealed that the extraction process, which followed the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, was driven primarily by electrostatic interactions, π-π stacking, and hydrogen bonding. Moreover, the material could be reused up to 10 times, with satisfactory recoveries of 81.30% to 116.10%. The proposed NH₂-UiO-66-d-SPE-UPLC-MS/MS protocol is generic and provides a robust and practical solution for monitoring trace β-agonists in animal-derived foods and environmental samples, ensuring food safety and environmental health. Full article

Background: The early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is critical to preventing progression and reducing associated morbidity. The original SCreening for Occult REnal Disease (SCORED) tool has been widely adopted for CKD screening. However, its length and inclusion of items with limited predictive value affect its practicality in specific settings. This study aimed to validate a modified version of the tool (SCORED-M), which has fewer items and improved predictive performance for the early detection of disease. Methods: A cross-sectional pilot project was conducted and the diagnostic performance of the revised tool (SCORED-M) was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value (NPV). Items were selected or excluded based on their statistical significance, odds ratios, and clinical relevance to CKD risk. The optimal threshold score for mass screening was determined through a comparative analysis. Results: A total of 116 eligible participants enrolled in this pilot study. SCORED-M, comprising six items, rather than nine, as in the original version, demonstrated superior screening performance. It achieved a higher area under curve (0.89 vs. 0.79), sensitivity (0.97), and NPV (0.97), indicating its improved capability to identify individuals with CKD and rule out those without the condition. The age-related scoring range was recalibrated from 2 to 4 points to a narrower span of 1–3 points, to moderate the influence of age as a standalone risk factor for CKD. Items with limited predictive contribution, such as ‘I am a woman’, ‘I have a history of heart attack or stroke’, and ‘I have circulation disease in my legs’, were removed, while clinically relevant variables like ‘I am diabetic’, ‘I have a history of congestive heart failure or heart failure’, ‘I have protein in my urine’, ‘I have uncontrolled high blood pressure’, and ‘I have a history of renal disease’ were retained. A threshold score of ≥4 was identified as optimal, balancing sensitivity and specificity while supporting resource-efficient screening and ensuring the reproducibility of results. Conclusions: This pilot study provided preliminary evidence that the SCORED-M tool offers a more concise and accurate approach to CKD/diagnosis. While the findings are promising, validation in larger and more diverse populations is necessary to confirm the generalizability of the model and refine it for broader clinical application in mass screening programmes. Full article

To fill hydrogen fuel cell vehicles quickly and safely, the SAE J2601 protocol has published the MC method, which includes control of the filling speed and pressure target. The filling speed depends on the final filling time, the formula for which is obtained by fitting simulated data. The pressure target depends on the final hydrogen temperature, whose analytical solution is derived from a thermodynamic tank model. This article derives new analytical solutions of the final filling time and hydrogen temperature based on an established lumped-parameter model of the storage tank. Based on the original MC method’s control logic, a new filling method that directly uses the analytical solutions of the final filling time and hydrogen temperature was proposed. The simulation results of the new filling method and the validated model (zone-dimensional gas and a one-dimensional tank wall, 0D1D) are compared. Under the ambient temperature conditions of the 0–20 °C and precooling temperature conditions of −20–0 °C set in this article, results show that the new filling method achieves maximum errors of 4.3 °C in its final hydrogen temperature and 0.9% in a state of charge (SOC) compared to the 0D1D model. Parameter sensitivity analysis reveals that initial pressure has the most significant impact on computational accuracy, followed by ambient and precooling temperatures. Future work may further improve prediction accuracy by incorporating correction factors for initial pressure and ambient temperature. Moreover, since the analytical solution of the final hydrogen temperature inherently includes the precooling temperature parameter, the new filling method can automatically adapt to precooling temperature variations. Full article

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) films are promising solid lubricants for aerospace and other advanced applications, yet their tribological performance is highly sensitive to environmental conditions. To enhance environmental adaptability, Zr-doped MoS₂ composite films were prepared by magnetron co-sputtering, and their composition, microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behavior were systematically investigated. The results showed that the as-deposited MoS₂ films exhibited a nearly stoichiometric sulfur-to-molybdenum ratio (S/Mo ≈ 2), while the Zr-doped MoS₂ composite films showed sulfur-deficient, sub-stoichiometric ratios (S/Mo < 2). Pure MoS₂ films displayed a porous columnar structure, whereas with the incorporation of Zr, the columnar structure becomes progressively more compact. Moreover, the film structure transitions from a purely crystalline form to a two-phase structure with both crystalline and amorphous phases coexisting. The hardness and elastic modulus of the films increased with the addition of Zr, mainly due to the densification of the structure and the disorder introduced in the film. Moderate Zr doping markedly improved the friction and wear performance of composite films across vacuum, atmospheric, and humid environments. The optimal film achieved a coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.02 and wear rate of 6.23 × 10⁻⁸ mm³/N·m in vacuum and COFs of 0.10 with low wear rates in both atmospheric and humid conditions. By adjusting the Zr target power to modulate Zr content, the crystallographic orientation and microstructure of MoS₂-Zr composite films could be tailored, thereby regulating their mechanical and tribological properties. This study provides theoretical guidance for the application of metal-doped MoS₂ composite films under alternating environmental conditions. Full article

Background: The Index of Cardiac Electrophysiological Balance (ICEB) has emerged as a electrocardiographic marker reflecting the equilibrium between ventricular depolarization and repolarization. Although obesity is known to alter cardiac electrophysiology, the combined influence of body mass index (BMI) and objective nutritional status on ICEB and its heart rate-corrected form (ICEBc) remains insufficiently defined. This study aimed to investigate the associations between BMI categories, nutritional status, and cardiac electrophysiological balance. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 591 adult patients classified as normal-weight, overweight, or obese according to BMI. Electrophysiological assessment of ICEB (QT/QRS) and ICEBc (QTc/QRS) values was calculated from standard 12-lead electrocardiogram recordings. Participants’ nutritional status was analyzed using validated clinical indices such as the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and Hemoglobin–Albumin–Lymphocyte–Platelet (HALP) score. Results: According to the results, both ICEB and ICEBc showed significant differences among BMI categories (p < 0.001). ICEB/ICEBc exhibited a non-linear distribution. The ICEB/ICEBc values were found to be minimum in the normal weight group at 4.22 ± 0.54/4.87 ± 0.66 and maximum in the obese group at 4.27 ± 0.51/4.99 ± 0.59. The ICEB/ICEBc value closest to the optimal physiological limits was found in the overweight group at 4.04 ± 0.53/4.59 ± 0.58. Higher ICEBc quartiles were accompanied by increased GNRI (120.9 ± 13.7, 129 ± 15.1, 130.5 ± 16.3, 131.8 ± 17.6, p < 0.001)and decreased HALP scores (59.7 ± 24.4, 56.1 ± 25.3, 55.2 ± 25.9, 51.1 ± 19.4, p: 0.025). Conclusion: The association between BMI and cardiac electrophysiological balance is non-linear and appears to be modulated by nutritional and inflammatory status. ICEBc may represent a more sensitive marker than ICEB for detecting subtle electrophysiological alterations related to obesity. Full article

Accurate typhoon inflow characterization is essential for offshore wind turbine safety in typhoon-prone regions. This study presents a physics-informed WRF–TurbSim framework that reconstructs rotor-relevant, stage-aware inflow fields for Typhoon In-Fa (2021) by mapping mesoscale stability and turbulence diagnostics into a User-Defined von Kármán model. Spectral and coherence checks confirm consistency with the imposed constraints and show pronounced regime dependence: low-frequency coherence decay remains near IEC neutral behavior, whereas high-frequency decay weakens substantially during the stable eye stage. The results suggest that neutral coherence assumptions may be unreliable in strongly stable typhoon regimes, motivating stage-aware inflow characterization for engineering applications. Full article

Crohn’s disease (CD) is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation accompanied by gut dysbiosis and redox imbalance. We investigated the role of dual oxidase-2 (DUOX2), a major epithelial source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), in linking oxidative stress to microbe–host crosstalk. DUOX2 expression was upregulated in human intestinal samples and was positively associated with inflammatory readouts, oxidative stress indices, and dysbiosis. Intestinal epithelial cell-specific Duox2 knockout (KO) mice exhibited reduced mucosal ROS, preserved barrier integrity, and attenuated dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)- and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis. Cohousing and fecal microbiota transplantation demonstrated that this protective phenotype was microbiota-dependent. Multi-omics profiling identified enrichment of Parabacteroides, particularly P. distasonis, in Duox2 KO mice, and oral supplementation with P. distasonis enhanced resistance to colitis. Mechanistically, DUOX2-derived oxidative stress constrained Parabacteroides growth, as P. distasonis displayed marked susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide, with excessive intracellular ROS accumulation and an absence of key antioxidant defenses—including peroxide reductase C (AhpC) and superoxide dismutase B (SodB)—indicating that epithelial DUOX2 shapes a hostile luminal redox niche unfavorable to these beneficial microbes. Pharmacological inhibition of DUOX2 with Compound 521 reduced oxidative stress, ameliorated colitis, and partially restored microbial balance. These findings establish a DUOX2–ROS–microbiota axis in which epithelial DUOX2 amplifies oxidative stress, remodels the gut ecosystem, and promotes inflammation, and highlights DUOX2 suppression or ROS-sensitive Parabacteroides as potential redox-centric therapeutic strategies for CD. Full article

Background: Osteotomy around the knee (OAK) is a joint-preserving surgery for knee osteoarthritis, yet some patients experience suboptimal outcomes. Preoperative identification of high-risk patients remains challenging. This study aimed to develop a machine learning model to predict clinical outcomes after OAK using preoperative gait acceleration data from inertial measurement units (IMUs). Methods: This multicenter prospective study enrolled patients undergoing OAK. Preoperative gait was recorded using synchronized IMUs placed on the lumbar spine and tibia. Lumbar and tibial signals were used for gait-cycle segmentation, while wavelet-based time–frequency features were extracted from tibial acceleration only. Outcomes were defined by achievement of the minimal clinically important difference in ≥3 KOOS subscales at 2-year follow-up (Good vs. Poor). Continuous wavelet transform features (5–20 Hz) were summarized as mean and standard deviation across six stance subphases. A Random Undersampling Boost classifier was trained and evaluated using nested leave-one-subject-out cross-validation. A sensitivity analysis using logistic regression confirmed that the IMU-based prediction score was independently associated with outcome after adjustment for baseline KOOS (p = 0.047). Results: Of 67 enrolled patients, 37 were classified as Good and 30 as Poor outcome. For machine learning analysis, 1173 tibial acceleration gait-cycle waveforms were usable. The model achieved an AUC of 0.744 (95% CI, 0.610–0.860) using a median of 15 features (range, 5–25) with sensitivity of 0.69 and specificity of 0.72. The most informative predictors were the mean magnitude in the 5–8 Hz band during loading response (0–17%) and variability in the 5–8 Hz band during late stance (67–83%). No significant differences in baseline demographics or radiographic parameters were found between outcome groups. Conclusions: Preoperative IMU-derived gait acceleration features showed moderate-to-good discrimination between outcome groups and may support preoperative risk stratification and individualized perioperative management. Full article

Neural field dynamics in the cerebral cortex exhibit complex spatiotemporal patterns inadequately captured by classical integer-order diffusion models that assume exponentially decaying spatial interactions. This study establishes a stochastic fractional FitzHugh–Nagumo framework incorporating power-law spatial correlations through fractional Laplacian operators, providing explicit parameterization of non-local cortical connectivity characteristics. The inverse problem of estimating fractional orders and model parameters from electroencephalographic data is addressed through multi-objective optimization with rigorous train–test validation. Systematic sensitivity analysis across the parameter space $({\alpha }_u,{\alpha }_v)\in [1.0,2.0]\times [1.0,2.0]$ identifies optimal subdiffusive characteristics at ${\alpha }_u={\alpha }_v=1.5$, corresponding to power-law spatial kernels $C\left(x\right)\sim {\left|x\right|}^{-1.5}$ consistent with anatomical connectivity measurements. The optimized model achieves out-of-sample performance $R^2=0.973$ on held-out test data, approaching the measurement noise ceiling. While classical FitzHugh–Nagumo models achieve comparable test accuracy, the fractional framework provides enhanced interpretability through explicit spatial interaction parameterization. The fractional orders serve as quantitative biomarkers of cortical network organization, enabling data-driven characterization across brain states and neurological conditions. The methodology establishes computational foundations for clinical applications in epilepsy monitoring, neurodegenerative disease detection, and brain–computer interfaces. Full article

Due to the seasonality of its production and its polluting characteristics, the management and disposal of large amounts of grape pomace (GP) produced worldwide every year can pose a significant economic and environmental challenge. The research on the possible exploitation of GP for various purposes has been constantly growing during recent years, due to the increased general sensitivity to issues like the sustainability of agro-industrial production and the growing consumer demand for the use of natural versus synthetic compounds. This work concerned the determination of the polyphenolic profile and the dietary fiber content of skins and seeds from unfermented and fermented white and red grape pomace of different cultivars, sampled from local wineries in the Piedmont area (Italy) after winemaking. A double extraction was performed to maximize the extraction of polyphenols from grape pomace flours. The extractable polyphenols content (EPP) was determined in the extracts, while the non-extractable polyphenols (NEPP) linked to fiber were quantified as condensed tannins in the residue after extraction. The total dietary fiber (TDF) was determined for skins and seeds; limited to skins, the analysis was extended to the distinction between soluble and insoluble dietary fiber (SDF and IDF). The polyphenolic and dietary fiber content was significantly higher in seeds than in skins. However, from a nutritional point of view, the dietary fiber of skins may be more interesting due to the higher NEPP content than in seeds; moreover, the winemaking technique influenced the quantity and characteristics of skin fiber, which contained SDF, almost absent in seeds. Full article