Search Results (9,740)

Sulfonamides are a fundamental class of compounds with diverse pharmacological applications. Here, two benzene-1,3-disulfonamide-containing cycloalkyne compounds were designed to demonstrate the strained conformations due to the 11-membered ring. Their structures were experimentally analyzed using single-crystal X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The molecules exhibit flexible sulfonamide conformations together with characteristic distortions of the benzene and alkyne moieties. Comparing the compound data obtained, the proton NMR chemical shift of hydrogen at the 2-position of the benzene ring shows a correlation of a dihedral angle involving the benzene ring and sulfonamide sulfur, and the carbon NMR shift suggests an angle distortion of the alkyne. The conformations of the crystal structure and the solution state in DMSO are supported by NOESY spectra and DFT calculations. The relative chemical shift differences were quantitatively reproduced by DFT calculations. We believe this fundamental research will contribute to the design and development of sulfonamide–alkyne–benzene-based medium-sized heterocyclic molecules with detailed conformation predictions. Full article

Composites based on bacterial cellulose (BC) and synthetic polymers are attracting research interest as promising functional materials due to the ability to control their properties. In this study, the interactions between BC and synthetic polymers, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), polylactide (PLA), and polycaprolactone (PCL), were investigated using computer modeling, and the biosynthesis, characteristics, and protein sorption capacity of the resulting composites were evaluated. In silico analysis using dissipative particle dynamics predicted a decrease in compatibility with BC in the order PVA > PLA > PCL. The calculated Flory–Huggins interaction parameters for BC/PVA, BC/PLA, and BC/PCL systems were 1.75, 3.93, and 6.03, respectively, indicating a gradual decrease in thermodynamic compatibility. These predictions were experimentally confirmed by in situ biosynthesis of BC/synthetic polymer composites under static and dynamic cultivation conditions. BC/PVA composites exhibited homogeneous morphology with pore size below 100 nm and improved structural integrity. BC/PLA and BC/PCL systems showed phase separation and broader pore size distributions, reaching up to 900 nm. The functionalization of the obtained composites via adsorption of different proteins (bovine serum albumin, lysozyme, and His₆-organophosphate hydrolase) revealed a high dependence of the results on the polymer type, the conditions applied for composite synthesis, and the molecule size of the proteins. Estimations of protein–composite interactions were conducted in silico and confirmed in vitro. The maximal sorption capacity was revealed for composites obtained during the cultivation of BC-producing microorganisms under static conditions, with the addition of synthetic polymers to the nutritional medium. In the case of enzymes used for the functionalization of composites, a partial activity loss after sorption was revealed. In BC/PVA composites, the maximal decrease in enzyme activity (~30% from the activity level of the same enzymes in the BC samples) was observed. BC/PLA and BC/PCL composites demonstrated preferences in the sorption of large protein molecules, making them attractive platforms for enzyme immobilization and biocatalytic applications of the obtained catalytically active composites. Full article

Planetary gear trains (PGTs) are core transmission units in high-ratio mechanical systems, including vehicle drivetrains, industrial reducers, robotic joints, and servo mechanisms, where transmission efficiency affects power demand, thermal loading, actuator sizing, housing reaction, and self-locking risk. This study develops a unified analytical framework for estimating the efficiency of involute PGTs used in actuator-oriented systems. The formulation covers common 2k–h and k–h–v layouts, single- and double-rim satellites, reduction and multiplication modes, and different assignments of driving, driven, and stationary members. Starting from power balance, Willis’ relation, and torque equilibrium, compact closed-form expressions are derived by representing mesh losses through the efficiency of the reverted mechanism. The resulting baselines quantify the effects of transmission ratio, mesh efficiency, operating mode, self-locking boundary, and housing-reaction torque. The results show that multiplication mode becomes more sensitive to loss amplification as mesh efficiency decreases, especially in k–h–v configurations approaching the self-locking boundary. Double-rim 2k–h configurations also exhibit branch-dependent efficiency and housing-torque behavior. For representative duty-cycle calculations, increasing gear-train efficiency from 0.85 to 0.92 reduces motion energy by approximately 7–8%. The framework provides a lightweight tool for early-stage actuator-transmission screening before detailed modelling, dynamic simulation, or prototype testing. Full article

Background: Surface roughness and microbial adhesion are key determinants of the biological performance of prosthetic base resins. This study evaluated Candida albicans (ATCC 11225) and Streptococcus mutans (DSM 20523) adhesion to a conventional heat-polymerized acrylic resin (Probase Hot) and a 3D-printed resin (V-Print dentbase) fabricated at 0° and 90° build orientations. Methods: Fifteen disc-shaped specimens (10 mm × 2 mm) were polished using a standardized protocol and surface roughness was characterized by contact profilometry (Ra). After UV sterilization, specimens were incubated for 24 h with standardized suspensions of C. albicans or S. mutans. Microbial adhesion was assessed qualitatively by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test after confirmation of normality (Shapiro–Wilk) and homogeneity of variances (Levene). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, and Cohen’s d was calculated to estimate effect size. Results: Surface roughness differed significantly among fabrication conditions (p = 0.017), with the conventional heat-polymerized resin showing the highest Ra values and the 3D-printed resin fabricated at 90° presenting the lowest roughness. SEM observations suggested a similar adhesion pattern for both C. albicans and S. mutans, with greater apparent microbial presence on 90°-printed specimens, followed by the conventional heat-polymerized resin, whereas 0°-printed specimens showed lower apparent adhesion in the analyzed fields. Conclusions: These findings suggest that printing orientation may influence surface-associated microbial adhesion patterns in 3D-printed prosthetic resins; however, further studies with larger sample sizes, orientation-specific surface characterization, and mono- and multispecies biofilm models are warranted to confirm these preliminary findings. Full article

Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), is increasingly recognized as a functional feed additive in aquaculture. However, its effects on crustacean health and performance remain unclear. This meta-analysis synthesizes findings from 23 studies (2011–2025) examining butyrate supplementation across four crustacean groups: shrimp, crabs, crayfish, and prawns. Effect sizes were calculated for growth performance (final body weight, specific growth rate, survival rate), feed efficiency (feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio), and digestive enzyme activities (amylase, lipase, alkaline phosphatase, total protease) in freshwater and marine environments. Results indicate that butyrate supplementation generally enhanced the digestive enzyme activity in both freshwater and marine environments, although the magnitude of the effect varied among enzyme types and habitats, with freshwater species showing improvements in alkaline phosphatase, amylase, lipase, and total protease, and marine species showing improvements in amylase, lipase, and total protease. Feed efficiency improved in freshwater (protein efficiency ratio) and marine species (feed conversion ratio). Growth-related outcomes, including final body weight and survival rate, were generally improved across both environments. Dose–response analyses indicated that dietary inclusion levels of 1–2% were associated with the most consistent improvements in digestive enzyme activity and growth performance. These findings support the potential use of butyrate as a functional feed strategy to improve productivity and sustainability in crustacean aquaculture. These effects may be mediated by multiple mechanisms, including improved intestinal epithelial integrity, the modulation of gut microbiota, and the regulation of immune and metabolic processes. Full article

Background: Capturing the healthfulness of mixed dishes per serving can be a challenge. Objectives: To develop a Nutrient Density Calculator (NDC) for mixed dishes to guide recipe innovation and reformulation. Methods: Recipe files and nutrient composition data for mixed dishes came from the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS 2021–2023). Included were mixed dishes with meat, poultry, seafood, grains, vegetables or legumes as their main ingredient, Asian and Mexican dishes, pizza, sandwiches, burgers, and nuts and seeds (n = 1570). Observed servings as consumed came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (NHANES 2017–2020/2021 –2023). The NDC version 643 had three components: NR6 based on six nutrients to encourage (protein, fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin D); MP4 based on ingredients (fruits and vegetables, whole grains, pulses, nuts and seeds); and LIM based on three nutrients to limit (saturated fat, added or total sugar, sodium). An abbreviated version, NDC343, used NR3 (protein, fiber, calcium). Alternative NDC models tested different component weights. Nutrient density was calculated per serving. Results: Both NDC643 and NDC343 gave higher scores to vegetables, pulses, and nuts and lower scores to meat-based dishes. Equal weighting of the three components produced NDC scores that were correlated with Nutri-Score (r = −0.64 for NDC343 and −0.70 for NDC643) and Health Star Rating values (r = −0.74 for NDC343 and −0.75 for NDC643). Correlations with energy density were −0.25 for NDC343 and −0.33 for NDC643. The NDC643 model was sensitive to recipe improvements for a variety of mixed dishes—more so than the Nutri-Score or the Health Star Rating. Conclusion: The three-component NDC model, combining both nutrients and ingredients, successfully captured nutrient density of mixed dishes and was sensitive to recipe improvements. Full article

Background/Objectives: Extra-articular resection (EAR) may be considered for sarcomas involving or extending into joints, but its oncologic outcomes are not well defined. This study evaluated oncologic outcomes following EAR for bone and soft tissue sarcomas of the knee, shoulder, or hip. Methods: This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (ID: CRD420251140969). PubMed and Embase were searched from inception through 14 January 2026, to identify studies including patients with bone or soft tissue sarcomas involving or extending into the knee, shoulder, or hip joints who underwent EAR. Studies including other types of resections or mixed populations were excluded. Primary outcomes were local recurrence (LR) and distant metastasis (DM); secondary outcomes were 1- and 5-year overall survival (OS). Proportions were estimated using sample size-weighted pooling, with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) calculated using the Wilson score method. Exploratory subgroup analyses were performed by anatomic location for LR and histologic subtype for DM. Quality assessment was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for case series, and the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. Results: Twenty-one studies, comprising 455 patients, were included. Pooled LR was 11.65% (95% CI, 8.92–15.04), with the highest proportion in the hip (17.65%; 95% CI, 10.53–27.75), followed by the shoulder (10.90%; 95% CI, 6.66–17.13) and knee (9.81%; 95% CI, 6.32–14.80). Pooled DM was 35.26% (95% CI, 30.01–40.87), with the highest proportion in Ewing sarcoma (50.00%; 95% CI, 23.66–76.34) and the lowest in chondrosarcoma (13.79%; 95% CI, 4.51–32.57). No significant differences were found in exploratory subgroup analyses. The 1-year and 5-year OS rates were 92.13% (95% CI, 85.63–95.95) and 58.42% (95% CI, 51.28–65.23), respectively. Conclusions: EAR was associated with low reported LR and moderate survival in patients with sarcomas involving or extending into major joints. DM likely reflects underlying tumor biology. These findings should be interpreted cautiously given the lack of a comparison group, heterogeneity of included studies, and statistical limitations. Full article

Background: Spinal immobilization during extrication is a key component of trauma care aimed at reducing secondary neurological injury, although conventional techniques such as the Rautek maneuver may induce unintended spinal motion that could increase biomechanical stress on vulnerable structures. Recent developments, including the SNAID^® cervical restraint system, have been designed to improve motion restriction while maintaining operational feasibility in emergency settings. This study aimed to quantitatively compare spinal kinematics during extrication using SNAID^® versus the Rautek maneuver in a simulated environment. Methods: A controlled experimental study was conducted with 15 nursing students performing standardized extrication tasks under both conditions. Four synchronized 9-axis inertial measurement units were placed at the occiput, C7, sternum, and left shoulder to capture kinematic data at 100 Hz. Range of motion (ROM) was calculated for absolute and intersegmental movements, and statistical comparisons were performed using paired non-parametric tests with effect size estimation. Results: The results showed that SNAID^® significantly reduced cervical lateral flexion-extension compared with Rautek (p = 0.013, r_m^b = −0.71), as well as markedly reducing head–trunk relative motion, particularly in sagittal flexion-extension (p < 0.001, r_m^b = −0.99). In contrast, Rautek produced significantly greater shoulder and trunk motion, with the largest effect observed in shoulder lateral displacement (p < 0.001, r_m^b = −0.99). Conclusions: the SNAID^® system demonstrated reduced cervical and intersegmental motion compared with the Rautek maneuver under standardized simulation conditions. These findings indicate differences in biomechanical behavior between both approaches; however, their clinical significance cannot be established from the present study and should not be interpreted as evidence of improved patient outcomes or neurological protection. Full article

The purpose of this study is to characterize, through an exploratory empirical diagnosis, the degree of development and preliminary association between circular economy capabilities and sustainability-oriented digital transformation capabilities in Chamber-affiliated SMEs in Lambayeque, Peru. Guided by three exploratory working hypotheses, the study expected intermediate levels of development, heterogeneous performance across dimensions, and a positive but non-confirmatory coupling between both capability families. A self-administered questionnaire with thirty Likert-type items measured four circular economy dimensions—circular design and eco-design, resource optimization, circular waste management, and circular business models—and four sustainability-oriented digital transformation dimensions—digital technology infrastructure, dynamic digital capabilities, sustainable digital strategy, and digital innovation culture. The initial database contained 111 complete Chamber-affiliated responses; however, seven large Chamber-affiliated firms were retained only as contextual comparators and were excluded from all statistical processing. Consequently, all descriptive, psychometric, and SEM results were calculated using the final analytical sample of 104 micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises. The findings show intermediate development in both constructs, higher perceived performance in digital innovation culture and resource optimization, and lower performance in digital technology infrastructure, reverse logistics, platforms enabling circularity, and monetization of circular models. The latent association between the two higher-order constructs was very high (β = 0.985, p < 0.001); however, because global fit indices were below conventional thresholds, this coefficient is interpreted as preliminary evidence of empirical overlap and capability co-occurrence rather than confirmatory evidence of a validated structural model or causal integration. Full article

Cleaning of melting is very important for metallurgical industries which produce steel and cast-iron products in order to reduce the amount of undesirable inclusions and obtain high-quality metallic products with more homogeneous properties. During casting operations, filters are used for cleaning steel, but there are different kinds of these filters, which are classified as a function of their micro-pipe format and the casting equipment used. Some of them are homogeneous and symmetric but others are heterogeneous or absolutely amorphous. In this work, the inclusions entrapped along different positions of the filter are characterized and analyzed; moreover, an analysis to understand the hydrodynamic behavior is done using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods and compared with water physical modeling in order to evaluate the inclusion entrapment performance of two different foam filters, one extruded and one pressed. Other comparisons are done considering systems without a filter or with a heterogeneous filter. Every filter has a different geometrical configuration and its performance is evaluated according to its hydrodynamic behavior and the quantity and size of the inclusions entrapped. Velocity profiles and inclusion trajectories are calculated and compared with those in the physical model. Full article

Lithological, metasomatic, and structural heterogeneity in ore-hosting rocks limits the reliability of applying a single set of mechanical parameters without domain subdivision. This study evaluates intact rock properties, shear resistance along natural discontinuities, and conditional upscaling to the rock mass scale. The database comprised 232 laboratory records from 36 geotechnical borehole identifiers: 73 Brazilian tensile tests, 68 uniaxial compression tests, 49 triaxial compression tests, and 42 direct shear tests. Four domains were defined: D1, beresite-altered granodiorites; D2, diorites; D3, granodiorites; and D4, lamprophyre dikes. The lowest mean uniaxial compressive strength occurred in D1 (91.75 ± 40.65 MPa), whereas D2 showed the highest mean value, although its small sample size precludes confirmation as a domain characteristic. D3 provided the most representative dataset and exhibited intra-domain variability, while D4 showed the greatest variability in Young’s modulus (CV = 82.21%). Mean apparent cohesion along natural discontinuities was 0.125 ± 0.039 MPa for D1 and 0.140 ± 0.083 MPa for D3; D2 and D4 remain preliminary. GSI values of 48–58 were used only in scenario-based Hoek–Brown calculations. A ±5-point change in GSI altered equivalent rock mass strength by approximately −25% to −26% and +33% to +34%. The results support domain-based parameterization but require in situ verification. Full article

Visible light communication (VLC) can reduce radio-frequency (RF) congestion in indoor industrial monitoring, but a short transmitted payload does not by itself prove that visual or task-relevant information has been preserved. This study therefore frames the proposed method as an autoencoder-based compact latent-payload transmission scheme and explicitly distinguishes it from channel-aware joint source-channel coding (JSCC). Raw red–green–blue (RGB), lossless Huffman, and autoencoder latent payloads are first compared under the same VLC model using bit error rate (BER), calculated/model-derived VLC transmission energy, reconstruction quality, and task utility. The 128-component latent representation contains 4096 bits, corresponding to a 294-fold payload-size reduction relative to an uncompressed $224\times 224$, 24-bit RGB image; this ratio is used only as a raw-payload reference and not as a general codec-compression claim. An independent industrial-domain audit is conducted on 30 Northeastern University (NEU) steel-surface images using four-fold out-of-fold evaluation, peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index measure (SSIM), and a fixed defect-class proxy. An NEU architecture-and-resolution comparison shows that changing from Compact-NEU to the full $224\times 224$ model increases PSNR from 14.12 dB to 15.61 dB at the same 4096-bit bottleneck, while a regularized full model gives the highest SSIM of 0.471. Because input resolution and network capacity both change in this comparison, the result is interpreted as evidence that the architecture/resolution setting contributes to the industrial-domain gap, not as a strict isolation of capacity alone. Finally, an end-to-end JSCC-VLC baseline with 4096 nonnegative optical channel uses is trained through a differentiable intensity channel. It obtains 23.82 dB/0.568 SSIM in the clean case and 22.18 dB/0.519 SSIM at 5 dB SNR, showing more channel-aware behavior and more graceful degradation than the separated serialized-latent pipeline. Overall, the results support the modeled energy and active-time benefits of compact latent payloads while showing that robust industrial visual transmission requires architecture/resolution controls, practical codec baselines, and channel-aware JSCC comparisons. Full article

The current study investigates farmers’ perception and analyzes the benefits of soil and water conservation techniques (SWC) in Oued Rmel watershed (Tunisia), where resource degradation is worsening. Despite the SWC measures put in place by the State, their adoption remains limited. The objective is to understand the efficiency of SWC installations from a human and economic point of view. The survey took place in Oued Rmel basin. The analysis combined descriptive statistics, assessment of the perception of SWC strategies via binary logistic regression, and calculation of gross margin per hectare using the PLS-SEM method. The results revealed that the majority of farmers had a primary level of education and farmed small plots. Crop diversification and the integration of olive trees were common, but land fragmentation was a problem. Only 28% had a favorable opinion of SWC facilities, influenced by land ownership and farm size. PLS-SEM model found that erosion control devices, education level, and agricultural area predicted gross margin per hectare. SWC initiatives have helped to curb erosion, but their socio-economic impact depends on the type of land, agricultural area and production systems. Farmers’ perception is linked to land ownership, and gross margin is influenced by agricultural area and production systems. Full article

Axial-flux permanent-magnet (AFPM) machines are becoming an increasingly promising solution for electromechanical systems requiring high power density. In particular, their use is expanding to electric vehicles (EVs), the aerospace industry, and advanced industrial applications, such as renewable energy applications. Their compact design, high torque-to-mass ratio, and relatively high efficiency make AFPM machines an attractive alternative to traditional radial-flux solutions. However, their integration for widespread application remains limited due to challenges in design, manufacturing, thermal management, and control systems, which ultimately also have an economic impact. This article presents a comprehensive and systematic review of AFPM machines, covering key aspects, including topology classification, design methodologies, electromagnetic modelling, optimisation methods, materials and manufacturing processes, and advanced control strategies. A structured, multi-level classification of AFPM machines is presented, incorporating stator and rotor configurations, magnetic circuit structures, winding types, and materials, thereby providing a unified overview of existing designs. Furthermore, the article presents an in-depth analysis of the sizing equations used to calculate and estimate the parameters, approaches to electromagnetic modelling (including the finite element method and magnetic equivalent circuits), and modern optimisation methods based on artificial intelligence. Particular attention is paid to materials science and new manufacturing technologies, such as soft magnetic composites, printed circuit board stators, and additive manufacturing, as well as to thermal management solutions required for high-power-density applications. This work provides a unified reference framework for researchers and engineers and outlines future directions for the development and industrial adoption of AFPM machines. Full article

Clay–cement slurry, as a widely used anti-seepage material, is prone to calcium leaching and deterioration when exposed to environmental water. The influence of microstructural and mineralogical evolution on the transport properties of clay–cement samples under leaching conditions remains to be investigated. In this paper, accelerated calcium leaching tests were conducted on clay–cement pastes. A variety of techniques, including XRD, SEM, and NMR, were used to characterize the microstructural and mineralogical changes in the leached samples. The effect of accelerated leaching on transport behavior was studied by measuring changes in the water permeability and calculating diffusivity. XRD and SEM analyses show that after 28 days, the characteristic peaks of portlandite and ettringite almost disappear, while C-S-H gel undergoes decalcification and decomposition, leading to an increase in pore number and a notable rise in pore size (up to 1.90 μm). NMR results indicate that total porosity and peak pore size increase significantly, with the proportion of gel pores decreasing and that of small capillary pores (10–50 nm) rising from 10% to 22.1%. Moreover, the surface layer porosity (0–5 mm) increases from 31.33% to 50.65%, while the middle and lower layers show less degradation, indicating a progressive deterioration pattern. Regarding transport properties, the hydraulic conductivity increases from 4.7 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm/s to 2.14 × 10⁻⁸ cm/s (a two-order-of-magnitude increase), and the diffusion coefficient rises from 1.6 × 10⁻¹¹ m²/s to 8.6 × 10⁻¹¹ m²/s (a 5.3-fold increase). Both the diffusion coefficient and its increase factor gradually decrease from the surface to the interior, consistent with the evolution of porosity. Full article