Search Results (348)

The kinetics of liquid transport in textiles are determined by the thermodynamic boundary conditions and the substrate’s structure. The knitting process offers a wide range of possibilities for modifying the fabric structure, making it ideal for high-performance garments and technical applications. Given the highly complex nature of textiles’ interaction with liquids, this paper investigates how fabric structure affects combined wicking and drying behaviour. This facilitates comprehension of the underlying transport processes on the yarn and fabric scale, which is important for understanding the behaviour of the material as a whole. The presented experiment combines analysis of wicking through radial liquid spread using imaging techniques and analysis of the drying process through gravimetric measurement of evaporation. Eight samples of single jersey knitted fabrics were produced using polyester yarns of different texturization and fibre diameters on flat and circular knitting machines. The fabrics demonstrate significantly different wicking behaviours depending on their structure. The fabric’s drying time and rate are directly linked to the macroscopic spread of the liquid. Large inter-yarn pores hinder liquid spread. For the lowest liquid saturations, the yarn structure plays a critical role. Using fine, dense yarns can hinder convective drying within the yarn. Textured yarns tend to exhibit higher specific drying rates. The results offer a comprehensive insight into the interplay between the fabric’s structure and its wicking and drying behaviour, which is crucial for the development of functional fabrics in the knitting process. Full article

The use of 3D printing holds significant promise to transform the construction industry by enabling automation and customization, although key challenges remain—particularly the control of fresh-state rheology. This study presents a novel formulation that combines potassium-rich biomass fly ash (BFAK) with an air-entraining plasticizer (APA) to optimize the rheological behavior, hydration kinetics, and structural performance of mortars tailored for extrusion-based 3D printing. The results demonstrate that BFAK enhances the yield stress and thixotropy increases, contributing to improved structural stability after extrusion. In parallel, the APA adjusts the viscosity and facilitates material flow through the nozzle. Isothermal calorimetry reveals that BFAK modifies the hydration kinetics, increasing the intensity and delaying the occurrence of the main hydration peak due to the formation of secondary sulfate phases such as Aphthitalite [(K₃Na(SO₄)₂)]. This behavior leads to an extended setting time, which can be modulated by APA to ensure a controlled processing window. Flowability tests show that BFAK reduces the spread diameter, improving cohesion without causing excessive dispersion. Calibration cylinder tests confirm that the formulation with 1.5% APA and 2% BFAK achieves the maximum printable height (35 cm), reflecting superior buildability and load-bearing capacity. These findings underscore the novelty of combining BFAK and APA as a strategy to overcome current rheological limitations in digital construction. The synergistic effect between both additives provides tailored fresh-state properties and structural reliability, advancing the development of a sustainable SMC and printable cementitious materials. Full article

Lumped plasticity models available in commercial software offer a limited resolution of damage distribution along structural members. This study presents an open-source workflow that combines force-based fiber elements in OpenSeesPy with automated 3D post-processing for visualizing distributed plasticity in reinforced concrete piles. A 60 cm diameter pile subjected to monotonic lateral loading is analyzed using both SAP2000’s default plastic hinges and OpenSeesPy fiber sections (Concrete02/Steel02). Although the fiber model incurs a runtime approximately 2.5 times greater, it captures the gradual spread of yielding and deterioration with improved fidelity. The presented workflow includes Python routines for interactive stress–strain visualization, facilitating the identification of critical sections and verification of strain limits. This approach offers a computationally feasible alternative for performance-based analysis with enhanced insight into member-level behavior. Because the entire workflow—from model definition through post-processing—is fully scripted in Python, any change to geometry, materials, or loading can be re-run in seconds, dramatically reducing the time taken to execute sensitivity analyses. Full article

This study investigates cement–bentonite slurries with hydration accelerators for borehole backfilling applications in infrastructure reconstruction projects. Two formulations with different accelerator dosages (5 and 10 kg/m³) were evaluated through combined experimental testing and Moving Particle Semi-implicit (MPS) numerical modeling to optimize material performance. The research focuses on time-dependent rheological evolution and its impact on construction performance, particularly bleeding resistance and workability retention. Experimental flow tests revealed that both formulations maintained similar initial flowability (240–245 mm spread diameter), but the higher accelerator dosage resulted in 33% flow reduction after 60 min compared to 12% for the lower dosage. Bleeding tests demonstrated significant improvement in phase stability, with bleeding rates reduced from 2.5% to 1.5% when accelerator content was doubled. The MPS framework successfully reproduced experimental behavior with prediction accuracies within 3%, enabling quantitative analysis of time-dependent rheological parameters through inverse analysis. The study revealed that yield stress evolution governs both flow characteristics and bleeding resistance, with increases several hundred percent over 60 min while plastic viscosity remained relatively constant. Critically, simulations incorporating time-dependent viscosity changes accurately predicted bleeding behavior, while constant-viscosity models overestimated bleeding rates by 60–130%. The higher accelerator formulation (10 kg/m³) provided an optimal balance between initial workability and long-term stability for typical borehole backfilling operations. This integrated experimental–numerical approach provides practical insights for material optimization in infrastructure reconstruction projects, particularly relevant for aging infrastructure requiring proper foundation treatment. The methodology offers construction practitioners a robust framework for material selection and performance prediction in borehole backfilling applications, contributing to improved construction quality and reduced project risks. Full article

It is imperative to investigate the behavior of the droplet superimposed condensation of deltamethrin reagent on strawberry leaf surface, as well as the dynamic variation rule of its contact angle. A microinjector was utilized to conduct the experiment of droplet superposition and condensation. The surface tension of deltamethrin droplets was measured by means of an optical contact angle meter, and the wetting parameters, such as contact angle, volume, and spreading diameter, were obtained by observing the leaf surfaces of various parts of strawberries during the dynamic process of superimposed condensation. A model was constructed by establishing the relationship between the contact angle and the coordinates of the observation point and time through the spatial fitting interpolation method. This model is a three-dimensional dynamic trend surface model of contact angle for droplet superposition and condensation. The findings indicated that the surface tension of the deltamethrin drop was 28.92 ± 0.2 mN·m⁻¹. The interval between the superposition of two droplets and the subsequent condensation of a new droplet was found to be within 0.5 s. The time taken for a new droplet to form was found to be between 0.0356 and 0.0476 s. The change in contact angle during the processes of superposition and coalescence can be broadly categorized into three distinct stages: namely, sharp oscillation, slight decrease, and gentle stabilization. The volume of the new droplet formed by the superposition and condensation was found to be 1.05 to 1.93 times that of a lying droplet. The maximum increase in the spreading diameter of the superimposed and condensed droplets was 40.29%. The three-dimensional dynamic trend surface model can reflect the overall spatial–temporal change trend of the contact angle in the process of superposition and coalescence. The model successfully passed the overall significance F-test and each coefficient of the statistical t-test, and demonstrated a satisfactory time interpolation effect. The experimental verification demonstrates that the predicted contact angle value of the model is consistent with the measured value. Full article

Background: Numerous experimental studies aim to improve outcomes of peripheral nerve repair following trauma. This study evaluates the efficacy of the human epineural patch (hEP) compared to the human amniotic membrane (hAM) in promoting nerve regeneration following sciatic nerve crush injury. Methods: Thirty-six athymic nude rats were divided into three groups (n = 12 per group) following nerve crush: (1) an unprotected injury site; (2) crush injury wrapped with hEP; and (3) crush injury wrapped with hAM. Animals were assessed over 6 or 12 weeks post-injury. Evaluations included motor recovery (Toe-Spread test), sensory recovery (Pinprick test), muscle denervation atrophy (the gastrocnemius muscle index (GMI)), histomorphometry (myelin thickness, axonal density, fiber diameter, and percentage of myelinated fibers), and immunofluorescence (GFAP, Laminin B, NGF, S-100, VEGF, vWF, HLA-DR, and HLA-I) assessments. Results: The hEP group showed superior motor recovery, axonal density and higher GMI values compared to the hAM and control groups. The increased expression of neurogenic and angiogenic markers highlighted its neuroregenerative potential. Negligible HLA-DR and HLA-I expression confirmed the lack of hEP and hAM immunogenicity. Conclusions: The application of hEP following sciatic nerve crush injury facilitated nerve regeneration, improved functional outcomes, and offered a viable alternative to hAM. Structural stability and the regenerative capacity position hEP as a new, promising off-the-shelf product for nerve regeneration. Full article

Background/Objectives: Spread through air spaces (STAS) is defined as the spread of tumor cells into the parenchymal alveolar space beyond the margins of the main tumor, and it is associated with worse clinical outcomes in resected lung adenocarcinoma. This study aimed to evaluate the preoperative computed tomography (CT) findings of primary lung adenocarcinoma in surgically resected T1 cases and to compare CT findings with and without STAS. Methods: A total of 145 patients were included in this study. The following factors were evaluated on CT images: nodule type (pure ground-glass nodule [GGN], part-solid nodule, or solid nodule), margin (smooth or irregular), the presence of lobulation, spicula, cavity, calcification, central low attenuation, peripheral opacity (well-defined or ill-defined), air bronchogram, satellite lesions, pleural retraction, pulmonary emphysema, and interstitial pneumonia; CT values (maximum, minimum, and mean); volume (tumor and solid component); and diameter (tumor and solid component). CT criteria were compared between the presence and absence of STAS. Results: Lobulation and central low attenuation were significantly more frequent in patients with STAS (p < 0.05). The mean CT value, and the volume, rate, and diameter of the solid component were significantly larger in cases with STAS (p < 0.05). A multiple logistic regression analysis identified central low attenuation as an indicator of the presence of STAS (p < 0.001; odds ratio, 3.993; 95% confidence interval, 1.993–8.001). Conclusions: Quantitative and qualitative analyses are useful for differentiating between the presence and absence of STAS. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the factors affecting the diagnostic efficacy of frozen sections for assessing tumor spread through air spaces (STAS) and to provide suggestions for the sampling of these frozen sections. Methods: Cases of invasive adenocarcinoma with a pathological diagnosis of stage IA-IIIB were screened, and frozen and paraffin sections were reviewed. Using paraffin sections as the gold standard, the consistency of frozen pathological diagnosis of STAS was calculated. Factors that may affect STAS diagnosis in frozen sections were screened, and a nomogram was drawn. Results: The sensitivity of frozen sections in STAS diagnosis was 55.4% (108/195), the specificity was 74.5% (254/321), and the kappa value was 0.35. In the subsequent logistic regression, the ratio of the tissue diameters of the frozen and paraffin sections, number of frozen section sheets, clarity of the tumor boundary, and number of alveoli from the peritumoral area to tissue edge were all statistically significantly significant (p < 0.05) factors affecting the frozen STAS diagnostic efficacy. Conclusions: The diagnostic efficacy of frozen sections for STAS is poor. In our study, the tissue diameter ratio of the frozen to paraffin sections, the number of frozen sections, the clarity of the tumor boundary, and the number of alveoli from the peritumoral tissue to the tissue edge were considered independent factors affecting diagnostic consistency. The accuracy of the frozen section analysis in STAS diagnosis can be improved by our reasonable suggestions on frozen sampling, making it a reliable indicator of the surgical method. Full article

Ash dieback (ADB) disease, caused by the devastating fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus Baral, Queloz & Hosoya, currently poses a significant threat to forest health by decreasing the ash population across the UK and Europe. In our study, we evaluated how environmental conditions, silvicultural management, and genetic factors influence the spread and severity of ash dieback. We combined these factors in a statistical model for susceptibility. Leaves were collected from twenty-two stands across a large semi-natural woodland in Southern England, encompassing a range of disease symptoms. We conducted gene expression assays of tolerance genes previously identified by Associative Transcriptomics and evaluated how stand structure, tree vigour, and individual tree characteristics affected the disease progression. Our results demonstrated that the severity of symptoms is significantly impacted by tree vitality, genetics, and tree size. We identified a diameter at breast height (DBH) group with the highest explained variation (42%) in the disease susceptibility model, with the tree vitality and genetic markers emerging as key determinants. Our findings highlight that lower susceptibility to ash dieback results from a combination of moderate to high genetic tolerance, good individual tree vitality, and appropriate stand management. Full article

High-amylose wheat (HAW), developed through non-genetic modification, addresses the growing demand for clean-label and nutritionally enhanced food products. This study systematically investigated the effects of heat-moisture treatment (HMT; 20% and 25% moisture levels) on the physicochemical properties and cookie-making performance of HAW flour (HAWF) and soft wheat flour (SWF). HMT promoted moisture-induced agglomeration, leading to increased particle size, reduced damaged starch content, and enhanced water and sucrose solvent retention capacities. Although the amylose content remained largely unchanged, pasting behavior was differentially affected, with increased viscosities in SWF and slight decreases in HAWF. Thermal analyses demonstrated elevated gelatinization temperatures, indicating improved thermal stability, while X-ray diffraction revealed alterations in starch crystallinity. Furthermore, HMT weakened gluten strength and modified dough rheology, effects more pronounced in HAWF. Cookies prepared from HMT-treated flours exhibited larger diameters, greater spread ratios, and reduced heights. In vitro digestibility assays showed a marked reduction in rapidly digestible starch and increases in slowly digestible and resistant starch fractions, particularly in HAWF cookies. Collectively, these findings establish HMT as an effective strategy for modulating flour functionality and enhancing cookie quality, while concurrently improving the nutritional profile through the alteration of starch digestibility characteristics. Full article

Electrospun collagen-based fibrous mats are of increasing interest for cell culture, regenerative medicine, and tissue engineering. The focus of this investigation is on the assessment of the electrospinning ability of bovine split hide collagen (BSHC), the effect of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) incorporation on the mats’ structural morphology, and the impact on the adhesion and proliferation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAD-MSCs). Electrospun mats were prepared using benign and fluoroalcohol solutions of BSHC and BSHC/GAGs under varied operation conditions. SEM observations and analysis were employed to characterize the structural morphology of the mats. Several parameters were used to evaluate the hAD-MSC behavior: cytotoxicity, cell morphology, cell number and spreading area, cytoskeleton, focal adhesion contacts, and cell proliferation. Electrospinning using benign solvents was impossible. However, fiber mats were successfully prepared from hexafluoropropanol (HFP) solutions. Different structural morphologies and fiber diameters of the electrospun mats were observed depending on the composition and concentration of the electrospinning solutions. Both BSHC and BSHC/GAG mats supported the in vitro adhesion, growth, and differentiation of hAD-MSCs, with some variations based on their composition and structural morphology. The absence of cytotoxicity and the good hAD-MSC adhesiveness make them promising substrates for cell adhesion, proliferation, and further stem cell differentiation. Full article

Surface roughness directly affects the interaction between mineral surfaces and water, as well as the adhesion of particles to bubbles during mineral flotation processes. Currently, there is a significant amount of research on the relationship between mineral surface roughness and wettability, yet the conclusions drawn are not consistent. To investigate the impact of roughness on the adhesion and detachment behavior between droplets and coal surfaces, this study prepared a series of coal samples with varying roughness using sandpaper of different grit sizes. A highly sensitive adhesion force measuring instrument was employed to study the continuous attachment and detachment processes between droplets and coal surfaces of different roughness levels. Contact angle results indicated that as the roughness of the coal sample surface increased, the contact angle gradually decreased, suggesting an increase in the hydrophilicity of the coal surface. This study proposed a concavo-convex roughness model for predicting the contact angle on coal surfaces, which was validated for feasibility and accuracy through experimental data. The adhesion force between droplets and coal surfaces increased with roughness. As the roughness increased from 0.30 μm to 2.39 μm, the spreading force of the droplet increased from 159.00 μN to 209.60 μN, the maximum adhesion force increased from 406.76 μN to 441.08 µN, and the detachment force increased from 95.37 μN to 102.39 μN. A smaller contact angle between the droplet and the coal surface corresponded to a larger contact diameter and greater interaction force. The forces measured by the adhesion force measurement device showed good consistency with theoretical calculations. This study provides theoretical support for understanding the interaction processes between droplets and rough solid surfaces. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive numerical investigation of the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) process for pure molybdenum, focusing on high-precision modeling and process optimization. The powder spreading behavior is simulated using the Discrete Element Method (DEM), while molten pool dynamics are analyzed through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Optimization of process parameters is performed using FLOW-3D Release 7 software in conjunction with the HEEDS-SHERPA algorithm. A total of 247 simulations are conducted to assess the effects of four critical parameters: laser power (50–400 W), scanning speed (80–300 mm/s), laser spot diameter (40–100 µm), and powder layer thickness (50–100 µm). The optimal parameter set—350 W laser power, 120 mm/s scanning speed, 50 µm spot diameter, and 50 µm layer thickness—results in an 80% laser absorption rate, a 60% reduction in micro-porosity, and over a 30% enhancement in both molten pool volume and surface area. Utilizing a fine 10 µm mesh resolution enables detailed insights into temperature gradients and phase transition behavior. The findings highlight that optimized parameter selection significantly improves the structural integrity of Mo-based components while minimizing manufacturing defects, thus offering valuable guidance for advancing industrial-scale additive manufacturing of refractory metals. Full article

Channel modeling of seawater is essential for understanding the transmission process of underwater laser light and optimizing the system design of underwater wireless laser communication. This study systematically examined the transmission characteristics of underwater blue-green laser communication, such as the angle of arrival, beam spreading, and channel loss, based on the Monte Carlo ray tracing method, across three different waters. The statistical analysis has led to the following definitive conclusions: (a) The differences in average AOA are profound in clear water and at short attenuation lengths in coastal and turbid harbor waters and are small at long attenuation lengths. The differences in average AOA between the offsets of 0 m and 10 m are about 62.3° and 12.9° at the attenuation lengths of 1 and 25 in clear water. The differences between offsets of 0 m and 10 m in average AOAs are about 74.4° and 5.8° in coastal water and 67.2° and 12.2° in turbid harbor water at the attenuation lengths of 1, 20, and 35, respectively. (b) The beam diameters are 0.1 m at the attenuation length of 25 in clear water and 83.8 m and 25.3 m when the attenuation length is 35 in coastal and turbid harbor waters. It manifests that the beam spreading is indistinctive in clear water while prominent in coastal and turbid harbor waters. (c) The difference in the received power at the various offsets decreases with increasing attenuation length but with distinct patterns. Take the offsets of 0 m and 10 m as examples. The absolute difference in the power loss reduces from 88.0 dB·m⁻² to 46.8 dB·m⁻² when the attenuation length reaches 25 in clear water. At the attenuation lengths of 1 and 35, the power losses are 94.9 dB·m⁻² and 4.3 dB·m⁻² in coastal water and 117.4 dB·m⁻² and 12.6 dB·m⁻² in turbid harbor water. Moreover, the minimum underestimation of power loss by applying Beer’s Law could be almost 2 dB·m⁻² in turbid harbor waters. To achieve a high receiving gain, the weighted average angles of arrival at different offsets indicate that a small field of view is advantageous in clear water and at short transmission distances in coastal and turbid harbor waters. In contrast, a larger field of view is effective at long transmission distances in coastal and turbid harbor waters. Additionally, the absolute differences in channel losses at various offsets suggest that alignment between the transmitter and the receiver is crucial in clear water and at short transmission distances in coastal and turbid harbor waters. In contrast, misalignment may not lead to significant channel loss at longer transmission distances in turbid harbor water. The results of this study underscore the importance of considering water type, transmission distance, and offsets relative to the beam center when selecting receiver parameters. Full article

The deposition of spray droplets is a critical topic in plant protection. The air-induction nozzle is believed to mitigate spray drift by producing bubble-containing droplets. However, research on the deposition of bubble-containing droplets is limited. In this study, the deposition process of bubble-containing droplets was investigated using high-speed photomicrography. Three typical pesticide solutions, oil-based emulsions, suspensions, and aqueous solutions were used to produce bubble-containing droplets. Both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces were used as deposition targets. The results indicate that the deposition of bubble-containing droplets can generate a central jet resembling the Worthington jet. All three solutions reduced liquid surface tension, thereby increasing the maximum spreading diameter of bubble-containing droplets. On hydrophilic surfaces, a functional curve describing the maximum spreading factor was fitted based on the dimensionless Weber number (We), expressed as $f_{\max }=0.04{\mathrm{We}}^{0.508}+3.21$. On hydrophobic leaves, the dynamic evolution and retention effects of bubble-containing droplets were analyzed. Suspensions and aqueous solutions exhibited droplet rebound, while oil-based emulsions transitioned from rebound (0–0.2% concentration) to adhesion (0.4–0.8% concentration), with 0.4% identified as the critical concentration for this rebound-to-adhesion transition. Morphological variations during deposition, including rebound, splashing, and fragmentation, were also observed across different solution concentrations. Full article