Search Results (2,266)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of four working heights on lumbar biomechanics during wall construction tasks, focusing on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Methods: Fifteen young male participants performed simulated mortar-spreading and bricklaying tasks while actual body movements were recorded using Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensors. Muscle activities of the lumbar erector spinae (ES), quadratus lumborum (QL), multifidus (MF), gluteus maximus (GM), and iliopsoas (IL) were estimated using a 3D musculoskeletal (MSK) model and measured via surface electromyography (sEMG). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was conducted to identify the significant differences in muscle activities across four working heights (i.e., foot, knee, waist, and shoulder). Results: Findings showed that working at foot-level height resulted in the highest muscle activity (7.6% to 40.6% increase), particularly in the ES and QL muscles, indicating an increased risk of WMSDs. The activities of the ES, MF, and GM muscles were statistically significant across both tasks and all working heights (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Both MSK and sEMG analyses indicated significantly lower muscle activities at knee and waist heights, suggesting these as the best working positions (47 cm to 107 cm) for minimizing the risk of WMSDs. Conversely, working at foot and shoulder heights was identified as a significant risk factor for WMSDs. Additionally, the similar trends observed between MSK simulations and sEMG data suggest that MSK modeling can effectively substitute for sEMG in future studies. These findings provide valuable insights into ergonomic work positioning to reduce WMSD risks among wall construction workers. Full article

Understanding groundwater and surface water interaction is critical for managing water resources, particularly in water-stressed and rapidly urbanizing areas, such as many parts of Africa. A survey was conducted of borehole, spring, seep and river water radon, δ²H, δ¹⁸O and field parameters in the Jukskei River catchment, Johannesburg. Average values of electrical conductivity (EC) were 274 and 411 μS·cm⁻¹ for groundwater and surface water, and similarly for radon, 37,000 and 1100 Bq·m⁻³, with a groundwater high of 196,000 Bq·m⁻³ associated with a structural lineament. High radon was a good indicator of baseflow, highest at the end of the rainy season (March) and lowest at the end of the dry season (September), with the FINIFLUX model computing groundwater inflow as 2.5–4.7 L·m⁻¹s⁻¹. High EC was a poorer indicator of baseflow, also considering the possibility of wastewater with high EC, typical in urban areas. Groundwater δ²H and δ¹⁸O values are spread widely, suggesting recharge from both normal and unusual rainfall periods. A slight shift from the local meteoric water line indicates light evaporation during recharge. Surface water δ²H and δ¹⁸O is clustered, pointing to regular groundwater input along the stream, supporting the findings from radon. Given the importance of groundwater, further study using the same parameters or additional analytes is advisable in the urban area of Johannesburg or other cities. Full article

The Kindlin family of scaffold proteins plays key roles in integrin-mediated processes. Kindlin-1 and -2, encoded by the FERMT1 and FERMT2 genes, respectively, are expressed in the epidermis. Kindlin-1 plays protective roles against the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) in epidermal keratinocytes. However, the role of Kindlin-2 in transformed epidermal keratinocytes has remained virtually unexplored. In this study, we used siRNA approaches to generate Kindlin-2-depleted cells in three isogenic transformed keratinocyte lines. PM1, MET1, and MET4 cells model, respectively, a precancerous lesion, a primary cSCC, and a metastatic lesion of the latter. MET1 cells express both Kindlin-1 and -2. However, Kindlin-1 was not detectable in PM1 and MET4 cells. FERMT2 silencing in PM1 and MET4, but not in MET1 cells, reduced proliferation and the ability to adhere to culture surfaces and spreading. Furthermore, Kindlin-2-depleted PM1 and MET4, but not MET1 cells, exhibited decreased numbers of focal adhesions, as well as an altered F-actin and microtubule cytoskeletal organization. Significantly, FERMT2 silencing reduced the directional migration in all three cell types. These findings are consistent with the concept that, in the absence of other Kindlin orthologues, Kindlin-2 plays a prominent role in the modulation of the proliferation, spreading, focal adhesion assembly, and motility of transformed keratinocytes, as exemplified by PM1 and MET4 cells. Full article

This study investigates changes in Near-Surface Air Temperature (NSAT) over the South African region using weather station data, reanalysis products, and Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) model outputs. It is shown that, based on ERA5 reanalysis, the average NSAT increase in the region (45–10° S, 0–50° E) for the period 1940–2023 was 0.11 ± 0.04 °C. Weak multi-decadal changes in NSAT were observed from 1940 to the mid-1970s, followed by a rapid warming trend starting in the mid-1970s. Weather station data generally confirm these results, although they exhibit considerable inter-station variability. An ensemble of 33 CMIP6 models also reproduces these multi-decadal NSAT change characteristics. Specifically, the average model-simulated NSAT values for the region increased by 0.63 ± 0.12 °C between the periods 1940–1969 and 1994–2023. Based on the results of the comparison between weather station observations, reanalysis, and models, we utilize projections of NSAT changes from the analyzed ensemble of 33 CMIP6 models until the end of the 21st century under various Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios. These projections indicate that the average NSAT of the South African region will increase between 1994–2023 and 2070–2099 by 0.92 ± 0.36 °C under the SSP1-2.6 scenario, by 1.73 ± 0.44 °C under SSP2-4.5, by 2.52 ± 0.50 °C under SSP3-7.0, and by 3.17 ± 0.68 °C under SSP5-8.5. Between 1994–2023 and 2025–2054, the increase in average NSAT for the studied region, considering inter-model spread, will be 0.49–1.15 °C, depending on the SSP scenario. Furthermore, climate warming in South Africa, both in the next 30 years and by the end of the 21st century, is projected to occur according to all 33 CMIP6 models under all considered SSP scenarios. The main spatial feature of this warming is a more significant increase in NSAT over the landmass of the studied region compared to its surrounding waters, due to the stabilizing role of the ocean. Full article

Low glycemic index (GI) cookie bars were prepared with soft wheat flour substituted with 10–50% soybean flour and 10–50% resistant starch. The effects of increased levels of soybean flour and resistant starch on the quality of low glycemic index cookie bars were investigated (i.e., moisture, cookie spread, texture (breaking force), surface color, and in vitro starch digestibility). It was found that increasing soybean flour substitution increased the breaking force, moisture, protein content, and yellowish color of the low GI cookie bars but decreased the cookie bar spread and the lightness of the cookie bars (p < 0.05). The addition of soybean flour and resistant starch by up to 50% did not significantly change the in vitro starch digestibility of the cookie bars. The overall acceptability of the cookie bars was lower when the soybean flour blend went beyond 10%. When soft wheat flour in the cookie bar formulation was replaced at the following levels (10%, 30%, and 50%) by resistant starch, the cookie spread and lightness of the cookie bars increased but the breaking force was decreased along with the yellowish color (p < 0.05). When resistant starch was combined with soft wheat flour at levels of up to 50%, this significantly increased the content of total dietary fiber and spread ratio of cookie bars. Sensorial analysis showed that resistant starch presence had an acceptable impact on overall acceptability of the low GI cookie bars. Resistant starch represents a viable dietary fiber source when substituted for 50% of soft wheat flour in formulations. While this substitution may result in increased spread ratio and decreased crispness in cookie bars, the addition of 10% soybean flour can mitigate these textural changes. Full article

Atmospheric warming results in increase in temperatures for the mean, the coldest, and the hottest day of the year, season, or month. Global warming leads to a large increase in the atmospheric water vapor content and to changes in the hydrological cycle, which include an intensification of precipitation extremes. Using the GISS-E2.1 climate model, we present the future changes in the coldest and hottest daily temperatures as well as in extreme precipitation indices (under four main Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs)). The increase in the wet-day precipitation ranges between 6% and 15% per 1 °C global surface temperature warming. Scaling of the 95th percentile versus the total precipitation showed that the sensitivity for the extreme precipitation to the warming is about 10 times stronger than that for the mean total precipitation. For six precipitation extreme indices (Total Precipitation, R95p, RX5day, R10mm, SDII, and CDD), the histograms of probability density functions become flatter, with reduced peaks and increased spread for the global mean compared to the historical period of 1850–2014. The mean values shift to the right end (toward larger precipitation and intensity). The higher the GHG emission of the SSP scenario, the more significant the increase in the index change. We found an intensification of precipitation over the globe but large uncertainties remained regionally and at different scales, especially for extremes. Over land, there is a strong increase in precipitation for the wettest day in all seasons over the mid and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. There is an enlargement of the drying patterns in the subtropics including over large regions around Mediterranean, southern Africa, and western Eurasia. For the continental averages, the reduction in total precipitation was found for South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia, and there is an increase in total precipitation over North America, Asia, and the continental Russian Arctic. Over the continental Russian Arctic, there is an increase in all precipitation extremes and a consistent decrease in CDD for all SSP scenarios, with the maximum increase of more than 90% for R95p and R10 mm observed under SSP5–8.5. Full article

This study investigates the capillary performance and wetting behavior of SLA (Stereolithography) 3D-printed porous structures, focusing on TPMS (triply periodic minimal surfaces)-Gyroid, Octet, Diamond, and Isotruss lattice designs. High-speed imaging was used to analyze droplet interactions, including penetration, spreading, and contact angles, with 16 μL water droplets dropping from 30 mm at 0.77 m/s. Results showed variable contact angles, with Isotruss and Octet having higher angles, while Diamond faced measurement challenges due to surface roughness. Numerical simulations of TPMS-Gyroid of 2 mm³ unit cells validated the experimental results, and Diamond, Octet, and Isotruss structures were simulated. Capillary performance was assessed through deionized (DI) water weight–time (w-t) measurements, identifying that the TPMS-Gyroid structure performed adequately. Structures with 4 mm³ unit cells had low capillary performance, excluding them from permeability testing, whereas smaller 2 mm³ structures demonstrated capillary effects but had printability and cleaning issues. Permeability results indicated that Octet performed best, followed by Isotruss, Diamond, and TPMS-Gyroid. Findings emphasize unit cell size, beam thickness, and droplet positioning as key factors in optimizing fluid dynamics for cooling, filtration, and fluid management. Full article

Water systems serve as multifaceted environmental pools for antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and resistance genes (ARGs), influencing human, animal, and ecosystem health. This review synthesizes current understanding of how antibiotics, ARB, and ARGs enter surface, ground, and drinking waters via wastewater discharge, agricultural runoff, hospital effluents, and urban stormwater. We highlight key mechanisms of biofilm formation, horizontal gene transfer, and co-selection by chemical stressors that facilitate persistence and spread. Case studies illustrate widespread detection of clinically meaningful ARB (e.g., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae) and mobile ARGs (e.g., sul1/2, tet, bla variants) in treated effluents, recycled water, and irrigation return flows. The interplay between treatment inefficiencies and environmental processes underscores the need for advanced treatment technologies, integrated monitoring, and policy interventions. Addressing these challenges is critical to curbing the environmental dissemination of resistance and protecting human and ecosystem health. Full article

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in suburban freshwater ecosystems pose a growing public health concern by potentially reducing the effectiveness of medical treatments. This study investigated how rainfall influences ARG dynamics in Lake Katherine, a 62-hectare suburban lake in Columbia, South Carolina, over one year. Surface water was collected under both dry and post-rain conditions from three locations, and ARGs were identified using metagenomic sequencing. Statistical models revealed that six of nine ARG classes with sufficient data showed significant responses to rainfall. Three classes, Bacitracin, Aminoglycoside, and Unclassified, were more abundant after rainfall, while Tetracycline, Multidrug, and Peptide resistance genes declined. Taxonomic analysis showed that members of the Pseudomonadota phylum, especially Betaproteobacteria, were prevalent among ARG-carrying microbes. These findings suggest that rainfall can alter the distribution of ARGs in suburban lakes, highlighting the importance of routine monitoring and water management strategies to limit the environmental spread of antibiotic resistance. Full article

Asphalt pavement cracking is an important factor affecting its service life. Under certain conditions, the self-healing behavior of asphalt itself can repair pavement cracks. However, the self-healing ability of asphalt itself is limited. In order to strengthen the self-healing ability of asphalt, the microcapsule wrapped with a repair agent is pre-mixed into the asphalt mixture. When the crack occurs and spreads to the surface of the microcapsule, the microcapsule ruptures and the healing agent flows out to realize the self-healing of the crack. Current microcapsules are mostly prepared with healing agents and bio-oil as core materials, and their high-temperature resistance to rutting is poor. While the epoxy resin contains a three-membered cyclic ether, it can undergo ring-opening polymerization to bond and repair the asphalt matrix. In addition, research on microcapsules mainly focuses on the self-healing properties of microcapsule-modified asphalt. In fact, before adding microcapsules to asphalt to improve its self-healing performance, it is necessary to ensure that the asphalt has a good road performance. On this basis, the self-healing performance of asphalt is improved, thereby extending the service life of asphalt pavement. Therefore, two-component epoxy self-healing microcapsules (E-mic and G-mic) were first prepared in this paper. Then, a temperature scanning test, rheological test of bending beams, and linear amplitude scanning test were, respectively, conducted for the microcapsule/asphalt to evaluate its road performance, including the high-temperature performance, low-temperature crack resistance, and fatigue performance. Finally, the self-healing performance of microcapsules/asphalt was tested. The results showed that the self-developed epoxy self-healing microcapsules were well encapsulated and presented as spherical micron-sized particles. The average particle size of the E-mic was approximately 23.582 μm, while the average particle size of the G-mic was approximately 22.440 μm, exhibiting a good normal distribution. In addition, they can remain intact and unbroken under high-temperature conditions. The results of road performance tests indicated that the microcapsule/asphalt mixture exhibits an excellent high-temperature resistance to permanent deformation, low-temperature crack resistance, and fatigue resistance. The self-healing test demonstrated that the microcapsule/asphalt exhibited an excellent self-healing performance. When the microcapsule content was 4%, the self-healing rate reached its optimal level of 67.8%, which was 149.2% higher than that of the base asphalt. Full article

We present a neural-network-based approach to solve the image-to-image translation problem in microscale droplets squeeze flow. A residual convolutional neural network is proposed to address the inverse problem: reconstructing a low-resolution (LR) droplet pattern image from a high-resolution (HR) liquid film thickness imprint. This enables the prediction of initial droplet configurations that evolve into target HR imprints after a specified spreading time. The developed neural network architecture aims at learning to tune the refinement level of its residual convolutional blocks by using function approximators that are trained to map a given film thickness to an appropriate refinement level indicator. We use multiple stacks of convolutional layers, the output of which is translated according to the refinement level indicators provided by the directly connected function approximators. Together with a non-linear activation function, the translation mechanism enables the HR imprint image to be refined sequentially in multiple steps until the target LR droplet pattern image is revealed. We believe that this work holds value for the semiconductor manufacturing and packaging industry. Specifically, it enables desired layouts to be imprinted on a surface by squeezing strategically placed droplets with a blank surface, eliminating the need for customized templates and reducing manufacturing costs. Additionally, this approach has potential applications in data compression and encryption. Full article

Concave surface is a common geometry in both industrial buildings and natural environments; the flame spread behaviors on this special surface are worth studying, while few studies have been completed yet. In this study, kraft paper, which is a typical charring material, was chosen to investigate the behaviors of concurrent flame spread on concave surfaces. The results showed that there were three stages of the flame spread process on a concave surface: the flame gathering stage, the flame acceleration stage and the flame burnout stage. A peak mass loss rate was found at the end of the flame acceleration stage and then decayed rapidly due to the lack of sample that can maintain the flame spread. An experiential equation to predict the maximum mass loss rate was established. The flame spread showed an obvious acceleration with the increase in curvature, a new dimensionless number was proposed to find out whether the flame spread was accelerated or not. For the accelerated flame spread, the critical value is 0.85. Segmented expressions between dimensionless flame height and dimensionless heat release rate were developed, with good correlation for smaller curvatures. This study’s results will fill the blank of flame propagation on concave surfaces, improve the understanding of fires in special cases, and provide assistance in related fire risk evaluations. Full article

HPMC, regulating slurry properties, is widely used in cement-based materials. Research on the application of HPMC in gangue slurry is still in its early stages. Moreover, the interactive effects of various factors on gangue slurry performance have not been thoroughly investigated. The work examined the effects of slurry concentration (X₁), maximum gangue particle size (X₂), and HPMC dosage (X₃) on slurry performance using response surface methodology (RSM). The microstructure of the slurry was characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and polarized light microscopy (PLM), while low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) was employed to analyze water distribution. Additionally, industrial field tests were conducted. The results are presented below. (1) X₁ and X₃ exhibited a negative correlation with layering degree and slump flow, while X₂ showed a positive correlation. Slurry concentration had the greatest impact on slurry performance, followed by maximum particle size and HPMC dosage. HPMC significantly improved slurry stability, imposing the minimum negative influence on fluidity. Interaction terms X₁X₂ and X₁X₃ significantly affected layering degree and slump flow, while X₂X₃ significantly affected layering degree instead of slump flow. (2) Derived from the RSM, the statistical models for layering degree and slump flow define the optimal slurry mix proportions. The gangue gradation index ranged from 0.40 to 0.428, with different gradations requiring specific slurry concentration and HPMC dosages. (3) HPMC promoted the formation of a 3D floc network structure of fine particles through adsorption-bridging effects. The spatial supporting effect of the floc network inhibited the sedimentation of coarse particles, which enhanced the stability of the slurry. Meanwhile, HPMC only converted a small amount of free water into floc water, which had a minimal impact on fluidity. HPMC addition achieved the synergistic optimization of slurry stability and fluidity. (4) Field industrial trials confirmed that HPMC-optimized gangue slurry demonstrated significant improvements in both stability and flowability. The optimized slurry achieved blockage-free pipeline transportation, with a maximum spreading radius exceeding 60 m in the goaf and a maximum single-borehole backfilling volume of 2200 m³. Full article

The practice in agriculture of spreading polyethylene (PE) film over the soil surface as mulch is a common, global practice that aids in conserving water, increasing crop yields, suppressing weed growth, and decreasing growing time. However, these films are typically only used for a single growing season, and thus, their use and non-biodegradability come with some serious environmental consequences due to their persistence in the soil and potential for microplastic pollution, particularly when retrieval and disposal options are poor. On the microscale, particles < 5 mm from degraded films have been observed to disrupt soil structure, impede water and nutrient cycling, and affect soil organisms and plant health. On the macroscale, there are obvious and serious environmental consequences associated with the burning of plastic film and its leakage from poorly managed landfills. To maintain the crop productivity afforded by mulching with PE film while avoiding the environmental downsides, the development and use of biodegradable polymer technologies is being explored. Here, the efficacy of a newly developed, water-dispersible, sprayable, and biodegradable polyester–urethane–urea (PEUU)-based polymer was compared with two commercial PE mulches, non-degradable polyethylene (NPE) and OPE (ox-degradable polyethylene), in a greenhouse tomato growth trial. Water savings and the effects on plant growth and soil characteristics were studied. It was found that PEUU provided similar water savings to the commercial PE-based mulches, up to 30–35%, while showing no deleterious effects on plant growth. The results should be taken as preliminary indications that the sprayable, biodegradable PEUU shows promise as a replacement for PE mulch, with further studies under outside field conditions warranted to assess its cost effectiveness in improving crop yields and, importantly, its longer-term impacts on soil and terrestrial fauna. Full article

Microplastic particles (MPs) are an emerging global pollutant of increasing concern due to their widespread occurrence, persistence, and multifaceted impact on aquatic ecosystems. This study provides a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed literature from 2011 to 2025, analysing the presence, distribution, and microbiological associations of MPs in surface waters across five continents. The findings confirm that MPs are present in both marine and freshwater systems, with concentrations varying by region, hydrology, and proximity to anthropogenic sources. Polyethylene and polypropylene were identified as the most common polymers, often enriched in river mouths, estuaries, and aquaculture zones. A key focus of this review is the plastisphere—microbial biofilms colonizing MPs—which includes both environmental and pathogenic bacteria such as Vibrio, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter. Notably, MPs serve as vectors for the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), including sul1, tetA and ermF, and β-lactamase genes like blaCTX-M. This highlights their role in enhancing horizontal gene transfer and microbial dissemination. The results emphasize the need for standardized monitoring protocols and further interdisciplinary research. In light of the One Health approach, understanding the microbial dimension of MP pollution is essential for managing risks to environmental and public health. Full article