Search Results (532)

The Taranto Landslide Complex (TLC) is a multi-episode submarine mass-failure system developed along the Apulian continental margin (Gulf of Taranto, northern Ionian Sea) between ~200 and ~900 m water depth. High-resolution multibeam bathymetry and chirp seismostratigraphy were integrated to map five partially overlapping Quaternary mass transport deposits (MTD1–MTD5) and quantify their geometry, conservative volumes, and first-order kinematics. Consistent morphometric parameters indicate mobilities (H/L) and angles of reach typical of continental-slope failures, whereas conservative volumes range between ~0.02–0.35 km³. A depth-averaged sliding-block approach yields bounds on peak velocity and travel time compatible with rapid emplacement. Cross-cutting relationships and post-failure sediment drapes constrain two principal phases of slope instability, expressed as time windows rather than fixed ages. This study develops a framework that integrates uniform morphometric, volumetric, and kinematic features with seismostratigraphy to reconstruct the evolution and relative mobility of multi-episode submarine landslide complexes. The proposed workflow provides a transferable framework for preliminary geohazard assessment on continental margins where repeated slope failure interacts with tectonic and sedimentary forcing. Full article

Background/Objectives: The optimal transport strategy for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains debated, particularly in trauma systems where inter-hospital transfer is common. Whether secondary transfer independently influences mortality after risk adjustment is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between admission route and in-hospital mortality among patients with TBI at a major trauma center (MTC). Methods: This retrospective observational study included 417 patients with TBI and an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) head score ≥ 3 (direct admission: 245; inter-hospital transfer: 172). Severe TBI was defined as a total Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤ 8 or the need for advanced airway management. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess whether admission route was independently associated with in-hospital mortality after adjustment for age, physiological status at MTC arrival, and injury severity. Subgroup analysis was conducted in patients with severe TBI. Results: Crude mortality was higher in the direct admission group than in the transfer group (40.8% vs. 26.7%; p = 0.003), despite significantly longer injury-to-trauma center arrival times in transferred patients (219.0 vs. 44.0 min). In multivariable analysis, admission route was not independently associated with mortality in the overall cohort (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.75; 95% CI 0.44–1.28; p = 0.298) or in the severe TBI subgroup (n = 233; aOR 0.88; 95% CI 0.47–1.67; p = 0.705). Increasing age and lower GCS motor scores were consistently associated with higher mortality in both analyses. Conclusions: Inter-hospital transfer was not independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality among patients with TBI. After consideration of patient age and neurological severity, initial stabilization at a nearby hospital followed by transfer may be an acceptable transport strategy for patients who present with physiological instability requiring immediate resuscitative interventions. Full article

Introduction: Endotoxin-mediated septic shock is a life-threatening condition characterized by systemic inflammation and hemodynamic instability. While Polymyxin-B hemoadsorption (Toraymyxin^®) is well-studied in adults, its use in pediatric patients remains less explored and requires modified approaches to minimize invasiveness and complications. Case Presentation: We report a 9-year-old boy (25 kg) with endotoxin-mediated septic shock due to Klebsiella pneumoniae, who developed oliguric acute kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). On Day 4, worsening conditions prompted the initiation of Toraymyxin^® treatment, directly integrated into the ongoing CRRT circuit. This approach minimized extracorporeal volume expansion, avoided circuit replacement, and was complication-free. The patient improved rapidly, allowing CRRT discontinuation and transfer to the ward within 28 days. Conclusions: This case highlights the feasibility, safety, and potential benefits of integrating the Toraymyxin^® cartridge into an ongoing CRRT circuit in pediatric septic shock, minimizing extracorporeal volume, avoiding additional vascular access, and supporting hemodynamic stabilization. Full article

To address the stability issues of bridge piers on high expansive soil slopes in the Yangtze-Huaihe River Water Transfer Project and reveal the slope-bridge structure interaction mechanism, this study performed 100 g geotechnical centrifuge model tests. Slope failure modes under rainfall-bridge load coupling are investigated, with bridge pier deformation, earth pressure, and pile bending moment evolution analyzed. Results show that rainfall-induced failure causes shallow slope sliding with negligible pier displacement, keeping the structure safe. Conversely, under bridge working and ultimate loads, the slope will experience a mid-deep landslide with a sliding depth of 13–20 m, leading to slope instability and bridge overturning. The influence range of shallow landslides is 1–2 m, and the earth pressure at the pile cap is 132 kPa, which is a critical factor affecting bridge stability. In contrast, the bearing performance of pile foundations plays a dominant controlling role in deep-seated landslides. With the increase in landslide depth, the inflection point of the pile gradually moves downward. Numerical simulations further indicate that shallow landslides feature superficial slip–shear failure, and deep-seated landslides follow a progressive slip tensile cracking mechanism. Full article

Magnetic fields, either imposed externally or produced spontaneously, are often present in laser-driven high-energy-density systems. In addition to changing plasma conditions, magnetic fields also directly modify laser–plasma interactions (LPI) by changing the participating waves and their nonlinear interactions. In this paper, we use two-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations to investigate how magnetic fields directly affect crossbeam energy transfer (CBET) from a pump to a seed laser beam when the transfer is mediated by the ion-acoustic wave (IAW) quasimode. Our simulations are performed in the parameter space where CBET is the dominant process and in a linear regime, where pump depletion, distribution function evolution, and secondary instabilities are insignificant. We use a Fourier filter to separate out the seed signal and project the seed fields onto two electromagnetic eigenmodes, which become nondegenerate in magnetized plasmas. By comparing the seed energy before CBET occurs and after CBET reaches quasi-steady state, we extract the CBET energy gains for both eigenmodes in lasers that are initially linearly polarized. Our simulations reveal that, starting from a few MG fields, the two eigenmodes have different gains, and magnetization alters the dependence of the gains on laser detuning. The overall gain decreases with magnetization when the laser polarizations are initially parallel, while a nonzero gain becomes allowed when the laser polarizations are initially orthogonal. These findings qualitatively agree with theoretical expectations. Full article

Heat creep is a critical failure mechanism in fused filament fabrication (FFF) extrusion systems, arising from insufficient thermal isolation between the hot end and cold end. It causes premature polymer softening, extrusion instability, and nozzle clogging, especially when active cooling is reduced or lost. This study experimentally evaluates passive cooling strategies for mitigating heat creep in consumer-class printers by exploiting ambient thermal stratification within the build volume. Vertical air-temperature gradients above heated build plates were measured for enclosed, semi-enclosed, and open-frame architectures, revealing pronounced stratification. Cold-end temperatures were then quantified for a stock extruder under forced and natural convection while printing polylactic acid (PLA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Finally, a modified cold-end using a heat pipe to relocate heat rejection to an elevated heat sink was tested under identical conditions, assuming fan failure. Elevated heat-rejection locations experienced lower ambient temperatures and improved natural-convection heat transfer. Relative to the stock configuration, the augmented design reduced cold-end temperatures and improved thermal stability during representative printing cycles without continuous active cooling—the improvement percent is ~8%. The results demonstrate that coupling heat-pipe conduction with environmental thermal gradients can mitigate heat creep and improve extruder reliability with lower energy demand. Full article

This study investigates the bending response of a thin-walled asymmetric cold-formed steel angle using a combined experimental and numerical approach. Full-scale four-point bending tests were carried out on an L180 × 130 × 3 cold-formed steel angle and compared with numerical simulations using shell finite element models developed in ANSYS 2025 R2 and simplified beam-based models implemented in ARSAP. The experimental results showed that the load-carrying capacity, reaching approximately 25–27 kN, is governed by the interaction of global bending and local buckling of the compressed walls, leading to a pronounced post-peak softening response. The ANSYS shell finite element models accurately reproduced both the initial stiffness and nonlinear deformation mechanisms. The best agreement with the experimental force–displacement response was obtained for an effective load eccentricity in the range of 15 to 18.5 mm, which reflects realistic load transfer and contact conditions and results in errors below 10% in terms of stiffness and peak load. In contrast, the beam-based models captured the elastic behaviour but showed limited capability in reproducing local instability effects and post-peak response. The study is intentionally limited to a single geometry and loading configuration and should be interpreted as an experimentally calibrated case study. The obtained results allow the applicability limits of simplified beam models to be identified and confirm the necessity of shell finite element modelling for the analysis of thin-walled asymmetric steel angle members subjected to bending. Full article

Lumbar interbody fusion is widely performed for degenerative, deformity-related, and instability-associated spinal conditions. Yet, reported outcomes remain variable across grafting strategies and surgical techniques. While advances in instrumentation and cage design improve immediate construct stability, successful arthrodesis depends on early graft behavior within the interbody environment. This includes positional stability, interface contact, and load transfer prior to mature bone formation. Synthetic bone graft substitutes are commonly used to supplement or replace autograft. However, the clinical literature describing these materials is heterogeneous with respect to composition, structural presentation, surgical context, and outcome reporting. This narrative review synthesizes clinical, translational, and biomechanical studies published between 2019 and 2025 that evaluate synthetic bone graft substitutes used in adult lumbar interbody fusion. Rather than comparing individual products or reported fusion rates, grafts are organized by material class and examined through early mechanical events such as graft migration, loss of graft–endplate contact, and cage subsidence. Across recent studies, variability in fusion definitions, imaging modalities, postoperative timepoints, and documentation of early mechanical events limits direct comparison and quantitative synthesis. These findings highlight the need for improved reporting consistency and greater emphasis on engineering-relevant variables in future investigations. Full article

The transition toward carbon-neutral energy systems has revived interest in nuclear technologies, particularly small and micro modular reactors (SMRs and MMRs) as flexible, safe and efficient alternatives to conventional large-scale power plans. In the Czech Republic, Centrum výzkumu Řez (CVŘ) is developing Energy Well (EW), a molten salt-cooled micro modular reactor concept employing FLiBe (Fluoride Lithium Beryllium) as primary and secondary coolant and a supercritical CO₂ (sCO₂) tertiary loop. A dedicated experimental facility was built to reproduce EW operating conditions and provide critical data on thermohydraulic behavior, fuel properties and heat-transfer mechanisms. This paper presents the development and assessment of a TRACE (TRAC/RELAP Advanced Computational Engine) model of the experimental facility, including specific methodologies for the main heater and the heat exchanger. Model accuracy was assessed through comparison with experimental commissioning data. The simulations demonstrated overall model consistency, especially regarding the heat exchanger and the main heater general performances, while some discrepancies were observed inside the main heater graphitic core. Other discrepancies were observed along the loop, mainly resulting from modeling simplifications and lack of information regarding certain experimental loop phenomena. In particular, the pressure calculation showed large inconsistencies mainly connected to the complexity of pressure measurements in molten salt circuits and the lack of specific head loss correlations. This study also helped identify broader issues in both the code (persistent error in generating CO₂ property tables and instabilities resulting from FLiBe interactions with non-condensable gases) and the experimental loop (defect in the heat exchanger filling and uncertainties on sensors location), also contributing to resolving sensor-related inconsistencies in the facility. Results confirm TRACE as a reliable tool for modeling molten salt systems, regarding the temperature distribution and the heat transfer. However, depending on the specific experimental case, this paper introduces specific limitations, such as some inconsistencies in the pressure drops distribution, in order to support the future development of TRACE code. Beyond technical advances, this work provides unique experimental data and fosters international collaboration in advancing SMR and molten salt reactor technologies. Full article

Land-use and land-cover change plays a critical role in shaping urban expansion patterns and modifying near-surface soil conditions, hydrological behaviour, and geomorphological stability in rapidly developing regions. This study presents a comparative modelling framework to analyze long-term land-use change and its implications for regional-scale geotechnical risk screening by integrating historical land-use classification, Markov transition analysis, and machine learning–based spatial simulation. Landsat imagery from 1985 and 2024 was classified using a Support Vector Machine approach, and future land-use projections for 2063 were generated using both the TerrSet Land Change Modeler (LCM) and the GeoFLUS model under identical transition demands. Spatial driving variables included topographic, hydrological, and accessibility-related factors that influence soil behaviour and urban suitability. The results reveal sustained urban expansion primarily driven by the systematic conversion of agricultural land into built-up surfaces, while forested areas and water bodies exhibit high class persistence, as indicated by dominant diagonal values in the Markov transition matrix. Although both models reproduce consistent directional trends, they generate distinct spatial allocation patterns, with LCM producing compact and centralized growth and GeoFLUS generating more spatially dispersed expansion. These differences lead to contrasting implications for potential settlement, flooding, and slope instability zones. By treating future land-use maps as alternative geotechnical screening scenarios rather than fixed predictions, this study demonstrates how model uncertainty can be incorporated into hazard-sensitive planning. The proposed framework supports preliminary geotechnical zoning and infrastructure planning by identifying robust development corridors and spatial uncertainty zones where detailed site investigations may be prioritized. The methodology is transferable to other rapidly urbanizing regions facing complex soil and geomorphological constraints. Full article

To investigate the heat-generation mechanisms of journal bearings under different whirl motion and to clarify the corresponding temperature distribution characteristics, a computational fluid dynamics-based method was developed. The model incorporates temperature-dependent lubricant viscosity and employs an unsteady dynamic-mesh updating approach based on structured grids, enabling the automatic iterative tracking of the journal center during whirl motion. A thermal-effect analysis model that accounts for journal whirl trajectories was thereby established. The whirl orbit shape is characterized using elliptical eccentricity, and the effects of whirl direction, elliptical eccentricity, and whirl frequency on the circumferential temperature and pressure distributions of the journal are examined. Results show that under forward whirl, increasing whirl frequency and elliptical eccentricity initially enhances and then weakens local hydrodynamic pressure and viscous shear dissipation in the oil-film convergent region, producing pronounced first-order circumferential temperature nonuniformity and a high risk of thermal bending at intermediate frequencies. Under backward whirl, hydrodynamic effects are reduced and heat generation shifts from localized concentration to global shear dissipation, forming a relatively uniform second-order circumferential temperature field. Increasing elliptical eccentricity causes the whirl orbit to become more linear, improving load-carrying capacity and heat-transfer performance and thereby mitigating thermally induced vibration and oil-film whirl instability. Full article

Electromobility is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of sustainable transport, yet its adoption remains uneven across regions. This study develops an integrated framework that combines geospatial analysis, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), and power system evaluation to identify and prioritize fast-charging sites at the national scale. Applied to Costa Rica’s national road network (NRN), encompassing both urban centers and peripheral regions, the framework integrates spatial suitability, socioeconomic priorities, and grid readiness across projected electric vehicle (EV) penetration scenarios. Critically, power system simulations reveal voltage instability at distribution nodes (as low as 89.88% p.u.) under 3% EV penetration despite 99% renewable generation, demonstrating that grid capacity, not planning methodology, constitutes the primary barrier to electric mobility adoption. This finding, derived from the first national-scale analysis that integrates equity-driven spatial prioritization with comprehensive grid validation using real fleet projections, challenges conventional assumptions in transport-focused infrastructure planning. The framework provides a transferable tool for countries seeking to align EV infrastructure planning with sustainability and decarbonization objectives, while highlighting that grid reinforcement must precede, not follow, the deployment of fast-charging infrastructure. Full article

The exploitation of Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISLs) has the potential to provide significant benefits to GNSSs, offering clock synchronization via highly accurate time transfer, precise ranging, robustness against jamming and spoofing, high data rates, and freedom from signal frequency regulations. As with any new technology, it is crucial to conduct in-space experiments to demonstrate the capabilities of OISLs before widespread adoption. In this work, we present preliminary analyses of an in-orbit demonstrator concept, which is being designed under the name Optical Synchronized Time And Ranging (OpSTAR). It involves two satellites in a trailing configuration, each equipped with two laser terminals. On the ground, two co-located Optical Ground Stations (OGSs) are operated. Whenever both satellites are simultaneously visible from the OGSs, an OISL and two additional Optical Satellite-to-Ground Links (OSGLs) are established, forming a closed “measurement loop” between the two satellites and the two ground stations. We present a functional model for OISL and OSGL pseudorange observables. A cross-link clock observable is formed by differencing two one-way pseudoranges, from which a relative clock offset estimate is obtained. First, we analyze how modeling errors on differential delays in Two-Way Time Transfer (TWTT)—relativistic effects, atmospheric delays, hardware delays, and satellite dynamics during the exchange—impact the estimation accuracy. Next, we study the impact of individual error contributions to the overall zero-sum chain of clock offset estimates across the closed-loop. Results show that errors due to mis-modeling of relativistic effects, satellite dynamics and clock instability are negligible, while hardware and atmospheric delays require accurate calibrations to achieve TWTT at picosecond-level accuracy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Motor imagery (MI) EEG-based brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) are promising for neurorehabilitation, but practical use is often hindered by time-consuming per-user calibration and performance instability across sessions/users. Methods: To mitigate this issue, we aim to improve subject-dependent MI classification by leveraging labeled training data from other subjects within the same dataset via transfer learning. We propose Maximizing Single-Feature Separability (MSFS), a lightweight plug-in regularization applied during target–subject fine-tuning. MSFS operates on the network feature layer and constructs batch-wise target positions by maximizing a silhouette-based separability criterion for each feature dimension. The target position computation is implemented in a fully vectorized GPU-friendly manner. Results: We evaluate MSFS on BCI Competition IV-2a and IV-2b datasets using three representative backbone networks (EEGNet, ShallowConvNet, ATCNet). MSFS consistently improves standard transfer learning across both datasets and all backbones. When compared against representative transfer learning algorithms from the literature, MSFS remains competitive against the literature baselines. Ablation analysis confirms the effectiveness of each algorithm component. Few-shot experiments further indicate that MSFS is still beneficial when the target subject provides limited labeled data. Conclusions: MSFS provides a within-dataset transfer learning enhancement for MI EEG decoding, improving target–subject accuracy under limited calibration data without relying on external datasets, and can be readily integrated into common deep MI classification pipelines. Full article

Low-frequency oscillatory flow is a long-standing instability in cryogenic jet condensation systems and is closely associated with abnormal pressure fluctuations in propulsion pipelines. While previous studies mainly focused on operating conditions, the role of injector orifice layout in triggering low-frequency oscillations remains unclear. In this work, a three-dimensional numerical investigation was conducted to examine the effect of orifice layout on condensation-induced oscillatory flow in an oxygen jet condensation system. A curvature-coupled mass transfer model is employed, in which the interfacial mass transfer rate is dynamically linked to local vapor–liquid interfacial curvature, enabling accurate representation of interfacial evolution. A series of numerical cases are designed by varying the number, arrangement, and diameter of orifices under different combinations of mass rate, mass flux, and total injection area. Two distinct condensation patterns are identified: suck-back chugging and weak pulsation. Pronounced low-frequency oscillations are observed only for specific orifice layouts. When the total injection area and gaseous oxygen mass rate are maintained, chugging persists under different layouts, producing dominant frequencies of approximately 10~11 Hz and pressure amplitudes of about 80~120 kPa. Once either the total area or mass rate is altered, the system transitions to weak pulsation with pressure fluctuations below 3 kPa. These results demonstrate that low-frequency oscillatory flow is a layout-enabled instability rather than a mass-flux-controlled phenomenon, highlighting the importance of injector geometric design in regulating condensation-induced oscillations. Full article