Search Results (1,033)

Physical energy-based therapies are non-invasive adjunctive interventions that deliver mechanical, electromagnetic, light, or radiofrequency/thermal energy to tissues with the aim of reducing symptoms and improving tolerance of active rehabilitation. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a heterogeneous whole-joint disorder in which cartilage degeneration, subchondral bone remodeling, synovitis, peri-articular tissue dysfunction, neuromuscular impairment, and pain sensitization may interact to produce pain, stiffness, and activity restriction. As conservative therapy for OA, education, progressive therapeutic exercise, weight management when indicated, and self-management remain the core of care. Nevertheless, some patients cannot fully participate in exercise because of pain, fear of movement, load intolerance, comorbidity, or limited access to supervised rehabilitation. This narrative review synthesizes evidence published mainly between 2016 and 2026 for extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), photobiomodulation/low-level laser therapy (PBMT/LLLT), pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF), transfer energy capacitive and resistive/capacitive–resistive electric transfer (TECAR/CRET) therapy, body weight support and aquatic unloading strategies, and mechanosonic vibration therapies. The available literature suggests that ESWT and PBMT/LLLT may provide short- to mid-term pain and function benefits in selected patients with knee OA when parameters are aligned with evidence-supported dosing windows. PEMF and vibration therapies show promising but less consistent effects because protocols, devices, sham conditions, and populations vary. TECAR/CRET and unloading approaches are best interpreted as enabling tools that may reduce guarding, improve walking tolerance, or increase the quality of therapeutic exercise, rather than stand-alone disease-modifying treatments. Current national and society guidelines consistently prioritize exercise, education, and weight management; most of the modalities reviewed here are absent from guidelines or are supported only indirectly, which justifies cautious wording and individualized use. A practical application model is, therefore, time-limited and goal-oriented: identify the barrier to rehabilitation, select a modality with a plausible mechanism and published protocol, monitor pain and functional response, and discontinue the modality if it does not improve participation in active care. Full article

Accurately characterizing the accumulated plastic deformation of the cement sheath is essential for evaluating wellbore integrity. Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) technology, noted for its strong immunity to external interference, is employed for in situ monitoring under harsh downhole conditions. This study investigates the accumulated plastic deformation behavior of set cement through uniaxial cyclic loading–unloading tests and proposes a real-time, high-precision, and non-destructive monitoring scheme by integrating FBG sensors into the Casing–Cement–Formation system (CCFS). The results reveal that under uniaxial conditions, cumulative plastic strain increases with stress amplitude, with the plastic strain in a single cycle capable of reaching up to 0.2%. Under identical conditions, FBG measurements exhibit a drift phenomenon, resulting in an error margin of approximately 1.5–2%. Furthermore, within the CCFS, plastic strain exhibits linear accumulation during the initial 2–5 cycles, followed by a deceleration in the accumulation rate. This deceleration is attributed to the redistribution of internal stress induced by plastic strain accumulation. Notably, the addition of silica fume and latex significantly mitigates this deformation. Collectively, these findings validate the effectiveness of FBG technology for downhole integrity assessment and offer a pathway for early failure detection and targeted maintenance. Full article

Gymnema lactiferum (G. lactiferum) is a medicinal plant that contains potent bioactive phytochemicals, which are prone to degradation during processing and digestion. In this study, G. lactiferum extract was prepared and encapsulated into soy lecithin primary liposomes (PL) and then coated with chitosan to form secondary liposomes (chitosomes, CS) to enhance stability. Physicochemical characteristics, morphology, thermal behavior, and storage stability were evaluated. Extract loading significantly (p < 0.05) increased the mean diameter of PL from 128.6 nm to 146.3 nm and of CS from 359.1 nm to 408.9 nm compared with unloaded liposomes. Both liposomal systems exhibited homogeneous size distributions and good colloidal stability, with zeta potentials of −39.4 mV for PL and +35.8 mV for CS and low polydispersity indices (<0.25) for both systems. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated predominantly spherical morphologies in both systems. Chitosan coating significantly (p < 0.05) improved both encapsulation efficiency (77.3%) and encapsulation yield (82.4%) compared with PL (73.7% and 79.1%, respectively). HPLC-based quantification using rutin as a reference analyte further indicated EE-R% values of 59.8% for PL-GE and 70.3% for CS-GE, supporting improved extract retention following chitosan coating. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed successful encapsulation without apparent chemical alterations or reactions. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated that chitosan coating modified the thermal transition behavior of the liposomal membrane, consistent with altered bilayer packing and increased membrane fluidity, while incorporation of the extract partially restored thermal order within the coated system. Overall, chitosan coating effectively enhanced the encapsulation efficiency, stability, and yield of G. lactiferum extract-loaded liposomes towards their incorporation into functional food formulations. Full article

Permeability acts as a core parameter governing the efficient and cost-effective development of deep coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs. The evolution of permeability in deep CBM formations is predominantly driven by the coupled deformation of pore and fracture systems under in-situ stress, yet the intrinsic mechanisms behind this process have not been fully elucidated. In this work, permeability tests were carried out on cataclastic coal specimens in three orientations under both loading and unloading conditions with confining pressures. Experimental results reveal that coal permeability decreases exponentially with increasing effective stress (R² is about 0.99; reduction is about 86%), exhibiting strong anisotropy and displays significant hysteresis during unloading. To interpret these phenomena, we establish a dual-pore fractal series model that uniquely integrates serial flow coupling between matrix pores and fractures and quantifies stress-driven changes in fractal dimension, tortuosity, and maximum pore size. The model successfully reproduces experimental results (mean relative error ≤ 4.2%) and provides mechanistic insights into stress-induced permeability evolution. Stress increases fractal dimension and tortuosity while reducing maximum pore size, rendering pore structures more complex and less conductive. Incomplete recovery of fractal parameters during unloading explains the observed hysteresis. This mechanistic framework, combining the experiment and theory, offers quantitative support for optimizing CBM extraction strategies. Full article

Flexible pressure sensors with a porous architecture are highly desirable for wearable health monitoring and intelligent human–machine interaction, owing to their excellent comfort and conformability to human motion. However, conventional porous sensors often suffer from poor signal accuracy and unstable output, which limit their capability for precision sensing. To address these challenges, we designed and fabricated a flexible pressure sensor with exceptional linearity by mimicking the unique surface structure of Iron Cross Begonia (Begonia masoniana) leaves. The sensor is constructed using a readily available melamine foam as the backbone: a porous sensing scaffold is first obtained via a simple dip-coating process, and a film featuring bioinspired protrusions is fabricated by repeated replica molding. Lamination of these two components yields a stacked sensor device. Characterization demonstrates that the sensor achieves a broad pressure detection range of up to 350 kPa, with a minimum resolvable pressure of 250 Pa, and exhibits an excellent linearity of 0.999 over its entire working range (0–350 kPa). Moreover, the sensor shows stable responses under varying loading frequencies, is capable of detecting low-frequency signals, and retains its performance without notable degradation even after 5000 repeated loading-unloading cycles. In practical applications, the sensor accurately monitors flexion and extension movements of the wrist, finger, neck, and knee, capturing human motion signals with high fidelity. Furthermore, it enables information encoding and transmission through finger gestures. The proposed bioinspired structural design strategy effectively enhances the overall performance of porous pressure sensors, offering a new paradigm for the development of flexible sensing devices with promising applications in wearable health monitoring, human motion detection, and human–machine interaction. Full article

Animal models are essential for elucidating human disease mechanisms and advancing translational research. Here, we used a well-established rat tail-suspension model to investigate the pathophysiological changes associated with simulated microgravity-induced functional dyspepsia (FD) and to evaluate its utility for preclinical to clinical translation. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to control, simulated weightlessness using hindlimb unloading (HU), and domperidone groups. The HU model was induced by 21-day tail suspension, a widely accepted ground-based platform for simulating microgravity. Behavioral tests (sucrose preference, novelty-suppressed feeding), gastrointestinal motility measurements (gastric emptying, intestinal propulsion), and serum brain–gut peptide levels were assessed. Gastric and hypothalamic gene expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR. The model successfully recapitulated key FD phenotypes, including anxiety/depression-like behaviors, reduced gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion, and systemic brain–gut peptide imbalance—characterized by decreased excitatory peptides [substance P (SP), gastrin (GAS), motilin (MTL), ghrelin] and increased inhibitory peptides [vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), cholecystokinin (CCK), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), nesfatin-1] in serum. Consistent transcriptional dysregulation was observed in gastric and hypothalamic tissues. Hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was decreased, and colon 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) increased, with no organic gastric lesions. Domperidone treatment significantly ameliorated behavioral abnormalities and gastrointestinal dysmotility, partially reversed brain–gut peptide imbalances at both protein and transcriptional levels, and restored hippocampal BDNF. These findings demonstrate that the rat tail-suspension model provides a reproducible platform for studying microgravity-induced FD, implicating brain–gut axis dysregulation. Domperidone’s therapeutic effects highlight the model’s utility for evaluating countermeasures against spaceflight-associated digestive dysfunction. Full article

Microfluidic devices are widely used for cell manipulation, but the effects of physical contact between cells and microchannel walls are not well understood. This study examines how such contact influences the behaviour of red blood cells (RBCs) during controlled manipulation. RBCs were driven through a narrow microchannel constriction (3.6 × 3.0 µm in cross-section and 2500 µm in length), enabling precise application of mechanical load. A pump system allowed accurate control of flow conditions, ranging from complete immobilisation to defined shear stress by adjusting flow rates. Under immobilised conditions, the recovery time constant of RBCs increased with longer loading durations, consistent with previous studies. However, when shear stress was introduced, recovery dynamics changed significantly. Notably, a 30-fold difference in recovery time constant was observed between a 5 s immobilisation and a 5 s load applied at a flow speed of 0.5 mm/s. Furthermore, the rapid elastic recovery typically occurring within approximately 0.1 s after unloading was suppressed under flow conditions. These results demonstrate that viscous interactions between channel walls and surrounding fluid play a critical role in determining cellular responses during microfluidic manipulation. Full article

Kiwano (Cucumis metuliferus) peel, although rich in carotenoids and polyphenols with notable antioxidant capacity, is still an underused resource. This study explored its valorization through cloud point extraction (CPE) and its direct integration into nanoemulsion systems. The innovative aspect lies in reusing the CPE as a stabilizing agent, creating a closed process that efficiently incorporates bioactive compounds. In the first phase, oil-in-water nanoemulsions were prepared with sunflower oil, Tween 80, and different polysaccharides (pectin, carboxymethyl cellulose—CMC, and their blends). Their stability, droplet size, surface charge, rheological, mechanical, and barrier properties were thoroughly assessed. CMC-based formulation displayed the most favorable characteristics, particularly strong stability and tensile strength, and was selected as the optimal system. In the second phase, kiwano peel extract was incorporated at three concentrations (5, 10, and 15 wt%). While extract addition lowered tensile strength, it improved elongation at break, suggesting a plasticizing effect. Moreover, extract-loaded emulsions exhibited smaller droplets, high stability, and significantly enhanced antioxidant activity compared to unloaded systems. These results demonstrate that kiwano peel can be sustainably valorized through CPE and integrated into nanoemulsions, offering promising bioactive formulations for future applications in food science. Full article

Currently, mining material transportation in warehouses relies heavily on manual operations, which pose safety hazards and suffer from low standardization and automation. Existing automated attempts using single-sensor perception or single-arm manipulators lack robustness and adaptability in harsh mine environments. To address these gaps, this paper proposes an intelligent loading system for standardized mining material transportation based on multimodal perception and multi-arm collaboration. First, the overall architecture of the transportation and loading system is introduced, comprising five modules: a standardized carrier platform and modular transport boxes, a box locking and spreader module, a multi-sensor recognition and positioning module, a multi-manipulator collaborative loading/unloading module, and a perception feedback and (human-controlled) overhead crane module. Next, a standardized hardware system is designed, focusing on the standardization of the separable and easily detachable carrier platform and the modularization of transport boxes, along with the locking mechanism between them, establishing the hardware foundation for the system. Subsequently, a multimodal perception data fusion and recognition positioning technology based on multiple depth cameras, UWB, and IMU is investigated to provide perceptual feedback for automated loading/unloading. Following this, a multi-manipulator collaborative control technology based on multi-agent error consensus is developed, designing a “two-master, two-slave” structure and a collaborative control algorithm to achieve automated loading/unloading of transport boxes. An information-based interactive monitoring software is then designed to monitor system perception data in real time and control the system’s operational status, ensuring safety and controllability. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the system are validated through simulations and prototype experiments. This work provides a foundation for standardized transportation and storage of mining materials and outlines a practical system-level approach. Full article

Aiming at the problems of insufficiently tight sealing of all-metal dissolvable frac plugs and the poor fracturing effect in the extraction of shale gas, the effects of structural parameters on the performance of metal dissolvable ball seat sealing rings was analyzed using numerical simulation and an experimental method. The key structural factors affecting performance were identified. The problem of stress concentration at the contact position between the sealing ring and the slip of the existing structure was discovered. To solve the above problems, a combination structure sealing ring was designed. Then the performance comparison analysis of the two structures and optimal structural parameters were carried out. Under the same sealing force, the combination structure sealing ring can be smoothly sealed, and the stress distribution of the upper sealing ring is uniform. This indicates that the performance of the combination structure sealing ring is superior, and the optimal cone angle and thickness obtained are 9° and 17 mm, respectively. Based on the optimized structural parameters, experiments were conducted. After being pressurized at room temperature to 51 MPa and stabilized for 15 min, the pressure gradually decreased to 47.4 MPa, indicating a secondary setting. After unloading, the lower end face of the dissolvable ball seat has no liquid leakage. Under high temperature, a pressure of 51 Mpa was applied; the pressure inside the wellbore remained basically unchanged. During the process of applying pressures of 60 MPa and 70 MPa, there was also a decrease in pressure, indicating the presence of secondary sealing. The above results indicate that the optimized combined metal sealing ring has strict sealing and good pressure-bearing performance. At the same time, the reliability of the simulation results was verified. The designed sealing ring was applied to the shale gas horizontal well deployed in Changning block, China. The application results show that when the displacement remains unchanged, the casing pressure increases from 51 MPa to 60 MPa, and continues to maintain the displacement. The pressure did not fall back to 51 MPa, proving that the formation pressure is released. The successful on-site application once again verifies the safe and reliable performance of the all-metal sealing ring. Full article

Basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) composites are increasingly considered as a sustainable alternative to traditional FRP systems for the strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, owing to their favorable mechanical properties, durability, and lower environmental impact. This study investigates the effectiveness of externally bonded BFRP strips for the strengthening of RC beam–column joints, with particular attention to the influence of strengthening layout on the structural response. An experimental program was carried out on full-scale RC beam–column joint specimens subjected to monotonic loading with load–unload cycles of increasing amplitude. Each specimen was first tested in its original configuration to induce controlled damage and subsequently strengthened using BFRP strips arranged according to two different layouts. This approach enabled a direct comparison between the behaviour of pre-damaged and retrofitted specimens and allowed the contribution of the BFRP reinforcement to be clearly identified. BFRP strengthening markedly improves joint performance, enhancing strength, ductility, and energy dissipation while limiting stiffness degradation. The results underline the critical role of the strengthening layout in governing the effectiveness of the composite system, as well as the influence of substrate cracking in the activation of the BFRP reinforcement. Full article

Background and Objectives: Conditioning activities (CAs) are commonly used to induce post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE); however, it remains unclear whether load-dependent responses established in bilateral, predominantly isotonic models extend to unilateral split squat conditions. In particular, evidence regarding holding isometric muscle action (HIMA) is limited, and it is unknown how external load and holding duration interact to influence both performance outcomes and phase-specific muscle activation. Therefore, this study examined the acute effects of HIMA duration and external load during unilateral split squat CA on jump performance and phase-specific electromyographic (EMG) activity. Materials and Methods: Twenty recreationally active men completed a randomized, counterbalanced crossover design involving four split squat CA conditions, unloaded 3 s, unloaded 5 s, 3 s loaded (60% 1RM), and 5 s loaded (60% 1RM), each performed as three sets of three repetitions. To minimize fatigue effects, standardized rest intervals and familiarization sessions were implemented prior to testing. Single-leg jump (SLJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ) were assessed before and after CA, with post-activation measurements conducted at 3 min (SLJ) and 4 min (CMJ), consistent with established PAPE time windows. Surface EMG was time-normalized across the split squat cycle and analyzed using phase-specific area under the curve. Results: CMJ significantly increased following both loaded conditions (p < 0.05; moderate to large effect sizes), whereas no differences were observed between unloaded durations. External load consistently elevated EMG amplitude across all measured muscles (moderate to large effects). Extending duration under load further increased activation in the hamstrings, stabilizers, vastus medialis, and gastrocnemius medialis (p < 0.05; small to moderate effects), whereas unloaded conditions showed minimal neuromuscular differences. Conclusions: External load, rather than isometric holding duration, appears to be a key factor influencing acute PAPE responses in unilateral split squat HIMA, whereas prolonged holding duration may primarily modulate muscle recruitment patterns without additional performance gains. However, given the acute experimental design and a recreationally active sample, these findings should be interpreted with caution and considered exploratory. Further studies are warranted to confirm these effects across different populations and longer-term training conditions. Full article

This study experimentally investigates the subsequent yield surfaces of thin-walled tubular ductile cast iron (QT600-7) specimens under various pre-deformation histories and elucidates their evolution patterns. The effects of pre-deformation level, unloading position, and loading path on the subsequent yield surfaces are examined, with particular attention to the concave phenomenon observed in the measured yield surfaces. The results show that the subsequent yield surfaces of QT600-7 translate towards the pre-loading direction. Translation and distortion are more pronounced at smaller offset strains and gradually diminish with increasing offset strains. Under different pre-loading paths, a sharp corner appears in the pre-loading direction and a concave or flattened shape forms in the opposite direction when the offset strain is small; this concave phenomenon tends to disappear under larger offset strains. A higher pre-deformation level leads to more noticeable distortion of the yield surface corresponding to small strains. After pre-tension and unloading, if reverse compression occurs, the subsequent yield surface under small offset strains exhibits a complex shape in the opposite direction. Full article

Bone fractures are often treated using invasive methods involving osteosynthesis plates. These plates are typically made of metallic materials such as titanium or steel. However, their high stiffness relative to bone tissue can contribute to the undesirable stress shielding effect. Therefore, there is a growing interest in developing new, more friendly biocompatible materials with improved mechanical properties. A promising candidate is a polymer composite made of high-strength PEEK reinforced with carbon fibers, which was the subject of this study. The aim of this work was a numerical analysis of osteosynthesis plates made from conventional materials and from PEEK-CF composite. The study also included geometric modification of the composite plate using topology optimization methods to reduce the stress shielding effect. The obtained results confirmed that the use of a geometrically optimized composite osteosynthesis plate can reduce bone unloading and ensure an appropriate stress distribution in the implant–bone system. Full article

Localized mechanical loading induces complex elastic–plastic interactions in anisotropic crystalline materials. However, quantitative orientation-resolved characterization of residual relative elastic strain heterogeneity remains limited. In this study, high-resolution electron backscatter diffraction was used to map residual in-plane relative elastic strain distributions beneath micro-indents in two annealed body-centered cubic ferritic non-oriented electrical steels, B35AV1900 and 35WW300. Grains oriented near (001), (101), and (111) were analyzed to evaluate the crystallographic effects on residual strain accommodation. Frequency distributions of the in-plane residual relative elastic strain components were constructed, and full width at half maximum values were extracted to quantify strain heterogeneity. The results revealed a pronounced orientation dependence. Near-(001) grains exhibited greater indentation depths and more widely distributed post-indentation deformation features. By contrast, near-(111) grains showed broader residual in-plane relative elastic strain distributions in both alloys. These results indicate that residual strain heterogeneity after unloading is influenced not only by indentation depth but also by crystallographic constraint and orientation-dependent strain redistribution. This study establishes a quantitative orientation-resolved framework for characterizing residual relative elastic strain heterogeneity beneath localized loading. It also provides a basis for linking crystallographic anisotropy, localized deformation, and residual strain redistribution in ferritic electrical steels. Full article