Search Results (60,653)

In the literature, there is a scarcity of studies examining the combined effects of vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) and surface roughness on a bluff body. This paper contributes to the limited studies and literature on VIV by highlighting the pronounced influence of roughness on the vortex formation modes of a circular cylinder forced to oscillate with respect to the freestream. The numerical approach utilizes a purely Lagrangian description through the discrete vortex method with a roughness model. Recent results obtained by our research group have shown that a two-dimensional roughness model is more sensitive than a simple turbulence model in capturing nonlinear multi-physics phenomena with a variety of applications in different engineering areas. In particular, the control of drag force and vortex shedding frequency can be studied based on the expected physics of viscous flow. In the present paper, the dimensionless oscillation amplitude is fixed at A/D = 0.13 (D is the outer cylinder diameter), and the cylinder forcing frequency varies in the range of 0.04 ≤ f_o ≤ 0.80 at a high Reynolds number value of Re = 1.0 × 10⁵. Three relative roughness sizes are chosen, i.e., ε/D = 0.001, 0.0045, and 0.007 (ε is the average roughness). The test cases without roughness effects are compared to experimental visualizations to capture two basic anti-symmetrical modes, namely the A-I and A-IV modes, the symmetric S-I (Type-I) mode, and the Chaotic mode categorized as C-I. Our strategy to identify these wake modes verifies the synchronization between the vortex shedding frequency f_CD, interpreted from temporal history of the drag force on an oscillating cylinder, and the body forcing frequency. In the test cases using the roughness model, it is possible to identify a desynchronization between the frequencies f₀ and f_CD as well as significant variations in the drag force. The roughness effect also provokes a regime of vortex formation, here classified as “A-IV mode with coalescence”. Full article

Objectives: We aimed to develop and validate a per-cycle prediction model for in vitro fertilization (IVF) success using only preprocedural clinical variables available at the first consultation. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 1243 IVF/ICSI cycles (University of Szeged, 21 January 2022–12 December 2023). An Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost version 1.7.7.1) classifier was trained on 14 baseline predictors (e.g., female age, AMH, BMI, FSH, LH, sperm concentration/motility, and infertility duration). A parsimonious 9-variable model was derived by feature importance. Model performance was assessed on the untouched test set and, as a final step, on an independent same-centre external validation cohort (n = 92) without re-fitting or recalibration. Results: The 9-variable model achieved an AUC of 0.876 on the internal test set, with an accuracy of 81.70% (95% CI 76.30–86.30%), sensitivity of 75.60%, specificity of 84.40%, PPV of 68.60%, and NPV of 88.50%. In external validation, the model maintained strong performance with an accuracy of 78.30%, confirming consistent discrimination on an independent same-centre cohort. Female age was the dominant high-impact feature, while AMH and BMI acted as “workhorse” predictors, and male factors added incremental value. Conclusions: IVF outcome can be predicted at the first visit using routinely collected preprocedural data. The model showed consistent discrimination internally and in external validation, supporting its potential utility for early, individualized counselling and treatment planning. Full article

To accurately analyze the dynamic response and driving mechanism of forest carbon sequestration in the core area of the Loess Plateau’s Returning Farmland to Forestry Project, this study takes the Beiluo River Basin as the research area. Using spatial autocorrelation, gravity model, a geodetector, and spatiotemporal geographically weighted regression models, it analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution of forest carbon sequestration and the spatial heterogeneity of its influencing factors based on 2000–2023 data. The results show the following: (1) Forest carbon sequestration in the basin increased by 13.55% from 2000 to 2023; its spatial pattern shifted from “middle reaches concentration” to “stable middle reaches core plus significant upper reaches growth”, with the gravity center moving “southeast then northwest”. (2) Forest carbon sequestration had significant positive spatial correlation, with hotspots in soil–rock mountain forest areas and cold spots in ecologically fragile or high-human-activity areas. (3) Natural ecological factors dominated forest carbon sequestration evolution, socioeconomic factors enhanced synergy, and evapotranspiration and NDVI had significant impacts. (4) Factor impacts had spatiotemporal heterogeneity, such as the decaying positive effect of precipitation and the “positive-negative-equilibrium” change in forestry value-added. This study provides scientific guidance for basin and Loess Plateau ecological restoration and “double carbon” goal achievement. Full article

Introduction: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune prothrombotic disorder associated with both venous and arterial thrombosis, most notably ischemic stroke. Patients face a high risk of recurrence, and yet optimal strategies for secondary prevention remain uncertain. Methods: We conducted a narrative review of the literature on secondary prevention of ischemic stroke in APS. We performed a comprehensive literature search of PubMed for English-language articles on secondary stroke prevention in APS. Studies were included if they were original human research (e.g., randomized trials, cohort, or case–control studies) or relevant reviews addressing APS-related stroke prevention. Results: Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) remain the standard of care for high-risk patients with arterial events. Several randomized controlled trials demonstrated higher recurrence rates, particularly of stroke, among APS patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). The optimal target INR remains debated; pooled analyses suggest no clear advantage of high-intensity anticoagulation (INR 3–4) over standard-intensity (INR 2–3), but individualized adjustment is warranted in select cases. In patients with recurrence despite adequate anticoagulation, adding an antiplatelet agent may be beneficial, although supporting evidence is limited. Adjunctive statin therapy shows promise in reducing endothelial dysfunction and prothrombotic markers, with observational data suggesting a possible protective effect, although randomized evidence is lacking. In addition, patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure has been proposed in selected APS patients with paradoxical embolisms, particularly when combined with anticoagulation. Non-pharmacological strategies, including structured lifestyle modification and rigorous vascular risk-factor management, are strongly recommended, as traditional cardiovascular risk factors synergistically increase recurrence risk. Conclusions: Secondary prevention of ischemic stroke in APS requires an individualized approach. VKAs remain first-line, with consideration of antiplatelet add-on, statins, lifestyle interventions, and PFO closure in appropriate settings. Future well-designed clinical trials are needed to refine INR targets, validate combination strategies, and clarify the role of adjunctive therapies in this complex patient population. Full article

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) serve as critical control mechanisms in manufacturing systems, yet systematic approaches for quantifying procedural inefficiencies remain theoretically underdeveloped. Unlike traditional qualitative SOP analysis methods that rely on expert intuition and subjective assessment, current procedural optimization approaches lack the systematic rigor applied to physical process improvement. While lean manufacturing principles have demonstrated effectiveness in physical process optimization, their systematic application to procedural analysis represents an unexplored theoretical domain with significant potential for manufacturing systems improvement. This research addresses this gap by developing the Procedural Waste Index (PWI) framework, which establishes the first systematic theoretical integration of lean waste identification principles with procedural analysis. The framework extends the seven wastes of lean manufacturing to procedural analysis through systematic mapping to procedural elements identified via the extended Procedure Representation Language (e-PRL), creating a quantitative approach that enables the objective measurement of procedural efficiency where only subjective assessment methods previously existed. The PWI framework provides the following three key advantages over existing approaches: (1) systematic waste identification using proven lean principles rather than ad hoc improvement methods, (2) quantitative measurement capability enabling objective assessment and statistical process control, and (3) multi-perspective analytical framework through three complementary calculation methodologies (weighted aggregation, maximum constraint identification, and root mean square analysis) providing comprehensive analytical perspectives on procedural waste across discrete manufacturing contexts. The theoretical framework demonstrates practical applicability through a systematic analysis of a respirator fit testing procedure, revealing inventory waste as the primary inefficiency (70.0% waste score). This represents the first quantitative procedural waste assessment in the manufacturing literature, contributing to the foundational theory for systematic procedural optimization while establishing a methodology for future empirical validation studies. Full article

The classic second-order Rayleigh equation governs the linear stability of single-phase inviscid plane flows, and its extension to two-phase inviscid plane flows with a crossflow of another fluid remains to be investigated. The present work studies the linear stability of steady uniform inviscid two-phase flow in a horizontal channel with gas bubbles injected from the lower wall and removed from the upper wall. An extended fourth-order Rayleigh equation with constant coefficients is derived for the linear stability of the two-phase uniform inviscid plane flow with the bubble crossflow injected at the bubble terminal velocity. Our analytical results show that the uniform inviscid plane flow driven by the bubble crossflow is linearly unstable with rapidly growing disturbances in the absence of the lift force. On the other hand, when the positive lift force coefficient is nearly equal to the added mass coefficient, the uniform inviscid plane flow driven by the bubble crossflow is linearly stable to the admissible disturbances consistent with the bubble-injection boundary conditions. These analytical results reveal the destabilizing effect of the bubble crossflow and confirm the stabilizing effect of the positive lift force on the inviscid plane flows, which could stimulate further research interest in the qualitatively different roles of the bubble crossflow and the lift force in the stability of inviscid plane flows as compared to viscous plane flows. Full article

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) caused by excessive alcohol consumption poses a serious threat to human health. Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees is an herb of the Asteraceae family that has good results in the prevention and treatment of a variety of liver diseases, including multifactorial liver injury, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis. Sesquiterpenes are thought to be biologically active components that typically have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and cardioprotective effects. Callistephus A (CA) is a sesquiterpene compound with a rare 6/7 ring skeleton, which has been isolated only from the Callistephus chinensis Nees. However, the mechanism of action of CA on alcoholic liver disease remains unclear. In this study, alcoholic liver mice were fed with 20 and 40 mg/kg CA, respectively, for 11 days. This study showed that CA improved hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress associated with alcohol consumption. CA alleviated liver inflammation by inhibiting the TLR4/MYD88/NF-κB pathway, ameliorating gut imbalance by restoring the abundance of Akkermansia, and restoring short-chain fatty acids in the gut. Transcriptome analysis revealed that CA primarily affects genes involved in lipid metabolism and inflammation. In vitro, by adding inhibitors of TLR4 (TAK-242) and AMPK (Dorsomorphin), it was confirmed that CA alleviates ALD by inhibiting TLR4 and activating AMPK. This study is the first to demonstrate that CA protects against alcoholic liver disease through the regulation of the gut flora and modulation of the AMPK/NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, CA can effectively improve alcoholic liver disease and can be used as an effective candidate drug with liver-protective effects. Full article

Packet delivery in vehicular ad hoc networks degrades under realistic road dynamics, where mobility and local density vary over time and across road layouts. This study revisits route lifetime control in AODV and introduces Vehicular Traffic Condition-Based AODV, which adjusts the Active Route Timeout and the Delete Period Constant online at each HELLO reception using locally observable cues on neighbor density and short-term speed variation. The design is empirically informed by OpenStreetMap and SUMO mobility with OMNeT++/Veins/INET co-simulation. The analysis highlights two recurrent patterns that guide the method: (i) an intermediate neighbor-density range—roughly from the mid-teens to about twenty neighbors—where average speed tends to vary more rapidly; and (ii) a distribution of short-term speed-change magnitudes, sampled at the instants of HELLO reception, that is concentrated within a narrow interval with a light upper tail. Accordingly, the proposed method increases or decreases route-entry lifetimes with heightened responsiveness inside this density range, while applying conservative updates elsewhere to mitigate oscillations. Evaluation across multiple vehicular-traffic conditions spanning three fleet sizes (200, 300, 400 vehicles) and three speed-limit settings (10, 20, 30 km/h) demonstrates consistent packet delivery ratio gains over conventional AODV and close tracking of the best static lifetime configurations identified per condition. The gains are attributable to timely pruning of unstable paths and sustained retention of stable paths, which increases valid forwarding opportunities without centralized coordination. Full article

In the field of material micro-/nano-analysis, the lack of an efficient method for characterizing the same microregion has been an obstacle in scientific research. This not only severely affects the efficiency and depth of academic communication, but also creates loopholes for data manipulation. To address these challenges, it is essential to develop microscale repositioning techniques to achieve repeatable characterization. However, microscale localization techniques based on Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) remain underdeveloped, facing issues such as poor localization accuracy, high costs, and cumbersome procedures in practical applications. This paper proposes a positioning method for nanoscale samples that utilizes coordinate grids and artificially added micron-scale markers as references. Accurate localization and retrieval of micro- and nanoscale targets in TEM were achieved using a confined comparison approach. This method is simple, cost-effective, and universally applicable to Inter-instrument correlative operation, enabling repeated characterization of the same microregion. It is also effective in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). By enhancing the integration efficiency between TEM, SEM, and AFM, this method will yield more meaningful data and address challenges such as target localization difficulties and poor data reproducibility. It will mitigate issues related to data fabrication and experimental irreproducibility, thereby offering technical support for the smooth progress of research and academic exchange activities. Full article

This study aims to develop a modified starch with menthol (M) or sulfobetaine (S) using 1,6-hexamethyl diisocyanate (HMDI) as a linker to create biodegradable antibacterial materials for active packaging applications. The modification of potato starch is performed in a two-step reaction. First, the starch modifiers are synthesized through an equimolar reaction between HMDI and menthol or the sulfobetaine precursor. Next, the synthesized HMDI derivative is dissolved in a bio-based solvent (methyl-THF) with starch and K₂CO₃ (1:1 weight ratio) to chemically modify the starch. The chemical and thermal properties of the modified starch are analyzed. Starch films containing 25 wt.% glycerol and low amounts (0.5, 1, and 3% wt.) of M- or S-modified starch were successfully produced by extrusion. Although most film properties remain similar to the control, adding 3% of S-modified starch resulted in a 149% increase in Elastic Modulus and a 29% decrease in water vapor permeability. Additionally, just 0.5 wt.% of either M- or S-modified starch effectively inhibits S. aureus growth, indicating its potential as a bioactive compound for active packaging. Full article

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique extensively utilized in neuroscience and clinical medicine; however, its underlying mechanisms require further elucidation. Due to ethical safety considerations, low cost, and physiological similarities to humans, rodent models have become the primary subjects for TMS animal studies. Nevertheless, existing TMS coils designed for rodents face several limitations, including size constraints that complicate coil fabrication, insufficient stimulation intensity, suboptimal focality, and difficulty in adapting coils to practical experimental scenarios. Currently, many studies have attempted to address these issues through various methods, such as adding magnetic nanoparticles, constraining current distribution, and incorporating electric field shielding devices. Integrating the above methods, this study designs a small arc-shaped TMS coil for the frontoparietal region of rats using the inverse boundary element method, which reduces the coil’s interference with experimental observations. Compared with traditional geometrically scaled-down human coil circular and figure-of-eight coils, this coil achieves a 79.78% and 57.14% reduction in half-value volume, respectively, thus significantly improving the focusing of stimulation. Meanwhile, by adding current density constraints while minimizing the impact on the stimulation effect, the minimum wire spacing was increased from 0.39 mm to 1.02 mm, ensuring the feasibility of the coil winding. Finally, coil winding was completed using 0.05 mm × 120 Litz wire with a 3D-printed housing, which proves the practicality of the proposed design method. Full article

Tambatinga (Colossoma macropomum × Piaractus brachypomus), a hybrid Amazonian fish recognized for its superior growth performance, represents a valuable and sustainable source of collagen-rich raw material. Due to its tropical origin, the species’ skin may contain higher levels of amino acids, which can enhance the functional and structural properties of gelatin derived from it. The valorization of fish processing residues for biopolymer production not only mitigates environmental impacts but also reinforces the principles of the circular economy within aquaculture systems. This study explores the development of biopolymer films from Tambatinga skin, an abundant by-product of Brazilian aquaculture. The skins were cleaned and subjected to a hot water–acid extraction process to obtain gelatin. The extracted gelatin exhibited high proline and hydroxyproline contents (12.47 and 9.84 g/100 g of amino acids, respectively) and a Bloom strength of 263.9 g, confirming its suitability for film formation. Films were prepared using 2 g of gelatin per 100 g of film-forming solution, with glycerol added at 10 and 20 g/100 g of gelatin. The resulting films were transparent, flexible, and showed uniform surfaces. Increasing the glycerol concentration reduced tensile strength (from 59.4 to 37.9 MPa) but improved elongation at break (from 116% to 159.1%) and modified the films’ thermal behavior. Moreover, Tambatinga gelatin films demonstrated excellent UV-blocking performance (below 300 nm) and lower water vapor permeability compared to other gelatin-based films reported in the literature. These findings highlight the potential of fish skin—typically regarded as industrial waste—as a renewable and high-value raw material for the production of sustainable biopolymers. This approach supports resource efficiency, waste reduction, and the broader goals of sustainable development and circular bioeconomy. Full article

Background: Endocrine autoimmune diseases (AIDs) exhibit special polygenic characteristics in human leucocyte antigen (HLA) region. Current understanding of their association with lipid metabolism remains constrained by imprecise polygenic risk score (PRS) modeling. Advanced analytical approaches are needed to elucidate the association between genetic susceptibility and lipid metabolic dysregulation. Methods: We proposed a genetic distance-based clumping gPRS to account for linkage disequilibrium in the HLA region. gPRS and pathway gPRS were constructed for individuals diagnosed with type I diabetes (T1D), Graves’ disease (GD), Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) and Addison’s disease (AD) in the UK Biobank, with sex considered as a stratification factor. Latent correlations between gPRS and phenotypes were explored using Kendall’s tau test, two-trait LD score regression (LDSC) and gene annotation. Results: Lipid metabolism served an important function through immune and inflammatory biomarkers across multiple traits. Males with low genetic risk tended to have lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, while the correlation presented the opposite pattern in females. Increased genetic susceptibility to AIDs was associated with elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) across all traits. Moreover, levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6, decreased with higher PRS in males and females, while those of monounsaturated fatty acids exhibited an increasing trend. Conclusion: Our study constructed more precise polygenic risk scores of AIDs, highlighting inflammation-mediated lipid metabolism as a potential pathogenic mechanism in endocrine AIDs, offering valuable insights into shared etiology for future comprehensive investigations. Full article

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are biologically diverse tumors. This article is a critical review of recent evidence focusing on systemic therapies (through mid-2025). We summarize what is most practice-relevant and where gaps remain. In diagnosis, somatostatin-receptor PET/CT has largely replaced older scintigraphy, and adding FDG PET can flag more aggressive disease. Blood-based tests and selected tissue markers (e.g., MGMT, DAXX/ATRX/ALT) show promise but require cautious interpretation in routine care. In treatment, radioligand therapy (PRRT) is used earlier in appropriate receptor-positive disease; cabozantinib improves progression-free survival after prior therapy; and belzutifan offers a biomarker-guided option for malignant pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma. Immunotherapy remains limited to defined subsets, including high-grade neoplasms. We appraise strengths and limitations of key trials, note issues of access and toxicity, and highlight active areas in development (SSTR antagonists, alpha emitters, and dose-guided PRRT). Our goal is to provide a concise, evidence-based map of the field to support informed clinical judgment and future research priorities. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology, synaptic degeneration, impaired neurogenesis, and chronic neuroinflammation. KBN2202, a small-molecule salicylic acid derivative [2-[(2-naphthalen-1-yloxy)ethyl]amino]-4-hydroxybenzoic acid], was investigated for its potential as a multi-target therapeutic agent in advanced-stage AD. To this end, 9-month-old 5xFAD mice with established AD-like pathology received daily oral KBN2202 (5 or 20 mg/kg) or vehicle for 12 weeks. KBN2202 demonstrated broad histopathological benefits. It preserved hippocampal CA1 cytoarchitecture and increased dendritic length in cortical neurons. Neurogenic activity was also enhanced, with elevated doublecortin (DCX) expression in the subventricular zone (SVZ). At the molecular level, KBN2202 reduced amyloid precursor protein C-terminal fragments (APP-CTFs), key intermediates in amyloidogenic processing, and histological staining confirmed a significant reduction in fibrillar and diffuse Aβ plaque burden in the cortex and hippocampus. Furthermore, KBN2202 attenuated astrocytic and microglial activation, indicating suppression of chronic neuroinflammation. In behavioral assessments, KBN2202 significantly improved recognition memory in the novel object recognition (NOR) test, while Y-maze performance remained unchanged. Overall, the compound exhibited robust neuroprotective, pro-neurogenic, anti-amyloid, and anti-inflammatory effects. These findings support the therapeutic potential of KBN2202 as a multi-functional candidate for symptomatic-stage AD. Full article