Search Results (69)

Renewable energy sources, and wind energy in particular, constitute a central pillar of energy policy at both national and European levels. Nevertheless, the deployment of onshore wind farms is frequently associated with spatial, environmental, and social conflicts, making the evaluation of existing projects imperative. The present study aimed to assess the sustainability of existing onshore wind farms in the Region of Thessaly, with particular emphasis on their spatial planning, technical characteristics, and environmental impacts. The methodological framework consists of four distinct stages: (i) identification and spatial mapping of existing wind farms in the study area, (ii) assessment of the compliance of existing wind installations with the Specific Framework for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development for Renewable Energy Sources (SFSPSD–RES), (iii) application of the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) to enable a systematic and comparable evaluation of the impacts of wind installations on specific environmental and anthropogenic parameters, and (iv) estimation of project hazard and operational vulnerability through the application of Operational Risk Management (ORM). Geographic Information Systems (GISs) were employed for data processing and spatial analysis. The assessment showed that 40% of the evaluated wind farms fully comply with all eleven exclusion criteria of the SFSPSD-RES, whereas the remaining 60% show partial compliance, failing to meet between one and three criteria. RIAM results indicate that the most significant adverse impacts (−D and −C) during construction are associated with morphology/soils and the natural environment, mainly due to loss/fragmentation of vegetation and disturbance of fauna, and, in some cases, in areas of increased sensitivity. During operation, the main negative effects (−D and −C) relate to landscape and visual quality, as well as continued disturbance to the natural environment. At the same time, the operation generates important positive effects (+E) on the atmospheric environment through reduced CO₂ emissions. The ORM analysis further shows that the most important risks for most wind farms arise during construction (ORM = 2 and 3), particularly from serious worker accidents during lifting, roadworks, and foundation activities. The study demonstrates that the sustainability of existing wind installations depends on a complex set of spatial, environmental, and technical factors. The proposed framework integrates spatial compliance screening, RIAM-based environmental impact assessment, and ORM-based risk and opportunity evaluation. This connection links the importance of impacts with their operational manageability during construction and operation phases, as well as across sustainability dimensions. Consequently, the study provides a more decision-focused approach for assessing existing wind farms and supporting policy development. Full article

The purpose of our study was to assess if spinacetin (SPC), a flavonoid found in spinach, can alleviate the cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced changes in cystometric and inflammatory parameters indicative of the development of hemorrhagic cystitis. The animal experiments were conducted in female Wistar rats. The cohort of 60 animals was grouped as follows: I—control, II—CYP group, III—SPC group, and IV—CYP + SPC group. The cystometry and biochemical analyses were performed after a fortnight of SPC administration. SPC was found to restore normal cystometric parameters in CYP-induced cystitis and, similarly, it normalized c-Fos expression changes in the central micturition regions. SPC further prevented a massive increase in the bladder wall thickness/permeability due to exposition to CYP administration. CYP instillation resulted in the elevation of biomarkers found in urine (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, and nerve growth factor, NGF), and in the bladder detrusor muscle (Rho kinase and vesicular acetylcholine transporter, VAChT), which were successfully restored after administration of SPC. As for the biomarkers in the bladder urothelium, the CYP-induced increases in TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), malondialdehyde, 3-nitrotyrosine, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), occludin, organic cation transporter 3 (OCT-3), orosomucoid-1 (ORM1), pituitary adenylate cyclase receptor 1 (PAC1), synaptosomal-associated protein 23 (SNAP23), SNAP25, and synaptic vesicle glycoprotein (SV2A) levels were attenuated by SPC. Finally, CYP administration resulted in a decrease in the heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), hemopexin (HPX), T-H protein, and tight junction protein (Z01), and we noted the successful restoration of all these changes in concentrations after application of SPC. In summary, SPC robustly mitigated cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced cystometric dysfunction and biochemical alterations characteristic of iatrogenic hemorrhagic cystitis. These findings position SPC as a compelling therapeutic candidate and warrant further translational investigation for the management of CYP-induced bladder injury. Full article

Francis turbines are renowned for their high efficiency and adaptability across a wide range of head and discharge conditions. However, internal mechanical friction losses (IMFLs), resulting from rotational frictional resistance between the rotating runner and the surrounding fluid, remain a significant obstacle to further performance optimisation. This study introduced a CFD-derived integral friction torque framework, validated through theoretical analysis, that enables the spatially resolved quantification of IMFLs in Francis turbine runners. Building on this framework, a comprehensive computational approach was established to quantify IMFLs in a Francis turbine runner using a CFD-derived integral torque method combined with a theoretical verification model. Three runner configurations were analysed: the original runner model (ORM), a modified runner (RM1) with selective exit height reduction, and a modified runner (RM2) with uniform exit height reduction. Transient simulations were conducted at the best efficiency point (BEP) using the shear stress transport (SST) k–ω turbulence model and a sliding mesh approach. The numerical results were verified using the theoretical model and systematically evaluated to assess IMFL mechanisms and runner performance. The findings demonstrate that variations in runner geometry significantly influence internal frictional resistance and turbine efficiency. Compared with ORM, both RM1 and RM2 reduced the rotational friction torque, with RM2 exhibiting the greatest improvement: a 2.83% reduction in total friction resistance torque, a 14.74% reduction in total power losses, and a 1% absolute increase in efficiency. These improvements are primarily attributed to reduced wall shear stress and a more uniform pressure distribution across the runner surface. Full article

This experimental study comparatively investigates flow boiling performance and mechanisms in open and closed rectangular microchannels (ORMs/CRMs) with a high aspect ratio of 4. Fabricated on a copper substrate and sealed with a transparent window for visualization, the systems were tested using refrigerant R245fa. Experiments spanned mass fluxes from 89 to 545 kg/m²·s and heat fluxes from 6.3 to 218.5 W/cm² at an inlet temperature of 14 °C. Flow visualization reveals that the ORM configuration accelerates the transition from bubbly to slug and churn flow regimes and facilitates a unique stratified flow pattern absent in the CRM. Quantitatively, the ORM enhances the heat transfer coefficient by 4.2–14.1% while reducing the system pressure drop by 11.5–58.6% within the low mass flux range (89–269 kg/m²·s). Conversely, at a high mass flux of 545 kg/m²·s, the ORM’s pressure drop increases substantially by 29.9–246.8%, attributed to significant two-phase losses in the top-gap region. As heat flux increases, inertial forces dominate over gravitational effects, shifting the primary heat transfer contribution from nucleate to flow boiling. The figure of merit (FOM) confirms the overall performance superiority of the ORM at low mass fluxes. This work provides valuable insights and design guidelines for high-performance, high-aspect-ratio microchannel heat sinks in advanced thermal management systems. Full article

Using colorimetric ELISA, this study aims to assess the impact of Gum Arabica (GA) consumption on functional molecular plasma biomarkers of chronic kidney disease (CKD) via a prospective cohort of GA-consumers (cases) vs. non-consumer (age- and CKD stage-matched) controls. Cohort’s hypertension (92.5%), dyslipidemia (64.8%), and diabetes mellitus (54.8%) were prevalent; the mean CKD duration was 6.94 years (SD 7.8) for both study groups. Comparable eGFR, sCr, ESR, CRP, HbA1c, FPG, UA, and fasting lipid parameters were in both study arms. In consumer cases, the mean duration of GA-consumption was 1.3 ± 1.1 (range 0.25–6) years with a mean dose of 1.7 ± 1.0 (range 0.5–6) spoons per day. Leucine-rich alpha 2-glycoprotein, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, sirtuin 1, and SOST–sclerostin 1 were significantly (p value < 0.01) of lower concentrations, but lipocalin 2 and uromodulin were invariably (p value < 0.05) greater in the GA-consumer cases than those of controls. Strikingly, cystatin C, myeloperoxidase, orosomucoid 1, and symmetric dimethylarginine lacked any substantial variations in the GA-consumer cases vs. those in controls (p value > 0.05). Proportional correlations of CKD duration–PAI1 levels and sCr-lipocalin 2 levels but inverse correlations of orosomucoid 1-hypertension duration and SDMA-DBP were evident in cases. Full article

In optical receiver mode (ORM) division multiplexing optical communication systems, which can ultimately achieve a very high spectral efficiency, an accurate evaluation of the ORMs is crucial. Conventionally, to find the mode functions and the eigenvalues of ORMs, we have to solve an integral equation numerically. Here, we introduce a new method that solves a Schrödinger equation instead. This method assumes that the optical receiver uses an optical Fabry–Perot filter to select an optical channel from the received optical channels. The time-reversed impulse response of the optical receiver’s electrical filter is proportional to the potential in the Schrödinger equation. We show two potential cases that have exact solutions. One is the square-well potential case and the other is the exponential-well potential case. Full article

Early recognition of a risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains a global challenge, and blood proteomic markers are of particular interest for wide-scale diagnostic use. Quantitative multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) approach demonstrates good reproducibility in the characteristic changes in the levels of reported candidate biomarkers (CBs) in different cohorts in AD. Following up on our previous study, we performed a joint analysis of 331 blood plasma samples from two different clinical cohorts of participants, comprising a total of 95 samples from patients with AD, 136 samples from patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 100 samples from controls. The obtained results confirm the significance of 37 CBs. A logistic regression-based algorithm was used to build protein classifiers, and a total of 21 important proteins were selected, 13 of which (ORM1, APOA4, LBP, HP, FN1, BCHE, APOE, PZP, A1BG, TF, SERPINA7, TTR, and F12) formed a universal panel that demonstrated strong classification performance in distinguishing AD patients from controls (ROC-AUC = 0.90) and in separating stable and progressing patients with MCI (ROC-AUC = 0.81). Overall, the analysis confirms the high potential of the MRM method for validating CBs in independent cohorts. Full article

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) share overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms, including insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. Recent evidence suggests that Orosomucoid-2 (ORM2), an acute-phase immunomodulatory protein, may play a role in metabolic regulation; however, its specific involvement in MAFLD remains unclear. This study examined the association between circulating ORM2 levels and the severity of hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, and T2DM in a cohort of 449 adults. MAFLD was assessed using FibroScan^® with hepatic steatosis categorized by Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) scores, while plasma ORM2 levels were measured via ELISA. Statistical analyses using Spearman correlation and multiple logistic regression revealed that elevated ORM2 levels were significantly correlated with greater hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, triglycerides, ALT, and hip circumference (p < 0.001). Individuals with severe steatosis (CAP > 290 dB/m) had markedly higher ORM2 levels (312.3 ng/mL) compared to those with normal CAP scores (210.4 ng/mL; p < 0.001). ORM2 was identified as an independent predictor of steatosis severity and after adjusting for several metabolic variables (AOR = 1.005; 95% CI: 1.002–1.007). ROC analysis incorporating ORM2 and metabolic variables demonstrated strong predictive capability for MAFLD (AUC = 0.864, 95% CI: 0.825–0.902). These findings support ORM2 as a promising non-invasive diagnosis for MAFLD, involving only blood sampling without direct invasion of the liver and associated metabolic dysfunction. Full article

Obesity-Related Multimorbidity (ORM) is understood as the group of secondary diseases caused by metabolic alterations that arise from obesity. Nowadays there is a growing incidence of people with ORM who seek health services. Since this condition substantially impacts nutritional status and therefore in the survival prognosis during the hospital stay, ORM represents a challenge for health professionals. This forces doctors to specify nutritional recommendations according to clinical characteristics in individuals with obesity and types of comorbidities. Therefore, the objective of this narrative review is to present the current evidence-based recommendations that support the hospital nutritional care process for individuals with ORM. It concludes that nutritional treatment is complex and gaps in the research regarding this population group still exist. Because there are no specific guidelines for nutritional screening tools, calculating total energy requirements (alternatives to indirect calorimetry), determining fluid, protein, and immunonutrient requirements, the use of parenteral nutrition in ORM with kidney, liver, and heart failure and sarcopenic obesity that should be addressed in the new literature. For now, the standard practice in these cases is to prioritize the problem to be treated according to the maximum clinical benefit. Despite this, it is established that the nutritional care process must be systematic to be clear and objective. This document is addressed to all healthcare professionals who make up the multidisciplinary nutritional support team. Full article

The study focused on the design of an ORMS in a medical center in central Taiwan, which also functions as a teaching hospital. Background/Objectives: The research objectives were to design an ORMS simulation system based on the status quo of the operating room planning and scheduling in the medical center, obtain the optimal parameter setting in the ORMS, and find improvement strategies according to the sensitivity analysis based on the optimal parameter setting for total performance. Methods: Taguchi’s dynamic method was adopted to design the ORMS under human and material resource constraints. The scope of the study was internal medicine patients of the ORMS. A neural network was used to construct a relationship between parameters and performances. A genetic algorithm was used to obtain the optimal parameter setting for optimal performance. Results: This study successfully established a robust operating room management system (ORMS) to help hospital manager to plan and schedule operating rooms and take the ORMS into account to meet patient needs. Decision-makers can use the insights from the sensitivity analysis to refine their strategies effectively. The sensitivity analysis showed that the impact power (the percentage change in d) of the “number of circulating nurses (−0.15 to −1.25; −0.25 to −1.85)” factor was less than (<) that of the “number of holding nurses (−0.85 to −2.04; −0.91 to −2.07)” factor < that of the “number of preoperative beds (−2.57 to −4.53; −2.23 to −4.10)” factor < that of the “number of anesthetists (−3.13 to −7.50)” factor. Conclusions: In the optimal parameter setting obtained, the number of holding nurses was 18, the number of circulating nurses was 20, the number of anesthetists was 15, and the number of preoperative beds was 12. The optimal performance was 0.91. Full article

The microservices architectural style has gained widespread adoption in recent years thanks to its ability to deliver high scalability and maintainability. However, the development process for microservices-based applications can be complex and challenging. Indeed, it often requires developers to manage a large number of distributed components with the burden of handling low-level, recurring needs, such as inter-service communication, brokering, event management, and data replication. In this article, we present Microhooks: a novel framework designed to streamline the development of microservices by allowing developers to focus on their business logic while declaratively expressing the so-called low-level needs. Based on the inversion of control and the materialized view patterns, among others, our framework automatically generates and injects the corresponding artifacts, leveraging 100% build time code introspection and instrumentation, as well as context building, for optimized runtime performance. We provide the first implementation for the Java world, supporting the most popular containers and brokers, and adhering to the standard Java/Jakarta Persistence API. From the user perspective, Microhooks exposes an intuitive, container-agnostic, broker-neutral, and ORM framework-independent API. Microhooks evaluation against state-of-the-art practices has demonstrated its effectiveness in drastically reducing code size and complexity, without incurring any considerable cost on performance. Based on such promising results, we believe that Microhooks has the potential to become an essential component of the microservices development ecosystem. Full article

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy originating from the plasma cells present in the bone marrow. Despite significant therapeutic advancements, relapse and drug resistance remain major clinical challenges, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic targets. Methods: To identify potential druggable genes associated with MM, we performed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Causal candidates were further validated using a single-tissue transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS), and colocalization analysis was conducted to assess shared genetic signals between gene expression and disease risk. Potential off-target effects were assessed through an MR phenome-wide association study (MR-PheWAS). Additionally, molecular docking and functional assays were used to evaluate candidate drug efficacy. Results: The MR analysis identified nine druggable genes (FDR < 0.05), among which Orosomucoid 1 (ORM1) and Oviductal Glycoprotein 1 (OVGP1) were supported by both TWAS and colocalization evidence (PPH4 > 0.75). Experimental validation demonstrated the significant downregulation of ORM1 and OVGP1 in MM cells (p < 0.05). Pregnenolone and irinotecan, identified as agonists of ORM1 and OVGP1, respectively, significantly inhibited MM cell viability, while upregulating their expression (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study highlights ORM1 and OVGP1 as novel therapeutic targets for MM. The efficacy of pregnenolone and irinotecan in suppressing MM cell growth suggests their potential for clinical application. These findings provide insights into MM pathogenesis and offer a promising strategy for overcoming drug resistance. Full article

This paper presents the technical design of the pathfinder Barcelona Raman LIDAR (pBRL) for the northern site of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO-N) located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM). The pBRL is developed for continuous atmospheric characterization, essential for correcting high-energy gamma-ray observations captured by Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs). The LIDAR consists of a steerable telescope with a 1.8 m parabolic mirror and a pulsed Nd:YAG laser with frequency doubling and tripling. It emits at wavelengths of 355 nm and 532 nm to measure aerosol scattering and extinction through two elastic and Raman channels. Built upon a former Cherenkov Light Ultraviolet Experiment (CLUE) telescope, the pBRL’s design includes a Newtonian mirror configuration, a coaxial laser beam, a near-range system, a liquid light guide and a custom-made polychromator. During a one-year test at the ORM, the stability of the LIDAR and semi-remote-controlled operations were tested. This pathfinder leads the way to designing a final version of a CTAO Raman LIDAR which will provide real-time atmospheric monitoring and, as such, ensure the necessary accuracy of scientific data collected by the CTAO-N telescope array. Full article

Operational risk management (ORM) is crucial for every aviation organization. The assessment of operational risk (OR) is a critical area of study, as organizations must continuously evaluate and mitigate potential risks to maintain high levels of performance and safety. The motivation for writing this paper was to address the cognitive gap identified through literature analysis. The aim of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of operational residual risk assessment in general aviation (GA) organizations, with a specific focus on its role within the decision-making process to enhance flight safety in line with sustainability. By addressing a cognitive gap identified in the literature, this study seeks to determine whether current risk management practices adequately assess and mitigate residual risks, especially in organizations where operational risk is inherently high. Based on a literature review, the authors present adopted concepts of ORM and OR. The survey methodology involved a questionnaire on OR assessment, consisting of 32 questions completed by respondents twice—before and after 63 series of flights. The survey was carried out across two groups with significantly varying levels of flying experience (students and instructor pilots), with a particular focus on the influence of human factors. The conclusions are based on a comparative analysis of the difference in the results obtained after and before the series of flights in both surveyed groups. The survey was conducted in three selected general aviation organizations in Poland using nonprobability convenience sampling. The results demonstrate an overall significant underestimation of OR in both student and instructor groups. Therefore, it can be concluded that operational risk assessment in the selected organizations was not sufficiently effective. Additionally, it was shown that staff experience affected the effectiveness of OR assessment. Moreover, this study identified specific aspects of operational risk that were most underestimated. By addressing the cognitive gap, this study enhances both the theoretical and practical understanding of residual risk management, particularly in relation to safety and efficient resource use in aviation. It also offers the Operational Residual Risk Underestimation Index (ORRUI) as an actionable parameter developed to quantify and standardize the level of underestimation of operational residual risks in civil aviation. Full article

Jurassic lacustrine shale in the Sichuan Basin is a focal exploration area in China, while the pronounced heterogeneity presents challenges, necessitating detailed research as a prerequisite. This study aims at the Jurassic Ziliujing Formation Da’anzhai shale in the central Sichuan Basin, systematically characterizing its geological features. Employing geochemical methods, we reconstructed the paleo-sedimentary environments and explored the mechanisms behind the organic matter enrichment. The findings reveal that the Da’anzhai shale exhibits three lithofacies: organic-rich argillaceous shale (ORA), organic-poor argillaceous shale (OPA), and organic-rich mixed shale (ORM). The sedimentary period was marked by a warm and humid climate, predominantly depositing in anoxic environments with freshwater to brackish conditions. The watershed areas that are provenance sources for the shale clastics are experiencing strong weathering. Significant differences in the sedimentary environments of various lithofacies’ shale were observed. Redox conditions and paleoclimate were identified as the primary factors controlling organic matter enrichment in the Da’anzhai shale of the study area. Salinity also played a role in organic matter enrichment, while terrigenous debris influx and paleo-productivity did not exert a significant controlling effect on organic matter enrichment. Utilizing the reconstructed ancient sedimentary environments, we developed sedimentary models for different lithofacies’ shale, contributing to a deeper understanding of lithofacies’ diversity and the mechanisms governing organic matter enrichment in lacustrine environments. This study provides new information for further understanding the response mechanism of lacustrine shales to the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event in the Early Jurassic from the perspective of elemental geochemistry. Full article