Search Results (539)

Quantitative reliability evaluation is essential for optimizing control policies and maintenance strategies in complex industrial systems. While Reliability Block Diagrams (RBDs) are a natural formalism for modeling these hierarchical systems, modern applications require highly efficient, online reliability assessment on resource-constrained embedded hardware. This demand presents two fundamental challenges: developing algorithmically efficient RBD evaluation methods that can handle diverse custom distributions while preserving numerical accuracy, and ensuring platform-agnostic performance across diverse multicore architectures. This paper investigates these issues by developing a new version of the librbd open-source RBD library. This version includes advances in efficiency of evaluation algorithms, as well as restructured computation sequences, cache-aware data structures to minimize memory overhead, and an adaptive parallelization framework that scales automatically from embedded processors to high-performance systems. Comprehensive validation demonstrates that these advances significantly reduce computational complexity and improve performance over the original implementation, enabling real-time analysis of substantially larger systems. Full article

Coastal areas face unique challenges, with climate change impacts such as sea level rise exacerbating coastal hazards that put people, infrastructure, and habitats at risk. This study evaluates three generations of Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) in the UK (1993–2024). The study considers whether the system of governance is encouraging sustainable solutions. Policy analysis identifies a range of sustainability principles which have become dominant for SMPs. Findings show that shoreline management planning has evolved considerably over the last 30 years. It has transformed governance from a reactive, engineering-focused, administratively based approach to a risk-based, geostrategic, technically informed approach. SMPs have slowed the increase of coastal vulnerability. In the most recent phase, they have increased consideration of adaptation to the impacts of climatic change. However, strategic goals are not always translated into locally implemented action, because of problems with criteria, collaboration, costs, cultural attitudes, competing priorities for coastal landuse, and contentious decisions, especially those which set public interest against individual interests. So, governing the shoreface will need to evolve further to deal with the tensions between ‘working with nature’, ‘working in partnership with people’, and ‘adapting to future climates’. Full article

Background/Objectives: Staphylococcus haemolyticus is a common commensal bacterium that has emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen. Its multi-antibiotics resistance presents substantial therapeutic challenges in healthcare settings worldwide. Despite its growing clinical relevance, most investigations into antimicrobial resistance determinants have been focused on Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus epidermidis, leaving S. haemolyticus comparatively understudied. This study aimed to elucidate the genetic basis of multi-drug resistance by characterizing mobile genetic elements associated with predominant S. haemolyticus clones circulating in Taiwan. Methods: From 2010 to 2017, 140 clinical targeted isolates of S. haemolyticus were obtained from individual patients. Two representative strains, SH53 (ST3) and SH51 (ST42), were sequenced using the PacBio^TM platform. The structural organization of SCCmec cassettes and phage-associated resistance islands in the remaining 138 isolates was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specifically designed primers. Results: Of the 140 isolates, 92 (65.7%) were ST42 and 48 (34.3%) were ST3. PCR analysis showed that over two-thirds harbored heavy metal resistance genes. cadD, cadX, arsC, arsB, and arsR occurred in 90.2% of ST42 isolates, with copA in 71.7%. In ST3, these five genes were present in 89.6%, and copA in 64.6%. Fusidic acid (FA) resistance was more frequent in ST42 (46.7%) than ST3 (22.9%) (p = 0.015). Only one ST42 isolate carried fusC. The remaining 52 FA-resistant isolates contained a type I aj1–leader peptide (LP)–fusB structure downstream of smpB, except for a single ST42 isolate with the type IV structure. Conclusions: MDR ST42 S. haemolyticus carrying SCCmec cassettes with heavy metal resistance genes and phage-related islands carrying type I aj1–leader peptide (LP)–fusB structures may represent emerging opportunistic pathogens in Taiwan. Continued longitudinal surveillance is warranted to track the evolution of resistance-associated mobile elements under selective antimicrobial pressure. Full article

The frequency characteristics of the switching-mode power supply (SMPS) control loop under all operating conditions are crucial for performance evaluation and defect detection. Traditional methods, relyingon experiments under preset conditions, struggle to achieve comprehensive evaluation. This study proposes a frequency characteristic fitting method for all operating conditions based on FT-WOA-MLP. A discrete-point dataset covering all conditions of an LLC SMPS was obtained using the small-signal perturbation method, including input voltage, output current, injection frequency, and corresponding amplitude- and phase-frequency characteristics. The multilayer perceptron (MLP) model was trained on the training set covering all operating conditions, with the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) used to optimize the learning rate, and fine tuning (FT) applied to further enhance accuracy. Independent test set validation showed that, for amplitude-frequency characteristics, the mean absolute error (MAE) was 2.0995, the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was 0.0974, the root mean square error (RMSE) was 4.0474, and the coefficient of determination (R²) reached 0.92; for phase-frequency characteristics, the MAE was 3.502, the MAPE was 0.0956, the RMSE was 10.5192, and the R² reached 0.94. The method accurately fits frequency characteristics under all conditions, supporting defect identification and performance optimization. Full article

Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are key to the nitrogen cycle, but their resistance to nitrite (NO₂⁻-N) accumulation is unclear. This study examined N.eA1, an AOB from the completely autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) process, assessing its adaptive responses to NO₂⁻-N. The ammonia oxidation and N₂O emission were evaluated at varying NO₂⁻-N levels, and 3D fluorescence, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and soluble microbial products (SMP) analysis were used to probe stress responses. Cellular respiration and key enzyme activities were measured, and proteomics was applied to study protein expression changes. Results showed that higher NO₂⁻-N levels boosted N₂O production, inhibited nitrification, and stimulated denitrification in N.eA1. At 100 mg·L⁻¹ NO₂⁻-N, EPS rose and SMP fell, with ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) suppressed and nitrite reductase (NIR) as well as nitric oxide reductase (NOR) enhanced. Gene expression analysis revealed decreased AMO, hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (HAO), and energy transport-related enzymes, but increased NIR and NOR genes. The downregulation of electron transport complex genes offered insights into molecular adaptation to nitrite stress of N.eA1, highlighting the interplay between metabolic and genetic responses, which is essential for developing sustainable and efficient nitrogen management strategies. Full article

Doce de leite (DL) is a product originating in South America, particularly in countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. The product is widely used for direct consumption and industrial applications and can be added with thickening agents to modify its rheological properties. This study aimed to produce DL with the addition of three different components (skimmed milk powder—SMP, whey protein concentrate—WPC, and microparticulated whey protein—MWP) in two different concentrations (2.1 and 4.2%). The composition of the products aligned with Mercosur regulations, except for the fat content, where the result was slightly lower. The HMF (5-hydroxymethylfurfural) concentration in the samples was also determined, showing no statistically significant differences between products. The products with SMP showed a higher browning index and color saturation compared to WPC and MWP formulations. The addition of MWP increased the hardness (from 10.2 to 467.8 g), gumminess (from 8.2 to 362.1 g), and viscosity (from 6.7 to 18.3 Pa.s) of the DL compared to the control product (SMP). These findings suggest that adding MWP can modulate the rheological and textural characteristics of such products without significantly altering their proximate composition, offering an alternative to using thickeners in this type of product. Full article

The present contribution showcases the potential brake emission reduction with Cr₂O₃ (chromium oxide) and WC-CoCr (tungsten carbide–chromium–cobalt) rotor coatings, as realized in our joint public–private research consortium. Particulate matter (PM) emissions from automotive braking systems have been characterized using a pin-on-disc tribometer equipped with particle measurement devices: a CPC (Condensation Particle Counter), an APS (Aerodynamic Particle Sizer), an SMPS (Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer), and a PM_2.5 sampling unit. Brake pad samples made from the same low-steel friction material were tested against a grey flake cast iron disc and two types of custom coated discs: a Cr₂O₃-coated disc and a WC-CoCr-coated disc. The friction pairs were investigated at a constant contact pressure of 1.2 MPa while the sliding velocity varied during the test, starting with 25 sequences at 3.6 m/s, followed by 19 sequences at 6.1 m/s, and finishing with 6 sequences at 11.2 m/s. The test results show encouraging 64% to 84% reductions in particle number (PN) emissions between 4 nm and 3 µm and 84% to 95% reductions in mass emissions (PM_2.5) thanks to the respective coated discs. SEM-EDXS (Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) analyses show that the hardness and roughness of the discs, the chemical reactivity (oxidation), and the abrasiveness of the three friction pairs are parameters that might explain this reduction in emission. Full article

Using the method of laser ablation in liquid, submicron-sized particles of zero-valent amorphous selenium (Se SMPs) were created. A number of composite polymer materials were manufactured based on polyurea and Se SMPs at concentrations ranging 0.1–2.5 wt.%. The manufactured materials showed no significant surface or internal defects at either the macro or micro level. It was found that the Se SMPs were not uniformly distributed inside the polymer, but formed ordered areas with slightly higher and lower concentrations of the particles. It was demonstrated that the manufactured materials did not generate a significant amount of active oxygen species, which could damage biological objects such as protein molecules and DNA, while also exhibiting pronounced bacteriostatic properties without significantly affecting the growth and reproduction of mammalian cells. Materials containing 0.25 and 1% Se SMPs, when added to soil, improved the morphometric parameters of radish plants (Raphanus sativus var. sativus). These polymer composite materials based on polyurea with the addition of Se SMPs are promising functional materials for agriculture due to their antibacterial activity. Full article

This study evaluates the economic feasibility of offshore wind farm development on idle coastal areas in Korea, focusing on the Wando Geumil Offshore Wind Farm (GOWF) as a representative case. Offshore wind farms are increasingly recognized as key contributors to achieving carbon neutrality, and Korea’s coastal idle zones offer strategic potential for large-scale deployment with minimal land-use conflict. To address market uncertainty—particularly the sensitivity of revenues to the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) weight—this research applies both the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) method and Real Options Analysis (ROA), incorporating expansion and contraction scenarios. Using eleven years of historical System Marginal Price (SMP) and REC data, we estimate price volatility via a Geometric Brownian Motion (GBM) model (σ = 23.04%). The DCF results indicate a negative Net Present Value (NPV) of −313.7 million USD, suggesting baseline infeasibility. In contrast, ROA adds strategic value, with the expansion option yielding 69.6 million USD and the contraction option 2.1 million USD in additional project value. These findings demonstrate that integrating policy-driven revenue uncertainty into ROA substantially alters investment recommendations, offering practical guidance for optimizing offshore wind farm deployment on Korea’s idle coastal sites. Full article

Each component implemented in a robotic system requires a priority on low weight, flexibility, and durability. These key parameters for creating a stable yet flexible device can be achieved by applying polymer materials in the construction, not only in the static parts of the skeleton but also in the design and production of robotic grippers. This concise review highlights the possibilities of using polymers as the primary fabrication material for the specific area of “soft grippers” used in dental production. The main part of the article is devoted to analyzing polymer materials—specifically SMPs—their modifications, the characteristics of their primary properties, and the specifics of their use in robotic grippers. The article also provides information on the current state of research conducted over the last decade, through a brief overview obtained from the renowned Web of Science and Scopus databases. As part of the overview, we used basic keywords relevant to the analyzed issue: soft, gripper, and polymer. The review results indicate continuous growth in the number of publications, with the highest increase recorded in 2016 compared to 2016, showing more than a fourfold increase. The lowest increase was recorded in 2020 compared to 2019, where the publication rate was stagnant. The most frequently published documents are Articles, comprising 80.1% to 68.3% (more than 5000 publications). The most popular categories in which documents were published are Engineering 27.1%, (more than 4500 publications) and Materials Science Multidisciplinary 45.2% (more than 180 publications). Based on this review, the importance and need for research into this issue and its analysis can be confirmed, not only in practical applications but also within theoretical reviews and summaries. Full article

This study focuses on the influence of different brake pad formulations on the emission of particulate matter coming from car braking systems. The brake particles were characterised using a pin-on-disc bench and some particle measuring devices such as CPC, APS, SMPS and a PM₁₀ sampling unit. Seven samples of brake pad materials of different compositions (1 NAO and 6 Low Steel) were tested against grey cast iron discs. The results presented in this work show differences in particle number concentration and PM₁₀ emission factor between the different friction materials tested. Three friction materials, LS04, LS06 and NAO01, reduce particle number emissions by up to 71% and PM₁₀ emissions by up to 57%. On the other hand, this reduction in particulate emissions goes along with a reduction of 20% to 27% in the coefficient of friction. The microscopic analyses carried out on the test parts (pins and discs) show differences between the most emissive and the least emissive friction pairs, which may explain the differences observed in particle emissions. Correlations between the emission of particles and the concentration of iron of the PM₁₀, as well as the steel fibre content in the formulas, were found. Full article

This study examines how digital transformation (DT) affects sustainable marketing performance (SMP) in the green consumer-goods sector, focusing on new energy vehicle (NEV) enterprises. It explores the mediating role of responsive market orientation (RMO) in this relationship. A structural path model integrating DT, RMO, and SMP is developed to analyze the impact of digital-technology adoption and market responsiveness to green marketing outcomes. This research conducts an empirical analysis using structural equation modeling based on the data of 86 Chinese A-share listed new-energy companies from 2018 to 2022. The results indicate that DT directly improves SMP and also indirectly enhances it by reinforcing RMO. RMO is found to play a significant mediating role. This study may contribute to the theoretical and methodological understanding of how digital strategies drive marketing performance in the context of green consumption and offers empirical support for advancing corporate green marketing practices. Full article

To address the issues of poor thermal stability, inadequate salt tolerance, and environmental risks in conventional gel systems for the development of high-temperature, high-salinity heterogeneous reservoirs, a triple-synergy gel system comprising anionic polyacrylamide (APAM), polyethyleneimine (PEI), and phenolic resin (SMP) was developed in this study. The optimal synthesis parameters—APAM of 180 mg/L, PEI:SMP = 3:1, salinity of 150,000 ppm, and temperature of 110 °C—were determined via response surface methodology, and a time–viscosity model was established. Compared with existing binary systems, the proposed gel exhibited a mass retention rate of 93.48% at 110 °C, a uniform porous structure (pore size of 2–8 μm), and structural stability under high salinity (150,000 ppm). Nuclear magnetic resonance displacement tests showed that the utilization efficiency of crude oil in 0.1–1 μm micropores increased to 21.32%. Parallel dual-core flooding experiments further confirmed the selective plugging capability in heterogeneous systems with a permeability contrast of 10:1: The high-permeability layer (500 mD) achieved a plugging rate of 98.7%, while the recovery factor of the low-permeability layer increased by 13.6%. This gel system provides a green and efficient profile control solution for deep, high-temperature, high-salinity reservoirs. Full article

In temperate regions, early sowing of high nutritive genotypes could support maize production sustainability by avoiding warming-related unfavorable environment conditions during flowering. Seven standard maize (SM) lines and their nine quality protein maize (QPM) counterparts were evaluated for cold tolerance during germination. Cold stress (13°/6 °C) was applied for five days, after a 48 h imbibition period under optimal temperature (25°/22 °C). Germination, physiological parameters, and some primary and secondary metabolites in the seeds were analyzed. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in cold tolerance between SM and QPM. Cold stress significantly reduced germination energy (SM-p < 0.05, QPM-p < 0.001) and physiological traits (p < 0.001), with shoot traits being most severely affected. The potentially high impact of gallic (p < 0.001), protocatechuic (p < 0.05), and p-coumaric (p < 0.001) acids on germination under stress and negative effect of lutein + zeaxhantin and β-cryptoxhantin (p < 0.05) on root length was revealed. Among all lines, L3QPM excelled under stress, with unchanged germination energy and the lowest fold change in vigor indices (0.35 for VI1, 0.45 for VI2). Also, β + γ-tocopherol and gallic and caffeic acids were significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to its SM original. Lines L1QPM2, L3QPM, and L7QPM, combining improved nutritional quality with high cold tolerance, will be incorporated in further early sowing research and breeding programs. Full article

Shape memory polymer composite (SMPC) hinges have been researched as deployable structures in space missions due to their stable and controllable shape recovery behaviors. The elastic energy of the fabrics plays a dominant role in predicting the recovered shape of the hinges, as it strongly drives shape restoration. In this research, the shape recovery behaviors of SMPC hinges are numerically investigated by applying an equation that accounts for the hysteresis characteristics of the fabric reinforcement. The constitutive equation integrates the Mooney–Rivlin model, a viscoelastic, stored energy model, to characterize the hyperelastic properties varying with time, temperature, and shape recovery behaviors of the SMP matrix. Additionally, polynomial functions are introduced to represent the hysteresis effects and energy dissipation behavior of the fabrics. Since the elasticity of fabrics significantly affects the shape recovery of SMPCs, the developed constitutive equation enables accurate prediction of the recovered configuration. Finite element method analysis is performed based on this model and validated through comparison with experimental results. Finally, the constitutive equation is applied to investigate the shape memory response of SMPC hinges. The simulations present the significant design factors to increase the shape recovery ratio of the SMPC hinges. Full article