Search Results (34,551)

Settlement control for tunnel–terminal co-construction projects remains undefined, despite the growing trend of integrating multiple transportation modes within large-scale transport hubs. This study investigates a large underground structure passing beneath an airport terminal, combining field investigations, statistical analyses, and finite element simulations to examine differential settlement behavior under non-uniform loading conditions. The key contribution of this work is the proposal of a differential settlement control standard, defined by the tangent of the rotation angle between adjacent column foundations, with a recommended value of 1/625. Case analysis at cross-section E–E shows that the measured maximum tangent rotation angle was 1/839, corresponding to base slab settlements of 40.5 mm and 33.1 mm for the high-speed railway and metro structures, respectively. Application of the proposed 1/625 criterion yields allowable maximum base slab settlements of 55.28 mm for the high-speed railway and 44.83 mm for the metro, with differential settlement limits of 7.5 mm and 3.13 mm. Numerical simulations confirm the validity of this standard, ensuring the structural integrity of co-constructed systems and providing practical guidance for future airport terminal–tunnel integration projects. Full article

Dysregulation contributes to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathophysiology. Zinc therapy promotes enterocyte copper sequestration, potentially reducing systemic copper. Individual biological responses may vary. Methods: ZINCAiD was a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II trial assessing zinc therapy in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD (EudraCT No.: 2019-000604-15; registered on 26 March 2020). Participants were randomized 2:1 to receive elemental zinc (135 mg/day for 12 weeks, then 65 mg/day) or placebo. Ceruloplasmin was measured at predefined intervals for safety monitoring, blinded to the investigators. Post hoc, “Zinc Responders” were defined by ≥20% reduction in ceruloplasmin at week 12. The primary cognitive endpoint was the Cognitive Composite 2 scale (CC2); secondary endpoints included MMSE and CDR-Sob. Findings: Of the 48 participants randomized, 9 discontinued, primarily due to unrelated clinical deterioration; 39 had complete ceruloplasmin data. Two serious adverse events occurred in the Placebo group. Mild gastrointestinal symptoms occurred in eight participants, with only four leading to dropout. In the primary zinc vs. placebo analysis, no significant differences emerged in cognitive outcomes. A post hoc exploratory analysis stratified participants by pharmacodynamic response: 12 individuals with MCI due to AD (31%) met the criteria for “Zinc Responder,” defined by ≥20% reduction in serum ceruloplasmin at week 12. Only Zinc Responders maintained cognitive stability over 24 weeks, whereas the combined group of Zinc Non-Responders and placebo-treated participants showed a significant decline. For the composite cognitive score (CC2), the interaction between visit and response group was significant (p = 0.030), with deterioration observed only in the Non-Responder + Placebo group (Δ = –2.72, p < 0.0001 vs. –0.71, p = 0.35 in Responders). Similar patterns were observed for CDR-Sob (interaction p = 0.017) and MMSE (trend p = 0.09). Interpretation: Zinc therapy stabilized cognition in a pharmacodynamically defined MCI subgroup. These exploratory findings suggest serum ceruloplasmin as a feasible biomarker of target engagement. Larger trials are needed for confirmation. Full article

Nuclear Factor Y C (NF-YC) transcription factors (TFs) are central regulators of plant development and stress adaptation. However, there remains a gap in identifying NF-YC gene family members in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), a globally significant fruit crop renowned for its nutritional value and good adaptability. In this study, a total of 31 NF-YC genes (designated VcNF-YC1–31) were identified in the blueberry genome, and their basic physicochemical properties, gene structures, motif patterns, and conserved domains were investigated using bioinformatic methods. The cis-acting elements in the promoters of VcNF-YCs were mainly enriched in phytohormone signaling, metabolism, and stress response. qRT-PCR analysis showed that VcNF-YCs were expressed at higher levels in leaves than in roots and stems. Transcriptional profiling revealed rapid upregulation of 24, 25, and 16 VcNF-YC genes upon ABA, salt, and cold treatments, respectively, indicating stress-specific induction patterns. The results of the yeast transformation assay revealed that VcNF-YC10 and VcNF-YC15 lacked transcription-activating activity. The results of tobacco leaf injection revealed that these two TFs were localized in the nucleus. These findings indicate the potentially important roles in abiotic stress responses of blueberry, offering potential targets for molecular breeding to enhance plant resilience. Full article

Tunnel linings play a vital role in underground infrastructure, yet their performance can be severely affected by pre-existing cracks. This study investigates the mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of C30 concrete with artificial cracks under uniaxial compression, simulating various crack conditions observed in tunnel linings. Specimens were designed with varying crack lengths and orientations. Acoustic emission (AE) monitoring was employed to capture the evolution of internal damage and micro-cracking activity during loading. Fractal dimension analysis was performed on post-test crack patterns to quantitatively evaluate the complexity and branching characteristics of crack propagation. The AE results showed clear correlations between amplitude characteristics and macroscopic crack growth, while fractal analysis provided an effective metric for assessing the extent of damage. To complement the experiments, discrete element modeling (DEM) using PFC3D was applied to simulate crack initiation and propagation, with results compared against experimental data for validation. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of DEM in modeling cracked concrete and highlights the critical role of crack orientation and size in strength degradation. These findings provide a theoretical and numerical foundation for assessing tunnel lining defects and support the development of preventive and reinforcement strategies in tunnel engineering. Full article

This study simplifies the local model of the orthotropic steel bridge deck pavement into a two-dimensional composite continuous beam. Based on the Modal Superposition Method and Duhamel Integration, an analytical solution for the dynamic response of the composite continuous beam under moving harmonic loads is derived. Using the UHPC (Ultra-High Performance Concrete)-SMA (Stone Mastic Asphalt) composite pavement as an example, the influence of structural parameters on the analytical results is investigated. The results demonstrate that the natural frequencies of the three-span continuous composite beam obtained from the analytical method exhibit a relative error of less than 10% compared to finite element modal analysis, indicating high consistency. Furthermore, the analytical solutions for four key indicators—deflection, bending stress, interlayer shear stress, and interlayer vertical tensile stress—closely align with finite element simulation results, confirming the reliability of the derived formula. Additionally, increasing the thickness of the steel plate, UHPC layer, or asphalt mixture pavement layer effectively reduces the peak values of all dynamic response indicators. Full article

This study examines the entire urban network of Hungary, excluding Budapest, with the primary goal of creating a nationwide cadastre that systematically documents the country’s stock of urban squares found in cities. As traditional elements of the urban fabric, squares typically serve as focal points within a city’s spatial structure, reflecting the maturity of its urban form and embodying its socio-cultural heritage. Yet, in many towns, especially in central areas of cities, squares have not reached their full potential. Their development poses challenges in structural terms (form and spatial relationship with surrounding buildings), compositional terms (continuity of building frontages and design coherence), and functional terms (hierarchical role among public spaces). The absence of literature systematically compiling and analyzing Hungary’s urban squares is notable, given their significance as principal public spaces and indicators of urban life quality. This research addresses that gap by (1) identifying whether the town has a central square, (2) compiling an inventory of their number, (3) grouping 94 representative examples by morphological typology, and (4) selecting a stratified sub-sample of 55 for detailed morphometric and contextual analysis. The resulting typology provides a foundation for further morphological research and offers a reference for spatial planning and development policy. Full article

The article explores how the design of informational and promotional messages from financial institutions influences their reception by young people. The study combined eye tracking, individual in-depth interviews (IDIs), and text mining analysis to examine both visual attention and participants’ conscious reactions. The aim was to identify young users’ preferences, determine factors influencing content perception, and assess the effectiveness of visual and audiovisual communication strategies. The main hypothesis proposed that minimalistic and visually attractive messages, enhanced with dynamic graphics, more effectively shape attitudes and elicit positive emotions. Specific aspects examined included the role of infographics, color schemes, message dynamics, and references to financial institutions in attracting attention and engagement. The results indicate that young people operate primarily in virtual space and express limited interest in traditional media such as television or print. They favor short, clear, and visually structured messages. Excessive textual content and lack of clarity provoked negative reactions and discouraged further engagement. Elements like infographics, colors, and logos were found to be strongly associated with brand recognition and memorability. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive numerical investigation of excitonic states in GaAs quantum wells embedded in ${\mathrm{Al}}_x$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1-x}$As barriers, incorporating the effects of donor and acceptor impurities, external electric and magnetic fields, and varying well widths. The electron and hole wavefunctions are computed by directly solving the Schrödinger equation using the finite element method in cylindrical coordinates, without assuming trial forms. To evaluate the exciton binding energy, the implementation and comparison of two independent approaches were performed: a numerical integration method based on elliptic function corrections, and a novel finite element electrostatic formulation using COMSOL Multiphysics v5.6. The latter computes the Coulomb interaction by solving Poisson’s equation with the hole charge distribution and integrating the resulting potential over the electron density. Both methods agree within 1% and capture the spatial and field-induced modifications in excitonic properties. The results show that quantum confinement enhances binding in narrow wells, while donor impurities and electric fields reduce binding via spatial separation of carriers. Magnetic fields counteract this effect by providing radial confinement. The FEM-based electrostatic method demonstrates high spatial accuracy, computational efficiency, and flexibility for complex heterostructures, making it a promising tool for exciton modeling in low-dimensional systems. Full article

The skeleton curve plays a crucial role in evaluating the seismic capacity of damaged structures. The research explored the application of data-driven machine learning approaches to predict the skeleton curves of earthquake-damaged reinforced concrete (RC) columns. Various machine learning methods, including Lasso regression, K-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), decision tree, and AdaBoost, were employed to develop a machine learning prediction model (MLPM) for seismic-damaged RC columns. A substantial dataset for the MLPM was derived from finite element (FE) analysis results. The input parameters for the machine learning models included the design specifications of the numerical column model and the damage index (DI), while the coordinates of key points on the skeleton curves served as the output parameters. The findings indicated that the K-nearest neighbor algorithm exhibited the best predictive performance, particularly for the yielding and peak points. The most influential input feature for predicting peak strength was the shear span-to-effective depth ratio, followed by the DI. The ML-based models demonstrated higher efficiency than numerical simulations and theoretical calculations in predicting the skeleton curves of damaged RC columns. Full article

This study presents preliminary design guidelines to support the evaluation of industrial safety training using immersive technologies, with a focus on high-risk work environments such as working at height. Although virtual reality has been widely adopted for training, few studies have explored its use for behavior-level evaluation, corresponding to Level 3 of the Kirkpatrick Model. Addressing this gap, the study adopts the Design Science Research methodology, combining a systematic literature review with expert focus group analysis to develop a conceptual framework for training evaluation. The results identify key elements necessary for immersive training evaluations, including scenario configuration, ethical procedures, recruitment, equipment selection, experimental design, and implementation strategies. The resulting guidelines are organized into six categories: scenario configuration, ethical procedures, recruitment, equipment selection, experimental design, and implementation strategies. These guidelines represent a DSR-based conceptual artifact to inform future empirical studies and support the structured assessment of immersive safety training interventions. The study also highlights the potential of integrating behavioral and physiological indicators to support immersive evaluations of behavioral change, offering an expert-informed and structured foundation for future empirical studies in high-risk industrial contexts. Full article

Government-invested Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) projects often encounter challenges, such as ambiguous value-added pathways and undefined key driving mechanisms, which impede efficiency improvements during implementation. To systematically elucidate the value-added pathways and core driving mechanisms in these projects, this study identified and distilled 20 critical influencing factors across four dimensions—contract cost, organization, technology, and environment—through a combination of a literature review, case analysis, and a questionnaire survey yielding 68 valid responses. Employing a DEMATEL–TAISM–MICMAC hybrid model, the research conducted an in-depth analysis: the DEMATEL method quantified the interdependencies among factors and identified key causal elements; a TAISM-directed topological hierarchy diagram was constructed to clearly delineate the hierarchical transmission pathways; and the MICMAC model was utilized for driver–dependency analysis, classifying factor roles and providing cross-validation from three analytical perspectives. The results indicate that S₁₂ (collaborative participation in early planning and design phases) exhibits the highest causal influence and serves as the core driving factor, while S₁ (detailed and explicit contractual clauses) and S₁₂ are positioned at the root level of the hierarchical model, functioning as foundational independent factors that regulate the entire system. The value-added pathways are characterized by a hierarchical transmission logic of “root level → transitional level → direct level”. Based on these findings, the study proposes a system optimization strategy of “strengthening the root level, optimizing the transitional level, and safeguarding the direct level”, thereby offering both theoretical insights and practical guidance for enhancing the value-added efficiency of government-invested EPC projects. Full article

During the cooling phase of injection molding, the conformal cooling channel system optimizes the uniformity of mold temperature, diminishes warping deformation, and contributes substantially to heightened product precision. The injection molding process involves complex process parameters that may result in uneven cooling between components, leading to prolonged cycle times, increased shrinkage depth, and warping deformation of the plastic parts. These manifestations negatively impact the surface quality and structural strength of the final product. This article combined theoretical algorithms with finite element simulation (CAE) methods to optimize complex injection molding processes. Firstly, the characteristics of six different types of materials were examined. Melt temperature, mold opening time, injection time, holding time, holding pressure, and mold temperature were chosen as optimization variables. Meanwhile, the warpage deformation and shrinkage depth of the formed sample were selected as optimization objectives. Secondly, an L27 orthogonal experimental design (OED) was established, and the signal-to-noise ratio was processed. The entropy weight method (EWE) was used to calculate the weights of the total warpage deformation and shrinkage depth, thereby obtaining the grey correlation degree. The influence of process parameters on quality indicators was analyzed using grey relational analysis (GRA) to calculate the range. A second-order polynomial regression model was established using response surface methodology (RSM) to investigate the effects of six factors on the warpage deformation and shrinkage depth of injection molded parts. Finally, a comprehensive comparison was made on the impact of various optimization methods and models on the forming parameters. Analyze according to different optimization principles to obtain the corresponding optimal process parameters. The research results indicate that under the principle of prioritizing warpage deformation, the effectiveness ranking of the three optimization analyses is RSM > OED > GRA. The minimum deformation rate is 0.1592 mm, which is 27.37% lower than before optimization. Under the principle of prioritizing indentation depth, the effectiveness ranking of the three optimization analyses is OED > GRA > RSM. The minimum depth of shrinkage is 0.0312 mm, which is 47.21% lower than before optimization. This discovery provides strong support for the optimal combination of process parameters suitable for production and processing. Full article

The integration of petrological and geochemical analyses serves as an effective methodology for reconstructing depositional environments and constraining sediment provenance within distinct tectonic frameworks. This study investigates the provenance characteristics of the Silurian Kepingtag Formation in the northwestern Tarim Basin through an integrated approach combining field outcrop observations and laboratory analyses. Fieldwork covers the Sishichang, Dawangou, and Tongguzibulong sections, while laboratory analyses include clastic component identification, whole-rock major and trace element geochemical analysis, and rare earth element (REE) profiling. These efforts enable a systematic evaluation of sediment sources and their tectonic linkages. The research provides a theoretical basis for understanding the tectono-sedimentary framework of the northwestern Tarim Basin during the Early Silurian and offers significant guidance for reconstructing the lithofacies paleogeographic pattern of the basin during this period. Petrographic analyses reveal a lithological assemblage dominated by lithic quartz sandstones and lithic sandstones, with subordinate feldspathic lithic sandstones. Quartz exhibits secondary overgrowths. In a relatively stable tectonic environment, sediments undergo a gentle burial rate, which favors the formation of this phenomenon. Lithic fragments are dominated by magmatic lithics, indicating that the source contains magmatic rocks. Detrital component analysis reveals that the provenance of Kepingtag Formation sandstones in the study area is predominantly characterized by stable craton and recycled orogenic belt tectonic settings. Integrated geochemical datasets from major element compositions and trace element signatures constrain the provenance characteristics of the Kepingtag Formation sandstones. Major element ratios demonstrate predominant contributions from felsic igneous source rocks, while trace element ratios are diagnostic of sediment derivation from passive continental margin settings, consistent with prolonged tectonic quiescence along the northern Tarim cratonic margin during Silurian deposition The CIA index indicates that the Silurian Kepingtag Formation in the study area exhibits weak to moderate weathering. Integrating the above analyses, the Tabei Uplift—ancient craton setting—is interpreted as the likely provenance source for the sandstones of the Kepingtag Formation in the northwestern Tarim Basin. Full article

Ultrasonic guided wave interdigital transducers realized with piezoelectric materials are of interest for structural health monitoring systems because of their capability of performing Lamb wave mode selection with respect to single-element transducers. Besides this advantage, the coverage of large areas with a minimum number of elements is an important challenge and the problem of efficient excitation with integrated electronics must be solved. This work proposes an electrical matching network topology made of L and C passive components that can be designed for the trade-off between electrical to mechanical conversion efficiency and bandwidth. The network circuit is analyzed considering the equivalent transducer impedance and the output impedance of the driving electronics. The design rules derived by the transfer function analysis are described and a case study for a piezopolymer IDT is presented. Finally, with the implementation of the integrated matching network with the connector of the IDT, the effect of cable capacitance is minimized. In conclusion this article is a contribution to the study of using IDT efficiently and in a versatile mode for different electronic front-ends that usually operate at low power supply voltage. Full article

The growing concerns over nuclear power plant safety in the wake of extreme impact events have highlighted the need for containment structures with superior resistance to large commercial aircraft strikes. Conventional reinforced concrete containment has shown limitations in withstanding high-mass and high-velocity impacts, posing potential risks to structural integrity and operational safety. Addressing this challenge, this study focuses on the dynamic impact resistance and vibration behavior of steel–ultra-high-performance concrete (S-UHPC) composite containment, aiming to enhance nuclear facility resilience under beyond-design-basis aircraft impact scenarios. Validated finite element models in LS-DYNA were developed to simulate impacts from four representative large commercial aircraft types, considering variations in wall and steel plate thicknesses, UHPC grades, and soil–structure interaction conditions. Unlike existing studies that often focus on isolated parameters, this work conducts a systematic parametric analysis integrating multiple aircraft types, structural configurations, and foundation conditions, providing comprehensive insights into both global deformation and high-frequency vibration behavior. Comparative analyses with conventional reinforced concrete containment were performed, and floor response spectra were evaluated to quantify high-frequency vibration characteristics under different site conditions. The results show that S-UHPC containment reduces peak displacement by up to ~24% compared to reinforced concrete of the same thickness while effectively localizing core damage without through-thickness failure. In addition, aircraft impacts predominantly excite 90–125 Hz vibrations, with soft soil conditions amplifying acceleration responses by more than four times, underscoring the necessity of site-specific dynamic analysis in nuclear containment and equipment design. Full article