Search Results (5,208)

Edible coatings are widely used to modulate oil uptake and moisture in fried foods. In this study, we evaluated a microfluid-assisted flow-blurring spray against conventional application by dipping/spraying, focusing on the coating efficiency and preliminary implications for sustainable process. This study combines benchtop experiments with a near-nozzle numerical analysis where the gas–liquid interface and primary breakup are modeled using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) approach implemented in OpenFOAM, configured for a flow-blurring geometry to generate whey protein isolate (WPI) coatings. Viscosity, density, solid content, and contact angle were validated experimentally and used in the simulation setup. An image-based droplet pipeline quantified spray characteristics, yielding a volumetric median diameter D₅₀ = 83.69 µm and confirming process uniformity. Contact angles showed marked substrate dependence: hydrophilic surfaces, 68°–85°; hydrophobic surfaces, 95°–110°. For turkey sausages, sessile-drop contact angles were not determinable (N.D.) due to wicking/roughness; wettability was therefore assessed on smooth surrogates and via performance metrics. Fit-for-purpose simulation procedures are outlined. Microfluidic application (WPI-McF) lowered oil uptake versus uncoated controls. Together, robust modeling, targeted image analytics, and high-precision microfluidics enable rational tuning of coating microstructure and barrier performance, offering a scalable pathway to reduce lipid content and enhance fried food quality. Full article

Monitoring large-gradient surface displacement caused by underground mining remains a significant challenge for conventional Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)-based techniques. This study introduces optical flow methods to monitor large-gradient displacement in mining areas and conducts a comprehensive comparison with Small Baseline Subset Interferometric SAR (SBAS-InSAR) and Pixel Offset Tracking (POT) methods. Using 12 high-resolution TerraSAR-X (TSX) SAR images over the Daliuta mining area in Yulin, China, we evaluate the performance of each method in terms of sensitivity to displacement gradients, computational efficiency, and monitoring accuracy. Results indicate that SBAS-InSAR is only capable of detecting displacement at the decimeter level in the Dalinta mining area and is unable to monitor rapid, large-gradient displacement exceeding the meter scale. While POT can detect meter-scale displacements, it suffers from low efficiency and low precision. In contrast, the proposed optical flow method (OFM) achieves sub-pixel accuracy with root mean square errors of 0.17 m (compared to 0.26 m for POT) when validated against Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data while improving computational efficiency by nearly 30 times compared to POT. Furthermore, based on the optical flow results, mining parameters and three-dimensional (3D) displacement fields were successfully inverted, revealing maximum vertical subsidence exceeding 4.4 m and horizontal displacement over 1.5 m. These findings demonstrate that the OFM is a reliable and efficient tool for large-gradient displacement monitoring in mining areas, offering valuable support for hazard assessment and mining management. Full article

Multi-epitopes of FMDV can be used to develop a novel vaccine. Determining how to screen naturally presenting epitope peptides derived from FMDV is crucial for advancing progress in this area. In this study, a transient expression plasmid named pEGFP-N1-VP1 was transfected into Porcine Kidney Epithelial cells 15 (PK15). The positive cells that stably expressed the O-VP1 gene of FMDV were screened with gradient concentrations of G418 (Geneticin). The constructed pEGFP-N1-VP1/PK15 cell line was eluted by pH 3.3 phosphate buffer to isolate the eluted peptides, followed by desalting, liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), a flow cytometric analysis of SLA-I expression, and an ELISA detection of SLA-I bound peptides. It was demonstrated that a PK15 cell line stably expressing the VP1 gene was initially screened out at 500 μg/mL of G418, followed by culturing at 300 μg/mL. The O-VP1 expression was identified using an image analysis system, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis. Thirty-seven peptides derived from O-VP1 were eluted from the constructed cell line. The flow cytometric analysis and ELISA detection results showed that the eluted peptides were associated with SLA-I and bound. This is the first known study to construct a cell line for screening naturally presenting antigenic peptides derived from the O serotype of FMDV. Full article

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a useful biomarker in the monitoring and risk stratification of various cardiovascular diseases including hypertension. The current gold standard for non-invasive measurement is carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV) measurement via direct tonometry. However, cfPWV provides only a global PWV measure, which emphasises the need for an alternative capable of local PWV assessment. There are several alternatives for local PWV measurement proposed in the literature and one promising alternative is ultrasound, which offers good penetration depth, accessibility, and a relatively low cost, making it well-suited for non-invasive, real-time acquisition of haemodynamic parameters for PWV estimation. This paper aims to evaluate the different approaches for ultrasound-based acquisition while considering technical and physiological constraints to optimise the accuracy, reliability, and reproducibility of the parameters collected for estimation. In particular, this paper focuses on the flow-area (QA) and lnDiameter-velocity (lnDU) methods, which require local area and velocity data for PWV estimation. Accordingly, this paper discusses the use of ultrasound imaging in vessel data acquisition, highlights various challenges and considerations to be managed during acquisition and processing, outlines the different ultrasound-based imaging modalities for acquiring area and velocity data, and compares the simultaneous and non-simultaneous acquisition of data for PWV estimation. Full article

The origin of the Wutong deity, a controversial figure in Chinese folk religion, has long been an unresolved academic issue, hindering a clear understanding of its complex godhead and its derivative cults, such as the Five Road Deities of Wealth. This study aims to provide a comprehensive etymological solution to this long-standing problem. Through a systematic investigation combining cross-cultural linguistic analysis, comparative mythology, and socio-historical contextualization, this paper traces the deity’s evolution from its prototype to its final forms. The study argues that the Wutong deity’s prototype is the Buddhist Yakṣa General Pañcika, known in early China as the “Wudao Dashen” (Great Deity of the Five Paths). Its core godhead was formed by inheriting Pañcika’s attribute as a wealth deity, while degrading his myth of prolificacy into a licentious characteristic by conflating it with indigenous stereotypes of Yakṣas. Its name resulted from an orthographic corruption of “Wudao” to “Wutong,” and its “one-legged” image from a phono-semantic misreading of its transliterated name, “Banzhijia (半支迦).” This transformation was catalyzed by the severance of the Tangmi (唐密) lineage and the concurrent rise of commercialism in Song-dynasty Jiangnan. This evolutionary chain reveals the complete process by which a foreign deity was seamlessly integrated into the indigenous Chinese belief system, a “Flowing Pantheon,” through misreading and reconstruction, vividly illustrating the pluralistic and harmonious nature of Chinese religion. Full article

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a complex and heterogeneous myocardial disorder, best evaluated with echocardiography for initial diagnosis, risk stratification, and longitudinal monitoring. This focused review explores the echocardiographic assessment of various morphologic phenotypes of HCM, emphasizing their diagnostic nuances. Distinct phenotypes, including asymmetric septal hypertrophy, concentric hypertrophy, and the less common apical HCM, present unique imaging challenges. Additionally, the review outlines essential techniques and practical tips for assessing left ventricular apical aneurysm flow patterns and dynamic intraventricular gradients. A thorough understanding of mitral valve anatomy and its role in left ventricular outflow tract obstruction is also crucial. Finally, anatomical variants of the mitral valve, papillary muscles and left ventricular myocardium are examined for their contribution to systolic anterior motion and mid-ventricular obstruction as well as for constituting additional phenotypical expressions of HCM, beyond left ventricular hypertrophy. Full article

While normal fibroblasts suppress tumor growth, during cancer initiation and progression, this capacity can be lost and even switched to tumor-promoting, for reasons that are not understood. In this study, we aimed to determine differences between patient-derived cancer-associated fibroblasts and fibroblasts from healthy breast tissue to identify if and how these changes stimulate Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Two-dimensional and three-dimensional mono and co-cultures of TNBC cells with fibroblasts from healthy breast or TNBC were analyzed for cell contractility, migration, distribution, proliferation, and hyaluronan production by traction force microscopy, live cell imaging, flow cytometry, Western blot, and ELISA. In 3D spheroid co-culture, CAFs migrated into the tumor mass, mixing with tumor cells, whereas normal fibroblasts remained separate. In 2D, CAFs showed increased cell migration and contractile force, and, in both 2D and 3D co-culture, CAFs increased the proliferation of TNBC cells. CAFs showed increased production of hyaluronan, as compared to normal fibroblasts, and loss of hyaluronan synthase 2 reduced CAF-induced stimulation of TNBC proliferation. These findings suggest that increased production of hyaluronan by TNBC CAFs enhances their capacity to mix with and induce the proliferation of cancer cells, and that the production of hyaluronan by CAFs can be a future therapeutic target against TNBC. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) are critical perfusion metrics in diagnosing ischemic stroke. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) enables the evaluation of these cerebral perfusion metrics; however, accurately assessing them remains challenging. This study aimed to: (1) assess CBF asymmetry by quantifying and comparing it between contralateral hemispheres (right vs. left) within the MCA, ACA, and PCA territories using paired t-tests, and describe pattern of CBV; (2) evaluate overall inter-territorial regional variations in CBF across the different cerebral arterial territories (MCA, ACA, PCA), irrespective of the hemisphere, using ANOVA; (3) determine the correlation between CBF and CBV using both Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation analyses; and (4) assess the influence of age and gender on CBF using multiple regression analysis. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 55 ischemic stroke patients was conducted. DCE-MRI was used to measure CBF and CBV. Paired t-tests compared contralateral hemispheric CBF in MCA, PCA, and ACA, one-way ANOVA assessed overall inter-territorial CBF variations, correlation analyses (Pearson/Spearman) evaluated the CBF-CBV relationship, and linear regression modeled demographic effects. Results: Significant contralateral asymmetries in CBF were observed for each cerebral pair of cerebral arteries using a paired t-test, with descriptive asymmetries noted in CBV. Separately, ANOVA revealed significant overall variability in CBF between the different cerebral arteries, irrespective of hemisphere. A strong positive correlation was found between CBF and CBV (Pearson r = 0.976; Spearman r = 0.928), with multiple regression analysis identifying age and gender as significant predictors of CBF. Conclusions: This study highlights hemispheric asymmetry and inter-territorial variation, the impact of age, and gender on CBF. DCE-MRI provides perfusion metrics that can guide individualized stroke treatment, offering valuable insights for therapeutic planning, particularly in resource-limited settings. Full article

Ensuring the structural integrity of mechanical components operating in fluid environments requires precise and reliable monitoring techniques. This study presents a methodology for reconstructing the full-field deformation of a flexible aluminium plate subjected to unsteady water flow in a water tunnel, using a structural modal reconstruction approach informed by experimental data. The experimental setup involves an aluminium lamina (200 mm × 400 mm × 2.5 mm) mounted in a closed-loop water tunnel and exposed to a controlled flow with velocities up to 0.5 m/s, corresponding to Reynolds numbers on the order of ${10}^4$, inducing transient deformations captured through an image-based optical tracking technique. The core of the methodology lies in reconstructing the complete deformation field of the structure by combining a reduced number of vibration modes derived from the geometry and boundary conditions of the system. The novelty of the present work consists in the integration of the Internal Strain Potential Energy Criterion (ISPEC) for mode selection with a data-driven machine learning framework, enabling real-time identification of active modal contributions from sparse experimental measurements. This approach allows for an accurate estimation of the dynamic response while significantly reducing the required sensor data and computational effort. The experimental validation demonstrates strong agreement between reconstructed and measured deflections, with normalised errors below 15% and correlation coefficients exceeding 0.94, confirming the reliability of the reconstruction. The results confirm that, even under complex, time-varying fluid–structure interactions, it is possible to achieve accurate and robust deformation reconstruction with minimal computational cost. This integrated methodology provides a reliable and efficient basis for structural health monitoring of flexible components in hydraulic and marine environments, bridging the gap between sparse measurement data and full-field dynamic characterisation. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare, indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, characterised by the presence of monoclonal immunoglobulin M (IgM) and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the bone marrow. It is often associated with various haematological and systemic disorders, including previous cold agglutinin disease (CAD), a condition where cold-sensitive antibodies lead to haemolysis. Case Presentation: A 55-year-old male patient was admitted to the Internal Diseases Ward with symptoms of weakness, reduced effort tolerance, and weight loss, along with life-threatening normoblastic anaemia (haemoglobin [Hb]: 3.90 g/dL). Initial blood tests raised suspicion of CAD due to the presence of multiple blood clots, as well as a decrease in lymphocyte and neutrophil counts. CAD was then confirmed by a cold agglutinin titre of 1:2000 and direct antiglobulin test ([DAT] 4+). Two weeks later, upon transfer to the Haematological Diseases Ward, further investigation revealed elevated IgM levels (up to 31.55 g/L). Additional diagnostic tests, including serum protein electrophoresis, imaging, multiparametric flow cytometry, and bone marrow biopsy, confirmed the diagnosis of WM. The L265P MYD88 mutation test was positive. Treatment with intravenous rituximab was initiated, followed by bendamustine/rituximab (BR) therapy protocol as first-line treatment. After two cycles, the patient’s clinical condition and laboratory results significantly improved, with a marked reduction in IgM (<0.4 g/L). Hb levels steadily rose to 12.60 g/dL, eliminating the need for further blood transfusions. Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of recognising the coexistence of CAD and WM, which may present with overlapping clinical features, including life-threatening anaemia. Extensive diagnostics and prompt treatment with combination therapy can lead to effective clinical improvement. Full article

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disease in industrialized countries. Stress echocardiography (SE), using either exercise or dobutamine protocols, has emerged as a critical tool to overcome limitations of resting echocardiography, refine risk stratification, and guide the timing of aortic valve replacement. This review synthesizes contemporary evidence on the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic role of SE in AS. Studies from all main databases (2000–2025) were systematically analyzed including prospective studies, consensus statements, and international guidelines. We highlight the physiological rationale, key prognostic markers, applications in asymptomatic severe and low-flow, low-gradient AS, and integration with multimodality imaging. SE is now guideline-endorsed for risk stratification in asymptomatic severe AS and the diagnosis of true severe versus pseudo-severe AS in low-flow, low-gradient disease. Future directions include advanced strain imaging, artificial intelligence, and broader adoption in the transcatheter era. Full article

Mesenchymal stem cells are widely cultivated in stirred tank bioreactors. Due to their adhesion properties, they are attached to small spherical spheres called microcarriers. To understand the hydromechanical stresses encountered by the cells, it is essential to characterize the flow using the PIV technique. However, the usual solid–liquid system used in cell cultures has poor optical properties. Thus, shifting to one with better optical properties, while respecting the physical characteristics, is mandatory to achieve a relevant representation. PMMA microparticles suspended with 61 wt% ammonium thiocyanate solution NH₄SCN were found to be a robust candidate. The refractive index (RI) of both sides is of the order of 1.491 with a density ratio of ${\rho }_f/{\rho }_p\approx$ 0.96, and particle size averaged around 168 μm. Using the RIM-PIV (refractive index matched particle image velocimetry) technique for a 0.7 L volume stirred tank equipped with an HTPG down-pumping axial impeller and operating at full homogeneous speed $N=150$ rpm, mean and turbulence quantities of the liquid phase were measured as a function of PMMA particle volume fractions ${\alpha }_p$, which ranged from 0.5 to 3 v%. This corresponds to a particle number density of $n=12$ particles/mm³, which is considered original and challenging for the PIV technique. At 3 v%, the addition of particles dampened the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) of the liquid phase locally by 20% near the impeller. This impact became trivial (<10%) at the local-average level. The structure and direction of the recirculation loop also shifted. Full article

Reflection removal from a single image is an ill-posed problem due to the inherent ambiguity in separating transmission and reflection components from a single composite observation. In this paper, we address this challenge by introducing a reversible feature encoding strategy combined with a simplified dual-stream decoding structure. In particular, the reversible NAFNet encoder enables us to retain all feature information throughout the encoding process while avoiding memory overhead, an aspect that is crucial for separating overlapping structures. In place of complex gated mechanisms, the proposed dual-stream decoder leverages shared encoder features and skip connections, thus enabling implicit bidirectional information flow between transmission and reflection streams. Although our model adopts a lightweight structure and omits attention modules, it achieves competitive results on standard reflection removal benchmarks, indicating that efficient and interpretable designs can match or surpass more complex counterparts. Full article

Doppler tomography (DT) is a relatively new method that allows the imaging of cross-sections of an object. The method uses a two-transducer ultrasound probe that moves around or along the object in a specific way. Image reconstruction is performed on the basis of the detection of the so-called Doppler signal, which contains Doppler frequencies that identify the stationary heterogeneous structures inside the imaged cross-section of the object. The Doppler tomography method differs significantly from the popular blood flow velocity detection method and should not be confused with it. It can potentially be used to reconstruct 2D and 3D cross-sectional images of structures that reflect the ultrasound wave well, either in medicine for diagnostics or in industry for so-called non-destructive testing. This paper presents simulations of imaging using Doppler tomography. The method and algorithms that can be used for Doppler tomography imaging without the need for complicated measurement systems and calculations were proposed. The influence of selected parameters on DT imaging quality was investigated, and their optimal compromise values for specific conditions were determined. Ways to improve image quality were also discussed. Full article

In particle image velocimetry (PIV), overexposure is particularly common in regions with high illumination. In particular, strong scattering or background reflection at the liquid–gas interface will make the overexposure phenomenon more obvious, resulting in local pixel saturation, which will significantly reduce the particle image quality, and thus reduce the particle recognition rate and the accuracy of velocity field estimation. This study addresses the overexposure challenges in particle image velocimetry applications, mainly to address the challenge that the velocity field cannot be measured due to the difficulty in effectively detecting particles in the exposed area. In order to address the challenge of overexposure, this paper does not use traditional frame-based high-speed cameras, but instead proposes a particle image velocimetry algorithm based on adaptive integral spike camera data using a neuromorphic vision sensor (NVS). Specifically, by performing target-background segmentation on high-frequency digital spike signals, the method suppresses high illumination background regions and thus effectively mitigates overexposure. Then the spike data are further adaptively integrated based on both regional background illumination characteristics and the spike frequency features of particles with varying velocities, resulting in high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) reconstructed particle images. Flow field computation is subsequently conducted using the reconstructed particle images, with validation through both simulation and experiment. In simulation, in the overexposed area, the average flow velocity estimation error of frame-based cameras is 8.594 times that of spike-based cameras. In the experiments, the spike camera successfully captured continuous high-density particle trajectories, yielding measurable and continuous velocity fields. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed particle image velocimetry algorithm based on the adaptive integration of the spike camera effectively addresses overexposure challenges caused by high illumination of the liquid–gas interface in flow field measurements. Full article