Search Results (354)

Offshore wind energy is a key contributor to sustainable energy, yet its development faces significant technological challenges, particularly in the design of substructures that interface with the marine environment. In this study, a comprehensive numerical analysis was conducted to investigate the mechanical behavior of a high-rise pile cap foundation under hydrostatic loading conditions. A high batter pile bearing foundation model was employed to examine the effects of pile inclinations, embedment depths, lateral loads, and cap elevations on foundation performance. The results indicate that the displacement and bending moment at the pile head decrease significantly as the pile inclination gradually increases. Similarly, as the embedding depth increases gradually, both the displacement and bending moment decrease significantly. Additionally, a positive batter pile exhibits greater bending moments and displacements than a negative batter pile, with the maximum bending moment occurring in the lower one-third of pile below the mudline. These findings provide valuable theoretical guidance for the design of offshore wind turbine foundations, recommending an inclination angle of 8–12° and an embedment depth of 12–15 m to enhance structural stability, economic efficiency, and construction feasibility. Full article

The consumption of wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) meat is growing due to its nutritional benefits and sustainability. However, challenges like a shorter shelf life and increased microbial load of game meat highlight the need to investigate effective preservation techniques. This study investigated the effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) on the quality parameters of wild red deer meat, including pH, color characteristics, microbial load, texture attributes, and protein stability, assessed on different days. Wild red deer meat was treated with pressures ranging from 150 to 600 MPa, followed by storage at 4 °C for up to 14 days. Results showed that HHP at or above 300 MPa stabilized pH and suppressed microbial growth. On Day 1, the control samples had a microbial count of 4.67 log CFU/g, while treatments at or above 500 MPa reduced microbial levels to below 1 log CFU/g. Texture analysis revealed improved tenderness at lower pressures (150–300 MPa) and enhanced firmness at higher pressures. Color parameters, including lightness and redness, were also influenced by HHP, as lightness increased with pressure, while redness decreased at higher pressure levels. SDS-PAGE analysis indicated protein denaturation, especially at ≥300 MPa, with significant degradation of sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins at ≥500 MPa. These findings suggest that HHP can be an effective method for improving certain quality parameters and extending the shelf life of wild red deer meat up to 14 days of storage, depending on the pressure level applied. Full article

Over the past few years, reducing energy consumption in hydraulic excavators has gained increasing attention, driving significant research in this field. One effective strategy involves integrating hydrostatic transmission (HST) and hydraulic pump/motor (HPM) systems into hydraulic excavators. However, challenges like disturbances, throttling-induced pressure drops, and fluid leakage often hinder both positional accuracy and energy efficiency. To tackle these issues, our study proposes a sophisticated dynamic forecasting model for positional control, integrating beluga whale optimization (BWO), long short-term memory (LSTM), and random forest (RF) techniques. The approach begins with dynamic data evaluation using Pearson’s correlation analysis to identify tuning parameters that have moderate to strong correlations with control variables, which are then used as inputs for predictive modeling. Initially, a standalone LSTM framework is developed to estimate the system’s positional output, with BWO optimizing four key tuning parameters. Subsequently, a hybrid BWO-enhanced LSTM-RF system is deployed to capture complex nonlinear patterns, improving the accuracy of motion trajectory predictions. Simulations and experiments confirm that our approach achieves a positional error below 3 mm, ensuring precise tracking and providing reliable data for operators. Compared to conventional proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controllers, standalone LSTM-RF, and a hybrid controller combining particle swarm optimization (PSO), LSTM, a gated recurrent unit (GRU), and PID (PSO-LSTM-GRU-PID), our method achieves superior tracking precision and energy savings of 12.46%, 8.98%, and 3.97%, respectively. Full article

Geometric and mechanical analyses were performed on 82 selenium-rich eggs, which underwent hydrostatic testing as 2 raw eggs, 60 steamed eggs, and 20 emptied eggshells. By analyzing the geometric and mechanical properties of the egg, we can draw inspiration from its structural design to create a pressure shell capable of effectively withstanding the immense water pressure in deep-sea environments. The major axis, minor axis, egg-shape coefficient, weight, thickness, volume, superficial area, and ultimate compressive strength were measured, and their correlations were analyzed. The thickness, egg-shape coefficient, and ultimate compressive strength were normally distributed, and many parameters were strongly correlated. Moreover, finite element analysis was conducted to evaluate the compressive resistance of egg-like pressure shells made from different materials, including metal, ceramic, resin, and selenium-enriched eggshell materials. The performance ratio of the ceramic shells was 2.6 times higher than that of eggshells, and eggshells outperformed metal and resin shells by factors of 2.14 and 4.49, respectively. The eggshells had excellent compression resistance. These findings offer novel insights into the design and optimization of egg-like pressure shells. Full article

Faults in the DC drive circuit of UAV electro-hydrostatic actuators directly affect the flight safety of a UAV. An integrated learning and Bayesian network-based fault diagnosis strategy is proposed to address the problems of early fault diagnosis, poor unbalanced data processing performance, and lack of interpretability in intelligent fault diagnosis in engineering practice. In the data preprocessing stage, Pearson coefficients are used for feature correlation analysis, and XGBoost performs feature screening to extract key features from the collected DC drive circuit data. This process effectively saves computational resources while significantly reducing the risk of overfitting. The optimal weak learner selection for the high-performance boosting integrated learner is identified through comparative validation. The performance of the proposed diagnostic strategy is fully verified by setting up different comparison algorithms in two experimental circuits. The experimental results show that the strategy outperforms the comparison algorithms in various scenarios such as data balancing, data imbalance, early-stage faults, and high noise; in particular, it shows a significant advantage in diagnosing data imbalance and early-stage faults. The interpretable fault diagnosis of UAV DC drive circuits is realized by the interpretation strategy of Bayesian networks, which provides the necessary theoretical and methodological support for practical engineering operations. Full article

Reinforced concrete (RC) tanks are essential for storing liquids and bulk materials across various industries. However, simplified analytical methods fall short in providing an accurate analysis, while traditional methods, such as finite element modeling, can be computationally intensive and time-consuming, especially when dealing with nonlinear material properties and complex geometries, like conical and cylindrical shapes. This highlights the need for a more efficient and simplified analysis approach. Accordingly, the present paper introduces a machine learning (ML) framework as an effective predictive tool for RC conical and cylindrical tanks under hydrostatic pressure. Data from 320 RC conical and cylindrical water tanks, previously analyzed using finite element modeling, were used to train and test various ML models, considering geometrical and material nonlinearities. Four machine learning models—decision trees, random forests, gradient boosting, and extreme gradient boosting—were utilized to predict critical internal forces, including the maximum ring tension force, maximum meridional moment, and maximum meridional axial force. The accuracy of each model was evaluated using different statistical measures. To improve model interpretability and identify key predictors, feature importance techniques were employed to rank the significance of each input variable to the predictions. Furthermore, Accumulated Local Effects (ALE) plots were utilized to visualize the relationships between model inputs and outputs, providing a clearer understanding of the inner workings of the ML models. The combined use of feature importance and ALE plots enhances model transparency by illustrating how specific features contribute to the predictions, thereby supporting the informed application of ML in the structural design and analysis of RC tanks. Ultimately, the framework presented in this study aims to promote the practical application of machine learning in structural engineering, contributing to simpler, more efficient, and accurate analysis and design processes for RC water tanks. Full article

The amount of non-revenue water, mostly due to leakage, is around 126 billion cubic meters annually worldwide. A more efficient wastewater management strategy would use a parametric design for on-demand, customized pipe fittings, following the principles of distributed manufacturing. To fulfill this need, this study introduces an open-source parametric design of a 3D-printable easy-connect pipe fitting that offers compatibility with different dimensions and materials of pipes available on the market. Custom pipe fittings were 3D printed using a RepRap-class fused filament 3D printer, with polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) as filament feedstocks for validation. The 3D-printed connectors underwent hydrostatic water pressure tests to ensure that they met the standards for residential, agricultural, and renewable energy production applications. All the printed parts passed numerous hydrostatic pressure tests. PETG couplings can tolerate up to 4.551 ± 0.138 MPa of hydrostatic pressure, which is eight times greater than the highest standard water pressure in the residential sector. Based on the economic analysis, the cost of 3D printing a pipe coupling is from three to seventeen times lower than purchasing a commercially available pipe fitting of a similar size. The new open-source couplings demonstrate particular potential for use in developing countries and remote areas. Full article

Hybrid and plant-based products are an emerging trend in food science. This study aimed to develop three patty prototypes (meat, hybrid, and plant-based) enhanced with vegetable fat replacement and broccoli extract using a soy allergen-free protein matrix treated with high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and sous vide cooking to create sustainable and nutritious burger alternatives. The samples were evaluated for microbiological safety, proximal composition, physicochemical properties, sensory characteristics, and carbon footprint. The key findings revealed that the plant-based patties had the smallest carbon footprint (0.12 kg CO₂e), followed by the hybrid patties (0.87 kg CO₂e) and the meat patties (1.62 kg CO₂e). The hybrid patties showed increased hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness compared to the meat patties after sous vide treatment. This improvement likely results from synergies between the meat and plant proteins. Regarding the treatments, in all the samples, the highest hardness was observed after the combined HHP and sous vide treatment, an interesting consideration for future prototypes. Sensory analysis indicated that the plant-based and hybrid samples maintained appealing visual and odour characteristics through the treatments, while the meat patties lost the evaluator’s acceptance. Although further improvements in sensory attributes are needed, hybrid patties offer a promising balance of improved texture and intermediate carbon footprint, making them a viable alternative as sustainable, nutritious patties. Full article

This study examined the effects of three sterilization techniques—heat, microwave, and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP)—on the phytochemicals, flavor, and antioxidant properties of high-acidity mulberry vinegar. High-acidity vinegar is valued for its unique sensory properties, preservation potential, and potential health benefits, yet its quality can be significantly impacted by processing methods. Understanding how sterilization affects high-acidity vinegar is crucial for optimizing its functional and nutritional properties while maintaining consumer appeal. Thermal processing (TP) involved heating samples at 85 °C for 15 min, while microwave heating (MH) was performed at 600 W for 40 s. HHP treatments subjected samples to pressures of 400 MPa, 500 MPa, and 600 MPa at ambient temperature (~25 °C) for 15 min. Results showed that total soluble solids (TSS) remained stable at approximately 6.90% across treatments, confirming effective sterilization, especially with HHP. pH values were consistent (3.53–3.55), while total acidity varied, with HHP treatments achieving lower acidity (5.00 g/L). Phytochemical analysis indicated the control (CK) treatment preserved the highest total anthocyanin content (TAC), but HHP₅₀₀ maintained notable levels. HHP treatments also yielded the highest total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), highlighting non-thermal sterilization’s advantage in preserving health-promoting compounds. Antioxidant activity, particularly DPPH, was best retained in HHP samples. HHP₅₀₀ showed minimal reductions in key phenolic acids, with decreases of 6.16% in p-hydroxybenzoic acid and 7.81% in total phenolic acid. Volatile organic compound analysis revealed increased ester production, with ethyl acetate peaking at 1775.71 μg/L in HHP₆₀₀. Overall, HHP at 500 and 600 MPa proved superior for producing high-quality mulberry vinegar, supporting the demand for minimally processed, health-focused food products. Full article

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was evaluated to trace the high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) processing and preservation temperature (4 °C vs. 20 °C) over the course of a long term in vacuum-packaged Iberian dry-cured tenderloin (Iliopsoas et psoas minor). Spectra were obtained from a total of 298 samples, without opening the package, using a handheld MicroNIR^TM 1700 OnSite-W microspectrophotometer (908.1 nm–1676.2 nm) (VIAVI Solutions Inc., United States). The discriminant models were developed by means of partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The models obtained were capable of correctly classifying more than 60% of the samples according to their HHP processing, while almost 100% of the samples were correctly classified according to the temperature at which the samples were preserved. Thus, NIRS could help to support the traceability of treatments that represent a high added value to the product, such as HHP in premium Iberian dry-cured products. Full article

The construction of steel sheet pile cofferdams is a systematic project. Simplified construction sequences are widely used to facilitate the numerical modeling of cofferdams, while the mechanical behaviors of cofferdams with different construction sequences have yet to be understood. In the present study, finite element models of steel sheet pile cofferdams with different construction sequences were established, based on the temporary cofferdam of the Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link. The mechanisms of simplified construction sequences on bending moment were revealed by analyzing the displacements and contact press of steel sheet piles. The distribution of bending moment with elevation demonstrates the importance of the layered backfill process in numerical modeling. In addition, a finite element model of the cofferdam considering steady-state seepage was also established. The comparison of the hydrostatic pressure results and the bending moment results obtained by engineering experience and seepage analysis were discussed. The analysis results showed that the empirical method overestimated the maximum bending moment of the inner side of piles, which led to a more conservative design of the cofferdam. This work can serve as a reference for numerical modeling of steel sheet pile cofferdams and contribute to risk assessment in related engineering projects. Full article

Proteins found within the fungal cell wall usually contain both N- and O-oligosaccharides. N-glycosylation is the process where these oligosaccharides (hereinafter: glycans) are attached to asparagine residues, while in O-glycosylation the glycans are covalently bound to serine or threonine residues. The PMT family is grouped into PMT1, PMT2, and PMT4 subfamilies. Using bioinformatics analysis within the Botrytis cinerea genome database, an ortholog to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pmt4 and other fungal species was identified. The aim of this study was to assess the relevance of the bcpmt4 gene in B. cinerea glycosylation. For this purpose, the bcpmt4 gene was disrupted by homologous recombination in the B05.10 strain using a hygromycin B resistance cassette. Expression of bcpmt4 in S. cerevisiae ΔScpmt4 or ΔScpmt3 null mutants restored glycan levels like those observed in the parental strain. The phenotypic analysis showed that Δbcpmt4 null mutants exhibited significant changes in hyphal cell wall composition, including reduced mannan levels and increased amounts of chitin and glucan. Furthermore, the loss of bcpmt4 led to decreased glycosylation of glycoproteins in the B. cinerea cell wall. The null mutant lacking PMT4 was hypersensitive to a range of cell wall perturbing agents, antifungal drugs, and high hydrostatic pressure. Thus, in addition to their role in glycosylation, the PMT4 is required to virulence, biofilm formation, and membrane integrity. This study adds to our knowledge of the role of the B. cinerea bcpmt4 gene, which is involved in glycosylation and cell biology, cell wall formation, and antifungal response. Full article

Rainfall-induced landslides are widely distributed in many countries. Rainfall impacts the hydraulic dynamics of groundwater and, therefore, slope stability. We derive an analytical solution of slope stability considering effective rainfall based on the Richards equation. We define effective rainfall as the total volume of rainfall stored within a given range of the unsaturated zone during rainfall events. The slope stability at the depth of interest is provided as a function of effective rainfall. The validity of analytical solutions of system states related to effective rainfall, for infinite slopes of a granite residual soil, is verified by comparing them with the corresponding numerical solutions. Additionally, three approaches to global sensitivity analysis are used to compute the sensitivity of the slope stability to a variety of factors of interest. These factors are the reciprocal of the air-entry value of the soil α, the thickness of the unsaturated zone L, the cohesion of soil c, the internal friction angle ϕ related to the effective normal stress, the slope angle β, the unit weights of soil particles γ_s, and the saturated hydraulic conductivity K_s. The results show the following: (1) The analytical solutions are accurate in terms of the relative differences between the analytical and the numerical solutions, which are within 5.00% when considering the latter as references. (2) The temporal evolutions of the shear strength of soil can be sequentially characterized as four periods: (i) strength improvement due to the increasing weight of soil caused by rainfall infiltration, (ii) strength reduction controlled by the increasing pore water pressure, (iii) strength reduction due to the effect of hydrostatic pressure in the transient saturation zone, and (iv) stable strength when all the soil is saturated. (3) The large α corresponds to high effective rainfall. (4) The factors ranked in descending order of sensitivity are as follows: α > L > c > β > γ_s > K_s > ϕ. Full article

The industrial application of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) can be traced back to the late 19th century in the fields of mechanical and chemical engineering. Its growth as a food preservation technique has developed and massified in certain countries in the last 30 years. However, there is no global overview of the research conducted on this topic. The aim of this study was to recognize global trends in the scientific population on the subject of HHP over time at the main levels of analysis: sources, authors, and publications. This article provides a summary of research related to the use of HHP through a bibliometric analysis using information obtained from the Web of Science (WoS) database between the years 1975–2023, using the terms “pascalization”,“high-pressure processing”, and “high hydrostatic pressure” as input keywords. The results are shown in tables, graphs, and relationship diagrams. The countries most influential and productive in high hydrostatic pressure are the People’s R China, the USA, and Spain, with 1578, 1340, and 1003 articles, respectively. Conversely, the authors with the highest metrics are Saraiva, J. (Universidade Aveiro-Portugal), Hendrickx, M. (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven-Belgium), and Wang, T. (China Agricultural University-China). The most productive journals are Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, Food Chemistry, and LWT-Food Science and Technology, all belonging to Elsevier, with 457, 281, and 264 documents, respectively. In relation to the connection between the documents under study and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most documents in the period 1975–2023 are linked to SDG 03 (good health and well-being), followed by SDG 02 (zero hunger), and SDG 07 (affordable and clean energy). Finally, the information presented in this work may give valuable key insights for those interested in the development of this interesting topic in non-thermal food preservation. Additionally, it serves as a strategic resource for stakeholders, such as food industry leaders, policymakers, and research funding bodies, by providing a clear understanding of the current state of knowledge and innovation trends. This enables informed decision-making regarding research priorities, investment opportunities, and the development of regulatory frameworks to support the adoption and advancement of non-thermal preservation technologies, ultimately contributing to safer and more sustainable food systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dental pulp and its neuro-vascular bundle (NVB) are among the least studied dental tissues. This study identified the best method for evaluating ischemic risks in the dental pulp and NVB of healthy lower premolars under orthodontic forces and in intact periodontium. Methods: Nine 3D models of the second lower premolar were reconstructed based on the CBCT scans from nine patients. Nine patients (CBCT scan) were subjected to 3 N of intrusion, extrusion, rotation, tipping, and translation. Five numerical methods, Tresca, von Mises (VM), Maximum and Minimum Principal, and hydrostatic pressure were used to biomechanically assess (totaling 225 simulations) the color-coded stress distribution in pulp and NVB. The results (both qualitative and quantitative) were correlated with the physiological maximum hydrostatic pressure (MHP) and known tissular biomechanical behavior. Results: All five methods displayed quantitative amounts of stress lower than MHP and did not seem to induce any ischemic risks for the NVB and pulp of healthy intact premolars. Among the five movements, rotation seemed the most stressful, while translation was the least stressful. The NVB displayed higher amounts of stress and tissular deformations than the pulp, seeming to be more exposed to ischemic risks. Higher tissular deformations are visible in NVB during intrusion and extrusion, while pulpal coronal stress is visible only during translation. Only the VM and Tresca methods showed a constant stress display pattern for all five movements. The other three methods displayed various inconsistencies related to the stress distribution pattern. Conclusions: Only the Tresca and VM methods can provide correct qualitative and quantitative data for the analysis of dental pulp and NVB. The other three methods are not suitable for the study of the pulp and NVB. Full article