Search Results (3,302)

Background/Objectives: Incomplete cut marks produced during dismemberment are often interpreted as indicative of saw class characteristics. However, empirical validation of these associations remains limited, with prior studies examining six or fewer saws. Considering the wide variety of saws available, it is critical to assess the reliability of reported relationships between kerf features and saw classification using a larger sample, particularly in light of the serious legal consequences of erroneous conclusions. This study examines the statistical relationships between five incomplete cut traits—kerf profile shape (KPS), kerf length shape (KLS), floor dip (FD), kerf flare (KF), and floor striae (FS)—and saw class characteristics, including tooth set, tooth shape, teeth-per-inch, power, handle orientation, and cut direction. Methods: Kerf features were scored on a sample of 472 incomplete cuts made with 34 power and hand saws. Results: In reciprocating saws, W-shaped KPS was exclusively associated with crosscut, alternating saws (100%; p < 0.001), with hourglass-shaped KLS also primarily made by alternating sets (95.6%). Necked KLS was linked to wavy sets (76.8%; p < 0.001). FD, though rare, could be correctly assigned to teeth-per-inch groups (86.4%), and was also predominantly associated with alternating saws (90.9%; p < 0.001). Undulating FS were indicative of alternating saws with less than 20 teeth-per-inch (100%, p < 0.001). In contrast, KF showed no strong relationship with saw class characteristics, including handle side. Conclusions: The results of this large-scale analysis support most reported relationships in the saw mark literature but challenge assumptions that KF reliably indicates handle orientation or cut direction, suggesting instead that its location may reflect sawyer technique. Full article

Innovation is central to the Zero Hunger agenda, yet its distributional links to agricultural performance and policy in Eastern Europe remain unclear. This study investigates whether national innovation performance, proxied by the Global Innovation Index, is associated with agriculture’s macroeconomic weight and with public budget orientation in Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia across the past decade and a half. Using panel quantile regression with country fixed effects and bootstrapped standard errors, we estimate effects at the lower, median, and upper parts of the outcome distributions for three indicators: agriculture value added share of gross domestic product, the agriculture orientation index for government expenditures, and the agriculture share of government expenditure. Results show a robust negative association between innovation and the agricultural share of gross domestic product that strengthens toward the upper quantiles, consistent with structural transformation that reallocates value added toward higher-productivity sectors. For the orientation index, innovation is unrelated at the lower and median parts but becomes positive in mid–upper regimes, fading again at the extreme upper tail. No systematic relationship emerges for the budget share. Land endowment is positively associated with agricultural weight, while population size is negatively associated. We conclude that economy-wide innovation aligns with structural change, whereas shifting agricultural budget shares requires targeted, sector-specific policy instruments. Full article

The growing demand from the automotive industry for lightweight, high-performance, and advanced manufacturing techniques for efficient and cost-effective production has accelerated the adoption of fiber-reinforced polymer composites. However, considering the manufacturing complexity of these materials, design remains challenging due to the intricate and interdependent relationships between the process conditions, the part geometry, and the resulting microstructure and quality. This research utilized the Autodesk Moldflow Insight software to design an injection molding process for the manufacturing of discontinuous glass fiber-reinforced polymer parts through computer modeling. A geometrically complex car fender was used as a case study. The effects of various process parameters, particularly gate locations, on the injection-molded parts’ properties (such as the fiber orientation, volumetric shrinkage, and shear rate) were investigated. Multiple injection molding process configurations were designed and simulated, including three, four, and five gates at varying locations. Based on the optimal performance (i.e., low shrinkage, a consistent fiber orientation, and a controllable shear rate), an optimal configuration with four gates at appropriate locations (corresponding to the second gate location set) was identified based on multicriteria decision-making analysis, i.e., volumetric shrinkage of ${8.5}_{-2.2}^{+1.4}\%$, a fiber orientation tensor of 0.927 ± 0.011, and a stable shear rate < 74,324 (1/s). A reduced strain closure model (modified Folgar–Tucker model) was used to predict the glass fiber orientation. A multicriteria decision-making technique, based on similarity ranking with an ideal solution, was employed to optimize the gate location. The simulation results clearly demonstrate that the gate placement is crucial for material behavior during molding and for reducing common defects. The simulation-based injection molding process design for the manufacturing of discontinuous fiber-reinforced polymer parts proposed in this paper can improve the production efficiency, reduce trial-and-error rates, and improve part quality. Full article

This study examines how mindful consumption contributes to sustainable marketing and consumer engagement by influencing green purchase intention and life satisfaction among Generation Z, while also assessing the moderating role of social influence. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, a survey of 1541 Thai consumers aged 18–24 was analyzed using a structural equation model and path analysis to test the mediation framework. The results show that mindful consumption significantly enhances sustainability values and purchase intentions, with sustainability values mediating the relationship between mindful consumption and both behavioral and psychological outcomes. Moreover, social influence strengthens the impact of sustainable consumption on purchase intentions, highlighting the role of peers, networks, and societal norms in promoting ethical and environmentally responsible consumer behavior. The findings extend sustainable marketing theory by highlighting mindful consumption as a driver of both behavioral (green purchase intention) and psychological (life satisfaction) outcomes. Beyond its theoretical contribution, the study offers practical insights for businesses, educators, and policymakers on fostering value-driven relationships with young consumers through mindful and socially reinforced sustainability initiatives. Promoting mindful consumption and leveraging social influence provides a pathway to engage Generation Z in sustainability-oriented lifestyles, supporting long-term consumer loyalty and achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Full article

Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) technology represents one of the most promising additive manufacturing methods, enabling the production of components with high geometric complexity and a wide range of industrial and biomedical applications. In this study, the influence of both standard and high-productivity process parameters on the microstructure, porosity, surface roughness, and hardness of three commonly used materials, stainless steel 316L, aluminum alloy AlSi10Mg, and titanium alloy Ti6Al4V, was analyzed. The investigations were carried out on samples fabricated using the EOS M290 system, and their characterization was performed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), porosity analysis by point counting, Vickers hardness measurements, and optical profilometry. The obtained results revealed significant differences depending on the alloy and the applied parameters. For stainless steel 316L, the high-productivity variant led to grain refinement and stronger crystallographic orientation, albeit at the expense of increased porosity (0.11% vs. 0.05% for the standard variant). In the case of AlSi10Mg alloy, high-productivity parameters enabled a substantial reduction in porosity (from 0.82% to 0.27%) accompanied by an increase in hardness (from 115 HV1 to 122 HV1), highlighting their particular suitability for engineering applications. For the Ti6Al4V alloy, a decrease in porosity (from 0.17% to 0.07%) was observed; however, the increase in mechanical anisotropy resulting from a stronger texture may limit its application in cases requiring isotropic material behavior. The presented research confirms that optimization of LPBF parameters must be strictly tailored to the specific alloy and intended application, ranging from industrial components to biomedical implants. The results provide a foundation for further studies on the relationship between microstructure and functional properties, as well as for the development of hybrid strategies and predictive models of the LPBF process. Full article

Background/Objectives: Given the high prevalence of mental health problems in the workplace, fostering disclosure and reducing sickness absence are critical for ensuring timely support and sustaining employees’ work ability. Drawing on the health-oriented riented leadership (HoL) model, this paper examines the associations between staff care, disclosure, and sickness absence, and addresses the underexplored question of whether staff care continues to show beneficial relationships when employees experience acute health deterioration. To account for differing perspectives, we included samples with employees and with leaders. Methods: We conducted three distinct cross-sectional studies with (1) predominantly healthy employees (N₁ = 148), (2) employees with severe mental health issues or a diagnosis (N₂ = 338), and (3) leaders (N₃ = 91). Results: Staff care is positively related to disclosure across all studies. In study 1, this relationship was unexpectedly stronger for low than for high health deterioration, though still significant for high deterioration. In studies 2 and 3, the interaction was non-significant. However, a perceptual gap emerged: simple slopes showed that leaders with low staff care still expected disclosure from employees with high health deterioration (study 3), whereas employees reported higher concealment intentions (study 1). Staff care was negatively related to sickness absence only in study 2, with this relationship strengthened under high health deterioration. Conclusions: Staff care seems particularly relevant for supporting disclosure during early health declines and for mitigating sickness absence during acute deterioration among those already affected. Divergent leader–employee perceptions may hinder timely support. We provide practical recommendations for organizations. Full article

Background/Objectives: We have established a robust, cell-based high-throughput screening platform capable of identifying SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors within a BSL-2 facility. Methods: Using a curated compound library, we conducted a screening campaign that led to the discovery of potent viral entry inhibitors active in both pseudoviral and infectious SARS-CoV-2 inhibition assays. Results: Among those, Hit-1 exhibited submicromolar antiviral activity across all tested SARS-CoV-2 strains, including the highly transmissible Omicron subvariants. Biophysical binding assays confirmed that Hit-1 and related compounds directly engage the prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins of both authentic WA1/2020 and Omicron viral strains. To elucidate potential binding orientations and interactions of the hit compounds with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, molecular docking studies were performed targeting two putative binding sites. Conclusions: Preliminary structure–activity relationship studies identified a promising subset of drug-like 7,8-dihydropyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidine-based inhibitors with potential for further development as novel therapeutic agents aimed at blocking viral entry and thereby preventing or mitigating SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among these, compound 13 stands out due to its superior in vitro potency and favorable pharmacokinetic properties, positioning it as a strong candidate for in vivo efficacy evaluation. Full article

Mining articulated vehicles (MAVs) are widely used as primary transportation equipment in both underground and open-pit mines. These include various machines such as Load–Haul–Dump machines and mining trucks. Path tracking control for MAVs has been an important research topic. Most current research focuses on path tracking control during forward driving. However, there are relatively limited studies on reverse path tracking control. Reversing plays a crucial role in the operation of MAVs. Nevertheless, existing methods typically use the center of the front axle as the control point; therefore, the positioning system is usually installed at the front axle. In practice, however, this means the positioning system is actually located at the rear axle during reverse operations. While it is theoretically possible to infer the position and orientation of the front axle from the rear axle, a strong nonlinear relationship exists between the motion states of the front and rear axles, which introduces significant errors in the system. As a result, these existing methods are not suitable for reverse driving conditions. To address this issue, this paper proposes a nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) method for path tracking during mining-articulated vehicle (MAV) reverse operations. This method innovatively reconstructs the reverse-motion model by selecting the center of the rear axle as the control point, effectively addressing the instability issues encountered in traditional control methods during reverse maneuvers without requiring additional positioning devices. A comparative analysis with other control strategies, such as NMPC for forward driving, reverse NMPC using the front axle model, and reverse linear model predictive control (LMPC), reveals that the proposed NMPC method achieves excellent control accuracy. Displacement and heading error amplitudes do not exceed 0.101 m and 0.0372 rad, respectively. The maximum solution time per control period is 0.007 s. In addition, as the complexity of the reverse path increases, it continues to perform excellently. Simulation results show that as the curvature of the U-shaped curve increases, the proposed NMPC method consistently maintains high accuracy under various operational conditions. Full article

Stereolithography (SLA) is a 3D printing process in which liquid resin is cured selectively using ultraviolet light; it is dominantly used for rapid tooling and prototyping. This work aims to identify, investigate, and maximize the influence of process parameters such as layer thickness, build orientation, and exposure time on the mechanical performance of biomedical materials through the Taguchi method using masked stereolithography (MSLA). It was found that layer thickness has an inverse relationship with component strength, and the mechanical characteristics are most affected by the vertical build orientation. The improved parameter resulted in an increase of 9.26 percent in tensile, 5.93 percent in flexural, and 17.89 percent in impact strength compared to the average experimental strength. Additionally, an empirical regression model linking strength and process variables was developed. Full article

80 years of Chilean rock art research, from its early descriptive stages in the 1940s to the present-day integration of relational ontologies, archaeometric techniques, and interdisciplinary perspectives, is reviewed. 562 publications are analysed, covering four major regions: the Arid North, Semi-Arid North, South-Central, and Southernmost Chile. Drawing from a systematically constructed corpus, we trace the evolution of research questions, theoretical orientations, and methodologies over time, with attention to regional trends and institutional dynamics. Results reveal a gradual shift from typological classification toward more complex approaches addressing mobility, landscape, coloniality, visual agency, and human/non-human relationships. The Arid North emerges as the primary centre of innovation, while southern regions remain in exploratory stages despite recent advances. Comparison with global research trajectories shows how Chile’s situated approaches—marked by decentralisation, theoretical pluralism, and critical reflection—contribute to decolonial and southern perspectives in rock art studies. Rather than reproducing hegemonic models, Chilean scholarship offers alternative epistemologies rooted in context-specific materiality and historical processes. The review highlights the potential of Chilean rock art research to expand the theoretical and methodological horizons of the discipline, positioning it as a fertile field for dialogue with contemporary archaeology and global visual studies. Full article

Zero-sum beliefs about human–nature relations represent a relatively understudied psychological construct that can shape prosocial behaviours directed toward both the natural environment and humans. Yet, little is known about the individual difference factors that contribute to these beliefs. This study investigates whether Need for Cognition, Tolerance of Ambiguity, and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) predict zero-sum beliefs about the human–nature relationship (ZSB-NH). A cross-sectional, online survey (N = 355 Australians, M_Age = 52.77) assessed Need for Cognition, Tolerance of Ambiguity, SDO, and ZSB-NH, with hierarchical multiple regression revealing that together, Need for Cognition, Tolerance of Ambiguity, and SDO explained 29.9% of the variance in ZSB-NH. However, only SDO, and specifically SDO-Anti-Egalitarianism, significantly predicted ZSB-NH, with a positive and large effect. Need for Cognition and Tolerance of Ambiguity were not significant predictors of ZSB-NH, despite significant negative correlations with ZSB-NH, highlighting the importance of multivariate research to reveal the true effects of these predictors. The findings contribute to the limited research on ZSB-NH, suggesting that interventions should target hierarchical attitudes to influence zero-sum beliefs about the human relationship with nature. Full article

Rapid and uncoordinated urban expansion in arid oasis city clusters intensifies land use conflicts and ecological pressure, threatening regional sustainability. This study investigates the Urban Agglomeration on the Northern Slopes of the Tianshan Mountains (UANSTM) in Xinjiang, northwestern China—an arid region urban cluster. A multi-source spatial data framework was established to delineate urban built-up areas and to construct land use efficiency (LUE) indicators, thereby facilitating an integrated analysis of the spatial coupling between urban expansion intensity (UEI) and LUE from 2000 to 2020. The results indicate that: (1) The urban built-up area expanded from 322 km² to 1096 km², shifting northward and northwestward, producing fragmented and decentralized patterns; (2) LUE improved but exhibited clear spatial disparities. Core cities like Urumqi showed strong synergy between rapid expansion and rising efficiency, whereas peripheral cities such as Wusu expanded quickly without corresponding efficiency gains, reflecting evident trade-offs; (3) The relationship between UEI and LUE exhibited a nonlinear evolution—trade-offs dominated during 2000–2005, synergy strengthened from 2005 to 2015, and trade-offs resurged again after 2015.These findings reveal the cyclical vulnerability of arid region urbanization and highlight the effectiveness of the proposed framework for diagnosing spatial mismatches and guiding compact, efficiency-oriented urban development toward long-term sustainability. Full article

Background: The distal oblique bundle (DOB) of the interosseous membrane (IOM) has been recognized as an important stabilizer of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ). However, its prevalence, morphology, and distal attachments—particularly its relationship to the articular disc and the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon sheath—remain inconsistently described. Clarifying these anatomical details is essential for understanding DRUJ stability and guiding surgical reconstruction. Methods: The distal IOM was examined in 48 specimens from 24 embalmed Korean cadavers. In 46 dissected specimens, the presence, morphology, and attachment sites of distal interosseous structures were documented, and attachment levels were measured. In 38 specimens, attachment to the articular disc was assessed. In addition, serial transverse sections from one cadaver were analyzed to confirm three-dimensional relationships. Results: Two morphological patterns were identified: a distinct DOB (21/46, 45.7%) and, when absent, a membranous thickening of the distal IOM (25/46, 54.3%). The mean attachment level was 39.1 ± 9.7 mm for the DOB and 25.4 ± 4.8 mm for the membranous thickening. Both structures assumed an oblique orientation, fanning palmarly toward the capsule and articular disc and dorsally toward the ECU tendon sheath and dorsal septum. In 26 of 38 specimens (68.4%), these structures attached to the proximal palmar portion of the articular disc. Serial transverse sections confirmed this oblique configuration, linking palmar and dorsal stabilizers of the DRUJ. Conclusions: The distal IOM consistently forms specialized structures—either a DOB or a membranous thickening—that integrate with the triangular fibrocartilage complex. By bridging palmar and dorsal stabilizers, these structures contribute to joint congruency and load transfer during forearm rotation. A refined anatomical understanding of these patterns provides clinically relevant insights for surgical preservation or reconstruction, with the potential to improve outcomes in patients with chronic DRUJ instability. Full article

The mesh size significantly affects the accuracy and computational efficiency of finite-element analysis (FEA) simulations. This study investigates mesh regularization to mitigate mesh dependency, align numerical results with experimental data, and optimize the computational time for carbon/epoxy composites. Mesh regularization was implemented using the ^∗MAT_ADD_GENERALIZED_DAMAGE (MAGD) model in LS-DYNA, which incorporates a scaling factor based on the ply orientation and stress triaxiality to adjust the material failure criterion. To address the limitations of trial-and-error methods for determining scaling factors, four analytical models were developed to predict these factors as functions of element size. These predictions were validated against experimentally derived scaling factors for unidirectional carbon/epoxy composites across three ply orientations (0°, 45°, and 90°) and three stress triaxiality conditions (tension, compression, and shear) using mesh sizes ranging from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. The scaling factor effectively reduced the mesh dependency in the tested configurations. A clear relationship between ply orientation and mesh regularization was established; however, no definitive correlation was observed with stress triaxiality. Among the theoretical approaches, the stress degradation model yielded the most consistent predictions, although discrepancies with the experimental results indicate the need for further refinement. This study proposes integrating scaling factors into a material model as a practical approach to mesh regularization for orthotropic materials and evaluates existing theoretical models for predicting these factors. Full article

Minimum wage changes have long influenced labour market debates, raising interest in their effects on youth workers and on policies that aim to reduce wage disparities while fostering sustainable economic growth. This article examines the relationship between minimum wage adjustments and youth unemployment in five CEE countries: Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Institutional arrangements related to the minimum wage are complex and the study outlines both potential benefits and risks for inexperienced employees. A fixed-effects panel regression over 2010–2024 is employed, with the econometric model implemented in Python (version 3.11) to assess the impact of minimum wage increases on youth unemployment. The variables considered are minimum wage levels, youth unemployment, labour productivity, inflation, GDP per capita and NEET rate. The results reveal a positive and statistically significant relationship, suggesting a trade-off between higher minimum wages and youth opportunities in the region. However, the impact varies depending on each country’s institutional context. Moreover, market-oriented policies and inclusive institutions are essential for achieving a sustainable balance between income protection and employment opportunities. Overall, the article contributes to developing context-specific labour market policies within the framework of sustainable development, stressing the importance of wage-setting institutions in promoting resilient and inclusive employment. Full article