Search Results (2,821)

Cultural ecosystem services (CES) represent the non-material relationships between people and nature, yet their intangible nature poses challenges for spatial planning and policy integration. This study examines CES in Gauja National Park, Latvia, focusing on symbolic, sacred, educational, and cultural heritage values—types often underrepresented in CES assessments. Using a Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PGIS) approach, a map-based public survey was conducted via ArcGIS Survey123, enabling respondents to mark and describe places of personal significance. While widely applied internationally, PGIS remains rarely used in Latvia, especially in planning and municipal decision-making. This study explores the use of the PGIS method for the assessment of CES, serving as a pilot application to test its suitability and potential for integration into spatial planning. Points of value were successfully georeferenced and reflect diverse associations. While well-known heritage sites were commonly mentioned, respondents also identified personally meaningful locations, sometimes situated outside the park’s formal boundaries. The findings highlight both the strengths and limitations of digital participatory methods, including issues related to response rates, accessibility, and digital literacy. The study demonstrates that mapping CES with PGIS can offer valuable insights for inclusive landscape governance and supports the incorporation of local perspectives into spatial planning. Full article

This study addresses the problem of pumice deposits in the southern Kyushu region, which can cause landslides during heavy rainfall. To reduce this hazard, it is important to expand pumice applications and promote its use before disaster events occur. Among construction materials, this study explores the possibility of using pumice as a concrete aggregate, considering the global shortage of natural aggregates. Because of the low strength and difficulty of use, pumice must be fired to improve its properties. In our experiment, it was fired at 1000 or 1100 °C, and the performance of the resulting concretes was compared. Concrete incorporating pumice fired at 1100 °C achieved a maximum compressive strength of 54.6 N/mm² with an increase in the amount of cement, whereas concrete with pumice fired at 1000 °C remained within the 20–24 N/mm² range even when the amount of cement was increased. This difference arises because pumice has a lower strength than the cement paste, leading to material failure. Furthermore, freeze–thaw tests showed that concrete made with pumice fired at 1100 °C was resistant to frost damage. These results suggest that pumice fired at 1100 °C has an excellent potential as a sustainable building material. Full article

Sodium chloride (NaCl) was essential for making mianpi, a traditional Chinese wheat starch gel food. The production process included wheat flour/starch slurry preparation, steaming, cooling, and cutting. This study investigated how NaCl affected both the slurry’s properties and the quality of mianpi using three formulations: wheat flour (F100), a 50:50 (w/w) wheat flour–starch mix (F50), and wheat starch (F0). Our findings demonstrated that NaCl significantly altered the slurry rheology, pasting behavior, texture, and starch ordered structures. It notably reduced the slurry apparent viscosity, while it showed a divergent effect on its pasting properties. Regarding product quality, NaCl induced a measurable alteration in L*, a*, and b* values of mianpi, though visually imperceptible. F100 mianpi maintained texture except for when adding 2% NaCl, which reduced hardness. NaCl increased tensile strength (excluding F0). However, it caused irregular texture changes in F50 and F0 mianpi. Furthermore, NaCl modulated viscoelastic properties of mianpi products, as evidenced by reductions in storage and loss modulus. FT-IR showed NaCl disrupted starch short-range order in F100/F0 but improved it in F50, though Raman spectroscopy (480 cm⁻¹) did not detect this shift. Gluten protein secondary structure remained unaffected across all formulations. These results guide NaCl–starch–flour formulations in starch-gel-based foods. Full article

Measurement while drilling technology (MWD) has emerged as a pivotal approach for geological exploration. However, the accuracy of existing geological recognition models remains limited, primarily due to data fluctuations that result in high overlap rates and reduced reliability of drilling parameters. This study takes torque data as an example and analyzes the frequency distribution laws of torque responses across rock with varying strengths. A quantitative model of the frequency distribution characteristic interval is established, and a rock information prediction approach based on frequency distribution characteristics is proposed. The results indicate that torque frequency distributions for homogeneous rock exhibit a unimodal pattern, whereas those for composite rocks display multimodal characteristics. The boundaries of the frequency distribution characteristic intervals are mathematically defined as CIS = T_p|_{(dF/dT) = 0} ± σ and CIM = x_li ± 0.5∆x_i. The strength prediction model constructed using torque within the characteristic interval achieves an average accuracy of 85.3%. Furthermore, the frequency of torque within the characteristic interval enables the estimation of rock stratum thickness. This research contributes to enhancing the accuracy of rock information identification. Full article

Background: Periderm development in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is critical for protecting tubers from biotic and abiotic stress, yet the relationship between periderm maturation, canopy development, and tuber growth during the active growing season remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that cultivar-specific differences in canopy growth and biomass partitioning would influence the timing and extent of periderm structural development and tuber growth in field conditions. This study aimed to fill this gap by examining how periderm maturation aligns with canopy development and tuber growth in field conditions. Methods: Three commercial cultivars: Alturas, Clearwater Russet, and Russet Burbank, were evaluated in replicated field trials. Canopy biomass, tuber yield, and total biomass were measured at multiple stages, while periderm anatomy was assessed using histological imaging, and strength was quantified through shear force resistance from tuber initiation to vine kill. Results: Alturas exhibited the highest canopy biomass, tuber yield, and periderm strength. Phellem structure, measured by cell layer number and thickness, stabilized by approximately 100 days after planting, yet shear strength continued to increase until vine kill. Cultivar-specific differences were observed in the timing and extent of periderm maturation. Conclusions: Periderm strength at 50% harvest index provided a meaningful benchmark for evaluating skin set in early-harvest systems. These findings support more informed decisions for cultivar selection, harvest timing, and postharvest handling to reduce skinning damage and improve tuber quality. Full article

Lightweight PLA (LW-PLA) filaments enable material-saving designs in fused filament fabrication (FFF), yet optimizing their mechanical performance remains challenging due to temperature-sensitive foaming behavior. This study aims to enhance the structural strength and material efficiency of LW-PLA parts using a multi-objective statistical approach. Four key process parameters—infill density (Id), material flow rate (Mf), wall line count (Wlc), and infill pattern (Ip)—were systematically varied using a Taguchi L₁₆ orthogonal array. Tensile strength (Ts), flexural strength (Fs), and material consumption (Mc) were selected as the critical response metrics. Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) was used to aggregate these responses into a single performance index, and ANOVA determined each factor’s contribution. The optimal combination of 60% infill density, 70% material flow, 4 wall lines, and line infill pattern yielded a 9.02% improvement in the overall performance index compared to the baseline, with corresponding Ts and Fs values of 13.58 MPa and 20.51 MPa. Mf and Wlc were the most influential parameters on mechanical behavior, while Id mainly affected Mc. These findings confirm that integrating Taguchi and GRA enables effective parameter tuning for LW-PLA, balancing strength and efficiency. This work contributes to the development of lightweight, high-performance parts suitable for functional applications such as UAVs and prototyping. Full article

Background/Objectives: Frailty is a multidimensional syndrome characterized by diminished physiological reserves, reduced mobility, and increased fall risk. While clinical assessments are commonly used to screen for frailty, they may not capture minor deficits in postural control. Center-of-pressure (CoP) metrics from force plates provide objective markers of postural control, yet their role in frailty screening remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the associations between functional performance measures and CoP-based metrics to identify predictors of frailty among older adults. Methods: Eighty-three adults aged ≥ 55 years with a history of falls were classified as frail or pre-frail based on modified Fried criteria. Functional assessments (Timed Up and Go (TUG), grip strength, Berg Balance Scale [BBS], Falls Efficacy Scale [FES]) and CoP metrics (mean velocity, sway path; eyes open/closed) were evaluated. Both unadjusted and age-adjusted logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors of frailty. Results: Increased TUG time and number of falls were the strongest risk factors for frailty, while increased sway path and CoP velocity were protective. In particular, sway path under eyes-closed conditions showed the strongest protective association (OR = 0.323, p < 0.001). Additionally, fear of falling (OR = 1.078, p = 0.013) emerged as a significant psychological factor, consistently associated with increased frailty risk regardless of physical performance. Correlation analysis supported these findings, showing that better functional performance was linked to lower frailty risk. Conclusions: CoP sway path and mean velocity independently predict frailty status and offer added value beyond traditional clinical tools. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating instrumented balance assessments into frailty screening to capture nuanced postural control deficits and guide early intervention strategies. Full article

The depletion of fossil fuels and the rise of environmental concerns have increased the importance of renewable energy sources, positioning wind energy as a key alternative. Modern wind turbine blades are predominantly manufactured from composite materials due to their light weight, high strength, and resistance to corrosion. In offshore applications, approximately 95% of the composite content is glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP), while the remaining 5% is carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). GFRP is favored for its low cost and fatigue resistance, whereas CFRP offers superior strength and stiffness but is limited by high production costs. This study investigates the durability of adhesively bonded GFRP and CFRP joints under marine exposure. Seven-layer GFRP and eight-layer CFRP laminates were produced using a 90° unidirectional twill weave and prepared in accordance with ASTM D5868-01. Specimens were immersed in natural Aegean Sea water (21 °C, salinity 3.3–3.7%) for 1, 2, and 3 months. Measurements revealed that GFRP absorbed significantly more moisture (1.02%, 2.97%, 3.78%) than CFRP (0.49%, 0.76%, 0.91%). Four-point bending tests conducted according to ASTM D790 showed reductions in Young’s modulus of up to 9.45% for GFRP and 3.48% for CFRP. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that moisture-induced degradation was more severe in GFRP joints compared to CFRP. These findings highlight the critical role of environmental exposure in the mechanical performance of marine composite joints. Full article

This study provides an in-depth structural analysis of UNESCO World Heritage Apulian trulli, considering the three-layer dry-stone structure of their characteristic conical roofs. An integrated approach involving laser scanning, ground-penetrating radar, endoscopic investigation, and laboratory materials testing is used to identify and characterize the multi-wythe masonry system. A detailed finite element model is created in ANSYS to analyze seismic performance on Italian building codes. The model is validated through ambient vibration testing using accelerometric measurements. The diagnostic survey identified a three-layer system including exterior stone wythe, interior wythe, and rubble core, with compressive strength of stone averaging 2.5 MPa and mortar strength of 0.8 MPa. The seismic assessment will allow the examination of displacement patterns and stress distribution under design load conditions (ag = 0.15 g). The structural analysis demonstrates adequate performance under design loading conditions, with maximum stress levels remaining within acceptable limits for historic masonry construction. The experimental validation confirmed the finite element model predictions, with good correlation between numerical and experimental frequencies. The improvement of the overall seismic performance with the multi-wythe configuration and the role of wall thickness and geometric proportions will be taken into account. The methodology aims to provide technical evidence supporting the continued use of vernacular buildings while contributing to scientifically informed conservation practices throughout the region. Full article

Composite materials have gained prominence in aerospace engineering due to their high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios. However, their susceptibility to interlaminar damage, particularly delamination, remains a significant concern, especially under compressive loads. This study presents a detailed numerical investigation into the buckling behavior and delamination propagation in flat and curved composite panels with centrally located circular delaminations. Four configurations were analyzed, differing by geometry (flat vs. curved) and delamination interface. The critical buckling load was first estimated through linear eigenvalue analysis, while post-buckling behavior and damage progression were studied using a nonlinear static analysis enhanced by the Smart-time XB (SMXB) tool. Numerical results, including out-of-plane displacements and delamination length evolution, were validated against experimental data from the literature. The findings confirm the accuracy of the adopted FEM approach and highlight the beneficial role of curvature in increasing buckling resistance and improving damage tolerance, offering valuable insights for the design of aerospace composite structures. Full article

CRISPR-Cas9 has emerged as a remarkably powerful gene editing tool and has advanced both research and gene therapy applications. Machine learning models have been developed to predict off-target cleavages. Despite progress, accuracy, stability, and interpretability remain open challenges. Combining predictive modeling with interpretability can provide valuable insights into model behavior and increase its trustworthiness. This study proposes a group-wise L1 regularization method guided by SHAP values. For the implementation of this method, the CRISPR-M model was used, and SHAP-informed regularization strengths were calculated and applied to features grouped by relevance. Models were trained on HEK293T and evaluated on K562. In addition to the CRISPR-M baseline, three variants were developed: L1-Grouped-Epigenetics, L1-Grouped-Complete, and L1-Uniform-Epigenetics (control). L1-Grouped-Epigenetics, using penalties split by on- and off-target epigenetic factors, moderately improved mean precision, AUPRC, and AUROC relative to the baseline, as well as showing reduced variability in precision and AUPRC across seeds, although its mean recall and F-metrics were slightly lower than those of CRISPR-M. L1-Grouped-Complete achieved the highest mean AUROC and Spearman correlation and presented lower variability than CRISPR-M for recall, F1, and F-beta, despite reduced recall and F-metrics relative to CRISPR-M. Overall, this approach required only minor architectural adjustments, making it adaptable to other models and domains. While results demonstrate potential for enhancing interpretability and robustness without sacrificing predictive performance, further validation across additional datasets is required. Full article

Scaffold architecture is a key determinant of cell behavior and tissue regeneration in bone tissue engineering, yet the influence of pore size under dynamic culture conditions remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of scaffold pore size on osteogenic differentiation of porcine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (pBMSCs) cultured in a rotational oxygen-permeable bioreactor system (ROBS). Three-dimensionally (3D) printed beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds with pore sizes of 500 µm and 1000 µm were seeded with pBMSC and cultured for 7 and 14 days under dynamic perfusion conditions. Gene expression analysis revealed significantly higher levels of osteogenic markers (Runx2, BMP-2, ALP, Osx, Col1A1) in the 1000 µm group, particularly at the early time point, with the later-stage marker Osteocalcin (Ocl) rising faster and higher in the 1000 µm group, after a lower expression at 7 days. ALP activity assays corroborated these findings. Despite having lower mechanical strength, the 1000 µm scaffolds supported a homogeneous cell distribution and high viability across all regions. These results suggest that larger pore sizes enhance early osteogenic commitment by improving nutrient transport and fluid flow in dynamic culture. These findings also support the use of larger-pore scaffolds in bioreactor-based preconditioning strategies and underscore the clinical importance of promoting early osteogenic differentiation to reduce in vitro culture time, an essential consideration for the timely preparation of implantable grafts in bone tissue engineering. Full article

While size effects in composite structures have been widely studied under quasi-static uniaxial loading, their influence under fatigue conditions, particularly in the presence of multiaxial stress states and elevated temperatures, remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates the fatigue behaviour of thick-walled $\pm {45}^{\circ }$ braided glass fibre-reinforced polyurethane composite box structures under varying temperature and loading conditions. A combined experimental approach is adopted, coupling quasi-static and fatigue tests on large-scale structures with reference data from standardised coupon specimens. The influence of temperature (23–80 °C) and multiaxial shear–compression loading is systematically evaluated. The results demonstrate a significant temperature-dependent decrease in compressive strength and fatigue life, with a linear degradation trend that aligns closely between the box structure and coupon data. Under moderate multiaxial conditions, the fatigue life of box structures is not significantly impaired compared to uniaxial test coupon specimens. Complementary non-destructive testing using air-coupled ultrasound confirms these trends, demonstrating that guided-wave phase-velocity measurements capture the evolution of anisotropic damage and are therefore suitable for in situ structural health monitoring applications. Furthermore, these findings highlight that (i) the temperature-dependent fatigue behaviour of thick-walled composites can be predicted using small-scale coupon data and (ii) small shear components have a limited impact on fatigue life within the studied loading regime. Full article

Degradation of power engineering steel structures requires constant monitoring of their mechanical properties to estimate remaining service life. Therefore, the current study aimed to develop a methodology that will enable for accurate determination of changes in mechanical properties of 10CrMo9-10 steel after long-term exploitation involving the Small Punch Test (SPT). Firstly, the as-received 10CrMo9-10 steel was annealed at 770 °C for different periods (1.5, 6 and 24 h) to deteriorate its strength to a level similar to its exploited counterpart. Then, mechanical properties were characterized by uniaxial tensile tests and the SPT method using miniaturized discs with a diameter of 8 mm and a thickness of 0.5 mm as recommended by the EN 10371:2021 standard. It allowed to determine a formula correlating the SPT results (i.e., elastic–plastic transition force and maximum force) with the yield and ultimate tensile strength. The β_Rp0.2 and β_Rm correlation factors were equal to 0.437 and 0.255, respectively. Finally, the exploited 10CrMo9-10 steel was tested by the SPT method. Based on the SPT results, the values of R_p0.2 = 236 ± 27 MPa and R_m = 459 ± 17 MPa were estimated, which were close to those assessed during the uniaxial tensile tests (R_p0.2 = 218 ± 3 MPa and R_m = 454 ± 4 MPa). It was shown that the application of such a relatively simple method is a promising way for determining the changes in mechanical properties of structural steels after long-term service at elevated temperature. Full article

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as a valuable tool in dentistry for producing provisional restorations with high precision and reduced costs. However, the limited mechanical strength of temporary 3D-printed resins remains a clinical concern. This in vitro study aimed to enhance the mechanical properties of a 3D-printed temporary resin by incorporating functionalized niobium (Nb) nanoparticles and to compare its performance with a conventional resin composite and a permanent 3D-printed resin. Methods: Six groups were evaluated: bisacrylic resin (Protemp), resin composite (Z350), temporary 3D resin (Temp 3D), permanent 3D resin (Perm 3D), Temp 3D + 0.05% Nb, and Temp 3D + 0.1% Nb. Niobium oxyhydroxide nanoparticles were synthesized using a hydrothermal method, silanized, and incorporated into the Temp 3D at 0.05% and 0.1% by weight. The tested variables included flexural strength (FS), elastic modulus (EM), surface hardness (SH), and color stability (ΔE). Results: The Z350 resin showed the best mechanical results. The addition of 0.1% Nb nanoparticles significantly improved the FS, EM, and SH of the Temp 3D, reaching values comparable to the Perm 3D (p > 0.05). Color stability remained unaffected across all groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that Nb reinforcement at a low concentration is a promising strategy for improving the performance of 3D-printed temporary restorations. Full article