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Experimental evaluation of the effect of openings on the structural performance of diagonally reinforced coupling beams
Abstract In some cases, it is necessary to create openings in coupling beams to accommodate utility pipes and ducts. The presence of these openings can alter the behavior of coupling beams, making their performance differ from that of solid coupling beams (without openings). However, research on the structural performance of coupling beams with openings is limited. To address this gap, three diagonally-reinforced half-scale specimens were investigated in this study, two with openings near the span end of coupling beams and one without (solid) which served as the reference. For one sample, the use of additional diagonal bars at opening corners together with short stirrups above and below the openings were investigated as an attempt to mitigate the effect of opening. The results should help design engineers to understand the behavior of coupling beams containing openings and give solution to mitigates the negative effect of openings when necessary. Based on the conducted experiments, it is shown that the presence of openings has a pronounced effect on the overall behavior of coupling beams. Adding an opening with relative dimensions of (l o /l = 0.14 and h o /t = 0.24) near the end span of the beam increased the number and width of cracks, and reduced both the beam strength and ductility by 16.25% and 20.30%, respectively, compared to the corresponding solid coupling beam. Nevertheless, reinforcing the opening with diagonal bars as well as using short stirrups in beam parts above and below the opening mitigated the negative effects of the opening presence. Specifically, this added reinforcement controlled cracking, and increased beam strength and ductility by 10.46% and 23.60%, respectively. This brought the beam behavior closer to that of a solid one (without openings). It is also found that the ACI-318’s shear capacity equation for diagonally reinforced coupling beams is conservative and needs to be modified. The later findings agree with a number of previous studies.
Dynamic kernel generation through hybrid involution and convolution neural networks for leukemia and white blood cell classification
Tracing pollution in the lives of Arctic seabirds
Circadian disruption aggravates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by activating RIPK1-RIPK3-MLKL axis in mice
Twentieth Century Reanalysis version 3 as a source of information on long-term trends (1806–2022) in lake surface water temperature changes in Central Europe (Poland)
Abstract Water temperature is one of the fundamental characteristics of the hydrosphere, determining the functioning of its various components. In the case of lakes, surface water temperature shows a strong correlation with air temperature, and this relationship forms the basis for reconstructing the thermal regime of lakes. The study uses the Twentieth Century Reanalysis (20CRv3) meteorological dataset to reconstruct the surface water temperature of seven lakes in Poland for the period 1806–2022. This approach significantly expands the current state of knowledge, particularly for Central Europe, and includes periods predating significant human impact on the environment. Over the course of more than 200 years, an increase in water temperature has been observed, averaging 0.081 °C per decade across all studied lakes. Considering the changes in water temperature in the studied lakes, several distinct phases can be observed, which generally reflect changes in climatic conditions. Based on the results of the Pettitt test, the characteristic points include the 1840s, the 1940s, and the late 1980s. Rapid warming has been recorded in recent decades, and current studies suggest this trend is likely to continue in the future. This situation calls for multidisciplinary consultation and subsequent action to develop strategies for mitigating the impact of global warming on lake ecosystems.
Impact of thyroid dysfunction and diabetes on fibrosis and steatosis stages in metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease
Abstract Metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a common metabolic disorder intricately linked to diabetes and thyroid dysfunction. Hypothyroidism, characterized by elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), may disrupt lipid metabolism and exacerbate insulin resistance, contributing to MAFLD progression. Investigating the combined impact of diabetes and thyroid dysfunction on fibrosis and steatosis stages in MAFLD is essential for optimizing disease management. This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Suez General Hospital from March to September 2024 and included 400 patients with MAFLD . Participants were stratified into four groups: Group A: 100 diabetic patients without thyroid dysfunction; Group B: 100 non-diabetic patients without thyroid dysfunction; Group C: 100 diabetic patients with thyroid dysfunction; and Group D: 100 non-diabetic patients with thyroid dysfunction. Clinical assessment, laboratory investigations, fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) scores, and abdominal ultrasonography were performed for all participants, and transient elastography (FibroScan ® ) for those with FIB-4 scores > 3.25. Significant differences were observed in the distribution of body mass index (BMI), liver enzymes, and fibrosis stages across the groups ( P < 0.001, for all). Group C exhibited the highest prevalence of advanced fibrosis (F2–F3), while severe steatosis (S3) was predominant in Group D. Hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism were associated with elevated FIB-4 scores and advanced steatosis ( p = 0.033), highlighting the impact of thyroid dysfunction on MAFLD progression. Diabetes and thyroid dysfunction can exacerbate MAFLD severity, emphasizing the need for integrated management strategies targeting these comorbidities to mitigate fibrosis and steatosis progression.
The quality and reliability of short videos about amblyopia on TikTok and bilibili: cross-sectional study
Strut and tie model for predicting shear behavior of interior RC beam column joints under seismic loading
Film cooling performance analysis of different multi-row cooling hole configurations
Research on the mechanism of walking error in large-span sludge scraper
Abstract To address walking errors such as rail-biting and derailment in large-span sludge scrapers, this study establishes a kinematic theoretical model to describe the geometric motion relationship between the scraper’s wheels and rails. Based on this model, the constraint conditions for rail-biting and derailment are derived, including the critical deviation angle and the permissible wheel–rail clearance. To better match real engineering conditions, a Δ correction factor is introduced to account for chamfers, transition arcs, and structural deviations of the wheel–rail system.An experimental platform was built to validate the model, using high-precision laser ranging sensors and rainfall sensors to monitor wheel–rail distance variations under both normal and critical states. The results show that the Δ correction reduces the prediction error of the critical deviation angle by about 91%, confirming the model’s reliability. This study clarifies the geometric mechanism of scraper walking errors and provides a theoretical basis for the synchronous control and safety optimization of large-span sludge scrapers.
Engineering of balanites aegyptiaca-derived SrO@biochar and SrO@biomass for nitrophenol removal from wastewater
Abstract This study reports a sustainable route for the synthesis of an eco-friendly adsorbent derived from Balanites aegyptiaca (Laloub) decorated with strontium oxide nanoparticles (SrO NPs) for the removal of ortho-nitrophenol (o-NP) from water. The plant extract was used as a reducing agent for the green synthesis of SrO-NPs, while the plant branches were used to prepare biomass (BM) and biochar (BC). The obtained composites (SrO-BM and SrO-BC) were characterized by XRD, FTIR, and SEM, that revealed that SrO NPs crystallinity, and confirmed the presence of functional oxygenated groups, with a uniform distribution of SrO-NPs on the BM and BC surfaces. A comparative study has been executed to evaluate whether converting BM into BC enhances its adsorption performance or represents wasted energy. The experimental results reflected that SrO-BC exhibited higher adsorption capacity of 335.57 mg/g toward o-NP compared with 234.74 mg/g for SrO-BM at optimum conditions of pH 5, 25 °C, and 0.5 g/L dosage. Adsorption isotherm models showed that the adsorption onto SrO-BM followed the Langmuir model, while that for SrO-BC followed Freundlich model with a pseudo-second-order behavior for both. Mechanistic insights suggested electron donor–acceptor interactions, hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking, and coordination bonding as governing pathways. Reusability tests confirmed adsorbent stability since they retained more than 80% of their removal efficiency after five cycles. These findings provide a green and eco-friendly route to fabricate efficient and reusable adsorbents derived from Balanites aegyptiaca with a superior adsorption potential of SrO-BC for sustainable wastewater treatment.
Unveiling interactions of spatial-temporal information in tactile motion perception
High gas-pressure apparatus for nonlinear X-ray propagation and reshaping via stimulated X-ray Raman scattering
Abstract We describe an experimental setup for non-linear interaction and propagation of ultrashort and intense x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) pulses in a dense gas. It allows one to provide high, but adjustable, target-gas pressures of up to 6 bar within a vacuum environment of 3∙10 − 3 mbar or better. The setup enables investigation of intense x-ray propagation in an optically thick medium with minimal absorption loss of the unfocused beam outside of the target. As an application, we demonstrate the amplification of spectrally-resolved stimulated x-ray Raman scattering (SXRS) in dense neon gas, where the most intense inner part of the beam is almost completely absorbed. As a result, in the inner part of the beam, the SXRS signal exceeds the residual XFEL pulse by a factor of around two. In principle, this reshaping effect allows for a spatial separation of the two spectral components, i.e., the driving pulse and the SXRS signal.
Vertical motions in clouds from EarthCare satellite and a global storm-resolving modeling
Decarbonizing ammonia synthesis plants through retrofitting novel reformer technology
Abstract Decarbonizing ammonia production is crucial for reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions; however, steam methane reforming (SMR) remains the dominant, carbon-intensive pathway. This study proposes a retrofit strategy for large-scale ammonia plants (1,268 tons/day) by replacing the conventional reformer with an advanced dual-reactor system that enables CO₂ utilization and carbon valorization. The novel configuration co-produces synthesis gas and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), integrating ammonia and CNT production in a single process. Aspen Plus simulations compare the baseline SMR process with the retrofitted configuration, assessing energy demand, feedstock consumption, CO 2 emissions, and economic performance. The retrofitted system achieves a 76% reduction in plant-level (Scops 1–1) CO₂-equivalent emissions and an 18.2% decrease in total specific energy (with a 31.5% reduction in thermal/steam duties), despite a 2.6-fold increase in methane input. At 25% MWCNT recovery, the Levelized Cost of Ammonia (LCOA) increases to $736.3/ton (vs. $308.3/ton for SMR); however, substantial co-product revenue yields a 3.7-fold increase in Net Present Value (NPV), 52% Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and a 4.5-year payback period. Sensitivity analyses support the robustness of the economic potential, confirming the viability of integrated CNT-ammonia production as a pathway for sustainable, low-carbon manufacturing.
STICformer: spatio-temporal intrinsic connections transformer for traffic flow prediction
Response surface optimization of abiotic elicitors for betalain production and antioxidant capacity in Celosia argentea cell suspension cultures
Abstract Betalains are natural pigments with diverse biological properties found in Celosia argentea var. plumosa , a member of the Amaranthaceae family. This study established an optimized cell suspension culture system for enhanced betalain production from C. argentea var. plumosa through combined elicitor treatment. Three elicitors were evaluated: 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and copper sulfate (CuSO 4 ), using response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD). Under standard conditions, maximum total betalain content (TBC) and dry weight reached 35.61 mg/L (1.95 mg/g DW) and 19.90 g/L, respectively, on day 15. The optimal formulation consisted of 2.28 µM BAP, 49.97 µM MeJA, and 6.71 µM CuSO₄, applied during the exponential growth phase on day 9. These optimized conditions achieved a 3.9-fold increase in betalain production on day 15, reaching a maximum TBC of 139.99 mg/L (7.54 mg/g DW) with biomass of 16.90 g/L. Additionally, betalain extracts from cells cultured under optimal conditions demonstrated higher antioxidant capacity than unoptimized culture extracts. These findings suggest that using statistical experimental design with combined elicitors provides an optimized platform for scalable betalain production with enhanced bioactive properties. This information will be valuable for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries requiring natural colorants with functional benefits.