Search Results (67,417)

The preliminary selection of adsorbents for the separation of a gas mixture based on pure gas adsorption remains a critical challenge; thus, an approximate adsorption performance indicator (AAPI) was proposed for the initial evaluation of the adsorbents to separate the biogas main constituents (carbon dioxide/methane (CO₂/CH₄)) by studying their pure gas adsorption. Three samples derived from cocoa pod husk (CPH), namely Cabosse-500 (pyrolyzed at 500 °C), Cabosse-700 (pyrolyzed at 700 °C), and Cabosse-A-700 (activated with CO₂ at 700 °C), were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for the pure gases adsorption. This study presents an AAPI evaluation, which takes into account adsorption capacity, approximate selectivity, and heat of adsorption. Adsorption isotherms indicate the ability of the CPH family to selectively capture CO₂ over CH₄, as they have a high approximate selectivity (>1) thanks to their physical properties. Changing the pyrolysis temperature, activation methods, and varying the pressure can significantly change the choice of the most effective adsorbent; Cabosse-A-700 showed better performance than the other two in the low and high pressure range owing to its presence of micropores and mesopores, which enhances the CO₂ adsorption and therefore the AAPI. Full article

Dual therapies (DT) combining integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) with second-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (2nd-Gen-NNRTIs) offer new possibilities for HIV treatment to improve adherence. However, drug resistance associated mutations (RAMs) to prior antiretrovirals may jeopardize the efficacy of DT. We herein describe the predicted efficacy of DT combining INSTIs + 2nd-Gen-NNRTI following treatment failure among Cameroonian patients. We genotyped the HIV-1 pol gene using Sanger sequencing and assessed acquired RAMs to NNRTIs and INSTIs in patients failing treatment from March 2019 to December 2023. Drug susceptibility was interpreted using Stanford HIVdb v9.5, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v22. Of 130 successfully genotyped participants (median age (IQR): 38 (27–46) years; 59.2% female), 92.3% had RAMs to NNRTIs and 1.5% to INSTIs. Prevailing RAMs were Y181C (32.3%) among NNRTIs and R263K (0.7%) among INSTIs. Among 2nd-Gen-NNRTIs, etravirine, doravirine and rilpivirine had 43.85%, 41.54% and 38.46% genotypic sensitivity, respectively. Among INSTIs, we found 97.69% efficacy for dolutegravir/bictegravir, 96.15% for cabotegravir and 92.31% for elvitegravir/raltegravir. The overall predictive efficacy of DT was lower among participants who failed 1st-Gen-NNRTI (p < 0.001); with etravirine + dolutegravir/bictegravir combination showing the highest score (43.8%). Conclusively, DT combining INSTIs + 2nd-Gen-NNRTIs might be suboptimal in the context of previous ART failure, especially with NNRTI-based treatment in low- and middle-income countries. The general data clearly indicate that without resistance testing, it is nearly impossible to use long-acting dual therapies in previously failing patients. Full article

Given the potential risks of unknown and emerging infectious respiratory diseases, prioritizing an appropriate ventilation strategy is crucial for controlling aerosol droplet dispersion and mitigating cross-infection in hospital wards during post-epidemic periods. This study optimizes the layout of supply diffusers and exhaust outlets in a typical two-bed ward, employing a downward-supply and bottom-exhaust airflow pattern. Beyond ventilation, implementing strict infection control protocols is crucial, including regular disinfection of high-touch surfaces. CO₂ serves as a surrogate for exhaled gaseous pollutants, and a species transport model is utilized to investigate the airflow field under various configurations of vents. Comparisons of CO₂ concentrations at the respiratory planes of patients, accompanying staff (AS), and healthcare workers (HCWs) across nine cases are reported. A discrete phase model (DPM) is employed to simulate the spatial-temporal dispersion characteristics of four different particle sizes (3 μm, 12 μm, 20 μm, and 45 μm) exhaled by the infected patient (Patient 1) over 300 s. Ventilation effectiveness is evaluated using indicators like contaminant removal efficiency (CRE), suspension rate (SR), deposition rate (DER), and removal rate (RR) of aerosol droplets. The results indicate that Case 9 exhibits the highest CRE across all respiratory planes, indicating the most effective removal of gaseous pollutants. Case 2 shows the highest RR at 50.3%, followed by Case 1 with 40.4%. However, in Case 2, a significant portion of aerosol droplets diffuse towards Patient 2, potentially increasing the cross-infection risk. Balancing patient safety with pollutant removal efficacy, Case 1 performs best in the removal of aerosol droplets. The findings offer novel insights for the practical implementation of ventilation strategies in hospital wards, ensuring personnel health and safety during the post-epidemic period. Full article

This research systematically synthesizes findings from mainstream authoritative journals regarding intrapreneurial capability, and redefines the concept and dimensions of intrapreneurial capability from a process perspective, but also develops a theoretical framework for the operational mechanism of internal entrepreneurial capability, following the analytical approach of “resource support—generation process—operational results”. Empirical exploration is carried out by selecting typical cases. Findings indicate that intrapreneurial capability serves as the original driving force for achieving rapid growth in internal entrepreneurship. The generation of intrapreneurial capability undergoes a process of evolution from a single dimension to multiple dimensions, and the operational mechanism of intrapreneurial capability involves both main and auxiliary lines working in conjunction. This mechanism continuously promotes rapid iterative growth within enterprises. The contributions of this study are as follows: It redefines the concept of intrapreneurial capability from a process perspective, introducing three elements the concept encompasses—internal entrepreneurial context, comprehensive competence, and innovative output. Unlike previous academic considerations that focused on a single dimension of intrapreneurial capability, the multidimensional classification proposed in this study aids in comprehensively understanding the generation and innovation output processes of intrapreneurial capability. It also constructs a framework for the operational mechanism of intrapreneurial capability for the first time, which can comprehensively address the antecedents, outcomes, and interactions among different dimensions of internal entrepreneurial capability. Longitudinal case analysis provides reliable practical support for validating the conceptual connotations and operational mechanism framework proposed in this study. This study is beneficial for both domestic and international internal entrepreneurial enterprises, especially for startups to understand internal entrepreneurial capability from a holistic perspective, facilitating a swift transition from single-dimensional to multidimensional capability development and transformation, and providing a significant reference value for creating sustainable, internal, entrepreneurial performance. Full article

The rapid development of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite navigation systems requires modulation schemes with strong anti-jamming capabilities, high spectral efficiency, and the ability to achieve precise tracking in high-dynamic environments. Traditional Binary Offset Carrier (BOC) modulation suffers from multi-peak ambiguity, leading to false lock issues. To address this, FH-BOC modulation, which integrates BOC modulationand frequency hopping, significantly improves both anti-jamming performance and spectral efficiency. Against this background, this paper proposes a comprehensive high-dynamic tracking algorithm for FH-BOC signals. (1) Based on the adaptive Kalman filter algorithm, high-precision carrier tracking was achieved in high-dynamic environments. (2) By leveraging the correlation between the ranging code and frequency-hopping offset carrier, a composite pseudo-code is generated through the XOR operation, and a corresponding composite code-tracking loop is introduced. (3) Based on code loop tracking results, the frequency-hopping moments of the subcarrier are detected, and a phase-locked loop for the frequency-hopping subcarrier is established. Simulation results indicate that the algorithm achieves centimeter-level pseudorange measurement accuracy for FH-BOC navigation signals under the JPL high-dynamic model. Full article

Innovations are complex phenomena with important impacts on firms, regions, the economy as a whole, society, and the environment. Measuring innovation is a challenging and time-consuming task with many problems ranging from the conceptual framework to data collection and interpretation. The development of the produced variety of single indicators and multidimensional metrics covers one or more innovation characteristics—inputs, stages, sources, mechanics, outputs, and impacts. While the abundance of metrics allowed measurement of many innovation aspects, it also created problems with comparability, coverage, timeliness, and reliability, making it difficult for academics, businesses and policymakers to efficiently use the information, perform correct analysis and make adequate decisions. To address this problem, this article aimed to review the literature, develop instruments for the structuring and assessment of the innovation measurements, systematize the variety of metrics, and evaluate their compliance with the requirements of users’ needs and the quality of statistical information. The literature review identified 23 innovation metrics and helped create a classification scheme with 11 attributes and a criteria checklist with seven criteria groups. The results from the application of the instrument for the identified metrics revealed that they could be divided into three groups: appropriate, needing refinement, and unsuitable, with the best ones being the European Innovation Scoreboard and Global Innovation Index. They too showed some data gaps, connected with cultural environment, sustainability, open innovations, structural changes, and regional development, thus reinforcing the necessity for further advancement of theory and methodology for innovation measurement to augment the high-quality macro-information that is readily available with firm-level qualitative data of the innovation at the place where they emerge. Full article

Brass sheets are extensively utilized in the automotive, electrical, and other industries, where an in-depth understanding of their formability is crucial for achieving optimal performance in production applications. This study investigates the influence of uniaxial pre-strains on the Forming Limit Curve (FLC) of CuZn 70-30 brass sheets, which aims to enhance their formability by identifying and optimizing key forming parameters. Adding a new variable, the impact of uniaxial pre-strain upon FLC, was our aim of this study and, consequently, the CuZn 70-30 brass sheet formability using punch-stretching tests with purpose-built tools, we experimentally obtained FLCs for brass sheets under varying levels of pre-strain (0.04, 0.06, and 0.08) applied through uniaxial tension by using Nakajima tests with purpose-built tools. The objective was to understand how specific factors such as punch parameters, punch corner radius, and strain rate impact the FLC and, consequently, the brass sheets formability. Results indicate a distinct trend of increasing pre-strain levels leading to a significant rise in minor strain capacity along the right portionof the FLC, with a comparatively insignificant effect on the left. This consistent elevation across strain paths suggests improved formability due to pre-straining, highlighting the potential for optimized manufacturing processes and enhanced product quality across industrial applications. Full article

Binocular vision may serve as a good model for research on awareness. Binocular summation (BS) can be defined as the superiority of binocular over monocular visual performance. Early studies of BS found an improvement of a factor of about 1.4 (empirically), leading to models suggesting a quadratic summation of the two monocular inputs (√2). Neural interaction modulates a target’s visibility within the same eye or between eyes (facilitation or suppression). Recent results indicated that at a closely flanked stimulus, BS is characterized by instability; it relies on the specific order in which the stimulus condition is displayed. Otherwise, BS is stable. These results were revealed in experiments where the tested eye was open, whereas the other eye was occluded (mono-optic glasses, blocked presentation); thus, the participants were aware of the tested eye. Therefore, in this study, we repeated the same experiments but utilized stereoscopic glasses (intermixed at random presentation) to control the monocular and binocular vision, thus potentially eliminating awareness of the tested condition. The stimuli consisted of a central vertically oriented Gabor target and high-contrast Gabor flankers positioned in two configurations (orthogonal or collinear) with target–flanker separations of either two or three wavelengths (λ), presented at four different presentation times (40, 80, 120, and 200 ms). The results indicate that when utilizing stereoscopic glasses and mixing the testing conditions, the BS is normal, raising the possibility that awareness may be involved. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study evaluated the learning curve for robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA TKA) performed by three experienced surgeons, focusing on procedure duration, surgeon satisfaction, and confidence. Methods: A prospective study was conducted with three senior arthroplasty surgeons, each performing 15 RA TKA procedures using the Triathlon Knee System with the Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic (RIO) System. Data on preparation, cut-to-suture, and breakdown times were collected. Surgeon anxiety levels were measured preoperatively using the STAI-6 scale, while postoperative satisfaction and confidence were assessed via a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was conducted using GraphPad Prism. Results: Of 50 scheduled surgeries, 45 were completed. The average cut-to-suture time was 1 h 38 min, with significant time reductions in robotic-specific steps as experience increased. Comparing the first five surgeries to the last five, the time for navigation hardware mounting, landmarks registration, femur and tibia registration, and bone preparation decreased by up to 30% (p < 0.001 to p = 0.025). General instrument preparation time decreased by 20% (p = 0.004). Surgeon anxiety levels dropped, indicating increased comfort with the system, while postoperative surveys showed increased satisfaction and confidence. Conclusions: The study demonstrated a substantial learning curve for RA TKA, with improved efficiency and surgeon confidence by the fifteenth procedure. These findings highlight the potential for streamlined workflows and guide training for new adopters of robotic knee arthroplasty. Full article

This study aims to assess, through individual performance, the influence of supply chain managerial competency of logistics managers on company logistics performance, taking into account the moderating effects of education and work experience. Using an empirical survey of Vietnamese developing nation logistics companies, this study applied the PLS-SEM approach for data analysis including assessments of mediation and moderation. The sample comprised 272 valid replies from a structured survey aimed at managerial personnel. The findings demonstrate that the competencies of logistics managers substantially improve individual performance, hence mediating the favorable correlation between management competencies and organizational logistics performance. The results indicate that both education and experience enhance these linkages at both individual and organizational levels. This study advances the application of RBV theory by highlighting human capital as an essential, distinctive resource that, when augmented by education and experience, enhances organizational performance. Nevertheless, this study’s shortcomings encompass a concentration on the Vietnamese logistics sector, indicating the need for future research across various businesses and geographical settings. These observations highlight the necessity for specialized education and training programs to develop managerial competencies for enduring organizational effectiveness. Full article

Iron cation impurities reportedly enhance the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity of Ni-based catalysts, and the enhancement of OER activity by Fe cations has been extensively studied. Meanwhile, Fe salts, such as iron hydroxide and iron oxyhydroxide, in the electrolyte improve the OER performance, but the distinct roles of Fe cations and Fe salts have not been fully clarified or differentiated. In this study, NiO electrodes were synthesized, and their OER performance was evaluated in KOH electrolytes containing goethite (α-FeOOH). Unlike Fe cations, which enhance the performance via incorporation into the NiO structure, α-FeOOH boosts OER activity by adsorbing onto the electrode surface. Surface analysis revealed trace amounts of α-FeOOH on the NiO surface, indicating that physical contact alone enables α-FeOOH to adsorb onto NiO. Moreover, interactions between α-FeOOH and NiO were observed, suggesting their potential role in OER activity enhancement. These findings suggest that Fe salts in the electrolyte influence OER performance and should be considered in the development of OER electrodes. Full article

The construction process of offshore wind farms involves multiple complexities, which is very complex to be scheduled manually, and the coordinating and optimized scheduling not only decreases project construction costs but also increases the construction speed. The impact of meteorological conditions on offshore wind power construction has been considered, and optimizing resource-allocation strategies under complex influencing factors has been analyzed. Then, a comprehensive strategy optimization index system is developed, which includes key indicators, such as the minimum working hours, resource-allocation-optimization rate, window period utilization rate, and cost–benefit ratio. Additionally, an offshore wind power resource-allocation-optimization model is formulated based on discrete event simulation (DES). A statistical analysis of each optimization index was performed using this model to assess the impact of resource-allocation strategies. The simulation results demonstrate that the model can not only simulate the construction process of offshore wind farms and monitor the state of wind turbines, personnel, and meteorological conditions in real time but also accurately calculate key indicators, such as the minimum working hours, resource-allocation-optimization rate, window period utilization rate, and cost–benefit ratio. This strategy effectively enhances resource-allocation efficiency during the wind farm installation phase and improves the overall construction process efficiency. Full article

Monitoring the dynamic behaviors of self-aligning roller bearings (SABs) is vital to guarantee the stability of various mechanical systems. This study presents a novel self-powered, intelligent, and self-aligning roller bearing (I-SAB) with which to monitor rotational speeds and bias angles; it also has an application in fault diagnosis. The designed I-SAB is compactly embedded with a novel sweep-type triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). The TENG is realized within the proposed I-SAB using a comb–finger electrode pair and a flannelette triboelectric layer. A floating, sweeping, and freestanding mode is utilized, which can prevent collisions and considerably enhance the operational life of the embedded TENG. Experiments are subsequently conducted to optimize the output performance and sensing sensitivity of the proposed I-SAB. The results of a speed-sensing experiment show that the characteristic frequencies of triboelectric current and voltage signals are both perfectly proportional to the rotational speed, indicating that the designed I-SAB has the self-sensing capability for rotational speed. Additionally, as both the bias angle and rotational speed of the SAB increase, the envelope amplitudes of the triboelectric voltage signals generated by the I-SAB rise at a rate of 0.0057 V·deg⁻¹·rpm⁻¹. To further demonstrate the effectiveness of the triboelectric signals emitted from the designed I-SAB in terms of self-powered fault diagnosis, a Multi-Scale Discrimination Network (MSDN), based on the ResNet18 architecture, is proposed in order to classify the various fault conditions of the SAB. Using the triboelectric voltage and current signals emitted from the designed I-SAB as inputs, the proposed MSDN model yields excellent average diagnosis accuracies of 99.8% and 99.1%, respectively, indicating its potential for self-powered fault diagnosis. Full article

Objective: This study aims to evaluate long-term physical and motor performance in children aged 3–6 years following congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) surgery, in comparison with healthy peers. While existing research emphasizes prognostic factors such as the lung to heart ratio (LHR) and liver position, few studies address physical outcomes in early childhood post-surgery. Methods: A total of 31 children who underwent neonatal CDH surgery (study group) and 41 age-matched healthy children (reference group) were assessed. The Wrocław Test and the Ozierecki Metric Scale (modified by Barański) were used to evaluate strength, endurance, motor coordination, and agility. Results: Findings indicated that children in the CDH group had significantly lower scores in physical performance, particularly in endurance and motor coordination, compared to their healthy peers. Strength differences were present but less pronounced. Conclusions: Children post-CDH surgery exhibit slightly delayed physical and motor development, suggesting a potential need for targeted physical activity programs in early childhood to support improved outcomes. Full article

Objectives: This study primarily aimed to examine the optimal amount of carbohydrates in the effects of high-isomaltulose and high-sucrose ingestion compared with low-sucrose ingestion on blood glucose levels. The secondary objective was to assess the changes in blood glucose levels that may impact golf-related performance. Methods: This study included 29 healthy male competitive golfers playing 18 holes. These participants were randomly assigned to the low-sucrose (LSUC, 30.9 g/h of carbohydrates), high-sucrose (HSUC, 44.2 g/h of carbohydrates), and high-isomaltulose (HISO, 44.5 g/h of carbohydrates) groups. They were required to continuously consume the test food during the round. Assessment items included blood glucose, golf performance, urinary urea nitrogen, subjective ratings (concentration, fatigue, and relaxation), and anxiety ratings. A main effect of the test meal of changes in interstitial glucose concentration was determined. Results: The HSUC had significantly more interstitial glucose than the HISO and LSUC, while the HISO group had a much lower decrease in urine urea nitrogen than the LSUC group. In subjective fatigue, the main effect of the test diet was observed, and the HSUC and HISO showed significantly lower values than the LSUC after 18 h. Conclusions: Compared with low-carbohydrate intake, high-carbohydrate intake during a round of golf-maintained the blood glucose levels and prevented fatigue. Therefore, this study indicates that competitive golfers need a high-carbohydrate intake of approximately 44 g/h for energy intake during a round of golf. Full article