Changes In Density Research Articles

Consolidation of the Anteromedial Aspect of the Tibia Is Inferior to the Other Areas in the Reconstruction of Critical-Sized Bone Defect of the Tibial Shaft Using the Induced Membrane Technique: An Analysis of 111 Serial Computed Tomography of 37 Patients.

To compare the consolidation quality between the anteromedial aspect of regenerated bone (AMRB) and the other areas of regenerated bone (TORB) following the induced membrane technique (IMT) for managing critical-sized tibial shaft bone defects, and determine the factors affecting consolidation quality in the AMRB. Retrospective comparative study. Academic Level I trauma center. Included were patients who underwent IMT with only an intramedullary nail for tibial shaft segmental defects and serial computed tomography immediately, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. Comparison were made of regenerative bone volume, density, and corticalization between AMRB and TORB. This study enrolled 37 patients with a mean age of 47.7 years (range 20-79). Twenty-eight (75.7%) patients were men. Postoperatively, the AMRB exhibited significantly more negative volumetric change than TORB at 0-1 year (-20.01% ± 25.59% vs. -13.32% ± 22.48%, P = 0.028), less positive density change 0-6 months (+197.84 ± 107.95 vs. +290.14 ± 131.74 Hounsfield unit (HU), P < 0.001) and 0-1 year (+377.51 ± 150.71 HU vs. +455.48 ± 135.04 HU, P < 0.001), and lower corticalization rate in 1 year (49.77% ± 29.42% vs. 82.27 ± 19.73%, P < 0.001). Significant factors included fracture-related infection (FRI) ( P = 0.047 and P = 0.048 at 0-6 months and 0-1 year, respectively) and longer defect length ( P = 0.032 and P = 0.020) for the negative volumetric AMRB changes; older age ( P = 0.004 and P = 0.016) for the AMRB negative density changes; higher percentage of mixed recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in graft material ( P = 0.013 in 0-6 months) for the AMRB positive density change; FRI ( P = 0.024) for the inferior corticalization rate of the AMRB; FRI ( P = 0.026 in 0-1 year), longer defect length ( P = 0.017 in 0-6 months), and higher mixed demineralized bone matrix percentage ( P = 0.010 in 0-1 year) for the difference in density change between the AMRB and TORB; higher mixed demineralized bone matrix percentage ( P = 0.023) for the difference between the AMRB and TORB in corticalization rates. The tibial shaft's anteromedial aspects demonstrated significantly inferior consolidation after IMT, especially in terms of volume at 6 months, density at 6 months and 1 year, and corticalization at 1 year postoperatively. Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Novel Lobe-based Transformer model (LobTe) to predict emphysema progression in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Emphysema, marked by irreversible lung tissue destruction, poses challenges in progression prediction due to its heterogeneity. Early detection is particularly critical for patients with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD), a genetic disorder reducing ATT protein levels. Heterozygous carriers (PiMS and PiMZ) have variable AAT levels thus complicating their prognosis. This study introduces a novel prognostic model, the Lobe-based Transformer encoder (LobTe), designed to predict the annual change in lung density (ΔALD [g/L-yr]) using CT scans. Utilizing a global self-attention mechanism, LobTe specifically analyzes lobar tissue destruction to forecast disease progression. In parallel, we developed and compared a second model utilizing an LSTM architecture that implements a local subject-specific attention mechanism.Our methodology was validated on a cohort of 2,019 participants from the COPDGene study. The LobTe model demonstrated a small root mean squared error (RMSE=1.73 g/L-yr) and a notable correlation coefficient (ρ=0.61), explaining over 35% of the variability in ΔALD (R2= 0.36). Notably, it achieved a higher correlation coefficient of 0.68 for PiMZ heterozygous carriers, indicating its effectiveness in detecting early emphysema progression among smokers with mild to moderate AAT deficiency. The presented models could serve as a tool for monitoring disease progression and informing treatment strategies in carriers and subjects with AATD. Our code is available at github.com/acil-bwh/LobTe.

Impact of low dose of gamma irradiation on thin films of Bismuth Tri-iodide.

Thin films of Bismuth Tri-iodide BiI3 were synthesized on a glass substrate by the thermal vacuum deposition technique. Films were exposed to gamma radiations of two doses 10Gy and 50Gy. Structural and optical properties of films were studied through X-ray Diffraction and UV spectroscopy both before and after the gamma irradiation. The effect of gamma radiations on microstructure parameters i.e. crystallite size and the micro-strain were studied qualitatively and quantitively. The observed increase in crystallite size and decrease in micro-strain is due to localized heating of crystallites which results in the merging of small crystallites and their assembly leading to the formation of larger crystallites as evident from X-ray Diffraction after gamma irradiation. Effect on the optical constants namely refractive index and extinction coefficient for different doses was also enumerated to throw light on the change in optical density of this material on gamma irradiation. It is observed that the refractive index n increases with an increase in the doses of gamma irradiation. The increase in optical density could be attributed either to the displacement of atoms from lattice sites to the interstitial sites or to the self-assembly behavior of the crystallites on irradiation. The absorption coefficient follows Urbach's empirical relation and exhibits exponential dependency on photon energy close to the band edge. Calculating Urbach's energy provides insight into the emergence of localized states at the energy gap's edges.

Cytotoxicity of single and binary mixtures of copper and silica nanoparticles exposed to Nitzschia closterium f. minutissima.

A large number of nanoparticles are produced and enter the aquatic environment, where they interact with each other, posing a potential threat to aquatic organisms. The toxicity of two types of nanoparticles (nCu and nSiO2) on Nitzschia closterium f. minutissima (N. closterium f. minutissima) was investigated in this study by examining changes in microalgal cell density, instantaneous fluorescence rate (Ft), and a range of antioxidant parameters in the cells. It was found that both nCu and nSiO2 showed time- and concentration-dependent toxic effects on N. closterium f. minutissima. nSiO2 could promote microalgae growth at low concentrations by providing Si, an essential element for the synthesis of siliceous shells. As the exposure time increased, both the growth and photosynthetic efficiency of the microalgae were inhibited. Nanoparticles also produced oxidative stress and caused lipid peroxidation in the microalgae. In the meantime, SOD and CAT activity were altered to protect cells from oxidative damage. Inverted biomicroscopy images showed that the microalgae enhanced their cell size to adapt to the environmental stress as exposed to 1 mg/L nCu. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed that 10 mg/L nSiO2 could adsorb nCu and reduce the toxic effect of nCu on the microalgae, while 30 mg/L nSiO2 caused mechanical damage to microalgal cells and accelerated the internalization of nanoparticles and Cu2+ in the cells.

Sex-specific effects on the heart from combined exposure to simulated galactic cosmic radiation and hindlimb unloading.

Future long duration space missions will expose astronauts to higher doses of galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) than those experienced on the international space station. Recent studies have demonstrated astronauts may be at risk for cardiovascular complications due to increased radiation exposure and fluid shift from microgravity. However, there is a lack of direct evidence on how the cardiovascular system is affected by GCR and microgravity since no astronauts have been exposed to exploratory mission relevant GCR doses. Therefore, we utilized a ground-based mouse model to determine the cardiovascular risks for space radiation exposure while the mice were simultaneously hindlimb suspended to mimic microgravity. 6-month-old male and female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to an absorbed dose of 0 Gy, 0.5 Gy, or 1.5 Gy simulated GCR (GCRsim) that comprised beams of 5 ions at NASA's Space Radiation Laboratory. Subcohorts of mice were hindlimb unloaded (HLU), starting 5 days before GCRsim until the completion of radiation exposure. GCRsim + HLU was performed over 8 hours (0.5 Gy) or 24 hours (1.5 Gy). After completion of GCRsim and HLU, mice were shipped to UAMS for long-term observation. Cardiac function was measured using high resolution ultrasound at 6 and 9 months after exposure. Tissues were collected after the final ultrasound and prepared for further analysis. Female mice exposed to 1.5 Gy + HLU demonstrated a significant increase in body weight compared to ground controls months after GCR exposure; however, there was no change in male body weights. Cardiac ultrasound revealed 0.5 Gy GCRsim decreased left ventricular (LV) mass, LV posterior wall thickness in diastole, and systole in males 6 months after exposure. In females, 1.5 Gy + HLU significantly increased LV posterior wall thickness in diastole and systole at 6 months. These changes in ultrasound measurements were no longer seen at 9 months. Moreover, at 9 months there was no change in total collagen content or density of the capillary network in the heart. Lastly, the combination of GCRsim and HLU influenced immune cell markers in the heart of female mice. These data suggest that combined simulated GCR and microgravity result in minor, yet statistically significant sex-dependent changes to body weight and cardiac structure.

Does pregnancy in adolescence increase the chances of osteoporosis among aged women? Findings from the ELSI study.

Bone mineral density changes during the life span, rising rapidly during adolescence, plateauing around 30 years of age and decreasing in later years. Life events such as pregnancy and lactation temporarily reduce bone density, and their long-term effects on osteoporosis development are still unclear. This study aimed to analyse the association between pregnancy in adolescence and osteoporosis in aged women. This was a cross-sectional study conducted with data from the ELSI-Brazil baseline (2015-2016). The sample consisted of 2634 women aged 60 years old or over with complete information for the variables of interest. Data collection was conducted through individual home interviews and physical assessments. The dependent variable was osteoporosis and the independent variable of interest was pregnancy in adolescents under 20 years of age. The association between the variables was tested using multiple logistic regression. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 32%, and the percentage of women who reported pregnancy in adolescence was 38%. After adjusting for socio-economic and health variables, an association was observed between pregnancy in adolescence and osteoporosis (OR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.09-1.73), which indicates that specific bone health interventions for teenage mothers could help prevent osteoporosis later in life. Women who reported pregnancy before age 20 were more likely to report osteoporosis in old age, indicating that pregnancy in adolescence can be a criterion for directing actions to prevent osteoporosis in aged women.

Computational prediction of novel two-dimensional tungsten nitride superconductors

Transition metal nitrides are well-known 3D superconductor materials. However, there is a lack of knowledge related to their two-dimensional (2D) counterparts, which have several potential technological applications. In this work, we predict, using an evolutionary algorithm coupled with a first-principles approach, a set of novel 2D superconductive structures based on tungsten nitride. Through a systematic process including energetic and dynamical analysis, three thermodynamically stable compositions along with metastable compounds were studied in the following stoichiometries: W4N2, W2N2, and W2N3. Their superconductive temperature (Tc) values, estimated by means of the Eliashberg superconductive theory and the McMillan equation, range from 2.3 to 21.6 K, where the highestTcvalue corresponds to a W2N3metastable hexagonal system. A systematic analysis of the structural, electronic, vibrational and electron-phonon (e-ph) properties, allowed us to recognize the variables that modulate theTcin theses systems. The superconductive behavior is strongly affected by changes in the nitrogen density of states at Fermi level, the e-ph coupling constant and the lattice symmetry. The present results aim to encourage further theoretical and experimental efforts over non fully explored superconductors in two dimensions.

Green building development utilising modified fired clay bricks and eggshell waste

The inadequate thermal insulation of the building envelope contributes significantly to the high power consumption of air conditioners in houses. A crucial factor in raising a building’s energy efficiency involves utilizing bricks with high thermal resistance. This issue is accompanied by another critical challenge: recycling and disposing of waste in a way that is both economically and environmentally beneficial, including using it to fuel industrial growth, in order to reduce the harmful effects of waste on the environment as waste generation in our societies grows. To this end, the current study sought to assess whether integrating a specific amount of eggshell waste as CaCO3 filler within bricks consistently produces fired clay bricks with desirable thermal insulation capabilities. By systematically investigating the physicochemical and thermal characteristics of bricks doped with varying eggshell content, this work demonstrates how waste materials can be repurposed to produce sustainable construction materials with superior performance. The results highlight significant improvements in thermal conductivity, diffusivity, and effusivity, alongside favorable changes in porosity, bulk density, and mechanical strength. The XRD analysis revealed that once the firing temperature rises, a high insulation feature arises due to siliceous melt formation. EDX analysis gave important insights into the impact of eggshell dopants on the physicochemical parameters of burnt clay bricks. Compared to pristine brick, CEs7% brick constructed with clay and 7 wt% eggshell exhibited a 38.7% loss on dry shrinkage, an enhancement on average pore size of 78.8%, an apparent porosity of 52.7%, a bulk density of 8.3%, and a compressive strength of 57.5%. The reduced shrinkage enhances stability, while increased pore size and porosity improve thermal insulation, making the bricks more durable and energy-efficient. In this regard, the brick containing 10% eggshell that was fired at 1100°C possessed the greatest drop in heat conductivity (i.e., 50%), thermal diffusivity (30%), and thermal effusivity (30%) as compared to the pure one. Given the aforementioned findings, these additions hold the potential to reduce the energy required for both heating and cooling buildings. This brings us to the conclusion that combining eggshell waste to create calcium silicate makes it feasible to be utilized as a thermal insulation material, paving the way for improved construction materials’ performance and sustainability.

Environmental variability across space and time drives the recolonization pattern of a historically persecuted large carnivore

Wildlife populations are not static. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect individuals, which lead to spatiotemporal variation in population density and range. Yet, dynamics in density and their drivers are rarely documented, due in part to the inherent difficulty of studying long-term population-level phenomena at ecologically meaningful scales. We studied the spatiotemporal density dynamics in a recolonizing large carnivore population, the wolverine Gulo gulo, across the Scandinavian Peninsula over nine years. We fitted open-population spatial capture-recapture models to noninvasive genetic sampling data collected across Norway and Sweden to estimate annual density surfaces and their drivers. This approach allowed us to model sex-specific changes in wolverine density and the effect of landscape-level environmental determinants over time. Our results revealed that, as wolverines successfully recolonized many parts of their historical range in Scandinavia, the relationship with spatial determinants of density has changed over time. We also found support for sex-specific responses of the Scandinavian wolverine to the environmental determinants of density and differences in the temporal dynamics of their relationships, indicating disproportionate recolonization ability and anthropogenic pressures. We observed significant changes in the relationship of female wolverine density with several determinants during the study period, suggesting still ongoing expansion of female wolverines whereas males might have already reached the range limits. These findings show that the Scandinavian wolverine population is still recovering from centuries of persecution and severe range contraction. Our study sheds light on the dynamics and challenges of recolonizing large carnivores in human-dominated landscapes across time and space.

CaCO₃ Radiata Pine Wood Mineralization: Weathering and Mold Resistance, and Effect on Mechanical and Adhesion Properties

This study explores the effects of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) mineralization on radiata pine wood, focusing on artificial weathering performance, mold resistance, and mechanical and adhesion properties. CaCO3 mineralization demonstrated significant improvements in wood’s resistance to environmental degradation, reducing color changes and inhibiting mold growth. Despite these benefits, the process showed limited impact on mechanical properties and adhesive performance. The study utilized a novel gaseous diffusion method for mineralization, which has been proven to provide effective fire-retardant protection at low weight gain. The mineralized samples used for the weathering, mold, and adhesion tests achieved an average weight gain of 15%, while those used to assess changes in mechanical properties and density 18%. The findings suggest that while CaCO3 enhances surface durability, further research is needed to optimize mechanical and adhesive properties, potentially integrating additional treatments. This work highlights the potential of CaCO3 mineralization for sustainable wood applications, offering insights into its practical implications and future research directions.

Deep Swift/UVOT Observations of GOODS-N and the Evolution of the Ultraviolet Luminosity Function at 0.2 < z < 1.2

Abstract We present Swift Ultraviolet Optical Telescope (UVOT) observations of the deep field GOODS-N in four near-UV filters. A catalog of detected galaxies is reported, which will be used to explore galaxy evolution using UV emission. Swift/UVOT observations probe galaxies at z ≲ 1.5 and combine a wide field of view with moderate spatial resolution; these data complement the wide-field observations of Galaxy Evolution Explorer and the deep, high-angular-resolution observations by Hubble Space Telescope. Using our catalog of detected galaxies, we calculate the UV galaxy number counts as a function of apparent magnitude and compute the UV luminosity function (LF) and its evolution with redshift. From the LF fits in various redshift bins, we calculate the star formation rate density as a function of redshift and find evolution consistent with past works. We explore how different assumptions such as dust attenuation corrections can dramatically change how quickly the corrected star formation rate density changes with redshift. At these low redshifts, we find no trend between UV attenuation and redshift or absolute magnitude with significant scatter in the UV spectral slope β. This data set will complement the extensive observations of GOODS-N already in the literature.

Quantitative analysis of peripapillary RNFL capillary density and thickness in patients with mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy

PurposeOptical coherence tomography angiography was used to compare the changes of capillary density and thickness of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) without diabetic retinopathy (DR) and patients with mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).MethodsIn this prospective cross-sectional study, 62, 85, and 75 eyes of normal control group (NC), DM group, and NPDR group were included, respectively. All subjects received an optic-disc-centered 6 × 6-mm fundus scan. The annular region outside the optic disc boundary was divided into eight sectors: nasal superior, nasal inferior, inferior nasal (IN), inferior temporal (IT), temporal superior, temporal inferior, superior nasal, and superior temporal (ST). The average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, average capillary density, and changes in thickness and capillary density of each sector in the annular region were calculated.ResultsCompared with the NC group, the average capillary density of pRNFL in patients with DM and NPDR groups decreased significantly (p &amp;lt; 0.001), and there were significant differences in capillary density in all sectors except the IN sector in the DM group. There was no significant difference in the average thickness of pRNFL between the groups. Only the thickness of ST and IT in DM group and NPDR group, respectively, were significantly lower than that in the control group. In addition, the ROC curve of pRNFL average capillary density has high sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing DR from healthy eyes (AUC = 0.852).ConclusionThe pRNFL average capillary density in diabetic patients without DR and patients with mild NPDR, respectively, were significantly lower than that in healthy controls, especially in the NPDR group.

Changes in Bone Mineral Density After Parathyroidectomy in Patients With Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) are prone to low bone mineral density (BMD). This study aimed to explore factors associated with improved bone health after parathyroidectomy (PTx). We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent PTx for PHPT at our institution between 2016 and 2020. Patients who had a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan before and after surgery were included. T score in the lumbar spine, femoral neck, hip, and radius were examined longitudinally. The cohort included 36 patients, predominantly White (80.6%) and female (97.2%), with an average age of 67±8ys. Before surgery, 25% were diagnosed with osteoporosis, 50% with osteopenia, and 25% had normal BMD. The mean preoperative calcium was 10.5±0.7mg/dL, and the median parathyroid hormone was 105 (75, 131) pg/mL. The median interval between the preoperative DEXA scan and surgery was 357 (134, 920) days. There was a significant improvement in the femoral neck T-score after surgery (-1.33±1.05 presurgery versus -1.16±1.19 postsurgery, P=0.016), but not in other regions. A longer time between the preoperative DEXA scan and surgery was associated with a lower likelihood of T-score improvement after surgery (odds ratio=0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.85 - 0.99). PTx improves BMD in the femoral neck of patient with PHPT. Early surgical intervention may be associated with better skeletal outcomes in PHPT.

Assessment of Attenuation in Pericarotid Fat among Patients with Carotid Plaque and Spontaneous Carotid Dissection.

Changes in perivascular fat density (PFD) and its association with inflammation have been topics of interest in both atherosclerotic and nonatherosclerotic vasculopathies. The objective of this study was to assess the PFD in patients with spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection (SICAD) or carotid atherosclerotic plaque, with and without intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH). A cross-sectional retrospective bicentric analysis of 130 patients (30 with SICAD and 100 with carotid atherosclerotic plaque) who underwent CT angiography was performed. Among the subjects with atherosclerotic plaque, 36 showed the presence of IPH. PFD analysis was performed by 2 radiologists who placed 2 ROIs to identify the perivascular fat tissue attenuation. The Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to evaluate the difference between patient cohorts. Carotid arteries with SICAD and IPH demonstrated an average PFD of -68.97 HU (95% CI, -72.11 to -65.82 HU) and -69.97 HU (95% CI, -73.00 to -66.95 HU), respectively, in comparison with patients without IPH, who showed an average PFD -77.11 HU (95% CI,-78.78 to -75.44 HU) (P < .001 for both). Conversely, no significant differences were found between patients with SICAD and those with carotid plaque with IPH (P = .324). The average PFDs in patients with SICAD and carotid atherosclerosis plaque with IPH were similar and higher than those in patients with carotid plaque without IPH. This finding suggests a shared pathologic inflammatory mechanism in these 2 conditions. Studies comparing pathologic specimens directly with radiologic images may be needed to confirm this indirect hypothesis.

P0166 Changes in bone mineral density in young patients with inflammatory bowel diseases

Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which include Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are an urgent problem of modern gastroenterology, which is associated with an increase in morbidity, a lifelong recurrent course, and the prevalence of the disease mainly among young people of working age. Extracellular manifestations in CD and UC include damage to the bone system in the form of impaired bone mineralization with the possible development of osteoporosis (OP). In this regard, patients with IBD have a high risk of developing osteoporotic fractures. Methods The aim of the study was to evaluate the absolute values of bone mineral density (BMD) in young patients with IBD. 96 patients with a verified diagnosis of IBD were examined: 41 patients had CD, 55 had UC; men -50, women - 46. The average age of the patients was 29 [25;35] years. The average age of IBD debut was 24 [19.5;29] years. All patients underwent a general clinical examination, as well as a two-adsorption X-ray densitometric examination of the lumbar spine and proximal femur on the right and left with the determination of BMD and bone mineral content (BMC). The data obtained were correlated with the NHANES III database. Results The average index of the Z-criterion (L1-L4) was -0.4 [-1.4;0.4]. The average Z index (hip neck) was -0.4 [-1.2;0.5]. The average BMD value at the level of the lumbar spine (L1-L4) was 1.175 [1.07;1.28] (g/cm2). The average total BMC was 53.49 [45.83;60.04] g. The average BMD value at the level of the neck of the right femur was 0.99 [0.88;1.09] (g/cm2). The average value of the total BMC in the same place was 24.86 [22.35;28.58] g. The average BMD value at the level of the neck of the left femur was 0.97 [0.88;1.09]. The average total BMC value was 25.75 [22.34;28.82]. 13.5% (13 out of 96 patients) showed a decrease in bone mass below the chronological age. Conclusion Despite the young age of the patient, a significant proportion of patients (13.5%) have deviations in BMD from normal values. Also, the absolute values of BMD and bone mineral content differ from the values when compared with the reference interval in the NHANES III database.

Planning for success but facing uncertainty: lessons learned from a native oyster, Ostrea lurida, restoration project in the Salish Sea

Overexploitation and degradation of water quality nearly depleted Olympia oyster stocks in Puget Sound, Washington, USA by the early 1900s. With an intended goal of creating self-sustaining Olympia oyster populations in a target region in Puget Sound, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community began reestablishing Olympia oysters at two different sites, Kiket and Lone Tree, from 2015-2017. One of our primary objectives was to quantify the biological successes or failures of our reestablished populations. Our results provide a guide for the evolution of project-specific, evidence-based restoration plans that could allow for further use of adaptive management and conservation aquaculture. Following the creation of experimental plots and restoration beds across two sites using 735 m² of shell habitat, including 245 m² of seeded cultch, we measured temporal change in oyster length and density as proxies for growth, recruitment, and survival. Significant growth was observed each year in each lagoon. Despite the known presence of brooding oysters and competent larvae in the region, we found no evidence of recruitment at either site through six years of monitoring. Survival decreased significantly each year and at each site. Thus, while we quantify evidence of growth and reproduction, we are not meeting the success metrics of recruitment or survival therefore hindering the chances of long-term success. We hypothesize that our restoration efforts are hampered by the relatively small population size within our restored areas, insufficient amounts of appropriate surrounding habitat, and lower water residence time. Our study suggests managers need to consistently monitor restoration projects due to site-specific differences and to determine if local failure is a possibility. Low survival and recruitment do not necessitate termination of projects. However, these measurements do suggest that projects like ours need to consider expanding use of conservation aquaculture as a tool or employing adaptive management by developing and implementing novel strategies to increase naturally-occurring adult populations and available habitat.

Local Equilibrium in Transient Heat Conduction

Extended irreversible thermodynamics (EIT) has been widely used to overcome the deficiencies of classical irreversible thermodynamics in describing fast transport phenomena. By employing fluxes as additional independent variables and rejecting local equilibrium hypothesis, EIT may provide a thermodynamically consistent framework for high-frequency and non-local processes. Here, we propose an alternative approach to EIT that shares the same objective but does not reject local equilibrium hypothesis. Using the rates of change of the energy density as the additional independent variable, we illustrate this approach for two typical problems of transient heat conduction: the Cattaneo-type flux model with thermodynamic inertia and the two-temperature model of energy transfer in a phonon–electron system.

Investigation of the effects of fabric structural parameters on the roughness of coated fabrics

In this study, the effects of the weave structures used in the base fabric on the surface roughness parameters of coated polyester fabrics were investigated. 100% polyester fabrics woven with different weft yarn densities in the basket, twill, and sateen weave patterns were coated with calcite (CaCO3), a widely used and economical filler in the textile coating. The surface properties of the fabrics were examined by evaluating various surface roughness parameters such as arithmetic average height (Ra), mean height of peaks (Rpm), and mean depth of valleys (Rvm). Warp yarn properties were kept constant to investigate the effect of changes in weave pattern and weft yarn density. Experimental results indicated that surface roughness values changed depending on the weave pattern of the base fabric, warp and weft directions, and weft yarn density. Overall, after the coating process, the Ra, Rpm, and Rvm values decreased in both the weft and warp directions.

The magneto-mechanical coupling of multiphase magnetorheological elastomers.

Magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) are soft magnetic composites that achieve tunable changes in stiffness and energy response in the presence of a magnetic field. Rigid particle composite (RC) MREs have been studied for decades for their potential applications to automotive dampers and robotic systems. Recently, magnetic fluid composite (FC) MREs have been developed which utilize magnetic fluids as inclusions to elastomers. An investigation into how inclusion phase affects magneto-mechanical performance may greatly improve MRE design capabilities. Here we experimentally evaluate the impact of solid and liquid magnetic inclusions on MRE properties, construct a simple model that captures the performance of diverse MRE material architectures, and demonstrate the use of the model to create material design maps relating the material structure, zero-field properties, and applied field to the elastic modulus and specific loss. The magneto-mechanical response is evaluated for three material architectures: RC, FC, and hybrid composite (HC) MREs that use solid particles, magnetic fluids, and a combination of the two as inclusions respectively. The model is developed through magnetic and mechanical energy principles, which suggests that the phase of the magnetic inclusions impacts the change in energy density during deformation. We show that the magneto-mechanical coupling factor is dependent on the zero-field properties of the composites, which allows for the development of material design maps to inform the fabrication of MREs based on desired properties.

Antimicrobial Activity of UV-Activated and Cysteamine-Grafted Polymer Foils Against Bacteria and Algae.

Surface modification of various polymer foils was achieved by UV activation and chemical grafting with cysteamine to improve surface properties and antimicrobial efficacy. UVC activation at 254 nm led to changes in surface wettability and charge density, which allowed the introduction of amino and thiol functional groups by cysteamine grafting. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed increased nitrogen and sulfur content on the modified surfaces. SEM analysis revealed that UV activation and cysteamine grafting resulted in distinct surface roughness and texturing, which are expected to enhance microbial interactions. Antimicrobial tests showed increased resistance to algal growth (inhibition test) and bacterial colonization (drop plate method), with significant improvement observed for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) foils. The important factors influencing the efficacy included UV exposure time and cysteamine concentration, with longer exposure and higher concentrations leading to bacterial reduction of up to 45.7% for Escherichia coli and 55.6% for Staphylococcus epidermidis. These findings highlight the potential of combining UV activation and cysteamine grafting as an effective method for developing polymeric materials with enhanced antimicrobial function, offering applications in industries such as healthcare and packaging.