Functional Performance Research Articles

High-entropy assisted capacitive energy storage in relaxor ferroelectrics by chemical short-range order

Next-generation advanced high/pulsed power capacitors rely heavily on dielectric ceramics with high energy storage performance. Although high entropy relaxor ferroelectric exhibited enormous potential in functional materials, the chemical short-range order, which is a common phenomenon in high entropy alloys to modulate performances, have been paid less attention here. We design a chemical short-range order strategy to modulate polarization response under external electric field and achieve substantial enhancements of energy storage properties, i.e. an ultrahigh energy density of ~16.4 J/cm3 with markedly improved efficiency ~90% at an electric field of 85 kV/mm in Nb doped (Bi0.2Na0.2K0.2La0.2Sr0.2) TiO3 system. Atomic-scale scanning transmission electron microscopy observations show that Nb exhibits a chemical short-range order structure, with Nb enriched regions displaying ultrasmall polar nanoregions and more flexible polarization configurations, which is conducive to achieving high maximum polarization and low residual polarization. Moreover, refined grain size of ~0.25μm, suppressed oxygen vacancies and enhanced bandwidth contribute to a high breakdown field strength. These collective factors result in exceptionally high energy storage density and efficiency. This short-range order strategy is expected to enhance the functional performances in other high entropy relaxor ferroelectrics.

Defective Mammary Epithelial Outgrowth in Transgenic EKAREV–NLS Mice: Correction via Estrogen Supplementation and Genetic Background Modification

Fluorescent biosensors offer a powerful tool for tracking and quantifying protein activity in living systems with high temporospatial resolution. However, the expression of genetically encoded fluorescent proteins can interfere with endogenous signaling pathways, potentially leading to developmental and physiological abnormalities. The EKAREV-NLS mouse model, which carries a FRET-based biosensor for monitoring extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity, has been widely utilized both in vivo and in vitro across various cell types and organs. In this study, we report a significant defect in mammary epithelial development in EKAREV-NLS C57BL/6J female mice. Our findings reveal that these mice exhibit severely impaired mammary epithelial outgrowth, linked to systemic defects including disrupted estrous cycling, impaired ovarian follicle maturation, anovulation, and reduced reproductive fitness. Notably, estrogen supplementation was sufficient to enhance mammary epithelial growth in the EKAREV-NLS C57BL/6J females. Furthermore, outcrossing to the ICR genetic background fully restored normal mammary epithelial outgrowth, indicating that the observed phenotype is dependent on genetic background. We also confirmed the functional performance of the biosensor in hormone-supplemented and outcrossed tissues through time-lapse imaging of primary mammary epithelial cells. Our results underscore the critical need for thorough characterization of biosensor-carrying models before their application in specific research contexts. Additionally, this work highlights the influence of hormonal and genetic factors on mammary gland development and emphasizes the importance of careful consideration when selecting biosensor strains for mammary studies.

Controllable properties of NiO nanostructures fabricated by plasma assisted-chemical vapor deposition.

An original plasma assisted vapor phase route is proposed for the low-temperature fabrication of supported NiO nanostructures on conductive glasses. The sole deposition time variation enables to tailor material properties, modulating, in turn, the system wettability and functional performances in the photodegradation of recalcitrant pollutants.

PROVIDING DURABLE, SAFE, AND QUIET HIGHWAYS

Most pavement design and construction specifications do not adequately define the pavement functional surface characteristics that are important to highway users. The result is that sometimes completed highway projects do not meet user expectations. Currently, most specifications address only smoothness (ride quality), whereas other desirable surface characteristics such as durability, and surface texture [friction (safety) and noise (environment)] are not often specifically addressed. The purpose of this paper is to look primarily at the functional characteristics of paved highway surfaces. First, functional performance will be described. Secondly, the individual surface characteristics affecting functional performance will be discussed with emphasis on pavement texture which has a major effect on friction (safety) and noise (environment). Next, recent innovative techniques and equipment to measure and evaluate these characteristics will be explained. Safety efforts underway both internationally and in the U.S. will be addressed. Finally, examples of the best practices will be described. Consideration of these factors by the engineering profession will help ensure that the highway user expectations are met on completed projects by providing durable, safe and quiet highways.

Kinetics During the Tuck Jump Assessment and Biomechanical Deficits in Female Athletes 12 Months After ACLR Surgery.

Residual interlimb deficits after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) can lead to functional maladaptation and increase the risk of reinjury. The tuck jump assessment (TJA) may offer a more effective evaluation of ACLR status as compared with traditional tasks owing to increased risk of altered landing mechanics, asymmetrical landing, and increased knee valgus attributed to the cyclical nature of the task. However, it remains unclear whether altered TJA kinetics resolve over time or persist through return-to-play phases of rehabilitation. To examine longitudinal kinetics, asymmetries, and functional performance deficits during TJA at 9 and 12 months after ACLR in female athletes at high risk of reinjury. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Female athletes (ACLR, n = 24; controls, n = 19; total, N = 43) performed a single trial of TJA on dual-force plates at 2 time points. The ACLR group (mean ± SD age, 16.8 ± 1.9 years) was tested at 9 and 12 months after surgery, and the control group (16.5 ± 3.6 years) was tested at similar time points. All athletes participated in similar sports and had comparable activity levels. Discrete time point analysis and statistical parametric mapping were used to identify deficits within each group. At 9 months after surgery, the ACLR group exhibited significant interlimb differences in all kinetic variables (P < .05), which persisted at 12 months with only small reductions in magnitude. As compared with controls, the ACLR group demonstrated a persistent offloading strategy in the involved limb by exhibiting larger interlimb asymmetries for a range of kinetic variables and a greater vertical ground-reaction force in the uninvolved limb during most of the stance phase at both time points (P < .001). Distinct differences in functional performance of TJA were evident at both time points, characterized by lower peak vertical ground-reaction force, peak center of mass displacement, and relative vertical leg stiffness and longer ground contact times (P < .001). This study revealed that young female athletes after ACLR exhibit persistent interlimb deficits and functional maladaptations up to 12 months after surgery. The TJA identified significant biomechanical impairments to both limbs, resulting in asymmetrical loading and altered movement strategies as compared with healthy controls. Despite some improvements, athletes with ACLR continued to demonstrate offloading to the uninvolved limb, indicating incomplete neuromuscular recovery.

Infantry training outcomes: are they improved with an initial reduction in load carriage mass and additional sprint intensity exercise?

IntroductionInfantry is a physically demanding trade that is associated with elevated rates of musculoskeletal injury. A 17-week longitudinal intervention assessed the effect of a progressive increase in load carriage mass...

Streamlining Human Resources through Blockchain HR Technology: A Critical Perspective

Technology changes at a fast pace, attracting global attention across industries, including human resource management. One of the innovations that can revolutionize human resources (HR) is blockchain technology, which uses smart contracts in recruitment, payroll management, employee administration, and more. This article aims to evaluate the influence of blockchain HR technology in the performance of HR management functions by examining earlier studies and documentary evidence. It highlights the challenges faced in the use of this recent technology for sustainability through qualitative research methods. Through document analysis, 45 papers were examined from Scopus, Web of Science, and reports from various credible sources, based on set criteria. Findings showed that blockchain technology significantly affects HR management functions. However, challenges were identified in implementing HR technology. Further studies should be conducted across more industries with quantitative validation of their results.

Supplementation with Complex Phytonutrients Enhances Rumen Barrier Function and Growth Performance of Lambs by Regulating Rumen Microbiome and Metabolome

Complex phytonutrients (CPS) have attracted extensive interest due to their anti-inflammatory effects. This investigation focused on the impact of CPS on rumen health in lambs on high-concentrate diets, emphasizing growth performance, ruminal fermentation, epithelial barrier integrity, ruminal metabolism, and microbial communities. A total of 54 lambs, 3 months old and with a 30.42 ± 0.54 kg body weight, were randomly assigned to three treatment groups, with six replicates per treatment and three lambs per replicate. The lambs received a basal diet (the ratio of concentrate to forage was 75:25) without CPS supplementation (CON) or with the inclusion of 2.5 g/kg (CPS2.5) or 5.0 g/kg CPS (CPS5.0) for a total of 60 days. The CPS groups exhibited increased growth performance and improved rumen fermentation parameters. Mechanistically, CPS enhanced rumen epithelial barrier function, thereby lowering inflammation and inhibiting the overactivation of the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway, and the effect of CPS5.0 was better than that of CPS2.5. Notably, CPS5.0 could optimize the composition of rumen microbiota and increase the levels of Ursolic acid and other metabolites. The strong associations between rumen bacteria and health-related indicators and differential metabolites were further highlighted. Our findings suggest that adding CPS to lambs’ diets has widespread positive impacts, including improved growth performance, reduced inflammation and mRNA relative expression of apoptosis-related genes, enhanced barrier function, and beneficial changes in the rumen microbiome and metabolite profiles.

Mental fatigue increases perception of effort but does not compromise the inhibitory control of football referees during a match simulation physical task.

Executive functioning (EF) in referees is associated with their decision-making during a match and can be affected by mental fatigue (MF), a psychobiological state induced by prolonged periods of cognitive activity or high cognitive demand within a short timeframe. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of MF on EF and the perception of effort during a physical task for football referees. Twelve male professional football referees were recruited (32±7.3years; 1.75±0.06cm; 85±13.32kg; 41.4±5.92mLkg-1min-1 VO2max), visiting the laboratory on three occasions: one for characterization and familiarization and two experimental manipulations: high cognitive load (MF) and low cognitive load. After manipulations, they performed a physical task designed to replicate the physical demands of an official match. During the physical task, executive functioning was tested with a reaction time task and the ratings of perceived effort were assessed using subjective scales. The results revealed no effect of MF on response time performance (p=0.395). However, higher perceptions of effort were observed in the high cognitive load condition (p=0.018), which may impact physical performance. Despite the alteration in the perception of effort due to mental fatigue, executive function performance of football referees remained unimpaired.

A Graph Neural Network-Based Approach to XANES Data Analysis.

The determination of three-dimensional structures (3D structures) is crucial for understanding the correlation between the structural attributes of materials and their functional performance. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) is an indispensable tool to characterize the atomic-scale local 3D structure of the system. Here, we present an approach to simulate XANES based on a customized 3D graph neural network (3DGNN) model, XAS3Dabs, which takes directly the 3D structure of the system as input, and the inherent relation between the fine structure of spectrum and local geometry is considered during the model construction. It turns out to be faster than the traditional XANES fitting method when the simulation approach and XANES optimization algorithm are combined to fit the 3D structure of the given system. The geometric features of the system are included in the weighted message passing block of XAS3Dabs and their importance is investigated. XAS3Dabs model demonstrates superior accuracy in XANES prediction compared to most machine learning models. By extracting graphs constituted by edges related to the absorbing atom, our model reduces redundant information, thereby not only enhancing the model's performance but also improving its robustness across different hyperparameters. XAS3Dabs model can be generalized to simulate the spectra for the systems with the absorber having the designed absorption edge so as to meet the expectations of online data processing. The method is expected to be the key part of the online 3D structure analysis framework for the XAS-related beamlines of high-energy photon source (HEPS) now under construction.

Prognosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) often exhibit severe respiratory problems and significant pulmonary dysfunction during school age and adulthood. Exercise tests show a decline in cardiopulmonary function and physical performance in children with BPD, who also have a higher incidence of pulmonary hypertension. These children generally perform poorly in terms of intelligence, language, and motor development. As they age, the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders increases, and health-related quality of life is also affected. This article reviews the prognosis of the respiratory system, physical capacity, cardiovascular system, nervous system, and health-related quality of life in children with BPD, aiming to improve the management of these patients and enhance their subsequent quality of life.

Feasibility of Group Telerehabilitation for Older Adults: A Quality Improvement Project

A growing body of evidence suggests group rehabilitation may empower patients to achieve functional goals by leveraging social connectivity. From previous work, we adapted an in-person group for older Veterans to a telerehabilitation group called Fit for Life. The current quality improvement project aimed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing Fit for Life. Eligible Veterans lived in the community and were at risk for falls or hospitalization per functional performance measures. We used convergent parallel mixed methods approach in the evaluation. Eighteen Veterans ≥55 years old (all male, mean 77 years, 39% rural) received a referral to Fit for Life, two did not participate. We analyzed and integrated adaptations posed by clinicians and Veterans in real-time to enhance access to and participation in Fit for Life. Future work will explore clinical effectiveness, tools to identify patients most likely to benefit, and care delivery structures that integrate telerehabilitation groups for older Veterans.

Potential of Trilayered Gelatin/Polycaprolactone Nanofibers for Periodontal Regeneration: An In Vitro Study

Over the past few years, biomaterial-based periodontal tissue engineering has gained popularity. An ideal biomaterial for treating periodontal defects is expected to stimulate periodontal-derived cells, allowing them to contribute most efficiently to tissue reconstruction. The present study focuses on evaluating the in vitro behavior of human periodontal ligament-derived stromal cells (hPDL-MSCs) when cultured on gelatin/Polycaprolactone prototype (GPP) and volume-stable collagen matrix (VSCM). Cells were cultured onto the GPP, VSCM, or tissue culture plate (TCP) for 3, 7, and 14 days. Cell morphology, adhesion, proliferation/viability, the gene expression of Collagen type I, alpha1 (COL1A1), Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), Periostin (POSTN), Cementum protein 1 (CEMP1), Cementum attachment protein (CAP), Interleukin 8 (IL-8) and Osteocalcin (OCN), and the levels of VEGF-A and IL-8 proteins were investigated. hPDL-MSCs attached to both biomaterials exhibited a different morphology compared to TCP. GPP exhibited stronger capabilities in enhancing cell viability and metabolic activity compared to VSCM. In most cases, the expression of all investigated genes, except POSTN, was stimulated by both materials, with GPP having a superior effect on COL1A1 and VEGF-A, and VSCM on OCN. The IL-8 protein production was slightly higher in cells grown on VSCM. GPP also exhibited the ability to absorb VEGF-A protein. The gene expression of POSTN was promoted by GPP and slightly suppressed by VSCM. In summary, our findings indicate that GPP electrospun nanofibers effectively promote the functional performance of PDLSCs in periodontal regeneration, particularly in the periodontal ligament and cementum compartment.

Peptidisc-Assisted Hydrophobic Clustering Toward the Production of Multimeric and Multispecific Nanobody Proteins.

Multimerization is a powerful engineering strategy for enhancing protein structural stability, diversity and functional performance. Typical methods for clustering proteins include tandem linking, fusion to self-assembly domains and cross-linking. Here we present a novel approach that leverages the Peptidisc membrane mimetic to stabilize hydrophobic-driven protein clusters. We apply the method to nanobodies (Nbs), effective substitutes to traditional antibodies due to their production efficiency, cost-effectiveness and lower immunogenicity, and we demonstrate the formation of multimeric assemblies termed "polybodies" (Pbs). Starting with Nbs directed against the green fluorescent protein (GFP), we produce Pbs that display an increased affinity for GFP due to the avidity effect. The benefit of this increased avidity in affinity-based assays is demonstrated with Pbs directed against the human serum albumin. Using the same autoassembly principle, we produce bispecific and auto-fluorescent Pbs, validating our method as a versatile engineering strategy to generate multispecific and multifunctional protein entities. Peptidisc-assisted hydrophobic clustering thus expand the protein engineering toolbox to broaden the scope of protein multimerization in life sciences.

Neuroimaging Correlates of 3 Distinct Physical-Cognitive Phenotypes in Cognitively Normal Older Adults: The Gothenburg H70 Cohort Study.

Individuals aged 70 and older frequently experience an increased risk of deficits in both physical and cognitive functions. However, the natural progression and interrelationship of these deficits, as well as their neurologic correlates, remain unclear. We aimed to classify the data-driven physical-cognitive phenotypes and then investigate their associations with neuroimaging markers. This cross-sectional study included 70-year-old participants from the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort (2014-2016). Based on physical performance (grip strength, balance, walking speed, and chair stand) and cognitive measures (episodic memory, perceptual speed, executive function, verbal fluency, and visuospatial abilities), we applied latent class analysis to identify physical-cognitive phenotypes. Based on the brain MRI measurements, 3 groups of neuroimaging markers were involved-neurodegeneration, cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD), and microstructural white matter (WM) integrity. We performed multinomial logistic regressions to examine the differences between the physical-cognitive phenotypes. In total, 1,140 participants (female: 53.3%) without dementia and disability were included in the study, with 721 (female: 52.2%) undergoing MRI scans. Three physical-cognitive phenotypes were identified: an "optimal" group characterized by high performance in both physical and cognitive functions, an "intermediate" group showing a slight reduction in both domains, and a "physical deficit" group marked by a significant reduction in physical performance. Compared with the optimal group, the other 2 groups were more likely to present with vascular risk factors. The physical deficit group had higher odds of experiencing depression compared with the intermediate group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.9, 95% CI 1.4-5.9). Compared with the optimal group, the odds of presenting all 3 severe neuroimaging markers were higher in both the intermediate (aOR 3.4, 95% CI 1.5-7.9) and physical deficit (aOR 10.3, 95% CI 2.4-45.0) groups. This study highlights the variability in physical and cognitive performance among older adults and suggests that neuroimaging markers of neurodegeneration, cSVD, and microstructural WM integrity may account for these variations. Our findings indicate the potential for developing group-based strategies to prevent and manage age-related functional decline. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to deepen our understanding of physical-cognitive decline patterns.

Shape Anisotropy-Dependent Leaking in Magnetic Neurons for Bio-Mimetic Neuromorphic Computing.

Spiking neural networks seek to emulate biological computation through interconnected artificial neuron and synapse devices. Spintronic neurons can leverage magnetization physics to mimic biological neuron functions, such as integration tied to magnetic domain wall (DW) propagation in a patterned nanotrack and firing tied to the resistance change of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), captured in the domain wall-magnetic tunnel junction (DW-MTJ) device. Leaking, relaxation of a neuron when it is not under stimulation, is also predicted to be implemented based on DW drift as a DW relaxes to a low energy position, but it has not been well explored or demonstrated in device prototypes. Here, we study DW-MTJ artificial neurons capable of leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) behavior and demonstrate geometry-dependent leaking dynamics that results in repeatable, tunable LIF operation. Studying the behavior of five different device designs, we show tuning the geometry, stimulating fields and currents, and location of electrical contacts results in a wide range of neuron behavior. Additionally, implementation of an asymmetric notch allows for nonlinear pinning which increased expressivity without sacrificing leaking. The measured behavior is implemented in a simulated spiking neural network that outperforms a 1D model of continuous DW motion and approaches the performance of an ideal LIF activation function. The results show that the analog LIF capability of DW-MTJ neurons combines many desirable neuron functions into a single device, which can result in varied forms of multifunctional neuromorphic computing.

Accelerated development of multi-component alloys in discrete design space using Bayesian multi-objective optimisation

Abstract Bayesian optimisation (BO) protocols grounded in active learning (AL) principles have gained significant recognition for their ability to efficiently optimize black-box objective functions. This capability is critical for advancing autonomous and high-throughput materials design and discovery processes. However, the application of these protocols in materials science, particularly in the design of novel alloys with multiple targeted properties, remains constrained by computational complexity and the absence of reliable and robust acquisition functions for multiobjective optimisation. Recent advancements have demonstrated that expected hypervolume-based geometrical acquisition functions outperform other multiobjective optimisation algorithms, such as Thompson Sampling Efficient Multiobjective optimisation and pareto efficient global optimisation (parEGO), in both performance and speed. This study evaluates several leading multiobjective BO acquisition functions–namely, parallel expected hypervolume improvement (qEHVI), noisy qEHVI, parallel parEGO, and parallel noisy parEGO (qNparEGO)–in optimizing the physical properties of multi-component alloys. Our findings highlight the superior performance of the qEHVI acquisition function in identifying the optimal Pareto front across 1-, 2-, and 3-objective aluminum alloy optimisation problems, all within a constrained evaluation budget and reasonable computational cost. Furthermore, we explore the impact of various surrogate model optimisation methods from both computational cost and efficiency perspectives. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of a pool-based AL protocol in expediting the discovery process by executing multiple computational and experimental campaigns in each iteration. This approach is particularly advantageous for deployment in massively parallel high-throughput synthesis facilities and advanced computing architectures.

Functional performance and symptomatology of adults with skeletal dysplasia across self-care, mobility, and cognition – a cross-sectional study

Abstract Purpose Individuals with skeletal dysplasia (SD) experience physical challenges in performing everyday activities as a result of their altered biomechanics and systemic comorbidities. The purpose of this study was to objectively assess functional performance and identify symptomatology across self-care, mobility, and cognitive tasks amongst adults with SD. The secondary aim was to describe any differences in performance between individuals with proportionate forms of SD compared to those with disproportionate forms. Methods A cross-sectional online survey and functional assessment, the Functional Independence Measure, was administered to adults diagnosed with SD. Summary statistics were computed and analysed. Survey open-ended text responses were examined. Results Data was collected on 40 adults (median age 41.2 years) presenting with ten types of SD (14 with proportionate SD, 26 disproportionate SD). Thirty-nine (97.5%) participants required assistance or modification when completing functional activities. Increased reliance on assistance was observed across self-care and mobility tasks (median FIM scores 51/56 and 31.5/35 respectively), compared to cognitive items (median FIM score 34.5/35). Up to 50% of participants reported experiencing pain, fatigue, and/or other symptoms during self-care and mobility tasks. These symptoms were more prevalent when completing self-care activities at home and when mobilising in the community. Participants with proportionate forms of skeletal dysplasia demonstrated higher levels of independence in upper body dressing, toileting, and bed/chair/wheelchair transfers, whereas participants with disproportionate forms had higher scores in eating and grooming tasks. Conclusions Adults with SD demonstrated functional challenges and symptomatology associated with activities of daily living. Overall, there are minimal differences in FIM scores between individuals with proportionate forms of SD and those with disproportionate forms. Use of assistive equipment, modifications, and allowing extra time with tasks may improve independence amongst this population group.

The supply of branched-chain amino acids and branched-chain keto acids alter lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in primary bovine hepatocytes.

Fatty liver impairs liver function and reduces productivity in dairy cows. Our previous in vivo findings demonstrated that branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) or branched-chain ketoacid (BCKA) improved liver function and lactation performance in dairy cows; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of BCAA or BCKA supplementation on intracellular triglyceride (TG) accumulation, lipid metabolism, antioxidant response, and apoptosis in hepatocytes. Treatments were: control (CON): customized medium with amino acids, volatile fatty acids, fatty acids (FA), glucose, choline, insulin, and albumin concentrations equal to circulating levels in cows 4d postpartum; BCAA: CON + 33% additional BCAA of plasma BCAA 4d postpartum; and BCKA: CON + 33% additional BCKA of plasma BCAA 4d postpartum. Compared to CON, BCAA and BCKA reduced intracellular TG concentration by 32% and 40%, respectively, after 72 h. BCAA and BCKA enhanced the uptake of palmitic acid, but upregulated the expression of genes regulating FA oxidation. Although mitochondrial membrane potential was reduced, oxidative protein damage (protein carbonyl levels) was decreased in BCAA- and BCKA-treated hepatocytes without changes in mitochondrial copy number. Additionally, compared to CON, BCAA and BCKA decreased the expression of executioner caspases (caspase 3 and caspase 7) and reduced the portion of hepatocytes with activated caspase 3/7, suggesting reduced apoptosis. These findings suggest that BCAA or BCKA supplementation improves hepatocyte lipid metabolism, antioxidant defenses, and apoptosis regulation, potentially mitigating the adverse effects of fatty liver. These mechanisms likely underlie the previously observed improvements in liver function and lactation performance.

Differentiated Slip Casting: Producing Variable Thickness Ceramic Tiles with Functionally Graded Plaster Moulds

This paper introduces a method that enhances the traditional slip casting technique’s potential to fabricate ceramic objects with variable thickness. The variability depends on the different filtration rates offered by plaster moulds of varying densities. Two sets of experiments are presented. They focused on identifying (1) the maximum workable density range of moulds made from plaster of Paris and (2) the range of thickness in the resulting ceramic casts. This was accomplished by creating four square flat moulds with different gypsum/water (G:W) ratios and their corresponding casts. Based on these findings, the second set of experiments focused on assembling graded plaster moulds with variable densities (G:W 1:3 to 2:1), resulting in ceramic tiles exhibiting a thickness gradient of 2 mm. These results suggest the possibility of producing double-curved ceramic objects (e.g., custom ceramic tiles or sanitaryware) with graded thickness, tailored to their desired structural and functional performance.