Perfect Balance Research Articles

Footwear Pattern Making and Grading Calculations Based on International Standard of Measurements

Abstract: Footwear pattern making and grading are fundamental processes in footwear design, critical for creating shoes that are well-fitting, balanced, and aesthetically appealing. Key considerations in pattern making include accurately calculating essential measuring parameters of the last to ensure perfect fit and balance. Additionally, grading is vital for developing different size ranges from the master pattern. This research paper investigates the calculations of essential measuring points of footwear based on foot anatomy and discusses longitudinal and transverse grading factors. By exploring calculations involved in pattern making and grading according to international measurement standards, the paper aims to determine the ideal calculations and grading parameters for various footwear styles. The study examines footwear measuring terminologies and derives standard formulas by analyzing diverse techniques and standards, providing insights into best practices for footwear designers and pattern developers to achieve consistency and quality in their products.

Talent Allocation in European Football Leagues: Why Competitive Imbalance May be optimal?

Abstract Professional sports are part of the entertainment industry; as such, its business is developed based on the perceived interest in sporting events, which in turn depends on features like: the (i) degree of competitive balance that determines the uncertainty of the outcome; the (ii) concentration of gifted players in a team, whose interaction of talents on the field enhances the quality of the ‘product joint’ that is a sporting event; the (iii) joint aggregate quality of rival teams; the (iv) appeal of rivalries associated with fans’ feelings of empathy and loyalty; etc. This paper focusses on the first three points by modelling the success of team-sport competitions as the result of the overall quality, which encompasses more than the mere sum of individual talents. Sport economists and practitioners generally acknowledge that competitive balance must be fostered to protect uncertainty about the outcome and thus achieve greater interest in sport competitions by fans and the media. In this paper, we argue that certain degree of imbalance in allocation of talent between teams may be preferable – rather than a perfect competitive balance – to broaden the interest of fans on the sport events and, thus, maximise economic outcomes. The paper also examines the discrepancies across the main European football leagues in this regard.

Commuting behaviors response to living and working built environment: Dissecting interaction effects from varied supply and demand masses

Most developed megacities have experienced poly-centralization and suburbanization, leading to job-housing mismatches and negative outcomes such as increased commuting distances and frequencies. Recognizing the scarcity of structural analysis concerning the attractiveness of commuting's geographic endpoints, this study examines the diverse impact of the built environment at living and working locations on commuting flows, considering various supply-demand masses and distance levels. Utilizing a Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) model, the study highlights the importance of job-housing ratio, POI diversity, and subway station proximity in employment locations, while informal area rates and subway proximity remain significant in residential locations. A three-dimensional analysis further indicates that achieving a perfect job-housing balance in megacities remains a dream, with each area presenting unique challenges requiring tailored solutions beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. Potential policies, such as planning large residential areas in the inner suburbs and upgrading convenient infrastructure in the outer suburbs, are proposed. Furthermore, with the uncovered distinct interaction effects of built environment on commuting behavior across various masses and distances, common perceptions related to mixed-use land and the role of informal settlement, are critically challenged. This extends our understanding of sustainable urban system design and provides references for planning policies.

Biomimetic structural aerogel derived from green tide enteromorpha-prolifera: Multi-sided unidirectional freeze casting and solar-driven viscous oil spill remediation

The development of environmental remediation materials from renewable biowaste, especially for the cleanup of viscous oil spills in an eco-friendly manner, marks a substantial advancement in functional materials. This study proposes a biomass aerogel (M−MCEP) transformed from Enteromorpha prolifera (EP) in green tides for solar-driven recovery of high-viscosity oil spills. Inspired by the lamella-bridge architecture of Thalia dealbata stems, a biomimetic structure with multi-domain, long-range aligned lamella-bridge interconnections is constructed by a multi-sided unidirectional freeze-casting technique. Multi-scale interface optimization between rigid photothermal fillers and soft lamellar layers achieves multiple reinforcements, providing aerogel with a perfect balance of elasticity and strength. The multidomain low tortuosity channels and photothermal effects enhance M−MCEP’s photothermal conversion (95.2 %) and thermal conductivity (0.3517 W/m·K), reducing oil flow resistance and achieving high oil retention efficiency (>92 %). Under 1 sun irradiation, M−MCEP rapidly heats to 67.3 °C, effectively reducing the viscosity of crude oil in situ, with a crude oil adsorption rate of 1843 mL/m2 within 30 s. Moreover, M−MCEP captures emulsified oil in oil-in-water emulsions through high-speed repeated oscillations, achieving a separation efficiency of 96.42–99.21 %. Renewable resources and unique structural designs provided by nature drive the development of advanced biomimetic aerogels for efficiently remedying catastrophic oil spills.

Striking the perfect balance: Multi-objective optimization for minimizing deployment cost and maximizing coverage with Harmony Search

In the Internet of Things (IoT) era, wireless sensor networks play a critical role in communication systems. One of the most crucial problems in wireless sensor networks is the sensor deployment problem, which attempts to provide a strategy to place the sensors within the surveillance area so that two fundamental criteria of wireless sensor networks, coverage and connectivity, are guaranteed. In this paper, we look to solve the multi-objective deployment problem so that area coverage is maximized and the number of nodes used is minimized. Since Harmony Search is a simple yet suitable algorithm for our work, we propose Harmony Search algorithm along with various enhancement proposals, including heuristic initialization, random sampling of sensor types, weighted fitness evaluation, and using different components in the fitness function, to provide a solution to the problem of sensor deployment in a heterogeneous wireless sensor network where sensors have different sensing ranges. On top of that, the probabilistic sensing model is used to reflect how the sensors work realistically. We also provide the extension of our solution to 3D areas and propose a realistic 3D dataset to evaluate it. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithms solve the area coverage problem more efficiently than previous algorithms. Our best proposal demonstrates significant improvements in coverage ratio by 10.20% and cost saving by 27.65% compared to the best baseline in a large-scale evaluation.

Comprehensive study of plasma polymerization parameters on thiol-coated LDPE films for effective fibronectin adsorption targeting biomedical applications

In the realm of biomedical applications, biocompatible materials with optimized surface properties are crucial for facilitating cellular interactions. To attain the perfect balance of these properties, surface modification of non-toxic and stable bulk materials is often required. Within this context, this research aimed to improve the physiochemical and cell-responsive properties of a low-density polyethylene film. This was achieved by depositing thiol-rich coatings using a dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor operating at medium pressures, with 1-propanethiol serving as polymerization precursor. The study systematically investigated the impact of key plasma polymerization parameters, including DBD chamber pressure, treatment time, and the combination of precursor flow rate and discharge power represented by the Yasuda parameter, to identify optimal plasma processing conditions for the formation of thiol-rich coatings. To characterize the coating thickness, hydrophilicity and surface chemical composition, atomic force microscopy, water contact angle measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed. The findings indicated that reducing the chamber pressure to 10 kPa led to more hydrophilic and thicker deposits possessing a higher sulphur content. Deposition time (5 to 15 min) also significantly impacted coating thickness and surface chemistry, where long times increased thickness, but also led to a reduced sulphur and increased oxygen content because of more pronounced etching. The optimal deposition time was therefore set at 10 min resulting in the deposition of dense coatings possessing a high number of sulphur-containing functionalities. The Yasuda parameter (W/FM) analysis demonstrated optimal thiol incorporation in combination with high coating stability at an intermediate W/FM value of 72 MJ/kg. Following the determination of the optimal plasma polymerization parameters, the effectiveness of thiol plasma polymerization and subsequent fibronectin immobilization for enhancing cell adhesion and proliferation was investigated. The thiol-coated substrates were found to exhibit superior protein immobilization, because of the high affinity for protein binding of the available thiol groups. To assess cellular responses, Schwann cells were cultured on uncoated and coated samples before and after fibronectin immobilization. The results revealed a superior cellular response of the thiol-coated samples after fibronectin immobilization, showing the highest cell viability and significantly enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation. Collectively, these results underscore the synergistic effect of thiol plasma polymerization and fibronectin immobilization in promoting the cellular response of LDPE substrates, thus highlighting their potential as a surface modification strategy of biomaterials.

Regulating the microstructure and hydrophilicity of cellulose nanofibers using taurine and the application in humidity sensor and actuator

Exploring the interrelationships between microstructure, hydrophilicity, humidity response, and material stability through molecular structure design and low-cost preparation, and manufacturing sensing and driving materials with a perfect balance between structures and properties is crucial for biomimetic robots and intelligent devices. Herein, inspired by the capillary phenomenon, the cellulose nanofiber (CNF) was grafted by using taurine to form the “micro cilia” microstructure on its surface (CNF-TAU). By controlling the cilia density and symmetry, the hydrophilicity of the materials was adjusted, and the water was allowed to quickly separate from the inside of the materials, which led to improving the humidity sensitivity and stability of materials. Concretely, compared with CNF, the puncture load, tearing strength, and elongation at break of the CNF-TAU-1.0 were improved by 11.95 times, 2.16 times, and 15.6 %, respectively, and excellent tensile strength was presented. Moreover, the hydrophilicity of CNF-TAU was first weakened and then enhanced with TAU content increasing. At last, the CNF-TAU-1.0 (WCA 55.43°) was selected and blended with single-layer graphene oxide (GO) to prepare CNF-TAU/GO composite films by vacuum filtration. The results indicated that the composite film had excellent mechanical (room and high humidity), humidity responsiveness, and humidity gradient-driven properties. In detail, the CNF-TAU/GO-10 % composite film had the generated stable induced voltage (68.4 mV), the fast response/recovery time (0.3 s/0.9 s), the large max. bending angle (178.4°), and the drive cycle stability (1000 cycles). Moreover, the composite film could be applied to produce biomimetic soft robots, such as human fingers and butterfly-shaped robots.

Efficient and Ultrafast Oxyorthosilicate Scintillator by Activator Valence State Manipulation.

There is an urgent need for faster, brighter, and more controllable scintillation materials in advanced nuclear medicine, high-energy physical experiments, and dark matter particle detection. Nevertheless, the trade-off between high emission efficiency and fast timing characteristics remains a common challenge in the entire optical field. To address this issue, we develop a composition engineering strategy that involves multisite selective doping. This strategy aims to transform nearly all Ce3+ into fast-emitting Ce4+ while synergistically suppressing the electron traps. Even at very low doping concentrations, the designed Ca2+, Al3+, and Ce3+ tridoped oxyorthosilicate exhibits a scintillation decay (τd) acceleration of 20%, accompanied by a 25% increase in light yield (LY). The ratio of emission efficiency and timing characteristics (LY/τd) can be enhanced by 56%, which realizes the perfect balance of high LY and fast τd. Our work provides a method for designing efficient, ultrafast, and controllable scintillators in multicomponent systems, thus paving the way for high-resolution radiation detection and imaging applications.

Anticipating tomorrow: Future trends and predictions in Ayurveda entrepreneurship

The ancient Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, is causing a ripple effect of entrepreneurial opportunities, where the application of traditional knowledge becomes synced with modern business strategies. This article informs readers about the future path and predictions of entrepreneurship in Ayurveda. Factors are discussed which would shape the future. This is being driven largely by the increasing consumer demand for products that are more natural and holistic in the health solutions they provide; the COVID-19 pandemic is an added impetus to the appeal of immunity-boosting Ayurvedic products. Innovations in the area of technological advancements are seen globally in general and within domains of digital health platforms and artificial intelligence, which is fundamentally changing the practice of Ayurveda from a person-centric healing approach to one that is available globally. Innovations are of prime importance in meeting contemporary customer expectations and increasing the impact of the treatment given through Ayurveda. Another important factor of support is from the governmental side through regulatory support, especially the Indian government. The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Homeopathy) in India has provided every needed support in promoting research in Ayurveda, its standardization, and the quality and safety of the products. These situations are necessary regulatory frameworks that would build consumer trust and facilitate global acceptance. There is also a growing concern for sustainability and ethics in practices. There is, however, a sea change with the increasing number of entrepreneurs who have adopted eco-friendly sourcing methods and fair trade practices in an effort to make their business models indelibly associated with Ayurveda’s core principles: human beings living in harmony and perfect balance with the rest of nature. The Ayurvedic products and services market is expected to grow manifold with new product developments and growing demand from global consumers increasingly focusing on products broadly categorized under “holistic wellness.” Market expansion, hence, allows several opportunities for entrepreneurs to develop new markets and new product offerings that can cater to the perceived health needs of a broad customer base. With growth and development come challenges such as regulatory roadblocks, market competition, and consumer distrust, which are issues that need to be coped with for sustained business growth. This effectively closes the general outline for the future of Ayurveda entrepreneurship on a trajectory of growth that is both vibrant and sustainable, propelled and achieving completeness by the rainbow of innovation, consumer demand, and a pledge to wholeness in health and well-being. This suggests that Ayurveda entrepreneurship, through harnessing technological developments and reaching the standards of regulators, making sustainable practices its flagship in a world where health will become one of the most valued parts of every life, could fulfill the rich legacy handed down by this ancient science and at the same time serve meaningfully in the future of global healthcare. It provides detailed insight into an emerging area in Ayurveda entrepreneurship with great potential to bring about impactful change and growth in the years ahead.

Anion exchange membrane with enhanced alkaline stability through radiation grafting of ETFE for solid polymer electrolytes

AbstractSolid polymer electrolyte membranes are considered as the nub of many electrochemical devices. Given the climate crisis and related concerns, the evolution of new membrane materials to support the sustainable systems is inevitable. Building on recent advances with the radiation technique and polymer chemistry, herein, anion exchange membranes (AEMs), ETFE‐g‐1VIm/4VP, were fabricated through graft copolymerization of vinyl heterocyclic monomer binary mixture, such as 1‐vinylimidazole (1‐VIm) and 4‐vinylpyridine (4‐VP) onto ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a main polymer backbone without aryl ether bonds. The grafting reaction was achieved at 60°C and then followed by quaternization as a subsequent step. The effects of various reaction grafting conditions were investigated. The ETFE‐g‐1VIm/4VP AEM were characterized w.r.t the morphological and structural features. The dense surface of the grafted membranes is proved by field emission‐scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) images, which also show that the vinyl entities are clearly distributed in the prepolymer, which may lead to a continuous ion transport channel. AEMs processed from the highest graft yield showed good hydroxide conductivity at 90°C, reaching 16.9 mS/cm due to the presence of more transport sites. The same membrane has a relatively good alkaline stability, which is studied through weight percentage method and FT‐IR. Hence, we assume that the introduction of multi‐cationic moieties, pyridinium and imidazolium, contributes to the performance of anion exchange membranes and makes a perfect balance, especially the hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity. These data highlight the potential of the copolymer as an anion exchange membrane for wide spectra of electrochemical applications.Highlights AEMs based on ETFE‐g‐1VIm/4VP are developed via radiation grafting. The membrane exhibits remarkable alkaline stability. FT‐IR, SEM, and weight percentage methods were used to prove the alkaline stability. The membrane has the potential to be used for different electrochemical applications.

Cellulose nanofibers-based composite film with broadening MXene layer spacing and rapid moisture separation for humidity sensing and humidity actuators

Based on the basic idea of expanding the interlayer spacing of MXene, utilizing the effect of gallic acid-modified cellulose nanofibers for rapid moisture separation, the flexible sensing and driving composite film with a perfect balance among humidity signal response and mechanical properties was prepared. Inspired by the stacking of autumn fallen leaves, the cellulose nanofibers-based composite films were formed by self-assembly under vacuum filtration of blending gallic acid-modified cellulose nanofibers with MXene. The enhanced mechanical properties (tensile strength 131.1 MPa, puncture load 0.88 N, tearing strength 165.55 N/mm, and elongation at break 16.14 %), humidity sensing (the stable induced voltage 63.7 mV and response/recovery time 3.2/5.1 s), and humidity driving (154.7° bending angle) properties were observed. The synergistic effect of hydrogen bonds, the “pinning effect” arising from the side chains, and the hierarchical layered microstructure contributed to the enhanced performance. This work exemplifies the application of green natural product for preparing intelligent sensing, wearable devices, and biomimetic robots.

Load-bearing behaviors of sandwich plates with non-uniformly distributed grid cores: Dynamic impact and blast

Sandwich plates with grid-core structures possess extensive applications, and non-uniform grid plates (NUGPs) show enhanced potential under varied loading modes. The current study embarks on an investigation into NUGPs by adjusting the dimensions of transverse and longitudinal grid walls. This comprehensive analysis explores the dynamic responses of these plates when subjected to impact and blast loads, focusing on deformation patterns, damage, and the underlying processes. The findings are illustrated as follows. 1) NUGPs, specifically those with an optimized configuration of grid walls termed the d2 structure, display improved resistance to blast and impact loads compared to their uniformly distributed grid plate counterparts. Notably, designs featuring a less dense grid in the central area yield a more evenly distributed damage pattern under impact loads and a lesser severity of damage from blast loads. 2) The study also reveals that under impact loads, the sandwich structure showcases distinct behaviors through three stages evident in the load-displacement curves: initial localized indentation, followed by overall deformation, and ending with deformation recovery. 3) Moreover, when facing blast loads, the initial response involves rapid plastic deformation of the upper skin, succeeded by compression and buckling of the core. This sequence effectively dissipates energy, acting as a protective shield for the lower skin. 4) The optimized NUGPs design achieves a perfect balance between stiffness and ductility, reducing displacement through adequate stiffness while ensuring the effective absorption of dynamic forces through significant ductility, thus preventing catastrophic failure. This research significantly advances topology optimization for sandwich plates, providing essential insights for designing lightweight structures resilient under various modes.

Sustainable tourism and city branding: Balancing growth and authenticity

Background: The rapid growth of tourism has necessitated a re-evaluation of its impacts on local cultures and economies, highlighting the need for sustainable practices. This paper explores the intersection of sustainable tourism and city branding, focusing on how destinations can balance economic growth with the preservation of authenticity. Method: Through a comparative case study analysis of Indonesia and the Philippines, this research examines the strategies employed by major cities in these countries to attract tourists while maintaining cultural integrity and promoting sustainability. In Indonesia, cities like Bali and Jakarta have implemented various initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable tourism, such as community-based tourism projects and environmental conservation efforts. Similarly, destinations like Manila and Cebu have developed branding strategies in the Philippines that emphasize cultural heritage and ecological sustainability. This study identifies common challenges faced by both countries, including managing the environmental impact of tourism and ensuring local community involvement in tourism planning. Result: The findings suggest that while Indonesia and the Philippines have made significant strides in integrating sustainability into their tourism and branding efforts, substantial hurdles remain to achieving a perfect balance. Conclusion: Key recommendations include enhancing policy frameworks, increasing stakeholder collaboration, and fostering greater awareness among tourists about sustainable practices. This paper contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable tourism and city branding by providing insights that can inform policy and practice in other regions facing similar challenges. Novelty/Originality of this study: They are developing a holistic and adaptable comparative framework for evaluating sustainable tourism strategies, integrating economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects, and considering each destination's unique characteristics. Various tourism destinations can adopt and adapt this framework to develop and implement tourism practices that effectively balance economic growth, cultural preservation and environmental sustainability in their local context.

Machine learning–enabled direct ink writing of conductive polymer composites for enhanced performance in thermal management and current protection

This study introduces a novel approach that leverages the synergy of machine learning (ML) and Direct Ink Writing (DIW) to optimize the manufacturing feasibility of conductive polymer composites (CPCs) films. The main research focus centers on precisely fine-tuning the printing parameters to strike the perfect balance between the high loading of dendritic copper fillers and their influences on processing and composite performance properties. This pioneering combination significantly enhances the precision of the final product without resorting to time-consuming procedures. ML algorithms contributed to identifying optimal printing variables such as speed, flow pressure, and filler concentration, which helped in identifying the optimal filler content and its performance capabilities. The resulting films exhibited thermo-resistive behavior with a noticeable resistivity increase by 6-7 orders of magnitude at elevated temperatures, specifically around 100 °C. Furthermore, the study highlights remarkable strain-sensing capabilities, simultaneously showcasing a substantial increase in composite modulus. These discoveries bear substantial significance for the development of exceptionally functional thermal interface materials suitable for use in sensors, current collectors, and energy storage devices. The method presented here offers a promising pathway for advancing the fabrication and performance optimization of conductive polymer composites, opening up diverse applications in emerging technologies.

Design optimization of cubic-shaped pressurant tank for CubeSat propulsion system

From a technical and economic point of view, cold gas propulsion for nanosatellites is one of the more rational systems. There is a problem, however: the optimal spherical shape for a high-pressure vessel only takes up half the cubic volume of the CubeSat unit. To increase the volume, it is proposed to switch to a cubic-shaped tank. The aim of this work is to synthesize the more rational structural design of a pressurant tank that fits within a cubic constraint, which provides the perfect balance between the mass of the structure and the delta-V budget available for the propulsion system. The proposed variants are as follows: a set of four cylinders with spherical bottoms; 14 equal spheres arranged in a face-centered cubic packing; a thin-walled cube supported by ribs, the location and parameters of which provide the smallest mass of the structure; a cube, the reinforcement scheme of which is calculated using topology optimization method; an original polyspheric and bypass design schemes where the filling of the volume of the cube is created by a set of spherical and cylindrical shells of different radii. All the considered vessel variants can be obtained using additive technologies, such as selective laser sintering. For each variant, the internal volume and mass of the vessels were obtained, as well as the delta-V budget, taking into account the mass of the tank and the mass of the stored gas. The analysis of the results reveals that there are two structures that are more rational. The new bypass scheme provides the largest delta-V budget, but it has a 1.6 times larger mass than the initial spherical vessel design. It should be noted that the difference in vessel mass is not crucial for CubeSat form factor satellites. Choosing a rational design may require a larger delta-V budget. The possibility of increasing the reserve delta-V of the CubeSat cold gas propulsion system by 25–35 % due to the transition from a spherical to a cube-shaped tank has been demonstrated. At the same time, the mass of the tank structure increases by 1.6–6.3 times, which can be considered an acceptable price for increasing the efficiency of the propulsion system. The new bypass scheme offers the optimal balance of mass and delta-V reserve.

Mechanical characteristics and electrochemical corrosion of NiCoCr alloys

Previous studies have shown that NiCoCr medium entropy alloys (MEAs) have perfect strength-ductility balance and significant escape fracture toughness. This work aimed to determine the effects of annealing temperature and alloy composition on the mechanical characteristics and corrosion behaviors of the NiCoCr MEAs. The results showed that the grains generated in the NiCoCr MEAs became more petite with the cooling rate increasing. The Vickers hardness (HV) of annealed NiCoCr MEAs increased with increasing annealing temperature. For NiCoCr alloys with different alloy compositions, the potentiodynamic polarization results showed that the NiCoCrFeMn alloy has the highest polarisation resistance, lowest current density, and lowest corrosion rate. However, the composition of Fe2O3-based passivation film makes it highly reactive and easily cleaved by Cl−. The NiCoCr and NiCoCrFe MEAs with high Ni content had a denser and slowly dissolved NiO passivation layer and better corrosion resistance. Moreover, the hardness of corroded NiCoCr MEAs decreased by 7.7%.

Losing, regaining, and continuing to build self-confidence – a qualitative, phenomenological study of being physically active with a type B aortic dissection

Purpose To gain a comprehensive understanding of experiences related to being physically active in participants with an uncomplicated type B aortic dissection. Materials and methods We performed a qualitative, phenomenological study. First-person accounts of adults, who at least one year ago had an uncomplicated type B aortic dissection, were collected using semi-structured interviews. The audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed with interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results We collected, in total, 644 min interview data from 14 participants. Three patterns were interpreted: losing self-confidence, regaining self-confidence, and continuing to build self-confidence. Experiencing symptoms when pushing limits, challenges with energy management, and side effects of medication caused loss of self-confidence. Changes in identity, reaching milestones that reflect improvement, and support from others and tools helped participants regain self-confidence. To continuing to build self-confidence, participants indicated they needed success experiences and activities make life worth living. Conclusions Self-confidence in adults with an uncomplicated type B aortic dissection changes immediately after the diagnosis of the aortic dissection. Rehabilitation professionals can support adults regaining and continuing to build self-confidence, aiming for the perfect balance between blood pressure regulation, quality of life, and being physically active. Implications for rehabilitation Rehabilitation professionals should support regaining and continuing to build self-confidence related to being physically active in adults with type B aortic dissection in the early stages of recovery and beyond. Adults with an uncomplicated type B aortic dissection want rehabilitation professionals to tell them primarily what is possible (recommendations) rather than what is not allowed (rules). Rehabilitation professionals should help adults with an uncomplicated type B aortic dissection to explore, push and, ultimately, accept limits related to exercise tolerance.

MEchain—A novel mode to improve blockchain's real‐time and throughput

AbstractBlockchain trilemma is a considerable obstacle for today's decentralized systems. It is hard to achieve a perfect balance among decentralization, security, and scalability. Many popular blockchain platforms sacrifice scalability to preserve decentralization and security, resulting in low speed, reduced throughput, and poor real‐time performance (the time from transaction initiation to confirmation). Currently, there are several technologies, such as sharding, directed acyclic graph technology, sidechains, off‐chain state channels etc., that aim to improve throughput and real‐time performance. However, most of these solutions compromise the core feature of blockchain, which is decentralization, and introduce new security risks. In this paper, the authors propose a novel method, called MEchain, based on the Proof of Time Series Algorithm. MEchain consists of two models: the multi‐chain model and the elastic‐chain model. The authors’ experimental results show that these two models can enhance real‐time performance and throughput to a higher level in the industry.

Experimental Study on Small-Scale Shake Table Testing of Cable-Stiffened Single-Layer Spherical Latticed Shell

The cable-stiffened single-layer latticed shell is an innovative structural design that achieves a perfect balance between lightweight and stability by combining cables and a latticed shell. However, the study on dynamic response and failure mechanism of cable-stiffened single-layer latticed shell under seismic action is still lacking. Therefore, small-scale shaking table tests of two kinds of single-layer spherical latticed shells are carried out; the dynamic response and failure mode of the two shells under sine wave earthquake are investigated by using time history analysis. The conclusions show that the introduction of the prestressed cable plays an important role in improving the seismic performance of the single-layer latticed shell, and the cable-stiffened single-layer latticed shell has better load capacity and seismic performance under earthquake action than the ordinary single-layer latticed shell structure.

Feasibility of natural bamboo branches aggregate applied to the thermal insulation layer of rock walls in roadways

The high-temperature heat damage is mainly caused by heat dissipation of surrounding rock in deep mining of mine, so spraying thermal insulation layer (TIL) on mine roadway can be used to actively heat insulation. As a kind of green material, bamboo branches have excellent thermal insulation and mechanical properties. In this paper, gravel and ceramsite were used as aggregate, bamboo branches and glass hollow bead were used as main thermal insulation materials, and the effects of different content, diameter, and length of bamboo branches on mechanical properties, thermal insulation properties, and microstructure were studied through orthogonal experiments. A group of specimens with the best comprehensive performance was selected through the analysis of the efficiency coefficient, and the optimal ratio was determined. This ratio ensures the perfect balance between insulation and strength for TIL, which is essential for the preparation of TIL. At the same time, the numerical simulation software Fluent was used to establish the roadway model, and the cooling effect of the TIL on the airflow temperature in the roadway under different working conditions was studied based on the parameters of the selected specimens. These parameters are based on the actual characteristics of the specimen, and their accuracy ensures the reliability and validity of the research results. The results show that under the optimal mixing ratio, the thermal conductivity (TC) of the specimen is 0.224 W/(m·K), the thermal insulation performance of the prepared coating is increased by 25∼65 %, and the mechanical strength is also improved. The optimal mix ratio obtained in this study can be applied to the field of mine thermal damage control, and the feasibility of natural bamboo branches for preparing roadway thermal insulation material is demonstrated. Bamboo branches grow rapidly, and their use as thermal insulation materials will not only not cause a burden on the environment, but help to promote ecological recycling and achieve sustainable use of resources.