Marine vessels operating on the Arctic Sea route are constantly prone to collisions and friction with ice. This study discusses the wear of the hull plate caused by the collision of ice against vessels operating in Arctic Sea routes. The abrasive wear of the hull due to ice impact was numerically assessed based on both the incident behavior of ice particles interacting with the flow around the hull and the wear loss of the hull surface caused by the contact force of ice particles. A multi-phase approach was adopted to account for the behavior of ice particles continuously affected by the fluid force around the hull. The fluid force acting on the ice floe was evaluated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the dynamic motion of the drift ice was evaluated using the discrete element method (DEM). The motion of the floating ice particles was updated in real time by iteratively coupling the fluid force and the motion of the ice floe at each time step of the numerical simulation. The results of the wear simulation models were presented in terms of the shape change of the hull surface due to wear. At first, the wear was evaluated for cases in which only the surface paint of the hull was damaged. Thereafter, a computation model considering the shape change of the hull surface experiencing long-term friction of ice particles was introduced. Finally, the numerical procedures to predict the abrasive wear of the hull surface by ice impact were discussed.

Employing numerical methods to simulate manufacturing processes and study their influential factors is increasing. The development of computers and engineering software has increased the ability and accuracy of numerical methods in simulating various aspects of different processes. One of the manufacturing processes that has been considered by many industries in recent years to join metals in solid-state with unique properties is called friction stir welding. It is challenging and, in some cases, impossible to experimentally study the various aspects of this process, such as temperature distribution, stress distribution, and material flow, due to severe plastic deformation in the weld zone. In this case, numerical methods are used to investigate these parameters and better understand the process. This study first investigates various numerical methods researchers use to simulate the process. The ability, pros, and cons of these methods to simulate the process are also examined. Then, the applications of numerical models in simulating the temperature distribution during the process as well as the effects of input parameters on the temperature history of the process, are deeply considered. Next, the application of numerical methods in material flow modeling during the process is investigated. Finally, the modeling of the microstructure of the welding zone is investigated using numerical methods that help significantly in predicting the weld microstructure.

In this study, an investigation on the influence of In-situ tribo-oxide-layer on non-lubricated tribological behaviours of LM27/SiCp composites was carried out at different applied loads. The variations in wear performance and microstructure of brake lining friction material (LM27) with the addition of different amounts and sizes of SiCp are explored. For this purpose, LM27/SiCp composite materials were manufactured by stir casting route varying the amount of particle reinforced from 3wt.% to 12wt.% with a different size range (fine: 1-20µm and coarse: 106-125µm). Non-lubricated dry wear tests of LM27/SiCp composites samples were trialled at different loads from 9.8N to 49N by using a pin-on-disc machine system. At a contact pressure of 0.2-1 MPa, LM27/SiCp composites with 12wt.% reinforcement showed a lower coefficient of friction than other composites. In-situ formation of oxide layers on the contact region of the specimen supports the self-lubrication during the wear test, which is responsible for better wear performance of LM27/SiCp composites. However, these study portraits that composite with 12wt. % fine size SiCp exhibits better wear performance in comparison to the other developed composites.

Using only a limited number of computationally expensive functions, we show a way how to construct accurate and computationally efficient approximations of the Colebrook equation for flow friction. The presented approximations are based on the asymptotic series expansion of the Wright ω-function and symbolic regression. The results are verified with 8 million of Quasi-Monte Carlo points covering the domain of interest for engineers. In comparison with the built-in “wrightOmega” feature of Matlab R2016a, the herein introduced related approximations of the Wright ω-function significantly accelerate the computation. With only two logarithms and several basic arithmetic operations used, the presented approximations are not only computationally efficient but also extremely accurate. The maximal relative error of the most promising approximation which is given in the form suitable for engineers’ use is limited to 0.0012%, while for a little bit more complex variant is limited to 0.000024%.

There always exist steel cuttings, holes and cracks at the interfaces in the explosive composite plate. Multi-pass friction stir processing (M-FSP) is proposed in this research to optimize the interface microstructure and the interface connection for 1060Al/Q235 explosive composite plate. Results show that the microstructures of 1060Al after M-FSP are fine and uniform owing to the strong stirring effect and recrystallization. Micro-defects formed by the explosive welding can be repaired by the M-FSP. However, M-FSP can also form tunnel defects in the aluminum, especially when the passes are one and two. The melting block and the melting lump in the composite plates are easy to become source of crack. The shear strengths and the bending properties for the 1060Al/Q235 explosive composite plate after M-FSP are the best when the passes are three, with the tool rotation speed of 1200rpm and the forward speed of 60mm/min. The optimized interfaces for the explosive composite plate after M-FSP are mainly by the metallurgical bondings, with a certain thickness and are discontinuous. Therefore, the crack extension stress is the largest and the mechanical properties are the best.

According to research, we have learned that Mg and TiO2 are new types material of marine protective coatings. We found that the addition of Mg can improve the performance of Zn-Al coating passivation film, and TiO2 has excellent photocatalytic self-cleaning performance. In this paper Zn-Al pseudo alloy coating was prepared by cold spray technique, and Zn-Al-Mg-TiO2 pseudo alloy composite coating was prepared by adding Mg and nano-TiO2. The effects of Mg and TiO2 to the marine protective properties of Zn-Al coatings were studied by friction and wear test, dynamic salt water corrosion test, electrochemical test, scanning electron microscope(SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS) and super deep scene 3D microscope. The results show that the addition of Mg and nano-TiO2 not only fills the gap of the coating and improves the density of the coating, but also generates grid-like flocculent corrosion products on the surface of the coating which can gather other corrosion products to improve the density of corrosion products, reduce the friction coefficient and corrosion rate of the coating surface, effectively prevent the invasion of Cl- in solution, and improve the wear and corrosion resistance of the coating.

An investigation was made to determine the effects of tungsten surface coating on the coefficient of friction of sliding contact between lubricated steel surfaces. The four-ball test was modified, using a tungsten carbide ball bearing in the spindle to cause sliding contact onto three hard steel ball bearings coated with tungsten disulfide lamellar dry lubricant coating, with a coating of grease lubrication applied to the ball bearings. The coatings, loads, speed, and grease level was varied to best understand the impact of different conditions to the friction coefficient.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of image enhancement techniques on the interobserver reliability of tear breakup time (TBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) scoring, and conjunctivochalasis detection using the Smart Eye Camera (SEC), a portable device for anterior segment examination. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on video recordings captured by SEC from 46 patients with dry eye disease (DED). Three video sets were created: unenhanced (G0), mildly enhanced (G3), and strongly enhanced (G7). Three observers—two DED specialists and one general ophthalmologist—assessed TBUT, TMH, CFS scores, and conjunctivochalasis. Interobserver reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for each image set. Results: Interobserver reliability for CFS scores significantly improved with G3, yielding an ICC of 0.8413. In contrast, G7 improved reliability for TBUT measurements (ICC = 0.7381) but led to a notable decrease in reliability for both CFS scoring (ICC = 0.2259) and conjunctivochalasis detection (ICC = 0.0786). Furthermore, the assessment of TMH demonstrated a progressive decline in accuracy with increasing levels of image enhancement. Conclusions: Image enhancement using SEC improves diagnostic consistency between dry eye specialists and general ophthalmologists, especially for TBUT and CFS assessments. However, excessive enhancement may obscure key diagnostic features, indicating the need for careful optimization of image processing techniques depending on the diagnostic focus.

This study focuses on a biogas dry reforming to produce H2. Biogas contains CO2 of 40 vol% approximately, indicating that the efficiency of the power generation is reduced because of the smaller heating value compared with a natural gas. The authors have proposed the combination system consisting of biogas dry reforming reactor and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Since a biogas dry reforming is an endothermic reaction, this study adopts a membrane reactor which can be operated by causing the non-equilibrium state with H2 separation from the reaction space. This study aims to clarify the impact of thickness of Pd/Cu membrane on the characteristics of the biogas dry reforming membrane reactor using Pd/Cu membrane and Ni/Cr catalyst. The impact of the operation temperature, the molar ratio of CH4:CO2 and the differential pressure between the reaction chamber and the sweep chamber on the characteristics of the biogas dry reforming membrane reactor using Pd/Cu membrane and Ni/Cr catalyst is examined changing the thickness of Pd/Cu membrane. As a result, the highest concentration of H2 is 122711 ppmV which is obtained in case of CH4:CO2 =1:1 at the reaction temperature of 600 ℃ and the differential pressure of 0 MPa using the Pd/Cu membrane whose thickness of 40 m.

Extreme climates such as droughts and hot extremes, may result in marked damage to crop yields and threaten regional and global food security. Maize is a major grain crop in Liaoning Province, severely affected by drought and hot events. The objective of this study is to advance an approach to estimate the risk of crop yield reduction under the compound dry-hot events (CDHE) in Liaoning Province. Results show that the ratio of stations experiencing compound dry-hot events during the twelfth leaf and maturity stage tended to increase on the time scale. On a spatial scale, the frequency of compound dry-hot events in central Liaoning Province was relatively low during the whole and various reproductive periods of maize. In addition to the twelfth leaf, western Liaoning Province is prone to compound dry-hot events. The high-risk area for the occurrence of the compound dry-hot events in maize is Chaoyang City, located in the western part of Liaoning Province, and the cities in the low-risk area account for about 64.3% of the total number of cities in Liaoning Province, mainly in the central and northern parts of Liaoning Province. Generally, this study emphasizes focusing on the impacts of compound dry-hot events on agricultural production and provides an index to assess the risk of compound dry-hot events on maize production.

This study examines geothermal energy extraction potential from the basement rock within the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin, focusing on flow performance and heat extraction efficiency of different geothermal well configurations. It specifically compares U-Shaped, V-Shaped, Inclined V-Shaped, and Pipe-in-Pipe configurations against Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) setups. Through numerical modeling, we evaluated the thermal behavior of these systems under various operational scenarios and fracture conditions. Results suggest that while closed-loop systems offer moderate temperature increases, EGS configurations show substantial potential for high-temperature extraction. This underscores the importance of evaluating well configurations in complex geological settings like the DJ Basin. The insights from this study aid in strategic geothermal energy planning and development, marking significant advancements in geothermal technology and setting a foundation for future explorations and optimizations.

This study proposed the combination system consisting of biogas dry reforming reactor and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Since a biogas dry reforming is an endothermic reaction, this study adopted a membrane reactor operated due to the non-equilibrium state with H2 separation from the reaction space. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst using for a biogas dry reforming membrane reactor. Additionally, this study also investigated the comparison of the characteristics of Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst with that of Ni/Cr catalyst. The impact of operation temperature, the molar ratio of CH4 : CO2, the differential pressure between the reaction chamber and the sweep chamber and the introduction of sweep gas on the characteristics of the biogas dry reforming membrane reactor using Pd/Cu membrane and Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst was examined. The concentration of H2 using Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst was larger than that using Ni/Cr catalyst by 2871 ppmV for the molar ratio of CH4 : CO2 = 1.5 : 1 at the reaction temperature of 600 ℃ and the differential pressure of 0 MPa without a sweep gas, especially. Under this condition, CH4 conversion, H2 yield and thermal efficiency were 67.4 %, 1.77×10-2 % and 0.241 %, respectively.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the application of different organic matter, UGmax soil conditioner and simplifications in potato cultivation on the content of dry matter, starch, sugars in tubers of the medium-early edible cultivar 'Satina' after harvest and after long-term storage. The highest dry matter (173.4 g kg-1) and starch (124.6 g kg-1 f. m.) content was ob-tained with the simultaneous application of a manure with soil conditioner at 100% mineral fer-tilization. In the case of sugars, the withdrawal of the soil conditioner from the crop proved most beneficial, for total sugars on the stubble intercrop (5.06 g kg-1 f. m.) and for reducing sug-ars (1.99 g kg-1 f. m.) on the straw. Each protection reduction applied resulted in a significant re-duction in starch content. In this regard, the withdrawal of herbicides with simultaneous appli-cation of manure and UGmax proved most beneficial. Long-term storage of tubers caused a sig-nificant reduction in their quality in terms of dry matter and starch content (average by -3.6 and -2.3%, respectively) and an increase in total and reducing sugars (average by 11.8 and 9.6%, re-spectively). The decrease in dry matter and starch content was significantly influenced by the 50% reduction in NPK fertilization applied during the growing season, while the application of soil conditioner with full protection contributed to the increase in reducing sugars after storage at 28.9 pts%. Our research is in line with current trends of used potato cultivation technologies focused mainly on environmental protection, so the results of this study can provide a basis for validation for researchers currently engaged in such evaluation.

Intracellular potassium concentrations, [K+], are high in all types of living cells, but the origins of this K+ are unknown. The simplest hypothesis is that life emerged in an environment that was high in K+. One such environment is the spaces between the sheets of the clay mineral, mica. The best mica for life’s origins is the black mica, biotite, because it has a high content of Mg++ and it has iron in various oxidation states. Life also has many of the characteristics of the environment between mica sheets, giving further support for the possibility that mica was the substrate on and within which life emerged.

Elevated levels of oxidative stress in the corneal epithelium contribute to the progression of dry eye disease pathology. Previous studies have shown that antioxidant therapeutic intervention is a promising avenue to reduce disease burden and slow disease progression. In this study, we evaluated the pharmacological efficacy of Xanthohumol in preclinical models for dry eye disease. Xanthohumol is a naturally occurring prenylated chalconoid that promotes the transcription of phase II antioxidant enzymes. Xanthohumol exerted a dose-response in preventing tert-butylhydroxide-induced loss of cell viability in human corneal epithelial (HCE-T) cells and resulted in a significant increase in expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), the master regulator of the endogenous antioxidant system. Xanthohumol-encapsulating poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NP) were cytoprotective against oxidative stress in vitro, and significantly reduced corneal fluorescein staining in the mouse desiccating stress/ scopolamine model for dry eye disease in vivo by reducing oxidative stress-associated DNA damage in corneal epithelial cells. PLGA NP represent a safe and efficacious drug delivery vehicle for hydrophobic small molecules to the ocular surface. Optimization of NP-based antioxidant formulations with the goal to minimize instillation frequency may represent future therapeutic options for dry eye disease and related ocular surface disease.

Quinacridone (QA) and 2,9-dimethylquinacridone (DQA) are synthetic substances suitable as a hard, abrasion-resistant, self-organizing gliding layer on ice, snow, and water. For sustainable use, a large number of parameters must be considered to demonstrate that these non-biogenic substances and their by-products and degradation products are harmless to humans and the environment in the quantities released. For this task, available experimental data are used and supplemented for all tautomers by numerous relevant physical, chemical, toxicological and ecotoxicological estimated values based on various Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR) methods. On the one hand, the low solubility of QA and DQA leads to stable gliding layers and thus low abrasion and uptake by plants, animals, and humans. On the other hand, the four hydrogen bond forming functional groups per molecule allow nanoparticle decomposition and enzymatic degradation in natural environments. All available data justify a sustainable use of QA and DQA as a gliding layer. The assessment of the toxicological properties is complemented with an investigation of the size and morphology of DQA particles as well as field tests indicating an excellent performance as a gliding layer on snow.

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid state welding process for joining metallic alloys and dissimilar metals. It has emerged as an alternative technology for welding high strength alloys that are difficult to join with conventional techniques. FSW is used to produce products with better mechanical properties. Now a days aluminum alloys have been widely used in several industrial applications such as aerospace, marine, automobile and commercial applications due to their light weight structure, better mechanical properties and high corrosion resistance.In this work, three welding parameters such as spindle speed, welding speed and plunge depth were considered for friction stir welding. FSW was carried out between dissimilar aluminum alloy plates (AA6061 and AA 8011) to produce butt joint.A Box-Behnken design with three factors and three levels was chosen to minimize the number of experimental conditions .The tensile strength and hardness of the welded regions were evaluated. The optimum level settings and the major parameters that influence the joint strength were obtained by Box-Behnken design.

Based on a very fast numerical procedure for the determination of the subsurface stress field beneath frictional contacts of axisymmetric elastic bodies under arbitrary 2D oblique loading, the contact mechanical influences of loading parameters and contact profile geometry on the Smith-Watson-Topper (SWT) fatigue crack initiation parameter in elastic fretting contacts with superimposed normal and tangential oscillations are studied in detail. The efficiency of the stress calculation allows for a comprehensive physical analysis of the multi-dimensional parameter space of influencing variables. It is found that a superimposed normal oscillation of the contact can significantly increase or decrease the SWT parameter, depending on the initial phase difference and frequency ratio between the normal and tangential oscillation. Written in proper non-dimensional variables, the rounded flat punch always exhibits smaller values of the SWT parameter, compared to a full paraboloid with the same curvature, while the truncated paraboloid exhibits larger values. A small superimposed profile waviness also significantly increased or decreased the SWT parameter, depending on the amplitude and wave length of the waviness. While both the load protocol and the profile geometry can significantly alter the SWT parameter, the coupling between both influencing factors is weak.

The occurrence rate of occupational accidents caused by slipping and falling is 50% worldwide. Determining the slip safety risk is necessary to minimize the accidents caused by slipping in pedestrian walking areas. By on-site testing, this study aims to determine the slip risks of floor coverings used in walking areas with many pedestrians in public service buildings (PSB). For this purpose, on-site measurements were performed in two environments and six locations in PSB using portable GMG 200 and pendulum testers operating according to DIN 51131 and TS EN 14231 standards. These tests were performed on four-floor coverings with polished surface treatment in PSB. Since the floor coverings measured have a polished surface, it can be seen that the dynamic friction coefficients (DCOF) values are very low, and the slip risks are high. By statistically analyzing the slip test data using the K-means method, a new safety classification was made according to the usage areas of floor coverings. To minimize the risk of slip safety, especially for students, patients, and employees in PSB, it is recommended to use floor coverings with high DCOF values and low slip risk.

This work aims to explore the impact of side loads, drill-pipe tool-joint (DP-TJ) speed (RPM), and mud type on the austenitic stainless steel SM2535-110 casing wear characteristics. Actual field drill pipe tool joints, casings, and drilling muds are used in this study. The results of the study show that under both types of lubrication, the wear volume increased with radial load and DP-TJ speed. SM2535-110 casing specimens tested under oil-based mud (OBM) lubrication had higher casing wear volumes than those obtained under water-based mud (WBM) lubrication. This unexpected behavior is mainly due to the increase in the surface hardness of the casing specimens tested under WBM. The results also show that the specific wear factor (K) values of specimens tested under WBM are in general 2 to 4 times higher than those obtained under OBM. While K values under WBM increase with both the side load and RPM, those under OBM show a sharp decrease with RPM. This behavior under OBM is due to this lubricant’s higher viscosity and the change of lubrication regime from thin film to thick film lubrication at higher RPM. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the digital microscopic imaging (DMI) of SM235-110 casing specimens show that an aggressive combination of adhesive, abrasive, and plastic deformation was observed under WBM, while the dominant wear mechanism under OBM is abrasive wear.

Environment approachable products such as fuels and lubricants are among the best choices in several countries that contain renewable products as alternatives. To protect human life, alternative methods of saving the environment and production balance is needed to reduce the effects of the crisis and the contamination of the Environment. This research concentrated on the Manufacturing and testing of bio- grease from sugar cane filter mud vegetable oil as a lubricant for friction reduction and determining the properties of both bio grease and Mineral oil grease with environmental problems. SC filter mud oil as an alternative use for bio-grease preparation in addition to mineral oil grease. The Testing was accepted to determine the quality of the eco-friendly grease produced. For the preparation of this bio- grease, the SC Filter cake sample is taken from different sugar factory which found in Ethiopia. The sample has a moisture content of 78%. Using this sample first oil is extracted by Soxhlet apparatus, n-hexane solvent and temperature for extraction from 42 -68℃. The maximum temperature and time for extraction of oil were 68 and 7hrs respectively. The extracted oil's physical properties include color, acid value, specific graphite, saponification value, iodine value, density, and viscosity. Finally, the friction behavior in function of time for both grease at identical load, the friction coefficient vs time for SC filter Cake Grease_ Na_ MoS2 and industrial mineral one (I_ Greasily _ MoS2), grease was determined.

Maxwell equation for the electric field has been solved for any medium by suggesting the wavenumber and angular frequency be complex quantities. This accounts for the field decay by interaction with the medium.This expression for the time and special decay of the electric field in a medium is used to construct a new wave function sensitive to the medium physical properties. This new wave function, unlike the conventional one, differentiates between a beam of particles in a vacuum and that enters a medium which is an attenuated due to the scattering effect.Another expression for time decaying electric field was obtained using Newton’s laws for frictional medium. This expression shows that the electric field diminishes due to friction.Fortunately, this time decaying part of the electric field is typical to that derived from Maxwell’s equations. Finally, a new Schrodinger equation sensitive to the medium properties was derived. This equation, fortunately, describes some scattering processes for Protein scattering, scattering of x-rays, opto-acoustic phonons, and Raman scattering for some materials successfully .

The Hertzian contact theory, as well as most of the other classical theories of normal and tangential contact, provides displacements and the distribution of normal and tangential stress components directly in the contact surface. However, other components of the full stress tensor in the material may essentially influence the material behaviour in contact. Of particular interest are principal stresses and the equivalent von Mises stress, as well as the gradient of the hydrostatic pressure. For many engineering and biomechanical problems, it would be important to find these stress characteristics at least in the contact plane. In the present paper, we show that the complete stress state in the contact plane can be easily found for axially symmetric contacts under very general assumptions. We provide simple explicit equations for all stress components and the normal component of the gradient of hydrostatic pressure in the form of one-dimensional integrals.

In thermal friction drilling (TFD) operations, the geometrical dimensions of bushing shape, height and wall thickness are the most vital consequences, due to increasing the connecting length and strength. In this paper, AA7075-T651 aluminum alloys with 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm in thicknesses were drilled with TFD process in order to investigate the density, the volume ratio, and height and wall thickness of the bushings. The experiments were conducted at constant spindle speed and feed rate conditions by using HSS conical tools of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mm in diameters. It was experimentally found that the bushing height and the wall thickness were tendency of increase linearly with increasing both material thickness and tool diameter. The effect of tool diameter was found to have much of influence on the measured values than the thickness of the drilled material. The density of the bushing was changed inconsiderably. Approximately 70-75 % percentages of the evacuated material composed the bushing shape, in TFD operations.

The efficiency of cold sheet and strip rolling of steels and non-ferrous metals in the main depends on the quality of the technological lubricant and its cost. In this regard, it is important to develop new compositions of effective metal-working coolants (MWC) having low cost and providing the maximum reduction in the friction coefficient. We developed and tested the new compositions of the MWC on basis of chicken fat, and mono- and diglycerides and their esters of boric acid synthesized from the wastes of sunflower oil production. The MWC were tested in DSEA on laboratory rolling mill 100x100 with a roll diameter of 260 mm during steel 08Kp rolling. The efficiency of the coolants was determined by the factor of metal stretch forming λ and the coefficient of friction μ in the deformation zone which was found by forward slip method. We found the metal-working coolant with 100 % concentration of boric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides is the most effective in steel rolling. Thus the new MWC on basis of boric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides synthesized from the wastes of sunflower oil production can be recommended for use in rolling of structural steels on account of availability, high efficiency, and a low cost.

This study explored the correlation between concentrations of phenolic compounds (phenols, tannins, and flavonoids) and the versatility of woody medicinal plants in the Caatinga, a seasonally dry forest region in Brazil. We examined whether these compounds influence the versatility of plants used by populations, given their known therapeutic properties. Plants were categorized as high or low versatility based on their relative importance (RI) values ​​at the regional level. Samples collected in Catimbau National Park, Pernambuco, were analyzed using colorimetric methods: Folin-Ciocalteu reagent for total phenols, casein precipitation for tannins, and aluminum chloride complexation for flavonoids. Contrary to expectations, no significant differences in phenolic compound concentrations were found between the high and low versatility groups. Higher levels of total phenols and tannins were observed in Myracrodruon urundeuva and Anadenanthera colubrina, both highly versatile species. However, less versatile species, such as Mimosa tenuiflora and Schinopsis brasiliensis, also showed high levels. Flavonoid content, notably lower than phenols and tannins, did not show significant variation between groups. Although phenolic compounds contribute to the therapeutic properties of medicinal plants, their concentration alone does not determine the versatility of plants in the Caatinga. Versatility is more likely influenced by ecological conditions, cultural practices, and species availability. This study highlights the need to integrate multiple perspectives in ethnopharmacological research.

(1) The present study investigated the effect of orally administered Limosilactobacillus fermentum HY7302 (HY7302) on the relationship between ocular tissue and the microbiome in the corneal injured dry eye mice model. (2) 0.1% benzalkonium chloride (BAC) was applied to the ocular surface for 14 days to induce corneal injury in male Balb/c mice. During the BAC treatment period, HY7302 (1 × 108 CFU/kg/day or 1 × 109 CFU/kg/day) or omega-3 positive control (200 mg/kg/day) were administered orally (n = 8/group). To examine signaling pathways affected by HY7302 treatment, the in vitro effects of HY7302 on tight junctions and the inflammatory response were investigated in a mouse colon epithelial cell line, CMT-93. (3) BAC exposure decreased tear production, induced ocular inflammation and corneal epithelial detachment, and altered gut microbiota. However, oral administration of HY7302 restored tear secretion and decreased corneal epithelial detachment in BAC-treated corneal injury mice. Further, HY7302 alleviated corneal inflammation via modulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression and alterations in gut microbiota composition. (4) These findings suggest that the gut–eye axis interaction between gut microbiota and eye tissue affects disease severity in corneal injury, and that alteration of the microbiota by HY7302 could improve eye health by regulating the inflammatory response.

The goal of this lab is to look at how the characteristics of cementitious materials are affected by bending loads combined with dry and wet cycles of sulfate. In this paper, three sets of specimens with different water–cement ratios were designed. This study applied 20% and 40% of the ultimate bending load as a continuous bending load to the cementitious material specimens for a sulfate erosion test. It was discovered that the specimens' porosity, flexural strength, and compressive strength all tended to improve initially before declining as the cementitious material was degraded in the sulfate solution aged. The flexural strength of the cementitious materials declined as the bending load increased, and their internal sulfate ion concentration rose. A transport model of sulfate ions in cementitious materials under the coupling effect of bending load and sulfate erosion was created by combining the improved version of Fick’s second law and chemical reaction kinetics. The simulation results show that the ion transport properties of sulfate ions in cementitious materials are in accordance with the experimental laws. These research results formed the basis of the unified standards for the coupling of load dry and wet cycle systems, as well as evaluating the durability of cementitious materials under corrosive environments.

The aim of this study was to develop a basic model to predict enteric methane emission from dairy cows and to update operational calculations for the national inventory in Norway. Basic models were developed using a database with 63 treatment means from 19 studies. The database included records for enteric CH4 production (MJ/day), dry matter intake (DMI), and dietary nutrient composition. The basic models were evaluated against an external database (n=36, from ten studies) along with other extant models. When evaluated by low root mean square prediction errors and high concordance correlation coefficients, the developed basic models that included DMI, dietary concentrations of fatty acids and neutral detergent fiber performed slightly better in predicting CH4 emissions than extant models. In order to propose country-specific values for the CH4 conversion factor Ym (% of gross energy intake partitioned into CH4) and thus to carry out the national inventory for Norway, the existing operational model was updated for the prediction of Ym over a wide range of feeding situations using energy corrected milk and dietary concentrate share as predictor variables. Input values of Ym were updated based on the results from the basic models. The predicted Ym ranged from 6.22 to 6.72%. In conclusion, the prediction of CH4 production from dairy cows was improved with the help of newly published data, which enabled an update of the operational model for calculating the national inventory of CH4 in Norway.

Erythropoietin (EPO) protects cells by inhibiting apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation in several models of retinal degeneration. In this study, we demonstrate the effects of recombinant Adeno Associated Virus (AAV) vector-mediated delivery of a modified form of erythropoietin (EPO-R76E) in an established mouse model of dry-AMD in which retinal degeneration is induced by RPE oxidative stress. Experimental vector AAV-EPO-R76E and control vector AAV-GFP were packaged into serotype-1 (AAV1) to enable RPE selective expression. RPE oxidative stress-mediated retinal degeneration was induced by exon specific deletion of the protective enzyme MnSOD (encoded by Sod2) by cre/lox mechanism. Experimental mice received subretinal injection of AAV-EPO-R76E in the right eye and AAV-GFP in the left eye. Western blotting of RPE/Choroid protein samples from AAV-EPO-R76E injected eyes showed RPE specific exogenous protein expression. Retinal degeneration was monitored by electroretinography (ERG). EPO-R76E over-expression in RPE delayed the progressive retinal degeneration as measured by light microscopy in RPE specific Sod2 knockout mice. Delivery of EPO-R76E vector can be used as a tool to prevent retinal degeneration induced by RPE oxidative stress as seen in this mouse model.

The iron roughneck is an automated equipment utilized for the connection and removal of drilling tools. This paper presents the design of an integrated iron roughneck, providing a detailed introduction to its clamp body structure, along with an analysis of its structural characteristics and performance requirements. The study delves into the integration mode and working characteristics of the clamping mechanism and spin buckle mechanism for the integrated upper clamp body structure of the iron roughneck. Additionally, this paper conducts an in-depth theoretical study on the spin buckle mechanism. Firstly, it analyzes the actual working condition of the spin buckle roller from two perspectives: contact theory and rolling friction theory, determining the structural form of the spin buckle roller. Secondly, it investigates the relative displacement between the spin buckle mechanism and the drilling tool, proposing a design method for the floating device mounted on the spin buckle roller and establishing the kinematic equation of the spin buckle roller under the influence of the floating device. Furthermore, the kinematic equations of the spin buckle roller under the influence of the floating device are established. Finally, a dynamics simulation experiment is performed to simulate the working process of the spin buckle mechanism under actual working conditions, analyzing the dynamics and kinematics of the spin buckle mechanism and obtaining the relevant parameter curves of the spin buckle mechanism and drilling tools. Through data comparison and analysis, the correctness of the theoretical analysis results and the rationality of the performance and structure of the spin buckle mechanism are verified.

Tribology is related to all studies on friction, wear and lubrication. One of the main aims of these studies is a reduction in friction and wear. Tribology is extremely vast, being also multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. Therefore, it is very difficult to organize the several tribology subjects in an unique way and different classifications have been proposed by different authors. In this work, the several subjects treated by tribology are reviewed and organized in six branches: Fundamental Tribology, Tribology of Materials and Lubricants, Micro and Nanotribology, Industrial Tribology, Biotribology and New Frontiers of Tribology. The main subjects treated by the six branches are briefly reviewed in the paper in order to highlight the vastness of tribology and its important contribution to sustainability. Particularly friction and wear reductions are strictly related to greater efficiency and material saving, which mean less energy losses and material wastes, less pollution and therefore a more sustainable life according to the Sustainable Development Goals. The connections among the latter and the several different tribological subjects are discussed.

This paper presents results on tribological characteristics for polymer blends made of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This blend is relatively new in research as PBT has restricted processability because of its processing temperature near the degradation one. Tests were done block-on-ring tribotester, in dry regime, the variables being the PTFE concentration (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%wt) and the sliding regime parameters (load: 1 N, 2.5 N and 5 N, the sliding speed: 0.25 m/s, 0.5 m/s and 0.75 m/s, and the sliding distance: 2500 m, 5000 m and 7500 m). Results are encouraging as PBT as neat polymer has very good tribological characteristics in terms of friction coefficient and wear rate. SEM investigation reveals a quite uniform dispersion of PTFE drops in the PBT matrix.

In this paper, we present a complete, flexible and safe convex-optimization-based method to solve speed planning problems over a fixed path for autonomous driving in both static and dynamic environments. Our contributions are five fold. First, we summarize the most common constraints raised in various autonomous driving scenarios as the requirements for speed planner developments and metrics to measure the capacity of existing speed planners roughly for autonomous driving. Second, we introduce a more general, flexible and complete speed planning mathematical model including all the summarized constraints compared to the state-of-the-art speed planners, which addresses limitations of existing methods and is able to provide smooth, safety-guaranteed, dynamic-feasible, and time-efficient speed profiles. Third, we emphasize comfort while guaranteeing fundamental motion safety without sacrificing the mobility of cars by treating the comfort box constraint as a semi-hard constraint in optimization via slack variables and penalty functions, which distinguishes our method from existing ones. Fourth, we demonstrate that our problem preserves convexity with the added constraints, thus global optimality of solutions is guaranteed. Fifth, we showcase how our formulation can be used in various autonomous driving scenarios by providing several challenging case studies in both static and dynamic environments. A range of numerical experiments and challenging realistic speed planning case studies have depicted that the proposed method outperforms existing speed planners for autonomous driving in terms of constraint type covered, optimality, safety, mobility and flexibility.

The Midwestern region of the United States has been experiencing periodic forage shortages due to frequent droughts, a growing livestock population, and reliance on traditional farming practices. This study evaluated the dry matter yield (DMY), forage nutritive value, water use efficiency (WUE), and economic viability of forage soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in a no-till winter wheat-based rainfed cropping system in the Midwest, USA. The research aimed to identify alternative summer forage crops that are drought-resilient, require lower inputs, mitigate seasonal gaps, and provide higher DMY and forage nutritive value compared to traditional forages. A four-year field experiment in a randomized complete block design with four replications assessed these parameters at various growth stages and planting dates. Results showed that forage soybean had a high DMY (~13 Mg ha-1), especially when optimally planted and harvested at the R3 stage. Forage nutritive value, including crude protein (CP), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and relative feed value (RFV), was highest at early vegetative stages (V2-V3), meeting livestock nutritional requirements. Forage soybean also demonstrated good WUE (21 kg ha-1 mm-1), making it suitable for water-limited regions. Economic analysis indicated substantial net profits ($322 per hectare), confirming its economic viability. The study concludes that forage soybean is a promising summer forage option for Midwest growers, offering high-quality forage, efficient water use, and economic benefits. Further research, particularly animal feeding trials, is recommended to validate its potential for widespread adoption in cropping systems.

Leaf mass per area (LMA) is a key structural parameter that reflects the functional traits of leaves and plays a vital role in simulating the material and energy cycle of plant ecosystems. In this study, vertical whorl-by-whorl sampling of LMA was conducted in a young Larix principis-rupprechtii plantation during the growing season at the Saihanba Forest Farm. The vertical and seasonal variations in LMA were analysed. Subsequently, a predictive model of LMA was constructed. The results revealed that the LMA varied significantly between different crown whorls and growing periods. In the vertical direction of the crown, the LMA decreased with increasing crown depth, but the range of LMA values from the tree top to the bottom was, on average, 30.4 g/m2, which was approximately 2.5 times greater in the fully expanded phase than in the early leaf-expanding phase. The LMA exhibited an allometric growth trend that increased during the leaf-expanding phase and then tended to stabilize. However, the range of LMA values throughout the growing period was, on average, 40.4 g/m2. Among the univariate models, the leaf dry matter content (LDMC) performed well (Ra2=0.45, RMSE=13.48 g/m2) in estimating the LMA. The correlation between LMA and LDMC significantly differed at different growth stages and at different vertical crown whorls. The dynamic predictive model of LMA constructed with the RDINC and DOY as independent variables was reliable in both the assessments (Ra2=0.68, RMSE=10.25 g/m2) and the validation (MAE=8.05 g/m2, FI=0.682). Dynamic simulations of crown LMA provide a basis for elucidating the mechanism of crown development and laying the foundation for the construction of an ecological process model..

Abstract: Field studies with large-stemmed plants Artemisia dubia (wormwood) have been carried out at Vėžaičiai Branch LAMMC since 2018. According to three years of experimental results, annual dry matter (DM) yield varied from 7.94 to 10.14 t ha-1. Growing conditions, nitrogen ap-plication level and harvesting time had significant impacts on Artemisia dubia productivity. This article presents the results of research on preparation and use of Artemisia dubia biomass for en-ergy conversion and evaluation of technological-technical and environmental parameters of these plants utilization for solid biofuel. For experiments were used 6 variants of Artemisia dubia samples, which were grown in 2021: plants were cut three times and two fertilization options were used: (1) no fertilization and (2) fertilization with 180 kg ha-1 of nitrogen fertilizer. These harvested plants were chopped, milled and were pressed into the pellets. The physi-cal-mechanical characteristics (mоisture content, density and strength) of Artemisia dubia pellets were investigated. During this study, it was found that the density in dry mass (DM) of pellets ranged from 1119.86 to 1192.44 kg m-3. The pellet moisture content ranged from 8.80 to 10.49%. After testing of pellet strength, it was found that the pellets which were made from plant bio-mass PK-1-1, were the most resistant to compression, they withstood 560.36 N of pressure. Dry fuel lower heating value (LHV) of pellets was sufficiently high and was very close to pine saw-dust pellets, it varied from 17.46±0.25 MJ kg-1 to 18.14±0.28 MJ kg-1. The ash content of burned pellets ranged from 3.62±0.02% to 6.47±0.09%. Emissions of harmful pollutants – CO2, CO, NOx and unburnt hydrocarbons (CxHy) did not exceed the maximum permissible levels. Summariz-ing the results of investigated properties, cоmbustion and emissiоns of Artemisia dubia pellets, it can be concluded that this biofuel can be used for production of pressed biofuel and it is charac-terized by sufficient high quality, efficient combustion and permissible emissions to the envi-ronment.

Abstract: Microflora play an important role in the fermentation of blueberry wine, influencing the flavor and nutrient formation. Commercial yeasts give blueberry wines an average flavor profile that does not highlight the specific aroma and origin of the blueberry. In the present study, ITS1-ITS2 region sequencing analysis was performed using Illumina MiSeq high-throughput technology to sequence fermented blueberry wine samples of three Vaccinium ashei varieties, Gardenblue, Powderblue, and Britewell, from the Majiang appellation in Guizhou province to analyze the trends of fungal communities and the diversity of compositional structures in different periods of blueberry wine fermentation. The study's results revealed that 114 genera from 7 phyla were detected in 9 samples from different fermentation periods of blueberry wine. The main fungal phyla were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Kickxellomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Olpidiomycota. The main fungal genera were Hanseniaspora, Saccharomyces, unidentified, Aureobasidium, Penicillium, Mortierella, Colletotrichum, etc. Hanseniaspora was dominant in the pre-fermentation stage of blueberry wine, accounting for more than 82%; Saccharomyces was the dominant genera in the middle and late fermentation stages of blueberry wine, with Saccharomyces accounting for more than 72% in the middle of fermentation and 93% in the late fermentation stage. This study screened indigenous flora for the natural fermentation of blueberry wine in the Majiang production area of Guizhou, improved the flavor substances of the blueberry wine, highlighted the characteristics of the production area, and made the blueberry wine have the characteristic flavor of the production area.

Low pasture biomass production and fodder scarcity are among the major challenges affecting productivity of dairy cattle farms in Sri Lanka. As a potential solution to this, two Napier hybrid cultivars CO-5 and Sampoorna were recently introduced and a field experiment was conducted to evaluate their growth, dry matter production and nutritional composition during May to September 2020. Plant measurements and samples were collected at five harvest intervals (4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks after planting), with the plant samples subjected to biomass and nutritional assessments. The number of tillers and leaf length differed (P=0.01) between the two cultivars at 4 weeks harvesting interval (HI) whilst number of leaves differed at 12 HI respectively. Dry matter yield increased (P=0.16) almost linearly whilst crude protein declined exponentially with CO-5 greater than Sampoorna (P=0.057; 9.3% vs 8.7%), with increasing harvesting intervals respectively. In-vitro Organic Matter Digestibility and In-vitro Metabolizable Energy contents were similar across weeks 4, 6 and 8 but then decreased. This study demonstrates that higher dry matter yields (12.54 t/ha) can be obtained by harvesting both cultivars at 12 HI, but from a nutritional perspective harvesting at 6 HI during Yala season of the year would be optimum for farmers.

Background and Objectives: Mucilaginous substances from plant extracts are known to be able to support the lubricating effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) in dry eye disease (DED). In this pilot study, the combined lubricating effect of HA and mallow extract (Malva sylvestris L.) in patients with DED was assessed. Materials and Methods: 20 patients at 5 ophthalmological practices in Italy were treated with eye drops, containing HA and mallow extract on the one hand, and with eye drops containing HA only, on the other hand, in a two-period crossover design. As primary endpoints, the tear film breakup time (TBUT), the reduction of lissamine green staining of the ocular surface (Oxford Scheme, OS), and the safety and efficacy assessment by the ophthalmologists were evaluated. As secondary variables, the patient symptom score, the ocular surface index (OSDI), and the satisfaction, preference and efficacy judgement by the patients were evaluated. All data were analysed descriptively in addition to an exploratory analysis of the target variables. Results: Both products were well tolerated. There were no statistically significant differences, with regard to the TBUT, OS and OSDI, between both treatments. Anyway, the efficacy and safety assessments by the ophthalmologists and the patients showed results in favour of the combined product. Conclusion: The addition of mallow extract to HA containing eye drops enhances the treatment of DED at least with respect to subjective measurements. Further assessments will have to be done to prove and explain this observation in terms of measurable parameters, e.g. markers for inflammatory cytokines.

Cascading Tank Village Systems (CTVSs) of Sri Lanka historically provided a resilient community-based social-ecological water management system in the rural dryzone of Sri Lanka [1]. The CTVS has been described as the ‘lifeblood’ of communities in the rural dry zone [2] and as a globally important Agricultural Heritage System by the FAO [3]. After being abandoned for many centuries, their restoration is now being pursued by different national and international actors as a key to climate change mitigation and sustainable livelihoods for communities [4]. Rural livelihoods in the dry zone are at risk due to multiple factors, poor access and management of water, economic and health pressures, as well as resource limitations and degradation [5]. Despite recent efforts to restore CTVS systems, no social-ecological approach (SES) nor sustainable livelihoods framework (SLF) focused approach to ensuring resilient and sustainable livelihood outcomes has been taken [6]. As part of an on-going PhD project, this paper describes the background, current challenges and potential for an SES focused resilience thinking approach to CTVS combined with a focus on sustainable livelihoods for future sustainable livelihood opportunities and outcomes. The study finds current restoration efforts are at a crossroads between restoring the past (system adaptability) or transforming for the future. It introduces relevant SES and resilience thinking concepts and analyses the CTVS from this perspective. A particular contribution of this study is to point to the significant overlaps and complementarities in social-ecological (SES) resilience thinking and SLF approaches to analysis and proposals for resilient rural development. Employing resilience thinking principles it recommends strategies to create positive livelihood outcomes for communities and households. Keywords: cascading tank village system; sustainable livelihoods; resilience thinking; Sri Lanka; rural dry zone; community rural development

In extant biology, biopolymers perform multiple crucial functions. The biopolymers are synthesized by enzyme-controlled biosystems that would not have been available at the earliest stages of chemical evolution and consist of correctly sequenced and/or linked monomers. Some of the abiotic “messy” polymers approximate some functions of biopolymers. Condensation polymers are an attractive search target for abiotic functional polymers since principal polymers of life are produced by condensation and since condensation allows for the accurate construction of high polymers. Herein the formation of hyperbranched polyesters that have been previously used in the construction of enzyme-like catalytic complexes is explored. The experimental setup compares between the branched polyesters prepared under mild continuous heating and the wet-dry cycle conditions. The results reveal that period wetting during which partial hydrolysis of the polyester occurs, helps control the chain growth and retards the gel transition. It is significant to the origin of life studies that environmental, prebiotically plausible conditions could achieve such control without enzymes or a skilled chemist. As expected in marginally controlled systems, the identification of each component of the heterogeneous system has proved challenging, but it is not crucial for drawing the conclusions.

The mechanical properties of the materials stored inside agricultural silos influence the loads generated inside them. The different silo calculation methodologies allow predicting these loads under static and dynamic conditions if the mechanical properties of the stored materials are known. It has been known for many years that these properties are highly dependent on the moisture content of the material. However, to date there are not many studies focused on its determination. The goal of this research is the determination of the angle of internal friction, apparent cohesion, dilatancy angle and apparent specific weight of maize subjected to different moisture contents. Direct shear and oedometer assay devices were used for this purpose. In addition, the maize samples used were moistened using a climatic chamber. Moisture contents applied to maize sample ranged from 9.3% to 17.4%. The results obtained for the angle of internal friction and apparent cohesion, as well as those obtained for the apparent specific weight, were similar to those reported in the literature. However, the values obtained for the dilatancy angle of maize as a function of moisture content could not be compared because nothing has been published so far. The values obtained for this parameter overlap with those published for this material under ambient conditions. In addition, no direct relationship between the values obtained for this parameter and the moisture content of the sample could be found. Finally, the apparent specific weight increased with increasing moisture content of the samples, which differed from that published in the literature. The values provided here can be used for the optimization of storage and handling structures for granular agricultural materials using numerical methods.

The annual demand for fibres continues to rise worldwide. Consequently, more and more fibres must be produced to meet this demand, most of which are melt-spun polymeric man-made fibres. [1] Smooth filaments made of polymers are mainly used for technical applications in industry. For use in clothing or home textiles, for example, a texturing process is used to give the filaments a crimp and thus a feel like that of natural fibres. In this state, they can be processed together with natural fibres and used in textiles. Partially oriented yarns (POY) are of great importance in tex-turing. The yarns are mainly crimped with the help of the so-called false-twist texturing process (FTTP). [2] Since POY accounts for about 60 % of the melt-spun filament yarn produced world-wide, the FTTP is the most important texturing process in the textile industry [3]. In this paper, the main components of false-twist texturing (FTT) machines are explained along with the state of the art and research for each component and its influence on the process. Relevant patents are dis-cussed as well as process optimisation techniques, innovative polymers and yarn types recently used in FTT, followed by a conclusion and an outlook for the process.

The loads generated inside agricultural silos under static and dynamic conditions depend on the mechanical properties of the materials stored inside them. The silo calculation methodologies are based on these mechanical properties. Although it is known that moisture content greatly influences the values reached by these mechanical properties, just few studies have been conducted to determine them. The present work determines the angle of internal friction, the apparent cohesion, the dilatancy angle and the apparent specific weight of wheat when subjected to different moisture contents. Direct shear and oedometer assay devices were used. In addition, a climatic chamber was used to moisten the wheat samples used in this work. The moisture content applied to the samples ranged from 7.5% to 15.5%. From the different assays carried out it could be observed that the values of the angle of internal friction and apparent cohesion obtained from direct shear assays, as well as those related to the apparent specific weight obtained from oedometer assays were like those found in the literature. The apparent specific weight increased as moisture content increased, reaching a peak value at a moisture content of 13.4%, followed by a drop at a moisture content of 15.5%. The values here provided can be used in silo load calculations involving numerical methods.

The paper presents the measured values of tensile forces acting on transmission idlers in the upper and lower run of a conveyor belt placed on a laboratory machine designed at the Department of Machine and Industrial Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava). The tensile forces detected by two strain gauge load cells and recorded using DEWESoft software were used to calculate the friction coefficient which acts on the surface of the driving drum casing and the conveyor belt. The friction coefficient at the slip point, or during the slippage of the conveyor belt on the rubber or steel casing of the driving drum was determined for two states of the surfaces which are in contact. Experimental measurements on a laboratory machine determined four values of friction coefficients, for two types of drum surfaces and for two states of contact surfaces, which were compared with the recommended standard values. The measured values reached higher values in comparison with the values given by the CSN standards. The highest deviation of 273.3% is achieved using a steel wet surface, and the lowest deviation of 106.3% is achieved when using a rubber dry lining for the driving drum casing. On the presented laboratory machine, it is possible to measure tensile forces for different speeds of movement, different belt angles on the driving drum, various types of belt surfaces, different types of drum casing linings and different sizes of tension forces for the endless loop of the conveyor belt. For these characteristics of the conveyor belt, the magnitude of the friction coefficient, acting between the belt and the drum surfaces, can be determined.

This note first summarizes the history of the manuscript "On a Continuum Model for Avalanche Flow and Its Simplified Variants" by Grigorian and Ostroumov―published in the Special Issue on snow avalanche dynamics of Geosciences―since the early 1990s and explains the guiding principles in editing it for publication. The changes are then detailed and some explanatory notes given for the benefit of readers who are not familiar with the early Russian work on snow avalanche dynamics. Finally, the editor's personal views as to why he still considers this paper of relevance for avalanche dynamics research today are presented in brief essays on key aspects of the paper, namely the role of simple and complex models in avalanche research and mitigation work, the status and possible applications of Grigorian's stress-limited friction law, and non-monotonicity of the dynamics of the Grigorian–Ostroumov model in the friction coefficient. A comparison of the erosion model proposed by those authors with two other models suggests to enhance it with an additional equation for the balance of tangential momentum across the shock front. A preliminary analysis indicates that continuous scouring entrainment is possible only in a restricted parameter range and that there is a second erosion regime with delayed entrainment.

This numerical study investigates the impact of reaction temperature, molar ratio of CH4:CO2, and catalyst porosity (p) on H2 yield and H2 selectivity during biogas dry reforming over a Ni/Cr catalyst. Using COMSOL Multiphysics, we conducted detailed simulations to elucidate the underlying reaction characteristics. Our findings reveal that increasing p significantly enhances H2 production and H2 selectivity, while simultaneously reducing CO selectivity. This effect is attributed to the improved mass transfer within the catalyst bed, leading to more efficient reactant conversion and product formation. Additionally, we observed a strong correlation between higher reaction temperatures and increased H2 yield and H2 selectivity, confirming the endothermic nature of the reforming process. By optimizing these operational parameters, our results suggest that Ni/Cr catalysts can be effectively employed for the sustainable production of H2 from biogas.

Dogs population increased exponentially in the past decade while the birth rate decreased gradually, especially in the developed countries. Due to dogs’ characteristics of loyalty and obedience, most pet owners treated their dogs as their family members or companions, therefore they are willing to select and purchase safe, high quality and nutrition dog food to their dogs. However, there is lack of regulation or standard to reinforce the production or distribution of dog food in Hong Kong. Consequently, this paper will first review the relationship between high dog population and declining birth rate, types of dog food and typical ingredients. Secondly, the potential health implications of various “toxic” food ingredients for dog, hazard analysis of dog food and its testing methods will be investigated. Lastly, this paper will summarize worldwide existing standards and regulations, quality and hygiene management system related to dog food safety to provide insights and suggestions to Hong Kong government about the importance and urgency of implementing regulations and policies to oversee the imported and local manufactured dog food.

Vector-borne disease (VBD) accounts for more than 17% of the global infectious disease burden, disproportionately affecting developing nations within tropical and subtropical areas. As Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the principal vector for the transmission of many Public Health pathogens, our study examined their population dynamics within the seasonal context of tropical dry biomes in El Salvador as incidence of VBD in this region has increased in recent years. Species that rely on sexual reproduction must maintain a balanced sex ratio (1:1) to support their population dynamics, however, our phenological analysis of field-collected A. aegypti specimens revealed significant sex ratio variations during dry and wet seasons. Interestingly, we detected a seasonal shift that favored female mosquitoes during the dry season, highlighting the dynamic nature of mosquito populations in highly urbanized environments like El Salvador. By linking sex ratio distortions to anthropogenic factors, our study underscores the importance of comprehensively characterizing the urban ecology of vectors for the development of effective biocontrol strategies. As such, we advocate for more nuanced vector control approaches that consider ecological factors as well as the human behaviors that influence mosquito breeding habitats to effectively combat the rise of VBDs amid global climate changes.

Ponderosa pine is an integral part of the forested landscape in the western US; it is the dominant tree species on landscapes that provide critical ecosystem services. Moderate drought tolerance allows it to occupy the transition zone between forests and open woodlands and grasslands. Increases in stand density resulting from wildfire suppression, combined with lengthening, intensifying and more frequent droughts have resulted in reduced tree vigor and stand health in dry ponderosa pine throughout its range. To address a management need for efficient landscape-level surveys of forest health, we used Random Forests to develop an object-oriented classification of individual tree crowns (ITCs) into vigor classes using existing, agency acquired 4-band aerial imagery. Classes of tree vigor were based on quantitative physiological and morphological attributes established in a previous study. We applied our model across a landscape dominated by ponderosa pine with a variety of forest treatments to assess their impacts on tree vigor and stand health. We found that stands that were both thinned and burned had the lowest proportion of low vigor ITCs, and that stands treated before the 2014-2016 drought had lower proportions of low vigor ITCs than stands treated more recently (2016). Upland stands had significantly higher proportions of low vigor trees than lowland stands. Maps identifying the low vigor ITCs would assist managers in identifying priority stands for treatment and marking trees for harvest or retention. These maps can be created using already available imagery and GIS software.

Background: Inadequate meibomian glands (MGs) secretion can lead to dry eye signs and symptoms. Tear film lipid layer (TFLL) secreted by MGs protects and prevents rapid evaporation of tear film. Our purpose was to assess TFLL alteration and function in patients with evaporative dry eye (EDE) using tear interferometry after optimal pulse light technology (OPT) intense pulsed light (IPL). Methods: This prospective randomized examiner-masked sham- controlled study included 86 participants (142 eyes) with DED. IPL or sham procedure was performed on day 0, 21, and 42. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), non-invasive breakup time (NITBUT), interferometric fringe pattern determined TFLL quality, fluorescein staining (FS), and meibum gland (MG) were assessed at day 0, 21, 42 and 3-month. Results: At 3-month, TFLL, NITBUT, MG drop-out, MG quality, MG expressibility, FS and OSDI improved significantly (P<0.05) in the IPL group, while the sham group had no significant improvements. All DE parameters significantly correlated with the improvement in TFLL following IPL treatment. Additionally, artificial tears usage was significantly less in the IPL group from D-42 onwards. Conclusion: IPL treatment demonstrated the ability to improve TFLL quality and clinically reduced sign and symptoms of DED thereby reducing the frequency of artificial tears usage.

In the last decade, unprecedented progress in the development of neural networks influenced dozens of different industries, among which are signal processing for the electroencephalography process (EEG). Electroencephalography, even though it appeared in the first half of the 20th century, to this day didn’t change the physical principles of operation. But the signal processing technique due to the use of neural networks progressed significantly in this area. Evidence for this can serve that for the past 5 years more than 1000 publications on the topic of using machine learning have been published in popular libraries. Many different models of neural networks complicate the process of understanding the real situation in this area. In this manuscript, we provided the most comprehensive overview of research where were used neural networks for EEG signal processing.

The alteration of the delicate balance that regulates the secretion and distribution of the tear film determines the dry eye (DE) syndrome, because the tear film represents the interface between the eye and the environment. Despite having a multifactorial origin, the main risk factors for the emergence of the ocular disease are female gender and advanced age. Likewise, morphological changes in several glands and in chemical composition of their secretions such as proteins, mucins, lipidics, aqueous tears, and salinity, are highly relevant factors to maintain a condition of good health of the ocular anterior segment. Another key factor of recurrence and onset of the disease is the presence of local and/or systemic infiammation that reflex on the ocular surface. However, it is one of the most commonly encountered disease in clinical practice and many other causes related to daily life and to lengthen the average life will contribute to the beginning. This review will consider how and what disorders of the ocular surface are responsible for a widespread pathology so. In the end, the most appropriate and new therapies will be briefly exposed according to the specific pathology.

Abstract: In this study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was conducted to validate the CFD model with experimental data from Zimparov et.al (2012), which investigates the heat transfer performance in a spirally corrugated tube that has a twisted tape inserted. The heat transfer was then compared to a simple corrugated tube without the twisted tape and to a smooth tube with no corrugations and no twisted tape. This simulation is compared with a previous experimental study conducted by (Zimparov et al. 2012), which focuses on tubes with a height-to-diameter ratio e/Di > 0.04 and small relative pitches of the twisted tape, H/Di. The largest improvement was noticed in the tube with e/Di= 0.057 and ridge pitch-to-height ratio p/e=6.77 with a twisted tape of H/Di= 4.7. This tube is labeled 5035. Tube 5035 was found to have the most significant enhancement, hence the focus of the CFD simulation will be on this tube, and the simulation will range for Reynolds numbers, 3.5 x 103 < Re < 5.0 x 104. The focus of this simulation is the evaluation of heat transfer and friction factors; a metric was used to obtain an empirical representation of the tube’s performance. Keywords: Spirally corrugated tube; Twisted tape; Heat transfer enhancement; Friction factor; Nusselt number; Computational fluid dynamics (CFD); Star CCM+

The tribological performance of metalwork steel tools is of vital importance in both cold and hot working processes. One solution for improving metal tool life is the application of coatings. This paper investigates the effect of CrAlSiN thin-film PVD-deposition on the tribological behaviour of tool steel K340. The sliding wear performance of the coated K340 steel is analysed in relation to both the uncoated K340 steel and a range of tool steels dedicated to hot- and cold-working, such as X155CrVMo12-1, X37CrMoV5-1, X40CrMoV5-1, 40CrMnMo7 and 90MnCrV8. The investigated tool steels were heat-treated, while K340 was subjected to thermochemical treatment and then coated with a CrAlSiN hard film (K340/CrAlSiN). The hardness, chemical composition, phase structure and microstructure of steels K340 and K340/CrAlSiN are examined. Tribological tests were conducted using the ball-on-disc tester in compliance with the ASTM G99 standard. The tests were performed under dry unidirectional sliding conditions, using an Al2O3 ball as a counterbody. The wear factor and coefficient of friction are estimated and analysed with respect to hardness and alloying composition of the materials under study. SEM observations are made to identify the sliding wear mechanisms of the analysed tool steels and PVD-coated K340 steel. In contrast to the harsh abrasive-adhesive wear mechanism observed for uncoated tool steels, the abrasive wear dominates in case of the AlCrSiN. The deposited thin film effectively prevents the K304 substrate from harsh wear severe degradation. Moreover, thanks to the deposited coating, the K304/CrAlSiN sample has a COF of 0.529 and a wear factor of K=5.68×10−7 m3 N−1 m−1, while the COF of the reference tool steels ranges from 0.702 to 0.885 and their wear factor ranges from 1.68×10−5 m3 N−1 m−1 to 3.67×10−5 m3 N−1 m−1. The CrAlSiN deposition reduces the wear of the K340 steel and improves its sliding properties, which makes it a promising method for prolonging the service life of metalwork tools.

This study presents a new form of velocity distribution in laminar liquid flow in rectangular microchannels using the eigenfunction expansion technique. Darcy friction factor and Poiseuille number are also obtained analytically. Due to the symmetry of the solutions, the effects of changing the aspect ratio from 0 to ∞ are also discussed. Using finite element method (FEM), the obtained analytical results are further compared with the 3D numerical simulations for the rectangular microchannels with different range of aspect ratio and pressure gradient, and excellent agreements were found. These findings provide additional insights in interpreting the results of the pressure-driven flows in finite aspect ratio microchannels, in which very precise comparison with the macroscale theory is crucial.

The Colebrook equation is a popular model for estimating friction loss coefficients in water and gas pipes. The model is implicit in the unknown flow friction factor . To date, the captured flow friction factor can be extracted from the logarithmic form analytically only in the term of the Lambert -function. The purpose of this study is to find an accurate and computationally efficient solution based on the shifted Lambert -function also known as the Wright -function. The Wright -function is more suitable because it overcomes the problem with the overflow error by switching the fast growing term of the Lambert -function to the series expansions that further can be easily evaluated in computers without causing overflow run-time errors. Although the Colebrook equation transformed through the Lambert -function is identical to the original expression in term of accuracy, a further evaluation of the Lambert -function can be only approximate. Very accurate explicit approximations of the Colebrook equation that contains only one or two logarithms are shown. The final result is an accurate explicit approximation of the Colebrook equation with the relative error of no more than 0.0096%. The presented approximations are in the form suitable for everyday engineering use, they are both accurate and computationally efficient.

The present review paper aims at collecting and discussing the research work, numerical and experimental, carried out in the field of Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) in one-dimensional (1D) pressurized transient flow in the time-domain approach. Background theory and basic definitions are provided for the proper understanding of the assessed literature. A novel frame of reference is proposed for the classification of FSI models based on pipe degrees-of-freedom. Numerical research is organized according to this classification, while an extensive review on experimental research is presented by institution. Engineering applications of FSI models are described and historical accidents and post-accident analyses documented.

The eighty years old empirical Colebrook function widely used as an informal standard for hydraulic resistance relates implicitly the unknown flow friction factor , with the known Reynolds number and the known relative roughness of a pipe inner surface ; . It is based on logarithmic law in the form that captures the unknown flow friction factor in a way from which it cannot be extracted analytically. As an alternative to the explicit approximations or to the iterative procedures that require at least a few evaluations of computationally expensive logarithmic function or non-integer powers, this paper offers an accurate and computationally cheap iterative algorithm based on Padé polynomials with only one -call in total for the whole procedure (expensive -calls are substituted with Padé polynomials in each iteration with the exception of the first). The proposed modification is computationally less demanding compared with the standard approaches of engineering practice, but does not influence the accuracy or the number of iterations required to reach the final balanced solution.

This study explores the classification of seven registered dry bean species using a dataset of 13,611 grain samples characterized by 16 features, including both dimensional and shape measurements. The primary objective was to develop robust Machine Learning models to accurately identify species while addressing challenges related to class imbalance and feature redundancy. A series of classification algorithms, including Decision Trees (DT), Random Forests (RF), k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Multi-Layer Perceptrons (MLP), were applied to evaluate their performance under various data conditions. Notably, the MLP model exhibited superior performance due to its capacity to capture complex patterns in high-dimensional data, achieving the highest classification accuracy. Random Forest models showed resilience to class imbalance, though misclassifications between similar species highlighted the need for improved feature selection. The results indicate that effective feature engineering and careful model tuning are crucial for enhancing classification accuracy in agricultural applications. The study concludes that future work should aim to expand the dataset and explore advanced data augmentation techniques to further improve model robustness and applicability in food security contexts. All code to recapitulate the analysis is available along with documentation of pipeline usage at https://github.com/jesusch10/beans_classification.

In this paper, we introduce a comprehensive solution aimed at enhancing the understanding of three-dimensional atmospheric pollutant dispersion. This innovative solution develops a generalized model that extends previous research and is applicable to all parameterization schemes of the equation, including wind speed profiles and turbulent diffusion coefficients, while incorporating the dry deposition criterion. Our methodology involves subdividing the atmospheric boundary layer into distinct sublayers, which facilitates a detailed examination of pollutant dispersion dynamics. Extensive validation with data from the Hanford experiment has demonstrated the accuracy of this solution in simulating pollutant concentrations. The results exhibit a strong correlation between projected and observed concentrations, underscoring the statistical reliability of our approach. This validation situates the statistical indices of our solution within an acceptable range, confirming its accuracy in predicting atmospheric pollutant dispersion. These findings thus establish our solution as a valid and effective method for studying complex environmental phenomena.

The effect of H2S with high concentrations on catalytic dry reforming of methane (DRM) process has seldom been focused on previously. Herein, a thermodynamic analysis of the DRM reactions in the presence of H2S with the concentration varying in 0-20 vol% was conducted firstly. Several typical types of catalysts including MgO, NiO/MgO and LaNiO3 in different states were prepared for executing DRM at 800 C, 0.1 MPa in the feed of 20 vol% CO2 and 20 vol% CH4 balanced with N2. The catalytic performance of each catalyst for DRM process under conditions of absence and presence of H2S was compared. A promotion effect of increasing H2S concentration on both the conversions of CO2 and CH4 and the molar yields of CO and H2 was observed on all the catalysts especially the MgO and the pristine NiO/MgO. While a significant decline in catalytic activity of either the reduced NiO/MgO or the reduced LaNiO3 catalyst after adding H2S, moderate reactant conversions still sustained. The results of process analysis and catalyst structure characterization suggest that H2S participation can contribute to the increment in CO2 and CH4 conversion, and active S-adsorbed species may play the key role of catalysis in the reactions involving H2S.

Berberis vulgaris (L.) has remarkable ethnopharmacological properties and is widely used in traditional medicine. The present study investigates B. vulgaris stem bark (Berberidis cortex) by extraction with 50% ethanol. The main secondary metabolites were quantified, resulting in a polyphenols content of 17.6780 ± 3.9320 mg Eq Tannic acid / 100 g extract, phenolic acids amount of 3.3886 ± 0.3481 mg Eq Chlorogenic acid / 100 g extract and 78.95 µg/g berberine. The dried hydro-ethanolic extract (BVE) was thoroughly analyzed using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC–HRMS/MS) and HPLC and 40 bioactive phenolic constituents were identified. Then, the antioxidant potential of BVE was evaluated using three methods; our results could explain the protective effects of Berberidis cortex EC50FRAP = 0.1398 mg/mL, IC50ABTS = 0.0442 mg/mL, IC50DPPH = 0.2610 mg/mL compared to ascorbic acid (IC50 = 0.0165 mg/mL). Next, the acute toxicity and teratogenicity of BVE and Berberine - Berberine sulfate hydrate (BS) - investigated on Daphnia sp reported significant BS toxicity after 24 h; BVE revealed considerable toxicity after 48 hours and induced embryonic developmental delays. Finally, the anticancer effects of BVE and BS were evaluated on different tumor cell lines after 24 and 48 hours of treatments. The MTS assay evidenced a dose- and time-dependent antiproliferative activity, higher on BS than BVE. The strongest diminution of tumor cell viability was recorded on breast (MDA-MB-231), colon (LoVo) cancer, and OSCC (PE/CA-PJ49) cell lines after 48 h of exposure (IC50 &lt; 100 µg/mL). However, no cytotoxicity was reported on normal epithelial cells (HUVEC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HT-29) cell lines. Extensive data analysis supports our results, showing a significant correlation between the BVE's concentration, phenolic compounds content, antioxidant activity, exposure time, and the viability rate of various normal cells and cancer cell lines.

This article presents a study conducted within a wind tunnel to enhance understanding of the excitation mechanism of stay cable vibration under arid conditions. Numerous wind tunnel tests were meticulously analyzed. Initially, the vibration of the stay cable was measured under steady flow conditions at a flow angle of 45 degrees and an inclination of 25 degrees, while varying wind velocities were applied. Additionally, an investigation into the flow field surrounding the stay cable was conducted in both vertical and horizontal directions. By utilizing two hot wire anemometers in the cable wake, an extensive database of flow field measurements was obtained. The experimental results revealed that the vibration characteristics of the stay cable under the arid conditions considered in this study aligned with findings reported in existing literature. Notably, a deeper comprehension of the excitation mechanism of a stay cable in a dry state was attained. This mechanism is closely associated with the inhibition of Karman vortices and the development of low-frequency vortices. At low wind speeds, Karman vortices predominated, resulting in small-amplitude vibrations. However, as the wind speed increased, the influence of Karman vortices diminished progressively, while the low-frequency vortices grew stronger. These low-frequency vortices exhibited high energy and a significant correlation with shedding along the stay cable, thereby inducing cable vibration in a dry environment.

Forces and mechanical energy are prevalent in living cells. This may be because forces and mechanical energy preceded chemical energy at life’s origins. Mechanical energy is more readily available in non-living systems than the various other forms of energy used by living systems. Two possible prebiotic environments that might have provided mechanical energy are hot pools that experience wet/dry cycles and mica sheets as they move, open and shut, as heat pumps or in response to water movements.

Corn fiber is a co-product of commercial ethanol dry-grind plants, which is processed into distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and used as animal feed, yet it holds high potential to be used as feedstock for additional ethanol production. Due to the tight structural make-up of corn fiber, a pretreatment step is necessary to make the cellulose and hemicellulose polymers in the solid fibrous matrix more accessible to the hydrolytic enzymes. A pretreatment process was developed in which whole corn kernels were soaked in aqueous solutions of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 wt% ammonia at 105oC for 24 h. The pretreated corn then was subjected to a conventional mashing procedure and subsequently ethanol fermentation using a commercial strain of natural Saccharomyces cerevisiae with addition of a commercial cellulase. Pretreatment of the corn with 7.5 wt% ammonia solution plus cellulase addition gave highest ethanol production, which improved the yield in fermentation using 25 wt% solid from 334 g ethanol/kg corn obtained in the control (no pretreatment and no cellulase addition) to 379 g ethanol/kg corn (a 14% increase). The process developed can potentially be implemented in existing dry-grind ethanol facilities as a “bolt-on” process for additional ethanol production from corn fiber, and this additional ethanol can then qualify as “cellulosic ethanol” by the EPA’s Renewable Fuels Standard and thereby receive RINS (Renewable Identification Numbers).

This paper gives a new unified formula for the Newtonian fluids valid for all pipe flow regimes from laminar to the fully rough turbulent. It includes laminar, unstable sharp jump from laminar to turbulent, and all types of the turbulent regimes: smooth turbulent regime, partial non-fully developed turbulent and fully developed rough turbulent regime. The formula follows the inflectional form of curves as suggested in Nikuradse’s experiment rather than monotonic shape proposed by Colebrook and White. The composition of the proposed unified formula consists of switching functions and of the interchangeable formulas for laminar, smooth turbulent and fully rough turbulent flow. The proposed switching functions provide a smooth and a computationally cheap transition among hydraulic regimes. Thus, the here presented formulation represents a coherent hydraulic model suitable for engineering use. The model is compared to existing literature models, and shows smooth and computationally cheap transitions among hydraulic regimes.

Today, Colebrook’s equation is mostly accepted as an informal standard for modeling of turbulent flow in hydraulically smooth and rough pipes including transient zone in between. The empirical Colebrook’s equation relates the unknown flow friction factor (λ) with the known Reynolds number (R) and the known relative roughness of inner pipe surface (ε/D). It is implicit in unknown friction factor (λ). Implicit Colebrook’s equation cannot be rearranged to derive friction factor (λ) directly and therefore it can be solved only iteratively [λ=f(λ, R, ε/D)] or using its explicit approximations [λ≈f(R, ε/D)]. Of course, approximations carry in certain error compared with the iterative solution where the highest level of accuracy can be reached after enough number of iterations. The explicit approximations give a relatively good prediction of the friction factor (λ) and can reproduce accurately Colebrook’s equation and its Moody’s plot. Usually, more complex models of approximations are more accurate and vice versa. In this paper, numerical values of parameters in various existing approximations are changed (optimized) using genetic algorithms to reduce maximal relative error. After this improvement computational burden stays unchanged while accuracy of approximations increases in some of the cases very significantly.

The focus of our study was the changes in the composition of semi-natural dry grasslands in Hungary. Since these valuable habitats were created with the help of humans, their preservation also requires regular treatment. Our mowing experiment aimed to investigate the suppression of the native Calamagrostis epigejos L. Roth. In Hungary, in the Cserhát Mountains, eight permanent plots were mowed twice a year. The vegetation was sampled annually between 2001 and 2011. The effects of mowing were investigated with repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). After 10 years, the C. epigejos cover of the mowed plots decreased significantly, from the initial average of 62.38 to 7.50%. Surprisingly, we also experienced a similar decrease in the control plots. Regular treatment also had a positive effect on the number of species and diversity. Species richness increased continuously in both treatment types, which indicates the combined effect of vegetation succession and treatment. The biomass growth of other Poaceae and Fabaceae species, which are important from a grassland management perspective, was also facilitated by mowing. Our results suggest that long-term in situ experiments and continuous botanical studies are needed to establish a reliable utilization of grasslands.

Knowing, with reasonable accuracy, the dry matter (DM) content of Hass avocado fruit will help determine when the fruit must be harvested. The reliability of predictive models based on near infrared spectra for DM quantification depends on the ability of the spectra to be representative of the DM gradient within a whole fruit. The aim of this work was to develop a methodology to determine the optimum number of spectra to develop a robust model for DM content quantification. Three spectra were recorded for each zone of the intact fruit: peduncle, equator, and base. Each scanning point was sampled, and the DM content was determined using oven drying. Two-way ANOVA confirmed the DM gradient within the whole fruit. This gradient was observed within spectra using the RMS (root mean square) criterion and PCA. The PLS models showed that at least one spectrum per zone could be enough to construct an efficient and robust model for dry matter quantification.

Traditional dry fermented meat products are obtained artisanally in many countries, where they represent a gastronomic heritage well distinguished from industrial counterparts. This food category is most often obtained from red meat, a food commodity that is under attack because of evidences of increased risk of cancer and degenerative diseases with high consumption. However, traditional fermented meat products are intended for moderate consumption and gastronomic experience and, as such, their production must be continued also to safeguard culture and economy of the geographical areas of origin. In this review, the main risks attributed to these products are considered and how these risks are minimized by following precise production norms, respectful of the ancient manufacturing processes is described. Moreover, results obtained in studies reporting use of autochthonous microbial cultures of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS), Debaryomyces hansenii and Penicillium nalgiovense to improve safety and quality of traditional fermented meats are summarized. The role of these products as a source of microorganisms that can be beneficial to the host are also considered. From the results of the studies reviewed here it appears that the development of autochthonous cultures for these foods ensure safety and stabilize sensory characteristics with possibility to be extended to the large variety of traditional productions.

Mechanical forces and mechanical energy are prevalent in living cells. This may be because mechanical forces and mechanical energy preceded chemical energy at life’s origins. Mechanical energy is more readily available in non-living systems than the various forms of chemical energy used by living systems. Two possible prebiotic environments that might have provided mechanical energy are hot pools that experience wet/dry cycles and mica sheets as they move, open and shut, as heat pumps or in response to water movements.

This paper presents an overview of the smart electro-clothing systems (SeCSs) targeted at health monitoring, sports benefits, fitness tracking, and social activities. Technical features of the available SeCSs, covering both textile and electronic components, are thoroughly discussed and their applications in the industry and research purposes have been highlighted. In addition, it also presents the developments in the associated areas of wearable sensor systems and textile-based dry sensors. As it became evident during the literature research, such a review on SeCSs covering all relevant issues has not been presented before. This paper will be particularly helpful for new generation researchers investigating the design, development, function and comforts of the sensor integrated clothing materials.

This review paper gives Excel functions for highly precise Colebrook’s pipe flow friction approximations developed by users. All shown codes are implemented as User Defined Functions – UDFs written in Visual Basic for Applications – VBA, a common programming language for MS Excel spreadsheet solver. Accuracy of the friction factor computed using nine to date the most accurate explicit approximations is compared with the sufficiently accurate solution obtained through an iterative scheme which gives satisfying results after sufficient number of iterations. The codes are given for the presented approximations, for the used iterative scheme and for the Colebrook equation expressed through the Lambert W-function (including its cognate Wright ω-function). The developed code for the principal branch of the Lambert W-function has additional and more general application for solving different problems from variety branches of engineering and physics. The approach from this review paper automates computational processes and speeds up manual tasks.

Bioimpedance imaging aims to generate a 3D map of the resistivity and permittivity of biologi-cal tissue from multiple impedance channels measured with electrodes applied to the skin. When the electrodes are distributed around the body (for example, by delineating a cross-section of the chest or a limb), bioimpedance imaging is called electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and results in 2D functional images. Conventional EIT systems rely on individually cabling each electrode to master electronics in a star configuration. This approach works well for rack-mounted equipment; however, the bulkiness of the cabling is unsuitable for a wearable system. Previously presented cooperative sensors solve this cabling problem using active (dry) elec-trodes connected via a two-wire parallel bus. The bus can be implemented with two unshielded wires or even two conductive textile layers, thus replacing the cumbersome wiring of the con-ventional star arrangement. Prior research demonstrated cooperative sensors for measuring bi-oimpedances, successfully realizing a measurement reference signal, sensor synchronization, and data transfer though still relying on individual batteries to power the sensors. Subsequent research using cooperative sensors for biopotential measurements proposed a method to re-move batteries from the sensors and have the central unit supply power over the two-wire bus. Building off our previous research, this paper presents this method applied to the measurements of bioimpedances. Two different approaches are discussed, one using discrete, commercially available components, and the other with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Initial experimental results reveal that both approaches are feasible, but the ASIC approach offers ad-vantages for medical safety, as well as lower power consumption and smaller size.

In recent years, the interaction between adiponectin (APN), a versatile fat-associated adipokines, and eye disorders has become a captivating focus of interest. Unveiling the intricate relationship between APN and its receptors (AdipoRs) with aging eye disorders has emerged as a fascinating frontier in medical research. This review article delves into this captivating connection, illuminating the hidden influence of adipocytokine, APN on retinal health. This comprehensive review critically examines the latest findings and breakthroughs that underscore the pivotal roles of APN/AdipoRs signaling in maintaining ocular homeostasis and protecting against eye ailments. Here, we meticulously explore the intriguing mechanisms by which APN protein influences retinal function, lens clarity, and overall visual acuity. Drawing from an extensive array of cutting-edge studies, the article highlights APN's multifaceted functions, ranging from anti-inflammatory properties and oxidative stress reduction to angiogenic regulation within retinal and macula tissues. The involvement of APN/AdipoRs in mediating these effects opens up novel avenues for potential therapeutic interventions targeting prevalent aging eye conditions. Moreover, this review unravels the interplay between APN signaling pathways and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The single-cell RNA seq results validate the expression of both the receptor isoform (AdipoR1/R2) in retinal cells. The transcriptomic analysis showed lower expression of AdipoR1/2 in dry AMD pathogenesis compared to healthy subjects. The inhibitory peptide (APN1) demonstrated over 75% suppression of CNV, whereas the control peptide did not exert any inhibitory effect on CNV. The elucidation of these relationships fosters a deeper under-standing of adipose tissue's profound influence on ocular health, presenting new prospects for personalized treatments and preventative measures. In conclusion, "Obesity Hormone's Role in Aging Eyes: Linking Adiponectin/AdipoRs to AMD" provides a captivating journey into the enthralling world of APN intertwining the realms of adipose biology and aged ophthalmology.

Current dry powder formulations for inhalation deposit a large fraction of their emitted dose in the upper respiratory tract where they contribute to off-target adverse effects and variability in lung delivery. The purpose of current study is to design a new formulation concept that more effectively targets inhaled dry powders to the large and small airways. The formulations are based on adhesive mixtures of drug nanoparticles and nanoleucine carrier particles prepared by spray drying of a co-suspension of leucine and drug particles from a nonsolvent. The physicochemical and aerosol properties of the resulting formulations are presented. The formulations achieve 93% lung delivery in the Alberta Idealized Throat model that is independent of inspiratory flow rate and relative humidity. Largely eliminating URT deposition with a particle size larger than solution pMDIs is expected to improve delivery to the large and small airways, while minimizing alveolar deposition and particle exhalation.

The present review focuses on recent clinical trials that analyze the efficacy of intravitreal therapeutic agents for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), such as neuroprotective drugs, and complement inhibitors, also called immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory. A systematic literature search was performed to identify randomized controlled trials published prior to January 2019. Patients affected by dry AMD treated with intravitreal therapeutic agents were included. The changes in the correct visual acuity and the reduction in geographic atrophy progression were evaluated. Several new drugs have shown some promising results, including those targeting the complement cascade and agents called neuroprotective. The action potential of the two groups of drugs is to block the complement cascade model for immunomodulating agents, and prevent the degeneration and apoptosis of ganglion cells for the neuroprotectors, respectively. To the best of knowledge, and after extensive studies on the matter, there are still many investigations to be carried out on dry AMD in collaboration between researchers. They will have to identify truly effective molecules, understand the practical potential of pluripotent stem cells, and refine gene therapies. Only in-depth clinical trials will be able to allow the most appropriate and personalized treatments for each dry AMD patient.

An energy production system consisting solar collector, biogas dry reforming reactor and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) was assumed to be installed in Kolkata, India. This study aims to understand the impact of climate condition on the performance of solar collectors with different lengths of parabolic trough solar collector (dx) and mass flow rate of heat transfer fluid (m). In addition, this study has evaluated the amount of H2 produced by biogas dry reforming (GH2), the amount of power generated by SOFC (PSOFC) and the maximum possible households (N) whose electricity demand could be met by the energy system proposed, considering the performance of solar collector with the different dx and m. As a result, the optimum dx was found to be 4 m. This study revealed that temperature of heat transfer fluid (Tfb) decreased with the increase in m. Tfb in March, April and May was higher than that in other months, while Tfb from June to December was the lowest. GH2, PSOFC and N in March, April and May were higher than that in other months irrespective of m. The optimum m was 0.030 kg/s.

The various methods used to choose the profile shift coefficients, primarily the so-called equalizations, were based on assumed advantages without physical evidence proving them. In this paper a new calculation method is presented for determining profile shift coefficient. The procedure gives the pair of values ​​of the profile shift coefficients, in which case, under the given load, the resulting bending stress will be of the lowest possible value.

The emergence of cloud computing, big data analytics, and machine learning has catalysed the use of remote sensing technologies to enable more timely land management of sustainability indicators such as ground cover and grassland biomass, given the uncertainty of future climate and drought conditions. Here, we examine the potential of “regenerative agriculture”, as an adaptive grazing management strategy to minimise bare ground exposure while maximising pasture biomass productivity. High-intensity sheep grazing treatments were conducted in small fields (less than 1 hectare) for short durations (typically less than 1 day). Paddocks were subsequently spelled to allow pasture biomass recovery (treatments comprising 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months) with each compared with control treatments with lighter stocking rates for longer periods (2,000 DSE). Pastures were composed of wallaby grass (Austrodanthonia species), kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra), Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica, and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) were destructively sampled to estimate total standing dry matter (TSDM), standing green biomass, standing dry biomass and trampled biomass. We then invoked a machine learning model using Sentinel-2 imagery to quantify TSDM, standing green biomass and standing dry biomass. Faced with La Nina conditions, regenerative grazing did not significantly impact pasture productivity, with all treatments showing similar TSDM and green biomass. However, regenerative treatments significantly impacted litter fall and trampled material, with the high intensity grazing treatments causing more dry matter trampling, increasing litter, enhancing decomposition rates and surface organic matter. Pasture digestibility was greatest for treatments with minimal spelling (3 months), whereas both standing senescent and trampled material were significantly greater for the treatment with 15-month spell periods. Estimates of TSDM using machine learning with Sentinel-2 imagery underestimated TSDM in treatment plots but explained spatiotemporal variability associated within and across treatments. The root mean square error between the measured and modelled TSDM was 903 kg DM/ha, which was less than the variability measured in the field. We conclude that regenerative grazing with short recovery periods (3-6 months) are most conducive to increasing pasture production under high rainfall conditions, and we speculate that high intensity grazing is likely to positively impact on soil organic carbon through increased litterfall and trampling. Our study paves the way forward for using machine learning with satellite imagery to quantify pasture biomass at small scales, enabling management of pastures from afar.

A model of space-time is presented, whose origin is set before the appearance of any universe. It uses concepts of previous work, a central one being that the information about the laws of nature is stored locally everywhere in space such that all physical processes obey them. Since information storage is bound to matter or energy, space is assumed to consist of dark energy (DE), which thus assumes an importance far beyond its function as a stopgap for an energy deficit in our universe ( U ). The primordial state (PS) is a timeless and relatively large space of 3 dimensions described by a Wheeler DeWitt (WDW) equation, whose solution is interpreted as an arrangement of very many space quanta and possesses properties that remind of the time-honored concept of the unmoved mover. The comparison of WDW solutions belonging to different mass densities of the DE favors one in which the space quanta are mini black holes. This allows the space quanta to be imagined as mass points which are kept at a distance compatible with the quantum volume by the Pauli principle or something equivalent. Triggered by a dramatic increase in probability, the PS is followed by a time-controlled sequence of quantized expansion states (ES i ). The concomitant emergence of time occurs in a lightning huge crash, consuming almost all DE of the PS. The subsequent quantized ES i emerge from a WDW equation, novelly derived from a solution of the modified cosmic momentum equation, which classically describes an exponential space expansion (CS). The huge volme of the ES i is also used as size of the PS. Information is assumed to be geometrically stored in arrangements of space quanta similar to how genetic information is stored in DNA molecules. During the CS information must be transferred from already existing "information quanta" to new ones. This requires time, slows down the expansion and is taken into account by a friction term in the cosmological momentum equation thus modified. Since the Friedmann-Lemaître (FL) equation remains fully valid, the model is widely based on recognized equations, so that some results may be understood as interpretations.

Fourteen Russian potato cultivars (cvs.) grown for three years in field plots of VIR (Northwestern region of the Russian Federation) were evaluated for productivity and a number of biochemical parameters of tubers. The 12 parameters that have been evaluated in tubers annually one month after harvesting and after cold storage (at 2 - 4°C) include the content of dry matter, starch, protein, ascorbic acid, carotenoids and β-carotene, anthocyanins, total sugars and monosaccharides (reducing sugars), phenolic compounds, as well as total acidity, and antioxidant activity. The cultivars differed significantly in productivity and biochemical composition of tubers. Dry matter content ranged from 16.40% in cv. ʻKumachʼ to 27.28% in ʻNayadaʼ, starch content ranged from 8.96 % in cvs. ʻFioletovyjʼ, ʻKumachʼ to 20.08% in ‘Sokur’, the total sugar content reached 2.46% in cv. ʻSiverskij’ whereas ‘Sokur’ has the smallest content of reducing sugars in post-harvest tubers. Protein content ranged from 1.02% to 2.77% with the highest accumulation in cv. ʻSokurʼ. Content of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) ranged from 6.3 mg/100 g FW in ʻKrasa Meŝeryʼ to 26.6 mg/100 g FW in cv. ʻKrasavchikʼ. Carotenoids content ranged from 0.157 mg/100 g FW in cv. ‘Nayada’ to 0.645 mg/100 g FW in cv. ʻGrandʼ. Content of anthocyanins in potato ranged from 1.04 mg/100g FW (not colored tubers of cv. ʻKrasa Meŝeryʼ) to 283.04 mg/100g FW (colored tubers of cv. ʻFioletovyiʼ). The nutritional value of tubers (content of dry matter, sugars, starch and protein) was determined to a greater extent (38-49%) by varietal characteristics, rather than by meteorological conditions in vegetation period. The content of vitamin C, carotenoids, protein and anthocyanins varied depending on the year. The highest content of dry matter, starch and carotenoids was noted in tubers harvested in 2019, marked by low temperatures and precipitation deficit in growing season. The conditions of 2020 with low temperatures and excess precipitation were the most favorable for anthocyanin’s accumulation in potato tubers while not for other biochemical parameters. Of the cultivars, ʻSokurʼ had the highest content of dry matter, protein and starch. Cv. ʻFioletovyiʼ had small starch content and high level of anthocyanins. Cv. ʻPlamyaʼ can be recommended for potato products manufacturing due to dry matter content above 20% and reducing sugars content 0.24%..

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)/ Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) polymer nanocomposite films have been prepared, and the relationship between their structural, thermal and nanoscale morphologi-cal properties, and their photoluminescent response, has been investigated. Although according to X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) the incorporation of GQDs does not significantly affect the percentage crystallinity of the PVA matrix, for a range of added GQD concentrations, Atomic Force Micros-copy (AFM) showed the formation of islands with apparent crystalline morphology on the surface of the PVA/GQD films, with GQD presumably acting as a nucleating agent for island growth. The incorporation of GQD also led to the formation of characteristic surface pores with increased stiffness and frictional contrast, according to Ultrasonic Force Microscopy (UFM) and Frictional Force Microscopy (FFM) data. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the films were found to de-pend both on the amount of GQD incorporated and on the film morphology. For GQD loads > 1,2wt%, a GQD-related band was observed at ~ 1650 cm-1 in FT-IR, along with an increase in the PL band at lower energy. For a load of ~2wt% GQD, the surface morphology was characterized by extended cluster aggregates with lower stiffness and friction than the surrounding matrix, and the PL signal decreased.

Pavement friction plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of road networks. Accurately assessing friction levels is vital for effective pavement maintenance and management strategies employed by state highway agencies. Traditionally, friction evaluations have been conducted on a case-by-case basis, focusing on specific road sections. However, this approach fails to provide a comprehensive assessment of friction conditions across the entire road network. This paper introduces a hybrid clustering algorithm, namely the combination of density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) and Gaussian mixture model (GMM), to perform pavement friction performance rating across a statewide road network. A large, safety-oriented dataset is first generated by integrating network friction and vehicle crash data based on the attributes contributing possibly to friction related crashes. One-, two-, and multi-dimensional clustering analyses, respectively, are then performed to rate pavement friction. The Chi-square test is further employed to validate and identify the practical ratings. It is shown that by effectively capturing the hidden, intricate patterns within the integrated, complex dataset and prioritizing friction-related safety attributes, the hybrid clustering algorithm can produce pavement friction ratings that align effectively with the current practices of the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) in friction management.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disorder in which tear fluid homeostasis is lost, resulting in increased tear film osmolarity and ocular surface irritation. In Asia, the short tear film breakup time type-DED is common, and stabilization of the tear film is the first goal of treatment. Treatment of DED begins with eye drops. Until now, artificial tears and steroid eye drops have been the main treatment for DED. However, artificial tears require frequent administration of eye drops and thus pose adherence problems, while steroids have problems with side effects (cataracts, increased intraocular pressure). This review evaluates the new generation of DED therapies in Asia based on what is known about them and demonstrates that they are more effective for DED than traditional therapies such as artificial tears and steroids. Based on these considerations, it is proposed that the optimal treatment for DED in Asia is the initial application of mucin secretion enhancing eye drops (long-acting diquafosol) and oral supplements, and if additional treatment is needed, cyclosporine eye drops and the adjunctive therapies presented in this review are added.

A controlled ammonia (NH₃) release experiment was performed at a grassland site to quantify the effect of dry deposition, at the field scale between the source and the receptors (NH₃ measurement locations), on the estimates of emission rates by means of inverse dispersion modelling. NH₃ was released for 3 hours at a constant rate of Q = 6.29 mg s⁻¹ from a grid of 36 orifices spread over an area of 250 m². The increase in line-integrated NH₃ concentration was measured with open-path optical miniDOAS devices at different locations downwind of the artificial source. Using a backward Lagrangian stochastic (bLS) dispersion model (bLSmodelR), the fraction of the modelled release rate to the emitted NH₃ (Q_bLS/Q) was calculated from the measurements of the individual instruments. Q_bLS/Q was found to be systematically lower than 1, on average between 0.69 and 0.91, depending on the location of the receptor. We hypothesized that NH₃ dry deposition to grass and soil surfaces was the main factor responsible for the observed depletion of NH₃ between source and receptor. A dry deposition algorithm based on a deposition velocity approach was included in the bLS modelling. Model deposition velocities were evaluated from a ‘big‑leaf’ canopy resistance analogy. Canopy resistances (generally termed Rc) that provided Q_bLS/Q = 1 ranged from 75 to 290 s m⁻¹, showing that surface removal of NH₃ by dry deposition can plausibly explain the original underestimation of Q_bLS/Q. The inclusion of a dry deposition process in dispersion modelling is crucial for emission estimates, which are based on concentration measurements of depositing tracers downwind of homogeneous area sources or heterogeneously distributed hot spots, such as e.g. urine patches on pastures in the case of NH₃.

This study investigates the application of deep residual networks for predicting the dynamics of interacting three-dimensional rigid bodies. We present a framework combining a 3D physics simulator implemented in C++ with a deep learning model constructed using PyTorch. The simulator generates training data encompassing linear and angular motion, elastic collisions, fluid friction, gravitational effects, and damping. Our deep residual network, consisting of an input layer, multiple residual blocks, and an output layer, is designed to handle the complexities of 3D dynamics. We evaluate the network's performance using a dataset of 10,000 simulated scenarios, each involving 3-5 interacting rigid bodies. The model achieves a mean squared error of 0.015 for position predictions and 0.022 for orientation predictions, representing a 25% improvement over baseline methods. Our results demonstrate the network's ability to capture intricate physical interactions, with particular success in predicting elastic collisions and rotational dynamics. This work significantly contributes to physics-informed machine learning by showcasing the immense potential of deep residual networks in modeling complex 3D physical systems. We discuss our approach's limitations and propose future directions for improving generalization to more diverse object shapes and materials.

This paper studies the evaporative heat transfer characteristics of R744 at low temperatures in a horizontal smooth tube as a cascade refrigeration system (CRS) among hybrid cascade refrigeration systems (HCRSs). There is a lack of research on the low-temperature evaporative heat transfer characteristics of R744 under the operating conditions of evaporators used in actual CRSs used in supermarkets. Therefore, this study aims to provide basic data on the evaporative heat transfer characteristics of R744 in the evaporators of refrigerators used in supermarkets. The tube used in the evaporation experiment conducted herein was a smooth horizontal copper tube with an inner diameter and length of 11.46 mm and 8000 mm, respectively. The experimental pa-rameters were as follows: heat fluxes of 12–21.5 kW/m2, mass fluxes of 75–225 kg/(m2·s), and saturation temperatures of −50–−30 °C. The main results are summarized as follows. (1) When designing the R744 evaporator, the mass and heat fluxes must be maximized within the operating conditions, and the saturation temperature must be designed to be as low as possible. (2) The evaporative heat transfer coefficient of R744 can be predicted well by using the correlation formula of Chen at the evaporation temperature of −40 °C in the CRS.

Solid-phase joining is a technique used to fuse two materials by applying heat and pressure, causing plastic deformation without reaching the melting point. This method is applicable for similar and dissimilar materials, including metals, polymers, and ceramics, without the need for filler material. Among the various methods, Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is preferred for joining dissimilar materials due to its solid-state process, which enhances mechanical properties, metallurgical compatibility, and reduces distortion. FSW is particularly effective for materials with significant differences in melting points. The current project focuses on assessing the strength and mechanical properties of FSW joints between aluminum and polymer-based composites. FSW was selected for its ability to produce fine-grained, strong welds free from fusion-related defects such as porosity and cracks. Applications in sectors like automotive, aerospace, and shipbuilding are explored, with impact, hardness, and tensile tests conducted to evaluate joint performance. This comprehensive study includes literature review, fabrication, testing, and tool design to ensure a thorough understanding of dissimilar joint properties.

The aim of the studies was to test the hydraulic pressure losses along the length, local pressure losses, absolute and relative roughness values of the pipeline walls made of modern polymer material. The article presents the results of the experimental studies of hydraulic resistance of pipelines from modern polymer materials, the method of theoretical determination of resistance coefficients in the VALTEC ISO 21003 metal polymer pipeline, the classification and method of determining the values of local hydraulic resistance coefficients of T-Junctions are given, the dependence for determining the Darcy λ hydraulic friction coefficient associated with the value of the equivalent hydraulic roughness coefficient of the inner surface of pipes and the Reynolds number. The experimental data of the hydraulic coefficient of friction Darcy λ was compared with the known theoretical relationships of A.D. Altschul, Colbrooke for smooth pipes, Colbrooke and White, an alternative to the Colbrooke-White, Offengenden equation for low-shear pipes and pipes from polymer materials with Reynolds numbers Re>10^4. Dependence of hydraulic coefficient of friction on relative equivalent roughness of pipeline walls and Reynolds number, specific energy loss per one linear meter on total flow rate in system of hydraulically short pipeline is obtained. The empirical dependence of values of coefficients of local resistance ζ=f(Q2/Q3) from a ratio of the divided expenses of Q2/Q3 of the equal-pass T-Junction α=90 the pipeline to a branch up, on pass in the direct T-Junction and division of streams at various internal pipeline diameters of VALTEC.

Increased screen time during the COVID-19 pandemic and the accelerated incorporation of technology into daily practices have directly contributed to the increased prevalence of eye disease. The human eye is not built for continual technological use and must adjust to exposure to digital screens. Overexposure to technology can result in eye strain and an increased risk of eye diseases such as myopia with complications later in life, including retinal tears, cataracts, and macular degeneration. As vision and ocular diseases become more prevalent, the study of eye diseases, including their causes and treatments, is especially relevant. There is a need to prevent ocular diseases before they become a burden to individuals, their families, and their communities by better understanding the pathophysiology of ocular diseases. Several ocular diseases are thought to be caused by imbalances in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and autophagy. ROS refers to a class of highly reactive oxygen-containing molecules that can undergo damaging reactions with other molecules in the cell. Autophagy is a cellular process of self-eating whereby damaged, harmful, or dead material in cells is broken down to maintain cellular homeostasis. This paper discusses the role of ROS and autophagy in the pathogenesis of computer vision syndrome (CVS), digital eye strain (DES), myopia, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), optic nerve crush injury (OCN), optic nerve gliomas, and retinoblastoma. Lifestyle changes such as limiting screen time, ensuring adequate exposure to evening sunlight, and using blue light protection measures or protective eyewear are important in the prevention of eye disease. Nutrition also contributes significantly to eye health. A balanced diet rich in vitamins and antioxidants may help to prevent ROS and autophagy imbalance-induced eye disease. Medical and surgical treatments become necessary when preventative measures fail. This paper also addresses how government measures to decrease the onset of eye disease, including targeted programs to increase access to fresh vegetables and fruits in food deserts, are a critical macro-level avenue to reduce eye disease prevalence in the US, which according to the National Eye Institute, costs $139 billion yearly.