Erosion caused by the repeated impact of particles on a substance surface is a usual wear method resulting in gradual and continual loss of objects. It is a crucial problem in several modern industries because their surfaces are frequently subjected to destructive erosive situations. Polymers and their hybrid materials include several applications to be used as a coating in the form of powder for different applications. This review paper aims to provide extensive information on the erosion behavior of thermoset and thermoplastic neat resin and their hybrid materials composites. Focus is specifically paid to highlight the influence of properties of selected materials, impingnation parameters such as incident Angle of erodent, impact velocity of erodent, erodent nature, and the erosion mechanism. The review further extends the information about the erosion techniques and numerical simulation methods used for wear studies of surfaces. An investigation has been carried out for researchers to explore the selection of materials and methods in terms of conditions and parameters to meet the current and future needs and challenges for the protection of surfaces of the advanced industries. During review according to the findings achieved from the literature of the past fifty years, it has been noted that the thermoplastic nature of the composite is a key component to determine the anti-wear properties, the composites with lower glass transition, higher ductility, and greater crystallinity can provide better protection to erosion in advance surface applications.

The preservation of the authenticity of a building artefact is a responsible practice. On the other side, the need to save the building artefact from the natural and anthropic degradation, to ensure the structural reliability to the different actions, to define an efficient maintenance program are big challenges, that involves the cooperation of several professionals, responsible use of innovative techniques and materials that are nowadays available. This paper focuses on a specific design approach for the rehabilitation works of ancient constructions in archaeological sites. The proposed conceptual design approach implies different steps that allow the optimization of the design at an increasing level of knowledge on the existing structures and their materials. The design procedure on historical constructions generally includes the following steps: the collection of data, the structural identification, hazard, and vulnerability analysis, damage and risk analysis, a cost-benefit analysis, so only at the end of the process, the final design is achieved. In the archaeological area, some important design aspects cannot be defined before the execution work phase, since some elements could be revealed and identified during work execution, as a consequence, the final design has been often optimized after all this information has been acquired. A studied case in the archaeological site of Pompeii is herein presented to prove the efficiency of the proposed approach.

Pasmo is one of the most widespread diseases threatening flax production. To identify genetic regions associated with pasmo resistance (PR), a genome-wide association study was performed on 370 accessions from the flax core collection. Evaluation of pasmo severity was performed in the field from 2012 to 2016 in Morden, MB, Canada. Genotyping-by-sequencing has identified 258,873 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distributed on all 15 flax chromosomes. Marker-trait associations were identified using ten different statistical models. A total of 692 unique quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) associated with 500 putative quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected from six phenotypic PR datasets (five individual years and average across years). Different QTNs were identified with various statistical models and from individual PR datasets, indicative of the complementation between analytical methods and/or genotype × environment interactions of the QTL effects. The single-locus models tended to identify large-effect QTNs while the multi-loci models were able to detect QTNs with smaller effects. Among the putative QTL, 67 had large effects (3-23%), were stable across all datasets and explained 32-64% of the total variation for PR in the various datasets. Forty-five of these QTL spanned 85 resistance gene analogs including a large toll interleukin receptor, nucleotide-binding site, leucine-rich repeat (TNL) type gene cluster on chromosome 8. The number of positive effect QTL (NPQTL) in accessions was significantly correlated with PR (R²=0.55), suggesting additive effects. NPQTL was also significantly associated with morphotype (R²=0.52) and major positive effect QTL were present in the fiber type accessions. The 67 large effect QTL are suited for marker-assisted selection and the 500 QTL for effective genomic prediction in PR molecular breeding.

This research is completed in development of researches devoted to relations between elastic modulus (MoE) and thermal expansivity (CTe) of different materials. This study experimentally confirmed the relation of MoE and CTe for thermosetting polymers and FRPs both under normal and heating temperatures. As the thermosetting polymers, the epoxy compositions were used and glass fiber and mineral additives for FRP. The experiment was based on dilatometric and elastic deformations’ testing. Also, the relaxation model of MoE/CTe was proposed, that is based on physical properties of polymers’ supramolecular structures. The comparative analyzing of MoE/CTes’ different models is done. The most accurate models are determined, and the relaxation model has demonstrated the high accuracy.

(1) Background: Sensing of critical events or flow signatures in nature often presents itself as a coupled interaction between a fluid and arrays of slender flexible beams, such a wind-hairs or whiskers. It is hypothesized that important information is gained in highly noisy environments by the inter-correlation within the array. (2) Methods: The present study uses a model sea lion head with artificial whiskers in the form of slender beams (optical fibres), which are subjected to a mean flow with overlaid turbulent structures generated in the wake of a cylinder. Motion tracking of the array of fibres is used to analyse the correlation of the bending deformations of pairs of fibres. (3) Results: Cross-correlation of the bending signal from tandem pairs of whiskers proves that the detection of vortices and their passage along the animals head is possible even in noisy environments. The underlying pattern, during passage of a vortex core, is a jerk-like response of the whiskers, which can be found at later arrival-times in similar form in the downstream whisker's response. (4) Conclusion: Coherent vortical structures can be detected from cross-correlation of pairs of cantilever-beam like sensors even in highly turbulent flows. Such vortices carry important information within the environment, e.g. the underlying convection velocity. More importantly in nature, these vortices are characteristic elementary signals left by prey and predators. The present work can help to further develop flow, or critical event, sensory systems which can overcome high noise levels due to the proposed correlation principle.

Steel reinforcement in concrete has the tendency to corrode and this process can lead to structural damage. FRP reinforcement represents a viable alternative for structures exposed to aggressive environments and has many possible applications where superior corrosion resistance properties are required. The use of FRP rebars as internal reinforcements for concrete, however, is limited to specific structural elements and does not yet extend to the whole structure. The reasons for this relate to the limited availability of curved or shaped reinforcing elements on the market and their reduced structural performance. Various studies, in fact, have shown that the mechanical performance of bent portions of composite bars is reduced significantly under a multiaxial combination of stresses and that the tensile strength can be as low as 25% of the maximum tensile strength that can be developed in the straight part. In a significant number of cases, the current design recommendations for concrete structures reinforced with FRP, however, were found to overestimate the bend capacity of FRP rebar. This paper presents the state-of-the art review of the research works on the strength degradation in curved FRP composites and highlighted the performance of exiting predictive models for the bend capacity of FRP reinforcement. Recent practical predictive model based on the Tsai-Hill failure criteria by considering the material at marcromechanical level is also discussed and highlighted. The review also identifies the challenges and highlights the future directions of research to explore the use of shaped FRP composites in civil engineering applications and the trends for future research in this area.

Statistical denoising techniques have been well studied, however many challenges still remain. This 9 article focuses on determining the least necessary number of significant samples in a statistical pop-10 ulation sampling, while minimizing the impact on the statistical detection of the fiber Bragg grating 11 (FBG) power spectra. This is achieved by using Bayesian decision making, small population statis-12 tics while excluding false detection. First, we investigate the impact of two-sided sliding window 13 technique applied near the cell under the test. The window size varies from 8 to 60 samples. The 14 considered maximum size of population sampling is connected with the number of wavelength 15 samples within the bandwidth of the symmetrical FBG power spectra peaks. Regarding the sym-16 metry of FBG power spectra peaks and the possible reduction of computational demands, we inves-17 tigate the impact of a one-sided sliding window. This enables to achieve less processing latency for 18 real time applications thus brings benefits to FBG-based fiber optical sensing. Both, two- and one-19 sided small population sampling techniques are then experimentally verified. Detection results are 20 analyzed in depth via calculating detection thresholds by using the small size window sliding along-21 side the waveband. From results achieved, it was found that the normality three-sigma rule does 22 not need to be followed while using the small population sampling. Experimental demonstrations 23 and analyses showed that the proposed concept of denoising and statistical threshold detection 24 based on the sliding window does not depend on the prior knowledge of probability distribution 25 functions of the FBG power spectra peaks level and background noise. We have also found that the 26 thresholds’ adaptability mainly depends on the statistical numerical characteristics of the above ad-27 ditive mixture of the FBG power spectra peaks signals and background noise.

Spin-orbit coupling and nonparaxiality effects during propagation of vortex vector light beams in a cylindrical graded-index waveguide are investigated by solving the full three-component field Maxwell’s equations. Symmetry breaking effects for left- and right-handed circularly polarized vortex light beams propagating in a rotationally symmetric graded-index optical fiber are considered. The mode-group delay in a graded-index fiber due to spin-orbit interaction is demonstrated. It is shown that the relative delay times between vortex pulses of opposite circular polarizations of the order of 10 ps/km can be observed in graded-index fibers for high-order topological charges.

Glycosidic linkage analysis was conducted on the unfractionated polysaccharides in the alcohol-insoluble residues (AIRs) prepared from six red seaweeds (Gracilariopsis sp., Prionitis sp., Mastocarpus papillatus, Callophyllis sp., Mazzaella splendens, and Palmaria palmata) using GC-MS/FID analysis of partially methylated alditol acetates (PMAAs). The cell walls of P. palmata primarily contained mixed-linkage xylans and small amounts of sulfated galactans and cellulose. In contrast, the unfractionated polysaccharides of the other five species were rich in galactans displaying diverse 3,6-anhydro-galactose and galactose linkages with varied sulfation patterns. Different levels of cellulose were also observed. This glycosidic linkage method offers advantages for cellulose analysis over traditional monosaccharide analysis that is known for underrepresenting glucose in crystalline cellulose. Relative linkage compositions calculated from GC-MS and GC-FID measurements showed that anhydro sugar linkages generated more response in the latter detection method. This improved linkage workflow presents a useful tool for studying polysaccharide structural variations across red seaweed species. Furthermore, for the first time, relative linkage compositions from GC-MS and GC-FID measurements, along with normalized FID and total ion current (TIC) chromatograms without peak assignments, were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) as a proof-of-concept demonstration of the technique's potential to differentiate various red seaweed species.

Peripheral and autonomic neuropathy are common disease manifestations in systemic amyloidosis. Neurofilament light chain (NfL), a neuron-specific biomarker, is released into the blood and cerebrospinal fluid after neuronal damage. This systematic review provides an overview on the value of NfL in early detection of neuropathy, central nervous system involvement, monitoring of neuropathy progression, and treatment effect in systemic amyloidosis. A literature search in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science was performed on 14-02-2024 for studies investigating NfL levels in patients with systemic amyloidosis and transthyretin gene variant (TTRv) carriers. Only studies containing original data were included. Included were twelve full-text articles and six abstracts describing 1604 participants: 298 controls and 1306 TTRv carriers or patients with or without polyneuropathy. Patients with polyneuropathy demonstrated higher NfL levels compared to healthy controls and asymptomatic carriers. Disease onset was marked by rising NfL levels. Following initiation of transthyretin gene-silencer treatment, NfL levels decreased and remained stable over an extended period. NfL is not an outcome biomarker, but an early and sensitive disease process biomarker for neuropathy in systemic amyloidosis. Therefore, NfL has potential to be used for early detection of neuropathy, monitoring treatment effect, and monitoring disease progression in patients with systemic amyloidosis.

A paper impregnated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been prepared. For the preparation of the substrates, aqueous suspensions of pulp fines, a side product from the paper production, have been mixed with Ag nanoparticles (AgNP) suspensions. The nanoparticle synthesis thereof was carried out via laser ablation of pure Ag in water. After the sheet formation process, the leaching of the AgNPs was determined to be low while the sheets exhibited antimicrobial activity towards E. Coli.

Distributed deformation based on Fiber Bragg Grating sensors or other kinds of strain sensors can be used to evaluate safety in operating periods of bridges. However, most of the published researches about distributed deformation monitoring are focused on solid rectangular beam rather than box girder—a kind of typical hollow beam widely employed in actual bridges. Considering that the entire deformation of a single-cell box girder contains not only bending deflection but also two additional deformations respectively caused by shear lag and shearing action, this paper again revises the improved conjugated beam method (ICBM) based on the LFBG sensors to satisfy the requirements for monitoring two mentioned additional deformations. The best choice for the LFBG sensor placement in box gilder is also proposed in this paper due to strain fluctuation on flange caused by shear lag effect. Results from numerical simulations show that most of the theoretical monitoring errors of the revised ICBM are 0.3%~1.5%, and the maximum error is 2.4%. A loading experiment for a single-cell box gilder monitored by LFBG sensors show that most of the practical monitoring errors are 6%~8%, and the maximum error is 11%.

Spinal Cord (SC) Anatomy is often assimilated to a morphologically encapsulated neural entity, but its functional anatomy remains only partially understood. We hypothesized that it could be possible to reexplore SC neural networks by performing live electrostimulation mapping, based on “super-selective” Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS), originally designed as a therapeutical tool to address chronic refractory pain. As a starting point, we initiated a systematic SCS lead programming approach using live electrostimulation mapping on a chronic refractory perineal pain patient, previously implanted with multicolumn SCS at the level of the conus medullaris (T12-L1). It appeared possible to (re)explore the classical anatomy of the conus medullaris using statistical correlations of paresthesia coverage mappings, resulting from 165 different electrical configurations tested. We highlighted that sacral dermatomes were not only located more medially but also deeper than lumbar dermatomes at the level of the conus medullaris, in contrast with classical anatomical descriptions of SC somatotopical organization. As we were finally able to find a morpho-functional description of ‘Philippe-Gombault’s triangle’, in 19th century historical textbooks of neuroanatomy, matching remarkably with these conclusions, the concept of “Neuro-Fiber-Mapping” was introduced.

Synthetic fiber ropes are frequently used as mooring lines in floaters supporting Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWTs) due to their various advantages. Damages in these lines can lead to the disruption of the FOWTs normal operation and thus their early detection is crucial. Currently, this damage detection problem has been investigated exclusively for FOWT chain mooring lines. This study focuses on the damage detection in FOWT synthetic mooring lines under varying environmental-operational conditions (EOCs) via two types of vibration-based Structural Health Monitoring methods: those based on Multiple Models and those based on a single Functional Model. The methods are based on multivariate AutoRegressive or on scalar Transmittance Function (TF) AutoRegressive with eXogenous input models. All methods are evaluated through a Monte Carlo study involving 390 simulations with a 10MW wind turbine mounted on the semi-submersible OO-Star wind floater and two damage scenarios (10%, 14% stiffness reduction) to a single mooring line. The results using acceleration signals from only two measuring positions on the mooring line, indicate the great potential for robust SHM in FOWTs synthetic mooring lines with the TF model-based methods successfully detecting the considered early stage damage scenarios, even for EOCs not encountered in the methods training.

In this paper, based on the symmetrical reliability theory, a research method for the safety factor of overall overturning stability of continuous beam bridge under carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) during cantilever and horizontal rotation construction is proposed. Under the premise that the given target reliability index is known, the method solves the overall overturning stability safety factor of continuous beam bridge under carbon fiber reinforced polymers during cantilever and horizontal rotation construction by using the symmetrical reliability analysis theory and considering the randomness of structural parameters. This method is used to calculate the safety factor and the design reinforcement aera of CRFP of overturning stability and the design reinforcement aera of CRFP of a continuous beam bridge, and the parameters are analyzed. The calculation results show that the randomness of parameters will have a great impact on the overall safety factor and the CRFP aera of overturning stability of cantilever and horizontal rotation construction of continuous beam bridge, and ignoring the influence of randomness of parameters will lead to overestimation of the overall safety factor and underestimation of the CRFP aera of overturning stability of cantilever and horizontal rotation construction of continuous beam bridge.

Throughout the world, salinity is a major environmental issue that limits agricultural productivity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. In addition, climate change is the most important reason for the salinization of agricultural soils in the world, so it is now essential to find solutions to increase salinity tolerance in plants. This study investigated the potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation to enhance the growth and yield performances of flax under different salinity levels by conducting a pot experiment. The experiment was laid out in a two-factor completely randomized design including AMF inoculation (AMF+: with and AMF-: without inoculation) and irrigation water salinity (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl). According to the results, it is evident that salt stress caused negative physiological effects, including limited growth, reduced photosynthesis, and decreased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content in shoots and roots of flax plants. Moreover, mycorrhizal association improved the salt tolerance of the plants by increasing chlorophyll content, enhancing N and P shoot and root contents, and consequently yield parameters, such as seed, and stem fiber yield, particularly at moderate salt concentrations (50 and 100 mM NaCl). As a result of using AMF, flax plants grown under salt stress exhibited tolerance, suggesting that AMF could be applied in saline environments to maintain ecological stability.

Using coherent optical detection and digital signal processing, laser phase noise and equalization enhanced phase noise can be effectively mitigated using the feed-forward and feed-back carrier phase recovery approaches. In this paper, theoretical analyses of feed-back and feed-forward carrier phase recovery methods have been carried out in the long-haul high-speed n-level phase shift keying (n-PSK) optical fiber communication systems, involving a one-tap normalized least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm, a block-wise average algorithm, and a Viterbi-Viterbi algorithm. The analytical expressions for evaluating the estimated carrier phase and for predicting the bit-error-rate (BER) performance (such as the BER floors) have been presented and discussed in the n-PSK coherent optical transmission systems by considering both the laser phase noise and the equalization enhanced phase noise. The results indicate that the Viterbi-Viterbi carrier phase recovery algorithm outperforms the one-tap normalized LMS and the block-wise average algorithms for small phase noise variance (or effective phase noise variance), while the one-tap normalized LMS algorithm shows a better performance than the other two algorithms for large phase noise variance (or effective phase noise variance). In addition, the one-tap normalized LMS algorithm is more sensitive to the level of modulation formats.

Abstract: Although the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia syndrome has been better understood in recent decades, a unified model of its pathogenesis and an effective therapeutic approach are still far from being realized. The main aim of this article will be to delve into the fundamental mechanisms of the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia conceptualized as stress intolerance syndrome. Using the biopsychosocial model of chronic pain syndromes, we will describe the potential role of the attachment system, C tactile fibers, and oxytocinergic system dysfunction in the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia syndrome and other central sensitivity syndromes. At the end of the article, the therapeutic implications of this new global and translational pathophysiological model will be briefly discussed.