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U-shaped seismic dampers, passive metallic devices that dissipate energy by cyclic plastic deformation, are designed to mitigate the effects of seismic loads on structures. This study focuses on the development of an advanced computational model of a U-shaped damper, chosen for its unique design of variable thickness and width, which contributes to its superior performance. The simulation uses nonlinear finite element analysis and a bilinear hardening model calibrated to the actual stress–strain curve of the low-carbon steel. To ensure accuracy, a rigorous mesh convergence analysis is performed to quantify numerical prediction errors and establish a model suitable for predicting local deformation phenomena, including strain and stress fields, throughout the displacement-based loading protocol. Mesh sensitivity analysis, performed by examining the equivalent stress and cumulative plastic strain, derives the damper hysteresis curve and confirms the convergence criteria of the mesh within the experimentally observed plastic response range of the material. The resulting computational model is a novel contribution that provides reliable predictions of local inhomogeneous deformation and energy dissipation, essential for optimizing damper design and performance through more sophisticated damage-fatigue models that guarantee the lifetime of a damper.

Abstract Alarming projections of climate change, decline in crop yields, and increased food demand constitute daunting threats to African food production and sustainable water management. Here, we map this complex water-food nexus by combining gridded climate data and process-based crop modelling to quantify scenarios of crop water footprint under Representative Concentration Pathway 2.6 and Representative Concentration Pathway 6.0 for time horizons 2040, 2070 and 2100. We show that high-input agricultural management coupled with the expansion of irrigation infrastructure could generate an average reduction of water use intensity up to 64% for staple crops, but only 5% for cash crops, by 2040. Notwithstanding the positive effect of intensification, between 82 Km3 (2040) and 102 Km3 (2100) of additional blue water will be required to sustain the increased yields. Our scenarios are suited for identifying locations where crops are subject to high climate impacts and where crop production shows trade-offs between high-input management and irrigation demand.

Total hip replacement is one of the most successful orthopedic operations in modern times. Osteolysis of the femur bone results in implant loosening and failure due to improper loading. To reduce induced stress, enhance load transfer, and minimize stress, the use of Ti-6Al-4V alloy in bone implants was investigated. The objective of this study was to perform a three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) of the femoral stem to optimize its shape and analyze the developed deformations and stresses under operational loads. In addition, the challenges associated with the manufacturing optimization of the femoral stem using large strain-based finite element modeling were addressed. The numerical findings showed that the optimized femoral stem using Ti-6Al-4V alloy under the normal daily activities of a person presented a strains distribution that promote uniform load transfer from the proximal to the distal area, and provided a mass reduction of 26%. The stress distribution was found to range from 700 to 0.2 MPa in the critical neck area of the implant. The developed computational tool allows for improved customized designs that lower the risk of prosthesis loss due to stress shielding.

Natural polyphenols found in plants are secondary metabolites and act as natural antioxidants. Phenols prevent lipid oxidation by donating their hydrogen to free radicals generated between reactions of oxygen with unsaturated fatty acids. This work aims to examine turmeric extract for its capacity to act as an antioxidant and pour point depressant additive in biolubricants. The study involved extracting turmeric rhizome and analyzing the extract using the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques to identify phenolic compounds and the nature of bonds in terms of abundance peak areas. The yield of concentrated turmeric rhizome extract by weight was 3.7%. The FTIR analysis revealed O-H band at 3336 cm−1, C-H asymmetric and symmetric stretching at 2940 and 2834 cm−1, C=C cyclic ring at 1680–1515 cm−1. The phenols detected by the GC-MS technique are phenol, 2 -methoxy-3-(2-propenyl) occupying 36.3% area at 16.5 min retention time and Phenol, 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)-, acetate having 3.8% area at 3.8 min retention time. The results show promising capacity of turmeric rhizome extract to act as antioxidant and pour point depressant additive in biolubricants.

The automotive industry continuously enhances vehicle design to meet the growing demand for more efficient vehicles. Computational design and numerical simulation are essential tools for developing concept cars with lower carbon emissions and reduced costs. Underground roads are proposed as an attractive alternative for reducing surface congestion, improving traffic flow, reducing travel times and minimizing noise pollution in urban areas, creating a quieter and more livable environment for residents. In this context, a concept car body design for underground tunnels was proposed, inspired by the mako shark shape due to its exceptional operational kinetic qualities. The proposed biomimetic-based method using computational fluid dynamics for engineering design includes an iterative process and car body optimization in terms of lift and drag performance. A mesh sensitivity and convergence analysis was performed in order to ensure the reliability of numerical results. The unique surface shape of the shark enabled remarkable aerodynamic performance for the concept car, achieving a drag coefficient value of 0.28. The addition of an aerodynamic diffuser improved downforce by reducing 58% of the lift coefficient to a final value of 0.02. Benchmark validation was carried out using reported results from sources available in the literature. The proposed biomimetic design process based on computational fluid modeling reduces the time and resources required to create new concept car models. This approach helps to achieve efficient automotive solutions with low aerodynamic drag for a low-carbon future.

The anisotropic plasticity constants of the CPB06 criterion for Ti64, previously identified with experiments performed in all three dimensions, are applied here to evaluate the effect of the direct and inverse calibration strategies of the tensile-compression asymmetry parameter k on the predictive behavior of large deformations of the hexagonal close-packed (hcp) alloy. The direct calibration strategy is based on model fitting with experimental strain hardening data up to the onset of plastic instability. The inverse calibration strategy reduces prediction errors of the load-displacement curves of both the cylindrical bar tensile and the elliptical cylinder compression tests. The results provide interesting insights into the identification of the laws modeling large deformations of hcp materials.

RESUMEN La huella de carbono (HC) representa la sumatoria de gases de efecto invernadero emitidos por una persona, institución, programa o producto, y es la medida de uno de los impactos que provocan las actividades de la humanidad sobre el ambiente. El objetivo general de este trabajo fue estimar la HC del maíz producido en Córdoba, Argentina. El objetivo específico fue analizar la diferencia de HC a través de un manejo sitio-específico de la fertilización nitrogenada. La unidad declarada es: 1 t de grano en la puerta del campo. Los métodos utilizados siguen las normas ISO 14067 y las directrices del Panel Intergubernamental de Expertos sobre el Cambio Climático. Se utilizó información provista por la Bolsa de Cereales de Córdoba y de un ensayo a campo en Alejandro Roca, Córdoba. La HC resultó en 156,5 kg CO2 eq t-1 de maíz, promedio ponderado por departamento de la provincia de Córdoba. En el ensayo a campo, la dosis variable de N permitió reducir un 21,45% la HC, de 150,75 kg CO2 eq t-1 a 124,13 kg CO2 eq t-1. Los resultados están en un rango bajo, con respecto a la bibliografía, utilizando los mismos métodos. Una posible explicación es el bajo nivel de insumos que se aplican al cultivo, en términos comparativos, como así también la siembra directa, con menor consumo de combustible. En el ensayo, se explica por un uso más eficiente del fertilizante. the literature using the same methods. A possible explanation is the low level of inputs applied to the crop, in comparative terms, as well as the use of no-tillage which reduces fuel consumption. The lower impact observed in the field test was due to a more efficient use of fertilizer.

Abstract Millions of people displaced by conflicts have found refuge in water-scarce countries, where their perceived effect on water availability has shaped local water security discourses. Using an annual global data set, we explain the effects of refugee migrations on the host countries’ water stress through the food demand displaced by refugees and the water necessary to produce that food. The water footprint of refugee displacement increased by nearly 75% globally between 2005 and 2016. Although minimal in most countries, implications can be severe in countries already facing severe water stress. For example, refugees may have contributed up to 75 percentage points to water stress in Jordan. While water considerations should not, alone, determine trade and migration policy, we find that small changes to current international food supply flows and refugee resettlement procedures can potentially ease the effect of refugee displacement on water stress in water-vulnerable countries.

The harsh environment during airplane take-off and flights with complex operating conditions require a high dynamic and impact resistance capability of airplane engines. The design, development, and performance evaluation of new turbofan engines are generally performed through numerical simulations before a full-scale model or prototype experiment for certification. Simulations of fan blade containment tests can reduce trial–error testing and are currently the most convenient and inexpensive alternative for design; however, certification failure is always a risk if the calibration of material models is not correctly applied. This work presents a three-dimensional computational model of a turbofan for designing new engines that meet the certification requirements under the blade containment test. Two calibrated Johnson–Cook plasticity and damage laws for Ti64 are assessed in a simulation of a turbofan blade containment test, demonstrating the ability of the models to be used in the safe design of aircraft engine components subjected to dynamic impact loads with large deformations and adequate damage tolerance.

Finite element modeling for designing and optimizing lightweight titanium aerospace components requires advanced simulation tools with adequate material modeling. In this sense, a hybrid strategy is proposed in this work to identify the parameters of the Johnson–Cook plasticity and damage laws using a combined direct-inverse method. A direct calibration method for plasticity law is applied based on the literature-reported data of strain-stress curves from experimental tensile tests at different temperatures and strain rates. The triaxiliaty-dependent fracture parameters of the Johnson–Cook damage law at reference conditions of strain rate and temperature (d1, d2, and d3) are calibrated with the direct method based on new data of experimental evolution of computed average fracture strain with the average stress triaxiality. The validation is performed with numerical results from an accurate micromechanics-based Ti64 model. The inverse calibration method is used to determine the strain rate and temperature-dependent damage parameters (d4 and d5) through large strain simulations of uniaxial tensile tests. The numerical results, including average strain and necking profile at fracture, are then utilized to calculate stress triaxiality by the Bridgman criterion for adjusting parameters d4 and d5. The calibrated model yields a 2.1% error for plasticity and 3.4% for fracture predictions. The experimental and simulated load-bearing capacity using the micromechanics damage model differed by only 1%. This demonstrates that the SC11–TNT model of Ti64 is reliable for identifying the Johnson–Cook damage law through the accurate use of inverse methods. The hybrid calibration strategy demonstrates the potential capability of the identified Johnson–Cook model to accurately predict the design load-carrying capacity of Ti64 aerospace components under different deformation rates and temperatures while accounting for material damage effects.

Virtual water flows embodied in the international food trade by the largest companies can exceed those of entire nations highlighting the importance of corporations for water stewardship and security, suggests an analysis of the top 9 transnational corporations exporting Brazilian soy.

IntroductionEndometrial cancer (EC) represents 3.4% of all newly diagnosed cancer cases and is responsible for 2.1% of all cancer-related deaths. Approximately 10%–15% of women with EC are diagnosed with advanced-stage disease, resulting in a reported 5-year survival rate of only 17% for those with distant metastases. A better understanding of its molecular features has ushered in a new era of immunotherapy for the treatment of EC, allowing for alternative therapeutic approaches, even in cases of advanced disease.MethodsWe administered a multi-choice online survey for Multicenter Italian Trials in Ovarian cancer and gynecologic malignancies (MITO) members. The questionnaire was available for 2 months, starting in October 2022. Our objective was to evaluate the current attitude of incorporating molecular characterization of EC into routine clinical practice, appraise the implementation of newly available therapies, and compare the outcomes with the previous survey conducted in April–May 2021 to ascertain the actual changes that have transpired during this recent time period.ResultsThe availability of molecular classification in Italian centers has changed in 1 year. Seventy-five percent of centers performed the molecular classification compared with 55.6% of the previous survey. Although this percentage has increased, only 18% performed all the tests. Significant changes have occurred in the administration of new treatments in EC patients in MITO centers. In 2022, 82.1% of the centers administrated dostarlimab in recurrent or advanced MMR-deficient (dMMR) EC experiencing disease progression after platinum-based chemotherapy regimens, compared to only 24.4% in 2021. In 2022, 85.7% of the centers already administrated the pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib combination as a second-line therapy for MMR-proficient (pMMR) patients with advanced or recurrent EC who had progressed from first-line platinum-based therapy.ConclusionBoth the therapeutic and diagnostic scenarios have changed over the last couple of years in MITO centers, with an increased prescription of immune checkpoint inhibitors and use of the molecular classification.

Objective To assess time trends in the inclusion of health-related quality of life (QoL) among study endpoints and in the reporting of QoL results in study publications, randomised phase III oncology trials published between 2017 and 2021 were compared with the trials published in the previous 5 years.Methods and analysis All issues published between 2012 and 2021 by 11 major journals were handsearched for primary publications of phase III trials in adult patients with solid tumours. Trials published in 2017–2021 were compared with trials published in 2012–2016 for three endpoints: (1) proportion of publications including QoL among endpoints out of all the eligible publications; (2) proportion of publications presenting QoL results out of those including QoL among endpoints and (3) proportion of publications presenting QoL data out of all the eligible publications.Results 388 publications between 2017 and 2021 were eligible and compared with 446 publications between 2012 and 2016. QoL was included among endpoints in 67.8% of trials in 2017–2021 vs 52.9% in 2012–2016 (univariate OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.41 to 2.48, p

The Lynch syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant condition usually characterized by germline pathogenic variants in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Despite the guidelines now available, determining the pathogenicity of rare variants remains challenging, as the clinical significance of a genetic variant could be uncertain, but it may represent a disease-associated variation in the aforementioned genes. In this case report we will describe the case of a 47 years-old female affected by endometrial cancer (EC) with an extremely rare germline heterozygous variant in the MSH2 gene (c.562G > T p. (Glu188Ter), exon 3) that is likely pathogenic, and a family history consistent with LS.

Food loss and waste (FLW) is an issue of great public concern, due to its major impact on food security and on the social, economic and environmental resources involved in food production, trade and consumption. In this work, we put the lens on water resources, as those lost in the different stages of FLW represent about a quarter of the total freshwater resources used in food crop production. To this end, we propose the NETFLOW model (Network-based Evaluation Tool for Food LOss and Waste) as an innovative tool capable of reconstructing, for each commodity, the complex global multi-layered network linking FLW at each stage of the value chain with the corresponding wasted water resources. Food re-exports, nested supply chains, telecoupling of food markets, and different levels of food transformation are taken into account. Focusing on the emblematic case of wheat and its derived food commodities (e.g. flour, bread, pasta), we show the complexity and extent of the FLW-linked water network. For example, in 2016, more than 100 countries used their water resources (almost 3 km ^3 ) to produce wheat which was ultimately lost or wasted along the food consumption value chain in Italy, with almost half of this amount being directly attributable to the bread value chain. On the supply side, we show that about 18.3 km ^3 of water resources in the U.S. were lost through wheat-related FLW in 144 countries, about 40% for flour, 27% for raw wheat (mainly used for feed), and 24% for bread. The NETFLOW model proves useful in unravelling the complex links between (i) product-specific global trade networks, (ii) primary and derived products, (iii) country- and stage-dependent FLW, and (iv) country- and product-specific virtual water content.

Within the large Additive Manufacturing (AM) process family, Directed Energy Deposition (DED) can be used to create low-cost prototypes and coatings, or to repair cracks. In the case of M4 HSS (High Speed Steel), a reliable computed temperature field during DED process allows the optimization of the substrate preheating temperature value and other process parameters. Such optimization is required to avoid failure during the process, as well as high residual stresses. If 3D DED simulations provide accurate thermal fields, they also induce huge computation time, which motivates simplifications. This article uses a 2D Finite Element (FE) model that decreases the computation cost through dividing the CPU time by around 100 in our studied case, but it needs some calibrations. As described, the identification of a correct data set solely based on local temperature measurements can lead to various sets of parameters with variations of up to 100%. In this study, the melt pool depth was used as an additional experimental measurement to identify the input data set, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted to estimate the impact of each identified parameter on the cooling rate and the melt pool dimension.

The development of high-entropy alloys has been hampered by the challenge of effectively and verifiably predicting phases using predictive methods for functional design. This study validates remarkable phase prediction capability in complex multicomponent alloys by microstructurally predicting two novel high-entropy alloys in the FCC + BCC and FCC + BCC + IM systems using a novel analytical method based on valence electron concentration (VEC). The results are compared with machine learning, CALPHAD, and experimental data. The key findings highlight the high predictive accuracy of the analytical method and its strong correlation with more intricate prediction methods such as random forest machine learning and CALPHAD. Furthermore, the experimental results validate the predictions with a range of techniques, including SEM-BSE, EDS, elemental mapping, XRD, microhardness, and nanohardness measurements. This study reveals that the addition of Nb enhances the formation of the sigma (σ) intermetallic phase, resulting in increased alloy strength, as demonstrated by microhardness and nanohardness measurements. Lastly, the overlapping VEC ranges in high-entropy alloys are identified as potential indicators of phase transitions at elevated temperatures.

Children’s ability to learn new words during their preschool years is crucial for further academic success. Previous research suggests that children rely on different learning mechanisms to acquire new words depending on the available context and linguistic information. To date, there is limited research integrating different paradigms to provide a cohesive view of the mechanisms and processes involved in preschool children’s word learning. We presented 4 year-old children (n = 47) with one of three different novel word-learning scenarios to test their ability to connect novel words to their correspondent referents without explicit instruction to do so. The scenarios were tested with three exposure conditions of different nature: (i) mutual exclusivity–target novel word-referent pair presented with a familiar referent, prompting fast-mapping via disambiguation, (ii) cross-situational–target novel word-referent pair presented next to an unfamiliar referent prompting statistically tracking the target pairs across trials, and (iii) eBook - target word-referent pairs presented within an audio-visual electronic storybook (eBook), prompting inferring meaning incidentally. Results show children succeed at learning the new words above chance in all three scenarios, with higher performance in eBook and mutual exclusivity than in cross-situational word learning. This illustrates children’s astounding ability to learn while coping with uncertainty and varying degrees of ambiguity, which are common in real-world situations. Findings extend our understanding of how preschoolers learn new words more or less successfully depending on specific word learning scenarios, which should be taken into account when working on vocabulary development for school readiness in the preschool years.

This study addresses the challenges associated with conventional plywood shear testing by introducing a novel miniaturized shear test method. This approach utilizes a controlled router toolpath for precise sample fabrication, enabling efficient material use and data acquisition. Miniaturized samples, designed with double shear zones, were tested for τxy, τxz, and τyz configurations using a universal testing machine. Results revealed a mean ultimate shear strength ranging from 5.6 MPa to 7.3 MPa and a mean shear modulus ranging from 0.039 GPa to 0.095 GPa, confirming the orthotropic nature of plywood. The resulting shear behavior was determined with stress–strain curves correlated with failure patterns. The miniaturized tests effectively captured the material's heterogeneous behavior, particularly at smaller scales, and demonstrated consistent load-bearing capacity even after substantial stress reduction, suggesting suitability for bracing applications. This method allows for increased sample sizes, facilitating robust data collection for developing and validating finite element models. Future work will focus on evaluating the scalability of the observed orthotropic behavior and data scatter at larger scales and assessing the potential for this method to replace conventional full-scale plywood shear testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

U-shaped seismic dampers, passive metallic devices that dissipate energy by cyclic plastic deformation, are designed to mitigate the effects of seismic loads on structures. This study focuses on the development of an advanced computational model of a U-shaped damper, chosen for its unique design of variable thickness and width, which contributes to its superior performance. The simulation uses nonlinear finite element analysis and a bilinear hardening model calibrated to the actual stress–strain curve of the low-carbon steel. To ensure accuracy, a rigorous mesh convergence analysis is performed to quantify numerical prediction errors and establish a model suitable for predicting local deformation phenomena, including strain and stress fields, throughout the displacement-based loading protocol. Mesh sensitivity analysis, performed by examining the equivalent stress and cumulative plastic strain, derives the damper hysteresis curve and confirms the convergence criteria of the mesh within the experimentally observed plastic response range of the material. The resulting computational model is a novel contribution that provides reliable predictions of local inhomogeneous deformation and energy dissipation, essential for optimizing damper design and performance through more sophisticated damage-fatigue models that guarantee the lifetime of a damper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste and its environmental impact have driven the search for sustainable solutions across various industries, including construction. This study explores the incorporation of solid waste in the production of eco-friendly structural concrete, aiming to reduce pollution and promote ecological and sustainable construction practices. In this context, two types of eco-friendly concrete were produced using marine shells and recycled rubber as waste materials and compared with conventional concrete through experimental and computational approaches. The results demonstrated that the concrete with marine shells achieved a compressive strength of 32.4 MPa, 26.5% higher than conventional concrete, and a 1% reduction in weight. In contrast, the recycled rubber concrete exhibited a compressive strength of 22.5 MPa, with a 2 MPa decrease compared to conventional concrete, but a 4.3% reduction in density. Computational analysis revealed that porosity affects Young's modulus, directly resulting in a reduction in the maximum achievable strength. This work demonstrates that it is feasible to produce eco-friendly structural concrete through the proper integration of industrial waste, contributing to decarbonization and waste valorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of advanced endometrial cancer (EC) has changed in the last few years due to the introduction of a new molecular classification and the approval of immunotherapy. For a long time, carboplatin plus paclitaxel was considered the standard treatment for first-line advanced EC, since the approval of the combination of chemotherapy plus immunotherapy. For patients with recurrent EC, with previous platinum-based chemotherapy, single-agent immunotherapy or in combination with tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) has been approved according to mismatch repair status. Ongoing trials are exploring the possibility of a chemo-free future for mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) EC and new molecular targets are under investigation. The treatment paradigm for advanced EC has shifted from standard chemotherapy for all to a more personalized approach. The aim of this review is to provide an updated therapeutic landscape for the management of patients with advanced/metastatic EC according to their disease history and molecular biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]