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Found 6515 publications
Evaluation of recycled polyethylene terephthalate in asphalt concrete: Laboratory characterization and finite element modelling
Publication Name: Results in Engineering
Publication Date: 2026-09-01
Volume: 31
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The increasing generation of plastic waste and the growing demand for sustainable pavement materials have encouraged the incorporation of recycled polymers into asphalt mixtures. This study evaluates the engineering performance, microstructural characteristics, numerical response, and preliminary environmental implications of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET)-modified asphalt concrete. RPET obtained from post-consumer plastic bottles was incorporated into asphalt mixtures through the dry process at dosages of 0–9% by weight of binder. Marshall stability, indirect tensile strength (ITS), repeated load dynamic creep (RLDC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and finite element modelling (FEM) were employed to assess the influence of RPET content on mixture behavior. Experimental results showed that increasing RPET content improved stiffness-related properties and rutting resistance. Marshall stability increased from 5.5 kN for the control mixture to 14.3 kN at 9% RPET, while ITS increased from 0.72 MPa to 1.02 MPa. RLDC results indicated a reduction in accumulated permanent strain from 3.20% to 1.85%, demonstrating enhanced resistance to deformation under repeated loading. SEM observations revealed comparatively uniform RPET dispersion at moderate dosages (3–5%), whereas higher contents showed localized particle agglomeration. FEM simulations demonstrated reduced surface deflection and improved stress distribution with increasing RPET-related stiffness. Preliminary life cycle assessment indicated modest embodied carbon reduction and potential cost savings. The findings suggest that RPET incorporation can enhance the mechanical and deformation-resistant characteristics of asphalt mixtures while contributing to plastic waste valorization and sustainability objectives. However, the results should be interpreted as comparative laboratory and numerical indicators rather than direct predictors of long-term field performance.
Open Access: Yes
Mathematical frameworks for left ventricular assist device therapy: Ventricular mechanics, blood rheology, haemodynamics, control, and nonlinear dynamics
Publication Name: Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Publication Date: 2026-09-01
Volume: 201
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 152-174
Description:
Ventricular assist devices (VADs) integrate multiple branches of applied mechanics within a single implanted system, spanning rotor-scale haemodynamics, nonlinear ventricular wall mechanics, blood trauma, and closed-loop control under changing physiological loads. This review aims to unify five mathematical frameworks central to VAD modelling: ventricular mechanics, blood rheology and damage, partial differential equation (PDE)-based device haemodynamics, pump engineering, and nonlinear heart–device dynamics. By bringing these domains together, the review clarifies their interactions and highlights unresolved mathematical challenges that limit progress in design, control, and prediction. An expository narrative review was conducted in accordance with the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA); a completed SANRA checklist is provided as Supplementary Material. Relevant literature was identified through targeted searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, supplemented by citation tracking. Studies were selected for mathematical relevance, with emphasis on formulations that recur across VAD research, reveal model limitations, or connect analytical structure to clinically important complications. Major LVAD complications, including pump thrombosis, haemolysis, suction instability, and acquired von Willebrand syndrome, map onto distinct but interacting mathematical domains. Important cross-disciplinary links emerge between statistical mechanics and continuum damage models, between bifurcation theory and proportional–integral controller design, and between reduced-order cardiovascular models and full fluid–structure interaction simulations. Several formulations currently used in clinical, or engineering practice appear to extend beyond their original validation range. The mathematical problems underlying VAD therapy are strongly coupled and, in several areas, remain open. Advances in fluid–structure interaction theory, first-principles haemolysis modelling, and bifurcation analysis of the heart–pump oscillator could substantially improve device design, controller safety, and clinical outcome prediction.
Open Access: Yes
Rethinking sustainable growth: technological and supply chain drivers of the U.S. production-based ecological footprint
Publication Name: Resources Conservation and Recycling Advances
Publication Date: 2026-09-01
Volume: 31
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The United States (U.S.) has one of the highest production-based ecological footprints (EFP) in the world. Consequently, reducing EFP is essential for ensuring ecological balance, protecting the environment, and reducing ecological degradation. However, the comparative analysis on the long-run associations of AI innovation (AIN), high-tech trade capability (HTTC), supply chain efficiency (SCE), information and communication technology investment growth (ICTIG), and GDP growth (GDPG) with EFP regarding the U.S. remains poorly understood. Using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method, this study shows a comparative analysis of the EFP’s determinants relying on the U.S. national level data from 1990 to 2023. Based on the ARDL findings, while AIN, SCE, and HTTC show statistically significant association with EFP in the long run, ICTIG and GDPG do not exhibit significant empirical association. Among three significant associations, AIN and SCE are associated with reductions in ecological footprint in the long run, indicating that the country has secured technology-driven ecological benefits and operational efficiency enhancement within the production dynamics by emphasizing AI innovation and efficient inventory management. In contrast, HTTC’s positive association represents significant ecological pressure with the high tech-industries technology advancement, driven by scale and rebound effects. All the results remained stable in FMOLS, DOLS, and CCR robustness tests. Besides, Granger causality indicates mixed predictive patterns of these relationships. The comparative analysis among these determinants' long-run associations with EFP significantly contributes to the single country level production-based ecological footprint literature and depicts several valuable empirical insights for policy actions by the federal government.
Open Access: Yes
Government subsidies, carbon quota prices, and spillover effects of carbon emissions: Insights from the EU carbon market
Publication Name: Geoscience Frontiers
Publication Date: 2026-09-01
Volume: 17
Issue: 5
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This paper examines the dynamics of carbon quota pricing and emissions under government subsidies in the EU carbon market. The study reveals three core findings. First, carbon emissions, carbon subsidies, and carbon quota prices exhibit strong interconnectedness with pronounced seasonality, and spillover effects intensify during exogenous shocks, particularly at short-term frequencies within one to five days. Second, Germany consistently serves as the primary source of spillover effects, reflecting its energy-intensive industrial structure and dominant position in the EU Emissions Trading System, while carbon subsidies function as information receivers in the short term but maintain stable roles in the medium to long term under the EU's sustained climate commitments. Third, the COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally altered spillover patterns, with the EU industrial sector transitioning from a net transmitter to a net recipient of spillovers and carbon quota prices shifting to net recipients during the shock. These findings are derived from a stochastic differential game model that captures strategic interactions between governments and enterprises under exogenous shocks, combined with TVP-VAR spillover analysis that quantifies dynamic connectedness across time and frequency domains. The results enhance the understanding of carbon market mechanisms under policy interventions and external disturbances, offering insights for the development of more efficient and resilient carbon trading systems.
Open Access: Yes
Operationalising the urban self-driving vehicles readiness index from a policymaker perspective: the Hungarian case
Publication Name: Case Studies on Transport Policy
Publication Date: 2026-09-01
Volume: 25
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The deployment of Self-Driving Vehicles (SDVs) is not merely a technological issue; its success also depends on the readiness of the surrounding environment. In urban spaces, SDVs are expected to reach a critical mass and spatial concentration, posing complex challenges that require extensive planning and preparation. Consequently, SDVs necessitate specific urban development interventions to ensure the safe operation of the technology. Such SDV-specific urban development is crucial for realizing the anticipated benefits of autonomous vehicles while mitigating potential drawbacks, which in turn requires an accurate understanding of urban SDV-readiness. While an increasing number of studies assess SDV-readiness at the national level, little is known at the city level. Our research develops an index to assess the readiness of cities for self-driving vehicles from a policymaker perspective. In 2025, we surveyed municipal policymakers from 50 Hungarian cities with public transport and populations exceeding 20,000. The Urban SDV Readiness Index integrates four dimensions: the current urban mobility context (baseline), the anticipated emergence of SDV-related challenges, the expected timeframe for required interventions, and the ease of overcoming implementation barriers. The overall readiness index of Hungarian cities ranges from 18% to 76% (mean: 45%), with larger cities generally reporting higher readiness levels. The ranking of cities based on the composite index highlights clear leaders and laggards, aligning closely with the cluster classification and providing an accessible benchmark for comparison. Results indicate that, from the perspective of policymakers, many SDV-related developments are expected to materialize only in the distant future. Overall, the index offers a policy-relevant diagnostic benchmark that can support municipalities in identifying readiness gaps and prioritising targeted interventions and capacity-building strategies.
Open Access: Yes
Development and validation of an LNA-based multiplex RT-qPCR assay for differentiating Betaarterivirus europensis (PRRSV-1), Betaarterivirus americense (PRRSV-2), and the highly pathogenic L8 lineage of PRRSV-2
Publication Name: Veterinary Journal
Publication Date: 2026-08-01
Volume: 318
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a highly variable arterivirus that causes major economic losses in swine production and requires reliable molecular diagnostics for surveillance and eradication programs. We developed and validated a one-step multiplex RT-qPCR assay for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of Betaarterivirus europensis (PRRSV-1), Betaarterivirus americense (PRRSV-2), and the highly pathogenic L8 lineage of PRRSV-2, together with an RNA internal control in a single reaction. Short LNA-modified probes were designed to target conserved yet discriminatory sequence motifs, improving specificity and supporting multiplex detection. Analytical performance was evaluated using spiked swine serum, naturally positive samples, and independent laboratory testing against a commercial comparator. The assay showed excellent linearity across all channels (R2 = 0.99) and low detection limits of 13–26 copies per reaction at 95% detection probability. Robustness testing, including 2 h bench exposure and a 3°C thermocycler shift, produced negligible Cq changes, while a 1,000-fold competitor challenge indicated minimal cross-reactivity. Intra- and inter-assay variability were low, qualitative agreement with the comparator was 100%, and reagents remained stable for 30 weeks and after up to 10 freeze–thaw cycles. This LNA-based multiplex RT-qPCR assay provides a sensitive, specific, and operationally convenient tool for PRRSV surveillance and control programs.
Open Access: Yes
Solar thermal radiation effects on magneto-Casson squeezing nanofluid flow for energy-efficient solar tile applications
Publication Name: Applied Thermal Engineering
Publication Date: 2026-08-01
Volume: 302
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Modern industrial buildings and solar panels are both reliant on thermal efficiency. The Casson nanofluids are a potential working fluid due to their excellent heat transfer properties and adjustable flow behavior. Due to such significant uses, we examine solar-driven magneto-Casson squeezing nanofluid flow over a linearly stretched surface in porous media while incorporating combining effects of Joule heating, internal heat generation as well as thermal radiation. Additionally, Newtonian heating is applied to the bottom surface to improve thermal transmission. Linear thermal stratification is inadequate for accurately capturing heat transport in industrial machineries, because they need large temperature differences. For a more realistic depiction, quadratic thermal stratification is thus used. The working nanofluid contains cobalt ferrite (COFe2 O4 ) nanoparticles that are suspended in sodium alginate, while the Hamilton–Crosser model is used to examine the impact of different nanoparticle shapes on the system. After applying similarity transformation to reduce the governing equations to nonlinear ordinary differential equations, Mathematica's NDSolve is used to resolve the resulting equations numerically. A thorough analysis is conducted of the impacts of important physical factors on skin friction, flow, temperature fields, and Nusselt number. Results indicate that the squeezing constraint increases the flow velocity, whereas the flow velocity is reduced by high magnetic effects. Increasing the Newtonian heating parameter increases the temperature field. However, due to the effect of thermal stratification, this increase is reduced. Diverse morphologies of the particles exhibit varying thermal performance; platelets-like the highest temperature, cylinders exhibit the lowest, and bricks and blades provide modest results. The present results are in close agreement with the results from previous studies, thus confirming the effectiveness of the simulation methodology being used for this work. The findings provide important information for improving contemporary heat transfer technology and creating energy-efficient solar thermal power systems.
Open Access: Yes
Energy poverty dynamics and geostrategic shocks: Moderation of financial markets
Publication Name: Energy Policy
Publication Date: 2026-08-01
Volume: 215
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Universal energy poverty is a key ingredient to social inequality, education barrier and poor health outcome. Therefore, it is crucial for policymakers to identify the factors that mitigates energy poverty. Present study examined the influence of geopolitical risk on energy poverty, focusing on financial market depth, access and efficiency in 42 economies, spanning 2000 to 2022, using instrument variable two stage least square (2SLS), three stage least square (3SLS) approach and double panel threshold regression. The estimation provides following observations. First, geopolitical risk significantly intensify energy poverty over time. Second, natural disasters is a more serious hindrance to energy access. Third, financial markets significantly moderates the favourable spillover effects of geopolitical risk on energy poverty, dampens negative effect of geopolitical risk, improving household energy access, and reducing vulnerability to external shocks. Alongside this, the research provide similar pattern in urban and rural concentration, indicating the severe effect of geopolitical and natural disaster risk in rural areas. Moreover, the research explored several other factors and prioritizes digitalization, economic growth and political liberty as the major attributes for mitigating energy poverty. Hence, this research, provides stronger support for the roles of financial markets and digitalization in mitigating the energy poverty in the long run. This paper further delves into the policy implications arising from the findings.
Open Access: Yes
Thermal ablation for early-stage breast cancer: cryoablation, microwave ablation, radiofrequency ablation, high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation, and laser ablation — a systematic review
Publication Name: Breast
Publication Date: 2026-08-01
Volume: 88
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Background: Thermal ablation techniques have been proposed as minimally invasive alternatives to surgery for early-stage breast cancer (BC), with the potential to reduce treatment burden while preserving oncological outcomes. The aim of this review was to evaluate the available evidence on the effectiveness and safety of thermal ablation techniques in patients with early-stage BC. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and narrative synthesis in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and the INAHTA database were searched for studies published between 2014 January and 2026 May. Eligible studies included randomised controlled trials, non-randomised comparative studies, and prospective single-arm studies enrolling adult patients with early-stage BC treated with cryoablation (CYA), microwave ablation (MWA), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation (HIFU), or laser ablation (LA), with or without standard care. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2.0 and ROBINS-I, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. Results: Twenty-two trials (in 24 publications) were included: twelve on CYA, five on MWA, three on RFA, two on HIFU, and one on LA, with one trial evaluating both CYA and MWA. Comparative evidence was available for CYA, MWA, and RFA, while HIFU and LA were evaluated exclusively in single-arm studies. Across interventions, recurrence rates were generally low, overall survival was high, reported adverse events were predominantly mild to moderate. Most studies were small, had short follow-up, and frequently included post-ablation surgical resection, limiting causal attribution. Certainty of evidence ranged from very low to moderate, depending on intervention and outcome. Conclusion: Thermal ablation techniques demonstrate favourable short-term safety profiles and promising oncological outcomes in selected patients with early-stage BC. Current evidence is limited by low certainty, heterogeneous study methodologies, and limited long-term comparative data. High-quality comparative studies with standardised assessment methods and long-term follow-up are required to elucidate the comparative clinical evidence of thermal ablation techniques and inform their role in routine clinical practice.
Open Access: Yes
