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Comparison of Five Rehabilitation Interventions for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Trial

Tamás Haidegger Tibor Hortobágyi József Tollár Péter Prukner Tomas Vetrovsky Istvan Drotar Szilvia Kóra Petra Kós Zoltán Vadászi György Wersényi

Publication Name: Journal of Clinical Medicine

Publication Date: 2025-03-01

Volume: 14

Issue: 5

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Background: Comparative efficacy of rehabilitation interventions in persons with acute ischemic stroke (PwS) is limited. This randomized trial assessed the immediate and lasting effects of five interventions on clinical and mobility outcomes in 75 PwS. Methods: Five days after stroke, 75 PwS were randomized into five groups: physical therapy (CON, standard care, once daily); walking with a soft robotic exoskeleton (ROB, once daily); agility exergaming once (EXE1, once daily) or twice daily (EXE2, twice daily); and combined EXE1+ROB in two daily sessions. Interventions were performed 5 days per week for 3 weeks. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and after 5 weeks of detraining. Results: Modified Rankin Scale (primary outcome) and Barthel Index showed no changes. EXE1, EXE2, ROB, and EXE1+ROB outperformed standard care (CON) in five secondary outcomes (Berg balance scale, 10m walking speed, 6-min walk test with/without robot, standing balance), with effects sustained after 5 weeks. Dose effects (EXE1 vs. EXE2) were minimal, while EXE1+ROB showed additive effects in 6-min walk tests. Conclusions: These novel comparative data expand evidence-based options for therapists to design individualized rehabilitation plans for PwS. Further confirmation is needed.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/jcm14051648

Experimental Analysis of a Turbocharger: Influence of Oil Supply Temperature and Pressure on the Bifurcation Phenomenon in Subsynchronous Frequencies

Csaba Tóth-Nagy Márk Pesthy Máté Boros

Publication Name: Lubricants

Publication Date: 2025-03-01

Volume: 13

Issue: 3

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This study presents an experimental analysis of a turbocharger equipped with a semi-floating bearing system, with a particular focus on the bifurcation phenomenon within the subsynchronous vibration spectrum. A predefined design of experiments (DoE) methodology was employed to determine the measurement domains to be analyzed, where the primary input parameters included the lubricant supply temperature and pressure values. The bifurcation phenomenon in relation to the physical parameters of the system is observed via vibration and displacement sensors in two directions, enabling the collection of subsynchronous frequency data for further insights into the influence of lubricant parameters on the rotor system. While the nonlinear effect of oil temperature is well studied in the literature. However, the combined effect of oil supply temperature and pressure was not yet examined, which was the focus of the present study. This paper aims to investigate its coupled effects on the bifurcation phenomenon associated with both lubricant temperature and pressure. The occurrence of the introduced phenomenon is further examined to enhance the understanding of the uncharted behavior of turbocharger rotors and other rotor-bearing-based machinery.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/lubricants13030133

Relationships between Shear Strength Parameters with Mineralogy and Index Properties of Compacted, Unsaturated Soils

Elizabeth Theron Sai K. Vanapalli Armand Augustin Fondjo R. P. Ray

Publication Name: Studia Geotechnica Et Mechanica

Publication Date: 2025-03-01

Volume: 47

Issue: 1

Page Range: 65-88

Description:

The objective of this study is to assess the influences of soil index properties, swelling parameters, and soil mineralogy on unsaturated shear strength parameters (φ', φb, c') of compacted expansive soils. The laboratory tests include the grain size distribution, specific gravity (Gs), Atterberg limits, swelling potential, X-ray diffraction, modified Proctor compaction, soil suction, and triaxial testing. MINITAB 19 statistical analysis software generates the tri-dimensional surface graphs. The values φ', φb, and c"are majorly influenced by water (%), Gs, and clay (%). φ"shows a strong correlation with free swell ratio (FSR), free swell index (FSI), and void ratio. φb demonstrates a strong relationship with liquid limit, plasticity index, and γd (dry unit weight). φ"and c"portray a moderate relationship with liquid limit, plasticity limit, and γd. φ"exhibits a moderate correlation with smectite (%) and plagioclase (%). φb describes a strong relationship with smectite (%) and a moderate correlation with plagioclase and K-feldspar (%). c"depicts a moderate correlation with smectite (%), K-feldspar (%), and plagioclase (%). The matric suction controls the behaviour of unsaturated soils. Nonetheless, the influences of soil index properties, swelling potential, and mineralogy on shear strength are not marginal. These findings provide a good insight into the behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils and contribute to enhancing geotechnical modelling.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.2478/sgem-2025-0006

Cognitive-Biased Decision on Courier Express Parcel Market and the Effect of Narratives

E. Süle Adrián Horváth Csilla Bartucz

Publication Name: Logistics

Publication Date: 2025-03-01

Volume: 9

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Background: Extensive research highlights the economic benefits of collaboration among parcel delivery service providers, yet mutually advantageous cooperative arrangements remain limited in Hungary’s online shopping sector. Service providers typically prefer to operate independently rather than cooperate with competitors. However, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered industry dynamics, leading to increased collaboration. Methods: Against this backdrop, this study explores two key research questions. First, it examines the role of economic narratives in shaping market dynamics. Second, it investigates the cognitive biases influencing decision-makers during the pandemic, based on an analysis of Hungary’s parcel delivery sector. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key actors in the logistics industry, and the data were analyzed using abductive thematic analysis. Results: The findings reveal that specific economic narratives, such as those emphasizing efficiency and safety, indirectly influenced market mechanisms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, the shift in consumer demand towards contactless parcel lockers created new incentives for collaboration. Additionally, this study demonstrates that decision-makers exhibited cognitive biases such as risk aversion, which affected their willingness to cooperate. Conclusions: The research concludes that strong economic incentives can override these biases, fostering collaboration among service providers.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/logistics9010029

Editorial overview: Climate Change Special Issue

Vasilios I. Manousiouthakis Heriberto Cabezas

Publication Name: Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering

Publication Date: 2025-03-01

Volume: 47

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

No description provided

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.coche.2024.101076

Towards Climate-Smart Agriculture: Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Production, Food Security, and Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Zoltán Molnár Tamrat Sinore Girma Tilahun Getnet Wogene Kabato Attila G.L. Németh

Publication Name: Agronomy

Publication Date: 2025-03-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 3

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Without transformative adaptation strategies, the impact of climate change is projected to reduce global crop yields and increase food insecurity, while rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions further exacerbate the crisis. While agriculture is a major contributor to climate change through unsustainable practices, it also offers significant opportunities to mitigate these emissions through the adoption of sustainable practices. This review examines climate-smart agriculture (CSA) as a key strategy for enhancing crop productivity, building climate resilience, and reducing GHG emissions, while emphasizing the need for strategic interventions to accelerate its large-scale implementation for improved food security. The analysis revealed that while nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has improved in developed countries, the global NUE remains at 55.47%, emphasizing the need for precision nutrient management and integrated soil fertility strategies to enhance productivity and minimize environmental impacts. With 40% of the world’s agricultural land already degraded, sustainability alone is insufficient, necessitating a shift toward regenerative agricultural practices to restore degraded soil and water by improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and increasing carbon sequestration, thus ensuring long-term agricultural resilience. CSA practices, including precision agriculture, regenerative agriculture, biochar application, and agroforestry, improve soil health, enhance food security, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. However, result variability highlights the need for site-specific strategies to optimize benefits. Integrating multiple CSA practices enhances soil health and productivity more effectively than implementing a single practice alone. Widespread adoption faces socio-economic and technological barriers, requiring supportive policies, financial incentives, and capacity-building initiatives. By adopting climate-smart technologies, agriculture can transition toward sustainability, securing global food systems while addressing climate challenges.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/agronomy15030565

Exploring the impact of China's low carbon energy technology trade on alleviating energy poverty in Belt and Road Initiative countries

Lubos Smutka Xin Zhao Huangxin Chen James Tumba Henry Abdulkadir Barut Umer Shahzad

Publication Name: Energy

Publication Date: 2025-03-01

Volume: 318

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

The objective of this study is to analyze how low-carbon technology imports such as wind turbines, solar panels, carbon capture equipment, and biomass systems from China affect Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries’ energy poverty. Additionally, we analyze the role of financial development, deliberative democracy, economic complexity, human development, and telecommunications infrastructure on energy poverty in BRI countries. We use 69 countries from Belt and Road initiative countries and a sample period from 2000 to 2019. We classify these countries according to the IMF classification of advanced, emerging and low-income developing countries. We employ the instrumental variable generalized method of moments (IV-GMM) approach as the main technique to take care of the endogeneity concerns inherent in the model, as well as a robust quantile-based technique called the method of moments quantile regression estimator (MMQREG). Our results reveal that low-carbon technology trade from China does not significantly alleviate energy poverty in the BRI countries. Financial development increases energy poverty while deliberative democracy decreases it. Economic complexity, as well as human development, negatively affects energy poverty, while telecommunications infrastructure does not affect energy poverty significantly. Based on the results, policy implications are provided.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.134604

Numerical and Experimental Analysis of Impact Force and Impact Duration with Regard to Radiosondes: Is a PUR Foam Shell an Effective Solution?

Gusztáv Fekete János Jósvai Norbert Hegyi

Publication Name: Applied Mechanics

Publication Date: 2025-03-01

Volume: 6

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This study investigates the effect of a polyurethane (PUR) foam layer on impact force, impact duration, and deformation with regard to radiosondes during drop tests. Numerical (Finite Element Method) and experimental approaches were used to model collisions with and without protective PUR layers. The numerical results demonstrated that adding a soft PUR foam layer reduced peak impact force by 10% while it increased impact duration up to 71%. Experimental drop tests confirmed the numerical outcomes as peak impact force difference was 7% between simulations and experiments, while impact duration differed only by 11%. Besides force and duration, impact deformation was also investigated by an FEM model and high-speed camera footage on radiosondes with a PUR foam layer. The FEM model was able to approximate well the deformation magnitude since the numerical deformation was only 2% lower compared to the experimental data. In summary, a reliable and validated FEM model was created. On the one hand, this model allows the analysis of different protective layers around a radiosonde. On the other hand, it can adequately predict the impact behavior of radiosondes by incorporating multiple important factors. In addition, it has been confirmed that incorporating a soft PUR foam layer significantly improves safety by reducing impact force and extending impact duration.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/applmech6010019

Innovation through intelligent computer-aided formulation design

Naz P. Taskiran Kris Prasopsanti Thunyaras Phanusupawimol Rafiqul Gani Venkat Venkatasubramanian

Publication Name: Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering

Publication Date: 2025-03-01

Volume: 47

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This perspective paper presents a focused review of a selected topic of chemical-based products, namely, formulations. As formulations cover a wide range of chemical-based products, we highlight opportunities for innovation in three types of formulations — liquid blends, which are mixtures of chemicals that are in the liquid state at standard conditions; liquid formulations, which are mixtures of chemicals that may exist in different states but the final product is a single-phase liquid; and emulsions, which are also mixtures of chemicals that may exist in different states, but the final product is in the form of an emulsion. In each case, we discuss aspects of design, analysis, and innovation together with issues and challenges that could be tackled to find better and more sustainable products. In particular, the potential of hybrid artificial intelligence augmented computer-aided techniques that can aid in the design, analysis, and innovation of formulations is highlighted.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.coche.2025.101099