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Found 6289 publications

Mechanical and Metallographic Characterization of GGV30 Vermicular Cast Iron applied in Road and Railway Vehicles

Szabolcs Fischer Szabolcs Szalai András Lajos Nagy László Pálfi Ágnes Pálfiné Böröcz

Publication Name: Acta Polytechnica Hungarica

Publication Date: 2026-01-01

Volume: 23

Issue: 1

Page Range: 197-213

Description:

This study focuses on the mechanical characterization of GGV30 vermicular cast iron. GGV30 has gained increasing recognition in the automotive and railway industries, particularly for its use in critical components, like brake discs and clutch parts. Given the demanding nature of these applications, a thorough understanding of the material's mechanical properties and their variations under different operating conditions is essential to ensuring reliability and performance. A comprehensive review of various testing methods is provided, to analyze the mechanical behaviors of GGV30. These methods assess key parameters such as strength, durability and hardness, which are crucial for evaluating suitability, for automotive applications. By conducting these investigations, this study lays the foundation for future machining tests, offering valuable data from the workpiece perspective. This approach enhances the testing process, by identifying critical factors, reducing redundant experiments and optimizing the overall assessment of the material's performance.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: DOI not available

Legal Risk Assessment of Re-using Building Materials and Elements in Historic Structures

Jolanta Tamošaitienė Ulrike Quapp Klaus Holschemacher

Publication Name: Rilem Bookseries

Publication Date: 2026-01-01

Volume: 64

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 2952-2962

Description:

Construction processes intensively contributes to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. The resulting climate change affects historic buildings and complicates built heritage preservation. However, there are several actions under way, such as the European Green Deal, to reduce CO2 emissions in construction. Revaluation of existing structures under application of recycled materials and by re-use of available building elements may save resources and thus reduces emission of CO2 in construction industry. This contributes to a more environmentally friendly construction process. Furthermore, re-using of existing building materials or elements may preserve the historical appearance of structures, in the interest of future generations. For production and usage of new building materials and elements, a plethora of legislation and codes needs to be considered. The same applies to re-use of existing building materials and elements which increases the danger for construction defects and thus expensive claims. Thus, beside the advantages, re-using of building materials and elements bears risks to all stakeholders in a construction project. In the interest of avoiding conflicts between the construction contract parties, a legal risk analysis is necessary to support them in decision about the re-use of existing building materials and elements. The authors examined current international, European and German law, codes, and policy dealing with re-use of building materials and elements. Furthermore, they reviewed existing literature about that topic and analyzed relevant court cases of the last twenty years. The conclusion is, that there is a need for a detailed contract specification which kind of existing building elements and materials can be re-used and who takes the responsibility for known or unknown defects under the aspect of liability. The paper provides suggestions under which legal aspects a re-use of building elements may be recommendable and which requirements need to be met.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-13469-1_234

Who Benefits from the EV Transition? Electric Vehicle Adoption and Progress Toward the SDGs Across Income Groups

Timothy Yaw Acheampong Gabor Laszlo Toth

Publication Name: World Electric Vehicle Journal

Publication Date: 2026-01-01

Volume: 17

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Electric vehicles (EVs) are widely promoted as a key strategy for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and advancing sustainable development. However, the real-world benefits of EV adoption may vary across countries with different income levels and energy systems. This study investigates the relationship between EV adoption and CO2 emissions per capita, as well as overall sustainable development performance (SDG Index), across 50 countries from 2010 to 2023. Using panel quantile regression, we find that EV adoption is significantly associated with reduced CO2 emissions particularly in the high-emitting countries in high-income countries (interaction coefficient at the 90th quantile = −0.24, p < 0.05) but positively associated with emissions in lower- and middle-income countries at lower quantiles of the emissions distribution. Similarly, while EV adoption correlates positively with the SDG Index in high-income countries, it shows negative effects at the median and several quantiles. These findings challenge the “zero-emission” assumption and demonstrate that the climate and development benefits of EV diffusion are context-dependent and unevenly distributed, highlighting the need for policies that link electrification to renewable energy deployment, infrastructure development, and equitable access.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/wevj17010034

Uncovering network changes in the evolution of an innovation niche

Edgardo Sica Antonio Lopolito Pasquale Marcello Falcone

Publication Name: Social Networks

Publication Date: 2026-01-01

Volume: 84

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 87-100

Description:

The present paper aims at unravelling the networking dynamics regarding the evolution of an innovation-niche, by looking at its network configuration over time. To this end, we investigate the actors’ role within the network as well as the network architecture. We employ the social network analysis (SNA) to four different but interrelated types of networks characterising the Italian biofuel industry. Each network was investigated in both its development and maturity phase. Our findings show that, over the niche evolution, actors established new relations, increasing networks’ density and making the networks more centralized. Furthermore, while two out of four networks confirmed their small world configuration over time, one (i.e. “communication” network) increased its small-world-ness, providing a larger number of information channels and more social reinforcement chances for niche actors to innovate. Overall, results suggest that policy makers should accompany and ease the innovation-niche evolution path by fostering the participation of the laggard behind and actors' clusterization, moderating any possible lock-in risk.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.socnet.2025.08.005

Exercise addiction: A review and evaluation of current research and theory

Zsolt Demetrovics Bhavya Chhabra Mark D. Griffiths Attila Szabo

Publication Name: Journal of Behavioral Addictions

Publication Date: 2026-01-01

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Background and Aims: While regular physical activity provides many health benefits, exercise can cause more harm than good when done excessively to the point where a person loses control. This condition has been called various names, but the most accurate term is ‘exercise addiction’ (EA) because it reflects both compulsive behavior and dependence. EA is classified as a non-substance-related addictive disorder, or behavioral addiction, and has been the subject of research for over fifty years. However, it is not officially recognized in major diagnostic systems, mainly due to significant conceptual and measurement challenges. This paper provides an overview of current knowledge on EA, including its causes, assessment issues, epidemiology, associated conditions, negative effects, and options for treatment and prevention. Methods: An evaluation-driven narrative review was conducted which synthesized findings from empirical research and theoretical models adopted across EA research. It critically examined prevailing conceptualizations, methodological challenges, and potential treatment approaches. Results: Epidemiological findings are inconsistent and report inflated prevalence rates, partly due to reliance on self-report instruments that often fail to distinguish pathological exercise from passion. Etiological models emphasize the complex interplay between biological, psychological, and behavioral factors. Negative consequences include physical injury, emotional distress, and social strain. Evidence for effective interventions remains sparse. Discussion and Conclusions: Despite growing interest, progress remains slow. There is a need for larger, longitudinal, and experimental studies to advance understanding. Though not included in the DSM-5, greater clinical awareness is vital for early detection and prevention. EA is clinically relevant but still poorly defined, requiring robust empirical and theoretical work.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1556/2006.2025.00336

Virtual influencer-brand collaborations: a multiple-case study of strategic design and the credibility-engagement paradox

Veronika Keller Donia Khalfallah

Publication Name: Cogent Business and Management

Publication Date: 2026-01-01

Volume: 13

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Virtual influencers (VIs) are increasingly integrated into brand communication strategies, offering novel opportunities for audience engagement, message control, and digital differentiation. This study examines brand-virtual influencer collaborations through a multiple-case study approach, analyzing five diverse cases: Lil Miquela, Imma, Noonoouri, Lu do Magalu, and Knox Frost. The analysis focuses on brand motivations for engaging with virtual influencers, strategic design and implementation choices in VI collaborations, and their effects on consumer trust, brand perception, and engagement. Findings indicate that brands are primarily motivated by novelty, differentiation, and the ability to achieve risk-controllable visibility, while effective collaboration strategies depend on aligning virtual influencer characteristics such as form realism, ownership structure, and endorsement format with product category and communication objectives. Cross-case synthesis reveals what we conceptualize as the Credibility-Engagement Paradox: an analytical framework whereby novelty, originality, and visual distinctiveness enhance engagement and opinion leadership, while simultaneously constraining perceived credibility and trust relative to human influencers. This study advances influencer marketing theory by conceptualizing the Credibility-Engagement Paradox as an analytical framework derived from cross-case evidence, demonstrating how novelty-driven engagement and credibility formation operate as partially independent mechanisms shaped by anthropomorphism, ownership structure, and contextual accountability, while also offering actionable guidance for brands deploying virtual influencers in digital marketing ecosystems.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1080/23311975.2026.2653916

Finite Element Modelling of Variable Bitumen Content in Asphalt Mixtures

Mohammad Fahad

Publication Name: Applied Sciences Switzerland

Publication Date: 2026-01-01

Volume: 16

Issue: 2

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Bitumen content is a critical factor influencing the long-term performance and durability of asphalt pavements. This study evaluates how different binder percentages affect the mechanical behaviour of asphalt mixtures. Mixtures containing 4.7%, 5.1% and 5.5% binder were tested through an extensive experimental program that included Marshall stability and flow, semi-circular bending, PAV aging, wheel rutting, dynamic modulus, creep compliance and fatigue resistance, supported by finite element simulations. To model the nonlinear viscoplastic and damage behaviour, a Perzyna-type viscoplastic formulation and Lemaitre’s isotropic damage model were applied. Model parameters were further refined using Bayesian estimation, based on 10,000 samples generated with a Markov Chain Monte Carlo procedure employing the Metropolis–Hastings algorithm. The findings indicate that mixtures with 4.7% binder content develop fatigue damage earlier, while increasing the binder above 5.1% leads to greater rutting susceptibility and higher creep compliance, as seen in the 5.5% mixture. Among the three, the 5.1% binder content delivered the best overall performance, reducing plastic strain-related damage by 40% compared with the 4.7% mixture and by 27% compared with the 5.5% mixture.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/app16020629

A novel hybrid decision support methodology for data-driven comparative analysis of EU macroeconomic performance

Dragan Pamucar Gökhan Çobanoğulları

Publication Name: Journal of Applied Economics

Publication Date: 2026-01-01

Volume: 29

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This study aims to evaluate the macroeconomic performance of 24 European Union (EU) member countries for the period 2014–2023 using the data-driven Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approach. In this context, an integrated weighting methodology combining Entropy and CRITIC techniques is applied together with Adaptive Standardized Intervals Based Alternative Ranking Technique (ARTASI) to ensure objectivity, stability and sensitivity in the analysis. In addition, in order to provide a comparative assessment of subjective and objective weightings in the study, opinions received from eight academicians who are experts in their fields are carried out with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach. Evaluating countries across eight key indicators, the results demonstrate that integrating both weighting methods enhances the robustness of the rankings Malta, the Netherlands, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Ireland generally show strong economic stability over the period considered, while Greece, Italy, Spain, France and Romania show the weakest weak performances.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1080/15140326.2026.2650888

OPTIMIZING PATIENT TRANSPORT UNDER INFECTION CONTROL CONSTRAINTS: A MILP-BASED DIAL-A-RIDE APPROACH

Tamás Hajba Adrián Horváth Martin Tóth

Publication Name: Communications Scientific Letters of the University of Zilina

Publication Date: 2026-01-01

Volume: 28

Issue: 1

Page Range: E13-E20

Description:

With aging populations and rising healthcare demands, efficient patient transportation has become a critical challenge, particularly in the context of infection control. In this paper an extended mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model for optimizing patient transport in urban environments is presented, with a focus on the separate transportation of infectious and non-infectious individuals. The model incorporates time windows, maximum allowable ride durations, and mandatory vehicle disinfection requirements. Experimental results obtained using CPLEX demonstrate that incorporating infection control measures significantly influences both route planning and computational complexity. The proposed approach provides a scalable foundation for future multi-vehicle extensions and cost-based optimization strategies.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.26552/com.C.2026.008