This study investigates the tribological effects of nano-sized metal oxides (ZrO2, CuO, Y2O3 and TiO2) in Group III type base oil containing 0.3% pour point depressant (PPD) and 5% viscosity modifier (VM) to enhance friction and wear performance. The homogenized lubricant samples with varying concentrations of oxide nanoparticles (0.1–0.5 wt%) on a linear oscillating tribometer performed static and dynamic frictional tests. Optical and confocal microscopy surface analysis evaluated the wear of the specimen, and SEM and EDX analyses characterized the wear tracks, nanoparticle distributions, and quantification. The cooperation between PPD and nanoparticles significantly improved friction and wear values; however, the worn surface suffered extensively from fatigue wear. The collaboration between VM and nanoparticles resulted in a nanoparticle-rich tribofilm on the contact surface, providing excellent wear resistance that protects the component while also favorably impacting friction reduction. This study found CuO reduced wear volume by 85% with PPD and 43% with VM at 0.5 wt%, while ZrO2 achieved 80% and 63% reductions, respectively. Y2O3 reduced wear volume by 82% with PPD, and TiO2 reduced friction by 20% with VM. These nanoparticles enhanced tribological performance at optimal concentrations, but high concentrations caused tribofilm instability, highlighting the need for precise optimization.

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), one of the earliest domesticated crops, has diverse applications in textiles, construction, nutrition, and medicine. Breeding advancements, including speed breeding, accelerate genetic improvements in crops by optimizing environmental conditions for reduced generation times. This study employed greenhouse and field experiments to develop a proprietary yellow-stemmed hemp germplasm with a unique stem trait. Initial crossbreeding between the late Eletta Campana (medium green stems) and the early Chamaeleon (yellow stems) demonstrated the recessive monogenic inheritance of the yellow-stem trait and fast and safe stabilization even in the case of parent varieties with different flowering times. Controlled flowering in the case of photoperiod-sensitive genotypes, manual pollination, and successive backcrossing stabilized the yellow-stem trait over six cycles, with 100% trait consistency achieved by the fifth cycle within just 12 months in total. Open-field trials validated greenhouse results, showing strong correlations between visual stem color assessments and visible atmospherically resistant index (VARI) obtained through remote sensing imagery. Cannabinoid analyses indicated significant reductions in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content while maintaining optimal cannabidiol (CBD) levels. Accumulated growing degree days (GDDs) optimized flowering and maturity, ensuring consistency in phenological traits. This research highlights the utility of speed breeding and chemical analysis to accelerate trait stabilization and improve industrial hemp’s agronomic potential for fiber and CBD production while adhering to regulatory THC limits.

The study aimed to produce, analyse, and evaluate the consumer acceptance of a functional peppermint-, and spearmint-enriched (0.5,1,2 %) sorbet, which contains only natural substances in its composition, to meet today's popular health-conscious consumer trends. Regarding acid composition, the sorbets contained malic acid, succinic acid, and citric acid. Sorbets regarded of water-soluble sugars, contained sucrose in the lowest concentration, followed by glucose, and the amount of fructose, which is typical for fruits, was the highest. The sorbets' TPC and TAC contents were determined to be between 510.72 and 743.77 mg GAE/kg, and 906.64 and 1137.67 mg AAE/kg respectively. The average melting rate of the desserts was 0.16–0.22 g/min, and based on consumer acceptance, the control and the samples added with 0.5 % spearmint and peppermint mint were the most favorable. The sorbets containing 1 % and 2 % mint had too intense menthol flavor, thus the enjoyment value of the products was reduced based on consumer feedback.

The aim of our study is to review the new vehicle diagnostic requirements that support economical and environmentally friendly operation. Vehicle technology is undergoing continuous and significant changes. At the same time, it is not enough to develop energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies; they must be operated in proper technical conditions and with proper driving techniques. Accordingly, new, innovative procedures are constantly needed for the economical and environmentally friendly operation of vehicles, and it is important to emphasize that vehicle diagnostics must also follow these changes! The practical applications of our publication and our research focus on several areas. This research is particularly important in the case of public transport vehicles and transport fleets. An important practical aspect is that large transport companies also achieve significant cost savings and, at the same time, contribute to environmentally friendly transport. The publication represents a new direction in vehicle diagnostics and research and development; this is the ECO-Diagnostics discussed in the material. ECO-Diagnostics is a procedure that takes into account both ecological and economic factors during vehicle diagnostic tests. Vehicle diagnostics, as an independent, professional, and scientific field, began to develop in the 1970s. This field of research experiences a paradigm shift, on average, every 20 years. Today, an epochal shift is taking place, with the development and spread of alternative propulsion systems (e.g., electric, hydrogen, or gas) and autonomous vehicles being the main areas of focus. The changes in vehicle technology must be followed by vehicle diagnostics too. Some of the already-known diagnostic methods (e.g., for internal combustion engines) can be included in this category, but new methods are also needed to enable the economical and environmentally friendly operation of vehicles. These facts make it important and urgent to define and research this area. Research in this area is particularly important for public transport vehicles and transport fleets. It is not enough to develop energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies: they must be operated in the right technical condition and with the right driving techniques for the intended purpose. This will help large transport companies to achieve significant cost savings and contribute to the environmentally friendly transport of passengers and goods. A major new area in vehicle diagnostics needs to be introduced and expanded. ECO-Diagnostics is a new category that has not been used before, and it also marks a new area of research and development. The article presents the basics of categorization and supports them with its own research results and application examples. As an introduction, a systematic overview of vehicle diagnostics as a whole is also provided. This is important (and novel) as no such systematic overview is available in the technical and scientific literature. The new category should also be included in this scheme. In parallel with the development of vehicles and diagnostic procedures, the methods and their context covered by the umbrella term ECO-Diagnostics (in ecological and economic terms) should, of course, be constantly expanded. Artificial intelligence can play an important role in this process. In the future, there will be a strong demand for the development of procedures in the field of ECO-Diagnostics. For both economic and environmental reasons, it is urgent and important to research and develop procedures in this category. This fact will also influence the work of researchers in the future.

Urban development driven by population growth and technological advancements has intensified urban heat islands (UHIs), contributing to environmental damage and health risks. This study explores the potential of cool pavements as a critical strategy for mitigating UHIs, focusing on reflective, evaporative, and energy-storing technologies. Over 400 reputable scientific articles were reviewed to analyze UHI causes; measurement methods, including remote sensing and laboratory techniques; and the effectiveness of various pavement solutions. Reflective pavements demonstrated a capacity to lower surface temperatures by 5–20 °C depending on reflectivity changes, while evaporative pavements reduced temperatures by 5–35 °C based on type and design. Advanced energy-storing pavements not only achieved a 3–5 °C temperature reduction but also generated renewable energy. This research provides a comprehensive classification of pavement cooling systems and evaluates their quantitative and qualitative benefits, emphasizing the transformative role of cool pavements in enhancing urban sustainability and reducing UHI effects.

Background and Aims: The biopsychosocial (BPS) model considers that health and behavioral outcomes result from the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Regular exercise is an essential component of modern-day healthy living. All three factors in the BPS model are related to long-term exercise. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to compare adults exercising regularly for at least 3 years with their non-exercising counterparts on perceived health and stress (antagonistic, biopsychological), life satisfaction (psychological), and perceived income (psychosocial) while controlling for age, gender, and education level. Methods: Participants were 461 Hungarian volunteers (74.83% female) aged 18−73 years. There were 274 regular exercisers and 187 non-exercisers. They completed the study on the Qualtrics research platform. Results: A statistically significant (p < 0.001) multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that long-term exercisers scored lower on perceived stress and higher on perceived health, income, and life satisfaction than non-exercising adults. Consequently, the three factors of the BPS model differentiated the groups. Still, the effect sizes were relatively small. Finally, perceived stress was a statistically significant (p < 0.001) mediator of life satisfaction. Conclusion: These findings support the idea that long-term exercise behavior can be studied via the BPS model and the role of stress in life satisfaction. The results have practical implications for promoting a healthy and satisfactory life targeting multi-level development through exercise based on the BPS model.

This paper presents the findings from experimental tests and numerical simulations on plate girders with various end post configurations. While EN 1993-1-5:2024 provides design rules for both rigid and non-rigid end posts, it does not address the shear resistance of partially stiffened webs. The use of partial-depth stiffeners faces risks due to the lack of thorough investigation into their mechanical behaviour. To explore this issue, small numbered experimental tests and large numbered parametric studies on beams with different web slenderness were conducted using advanced numerical simulations. The results indicated that the shear buckling capacity of girders is lower than the design recommendation when the web stiffener height is <50 % of the web height. For girders with full-height stiffeners, EN 1993-1-5:2024 yields safe results. The accuracy of the EN 1993-1-5:2024 design rule for partially stiffened beams was also evaluated and new and shear buckling design curves were proposed for girders with partial-depth stiffeners.

Background: Nutritional expectations have been shown to influence exercise performance via placebo and nocebo effects. The present study aimed to evaluate performance-enhancement expectations for coffee and energy drinks using the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale. Methods: A total of 402 participants (48.5% male) with an average exercise history of 4.53 years, engaging in average physical activity 3.91 times per week, were included in the study. Data collection was conducted through the Qualtrics platform. Results: Participants exhibited significantly higher positive expectations for coffee compared to energy drinks (p = 0.002), whereas negative expectations were more pronounced for energy drinks than for coffee (p < 0.001). Males and individuals engaging in anaerobic exercise expressed more positive expectations for energy drinks than females and those participating in aerobic or mixed exercise regimens. Additionally, high-frequency exercisers (≥4 sessions per week) reported greater positive expectations for both beverages and fewer negative expectations for coffee than low-frequency exercisers (≤3 sessions per week). Correlational analyses revealed weak but significant associations between expectations and variables such as exercise history, frequency, intensity, and age. Conclusions: The findings suggest that coffee is perceived as a more effective performance enhancer and exhibits greater placebo-inducing potential than energy drinks, which may elicit stronger nocebo effects. These group-specific perceptions should be considered by trainers, coaches, and researchers when addressing placebo–nocebo mechanisms in the context of sports and exercise.

High diffraction efficiency optical transmission gratings with quasi-sinusoidal and saw-tooth surface relief profiles were fabricated in Bi12GeO20, Er: LiNbO3 and Er: Fe: LiNbO3 crystals by ion beam implantation. The gratings were directly written by nitrogen ion microbeams at energies of 5 MeV and 10.5 MeV. The finest grating constant was 4 μm. Grating constants for the majority of the gratings were 16 μm. The highest amplitudes of the gratings reached 1600 nm. The highest first-order diffraction efficiency obtained in a sinusoidal grating was 25%, close to the theoretical maximum of 33%. The highest first-order diffraction efficiency of a blazed grating was also 25%, without Littrow optimization. Such gratings can be incorporated into integrated optical biosensors.