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The paper presents three operative models whose purpose is to improve the practice of preventive maintenance to a wide range of technical installations. Although the calculation criteria are different, the goal is the same: to determine the optimum time between two consecutive preventive interventions. The optimum criteria of these models are: - the maximum share of technical entity operating probabilities, in the case of the Ackoff - Sasieni [1] method; -the optimum time interval for preventive verification depending on the preventive-corrective maintenance costs imposed by the deciding factor, for the AsturioBaldin [2] model; - the minimum number of renewals – preventive and/or corrective maintenance operations [3]

This paper is presenting a method used to confirm the necessity of practicing maintenance works for two vehicles, tramways, whose operational statuses, defined by the levels of exploitation parameters, proved to be in precarious condition. Wear and tear has been the main cause leading to the occurrence of unnumbered moments when the vehicles were unavailable. Studies performed on data collected during a compelling enough period of time are highlighting, a tendency to increase the failure frequency with more than 10%. The wear and tear of the analyzed technical equipment is expressed by the status probabilities that are related to a later moment, and determined by using Markov chain theory, and entropic level - unit of measure for incertitude or chaos - phenomenons that are specific for system degradation - to be determined based on Shannon entropy concept[7],[11]. Based on these two sizes, the decision-maker may impose the optimal strategy regarding the maintenance works practice.

The present paper investigates and compares the performance of three configurations of Gas Turbine systems allowing cogeneration of heat and electricity, on the basis of an irreversible regenerative Brayton-Joule cycle. The proposed model is developed for two different cycle constraints, namely, an imposed heat transfer rate released by the fuel combustion, or an imposed maximum cycle temperature. The model also includes the irreversibility due to the friction in the compressor and turbine, and due to the heat losses in the combustion chamber and heat exchangers. Energy efficiency for the system without and with cogeneration, and the exergetic efficiency are used in order to emphasize the cogeneration advantages, but also to help the designer to choose the best configuration of the Gas Turbine system that suits to his needs. Experimental data from a real operating microturbine were used to validate the model. The power output and the energy and exergetic efficiencies are optimized with respect to a set of operating parameters. The optimum values of the Gas Turbine engine parameters corresponding to maximum power output and respectively to maximum thermodynamic efficiency are discussed. The results show same optimal values of the compression ratio corresponding to almost all maximum performances for an imposed heat transfer rate released by the fuel combustion, excepting the maximum exergetic efficiency that requires higher optimal values of the compression ratio than the maximum exergy rate one. A performance comparison of the three configurations is done and future perspectives of the work are proposed. Cet article explore et compare les performances des trois configurations de systèmes de turbine à combustion permettant la production combinée de chaleur et d’électricité, sur la base du cycle irréversible régénératif de Brayton-Joule. Le modèle proposé est développé pour deux contraintes différentes sur le cycle, notamment le flux de chaleur produit par combustion imposé ou la température maximale du cycle imposée. Le modèle considère également l’irréversibilité due au frottement dans le compresseur et la turbine et celle due aux pertes de chaleur dans la chambre de combustion et les échangeurs de chaleur. Le rendement au sens du premier principe du système sans et avec cogénération et le rendement exergétique rendent compte des avantages de la cogénération, et aident le concepteur à choisir la meilleure configuration de turbines à combustion en fonction de ses besoins. Des données expérimentales d’une microturbine opérationnelle ont été utilisées pour valider le modèle. La puissance fournie et les rendements au sens du premier principe et exergétique sont optimisés par rapport à un ensemble de paramètres de fonctionnement. Les valeurs optimales des paramètres du moteur à turbine à combustion qui correspondent au maximum de puissance fournie, respectivement au maximum de rendement thermodynamique sont discutées. Les résultats montrent que la plupart des performances maximales correspondent aux mêmes valeurs optimales du taux de compression pour le flux imposé, sauf le rendement exergétique maximum qui demande des valeurs plus élevées du taux de compression que celles pour le maximum du flux d’exergie. Une comparaison des performances de ces trois configurations et les perspectives sont proposées.

In present-day dialogues pertaining to the stewardship of the environment, the essential interconnectedness between the management of resources sustainably and the conservation of biodiversity has surfaced as an issue of considerable significance. The efficacious overseeing of natural resources, which includes both ecosystems found on land and in water, is fundamentally necessary for the preservation of the fragile equilibrium that supports the resilience of ecosystems. The intensifying pressures stemming from climate change, urban expansion, and the exploitation of resources compel the adoption of novel strategies which must not only safeguard the resource availability for forthcoming generations but also actively advance the well-being of ecological systems. This discourse will delving into the complex interrelation between practices of sustainable resource management and their repercussions on biodiversity, positing that an all-encompassing approach is crucial. By amalgamating principles of ecology with considerations rooted in socio-economics, it is plausible to bolster the resilience of ecosystems that are progressively susceptible to human-induced influences. In conclusion, the discussion will elucidate potential routes toward a future characterised by sustainability, emphasising the recognition that the health and vitality of our natural resources are fundamentally intertwined with biodiversity and the stability of ecosystems. A crucial component of the safeguarding of ecological integrity pertains to the sustainable administration of natural resources, which is characterised as the action of utilising these resources in a way that addresses current demands without endangering the capacity of subsequent generations to satisfy their own. This necessitates the equilibrium of ecological, economic, and social imperatives, thereby enhancing biodiversity and the resilience of ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of farmers in the modern era is both pivotal and complex, as they stand at the nexus of food production, environmental stewardship, and economic sustainability. This abstract delves into the multifaceted challenges and pressing issues that confront farmers in this dynamic landscape. In an era defined by rapid technological advancements, shifting consumer demands, environmental concerns, and global market dynamics, the modern farmer faces a unique set of challenges. In the intricate web of our contemporary world, the role of farmers emerges as nothing short of pivotal, and yet their journey is one that traverses a landscape as intricate as the crops they cultivate. The modern farmer, often obscured beneath the broad brim of a sun-worn hat, is a figure who carries the aspirations of a global society—a society demanding sustenance, stewardship, and stability. Modern farmers find themselves at the confluence of diverse challenges that shape the dynamics of contemporary agriculture. This abstract provides a concise overview of the critical issues that weigh on the minds and shoulders of those who till the soil and tend to livestock. In an era marked by technological innovation, shifting consumer preferences, environmental concerns, and global market fluctuations, the challenges facing modern farmers are both intricate and pressing. In conclusion, modern farmers confront a complex web of challenges, including technological disparities, environmental sustainability, consumercentric farming, economic uncertainties, rural depopulation, and policy advocacy. Their journey is one of adaptation and resilience as they navigate the evolving landscape of agriculture and its multifaceted challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many today’s scientists think that religion can never come to terms with science. In sharp contrast to the widespread opinion, the authors of this paper consider that historically scientific reasoning and religious belief joined hands in their effort to investigate and understand reality. In fact, the current divorce between science and religion is nothing else than the final outcome of a gradual long-term, and deliberately assumed process of science secularization of science. However, especially during the last decades, we have all been equally confronted with the advance of a new concern over the fact that contemporary scientists have been approaching an area of investigation that had been usually addressed by the theological thought. This recent development has generated an emerging new field of investigation of Science and Religion within modern scientific epistemology.Against this background, the purpose of this paper is three-fold: firstly, to briefly emphasize that one of the defining dimensions of the dialogue between science and religion is given by the discontinuity, in which, the knowledge acquired through scientific reasoning is placed in relation to the divinely revealed knowledge; secondly, to argue that another defining dimension of the dialogue consists in the hierarchical harmony mediating the encounter between the two, thus transgressing the discontinuity and making the dialogue between theology and science possible and viable; and thirdly, to advocate the idea that the apodictic method (based on antinomic logic) can successfully structure such a dialogue.

Climatic aggressiveness is one of the most important factors in relief dynamic. Of all climatic parameters, rainfall is directly involved in versant dynamic, in the loss of soil quality and through pluvial denudation and the processes associated with it, through the erosivity of torrential rain. We analyzed rainfall aggressiveness based on monthly and annual average values through the Fournier's index (1970) and Fournier's index modified by Arnoldus (1980). They have the advantage that they can be used not only for evaluating the land susceptibility to erosion and the calculation of erodibility of land and soil losses, but also in assessing land susceptibility to sliding (Aghiruş, 2010). The literature illustrates the successful use of this index which provides a summary assessment of the probability of rainfall with significant erosive effects. The results obtained allow observation of differences in space and time of the distribution of this index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article approaches the methodology of designing customized footwear for high arched foot. The authors propose to reconsider the classical structure of footwear bottom components for people with high arched foot and recommend incorporating custom components, with the role of compensation or adjustment. This study continues the authors’ research, starting from a foot’s 3D shape obtained by 3D scanning, the anthropometrical and biomechanical parameters, shoe lasts’ 3D modelling and continuing with 3D footwear design. Including customized orthosis can help to stop the evolution of abnormalities, diminishes sensations of pain during walking and improves performance in various physical activities carried out during the day, walking, running, and standing. The prophylactic footwear has to meet four main requirements: to protect the foot and ankle during walking and static; to ensure the normal resistance systems (bones), muscle and joint of the foot; to prevent the installation of irreversible structural changes by reducing stress on the foot; to contribute to increased performance in conducting regular physical activity. It is presented the steps of modelling an orthosis, a virtual simulation of its cutting process, followed by the integration and development of the insole, filling and sole for a customized shoe. Delcam Crispin CAD system and its applications for orthopaedics are used to design the bottom components of prophylactic footwear for a high arched foot.

Forty-three biopsies were performed between 30 and 60 min after reperfusion. Patients (22 males/21 females, mean age 41 ±12 years, mean donor age 32 ±14 years) were treated either with antilymphocytic globulin, cyclosporin, and prednisolone (24 cases), or OKT3, cyclosporin, and prednisolone (19 cases). Ten patients had delayed post-transplant renal function (DPRF), defined as haemodialysis requirements after surgery, and seven patients had acute rejection 11 ±16 days post-transplant. Kidneys were perfused with a hypertonic solution containing mannitol. All patients were followed up for at least 30 months. During follow-up, five patients lost their grafts due chronic rejection, two patients due to non-compliance and one due to recurrence of focal seg-mental glomerulosclerosis. One patient died from heart infarction. Biopsies were stained with H&E, Masson's trichrome, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and silver methenamine. Interstitial fibrosis, interstitial oedema, tubular vacuolization, and peritubular capillary oedema were measured using a semiquantitative scale. Five 400 × magnification micrographs of cortical inter-stitium from silver-methenamine-stained sections were used to measure percentage of interstitial surface with a morphometer. Interstitial surface was 18.7 ±6.2% (range 3.2–35.3%). A positive correlation was found between interstitial surface and donor age (= 0.469, =0.0015). No relationship was found between warm and cold ischaemia times and tubular vacuolization or peritubular capillary oedema. Patients with DPRF had a significantly increased interstitial surface (23 ±8%) when compared with patients without DPRF (17 ±5%), (=0.014). There was a positive relationship between interstitial surface and number of days required to achieve a plasma creatinine of 300 μmol/1 after surgery, this fitted an exponential curve (=0.578, =0.0012). Patients who had an episode of acute rejection were not included in this calculation. A positive correlation was also found between interstitial surface and plasma creatinine at 12 months (=0.692, =0.0001), 18 months (=0.713, =0.0001), and 24 months (=0.586, =0.0023) after surgery. Patients who lost their grafts during follow-up were not included in this calculation. The relationship between interstitial surface and plasma creatinine 30 months after transplantation was not significant. There was no relation between tubular vacuolization or peritubular capillary oedema and number of days required to achieve a plasma creatinine of 300 μmol/1 or plasma creatinine 12, 18, 24, and 30 months after transplantation. We conclude that assessment of donor renal biopsies may help to predict post-transplant renal function. The increase of interstitial surface due to pre-existing fibrosis is associated with poor post-transplant graft performance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a method to evaluate the durability of a batch of electrical starters, fitted on buses used by the public transportation company of the municipality of Oradea. These starters have a short transient working regime, characterized by frequent start-stop usage, especially during the cold season. Based on statistical sample obtained from the exploitation documentation, it was proven that the temporal evolution of these starters is characterized by a Weibull model, but with a conspicuos tendincy towards the Rayleigh version - a distinctive model of equipments that have an operational regime characterized by strong attrition. Also, this paper analyzes the topic of acquiring this sort of equipments based on preliminary testing. These tests are meant to assess the probable durability level of these operational entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents some of thepreliminary results of the anemometricalmeasurements campaign on the hill areas. These areascould benefit from the installation of some smalldimension wind generators.The analysis refers to areas known as “marginal”,that is, they have an energetic density and mediumspeed that do not really justify, from an economic pointof view, the investment in a high dimension windstation. (according to a vague classification, the areasconsidered “poor” have less than 200W/m2 and the“marginal” areas have between 200 and 300W/m2).The final decision will be determined by the windstatistic analysis from the areas of this type, with thehelp of Weibull distribution and some other parametersdesignated to quantify the zone turbulence. It will bedemonstrated how one of the most interestingcharacteristic of this area type, that is the highenergetic density of the speed distribution “heads” issignificant and not only the relatively small value ofthe medium speed.

Many present day scientists think that religion can never come to terms with science. In sharp contrast with this widespread opinion, this paper argues that, historically, scientific reasoning and religious belief joined hands in their effort to investigate and understand reality. In fact, the present-day divorce between science and religion is nothing else than the final outcome of a gradual, long-term, and deliberately assumed process of the secularization of science. However, especially during the last two decades, we have all been equally confronted with the advance of a new concern that some contemporary scientists have, namely reviewing the sphere of problems specific to the domains of investigation in which they are involved while now facing themes that are usually addressed by theological thought. The paper describes this recent development as being captured by an emerging new field of investigation within the modern scientific epistemology, Science and Religion. Against this background, the purpose of this paper is two-fold: firstly, to briefly look over the large number of typologies that have been suggested to classify various ways of relating science and religion; and secondly, to highlight the dual taxonomical nature of the contemporary science and religion dialogue.

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is widely used in radiotherapy (RT) treatment planning, yet manual treatment planning (MP) remains labor-intensive and skill-dependent. To address this, we propose a fully automated treatment planning (AP) approach for prostate cancer treatments, aiming to streamline planning while maintaining quality. Our pipeline takes as input a contoured planning CT, the targeted Linac machine and the prescription dose. It uses a deep learning model trained on 123 clinical cases for dose prediction and direct aperture VMAT plan optimization. A clinical evaluation study was performed on another 25 cases. The RT plans generated were calculated using a Collapsed Cone Convolution engine and the obtained RTdoses were compared with the reference doses from MP. First, a quantitative evaluation was performed based on dose-volume histogram (DVH) points and plan parameters metrics (monitor units (MU) and modulation complexity score (MCS)). Paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess significant differences between the MP and AP plans (with p<0.05 considered statistically significant). Secondly, a double blinded plan comparison study was organized, showing side-by-side the RTdoses from AP and MP plans. Three experts (from major European and US cancer centers) evaluated plan acceptability and preference. The results of the quantitative evaluation showed that the AP doses to PTV_80Gy were similar to those of MP (<0.5Gy absolute dose difference) and without statistically significant differences in the median (D50%) and maximum (D2%) doses (Table1). AP reduced toxicity to organs-at-risk (OARs), notably a 6Gy decrease in D5% to the right femoral head. Significant differences between MP vs AP were also observed in the number of MU (589.67 ± 57.39 vs 658.48 ± 72.52) and MCS (0.19 ± 0.03 vs 0.17 ± 0.03). Qualitative evaluation found both AP and MP plans clinically acceptable (87% and 85%, respectively). AP was preferred in 18/25, 13/25, and 22/25 cases by three experts, revealing varying clinical priorities. Table1. Dosimetric study results. With * are highlighted the statistically significant differences between MP and AP (p<0.05) Our automated pipeline produces plans comparable to manual ones, deemed clinically acceptable and sometimes superior. Differences in expert preferences highlight variations in clinical practice across centers and countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long term effects of electromagnetic fields on the human body are far from being well understood. Special concerns arise if this exposure is relatively prolonged such as in the case of professionals working in electric power installations. In this paper the authors focus on electric power distribution because of the high number of such installations and also their proximity to residential areas. We present the main recommendations and standards regarding the admissible limits and also the procedures applied to assess human exposure in distribution installation workplaces. Theoretical considerations and measured values in typical distribution installations from Romania are presented and discussed. Measurements have shown that, in distribution installations, in terms of limits set by specific regulations, permissible levels are not exceeded for occupational exposure to power frequency fields; only in some points the public exposure limits can be overcome. Medical considerations on short or long term exposure of workers are also discussed, based upon up to date knowledge.

Background/Objectives : To evaluate an end-to-end pipeline for normo-fractionated prostate-only and whole-pelvic cancer treatments that requires minimal human input and generates a machine-deliverable plan as an output. Methods : In collaboration with TheraPanacea, a treatment planning pipeline was developed that takes as its input a planning CT with organs-at-risk (OARs) and planning target volume (PTV) contours, the targeted linac machine, and the prescription dose. The primary components are (i) dose prediction by a single deep learning model for both localizations and (ii) a direct aperture VMAT plan optimization that seeks to mimic the predicted dose. The deep learning model was trained on 238 cases, and a held-out set of 86 cases was used for model validation. An end-to-end clinical evaluation study was performed on another 40 cases (20 prostate-only, 20 whole-pelvic). First, a quantitative evaluation was performed based on dose-volume histogram (DVH) points and plan parameter metrics. Then, the plan deliverability was assessed via portal dosimetry using the global gamma index. Additionally, the reference clinical manual plans were compared with the automated plans in terms of monitor unit (MU) numbers and modulation complexity scores (MCSv). Results : The automated plans provided adequate treatment plans (or minor deviations) with respect to the dose constraints, and the quality of the plans was similar to the manual plans for both localizations. Moreover, the automated plans showed successful deliverability and passed the portal dose verification. Despite higher median total MUs, no statistically significant correlation was observed between any of the gamma criteria tested and the number of MUs or MCSv. Conclusions : This study shows the feasibility of a deep learning-based fully automated treatment planning pipeline that generates high-quality plans that are competitive with manually made plans and are clinically approved in terms of dosimetry and machine deliverability.

This paper presents a continuation of the Chambadal model optimization of the irreversible Carnot engine. We retrieved the results presented in the Special Issue "Carnot Cycle and Heat Engine Fundamentals and Applications II" and enriched them with new contributions that allowed comparing two points of view: (1) the now classical one, centered on entropy production in the four processes of the cycle, which introduces the action of entropy production, with several sequential optimizations; (2) the new one that is relative to an energy degradation approach. The same démarche of sequential optimization was used, but the results were slightly different. We estimate that the second approach is more representative of physics by emphasizing the energy conservation and the existence on an upper and a lower bound in the mechanical energy and power output of the engine.

The objective of this study was to analyse the influence of materials and their position within the upper assembly on the behaviour of casual footwear using finite element simulation tools. The study was carried out on three models of casual footwear, which are identical in terms of design lines, varying only in the materials of the upper assembly, namely calfskin leather (M1), knitted fabric (M2), and combination of knitted fabric and calfskin leather (M3). The footwear models were designed according to the design constraints specific to casual footwear. The foot was reconstructed based on the shoe last obtained based on anthropometric data. Material definition, 3D models editing, setting up analysis conditions, and constraints were performed using the Ansys 17.2 software. Gait biomechanics were taken into account to define the loading model, force distribution, force values, and constraints. The study evaluates footwear behaviour in terms of directional deformation (Z axis), equivalent von Mises stress, and equivalent elastic strain distribution. This paper explores a methodology that has the potential to enhance the footwear design and manufacturing process, providing designers with information about the deformations and stress distribution on upper parts of the footwear product.

Purpose: To investigate the performance of 4 atlas-based (multi-ABAS) and 2 deep learning (DL) solutions for head-and-neck (HN) elective nodes (CTVn) automatic segmentation (AS) on CT images., Material and Methods: Bilateral CTVn levels of 69 HN cancer patients were delineated on contrast-enhanced planning CT. Ten and 49 patients were used for atlas library and for training a mono-centric DL model, respectively. The remaining 20 patients were used for testing. Additionally, three commercial multi-ABAS methods and one commercial multi-centric DL solution were investigated. Quantitative evaluation was assessed using volumetric Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) and 95-percentile Hausdorff distance (HD 95% ). Blind evaluation was performed for 3 solutions by 4 physicians. One recorded the time needed for manual corrections. A dosimetric study was finally conducted using automated planning., Results: Overall DL solutions had better DSC and HD 95% results than multi-ABAS methods. No statistically significant difference was found between the 2 DL solutions. However, the contours provided by multi-centric DL solution were preferred by all physicians and were also faster to correct (1.1 min vs 4.17 min, on average). Manual corrections for multi-ABAS contours took on average 6.52 min Overall, decreased contour accuracy was observed from CTVn2 to CTVn3 and to CTVn4. Using the AS contours in treatment planning resulted in underdosage of the elective target volume., Conclusion: Among all methods, the multi-centric DL method showed the highest delineation accuracy and was better rated by experts. Manual corrections remain necessary to avoid elective target underdosage. Finally, AS contours help reducing the workload of manual delineation task., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest This work was performed in the framework of a research cooperation agreement with Elekta AB., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cuscuta (dodder) includes ca. 200 species of plant obligate stem parasites with enormous ecological and economical significance. Inflorescences have been historically used in Cuscuta for species descriptions and identification keys, but no comprehensive study exists to date. The main objectives of this study were to survey the diversity and evolution of inflorescences and to uncover their possible form-function relationships. The inflorescence architecture of 132 Cuscuta taxa was analysed using herbarium specimens and eight species were grown to study their inflorescence development. Inflorescence traits were mapped into a genus phylogeny obtained from a combined analysis of nuclear ITS and plastid trnL-F sequences. To test the hypothesis that inflorescence architecture is connected to sexual reproduction, correlations between inflorescence traits (using Principal Components), sexual reproductive traits (pollen/ovule ratios, corolla length and diameter), fruit charaters (fruit length and width), and the modes of dehiscence were analyzed. Based on their development, three major types of inflorescences were observed: "Cuscuta type", a simple, monochasial scorpioid cyme; "Monogynella type", a compound monochasial scorpioid cymes with the longest primary axes having prolonged vegetative growth and giving the appearance of thyrses; and "Grammica type", a compound monochasial scorpiod cymes with up to five orders of axes. Maximum likelihood analyses suggested Monogynella as the ancestral type, while Cuscuta and Grammica were derived. Overall, the total length of axes exhibited a reduction trend throughout the genus evolution, but it was not correlated with the pedicels length. Inflorescences with similar architectures may exhibit contrasting pollen-ovule ratios. Positive significant correlations were noted between the size of the flower traits and pollen-ovule ratios. Several modes of dehiscence had statistically significant different total axes lengths, suggesting that the infructescence architecture is connected to the modes of dehiscence in Cuscuta and therefore seed dispersal., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Glofcheskie et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Poor air quality inside museums can have a double effect; on the one hand, influencing the integrity of the exhibits and on the other hand, endangering the health of employees and visitors. Both components can be very sensitive to the influence of the internal microclimate, therefore careful monitoring of the physical parameters and pollutants is required in order to maintain them within strict limits and thus to reduce the hazards that can be induced. The current study considers the determination and analysis of 15 indicators of the internal microclimate in an Art Nouveau museum built at the beginning of the 20th century in the Municipality of Oradea, Romania. The monitoring spanned a period of seven months, between September 2021 and March 2022, targeting three rooms of the museum with different characteristics and containing exhibits with a high degree of fragility. The results show that, although there are numerous indicators that have exceeded the thresholds induced by international standards, the possible negative impact on the exhibits and/or on human health remains moderate. This is due to the fact that, most of the time, exceeding the permitted limits are small or only sporadic, the values quickly returning to the permitted limits. Thus, only 22 of the 212 days of monitoring recorded marginal conditions regarding the quality of the indoor air, the rest having acceptable and good conditions. To improve the indoor conditions, a more careful management is needed, especially regarding the values of temperature, humidity, particulate matters, natural and artificial light, volatile organic compounds (VOC) and formaldehyde (HCHO), which during the measurements recorded high values that fluctuated in a wide spectrum. The obtained results can represent the basis for the development and implementation of long-term strategies for stabilizing the microclimatic conditions in the museum in order to preserve the exhibits preventively and to ensure a clean and safe environment for people.

Background and Purpose: To investigate the performance of head-and-neck (HN) organs-at-risk (OAR) automatic segmentation (AS) using four atlas-based (ABAS) and two deep learning (DL) solutions., Material and Methods: All patients underwent iodine contrast-enhanced planning CT. Fourteen OAR were manually delineated. DL.1 and DL.2 solutions were trained with 63 mono-centric patients and > 1000 multi-centric patients, respectively. Ten and 15 patients with varied anatomies were selected for the atlas library and for testing, respectively. The evaluation was based on geometric indices (DICE coefficient and 95th percentile-Hausdorff Distance (HD 95% )), time needed for manual corrections and clinical dosimetric endpoints obtained using automated treatment planning., Results: Both DICE and HD 95% results indicated that DL algorithms generally performed better compared with ABAS algorithms for automatic segmentation of HN OAR. However, the hybrid-ABAS (ABAS.3) algorithm sometimes provided the highest agreement to the reference contours compared with the 2 DL. Compared with DL.2 and ABAS.3, DL.1 contours were the fastest to correct. For the 3 solutions, the differences in dose distributions obtained using AS contours and AS + manually corrected contours were not statistically significant. High dose differences could be observed when OAR contours were at short distances to the targets. However, this was not always interrelated., Conclusion: DL methods generally showed higher delineation accuracy compared with ABAS methods for AS segmentation of HN OAR. Most ABAS contours had high conformity to the reference but were more time consuming than DL algorithms, especially when considering the computing time and the time spent on manual corrections., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: This work was performed in the framework of a research cooperation agreement with Elekta AB., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study presents the production, characterization, and application of celandine ( Chelidonium majus L.) extracts (aqueous, acidic, alcoholic, and ultrasound) on wool fibers and their characterization. The study aims to obtain an ecologically dyed wool support that possesses biocompatible and antimicrobial activities. The plant extracts were characterized based on pH, total polyphenol content, and berberine content. Ecologically dyed wool supports were characterized based on scanning electron microscopy, levelness index, color measurements, contact angle indirect biocompatibility, and antibacterial analysis. According to the obtained results, celandine extract can be considered a potential candidate for the sustainable dyeing and functionalization of wool fibers.

This paper aimed to define two critical mechanical properties of leather-Young's modulus and Poisson ratio-essential to the virtual simulation of the behaviour of the footwear uppers against the manufacturing operations of stitching and perforating. The following technological aspects were considered to analyse the materials from manufacturing conditions point of view: the number of layers (one layer and two layers), the nature of the materials used for uppers subgroups (calfskin-outer upper, sheep leather-lining, polyester knitted fabric-lining), the overlapping width in the stitching area, the number of parallel stitches (single stitch and double stitch), the punching interval and the type of perforations (simple and with eyelets), resulting in nine kinds of samples. Furthermore, the elasticity (Young's modulus) and lateral contraction (Poisson's ratio) were calculated during the tensile strength analysis performed on the SATRA STM 466 equipment. Both mechanical parameters are essential to simulate the behaviour of the virtual footwear prototypes in various conditions., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The old fibers that make up heritage textiles displayed in museums are degraded by the aging process, environmental conditions (microclimates, particulate matter, pollutants, sunlight) and the action of microorganisms. In order to counteract these processes and keep the textile exhibits in good condition for as long as possible, both reactive and preventive interventions on them are necessary. Based on these ideas, the present study aims to test a natural and non-invasive method of cleaning historic textiles, which includes the use of a natural substance with a known antifungal effect (being traditionally used in various rural communities)-lye. The design of the study was aimed at examining a traditional women's shirt that is aged between 80-100 years, using artificial intelligence techniques for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imagery analysis and X-ray powder diffraction technique in order to achieve a complex and accurate investigation and monitoring of the object's realities. The determinations were performed both before and after washing the material with lye. SEM microscopy investigations of the ecologically washed textile specimens showed that the number of microorganism colonies, as well as the amount of dust, decreased. It was also observed that the surface cellulose fibers lost their integrity, eventually being loosened on cellulose fibers of cotton threads. This could better visualize the presence of microfibrils that connect the cellulose fibers in cotton textiles. The results obtained could be of real value both for the restorers, the textile collections of the different museums, and for the researchers in the field of cultural heritage. By applying such a methodology, cotton tests can be effectively cleaned without compromising the integrity of the material.

Karyotypes are characterized by traits such as chromosome number, which can change through whole-genome duplication and dysploidy. In the parasitic plant genus Cuscuta (Convolvulaceae), chromosome numbers vary more than 18-fold. In addition, species of this group show the highest diversity in terms of genome size among angiosperms, as well as a wide variation in the number and distribution of 5S and 35S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sites. To understand its karyotypic evolution, ancestral character state reconstructions were performed for chromosome number, genome size, and position of 5S and 35S rDNA sites. Previous cytogenetic data were reviewed and complemented with original chromosome counts, genome size estimates, and rDNA distribution assessed via fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), for two, seven, and 10 species, respectively. Starting from an ancestral chromosome number of x  = 15, duplications were inferred as the prevalent evolutionary process. However, in holocentric clade (subgenus Cuscuta ), dysploidy was identified as the main evolutionary mechanism, typical of holocentric karyotypes. The ancestral genome size of Cuscuta was inferred as approximately 1C = 12 Gbp, with an average genome size of 1C = 2.8 Gbp. This indicates an expansion of the genome size relative to other Convolvulaceae, which may be linked to the parasitic lifestyle of Cuscuta . Finally, the position of rDNA sites varied mostly in species with multiple sites in the same karyotype. This feature may be related to the amplification of rDNA sites in association to other repeats present in the heterochromatin. The data suggest that different mechanisms acted in different subgenera, generating the exceptional diversity of karyotypes in Cuscuta ., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ibiapino, García, Amorim, Baez, Costea, Stefanović and Pedrosa-Harand.)

Cuscuta is a cytogenetically diverse genus, with karyotypes varying 18-fold in chromosome number and 127-fold in genome size. Each of its four subgenera also presents particular chromosomal features, such as bimodal karyotypes in Pachystigma. We used low coverage sequencing of the Cuscuta nitida genome (subgenus Pachystigma), as well as chromosome banding and molecular cytogenetics of three subgenus representatives, to understand the origin of bimodal karyotypes. All three species, C. nitida, C. africana (2n = 28) and C. angulata (2n = 30), showed heterochromatic bands mainly in the largest chromosome pairs. Eighteen satellite DNAs were identified in C. nitida genome, two showing similarity to mobile elements. The most abundant were present at the largest pairs, as well as the highly abundant ribosomal DNAs. The most abundant Ty1/Copia and Ty3/Gypsy elements were also highly enriched in the largest pairs, except for the Ty3/Gypsy CRM, which also labelled the pericentromeric regions of the smallest chromosomes. This accumulation of repetitive DNA in the larger pairs indicates that these sequences are largely responsible for the formation of bimodal karyotypes in the subgenus Pachystigma. The repetitive DNA fraction is directly linked to karyotype evolution in Cuscuta., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

This paper presents a new step in the optimization of the Chambadal model of the Carnot engine. It allows a sequential optimization of a model with internal irreversibilities. The optimization is performed successively with respect to various objectives (e.g., energy, efficiency, or power when introducing the duration of the cycle). New complementary results are reported, generalizing those recently published in the literature. In addition, the new concept of entropy production action is proposed. This concept induces new optimums concerning energy and power in the presence of internal irreversibilities inversely proportional to the cycle or transformation durations. This promising approach is related to applications but also to fundamental aspects.

Cuscutamantiqueirana Costea, S.S. Silva & Sim.-Bianch. a new species from montane cloud forests of the Serra da Mantiqueira, Brazil, is described and illustrated. The morphological and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the new species belongs to sect. Subulataeofsubg.Grammica. The new species is related to C.odoratavar.botryoides, C.rotundiflora and C.globiflora from which it differs in narrower calyx lobes and the presence of four stomatiferous lobes or projections at the distal part of the ovary. A detailed morphological comparison with C.odoratavar.botryoides, morphologically the most similar taxon, is provided along with the geographical distribution, ecology and host range of the species. The morphological and phylogenetic relationships of the new species, as well as the diversity of stomatiferous projections, are discussed in the broader context of sect. Subulatae and subg. Grammica. Cuscutabolivianavar.paranensis is considered a synonym of C.odoratavar.botryoides., (Mihai Costea, Simone Soares da Silva, Rosangela Simao-Bianchini, Ana Rita G. Simoes, Sasa Stefanovic.)

Monitoring the indoor microclimate in old buildings of cultural heritage and significance is a practice of great importance because of the importance of their identity for local communities and national consciousness. Most aged heritage buildings, especially those made of wood, develop an indoor microclimate conducive to the development of microorganisms. This study aims to analyze one wooden church dating back to the 1710s in Romania from the microclimatic perspective, i.e., temperature and relative humidity and the fungal load of the air and surfaces. One further aim was to determine if the internal microclimate of the monument is favorable for the health of parishioners and visitors, as well as for the integrity of the church itself. The research methodology involved monitoring of the microclimate for a period of nine weeks (November 2020-January 2021) and evaluating the fungal load in indoor air as well as on the surfaces. The results show a very high contamination of air and surfaces (>2000 CFU/m 3 ). In terms of fungal contamination, Aspergillus spp. (two different species), Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp., Mucor spp., Penicillium spp. (two different species) and Trichopyton spp. were the genera of fungi identified in the indoor wooden church air and Aspergillus spp., Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp. (two different species) and Botrytis spp. on the surfaces (church walls and iconostasis). The results obtained reveal that the internal microclimate not only imposes a potential risk factor for the parishioners and visitors, but also for the preservation of the wooden church as a historical monument, which is facing a crisis of biodeterioration of its artwork.

Purpose: Automated planning techniques aim to reduce manual planning time and inter-operator variability without compromising the plan quality which is particularly challenging for head-and-neck (HN) cancer radiotherapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of an a priori-multicriteria plan optimization algorithm on a cohort of HN patients., Methods: A total of 14 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (upper-HN) and 14 "middle-lower indications" (lower-HN) previously treated in our institution were enrolled in this study. Automatically generated plans (autoVMAT) were compared to manual VMAT or Helical Tomotherapy planning (manVMAT-HT) by assessing differences in dose delivered to targets and organs at risk (OARs), calculating plan quality indexes (PQIs) and performing blinded comparisons by clinicians. Quality control of the plans and measurements of the delivery times were also performed., Results: For the 14 lower-HN patients, with equivalent planning target volume (PTV) dosimetric criteria and dose homogeneity, significant decrease in the mean doses to the oral cavity, esophagus, trachea and larynx were observed for autoVMAT compared to manVMAT-HT. Regarding the 14 upper-HN cases, the PTV coverage was generally significantly superior for autoVMAT which was also confirmed with higher calculated PQIs on PTVs for 13 out of 14 patients, whereas PQIs calculated on OARs were generally equivalent. Number of MUs and total delivery time were significantly higher for autoVMAT compared to manVMAT. All plans were considered clinically acceptable by clinicians., Conclusions: Overall superiority of autoVMAT compared to manVMAT-HT plans was demonstrated for HN cancer. The obtained plans were operator-independent and required no post-optimization or manual intervention., (Copyright © 2021 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

An irreversible Carnot cycle engine operating as a closed system is modeled using the Direct Method and the First Law of Thermodynamics for processes with Finite Speed. Several models considering the effect on the engine performance of external and internal irreversibilities expressed as a function of the piston speed are presented. External irreversibilities are due to heat transfer at temperature gradient between the cycle and heat reservoirs, while internal ones are represented by pressure losses due to the finite speed of the piston and friction. Moreover, a method for optimizing the temperature of the cycle fluid with respect to the temperature of source and sink and the piston speed is provided. The optimization results predict distinct maximums for the thermal efficiency and power output, as well as different behavior of the entropy generation per cycle and per time. The results obtained in this optimization, which is based on piston speed, and the Curzon-Ahlborn optimization, which is based on time duration, are compared and are found to differ significantly. Correction have been proposed in order to include internal irreversibility in the externally irreversible Carnot cycle from Curzon-Ahlborn optimization, which would be equivalent to a unification attempt of the two optimization analyses.

The paper presents experimental tests and theoretical studies of a Stirling engine cycle applied to a β -type machine. The finite physical dimension thermodynamics (FPDT) method and 0D modeling by the imperfectly regenerated Schmidt model are used to develop analytical models for the Stirling engine cycle. The purpose of this study is to show that two simple models that take into account only the irreversibility due to temperature difference in the heat exchangers and imperfect regeneration are able to indicate engine behavior. The share of energy loss for each is determined using these two models as well as the experimental results of a particular engine. The energies exchanged by the working gas are expressed according to the practical parameters, which are necessary for the engineer during the entire project, namely the maximum pressure, the maximum volume, the compression ratio, the temperature of the heat sources, etc. The numerical model allows for evaluation of the energy processes according to the angle of the crankshaft (kinematic-thermodynamic coupling). The theoretical results are compared with the experimental research. The effect of the engine rotation speed on the power and efficiency of the actual operating machine is highlighted. The two methods show a similar variation in performance, although heat loss due to imperfect regeneration is evaluated differently.

The need for cooling is more and more important in current applications, as environmental constraints become more and more restrictive. Therefore, the optimization of reverse cycle machines is currently required. This optimization could be split in two parts, namely, (1) the design optimization, leading to an optimal dimensioning to fulfill the specific demand (static or nominal steady state optimization); and (2) the dynamic optimization, where the demand fluctuates, and the system must be continuously adapted. Thus, the variability of the system load (with or without storage) implies its careful control-command. The topic of this paper is concerned with part (1) and proposes a novel and more complete modeling of an irreversible Carnot refrigerator that involves the coupling between sink (source) and machine through a heat transfer constraint. Moreover, it induces the choice of a reference heat transfer entropy, which is the heat transfer entropy at the source of a Carnot irreversible refrigerator. The thermodynamic optimization of the refrigerator provides new results regarding the optimal allocation of heat transfer conductances and minimum energy consumption with associated coefficient of performance (COP) when various forms of entropy production owing to internal irreversibility are considered. The reported results and their consequences represent a new fundamental step forward regarding the performance upper bound of Carnot irreversible refrigerator.

The genome size varies widely among angiosperms but only a few clades present huge variation at a low phylogenetic level. Among diploid species of the genus Cuscuta the genome size increased enormously in at least two independent lineages: in species of subgenus Monogynella and in at least one species (C. indecora) of the subgenus Grammica. Curiously, the independent events lead to similar karyotypes, with 2n = 30 mostly metacentric chromosomes. In this paper we compared the patterns of heterochromatic bands and rDNA sites of C. indecora and C. monogyna, aiming to evaluate the role of these repetitive fractions in these karyotypes. We found out that the large genomes of these species were incremented by a huge number of small heterochromatic CMA+ and DAPI+ bands and 5S and 35 rDNA sites, most of them clearly colocalized with CMA+ bands. Silver nitrate impregnation revealed that the maximum number of nucleoli per nucleus was low in both species, suggesting that some of these sites may be inactive. Noteworthy, the tandem repeats did not generate large bands or sites but rather dozens of small blocks dispersed throughout the chromosomes, apparently contributing to conserve the original karyotype symmetry.