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The moisture with salt ions adsorbed on the mineral soil surface is crucial to the cohesion process when the media is exposed to marine or coastal environments. However, the impact of salinity on the cohesion of soils is not well studied at the nanoscale. In this study, the salinity effect was investigated by studying the wettability and capillary force of NaCl solutions on quartz substrates via a molecular dynamics-based approach. Besides, a new visualization method was proposed to measure the contact angle of liquid droplets from the aspect of nanoscale. The results indicated that salt ions can weaken the wettability of the liquid on the quartz surface and inhibit the capillary force. Compared with water, the liquid with a 10% NaCl solution can achieve a capillary force reduction of around 70%, resulting in a detrimental effect on the cohesion of soils. Overall, this study enhanced the understanding of the nanoscale salinity effect on the cohesion process and provided insights into the modification of the mechanical properties of soils from the aspect of nanoscale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the resistance and, at times, outright condemnation of including transgender individuals in sports continue to draw upon "scientific" arguments, despite the acknowledged importance of sociocultural and (geo)political factors, resulting in a constructed "either science or human rights" landscape. In this article, I analyze historical scientifically driven International Olympic Committee documents and policies from the Olympic Studies Center to examine if and how sport organizations, such as the International Olympic Committee, have historically balanced these seemingly partitioned considerations in previous regulatory documents, especially those relating to sex, gender, fairness, and protection. Using Sheila Jasanoff's co-production, I find that, while knowledge informing policies sometimes circulates biologized gender stereotypes, sociocultural and scientific goals have, can, and should exist in cohesion rather than in contradiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massive amount of wasted heat energy from industry has pushed the development of thermoelectric (TE) materials that directly convert heat into electricity to a new level of concern. Recently, multicomponent alloys such as GeTe-based and PbSe-based high-entropy (HE) chalcogenides have attracted a great deal of attention due to their potential application as TE materials. The nature of the interatomic bonding, lattice distortion (LD), and the electronic structure in this class of materials is not fully understood. Herein, we report a comprehensive computational investigation of nine GeTe-based HE alloys with eight metallic elements (Ag, Pb, Sb, Bi, Cu, Cd, Mn, and Sn) with large supercells of 1080 atoms each; seven PbSe-based HE solid solutions: Pb0.99−ySb0.012SnySe1−2xTexSx (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, with y = 0) with supercells of 1000 atoms each; and five Pb0.99−ySb0.012SnySe1−2xTexSx (y = 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25 with x = 0.25) solid solutions with supercells of 1000 atoms each. All these HE models are theoretically investigated for the first time. The electronic structure, interatomic bonding, charge transfer, and lattice distortion (LD) are investigated by first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. Multicomponent HE alloys can cause a significant LD, which affects their mechanical, thermal, and TE properties. The calculations for the GeTe-based HE chalcogenides showed that they are semiconductors with a narrow bandgap, except for m8, which has a semi-metallic characteristic, and this makes them good candidates for TE applications. For most of these models, the Fermi level shifts upward and locates deeply in the conduction bands, resulting in the enhancement of the electrical conductivity (σ). The bonding properties showed that most bonds in m5 are more dispersed, indicating highest LD and lower lattice thermal conductivity. For PbSe-based HE solid solutions, the LD calculations showed that the models Pb0.99Sb0.012Se0.5Te0.25S0.25 and Pb0.89Sb0.012Sn0.1Se0.5Te0.25S0.25 have the higher LD, and thus a lower lattice thermal conductivity. Such investigations are in high demand since it enables us to design new HE chalcogenides for TE applications. We use the novel concept of total bond order density as a single quantum mechanical metric to characterize the internal cohesion of these HE alloys and correlate with calculated properties, especially the mechanical properties. This work provides a solid database for HE chalcogenides and a road map for many potential applications. Moreover, the computational procedure we developed can be used to design new HE chalcogenides for specific TE applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, the structural and external validity of data derived from two shorter versions of the Multidimensional Assessment of Teamwork in Sport (MATS) were examined using multilevel analyses. Evidence of model–data fit was shown for both a 5-factor model comprising 19 items (with subscales assessing teamwork preparation, execution, evaluation, adjustments, and management of team maintenance) and a single-factor model comprising five items (providing a global estimate of teamwork). In general, data from both versions were positively and significantly correlated with (and distinct from) athletes' perceptions of team cohesion, collective efficacy, performance satisfaction, enjoyment in their sport, and commitment to their team and their coaches' transformational leadership. The measures appear well suited to detect between-teams differences, as evidenced by intraclass correlation coefficients and acceptable reliability estimates of team-level scores. In summary, the 19-item Multidimensional Assessment of Teamwork in Sport-Short and five-item Multidimensional Assessment of Teamwork in Sport-Global provide conceptually and psychometrically sound questionnaires to briefly measure teamwork in sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distance education is becoming a global phenomenon affecting student teamwork, especially since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, research in management education on changes in team cohesion in student teams remains limited, and even less is known in the context of dynamic forms of modern virtual team collaboration. We address this gap by exploring how dynamic boundaries affect team cohesion via a study conducted across two editions (spring 2018 and spring 2019) of a cross-university course. Results from the qualitative triangulated data collected from a multiple holistic case study composed of 11 virtual student teams (n = 65 participants) suggest that in the virtual student teams, dynamic boundaries (such as dispersion, sub team formation, boundary spanning, multi teaming, and moving on and off the team) diminish team cohesion in favor of "participant alignment" and have differential relationships with this novel concept. Our results contribute to the literature on management education and team dynamics and can be applied in academic and management practice by shifting the focus away from team cohesion and toward participant alignment as a new individual-level, multidimensional concept. This has the potential to become an important aspect of successful virtual teams operating under modern dynamic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundImplementation science frameworks situate intervention implementation and sustainment within the context of the implementing organization and system. Aspects of organizational context such as leadership have been defined and measured largely within US health care settings characterized by decentralization and individual autonomy. The relevance of these constructs in other settings may be limited by differences like collectivist orientation, resource constraints, and hierarchical power structures. We aimed to adapt measures of organizational context in South African primary care clinics.MethodsWe convened a panel of South African experts in social science and HIV care delivery and presented implementation domains informed by existing frameworks and prior work in South Africa. Based on panel input, we selected contextual domains and adapted candidate items. We conducted cognitive interviews with 25 providers in KwaZulu-Natal Province to refine measures. We then conducted a cross-sectional survey of 16 clinics with 5-20 providers per clinic (N = 186). We assessed reliability using Cronbach's alpha and calculated interrater agreement (awg) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) at the clinic level. Within clinics with moderate agreement, we calculated correlation of clinic-level measures with each other and with hypothesized predictors - staff continuity and infrastructure - and a clinical outcome, patient retention on antiretroviral therapy.ResultsPanelists emphasized contextual factors; we therefore focused on elements of clinic leadership, stress, cohesion, and collective problem solving (critical consciousness). Cognitive interviews confirmed salience of the domains and improved item clarity. After excluding items related to leaders' coordination abilities due to missingness and low agreement, all other scales demonstrated individual-level reliability and at least moderate interrater agreement in most facilities. ICC was low for most leadership measures and moderate for others. Measures tended to correlate within facility, and higher stress was significantly correlated with lower staff continuity. Organizational context was generally more positively rated in facilities that showed consistent agreement.ConclusionsAs theorized, organizational context is important in understanding program implementation within the South African health system. Most adapted measures show good reliability at individual and clinic levels. Additional revision of existing frameworks to suit this context and further testing in high and low performing clinics is warranted.

Transport accessibility is an essential element in the planning of transport policies and plays a crucial role in territorial cohesion, but the role of transport accessibility for urban–rural integration has been rarely studied. This article explores the relationship between transport accessibility and urban–rural income gaps through the spatial error model, using the weighted average travel time (WATT) indicator and the Theil index of urban–rural income. The results show that transport accessibility has a U-shaped influence on the urban–rural income gaps within cities of China. As transport accessibility gradually improves, the urban–rural income gaps within cities tend to first narrow and then widen. Meanwhile, their relationship can show heterogeneity across regions, with improving transport accessibility and narrowing the urban–rural income gaps in the eastern and western cities, respectively. Such a result suggests that it is essential to reinforce transport links between western cities and other cities with high economic potential, which could improve transport accessibility and further narrow the urban–rural income gaps of western cities. For transport planning, policymakers should consider transport accessibility and its socio-economic impact on urban–rural integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the domain of participatory research and co-creation, understanding the dynamic interplay between group cohesion and diversity is pivotal for fostering innovation. While diversity fuels the generation of novel ideas, cohesion ensures these ideas are effectively synthesized and implemented. This study aims to explore the nuanced role that facilitators play in navigating the balance between cohesion and diversity, particularly in groups characterized by pronounced faultlines. Employing agent-based modeling, the study examines how facilitators affect the cohesion-diversity nexus. The findings reveal a complex facilitator's paradox. While facilitative actions can successfully enhance group cohesion by mitigating the negative effect of faultlines, such efforts often inadvertently reduce the within-group diversity that is crucial for sparking innovative outcomes. These findings challenge the conventional view of faultlines as merely divisive and underscore the intricate role of facilitators in modulating group dynamics. This research discusses a novel framework for dynamic facilitation strategies, emphasizing the need for facilitators to skillfully balance cohesion and diversity. This framework not only enriches the theoretical understanding of group facilitation but also offers practical insights for optimizing collaborative innovation in diverse settings. This article is part of the theme issue 'Co-creating the future: participatory cities and digital governance'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals within social groups respond to costs and benefits of sociality by adjusting the proportion of time they spend in close proximity to other individuals in the group (cohesion). Variation in cohesion between individuals, in turn, shapes important group‐level processes such as subgroup formation and fission–fusion dynamics. Although critical to animal sociality, a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing cohesion remains a gap in our knowledge of cooperative behavior in animals. We tracked 574 individuals from six species within the genus Canis in 15 countries on four continents with GPS telemetry to estimate the time that pairs of individuals within social groups spent in close proximity and test hypotheses regarding drivers of cohesion. Pairs of social canids (Canis spp.) varied widely in the proportion of time they spent together (5%–100%) during seasonal monitoring periods relative to both intrinsic characteristics and environmental conditions. The majority of our data came from three species of wolves (gray wolves, eastern wolves, and red wolves) and coyotes. For these species, cohesion within social groups was greatest between breeding pairs and varied seasonally as the nature of cooperative activities changed relative to annual life history patterns. Across species, wolves were more cohesive than coyotes. For wolves, pairs were less cohesive in larger groups, and when suitable, small prey was present reflecting the constraints of food resources and intragroup competition on social associations. Pair cohesion in wolves declined with increased anthropogenic modification of the landscape and greater climatic variability, underscoring challenges for conserving social top predators in a changing world. We show that pairwise cohesion in social groups varies strongly both within and across Canis species, as individuals respond to changing ecological context defined by resources, competition, and anthropogenic disturbance. Our work highlights that cohesion is a highly plastic component of animal sociality that holds significant promise for elucidating ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying cooperative behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a pseudo-static analytical formulation for calculating the active thrust force on cantilever retaining walls under seismic loads. The formula incorporates the effects of soil cohesion and failure surface shape and is applied to short-heel and long-heel cantilever walls. The results are compared to classic analytical methods and a numerical model. The proposed formula provides a good representation of wall behavior under low to medium seismic loads, with an extended range compared to classical methods. However, using 100% of the peak ground acceleration (PGA) overestimates the active force for medium to strong earthquakes, so reduced PGA values are recommended. The formula accurately predicts the failure surface inclination, with an accuracy of approximately 10°. Soil cohesion has no significant effect on the failure mechanism, but the heel length influences its effect on active force reduction. Overall, the study offers an improved analytical approach for assessing the seismic response of cantilever retaining walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political practice and academic discourse similarly assume that the local level has the potential to strengthen political cohesion in the European Union: it is the tier closest to citizens and implements a large share of European legislation. But what political cohesion actually is and how it can be achieved is less clear. The paper addresses this gap by analysing the local framing of political cohesion in Europe. Drawing on case studies in eight German cities, local Europe-related networks are investigated, focusing on how their ideas about their role in crafting political cohesion links to their Europe-related activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional traits of individuals and not just species can regulate ecological interactions with biotic and abiotic environments, yet how individual-level functional diversity (FDind) mediates the environmental effects on community properties (e.g., interaction patterns, connectivity and productivity) remains largely unexplored. Here, we assembled 4432 individuals from 30 macrophyte species across 26 lakes in south China and measured six functional traits -shoot height, specific leaf area, lamina thickness, leaf dry mass content, stem diameter and stem dry mass content—for each individual. We estimated FDind for macrophyte community in each plot using trait probability density framework. Path analysis revealed that functional richness promoted negative interactions (the absolute value of negative: positive cohesion as proxy of community interaction patterns) and thus community productivity at lower total phosphorus (TP) and shallower water, while functional divergence/redundancy reduced negative interaction and thus community productivity at shallower water, lower TP and higher altitude. Functional evenness decreased community productivity at higher TP and deeper water. Functional dissimilarity reduced community connectivity (total cohesion) and thus community productivity at deeper water and higher altitude. Our results highlight that FDind could modify the environmental effects (from local to regional) on the interaction patterns, network connectivity and productivity of macrophyte community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consensus reporting is valuable for presenting unified scientific evidence to the public. When a consensus does not exist, I argue that scientists ought not to default to majority reporting in its place. Majority reporting has several epistemic drawbacks because it can obscure underlying justifications and lines of evidence, which may be in conflict or contested. I argue that minority reporting, in conjunction with majority reporting, is an epistemically superior mechanism for scientists to report on the full range of reasons and evidence available within a group. This article addresses several objections, including worries over group cohesion, fringe reporting, and elite capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening disease that consists in the development of a tear in the wall of the aorta. The initial tear propagates as a discontinuity leading to separation within the aortic wall, which can result in the creation of a so-called false lumen. A fatal threat occurs if the rupture extends through the whole thickness of the aortic wall, as blood may then leak. It is generally accepted that the dissection, which can sometime extend along the entire length of the aorta, propagates via a delamination mechanism. The aim of the present paper is to provide experimentally validated parameters of a mathematical model for the description of the wall's cohesion. A model of the peeling experiment was built in Abaqus. The delamination interface was described by a piecewise linear traction-separation law. The bulk behavior of the aorta was assumed to be nonlinearly elastic, anisotropic, and incompressible. Our simulations resulted in estimates of the material parameters for the traction-separation law of the human descending thoracic aorta, which were obtained by minimizing the differences between the FEM predictions and the delamination force given by the regression of the peeling experiments. The results show that the stress at damage initiation, Tc, should be understood as an age-dependent quantity, and under the assumptions of our model this dependence can be expressed by linear regression as Tc = − 13.03·10−4·Age + 0.2485 if the crack front advances in the axial direction, and Tc = − 7.58·10−4·Age + 0.1897 if the crack front advances in the direction of the aortic circumference (Tc [MPa], Age [years]). Other model parameters were the stiffness K and the separation at failure, δf–δc (K = 0.5 MPa/mm, δf–δc = 0.1 mm). The material parameters provided by our study can be used in numerical simulations of the biomechanics of dissection propagation through the aorta especially when age-associated phenomena are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group‐living in animals comes with a number of benefits associated with predator avoidance, foraging, and reproduction. A large proportion of fish species display grouping behaviour. Fish may also be particularly vulnerable to climate‐related stressors including thermal variation, hypoxia, and acidification. As climate‐related stressors are expected to increase in magnitude and frequency, any effects on fish behaviour may be increased and affect the ability of fish species to cope with changing conditions. Here we conduct a systematic review of the effects of temperature, hypoxia, and acidification on individual sociability and group cohesion in shoaling and schooling fishes. Searches of the published and grey literature were carried out, and studies were included or excluded based on selection criteria. Data from studies were then included in a meta‐analysis to examine broad patterns of effects of climate‐related stressors in the literature. Evidence was found for a reduction in group cohesion at low oxygen levels, which was stronger in smaller groups. While several studies reported effects of temperature and acidification, there was no consistent effect of either stressor on sociability or cohesion. There was some evidence that marine fishes are more strongly negatively affected by acidification compared with freshwater species, but results are similarly inconsistent and more studies are required. Additional studies of two or more stressors in combination are also needed, although one study found reduced sociability following exposure to acidification and high temperatures. Overall, there is some evidence that hypoxia, and potentially other climate‐related environmental changes, impact sociability and group cohesion in fishes. This may reduce survival and adaptability in shoaling and schooling species and have further ecological implications for aquatic systems. However, this synthesis mainly highlights the need for more empirical studies examining the effects of climate‐related factors on social behaviour in fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The instability process of the slope is governed by cohesion and dilatancy angle. The FEM and limit equilibrium method fail to accurately replicate the impact of cohesion and dilatancy angle on the dynamic instability of the slope. To address this limitation, this study employed a meshfree particle method known as smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). Based on the Drucker–Prager yield criterion and elastoplastic constitutive model, the slope stability program was written in Fortran 90. This computational framework unveils the consequences of increasing the dilatancy angle on particle motion parameters, including velocity, displacement, time, and slope morphology. Furthermore, a comparative analysis was conducted to discern the variations in the sliding surface during slope plastic failure under conditions of zero and nonzero cohesion. This analysis serves to investigate the influence mechanisms of cohesion and dilatancy angle on slope stability. The research findings indicate the following key observations. First, the velocity, displacement, horizontal distance, and plastic strain of particle motion significantly increase as the dilatancy angle increases from 0° to 0.75φ (φ is the friction angle). The total duration of particle movement also increases correspondingly. When particles cease motion, the final morphology characterized by height and accumulation area increases as the dilatancy angle augments. Second, when the dilatancy angle is larger than 0.50 times the friction angle, the further increase in dilatancy angle has no significant effect on the particle motion. Third, when cohesion is zero, the slope fails to develop a shear band extending from the toe to the crest, and the sliding surface primarily adopts a linear form. When cohesion is present, the slope demonstrates an opposing pattern, and the sliding surface is mainly curved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EU Treaties contain no provision akin to the clause in the United States Constitution empowering spending in the 'general Welfare', i.e., for the general public good. Nonetheless, supporters of a broad reading of the cohesion flexibility clause, Article 175(3) TFEU, now claim that the EU, in effect, already has that power. The claim is inspired by that clause serving as the sole legal basis for the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). This is the cornerstone of the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) Programme, the EU's massive borrowing and spending initiative that has directed a large amount of money to national priorities to address not just economic consequences of Covid but also longer-term issues of climate change, energy transition, and digitalization. This contribution critically assesses whether Article 175(3) TFEU can serve as the basis for general spending authority in the EU, particularly at the expense of its traditional role in regional development in Europe's economic periphery. The analysis draws on the historic purposes of cohesion policy, the existing case law on the limited scope of the cohesion flexibility clause, as well as legal opinions of the Council Legal Service on the same question. This contribution concludes that the crisis-driven reinterpretation of Article 175(3) TFEU not only undermines cohesion as developmental tool for the periphery, but it also raises serious concerns about democratic legitimacy and the rule of law at Europe's core. The EU may well need a general spending power, but the way to achieve it is not through institutional lawyers engaging in strained crisis reinterpretation outside of public scrutiny. Instead, what is needed is democratic politics pure and simple, i.e., Treaty change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate how shared leadership, as perceived by players within a soccer team, influences teamwork execution and the state of flow. To achieve the objectives of this study, a purposive sampling method was employed, and soccer players registered with the Korea Football Association were selected as the research participants. Subsequently, data were collected using self-report surveys on shared leadership, teamwork execution, and flow state. Data from 415 participants were utilized for analysis, and data analysis was conducted using the SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 21.0 programs. Shared leadership was found to have a positive association with teamwork execution and the state of flow. Furthermore, the mediating effect of teamwork execution in the relationship between shared leadership and the state of flow was found to be significant. The results of this study emphasize the influence of leadership that is shared among team members rather than the effectiveness of individual leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsaturated soils exhibit distinct physical and mechanical characteristics compared to dry or saturated soils. Ignoring the influence of unsaturation (matric suction) and assuming either dry or saturated conditions can lead to unreliable predictions of pile behavior in unsaturated soils. In this study, the pullout capacity of different physical model piles driven in unsaturated Kaolinite-Bentonite matrices is investigated. A series of lab-scale pullout tests were carried out to examine the influence of matric suction, pile type, pile L/D ratio, and undrained cohesion (cu) of soil on the ultimate pullout capacity of model piles. Soil samples were prepared and compacted in a tank, and holes were created using a pile. Four model piles (solid and hollow stainless steel) were driven into the holes, ensuring proper spacing. Incremental loading was applied until the piles slipped out, with displacement measured by an LVDT. The pile pullout capacity increased with increased matric suction and undrained cohesion. The uplift capacity increased by 50% to 136% as matric suction increased by 157.97% as the compaction state was changed from 0.95γd(max) on the wet side of optimum moisture content (OMC) to 0.95γd(max) on the dry side of OMC of the compaction curve. However, for the compaction state of 0.90γd(max), the matric suction increased by 398.80%, leading to a 275% to 800 % increase in the uplift capacity. As the cohesion of the five samples increased from 17.84 kPa to 137.84 kPa, the uplift capacity of all the model piles increased. In Kaolinite-Bentonite mixes compacted on the dry side of OMC, hollow model piles resisted higher pull-out loads than solid model piles. The increase in uplift capacity was found to be in the range of 11.11% to 75% for different combinations of pile type and compaction density (matric suction). The results from the study imply a strong influence of matric suction, undrained cohesion, L/D ratio, and pile type on pullout capacity for piles driven in unsaturated Kaolinite-Bentonite mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last two decades following the AKP’s coming to power in 2002 witnessed the advent of a burgeoning relationship between Turkey and Africa. This study assesses to what extent the intensification of Turkey–Africa relations is reflected in their voting behaviour in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). It takes North African countries, Muslim-Majority African Countries, and Sub-Saharan African countries as sub-regional groupings. Despite the non-binding nature of UNGA decisions, they offer important insights into a state’s (changing) foreign policy preferences and alignments. The study, therefore, aims at elaborating the extent to which Turkey and African countries act cohesively in the UNGA. This is done by using the Agreement Index (AI) that measures the level of cohesiveness between those parties. Results suggest no significant increase in Turkey–Africa voting cohesion since the start of Turkey’s opening to Africa policy in 1998, with cohesion levels differing across regional groups and issue areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many manufacturing processes of fibrous composites involve fiber movement to obtain a targeted fibrous preform before the resin is injected or polymerized. The ability of the fibers to move within the yarn can be named "cohesion." To obtain a correct preform, it is of great importance to know and master yarn cohesion. As there is currently no available method to characterize yarn cohesion upstream, the process parameters have very often to be tuned using lengthy trial and error strategies. This paper proposes to address this issue, demonstrating that the yarn cantilever bending test is a very promising and efficient candidate to characterize and quantify yarn cohesion. In addition, the test can be easily performed in an industrial context and is sensitive enough to discriminate small variations in cohesion, even small discrepancies resulting from the yarn manufacturing process. Above all, thanks to real manufacturing tests on different yarns, this paper shows that the upstream identification of cohesion using the proposed cantilever bending test achieves the goal of predicting the yarn processability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research necessity stems from the need to understand and evaluate the performance of Two-Stage Concrete (TSC) under triaxial compression conditions, as prior studies have predominantly focused on uniaxial and biaxial testing of conventional concrete (CC). This study represents the first comprehensive investigation into the triaxial compressive strength and related mechanical properties of TSC, addressing a critical gap in the existing body of literature. Three different mixtures were prepared, including one CC and two TSC variants with varying cement content. The results and behavior of these mixtures were compared to assess their performance. Findings reveal that TSC, particularly those types with finer aggregates, demonstrates superior shear strength, achieving up to 52.4 MPa under dry conditions, in contrast to the 48.38 MPa observed in CC. Furthermore, TSC exhibits remarkable stress tolerance, withstanding up to 82.04 MPa, significantly outperforming CC, which withstands only 69.61 MPa under similar conditions. This behavior can be attributed to the higher coarse aggregate content, the increased interaction and contact points between coarse aggregates, the improved bonding between them, and the inherent properties of the grout. TSC also maintains a higher modulus of elasticity and internal friction angles, indicating superior deformation behavior and shear resistance. Additionally, TSC shows greater resilience to moisture, suggesting its potential suitability for use in variable moisture environments. These properties highlight the strength of TSC for high-load applications and its suitability for infrastructure prone to environmental fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Red clay is highly susceptible to cracking due to its nature, and the reduction in strength caused by cracking can lead to engineering disasters. To investigate the cracking sensitivity of red clay, a homogeneous fracture model of red clay based on the cohesive zone model was established using ABAQUS in this work, the reliability of the model was verified through a three‐point bending test, and then the crack propagation process and sensitivity to test factors of red clay were further analyzed. The results show that the fracture simulation of the cohesive zone model is in good agreement with the test results, confirming by the high reliability. The depth of prefabricated cracks and fulcrum spacing had the significant effects on the crack path, and the decrease of prefabricated crack depth and fulcrum spacing led to the increase of critical load. Meanwhile, the loading rate had little effect on the load–displacement curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Local Multi-Scale Discriminant Analysis (LMSDA) is a novel dimensionality reduction technique that proficiently maps high-dimensional data into a low-dimensional space. It seamlessly integrates the collaborative representation framework with dual constraint optimization in intrinsic and penalty graphs. The intrinsic graph captures intricate local manifold structures by leveraging multi-scale reconstruction relationships, ensuring class cohesion during reduction. Meanwhile, the penalty graph sharpens discriminability by maximizing inter-class disparities, fostering clearer class boundaries. This dual strategy not only preserves the essence of intra-class data but also bolsters its discriminative powers. Extensive experiments on AR, CMU_PIE, and Yale B datasets affirm LMSDA’s superiority over contemporary methods, underscoring its potential for diverse applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of sustainable pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) from natural biomass resources has attracted increasing attention owing to their non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable features. In this study, a bio-based acrylic PSA with tunable adhesion and cohesion was synthesized by a selective chemical modification of isosorbide-5-acrylate (IA) and its copolymerization with butyl acrylate and acrylic acid through UV-curing crosslinking. During the UV-curing process, the synthesized isosorbide diacrylate ester (IDAE) served as the crosslinker, effectively improving the crosslinking degree of PSA. The impact of IA and IDAE on the mechanical properties of PSA was studied. Moreover, to achieve a balance between adhesion and cohesion, the optimal composition was identified. The addition of IA significantly enhances the stiffness of PSA. Furthermore, the combined effect of IA and IDAE improves the overall adhesion properties of the PSA. The optimal bio-based PSA demonstrates a peel force of 13.9 N/25 mm and a persistent time of 6820 min, promising to replace traditional petroleum-based PSAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stickiness is a phenomenon observed widely in sludge drying practices, which negatively impacts the sludge drying efficiency. This paper was aimed at evaluating the stickiness characteristics of sludge when the sand content of sludge increases during the rainy season, and carrying out stickiness modification experiments on high sand content sludge. The results indicated that the sand content was significantly positively correlated with the stickiness of sludge. During drying process, the adhesion force and cohesion force of sludge decreased with the increase of drying temperature, and the adhesion force was consistently greater than the cohesion force in every group. The sludge stickiness was reduced after ultrasonic treatment and calcium oxide modification, but the reduction effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate on sludge stickiness was not good. This study confirmed the effect of sand content on sludge stickiness, and the stickiness of sludge with high sand content can be reduced by modifier. These findings contribute to our understanding of the stickiness of sludge with high sand content in the rainy season and provide valuable insights for the optimization of sludge drying process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior studies that specifically investigate the effects of social connections on the continuous adoption of social media applications (SMAs) are scarce. Based on the social contagion theory (SCT) and dual-attitude perspective, this study develops and validates a research model that explains the staged influences of social connection factors (i.e., pre- and post-usage cohesion and structural equivalence) on users' explicit attitude, intention to use, implicit attitudes and continuance intention regarding the use of the SMAs. Survey data collected from both pre-usage and post-usage stages of 302 SMA users were examined using the technique of partial least squares to validate the research model. The results indicate that pre-usage cohesion and structural equivalence are significant antecedents of SMA users' explicit attitude and intention to use. Additionally, these factors, along with post-usage cohesion and structural equivalence, significantly influence SMA users' implicit attitude and continuance intention. In summary, by adopting the SCT and dual-attitude perspective, this study is among the first group of studies that examine whether social connection factors have influences on people's adoption of SMAs at both pre-usage and post-usage stages. Implications for theory and for practices are discussed subsequently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

gLiving materials can achieve unprecedented function by combining synthetic materials with the wide range of cellular functions. Of interest are situations where the critical properties of individual abiotic and biotic elements improve via their combination. For example, integrating electroactive bacteria into conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) hydrogels increases biocurrent production. One observes more efficient electrical charge transport within the CPE matrix in the presence of Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 and more current per cell is extracted, compared to traditional biofilms. Here, the origin of these synergistic effects are examined. Transcriptomics reveals that genes in S. oneidensis MR‐1 related to bacteriophages and energy metabolism are upregulated in the composite material. Fluorescent staining and rheological measurements before and after enzymatic treatment identified the importance of extracellular biomaterials in increasing matrix cohesion. The synergy between CPE and S. oneidensis MR‐1 thus arises from initially unanticipated changes in matrix composition and bacteria adaption within the synthetic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fish processed with red vinasse is a type of Fujian cuisine with regional characteristics. In order to monitor the effect of red vinasse on storage quality and shelf life of blue round scad (Decapterus maruadsi) during storage, the changes in fat content, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), pH value, texture, and sensory quality were studied at different storage temperatures (4 °C, 25 °C, and 37 °C). By analyzing the correlation between changes in sensory qualities and physical and chemical indexes, a first-order kinetic model and the Arrhenius equation were used to build a shelf-life prediction model for blue round scad during storage. The results showed that processing with red vinasse can significantly reduce the malondialdehyde (MDA) production and the decrease in PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (p < 0.05) during storage. Based on partial least squares regression (PLSR), the storage temperature and time have a significant impact on the PUFA composition in blue round scad, which changed less when the samples were stored at 4 °C and 25 °C, and they had better nutritional composition of fatty acids at lower temperatures. Among the PUFAs, DHA (C22:6n-3) and EPA (C20:5n-3) had higher relative contents and significantly decreased during storage (p < 0.05). Additionally, the processing with red vinasse can slow down the increase in total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) value and pH of blue round scad, maintain the appropriate hardness, elasticity, cohesion and chewability, and improve the overall sensory quality of the fish. In addition, according to the results of model prediction based on TBARS value, the storage shelf life of blue round scad with red vinasse added was 55 d, 2.7 d and 28 h at 4 °C, 25 °C and 37 °C, respectively. The accuracy of the forecast model was high, and the relative errors of the measured values and predicted values were less than 10%. Thus, it not only provided a theoretical basis for the processing and application of red vinasse to Chinese traditional food, but also provided innovative ideas for the safe storage and high-value utilization of blue round scad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing functional adhesives combining strong adhesion, good recyclability and diverse harsh‐condition adaptability is a grand challenge. Here, we introduce a general dendritic molecule doping strategy to activate commercial polymers into a new family of supramolecular adhesives integrating high adhesion strength, ultralow temperature, water resistant and multi‐reusable properties. Our method involves rational design of a new rigid‐flexible coupled dendritic molecule—M4C8OH as a versatile dopant, while simple M4C8OH doping into commercial polymers can modulate internal and external non‐covalent interaction to enable H‐bonding enhanced interchain cross‐linking for tough cohesion along with enhanced interphase interaction. This endows 20 wt % M4C8OH‐doped polycaprolactone (PCL) adhesives (PCL‐M4C8OH) with improved adhesion strength on various substrates with the maximum increase up to 2.87 times that of PCL. In particular, the adhesion strengths of PCL‐M4C8OH on polymethyl methacrylate at 25 °C and −196 °C reach 4.67 and 3.58 MPa—1.9 and 2.3 times those of PCL and superior to diverse commercial adhesives and most reported adhesives. PCL‐M4C8OH also displays markedly‐improved multi‐usability and tolerance against ultralow temperature and diverse wet environments. Mechanism studies reveal the crucial role of M4C8OH molecular structures toward superior adhesion. Our method can be expanded to other polymer matrices, yielding diverse new supramolecular adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While discourse competence (DC) has been identified as the core competence in English as a foreign language (EFL) learning and communication, only a few empirical studies have focused on DC in speaking assessments. This study investigates the discourse features (i.e., cohesion and coherence) of Taiwanese candidates' performances in an argumentative exposition task in the General English Proficiency Test (GEPT) by analyzing the construction of cohesion and coherence across four band scores (i.e., Bands 2, 3, 4, and 5). Cohesion analysis showed that all the three types of cohesion devices (i.e., grammatical, logical, and lexical) develop linearly with increasing band score levels. The higher-score test-takers (Bands 4 and 5) adopted grammatically and semantically more appropriate references to establish an accurate relation with the referents. They also tended to use a higher frequency of overall conjunctions (particularly additive) and repetition to promote logical and lexical cohesion. Coherence analysis found that high-score candidates were more equipped to produce a response that complies with the expected generic structure of argumentative tasks. While more complex theme-rheme patterns appeared more frequently in the discourse of higher-score candidates, theme reiteration patterns were only observed in Band 2. These results illustrate how Taiwanese EFL learners demonstrate DC with cohesive and coherence strategies in speaking test performance across band scores. Pedagogical implications for language teaching and learning are then discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing a rational numerical model to characterize the compressive mechanical properties of shale is highly significant for large-scale shale-related engineering demonstrations. By analyzing the effects of the Parallel bond and Smooth joint model parameters on shale macroscopic mechanical properties, a rational Parallel bond and Smooth joint dual-model mesoscopic parameter calibration method is developed. The superiority of this calibration method in simulating the mechanical properties and failure modes of shale compression is verified by fitting the uniaxial compression test data of shale samples with various inclination angles. The results show that in the Parallel bond model, the mesoscopic particle's and bond's elastic modulus ( E * , E ¯ * ) have a greater influence on the macroscopic elastic modulus, the mesoscopic cohesion and tensile strength ( c ¯ , σ ¯ c ) have a greater influence on the peak intensity, and in the Smooth joint model, the tangential stiffness k s and tensile strength σ c of the joint significantly influence the stress–strain curve pattern; compared with the single Parallel bond model, the Parallel bond and Smooth joint dual-model mesoscale parameters are used to calibrate the elastic modulus and peak strength of the sample, and the simulation results of compression failure modes are in good agreement with the test results. The fitting applicability of this calibration method to the degraded shale sample is weaker than that of the original sample, which is related to the uneven degradation distribution and the formation of extremely weak surfaces of shale. Highlights: The Parallel bond and Smooth joint dual model is used to make up for the defects of traditional single Parallel bond model in simulating the mechanical properties of bedding rock such as shale. The roles of corresponding model parameters in controlling the shale compression failure mode are explored in detail. The accuracy enhancement of the dual model in simulation is verified. The shortcomings and reasons in simulating the compression response of degraded shale are explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the mechanisms of crack propagation and failure behavior in rocks is fundamental for geotechnical engineering and mining applications. This study employs a coupled damage model based on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method that integrates the Drucker–Prager and Grady–Kipp models. This mixed failure model is then implemented to simulate the crack propagation morphology and failure modes in uniaxial compression tests of flawed rock samples, and validated against multiple experimental observations. The numerical results exhibit good agreement with experimental observations from the literature in terms of the initiation and propagation of tensile and shear fractures, as well as the final failure morphology. Additionally, this work incorporates contact algorithms to simulate the loading plates, thereby better representing the actual experimental conditions encountered in uniaxial compression tests. Furthermore, a comprehensive parametric study is conducted to investigate the influence of key factors, such as pre-flaw geometry, cohesion, friction at the loading plate interface, and discretization parameters, on the simulated fracture processes and mechanical response. The outcomes indicate the proposed coupled damage model within the SPH framework can accurately capture complex fracture patterns and failure mechanisms in uniaxial compression of flawed rocks. This work demonstrates the capability of the SPH-based mixed-mode failure model to provide insights into rock fracture and failure mechanisms. Highlights: A coupled damage model integrating the Drucker–Prager and Grady–Kipp criteria within a smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) framework is applied to simulate both shear and tensile failure modes in rocks firstly. The model is validated against more experimental observations, demonstrating the model's ability to reproduce the crack propagation and characteristic stress–strain behavior. This work presents a comprehensive parametric study investigating the influence of key factors, such as pre-flaw geometry, cohesion, friction at the loading plate interface, and discretization parameters, on the simulated fracture processes and mechanical response. These systematic investigations provide valuable insights into the governing mechanisms and highlight the importance of proper model calibration for accurate predictions. This work incorporates contact algorithms to simulate the loading plates, thereby better representing the actual experimental conditions encountered in uniaxial compression tests. The tensile wing cracks subjected to uniaxial compression, oriented vertically towards the top boundary of the specimen, are successfully captured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water plays a crucial role in underground engineering, significantly influencing the short-term and long-term strength and deformation behavior of rocks. Understanding the mechanics of rock deformation under water–rock coupling is vital for assessing the stability of underground structures. In this study, short-term strength compression and creep experiments were conducted on sandstone samples with varying water contents. Critical water contents (0%, 0.8%, 1.6%, 2.4%, and 3.3%) were determined through water absorption experiments, with corresponding tests performed under confining pressures of 0 MPa, 6 MPa, 9 MPa, and 12 MPa. Results revealed an exponential decrease in uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus with increasing water content, while confining pressure influenced radial deformation, leading to a linear increase in compressive strength. Water content also significantly impacted micro-cohesion and internal friction angle, with cohesion being more sensitive to water. The creep experiment demonstrated a deformation trend similar to compressive strength, with analysis revealing three stages of creep deformation: viscoelastic, plastic, and nonlinear acceleration. Critical strengths entering different stages were identified, with their ratio to compressive strength stabilizing between 0.44–0.59 and 0.59–0.74. A strain parameter εac, related to steady-state and accelerated creep failure time, showed little correlation with water content but exhibited a linear relationship with confining pressure. Short-term and long-term failure modes of sandstone were analyzed, indicating a transition from "X-shaped" conjugate shear failure to single oblique shear failure with changing confining pressure and water content. Mitigation measures, such as groundwater isolation and the application of high confining pressure, were identified as effective means to mitigate long-term rock deformation's adverse effects on structural integrity in onsite engineering projects, ensuring structural stability throughout construction. The study's findings and data are crucial for informing the long-term stability of engineering structures. Highlights: Water content significantly affects the short-term and long-term strength and deformation behavior of rocks. The creep behavior of rocks is influenced by water content, confining pressure, and shear stress. The water content and confining pressure affect the formation and evolution of cracks in rocks during creep. Different failure modes are observed in rocks, depending on water content and confining pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the deformation failure and damage evolution law of weathered granite (WG) under different confining pressures, triaxial compression simultaneous acoustic emission (AE) tests were conducted on WG, and the mechanical and AE parameter characteristics of WG were obtained. It is shown that with the increase of confining pressure, the strength and modulus of elasticity of WG increase, and the failure pattern evolves from splitting failure to shear failure. Using the Mohr-Coulomb criterion, the cohesion c of WG is calculated to be 7.03 MPa, and the angle of internal friction φ is 61.95°. Analysing the AE peak frequency and energy at the characteristic points of the differential stress-axial strain curves, it is evident that the confining pressure limits crack evolution. The fractal characteristics of the WG AE ringing counts at each confining pressure are good, and the correlations between their ln r-ln C(r) curves and the fitted curves are all above 0.90. The WG at each confining pressure showed an increasing growth rate in the values of the damage variables and a rapid and substantial decrease in the fractal dimension before failure occurred. The study's results can provide a theoretical basis for the stability analysis of the WG surrounding rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of loneliness varies widely across Western societies. However, the underlying sources of these cross-national disparities are still the subject of debate. In particular, recent advances in the literature put emphasis on exploring the moderating role of country-level characteristics for a better understanding under which condition individual-level factors predict loneliness. One such predictor for loneliness is neighborhood cohesion as perceiving the community as reciprocal and supportive has a large protective potential against loneliness. The present study links these lines of research and explores how three country-level characteristics (i.e. norms of cultural pluralism, welfare spending, and internet penetration rates) explain cross-national disparities in loneliness and whether they exert a moderating influence on the relationship between neighborhood cohesion and loneliness. By running linear multilevel models using data from the European Social Survey (N = 45042) as well as Eurostat Data, we find that all three country-level characteristics explain national disparities in loneliness as well as neighborhood cohesion. However, only norms of cultural pluralism moderate the association between neighborhood cohesion and loneliness on the individual level. This suggests that the potential of interventions aiming at fostering neighborhood cohesion to prevent loneliness varies depending on the cultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synergetic effects of alkaline red mud (RM) and sulfate-based phosphogypsum (PG) on the undrained triaxial behavior of cement-admixed clay were explored in this study. A series of isotropically consolidated undrained triaxial tests were performed on stabilized clay with respect to different admixed RM/PG proportions. The triaxial behavior of stabilized clay is presented in terms of a stress–pore pressure–strain relationship, failure mode, undrained deformation modulus, stress path, and failure envelope. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were conducted to survey microscopic evolution. The results showed that the brittleness of the specimen intensified with a high RM content, which was manifested by a predominant postpeak strength reduction. As the PG content increased, the strain-softening behavior weakened and gradually evolved into strain-hardening. The failure mode changed from local shear failure to the single cone failure and bulging failure correspondingly. The RM played a role in increasing soil cohesion, whereas PG contributed to a larger frictional angle at the postyield stage. Microscopic observations indicated that the alkali source from RM significantly promoted pozzolanic reactions and strengthened cementation bonds, which increased the peak strength, deformation modulus, and cohesion. In addition, the sulfate in PG contributed to ettringite generation among clay particles and clusters, resulting in a more ductile behavior and a larger frictional angle due to large clusters formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Motor vehicle incidents or apparatus crashes are a leading cause of firefighter fatalities in the United States. Nonuse of seat belts has been linked to some of these fatalities. This research seeks to understand the relationship between safety climate and seat belt use among firefighters, as findings will provide insights into factors that may bolster seat belt use and protect firefighters. Methods: Data were collected from 208 career firefighters working for a city fire department in the southeastern United States. Structural equation modeling was used to test a hypothesized model and to assess the relationships between organizational safety climate, work group safety climate and seat belt use. Results: It was determined that positive perceptions of workgroup safety climate, as a higher order factor, comprised of supervisor support, horizontal cohesion, and vertical cohesion, was positively associated with seat belt use within a sample of firefighters. Organizational level safety climate did not have a significant relationship with seat belt use but did positively influence workgroup safety climate perceptions. Conclusions: Safety climate has been associated with safety compliance and participation behaviors, but more research was needed to specifically examine the impact of safety climate on seat belt use in firefighters. The findings point to the importance of safety climate as a leading indicator and predictor of seat belt use. Bolstering safety climate through safety programs, commitment to safety, effective communication, supportive supervisors and cohesion should ultimately aid in bolstering seat belt use among firefighters, which is important to curtailing firefighter injuries and fatalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic consolidation is widely applied in the consolidation of soft soil foundation, though there is no in-depth subdivision research on the mechanism of dynamic consolidation of coastal soft soil foundation, and there is no independent, complete, theoretical system to support engineering practice. The effects of dynamic consolidation replacement rates on the shear strength of coastal soft soil were studied by the dynamic consolidation replacement undrained shear (CU) tests. CU tests were conducted for each set of samples under four confining pressures of 50 kPa, 100 kPa, 200 kPa, and 300 kPa, stress–strain curves and effective stress paths were obtained, and then shear strength parameters at different displacement rates were determined: effective cohesion and effective internal friction angle. The effective cohesion decreases, while the effective internal friction angle increases, with the increment of displacement rate. The shear strength of coastal composite soil is improved with the rising displacement rate, and the effects of multi-pile displacement on the shear strength of coastal soft soil are more significant at the same displacement rate. There is a quantitative power function relationship between the pile–soil interaction coefficient and displacement rate of coastal composite soil. Based on the test results, a modified formula for the shear strength parameters of dynamic tamper-replaced coastal soft soil is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geosynthetic reinforcement plays a significant role in construction projects by stabilizing and enhancing the bearing capacity of soil. However, the complex interactions between soil and geosynthetic materials are open for investigation. This study aims to elucidate interactions by examining the effects of various geosynthetic materials, specifically nonwoven geotextile and geogrid, on the shear strength of fractional sand. Direct shear tests were performed on sand specimens incorporating geosynthetics arranged in multiple configurations to assess their influence on soil strength properties. The test results showed that the soil friction angle changed from 29° to 38°, which is the advantage of geogrid in improving soil properties. The use of nonwoven geotextile increased the cohesion from 8 kPa to 15kPa. The methodology of the test using the location of the reinforcing material also has its peculiarities, which are summarized in the discussion of the results obtained. The findings of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of how the type and characteristics of geosynthetic materials affect soil performance to refine the design and application of reinforcement strategies in construction engineering. The results can be applied in the design of roadways and foundations, where enhanced soil stability is crucial for structural integrity and to the formulation of effective erosion control strategies in civil engineering projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The primary purpose is to discuss the productivity and digitalisation interaction at the theoretical level, analyse the productivity and digitalisation differences between the European Union (EU)-14 and EU-13 countries, and evaluate the digitalisation impact on the manufacturing sector labour productivity of the EU countries. Need for study: The average added value created per capita in new EU countries (EU-13) is one-third lower than in old EU countries (EU-14). To increase productivity, manufacturing companies must adapt to modern trends and take advantage of industrial digitisation opportunities. Digitisation can improve production efficiency, reduce costs, and improve product quality, allowing continuous monitoring and analysis of production data, enabling informed decisions and faster problem-solving. Methodology: Analysis of scientific literature, comparing viewpoints, insights, and conclusions. The empirical study includes calculating rates of change of indicators, differences between EU-14 and EU-13, and structural analysis. The impact of digitisation on the productivity of EU countries is studied by creating a correlation matrix and using regression analysis: ordinary least square models. Findings: EU-13 countries are behind EU-14 in labour productivity and manufacturing digitalisation. Digitalisation positively impacts productivity per employee. A faster increase in digitisation, industrial robot use, and e-commerce sales could significantly increase productivity in EU-13, reducing productivity differences between countries. Practical implications: This study highlights the need for policy promoting digitisation innovation, particularly in EU-13 countries, to be implemented by both national and EU-based economic development and regional and cohesion institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of the Fe-rich intermetallic compound phases (IMC) on the solidification cracking susceptibility (Hot Tearing Susceptibility, HTS) of the Al–Mn–Cu alloy and the associated controlling factors were investigated. Using the Al–1.15Mn–1.0Cu–0.5Si–0.08Ti–0.016B–0.15Fe and Al–1.15Mn–1.0Cu–0.5Si–0.08Ti–0.016B–0.4Fe alloys, the HTS and mechanical properties in the partially solidified state were experimentally obtained. As a result, the HTS decreased with the increasing Fe contents. In addition, the tensile strength of the alloys in the partially solidified state (σmax) increased with the increasing Fe contents. The fraction of solid cohesion considering the Fe-rich IMC phase (fsc IMC) based on the Campbell's model (fsc Campbell) is proposed as the controlling factor of σmax. The fsc Campbell, which simulates the two-phases model of the α-Al and liquid phases, did not consistently demonstrate the dependence of σmax on fsc Campbell for the two alloys (σmax = f(fsc Campbell)). However, when employing the fsc IMC, which incorporates the Fe-rich IMC phase in a three-phases model, a consistent correlation is observed between fsc IMC and σmax for the two alloys (σmax = f(fsc IMC)). Therefore, it is suggested that the controlling factor influencing the change in σmax with the Fe content should be the fsc IMC. Additionally, the bonding of primary α-Al phase together with Fe-rich IMC phase that is crystallized at the grain boundary will increase σmax, contributing to the reduction of HTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilms are microbial communities that influence the chemical and physical properties of porous media. Understanding their formation is essential for different topics, such as water management, bioremediation, and oil recovery. In this work, we present a pore‐scale model for biofilm dynamics that is fully coupled with fluid flow and transport of growth‐limiting nutrients. Built upon micro‐continuum theory, the model considers biofilm as a fluid‐filled micro‐porous medium and simulates flow based on a coupled Darcy‐Brinkman‐Stokes model. We outline the key assumptions of the model and present the governing equations of biofilm dynamics, along with details of their numerical implementation. Through numerical simulations of biofilm development at the scale of a single pore, we analyze the influence of flow dynamics upon biofilm spatial distribution, as well as the way effective permeability is altered and evolves under different growth conditions. Our emphasis is on the critical hydrodynamic point, that is, the transition between bulky and dispersive biofilm shapes as a function of the driving parameters. We introduce a dimensionless number, termed Dt ${D}_{t}$, defined as the ratio between hydrodynamic and biomass cohesion forces, which provides a bulk characterization of the biomass‐flow system, and allows to assess biofilm morphology and growth patterns. We then discuss results in relation to available experimental data, where estimated Dt ${D}_{t}$ values are in line with specific biofilm growth patterns, ranging from boundary‐layer appearance Dt>1 $\left({D}_{t} > 1\right)$ to bulky shapes Dt<1 $\left({D}_{t}< 1\right)$. Plain Language Summary: We present a computational model to simulate biofilm formation in porous materials under varying flow and transport conditions. The framework is designed for small‐scale analysis (mm−cm) $(mm-cm)$ and is based on a micro‐continuum approach, where biofilm is treated as a micro‐porous material. This approach addresses the technical challenges of explicitly representing the biofilm‐liquid interface. Through numerical simulations, we analyze the effect of flow dynamics on biofilm formation at the scale of a single pore. The model predicts distinct growth patterns and biofilm shapes depending on the hydrodynamic conditions. Increasing the flow rate promotes biofilm growth up to a critical hydrodynamic point, after which biomass detachment becomes dominant. We discuss these results in relation to experimental observations and interpret the growth patterns using a dimensionless number, Dt ${D}_{t}$, which represents the ratio between drag forces and biomass cohesion forces. Furthermore, we conduct a numerical analysis to explore the relationship between biomass accumulation and permeability changes, which is a critical factor in many engineering and environmental applications including bioremediation and degradation of organic contaminants. Using a simple porous system, we demonstrate how the porosity‐permeability relationship is significantly influenced by biofilm growth conditions and how the biofilm is distributed within the pore space. Key Points: We develop a pore‐scale model for biofilm dynamics coupled with fluid flow and transport of nutrientsThe model considers biofilm as a fluid‐filled micro‐porous medium and simulates flow based on a coupled Darcy‐Brinkman‐Stokes modelBiofilm morphology and bioclogging can be characterized and predicted by a dimensionless ratio of hydrodynamic to biomass cohesion forces [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing number of scholars are drawn to using numerical approaches powered by computer simulations as a potential solution to industrial problems. Replicating the compaction process in powder metallurgy with accuracy is one such issue. The Drucker-Prager-Cap model requires parameter calibration as the most used method for simulating powder compaction. This paper addresses this issue and presents a new technique for doing so. Utilizing Abaqus software 2020, the compaction process was simulated for the benchmark powder, which is the alloy Ag57.6-Cu22.4-Sn10-In10. The difference between simulation results and experimental data was reduced by applying the Particle Swarm Optimization technique in Python. The suggested approach may accurately forecast the Drucker-Prager-Cap model parameters, as demonstrated by comparing the optimized parameters utilizing the research's method with their experimental values. The findings revealed how well the suggested approach in this study calibrated the DPC model, yielding three parameters—Young's modulus, material cohesion, and hydrostatic pressure yield stress—with respective RMSEs of 1.95, 0.12, and 324.64 concerning their experimental values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deterioration of shear resistance in rock and soil masses has resulted in numerous severe natural disasters, highlighting the significance of long-term monitoring for disaster prevention and mitigation. This study explores the use of a nondestructive method to quickly and accurately evaluate the shear properties of soil-rock mixture. The shear stress, shear strain, and resistivity of the soil-rock mixture were tested simultaneously using a combination of direct shear and resistivity tests. The test results show that the resistivity of the soil-rock mixture gradually decreases with increasing shear strain. The resistivity of all specimens ranged approximately from 60 to 130 Ω.m throughout the shear process. At the end of the shear test, the vertical failure resistivity showed an irregular "W" shape with increasing rock content. It exhibited a significant negative linear functional relationship with the shear strength. With reference to the determination of cohesion and internal friction angle on the shear strength envelope, the horizontal angle of the vertical failure resistivity-normal stress curve is defined as the resistivity angle, and the intercept of the curve is the resistivity at the initial moment of shear. It has been observed that the resistivity angle is negatively and linearly correlated with the internal friction angle. At the same time, there is a linear growth relationship between resistivity at the initial moment of shear and cohesion. It has been demonstrated that an increase in rock content contributes to a general escalation in both the average structure factor and average shape factor. Meanwhile, a decrease in the anisotropy coefficient has also been noted. These alterations are indicative of the extent of microstructural transformations occurring during the deformation process of the soil-rock mixture. The research results verify the feasibility of real-time deformation monitoring and characterization of shear strength parameters using resistivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual behavior of primates living in small groups is often seen to represent behavior of all group members due to close spatial cohesion. However, given that females expend more energy on reproduction than males (including lactation and infant carrying), females and males may exhibit different behaviors even when maintaining spatial proximity, particularly in highly seasonal or resource-poor environments. We collected 187 hours of data from three dyads (n = 6 individuals) of white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) living in a fruit-poor environment in western Thailand during the period of fruit scarcity. We calculated activity budgets, dyad behavioral synchronization, and dyad spatial cohesion. We hypothesized that activity budgets would differ significantly between sexes or pairs would engage in behaviors independently to provide females with an opportunity to obtain more resources. We also hypothesized that pairs would remain in close proximity. Overall, activity budgets exhibited significant variation when analyzed by sex (X2 = 27.693, P ⩽ 0.001) and group (X2 = 119.584, P ⩽ 0.001). Females spent less time resting and vocalizing and more time traveling compared to males. Percentages of synchronized behavior were lower than expected with only 55% of records synchronized (group B: 58.6%; group D: 58.5%; group L: 49.7%). Spatial cohesion, however, was relatively high overall with adults in the same or adjacent trees in 67.1% of paired records but significantly variable across groups (B: 89.4%; D: 73.1%; L: 48.2%; X2 = 190.111, P ⩽ 0.001). We suggest that behavioral synchronization and spatial cohesion may be indicators of pair bond strength, not just the result of pair living. Given differences in activity budgets, low behavioral synchronization, and variable amounts of time pair mates spent apart, we conclude that pair mates should be considered individual actors who engage in behaviors independently from one another, particularly when coping with challenging ecological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenol hydrogels have found widespread application in wound healing, bone repair, drug delivery, and biosensors due to their robust wet adhesion, high ductility, and excellent self‐healing ability. However, these hydrogels often exhibit low intrinsic cohesion, which limits their overall adhesive strength. Enhancing cohesion is critical for improving both the adhesion and mechanical properties of the hydrogels, thereby expanding their utility in biomedical fields. This review begins by exploring strategies to enhance the cohesion of polyphenol hydrogel adhesives, detailing modifications that act individually or synergistically. The importance of temporally regulating cohesion is emphasized to accommodate various applications and environmental conditions. Finally, this paper discusses remaining challenges in cohesion regulation and outlines prospects for future research. It is hoped that this comprehensive review will provide new insights into the development of advanced polyphenolic hydrogel adhesives and contribute to the design of “smart adhesives” for increasingly complex needs in biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the literature on the territorial dimension of EU Cohesion Policy and spatial planning in EU Member States. It offers a perspective on these debates by focusing on the case study of the Czech Republic which exemplifies the group of countries being the main beneficiaries of Cohesion Policy. Building on interviews, document analyses and interactive workshops, the barriers and potentials for cross-fertilisation between Cohesion Policy and spatial planning are identified. Upon this background, concrete policies are recommended. Therefore, the paper goes a step further by explaining why the problem occurs and what can be done about it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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