19684 research outputs found
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The efficacy of pentoxifylline for major depressive disorder:A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
No full textBackground: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a widespread mental health issue; however, despite various antidepressant treatments many patients do not achieve full remission or continue to experience residual symptoms. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of pentoxifylline for MDD. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT) that evaluated the efficacy of pentoxifylline as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of MDD. This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data were pooled using a random effects meta-analysis model due to the expected heterogeneity among studies. Results: Four studies met the inclusion criteria and were included. The included studies comprised a total of 292 participants diagnosed with MDD. Participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 65 years, and all had a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score of at least 18. The pooled analysis showed a significant improvement in response rates for the pentoxifylline group compared to the control group (pooled odds ratio [OR] 6.85, 95% confidence interval, CI: 3.42, 13.73), indicating a much higher likelihood of treatment response. Remission rates favored the pentoxifylline group, with a pooled OR of 6.09 (95% CI: 3.11, 11.91), suggesting a significantly higher likelihood of achieving remission with pentoxifylline. Conclusion: Our findings support the potential of pentoxifylline as an effective treatment for MDD; however, further research is needed to fully establish its efficacy across different patient populations.</p
Disorganization Management:What Is It, How Does It Work, and Why Does It Matter?
No full text“Disorganization” also referred to as “mess,” “deviation,” or “disorder” is a concept that is embedded in the view of organizations as complex human systems. The word denotes organizational phenomena that deviate from organizational schema and procedures in an unplanned and unstructured manner. This concept is yet to be given full attention by management scholars, despite its continuous appearance, partially under different labels, throughout the history of the discipline for over five decades. Currently, there is a need for contributions that synthesize these scattered conversations into a coherent narrative. In addressing this gap, this article integrates these various strands of literature on disorganization. Thus, we systematically gather, review, organize, and integrate the extant literature (n= 192) on disorganization to map its evolution. Accordingly, we lay out a foundational body of literature that highlights the importance of enhancing our understanding of management through the integration of disorganization into our conversations about modern business. Accordingly, we present the theoretical infrastructure for the definition, analysis, and treatment of disorganization management. Through this review, we propose new conceptualizations while mapping out the development of the concept over time, followed by exploring the implications these developments present to both management theory and practice
Mask-assisted jet biomachining based on Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and its application in functional friction surfaces
No full textA novel mask-assisted jet biomachining (MJBM) method was developed to fabricate functional microstructures on a phosphor-tin alloy (ZCuSn10Pb1), significantly enhancing the surface tribological performance. MJBM integrates the metabolic activity of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans with directional jetting of the culture supernatant, achieving a material removal rate 58.94 times higher than immersion and 4.97 times higher than shaking methods, respectively, while maintaining notably lower dimensional deviations in the fabricated micro-dimples. Compared to smooth surfaces, the textured surfaces exhibited up to a 56.4 % reduction in the friction coefficient. These findings, in conjunction with current literature, indicate that MJBM can be a more is an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach for fabricating functional microstructures. Additionally, elucidating the material removal mechanisms underlying MJBM significantly broadens the application potential of bioprocesses. The innovative integration of MJBM with surface texturing and micro-component fabrication provides valuable insights for advancing cleaner production
Concentrated solar power (CSP) driven desalination systems:A techno-economic review
No full textThe rising global demand for freshwater, coupled with the urgency to transition away from fossil fuel-based energy systems, has intensified research into sustainable desalination solutions. However, conventional desalination methods reliant on fossil fuels are highly energy-intensive, presenting substantial obstacles to achieving a low-carbon energy transition. Concentrated solar power (CSP) presents a compelling alternative, particularly for arid regions with high direct normal irradiation (DNI). This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in CSP-driven desalination technologies, with a particular focus on key methods such as multi-stage flash distillation (MSF), multi-effect distillation (MED), membrane distillation (MD), and innovative hybrid systems. It systematically categorizes solar desalination technologies based on their functional components, economic feasibility, and research progress, highlighting advancements in hybrid system designs, thermal performance optimization, and economic evaluations. Although CSP desalination has experienced significant growth over the past five years, challenges remain in developing cost-competitive solutions, particularly in addressing parasitic losses during integration with conventional power systems. This review identifies potential strategies to overcome these challenges, including optimized system configurations, the integration of thermal energy storage, the adoption of advanced power cycles, and the hybridization of MED-RO systems. Realizing the full potential of CSP for sustainable freshwater production will require advances in materials, system integration, and hybrid configurations. A multidisciplinary approach—combining thermal sciences, desalination engineering, power systems, and techno-economic analysis, alongside supportive policies—is key to establishing CSP desalination as a viable solution for high-DNI, water-scarce regions. This review provides a timely and comprehensive overview of current progress and future directions, offering practical insights for advancing sustainable desalination technologies.</p
Time-varying transient EHL behaviors of spur gear pairs considering tooth waviness extracted by gaussian filter
No full textTooth waviness has been experimentally proven to be the main cause of “ghost order” noise in high-speed gear transmission systems, which affects vibration and noise through meshing contact or transmission errors. However, most studies have focused on the influence of tooth surface roughness on the gear lubrication contact characteristics, ignoring the effects of mesoscopic tooth waviness. Furthermore, there is a lack of an effective method for extracting tooth waviness from measured tooth topographies. To fill this gap, a novel method for extracting tooth waviness based on the Gaussian filter is proposed. A three-dimensional transient line contact elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) model coupling rolling, sliding, and elastic deformation is established. The effects of tooth waviness and its parameters on the lubrication characteristics and contact mechanical properties are analyzed. Results show that tooth waviness alters the overall stability of the gear meshing lubrication regime. Compared to smooth tooth surface, waviness has a more significant effect on rolling friction than on sliding friction and film damping. The effects of waviness order and amplitude on the tooth meshing contact mechanical properties exhibit opposite trends. This research establishes a theoretical foundation for understanding the dynamic service behavior under the influence of tooth waviness and holds significant guidance and engineering value for controlling the tooth surface machining quality.</p
Strengthening of reinforced concrete beams with externally mounted titanium rods
No full textReinforcing concrete beams in buildings and bridges with externally attached retrofits is interesting because it enhances structural integrity without disrupting operations. These reinforcing methods can be reversible, low-invasive and quick to apply. This paper presents findings from an experimental and numerical investigation designed to evaluate the structural performance of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams retrofitted with externally mechanically attached titanium rods. Titanium's high durability and tensile strength allow for exposed, unprotected outdoor applications. Full-size RC 200x250x3500 mm beams were reinforced on the tension side with high-strength titanium rods to enhance bending capacity. Various titanium retrofit solutions were explored and applied to strengthen the beams, with particular focus on designing the titanium end plate that connects the external titanium rods to the RC beams. The results demonstrated a significant increase in bending capacity for the titanium reinforced beams compared to unreinforced control specimens. This innovative reinforcement method, along with the rod-to-concrete connection solution, significantly improved the bending capacity of the RC beams
Comparative study of failure characteristics of different types of energy storage batteries after extrusion deformation
No full textThe mechanical safety of energy storage batteries is critical for their application in electric vehicles, smart grids, and portable electronics. While previous studies have primarily focused on thermal and electrical abuse, this work provides a systematic investigation into the mechanical failure mechanisms of lithium iron phosphate (LFP), nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM), and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) under extrusion deformation at varying states of charge (SOC). The results reveal distinct differences in stress–strain behavior, open-circuit voltage (OCV), temperature evolution, and electrochemical impedance responses among battery types and SOC levels. Notably, LFP and NCM batteries exhibit increased yield stress at higher SOCs, whereas SIBs show greater voltage instability and a higher risk of thermal runaway. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) indicates that extrusion increases ohmic and diffusion resistance, while interfacial impedance decreases due to electrode densification. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows that mechanical deformation induces interlayer detachment, cracking, and separator melting in LFP and NCM batteries, with severity increasing at higher SOCs. SIBs display microcrack expansion, particle fragmentation, and inter-particle delamination under similar conditions. This study offers new insights into SOC-dependent failure behaviors under mechanical abuse, contributing to safer battery design and performance optimization in real-world impact scenarios
Nagisa:A reversible privacy preservation scheme against facial soft-biometric attributes recognition
Full text linkRecent developments in pattern recognition have facilitated the extraction of soft-biometric attributes from facial images, evoking concerns regarding the privacy risks inherent in collecting images for applications based on facial recognition technology. Various contemporary strategies have been developed to protect soft-biometric attributes while maintaining identity information; however, they have limitations. First, these methods do not allow users to designate representations for attributes that possess multiple expressions. Second, although they can restore attribute characteristics, they fall short in reconstructing precise attribute representations during the reconstruction phase. To address these limitations, we develop a novel scheme called Nagisa, which can modify and accurately reconstruct specific attribute representations. Within Nagisa, we design a unique hierarchical mechanism for attribute processing. Nagisa leverages labels to guide modifications to global attributes, which are inherently difficult to delineate into specific expressions. Additionally, our scheme allows users to specify reference images to steer the modification process for local attributes that can be distinguished into distinct manifestations. Furthermore, Nagisa can reconstruct the original image via global and local attribute style codes when necessary. Considering the limited storage space available to users, we provide an option to minimize space usage by saving only the global attribute style codes when users only care about the identity utility of reconstructed images. The experimental findings verify the effectiveness of this strategy and demonstrate Nagisa’s capacity to offer diverse attribute privacy preservation and accurate reconstruction while preserving identity utility. Nagisa mitigates privacy risks in facial recognition systems by enabling users to control soft-biometric manifestations while preserving identity utility, which represents a critical advancement for surveillance and authentication applications. The code has been released at https://github.com/XLINYIN/Nagisa
Event Log Correlation for Multi‐Step Attack Detection
No full textEvent log correlation (ELC) is central to detecting multi-step attacks (MSAD) that unfold across heterogeneous systems and long time horizons. This review synthesises ELC families—mining/sequence, graph learning, provenance/causal correlation, and hybrid LLM-assisted approaches—through an MSAD-first lens that ties methods to attack stages and datasets. We report operational metrics (false-alarm reduction, detection time, throughput/storage) and classifier metrics (Accuracy/F1) as the authors present them, enabling fair comparison across 2025 works. Compared with prior surveys, we contribute a challenge mitigation map (false positives, latency/throughput, heterogeneity), a 2025-only section covering NDSS/USENIX/Neurocomputing studies and a recent Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) article (Multi dataset, Multi-family detection pipeline), and a roadmap spanning mining, graph, provenance/causal, and LLM-assisted correlation for scalable, real-time deployments. We also provide an attack-coverage matrix and a machine-readable extraction (8 papers 15+ fields) to support reproducible synthesis and practitioner adoption
Modified couple stress flexural-flexural-torsional large deformable beam element
No full textThis study develops a novel size-dependent element for the non-linear flexural-flexural-torsional quasi-static analysis of micro-beams within the framework of the modified couple stress theory for the first time. The developed element, which satisfies C2 continuity for transverse deflections and C1 continuity for the torsional motion, is adopted to investigate the quasi-static motion of axially functionally graded beam-based micro-gyroscopes. Three different case studies of prismatic, tapered, and partially tapered micro-beams are investigated. Both stable and unstable branches of the equilibrium paths are obtained using a combination of the Newton-Raphson method with a novel displacement-based technique. The micro-beams are assumed to be attached to concentrated masses at the end of the beam for cantilever-based micro-gyroscopes and at their middle for simply supported and double cantilever systems. Satisfying high-order boundary conditions, convergence of the results is investigated. It is observed that the solutions, which benefit from rapid convergence, agree excellently with those available in the literature for simpler systems. Regarding the ability of finite element analysis in dealing with complex geometries and material compositions, adopting the present element for beam-based rotating micro-structures is recommended.</p
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