Steel and Aluminium Moulds: Comparative Analysis of Optimal Parameters to Inject Amorphous and Semicrystalline Polymers

The thermoplastic injection moulding process is very important in the plastics industry, as it enables automated production, supports high productivity and allows the production of plastic parts with complex geometries. It is possible to split into two large groups of polymers: amorphous and semicrystalline. Cooling rate and other injection moulding parameters have a great influence on the final properties of the plastic part. Regarding the use of aluminium as cavity material in injection moulds, new variables must be included in the analysis, since its thermal properties are significantly different from those presented by steels, which are traditionally used. In this way, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of aluminium and steel cavities on different types of thermoplastics belonging to the two classes of polymers by assessing the injection parameters of a high-production part (automotive cup holder). In terms of productivity factors, moulds made of aluminium using semicrystalline polymers showed more significant reductions in cycle time compared to amorphous materials. Specifically, polypropylene exhibited a cycle time reduction between 40.6% and 52.5% when compared to steel moulds, while polyamide showed an even more substantial reduction, ranging between 56% and 63.5%. As for warpage, the amorphous materials displayed the lowest values for both types of moulds, but they also exhibited greater variations in isothermal simulations compared to semicrystalline materials. In relation to the mould materials, aluminium mould exhibited the lowest warping results and smaller variations compared to the isothermal analyses for all polymers.

The Impact of Pacemaker Programming on Morbidity in Heart Transplant Recipients

Pacemaker programming recommendations in patients post-heart transplant include a higher lower rate limit, activating rate response mode, maximising battery longevity and minimising ventricular pacing in patients without atrioventricular block. This study sought to investigate how variability in pacemaker programming following orthotopic heart transplant affects morbidity. We conducted a retrospective analysis of heart transplant recipients at a single transplant centre between 1991 and 2023. Patients requiring pacemaker implantation following transplantation were matched with non-pacemaker recipients by age, sex and height. Patient and device characteristics were reviewed. Clinical outcomes, programming and physiological parameters were compared within the pacemaker group and between subject and comparator groups. Forty-five heart transplant recipients were included: 15 with pacemakers and 30 without. Within the pacemaker group, 20% were programmed with LRL > 60 bpm, rate-response mode in 47% and algorithms minimising ventricular pacing in 27%. Fifty-three percent were NYHA class I, and 46% NYHA class II; resting heart rate was similar between the groups (85 (SD14.9) and 79 (SD8) bpm: p = 0.33). NYHA class I group achieved a higher workload (METS 9 (SD2.7) vs. 6.9 (SD1) mL/kg/min: p = 0.21), and peak heart rate (135 (18.8) vs. 123 (14.8) bpm: p = 0.29) during exercise stress echocardiogram (ESE). The pacemaker group was more symptomatic than the comparator group (NYHA class II 46% vs. 10%: p = 0.016) and exhibited higher rates of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (53% vs. 10%: p = 0.005). There is substantial variability in pacemaker programming in heart transplant recipients. Patients who require a pacemaker have a greater symptom and comorbidity burden than those without. No identifiable physiological or programming differences stratified the greater morbidity within the pacemaker cohort.

Efficient Communication, the Lexicon, and Grammar

The driving forces behind language variation and change have long been a subject of debate. One prominent approach takes a functionalist perspective and posits that the need for efficient communication shapes lexical and grammatical patterns. This paper reviews five recent studies that offer further support for the plausibility of the communicative efficiency principle while also providing new insights into other factors that contribute to efficient linguistic structures. The key findings from these studies can be summarized as follows: (1) the principle of communicative efficiency offers plausible explanations for both lexical and grammatical phenomena, addressing both synchronic variations and diachronic changes in language evolution; (2) linguistic systems achieve efficiency through multiple mechanisms such as creation bias and selective pressures favoring efficient communication; (3) in addition to communicative efficiency, language evolution is also shaped by language history, with existing structures influencing subsequent ones. By synthesizing these studies, this paper underscores the efficiency account as a plausible and inclusive explanatory framework. It also stresses the need to rigorously delineate the role of communicative efficiency in language evolution, cautioning against automatically conflating the presence of efficient structures with intentional optimization for communicative goals.

Human Behavioral Ecology: Opportunities for Theoretically Driven Research on Human Behavioral Variation in China

Human behavioral ecology is an evolutionary framework that attempts to understand how adaptive human behavior maps on to variation in social, cultural, and ecological environments. It emerged as a coherent framework in the United States and the U.K. in the 1980s and has flourished as an explanatory framework ever since. The concentration of HBE scholarship in English-speaking countries has led to missed opportunities to engage other partners in testing and expanding human behavioral ecological models of human behavioral and life history variation. In this review, we provide a brief review of human behavioral ecology and describe opportunities for related scholarship in the Chinese context. We introduce human behavioral ecology holistically, including its history, methodological frameworks, pet topics, and recent integration with related fields, with a special emphasis on its recent integration with Chinese social, archaeological, and life sciences scholarship. We address potential criticisms of human behavioral ecology and how to ensure a robust and careful application of human behavioral ecology principles in the study of human behavior in China, past and present. We conclude with excitement as the remarkable variation in the Chinese behavioral landscape offers unparalleled opportunities for innovative and integrative studies.

Food Research and Supplementation (FRS): A New Dedicated International Open Access Journal by SCIEPublish

The Crystal Structure of Apatite and Copper-Doped Apatite

The recent claim of superconductivity above room temperature in Pb_10−xCu_x(PO₄)₆O, where 0.9 < x < 1 (referred to as LK-99), has generated significant interest. In this study, we first investigated the detailed crystal structures of four natural apatite by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD) combined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) measurement. Secondly, pilot experiments of doping copper (Cu) atoms into the apatite lattice were carried out by high-temperature mixed pure copper and natural apatite powders. Finally, copper-doped lead apatite has been synthesized via a three-step solid-state reaction method, and its crystal structure has been determined using SXRD, SEM/EDX, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts of Jamrani Irrigation Dam Project, Kumaon Himalaya, India

This paper examines the economic and environmental impacts of the proposed Jamrani Irrigation Dam Project on the upstream and downstream areas. This study is primarily empirical, and a case study of six villages was conducted. A total of 415 households are being affected—fully and partially, due to the construction of the dam, out of which 122 heads of households were interviewed. A structured questionnaire was constructed, and the heads of households were asked about the socio-economic and environmental impacts of the proposed dam project. Furthermore, a detailed perception study of these households was conducted. Secondary data related to the size of the dam project, various land uses being affected by the dam, its socio-economic and environmental impact, and the most beneficial sectors were collected from the irrigation department, Government of Uttarakhand’s report 2020. In addition, socio-economic data from 415 households were collected from the same source. This study reveals that the dam project will have many favourable economic impacts in terms of supplying ample water for drinking and irrigation, electricity generation, development of infrastructural facilities and tourism, and the Gaula River flood control. On the other hand, the dam project will lead to land degradation, depletion of faunal and floral resources, soil erosion, and finally, the rehabilitation of the affected people. This study suggests that the proper use of technology and a suitable rehabilitation policy will make the project successful.

Research Progress on Offshore Wind Turbine Foundation Structures and Installation Technologies

Offshore wind power, as an important component of renewable energy, has gradually become one of the key technologies in global energy transition. The development of offshore wind power faces complex technical challenges, including strong wind, waves, currents, foundation bearing capacity, and installation technologies for wind turbines, among other issues. In recent years, with technological advancements, significant breakthroughs have been made in the design of offshore wind power foundation structures, installation technologies, and equipment. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the recent progress in offshore wind power technologies, deeply exploring innovative technologies in areas such as the overall development trends, foundation structures, installation technologies, and equipment of offshore wind power. Special attention is given to the design and safety analysis of wind turbine foundation structures under different foundation conditions, as well as installation technologies for wind power in complex sea conditions and deep-water areas. The paper argues that the applicable depth of fixed foundations is expected to extend beyond 50 m. The jacket foundation remains the mainstream choice for future large-scale wind turbines, with the potential to increase its applicable water depth to 100 m. Furthermore, floating foundations have significant potential for cost reduction and efficiency improvements. Developing entirely new foundation structures and installation technologies suitable for deep-water environments is also a key direction for future development.

Evaluating Everyday Prospective Memory in School-Age Children through Parent- and Self-Reports: Validating Questionnaires and Examining Relations to Executive Functions and Autistic Traits

Prospective memory (PM) refers to the ability to remember to complete everyday tasks, and in adults, PM is often assessed using the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ). However, this questionnaire has not been validated in children, and whether it is effective in detecting subtle PM and retrospective memory (RM) difficulties in subclinical populations remains unclear. Study 1 first validated the parent-reported PRMQ for children (PRMQC-p) and developed a self-reported version (PRMQC-s), and Study 2 examined the relationships among PM, executive functions, and autistic traits using parent-reported questionnaires. The study recruited 1127 children aged 6–12 years and their parents. Parents completed questionnaires assessing PM, executive functions, and autistic traits, while children completed the PRMQC-s. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that both versions of PRMQC showed good reliability and supported the PM-RM correlated factor model. Preliminary norms were generated to allow quick evaluation of children’s everyday PM and RM performance. Importantly, higher autistic traits were associated with more frequent PM errors and executive functions completely mediated this relationship. These findings suggest that the PRMQC is a valid and useful tool for evaluating children’s everyday PM performance and emphasizes the critical role of executive functions in daily PM.

Counterfeit Drug Investigations: Techniques, Challenges, and the Role of Abductive Reasoning

Variable types of investigations exist regarding counterfeit drug detection, disruption, and regulation. Counterfeit drugs are spurious drugs, falsely labelled, falsified, substandard, unregistered/unlicensed, and infringe trademarks. Counterfeit drugs can mimic both legitimate and illegitimate drugs and are often distributed in virtual environments, such as illicit online pharmacies, the surface web, and the dark web. Counterfeit drug operators and operations are the typically corrupt and/or criminal individuals, groups, and techniques by which counterfeit drugs are produced and distributed. The manufacture and distribution of counterfeit drugs are ever-changing, which results in the need for investigative techniques that are equally adaptable and collaborative. Counterfeit drug investigations can be defined according to four categories: medical investigations in hospitals and through autopsies, chemical and non-chemical drug investigations in forensic toxicology laboratories, various track-and-trace technologies used in pharmaceutical industry investigations, and national and global coordinated investigations. Due to the diverse counterfeit drug investigations present, the logic and practice of abduction are highlighted as a primary part of the investigative element to counter ongoing efforts by offenders to evade detection. Abductive rationalities are prioritized in that they are contrary to an increasing reliance on technoscientific modes of data production alone. Rather, abductive reasoning plays a central role in counterfeit drug investigations at the levels of instigating and directing investigations, as well as interpreting and responding to evidential findings.